”Because he helped me a lot, I wanted to treat him to a meal,” Sang Zhi explained, “But he got sick, so I took him to the hospital, and he’s there now.”
Li Ping: “Is he seriously ill?”
Sang Zhi: “He said it’s acute appendicitis, probably not a big problem.”
”Well, take care of him more. That child doesn’t have many people at home,” Li Ping sighed. “And you need to take care of yourself too. Go back early, okay?”
”…” Sang Zhi was caught by her words. She asked tentatively, “What do you mean by not having many people at home, Mom? How did you know?”
”Ah,” Li Ping said, “I think I haven’t mentioned this to you before, but don’t bring it up in front of him either. Your brother’s friend, it seems during the summer vacation of his freshman year, he borrowed thirty thousand yuan from your brother.”
”…”
”At that time, your brother was so young, how could he have that much money? He asked your dad for it,” Li Ping said softly, “He said it was for his mother’s medical treatment. Later, the money was paid back, but it seems the person is gone.”
Sang Zhi was at a loss for words, and it took her a while before she asked, “What about his father then?”
”I don’t know about that,” Li Ping replied, “But if his father were around, how could he let a child borrow such an amount?”
After the surgery, he would need to stay in the hospital for a week.
Duan Jiaxu was assigned to a double-bed ward. He was wearing a patient gown, his hair hanging over his forehead, his face pale, and his spirits not particularly good.
The surgery was done under local anesthesia, so he was still conscious, with an IV in his arm. Looking at Sang Zhi beside him, Duan Jiaxu curved his lips and reminded again, “Little Sang Zhi, you should go back to school.”
Sang Zhi whispered, “I know.”
”After you go out, catch a taxi, note down the license plate number and send it to me,” Duan Jiaxu said, “Then, after you’re back in the dorm, give me a call.”
”Oh,” Sang Zhi held the bag on her shoulder and hesitated to ask, “Does the surgery hurt?”
”Not at all.” Duan Jiaxu smiled. “There’s anesthesia, so I don’t feel a thing.”
Sang Zhi nodded, “Then I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.”
”Come over when you don’t have classes,” Duan Jiaxu said, “There’s nothing much for me to do here. No need for you to run back and forth every day, Little Sang Zhi.”
”…” Sang Zhi glanced at him. “Goodbye, Brother Jiaxu.”
”Yeah, goodbye.”
After she left the ward, Duan Jiaxu picked up the phone beside him and looked at it. Noticing a missed call from Sang Yan, he raised an eyebrow and dialed back at a leisurely pace.
Listening to the mechanical beep in his ear, Duan Jiaxu suddenly remembered what happened at the station.
And Sang Zhi’s reaction.
The young girl was caught off guard, seemingly frightened, not daring to even look at him. Perhaps she felt a bit awkward, so she didn’t say a word for quite some time.
Perhaps she cared about the incident.
Before the call was answered on the other end, Duan Jiaxu hung up.
Finally, he had the time and energy to think about this matter.
Considering that this child would be twenty in a few months, regardless of age, his behavior just now seemed like he had taken advantage of the young girl.
After all, she was his brother’s sister.
She could be considered a child he watched grow up.
Moreover, she was nearly twenty, so he probably shouldn’t keep teasing her like that. In case the young girl starts to think in a certain direction and misunderstands, that wouldn’t be good.
Young girls tend to care about these things.
Duan Jiaxu rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit guilty for no reason.
He suddenly remembered her previous online romantic interest.
Just then, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was a call from Sang Yan.
Duan Jiaxu answered, contemplating whether to be honest about this matter.
Sang Yan’s voice came through from the other end, lazily saying, “Brother, did you get your appendix removed? How does it feel?”
”Pretty good,” Duan Jiaxu tugged at the corner of his lips, nonchalantly saying, “You can give it a try.”
”Good-looking people don’t get these kinds of things, you know,” Sang Yan continued and then brought up something, “I heard it was my sister who took you to the hospital.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Yeah.”
”For such a minor issue, do you really need someone to take you to the hospital? Can’t you go on your own?” Sang Yan casually commented, “Can’t you have a bit of self-preservation and go to the hospital when it hurts? That should solve it.”
Duan Jiaxu: “You called just for this?”
”I happened to have some free time. I heard you were sick, so I called to celebrate,” Sang Yan said, “Since you’re okay, I’ll let it be. I’m going to sleep.”
”Wait a moment.” Duan Jiaxu fell silent for a few seconds. “I want to tell you something.”
”Go ahead.”
Duan Jiaxu considered how to phrase it.
How should he say this?
Should he say, I accidentally kissed your sister earlier, and she seemed quite bothered by it?
I hope you, as her older brother, don’t mind.
Wouldn’t that be weird?
”Never mind,” Duan Jiaxu said, “It’s nothing.”
”…” There was a pause on Sang Yan’s end as well, and then he quickly continued, “I really can’t stand this about you. You’re a grown man, but you talk like a young girl. Why can’t you just be straightforward?”
Duan Jiaxu: “I’m hanging up.”
”Wait a moment,” Sang Yan seemed to be intrigued, “Brother, I heard you’re going on blind dates again. Your boss seems quite enthusiastic. How many introductions has he arranged for you?”
”…”
”Have any of them worked out? I see you don’t have anyone right now,” Sang Yan said, “Fine, let me give you some advice, just don’t talk like you did before.”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids didn’t even twitch. “How did I talk?”
”I’ve always been hesitant to criticize you on the way you speak,” Sang Yan’s speech was slow and deliberate, “You know, it’s a bit too old-fashioned.”
”…”
”You don’t strike me as someone who likes age-gap relationships,” Sang Yan said, “Bro, let me tell you, us ’90s generation, we’re not into that.”
Duan Jiaxu’s brow twitched. “The ’90s generation?”
”We ’90s kids are more trendy, you know,” Sang Yan continued casually, “I know you ’80s folks might not get it, but you need to keep up with the times.”
Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan were just a year apart.
One born in ’89, the other in ’90.
Duan Jiaxu couldn’t help but chuckle. “You really have too much free time. I’m hanging up.”
He glanced at the time, considering how long it would take from the hospital to Yihe University. He was about to call Sang Zhi to ask if she had gotten on the bus, when he noticed some movement by the door from the corner of his eye.
Duan Jiaxu raised his gaze.
He immediately saw the person who had already left but now returned. She stood by the door, unmoving, seemingly afraid of his scolding. Her voice was soft, “Brother Jiaxu, maybe I should stay with you after all.”
”I have a feeling that if it were me who was sick,” Sang Zhi scratched her head, “You probably wouldn’t leave either.”
Peek-Aboo 
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