Chapter 36
After exiting the ward, Duan Jiaxu turned his head to look at her.
He was back in his own clothes today, wearing a short military green jacket over a casual white T-shirt, along with fitted black pants.
His beard had been cleanly shaved, making him look much younger, almost like a college student.
He slightly bent down to meet Sang Zhi’s gaze. Seeming to find her words rather refreshing coming from her, he curled his lips and playfully asked, “Get married as soon as possible?”
Sang Zhi also stared at him, her eyes unblinking. “Wasn’t that your idea in the first place?”
Noticing her evident displeasure, Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow and straightened up. “Are you angry?”
A few seconds of silence reigned.
”Not angry. It’s just, Brother,” Sang Zhi stopped in her tracks, speaking earnestly, “Please don’t make jokes like this again.”
Even though she knew it was a joke, because she was especially clear about this, he wouldn’t truly have feelings for her.
So, she didn’t find it funny at all.
He could openly treat it as a joke, saying those words without a hint of awkwardness. It was as if he was using this way, completely unaware, to turn her small concerns, her carefully hidden insecurities, into a joke.
Sang Zhi lowered her gaze, wanting to say something more, but it remained unsaid. She suddenly let out a sigh and continued walking forward. “Let’s go, I have some things to do in a bit.”
Duan Jiaxu subdued his smile, slowed his pace, and followed behind her. “Really not mad?”
”No.”
”Isn’t it just because I’ve been in the hospital for too long and got too bored?” Duan Jiaxu rubbed the back of his neck with his palm and added, “Should I apologize to you?”
”No need,” Sang Zhi whispered, “Just don’t do it again in the future.”
Seeing how much it bothered her, a complex emotion stirred in Duan Jiaxu’s heart. After a long pause, he seemed to find it both frustrating and amusing, and suddenly he quipped, “Is Brother really that bad?”
”…”
”Could it make our Little Sang Zhi so unhappy?”
Upon hearing this, Sang Zhi turned to look at him, her face devoid of expression. He quirked an eyebrow, his peach blossom eyes deep and charming, his tone half-joking.
Seeing his reaction, she inexplicably wanted to give him a hard time.
Sang Zhi said seriously, “It just can.”
”…”
”Brother, I don’t mean anything else, I’m just telling the truth,” Sang Zhi’s voice was gentle, “After hearing that, I cried all night.”
”…”
After this bout of illness, Duan Jiaxu’s company approved him for half a month of leave. After leaving the hospital, he would have another week to rest and recuperate at home.
Upon arriving at Duan Jiaxu’s house, Sang Zhi noticed there was only one pair of slippers. He glanced at them, barefoot himself, and placed the slippers in front of Sang Zhi for her to wear.
Sang Zhi didn’t feel embarrassed, she just put them on. She had Duan Jiaxu sit on the couch for a while, then she tossed all the brought items into the washing machine and put other things back in their original places for him.
The slippers on her feet looked quite big, causing her to walk a bit slower.
After that, Sang Zhi sat down next to Duan Jiaxu and took out a stack of sticky notes from her bag.
Duan Jiaxu lounged on the couch, lazily playing a game.
Sang Zhi opened her phone’s browser and searched for post-discharge instructions, along with the doctor’s advice. She read through them and then leaned over the coffee table, copying them down one by one.
Noticing her activity, Duan Jiaxu looked over and asked, “What are you writing?”
”Just the post-discharge instructions,” Sang Zhi explained with her head down. “I’ll write them out and stick them on the fridge for you. You need to pay attention to these when you’re eating.”
Growing up, Sang Zhi never really took care of anyone, so she wasn’t very skilled at it. She couldn’t remember many things, so she often looked them up online.
Duan Jiaxu’s movements paused, and he nodded faintly.
”Oh, and don’t sit all the time. Walk around more,” Sang Zhi continued as she thought, “and don’t lift heavy things or engage in strenuous activities.”
”Sure.”
”Also, if there’s anything you need, just let me know, and I’ll find time to buy it for you,” Sang Zhi said calmly. “But in general, I might not come over that often.”
”…”
”Take good care of yourself.”
”Yeah.”
”Lately, I’ve fallen behind on a lot of assignments, and it’s also approaching the end of the semester. I need to prepare for exams.” Sang Zhi looked up at him. “We had planned to have that meal together, but let’s wait until you’re fully recovered.”
”No need for you to treat, Little Sang Zhi,” Duan Jiaxu chuckled lightly. “Big Brother will treat you.”
Sang Zhi blinked, “Then we’ll decide later.”
She put down the pen, stood up, and stuck the written sticky notes on the fridge. Afterward, she returned to the living room, put on her coat, and said, “Well then, I’ll be on my way, Brother.”
Duan Jiaxu got up, “I’ll walk you to the station.”
Sang Zhi shook her head. “You should rest for a bit, especially after just coming back from the hospital.”
”…”
”The subway station isn’t far from here. I know the way,” Sang Zhi put on her shoes at the entrance and waved to him, “Goodbye, Brother.”
Without waiting for his response, Sang Zhi left the house.
With a loud bang, the door was closed, and the room suddenly became quiet.
Duan Jiaxu hadn’t quite reacted yet. He immediately quit the game, grabbed his jacket from the side, and opened the door to step outside. However, there was no trace of Sang Zhi to be seen.
He tugged at the corner of his lip, then returned inside.
Duan Jiaxu walked up to the fridge and glanced at what she had written.
After all these years, her handwriting had clearly become much more beautiful and neat. Unlike before, where each stroke was distinct, and it would take over an hour to write a 500-character essay.
Duan Jiaxu’s expression was somewhat absentminded as he used his fingertip to lightly touch the words.
He inexplicably remembered the time in the hospital.
The grandpa with hearing loss in the neighboring bed kept praising Sang Zhi in front of him, stubbornly treating her as his wife.
—”Your partner is so beautiful and caring.”
A long while later, Duan Jiaxu walked back to the living room and laughed inexplicably.
In December, the temperature in Yihe City had dropped to several degrees below zero.
Due to the weather and the upcoming exam week, department activities had come to a halt. Sang Zhi felt too cold to move. Every day, aside from attending classes, she would either stay in her dorm drawing or working on videos.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t ask her for help anymore either.
Peek-Aboo 
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