SSB – Chapter 41.2

When she went to Yihe City, she didn’t even think to bring it along.

　　Thinking about this, Sang Zhi got up and picked up the makeup kit from the vanity table. She rummaged through it, glanced at the brand, and it seemed quite expensive.

　　Now that she thought about it, his current situation seemed much better than when they were in college.

　　He has a car, and the neighborhood he lived in was quite nice too.

　　It shouldn’t be as tough as before.

　　Sigh.

　　Then why does she still feel he’s somewhat pitiful?

　　Sang Zhi sat back on the floor, rested her chin on the edge of the bed, and silently pondered.

　　Her thoughts were somewhat vacant.

　　After a while, her mind inexplicably recalled the words she heard today while sitting in his car.

　　— “Sounds good.”

　　The preceding phrase was that.

　　— “How grown up can you be?”

　　”…”

　　Forget it.

　　She must have misheard.

　　And maybe he was just teasing her like he usually does.

　　But that doesn’t quite feel right either.

　　He hadn’t said such things before.

　　”…”

　　The more Sang Zhi thought, the more agitated she became.

　　She climbed onto the bed and rolled around. She took out her phone, pushed the thoughts aside, and sent a WeChat message to Duan Jiaxu: [I’m home.]

　　After a moment of thought, she added: [Jiaxu-ge, it seems like my brother has a girlfriend.] 

　　Brother No. 2: [Hmm.] 

　　Sang Zhi scratched her head and tentatively said: [Seems like she’s quite young.] 

　　Brother No. 2: [Your brother wouldn’t go after a minor.] 

　　Sang Zhi hesitated and asked: [Is it fine if she’s of legal age?] 

　　After a while, Duan Jiaxu sent a voice message.

　　Sang Zhi’s heart inexplicably raced as she nervously clicked to listen.

　　The man’s deep voice came through the earpiece, relaxed and matter-of-fact: “She’s of legal age, high school graduate, in college now. Isn’t she practically an adult?” 

　　Another message arrived.

　　His voice carried a few chuckles: “Why wouldn’t it be?”

　　Because Duan Jiaxu could say such words, Sang Zhi found it incredibly unbelievable and tossed and turned all night. But when she judged rationally, she felt he was looking at it from an outsider’s perspective.

　　At least to anyone else, it did make sense.

　　It wasn’t a drastically significant age difference, just about six or seven years apart.

　　However, Sang Zhi had known Duan Jiaxu since she was thirteen.

　　So, perhaps, there was this possibility. In his eyes, she would always be that thirteen-year-old, with no changes.

　　She met him when she was still a child.

　　So in his eyes, she would forever remain a child.

　　Even if he believed he could have a romantic relationship with someone her age.

　　Yet, she wasn’t included in that category.

　　Sang Zhi couldn’t sleep and got up in the middle of the night, pulling out a cardboard box from under the bed. Using a utility knife, she separated the tape on top and retrieved its contents.

　　She saw the ugly plushie that Duan Jiaxu had said he would give her if she wanted it many years ago.

　　Sang Zhi placed it on the bed and stared at it for a while.

　　After a long time, her lips relaxed, and she muttered to herself, “If, and I mean if, you no longer see me as a child—”

　　”I still wouldn’t pursue you,” Sang Zhi poked the plushie with her finger, emphasizing, “It’s not like I have no one pursuing me. I’m so pretty, and besides, you’re much older. In a few years, wrinkles will probably start showing on your face.” 

　　Sang Zhi grumbled, “You wish.”

　　Qian Fei’s wedding was scheduled for the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

　　Since he lived in Nanwu, Sang Zhi was somewhat familiar with him. Apart from junior high school, he had come to pick her up a few times. During Sang Zhi’s high school years, he would occasionally be brought home by Sang Yan for dinner.

　　So when he got married, he also invited Sang Zhi.

　　On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

　　Sang Zhi deliberately changed into a different outfit and went along with Sang Yan. She was assigned a seat at the table with Qian Fei’s university classmates, mostly men.

　　Then, Sang Zhi also saw Duan Jiaxu.

　　Sang Zhi knew he would come, so she wasn’t too surprised.

　　She couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times.

　　Duan Jiaxu was dressed in a simple white shirt, paired with a black blazer. He appeared more serious, with a somewhat subdued and refined aura. He was seated opposite her, engaged in conversation with a woman beside him.

　　Sang Zhi averted her gaze, suddenly feeling something was off, and looked at him again.

　　She immediately noticed the tie he was wearing today was the one she had given him.

　　Seemingly aware of her gaze, Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes and looked at her, his peach blossom eyes curving in an instant. The next second, he said something to the woman next to him, then stood up and walked over to Sang Yan’s side.

　　After discussing with the man beside Sang Yan, the two of them changed positions.

　　Sang Zhi ended up sitting next to Sang Yan.

　　Hearing Sang Yan chuckle, he teasingly said, “Duan Jiaxu, I had just sat down, and you’re already in such a hurry to come over and meet your Dad?”

　　Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes, changed his utensils, and didn’t pay much attention to his words.

　　”Call him ‘Dad’.” Sang Yan leaned back in his chair and stretched his hand to grab the red envelope Sang Zhi had placed on the table, his lips curling to one side. “Now that the New Year has passed, even ‘Dad’ is giving you a red envelope.”

　　The red envelope had been given to Sang Zhi by a relative who had visited suddenly before she left home.

　　Sang Zhi glanced at it, but she couldn’t just snatch it back in front of everyone. She could only endure and pretend not to have seen it, sipping the water in front of her.

　　Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids twitched, his gaze quickly sweeping over Sang Zhi. Turning his face slightly, he looked at Sang Yan and said in a playful tone, “Calling you ‘Dad’ is a bit hard for me. How about calling you ‘Gege’?”

　　Sang Yan raised an eyebrow: “Gege is fine too.”

　　At his words, Duan Jiaxu looked at Sang Zhi again, his gaze direct and filled with emotion. He chuckled lightly, without any hesitation or struggle, and instantly called out, “Sure, Gege.”

　　This declaration was quite astonishing.

　　”…”

　　Sang Zhi almost choked, grabbing a tissue and coughing several times.

　　After a few seconds of silence, Sang Yan stared at him without saying a word, as if he didn’t recognize him. His forehead twitched slightly, his frustration evident. “Who are you trying to disgust by using repeated characters?”

　　”Gege,” Duan Jiaxu took the red envelope and tapped it a couple of times with his fingertip, nonchalantly saying, “Thanks.”

　　Sang Yan’s expression remained unchanged as he replied, “No need to thank me, give it back.”

　　”I’ll accept the red envelope as you suggested.” Duan Jiaxu acted as if he hadn’t heard Sang Yan’s words, putting the red envelope into his pocket, his smile gentle, “So it’s settled, from now on, you’re my big brother.”

　　Sang Yan’s gaze became subtle. “What’s gotten into you today?”

　　”Not a thing,” Duan Jiaxu laughed, seeming almost insufferable as he dragged out his words, “Thanks for caring, Gege.”

　　”…”