Ning Wei turned her head and noticed Sang Zhi’s continuous silence. She asked subconsciously, “Hey, Sangsang, are you feeling down? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“No.” Sang Zhi snapped back to reality and smiled. “I’m listening to you.”
Perhaps because it had just opened, the bar wasn’t as crowded as Sang Zhi had imagined, and it wasn’t as noisy.
Ning Wei called her boyfriend over. Then, her boyfriend brought along Jiang Ming. Most of the others were in pairs, and naturally, Jiang Ming ended up sitting next to Sang Zhi.
Sang Zhi hadn’t talked to him in person before; their usual communication was through WeChat. She glanced at him, not feeling awkward, but she didn’t initiate a conversation either.
Jiang Ming was handsome, with single-fold eyelids and a distinctively chiseled face. He was tall and slim, with a bright smile that resembled that of a sunny boy.
The group started playing dice.
Since Sang Zhi didn’t know how to play, she didn’t participate and instead played with her phone on the side. She was feeling somewhat off, and she hadn’t said much all night, just sipping the drink in front of her.
The color of the drink was quite attractive, and it had a strong taste with a hint of sweetness.
Sang Zhi found the taste a bit odd, not quite fitting her preferences, but since she had ordered it, she didn’t want to waste it and reluctantly drank it.
Jiang Ming didn’t continue playing and came over to talk to her. He pointed to the drink in front of her and reminded her, “This drink has a high alcohol content, can you handle it?”
“High?” Sang Zhi paused and touched her cheek. “Then I won’t drink it.”
Jiang Ming brought over another cup and said, “Drink this one then.”
Sang Zhi belatedly felt a bit dizzy. She shook her head and whispered, “It’s alright, I won’t drink. You can have it.”
Jiang Ming didn’t insist. “Do you want some water then?”
“No, thank you.”
Sang Zhi looked around, thinking about asking Ning Wei if she wanted to go back to the dormitory together. The next moment, her phone, which she was holding in her hand, suddenly vibrated.
She looked down at it.
It was a call from Duan Jiaxu.
Sang Zhi answered, “Brother.”
“Hmm, tomorrow morning at eight o’clock—” Before he could finish, Duan Jiaxu suddenly heard noises from her end and fell silent. Then he changed the topic, “Where are you?”
“I’m at a bar near my school.” Sang Zhi felt a bit uncomfortable, her speech hesitant, “I came here with my roommates, but I’m planning to head back.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Are you going back alone?”
Sang Zhi: “I’ll ask my roommates if they’re leaving too.”
“Did you drink?”
“Yes.” This Sang Zhi didn’t dare to be honest, “Just a little.”
Duan Jiaxu’s voice softened, “The name of the bar?”
Sang Zhi couldn’t quite recall, so she turned and asked Jiang Ming, “What’s the name of this bar?”
Jiang Ming thought for a moment, “I think it’s called ‘Week Eight’.”
“Oh, thank you.” Sang Zhi turned back and continued talking to Duan Jiaxu on the phone. She said with some uncertainty, “It’s called something like ‘Week Eight’.”
Duan Jiaxu remained silent for a few seconds, then said, “Alright. Just stay inside for a bit, I’ll come over now.”
Sang Zhi exclaimed, not understanding why he suddenly wanted to come over. She asked curiously, “Why are you coming over? Do you want to join us?”
From the other end came the sound of Duan Jiaxu closing a door, mixed with the sound of his breath, low and seductive as he spoke, “Big Brother is coming over to catch some drunkards.”
“…”
Sang Zhi felt a bit stifled in the bar. She put on her coat and bid farewell to the others, “I’m heading back now. I haven’t packed up my things yet.”
Jiang Ming also stood up. “Let me walk you back.”
“No need.” Sang Zhi mumbled, “My brother is waiting for me outside.”
Jiang Ming was puzzled. “Your home is around here?”
“No.” Sang Zhi blinked hard, waving her hand. “But my brother works around here.”
She walked out of the bar.
It was particularly cold outside, and the sky was dusted with tiny snowflakes. The cold wind momentarily sharpened Sang Zhi’s senses, and she sniffed, pulling out gloves from her pocket and slowly putting them on.
Sang Zhi rarely saw snow, and she became interested. She picked up a twig nearby and squatted on the ground, drawing stick figures with matches.
She felt a bit weak, and what she drew came out crooked and distorted.
After squatting for a while, Sang Zhi started to feel a bit nauseous, so she decided to sit directly on the ground.
It just so happened that Duan Jiaxu arrived at that moment.
He parked the car by the roadside, got out, and walked over. Noticing Sang Zhi sitting by the side of the road, Duan Jiaxu was taken aback for a moment, then walked over with big strides. He asked, “Sang Zhi, why are you sitting here?”
“I think it’s wet.” Sang Zhi turned her head and mumbled, “My pants seem to be wet.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Sang Zhi tried to get up but lacked the strength, “Brother, the snow is wet.”
“…” Duan Jiaxu took a deep breath, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up. “How much have you drunk?”
Sang Zhi murmured, “Just half a cup.”
“Half a cup of what?” Duan Jiaxu looked down, chuckling with exasperation, “And who allowed you to go to a bar?”
“I’m of legal drinking age.” Sensing the reprimand in his words, Sang Zhi suddenly lifted her head, then repeated more seriously, “I’m of legal drinking age.”
“Even if you’re of legal age—”
Sang Zhi interrupted him, “Why can’t I?”
Duan Jiaxu was momentarily taken aback, then he bent down to look at her, whispering, “Why is Little Sang Zhi throwing a tantrum?”
A sense of grievance suddenly surged up, and Sang Zhi inexplicably felt like crying. Her voice carried a hint of a sob as she spoke, “You said it yourself, after becoming an adult, I can do whatever I want. No one will control me.”
“…”
“You said it yourself.”
The things she wanted to do, the things that could only be done after reaching adulthood, how many were there?
Just that one thing.
But now that she was legally an adult, her courage seemed to have diminished instead.
Before, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him about her feelings.
Now, she had become so timid that she couldn’t even confess her feelings.
Clearly, others at this age were supposed to bravely express their affections to the one they liked.
Why could she only endure it?
She wanted to contact him less, yet she feared he might not be doing well alone.
“What’s wrong?” Duan Jiaxu frowned. “Did someone bully you?”
Sang Zhi wiped away her tears with her gloves and replied in a muffled voice, “No.”
Feeling dizzy and unable to walk steadily, she thought of sitting back down on the ground, but Duan Jiaxu immediately grabbed her. Sang Zhi leaned against him and murmured, “I want to go home.”
Duan Jiaxu was both frustrated and amused. “Can you go back tomorrow like this?”
“I’m not feeling well.” Sang Zhi wrinkled her brows and her voice slowed down, “Brother, I feel nauseous.”
Duan Jiaxu took off his coat and placed it in front of her, “Then go ahead and throw up.”
Sang Zhi tried it out: “I can’t vomit.”
Duan Jiaxu whispered, “Then let’s sit somewhere nearby for a while.”
“I can’t walk.” Sang Zhi shook her head. “I’m not moving.”
“I will carry you.”
Sang Zhi stared at him, and after a while, she suddenly started crying and threw a tantrum for no apparent reason, “I don’t want to, I’m not going.”
“…,” Duan Jiaxu said, “How about going to the car?”
“I don’t want to.”
Duan Jiaxu was inexplicably amused. “So Little Sang Zhi wants to enjoy the breeze here?”
Ignoring his words, Sang Zhi seemed as if she hadn’t heard anything. Sniffling, she suddenly blurted out, “Brother, can I tell you a secret?”
“Hmm?”
“I have someone I really like,” Sang Zhi lowered her gaze, her voice choked, “but he just doesn’t like me.”
“…”
Duan Jiaxu’s mouth curved downward a bit, struggling to maintain his smile. “Who is it?”
Sang Zhi didn’t answer.
“Is it that person you’re in an online relationship with?” Duan Jiaxu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked in a hoarse voice, “Or someone from your school?”
Sang Zhi looked up at him, remained silent for a while, and then her lips moved, “I’m not telling you.”
The fact that she liked Duan Jiaxu was something Sang Zhi hadn’t told anyone, not a single soul.
From liking him, to giving up, and then not being able to resist liking him again—these were all her private emotions, known to her alone.
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Can’t you tell me?”
Sang Zhi was about to say something else when suddenly her throat burned with acidity. She abruptly leaned against his chest, as if unable to hold back, and spat out the contents of her mouth onto him.
“…”
Not long after, Sang Zhi stood upright again, seeming to be a bit clearer now. Noticing what she had just done, she took a step back and said nervously, “I didn’t mean it.”
Afraid she might fall, Duan Jiaxu reached out to support her.
Sang Zhi pushed him away, took a few steps back, and crouched on the ground, saying timidly, “Don’t scold me.”
“…,” Duan Jiaxu glanced at his clothes, took them off, and then put his coat back on. He also crouched in front of her, using his clothes to wipe her mouth, seemingly amused. “When did I scold you?”
Sang Zhi choked up, “Don’t scold me…”
Duan Jiaxu: “Get up.”
“I don’t want to.” Sang Zhi simply sat back on the ground, looking like she wasn’t going to budge. “You’re definitely going to scold me again…”
“I won’t scold you,” Duan Jiaxu said patiently, “Get up, don’t catch a cold.”
Sang Zhi remained somewhat wary, motionless.
Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows lifted playfully and asked, “Also, when did I scold you?”
Sang Zhi didn’t say a word.
“Where did this little drunkard come from?” Duan Jiaxu wasn’t angry. His eyes suddenly curved as he laughed. “Get up quickly, my clothes are dirty. I can’t carry you like this.”
Sang Zhi lowered her head and said in a nasal tone, “So, you won’t take care of me anymore.”
“Huh? Indeed, I really don’t feel like taking care of you,” Duan Jiaxu turned around and crouched in front of her, “but I do find it a bit hard to leave you.”
“…”
“Come on,” Duan Jiaxu said, “Let me give you a piggyback ride.”
Peek-Aboo 
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