Sang Zhi was momentarily unsure how to respond. With some hesitation, she said, “During that time, we did see each other a few times.”
”Speaking of which,” Ning Wei said, “During the summer after my senior year of high school, my dad brought home a dog to raise, and it was all over me that whole month. But when I went back home during winter break, it didn’t even recognize me.”
”…”
”Even a loyal creature like a dog behaves that way. You’ve only met a few times over these years, how could you say he saw you grow up?” Ning Wei continued, “At best, he’s like an older brother you knew when you were a child.”
”But he has given me gifts,” Sang Zhi said, “And he also asks about my studies from time to time.”
”Oh,” Ning Wei said, “So, let’s reluctantly categorize him as an online friend.”
”…”
”I’m just expressing my thoughts, you can take it however you want. My little brother is in junior high now, and if he has a friend I know, I’ll still treat him as a little kid,” Ning Wei said, “If he grows up to be handsome and tries to pursue me, well…”
Sang Zhi looked at her.
Ning Wei smiled playfully: “Sorry, I might actually… hehehe…”
”So, what do you think?” Sang Zhi asked eagerly, “What should I do now?”
”Just go with the flow,” Ning Wei said, “And don’t always think that he’s so much older than you. Just interact normally. If he flirts with you or something, flirt back, maybe?”
Sang Zhi felt a bit downcast but nodded.
”By the way, what does ‘up a notch’ mean?” Ning Wei asked curiously, “Do you think the previous way of him interacting with you was better, or the current one?”
Sang Zhi thought carefully: “I feel like the recent interactions are a bit… hard to describe…”
She inexplicably recalled Sang Yan’s phrase “extremely cheesy romantic lines.” She felt embarrassed to say it out loud, so she mumbled, “The way it used to be was fine.”
After returning home, Duan Jiaxu glanced at WeChat. He had received a friend verification request from Yuan Lang, the person he had met on the plane. He casually glanced at it, didn’t accept it, and simply exited.
Duan Jiaxu grabbed some clean clothes, quickly took a shower in the bathroom, then returned to his room and lay down on the bed, intending to catch some rest.
Just then, his phone rang.
Duan Jiaxu glanced at the caller ID and answered.
Qian Fei: “Have you arrived in Yihe?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Hmm.”
Qian Fei sounded a bit melancholic: “This time you’re gone, how long will it be before we can see each other again?”
Duan Jiaxu chuckled lazily. “If you weren’t married, I’d think you had a secret crush on me from the way you’re talking.”
”Say that again?” Qian Fei retorted, “Come on. I was actually hoping you’d move a bit faster. I thought maybe this time when I got married, you could bring that girl you like over so us brothers, could meet her.”
Duan Jiaxu: “It’s not that simple.”
Qian Fei teased him, “Didn’t you say you’re doing well in that department?”
”…” Duan Jiaxu’s eyelid twitched slightly as he sat up. He found it hard to express his feelings and cleared his throat, “Let’s not talk about this.”
”Why not?”
”You mentioned that girl’s unusual taste in men,” Duan Jiaxu couldn’t help but laugh, “I’ve never seen anyone like that before.”
”Sorry?”
”Bro,” Reminded of calling Sang Yan “Gege”, and the recent interactions with Sang Zhi, made Duan Jiaxu’s heart skip a beat. “Even though it’s kind of interesting, I really—”
”…”
”Seem preposterous.”
”…” Qian Fei said, “Can you stop teasing me, damn it.”
Duan Jiaxu lost his sleepiness, got up, and moved to the living room. He retrieved a pack of cigarettes from under the coffee table. Using a lighter, he lit one and pondered for a moment before smiling: “It’s quite challenging.”
Qian Fei was about to go crazy, “What the hell!”
”That girl told me about the type she likes.” Duan Jiaxu took a drag from his cigarette, his expression lazy. “I’ve been learning a bit during this time.”
Qian Fei exclaimed in disbelief, “Are you alright? Why are you learning from others?”
Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly: “Isn’t it just taking a shortcut?”
Qian Fei: “Is it effective?”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow: “Honestly, not really.”
Qian Fei: “So what’s your plan?”
Duan Jiaxu: “We’ll see.”
”Aren’t you afraid the girl might be interested in someone else?”
”That’s quite a normal thing.” Duan Jiaxu shrugged and pursed his lips nonchalantly. “If she meets someone better, then so be it.”
”How did you end up living like a monk?”
”…”
Qian Fei advised earnestly, “Why not just be yourself? Is there really a difference between what you’re learning and being a substitute? Bro, your conditions aren’t that bad. Do you really have to go to such lengths to please someone?”
Duan Jiaxu sat up straight, tapping his fingertips to shake off the cigarette ash. He remained silent.
Qian Fei: “By the way, what type did that girl mention?”
This time Duan Jiaxu didn’t keep it a secret, “A male fox spirit.”
”…”
”From what I understand, it’s probably a combination of being flirtatious, debonair, and shameless,” Duan Jiaxu paused for a few seconds, speaking leisurely, “all rolled into one.”
Qian Fei couldn’t help but remark, “Isn’t that description fitting for you?”
”…” Duan Jiaxu was caught off guard by the smoke and coughed a few times, “What are you talking about?”
”Let me ask you something,” Qian Fei pondered seriously, speaking sincerely, “After all, I haven’t seen the girl you’re talking about. Just think about it, is there a possibility that she’s describing you?”
Duan Jiaxu’s expression froze.
”Women, they’re always saying one thing and meaning another,” Qian Fei spoke as if he had experienced it himself, “You can’t just believe everything she says. You need to observe for yourself. She says there’s this person. Have you ever met him?”
Duan Jiaxu extinguished the cigarette, his expression pensive.
Qian Fei: “I used to be a spare tire during our university days, too. Do you remember, Bro? It was that girl from the Foreign Language Department. Whenever she broke up with her boyfriend, she’d come to me. Whenever they got back together, she’d ask if I liked anyone, and she’d even help me scheme. I made up someone based on her personality.”
Seconds passed.
Duan Jiaxu finally spoke, “The likelihood is low.”
”…”
After a few seconds, he mumbled, “But it’s also possible.”
”Forget it, my wife’s calling me,” Qian Fei said, “And one more thing, let me remind you – You’ve always been like that. You don’t need to force yourself to act like one.”
”…”
”Otherwise, you might come across a bit too aggressive.”
”…” Duan Jiaxu responded, “Wait a moment.”
”What’s up?”
”Have you told anyone about this?”
Qian Fei chuckled mischievously, “Nah, I haven’t had the chance yet.”
”Don’t talk about this to anyone for now,” Duan Jiaxu said slowly, “It’s rare that I share something personal with you, only to have you tell others…”
”…”
”It’s quite disheartening.”
”…”
After ending the call, Duan Jiaxu sat in the living room for a while longer. He thought about what Sang Zhi had said while drunk, and began reminiscing about earlier times. However, a considerable amount of time had passed, and memories had faded.
Having stayed up late the previous night and risen early that day, Duan Jiaxu’s temples were tense and slightly painful. He stood up, pushing aside those thoughts.
He returned to his room and heard his phone ring again. He glanced at it and saw another friend verification request, with the note: “I’m Jiang Ying.”
He shut the phone and lay down on the bed, closing his eyes.
He was awakened by a series of phone calls.
Duan Jiaxu sat up, noticing that the sky outside had darkened. The room was dim, illuminated only by the glow of his phone screen.
The caller ID was from an unfamiliar number in Yihe City.
Duan Jiaxu stared at it for two seconds and then answered the call.
The moment he put the receiver to his ear, he was greeted by Jiang Ying’s crying voice, sounding intoxicated and somewhat incoherent, “Duan Jiaxu, you finally answered my call… I had to use someone else’s number to reach you.”
”…”
Peek-Aboo 
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