Occasionally, he would message her, just to remind her to take care of herself in the cold weather.
Sang Zhi changed the name of Duan Jiaxu’s number in WeChat to “Brother No. 2,” and her way of addressing him reverted to the childhood form, calling him just “Brother.”
She resolutely transformed his status in her heart to be similar to Sang Yan.
For a time, Sang Zhi felt that this was quite alright.
She made an effort to sever her own thoughts, ending this unattainable, fruitless crush. No longer would she fret over it, no longer would she believe that in her lifetime, she could only love one person.
Sang Zhi even began to look forward to a future day when she would no longer have such thoughts.
He would appear before her with a woman, telling her that she was his girlfriend.
She wouldn’t feel upset anymore, her only thought would be that he had finally found someone.
Then, with a heart full of blessings, she would smile and call that woman “Sister-in-law.”
The last night of 2015.
The other three roommates had gone out to celebrate the New Year with others, but Sang Zhi wasn’t particularly interested in such rituals. She had declined several invitations.
Her plan was simple: order takeout, take a shower, watch a movie, and then go to sleep.
That was how she intended to spend the night.
However, before she could put her plan into action, Duan Jiaxu called her.
Sang Zhi answered the call with a mouthful of potato chips.
Duan Jiaxu’s lazy voice came through the phone, always carrying a faint smile in his words. He spoke in a teasing and playful tone, “What’s Little Sang Zhi up to?”
Sang Zhi glanced at the time and casually replied, “Getting ready to order some takeout.”
”What kind of takeout?” Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “Come celebrate with Big Brother.”
Sang Zhi paused, her cheeks slightly flushed, and quickly responded, “I don’t want to go out.”
Duan Jiaxu casually suggested, “Then how about having a meal with me?”
”…”
”Huh? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Duan Jiaxu said slowly, “Weren’t you going to treat me to a meal? Are you trying to back out?”
Sang Zhi tossed the potato chips back into the bag. “I’m not backing out. You didn’t mention it earlier either.”
Duan Jiaxu drawled, “Then come out now. I’m outside your school.”
Sang Zhi couldn’t help but say, “You said I didn’t need to treat you before.”
Duan Jiaxu elongated his tone in a questioning sound, as if he couldn’t recall, “Did I say that?”
”…”
This person was really strange.
Every holiday, he would look for her.
It was like he thought she was alone over here and it was pitiful for her to spend the holiday alone. On Christmas Day, he had also contacted her, but when he heard that she was with her friends, he didn’t say much.
Sang Zhi hung up the phone, quickly changed into a different outfit, and put on a scarf. She looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a bit off in her complexion. After hesitating for a moment, she applied a thin layer of lipstick.
After leaving the school, Sang Zhi was about to call Duan Jiaxu.
As she looked up, she happened to spot his car and him in the driver’s seat.
Sang Zhi walked over, got into the passenger seat, obediently greeted him with a “Brother,” and then fastened her seatbelt.
Duan Jiaxu looked at her. “Why aren’t you out having fun?”
”It’s cold,” Sang Zhi replied truthfully, “I didn’t want to go out.”
”Why do you live your life like an elderly person at your age?” Duan Jiaxu chuckled, started the car, and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
Sang Zhi didn’t have any specific cravings. “You decide.”
Duan Jiaxu suggested, “How about hotpot?”
Sang Zhi nodded: “Sure.”
”Should I pick the location?”
”Yeah.”
Duan Jiaxu drove the car a few kilometers to a commercial area near his community. However, this location was even closer to the city library and not far from Yihe University.
This hotpot restaurant was a chain with several branches in Yihe, and it was quite popular. There were quite a few people sitting outside on chairs, waiting in line.
Sang Zhi had never been to this place before, but the aroma made her curious, so she went to get a queue number.
They had to wait for a while before a table was available.
Duan Jiaxu handed her the menu and asked her to place the order.
Considering that Duan Jiaxu had recently recovered from his illness, Sang Zhi ordered a clear broth. Then, according to normal preferences, she ordered a mix of meat and vegetarian dishes. When she saw the fatty beef, she hesitated for a while but ended up ordering it.
Soon, Sang Zhi handed the menu back to him. “Brother, take a look and see what else you’d like.”
Duan Jiaxu glanced casually, picked up a pen, and crossed out the fatty beef that had caused her indecision for a while. He replaced it with cuttlefish balls. “Let’s go with this.”
”…”
Sang Zhi glanced at him and then bowed her head, pretending to play with her phone, while suppressing her emotions.
Duan Jiaxu poured some tea into her cup and asked, “When are your exams?”
”They start on the 11th of next month.”
”When will you go back home?”
”After the exams.” Sang Zhi thought for a moment. “Probably around the 20th.”
Duan Jiaxu advised, “Remember to book your tickets in advance; it’s not easy to get tickets before the New Year.”
Sang Zhi nodded: “I know.”
The two of them were chatting casually, without much substance.
Soon, the people at the nearby table finished their meal, and after the waitstaff cleared the table, they brought in two young women. At the same time, the hot pot broth arrived as well.
Sang Zhi put down her phone and looked up.
She noticed that one of the women seemed somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t immediately recall where she had seen her before.
This woman seemed to know Duan Jiaxu. When she saw him, her gaze paused, the smile on her face instantly fading. She let go of her friend’s elbow, walked over, and her tone became quite aggressive, “Duan Jiaxu.”
Duan Jiaxu had been in the middle of talking to Sang Zhi.
Upon hearing the voice, his expression froze, and he looked up.
Sang Zhi also followed suit and glanced over.
The woman wasn’t particularly attractive. At most, she could be considered delicate-looking, her face adorned with meticulous makeup. Her expression was rather unpleasant, her features seeming somewhat sharp.
“If I hadn’t seen you here, I would have thought you were dead.”
As she approached, Sang Zhi caught a whiff of her perfume.
Suddenly, a memory was triggered in Sang Zhi’s mind. It was the same woman she had encountered in the elevator during her last visit to Duan Jiaxu’s place.
Sang Zhi redirected her gaze and instinctively glanced at Duan Jiaxu.
He had also retracted his gaze, not looking at the woman. As if he hadn’t heard her words, he absentmindedly picked up the teapot and poured tea into his cup.
The woman continued, “Didn’t you see that I called you?”
Sang Zhi pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a bit awkward sitting there. She tried to diminish her presence, taking out her phone to play with it.
”You called me?” Duan Jiaxu picked up his phone from the side, glanced at it, and then slowly raised his eyes, smiling gently. “Ah, I blocked you.”
”You blocked me?” The woman exploded instantly, “Who do you think you are to block me? Damn it! You should serve me like a slave for your entire life!”
Her voice rose, becoming so sharp that it was ear-piercing.
Sang Zhi turned her gaze towards her again, feeling a bit startled.
The woman’s friend grabbed her, seemingly also confused, looking baffled.
“Xiao Ying, what’s wrong? Who is this?”
In the next moment, Sang Zhi saw the woman suddenly pick up a glass of water from the table, seemingly in a fit of rage, and forcefully splashed it onto Duan Jiaxu’s face.
Caught off guard, he couldn’t dodge in time.
He only had time to close his eyes.
The slightly scalding water splashed onto him. From his hair, it trickled down his forehead, along his nose bridge, lips, and down to gather at his chin.
Drop by drop.
In a sorry state.
Sang Zhi was stunned, staring blankly at his current appearance.
Peek-Aboo 
Leave a comment