The next morning at five o’clock, Sang Zhi got up.
It was still dark outside, and there was no sign of activity from Li Ping and Sang Rong. Afraid of disturbing them, Sang Zhi moved quietly, quickly washing up in the bathroom.
When she came out, Li Ping also came out of her room wrapped in a coat.
”Zhizhi.” Li Ping didn’t look too well. “Your dad and I had some alcohol yesterday, so we can’t drive you to the airport. Shall I call your brother to come and take you?”
”That’s not necessary,” she whispered, feeling a bit guilty for waking her mother. “I’m going with Jiaxu-ge to the airport. He came back yesterday to attend Qian Fei’s wedding and is heading back to Yihe today.”
”Is that so?”
”Yes, you go back to sleep,” Sang Zhi said, “Gege also had some alcohol, so don’t bother him.”
Sang Zhi returned to her room and sent a message to Duan Jiaxu: [Jiaxu-ge, are you awake?]
Duan Jiaxu replied instantly: [Yeah.]
Relieved, she sat in front of the vanity and quickly applied light makeup. She changed into a different outfit and then pulled her luggage along as she headed outside.
At this time, the temperature outside was even colder than she had anticipated, with a chilling edge that seemed to seep into her bones, carrying a hint of dampness, penetrating through her pores.
Sang Zhi sniffled, retrieved her phone, and made a call to Duan Jiaxu.
Soon, someone picked up the phone on the other end. His voice sounded as if he hadn’t stayed up all night, flowing through the line with clarity and warmth. “Are you on your way out?”
Sang Zhi replied with an acknowledging hum. “I’m getting ready to leave the community. Where are you?”
”I’m outside that bakery near your community,” Duan Jiaxu replied, ” I’m buying breakfast. Have you eaten?”
”Not yet.”
”What would you like to eat?”
”Just a sandwich will do,” Sang Zhi thought for a moment, “and maybe an egg tart.”
”Got it.”
Sang Zhi hung up the phone, her hands feeling a bit stiff from the cold. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and took out a pair of gloves from her bag, putting them on. She continued to drag her suitcase at a leisurely pace.
As she exited the community, she spotted Duan Jiaxu not far away, holding a black travel bag. He walked over, handed her a plastic bag, and casually took her suitcase while placing his bag on top.
Sang Zhi looked at him. “Have you eaten?”
”No, I’ll have something in the taxi later,” Duan Jiaxu said, “Go ahead and have the soy milk to fill your stomach.”
”Oh.” Sang Zhi hooked the plastic bag on her wrist, removed her gloves, punctured the bottle with a straw, and handed it to him. ” You have it.”
Duan Jiaxu took it and smiled. He said, “Thanks, Zhizhi.”
The two of them waited by the roadside for a while before flagging down a taxi. Sang Zhi got in and handed him a sandwich from the bag. Then, she absentmindedly opened another package for herself.
Just as Sang Zhi was about to take a bite, she suddenly noticed that Duan Jiaxu was completely still, just tilting his head to look at the sandwich in her hand.
”…” Under his gaze, Sang Zhi felt a bit embarrassed. She hesitated and then offered the sandwich in her hand to him, “Do you want it?”
Duan Jiaxu accepted it, his tone soft and almost flirtatious, “Thank you, Zhizhi.”
Sang Zhi: “…”
She was baffled.
There were also a dozen egg tarts left in the bag. Sang Zhi could only take one out and start nibbling on it while keeping an eye on the sandwich in his hand. She seemed somewhat unwilling, “Do you want to eat two?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Hmm.”
He had spent money on it, so Sang Zhi didn’t want to say anything. But she remembered that she had just mentioned wanting a sandwich, so she could only express it indirectly, “Then why didn’t you buy three?”
”Why would I buy three?” Duan Jiaxu seemed to not quite understand, speaking nonchalantly, “I can’t eat three.”
”…”
Before long, Duan Jiaxu finished one sandwich and opened the packaging of the other. He paused, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, as he extended it toward Sang Zhi, “Want some?”
Sang Zhi was resolute, not lifting her eyelids. “No, thanks.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Is one egg tart enough to fill you up?”
Sang Zhi: “No.”
”Why aren’t you eating then?”
”I don’t eat food that’s begged for.”
”…” Duan Jiaxu paused, then suddenly burst into a low laugh, seemingly amused by her remark, “Since when did this become begging?”
Sang Zhi drank her soy milk nonchalantly, “You only offer when you can’t finish eating.”
”Can’t finish? With a sandwich this size,” Duan Jiaxu said, “I could still eat three of them.”
Sang Zhi turned her head: “Then why didn’t you give me one earlier?”
”I was just teasing you,” Duan Jiaxu’s deep and bright eyes locked onto her. He spoke calmly, “You bat your eyelashes at Gege, and Gege will give you whatever you want.”
”…”
This man is getting more shameless as he gets older.
Sang Zhi resisted the urge to retort, “You’re quite delusional.”
”Are you ready?” Duan Jiaxu placed the sandwich in her hand, “Prepare yourself then, Gege is waiting.”
Sang Zhi took his words seriously and repeated with earnestness, “I said you’re delusional.”
”Of course,” Duan Jiaxu chuckled, “You’re adorable when you’re being coquettish, Zhizhi.”
”…”
-
Sang Zhi suddenly understood how Sang Yan felt yesterday.
She really was getting frustrated by his shamelessness, yet she couldn’t come up with an effective way to retaliate.
Deciding to ignore him, Sang Zhi finished her sandwich and pulled her cap over her head. Leaning against the seat, she closed her eyes. Having woken up early, she soon fell asleep again.
When she woke up once more, they had already arrived at the airport.
They collected their boarding passes and chose seats next to each other. Feeling still tired, Sang Zhi found another spot in the departure lounge and closed her eyes to sleep.
Duan Jiaxu was the one who woke her up when it was time to board.
Their seats were in a row of three, and they occupied the inner seats. Duan Jiaxu had Sang Zhi sit by the window and reminded her to fasten her seatbelt.
Sang Zhi reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle filled with water that Duan Jiaxu had gotten for her in the departure lounge. She unscrewed the cap and took small sips.
Duan Jiaxu struck up a conversation with Sang Zhi, “Feeling cold?”
Sang Zhi shook her head: “No.”
Soon, the person sitting next to Duan Jiaxu took his seat.
The man placed his bag in the overhead compartment. Then, he settled into his seat and glanced at Duan Jiaxu beside him. After a brief moment, he averted his gaze.
However, moments later, as if sensing something amiss, he looked over again, staring at Duan Jiaxu for a while.
”Hey, you’re Duan Jiaxu, aren’t you?”
Upon hearing these words, Duan Jiaxu turned his head.
Sang Zhi also followed the sound and glanced over.
It was a man around the same age as Duan Jiaxu. Wearing black-framed glasses, he had a fair complexion and was dressed in a simple sports jacket.
”It’s really you,” the man exclaimed, “I’m Yuan Lang, remember? We were classmates in junior high.”
Duan Jiaxu stared at him silently without speaking.
”It’s been so long, counting how many years… We used to be desk mates, right?” Yuan Lang continued, “I heard they had a class reunion recently. How come I didn’t see you there? I couldn’t make it this time because my mom got sick.”
Duan Jiaxu withdrew his gaze and replied with a faint smile, “No time.”
”True, true.” Sensing his indifference, Yuan Lang chuckled. “I heard from Jiang Ying that your job makes you pretty busy now. You must be making quite a bit of money.”
After saying that, he noticed Sang Zhi beside him and curiously asked, “Is this your girlfriend? No, wait, why did I hear that you and Jiang Ying are getting married?”
Sang Zhi was taken aback.
”…” Duan Jiaxu also seemed incredulous and turned his head away. After a pause of several seconds, he suddenly tugged at the corner of his mouth and laughed, his tone sounding quite absurd, “What are you talking about?”
”Isn’t it true? I can’t remember who told me…” Yuan Lang looked somewhat embarrassed as he turned to Sang Zhi. “Please don’t mind, I have a loose tongue. It just slipped out.”
Sang Zhi leaned close to Duan Jiaxu’s ear and whispered, “Who is Jiang Ying?”
Duan Jiaxu replied softly, “The woman we met at the hotpot restaurant before.”
”…”
Sang Zhi tried to recall, finding things a bit confusing.
Yuan Lang beside them asked again, “So, is this your girlfriend?”
Duan Jiaxu turned his head slightly and whispered something that Sang Zhi didn’t quite catch.
Soon after, Duan Jiaxu turned back to her.
Sang Zhi hesitated and said, “Uhm…”
Noticing her expression, Duan Jiaxu explained seriously, “It’s not that kind of relationship, and she’s not an ex-girlfriend either.” He looked at Sang Zhi, his features softening a bit, “Besides, haven’t I promised you something?”
Sang Zhi didn’t quite catch on. She asked, “What?”
”If I were to date someone,” Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, speaking slowly, “I would have to get your approval first.”
Peek-Aboo 
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