SSB – Chapter 50.2

Pausing for a moment, Sang Zhi calmly added, “But I can accompany you to eat.”

Watching her actions, Duan Jiaxu didn’t respond immediately. His eyes held a hint of playful amusement.

Noticing Sang Zhi raising her hand to put the piece of cotton candy into her mouth, he suddenly lowered his head and bit the small piece she had torn off.

His action was abrupt, and Sang Zhi was momentarily stunned. She stared blankly at the small residue left on her finger, then looked at him caught off guard, “What are you doing?”

Duan Jiaxu licked his lips and said naturally, “I wanted some cotton candy.”

“No.” Sang Zhi was protective of her treat. “This is mine.”

Duan Jiaxu looked at her for a couple of seconds, then burst into laughter. Afterward, he took out a tissue from his pocket and wiped her fingers clean for her. He raised an eyebrow as he glanced at her, teasing, “Stingy.”

Sang Zhi frowned: “You’re the stingy one.”

“Go ahead and eat.” Duan Jiaxu stopped teasing her. “It’s going to melt soon.”

Sang Zhi tore another piece, hesitated, then put it into her mouth, “So what do you want to eat?”

Duan Jiaxu: “How about a bowl of noodles?”

“Which place then?” Sang Zhi pointed nearby. “There’s a pretty good one.”

“Sure.”

The two of them entered the shop and found a seat.

Duan Jiaxu ordered a simple bowl of the signature noodles and didn’t ask for anything else. He casually inquired, “What have you been busy with lately?”

“Our school is organizing a digital media art competition recently, and I plan to participate,” Sang Zhi honestly said, “I teamed up with others and we’ve decided to create an animated short film, but we haven’t figured out the content yet.”

Duan Jiaxu nodded in response.

Sang Zhi continued, “Originally, we thought about making a microfilm, but I feel like many groups might choose that. And as for game design, I’m not skilled in programming.”

Duan Jiaxu said casually, “I am.”

His tone sounded almost boastful.

“…” Sang Zhi glanced at him. “But you can’t help me with the competition.”

Duan Jiaxu half-jokingly suggested, “You can withdraw from that group and join mine.”

Sang Zhi reminded him, “It has to be for college students.”

Duan Jiaxu casually said, “Really? I don’t look like one?” 

“…”

Soon, Duan Jiaxu’s noodles were served.

Sang Zhi had eaten most of her cotton candy, and the remaining bit gradually melted in the indoor temperature. She threw the stick into the trash and used a tissue to wipe her hands. 

Duan Jiaxu seemed to have a poor appetite, eating slowly.

Sang Zhi took out her phone to play and occasionally looked up at him. Seeing that he hadn’t made much progress with his noodles for a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do you not want to eat?” 

“No,” Duan Jiaxu said with an unchanged expression, “I’m just buying time.”

“…”

“Eat slowly, take my time, and in two hours, I’ll take you back.”

Upon hearing this, Sang Zhi paused for a moment, then lowered her head to look at her phone. Pretending not to care, she calmly said, “The noodles will get too soggy if you leave them for a while.”

Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly but didn’t say anything.

Sang Zhi casually mentioned a few things, and Duan Jiaxu responded normally. At first, she didn’t notice, but as time went on, she felt that something was off.

He seemed to be laughing a lot tonight, yet his mood didn’t seem particularly good. His emotions appeared subdued, and his lips were pulled upwards with a touch of weariness. 

Sang Zhi put down her phone and hesitated before asking, “Jiaxu-ge, are you feeling bad?”

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused. “How did you figure it out?”

“…” Sang Zhi hesitated. “Really not feeling well?”

Duan Jiaxu replied gently, “Just a little.”

Sang Zhi thought for a moment, and suddenly regretted it a bit. She asked dryly, “Is it because I didn’t give you any cotton candy just now?”

“…”

Sang Zhi felt a bit at a loss. “Should I go buy you a stick of cotton candy now?”

Duan Jiaxu finished the last bite of his noodles and took a tissue to wipe his mouth. He raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat amusing. “What are you thinking?”

Sang Zhi: “Then why were you in a bad mood?”

Duan Jiaxu replied casually, “Probably due to working overtime too much. I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Both of them stood up and left the noodle shop.

Sang Zhi didn’t hesitate: “Then just don’t work overtime.”

Duan Jiaxu: “Hmm.”

Sang Zhi pondered for a moment and suddenly took out the candy she had just bought at the convenience store from her pocket. She tore it open and handed one to him, saying, “Have some candy.”

Duan Jiaxu took it, and his expression softened slightly, “Are you trying to pacify a child?”

Sang Zhi blinked and corrected him, “Pacifying an old child.”

“…”

Seeing him not moving, Sang Zhi took one for herself, tore open the candy wrapper, and held it to his lips. “This candy is delicious. My brother also likes it.”

Duan Jiaxu hesitated for a moment, then, guided by her hand, he lowered his head and took the candy into his mouth.

Sang Zhi pushed the remaining candies into his hand: “You can have all of them.”

Duan Jiaxu looked at the candies in his hand, the gloom in his eyes dissipating, and he smiled with his lower jaw slightly raised. “I’ve never been coaxed like this before.”

The previous actions might have been somewhat intimate, but Sang Zhi didn’t want to see him unhappy. She averted her gaze, stubbornly saying, “I just ate too much candy earlier, I don’t want this one.”

“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes and met hers. His gaze inexplicably slid downward and stopped at her lips. A few seconds later, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he hoarsely asked, “Can I push my luck a little?”

Sang Zhi also looked at him and honestly said, “But I only have this one left.”

“…”

“If you want something, you can go buy it again.”

“It’s not about the candy.” Duan Jiaxu looked at her, his eyes gleaming, deep and alluring. He raised his hand, and using his fingertip to brush against her lower lip, he asked with a faint smile, “Can I kiss you?”

“…” Sang Zhi didn’t catch on at first. “Huh?”

He withdrew his hand, not repeating himself, still gazing at her.

Sang Zhi even felt like she might be hearing things. She couldn’t believe her ears. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and her ears turned bright red. She couldn’t utter a single word. 

Duan Jiaxu waited for a moment and then asked again, very gentlemanly, “Is it okay or not?”

Sang Zhi snapped back to her senses and immediately refused, “No.”

Duan Jiaxu let out a disappointed sound and then opted for an alternative, “How about holding hands?”

Sang Zhi felt a bit overwhelmed, taking a step back and earnestly stating, “We’re not even together, and you’re trying to pull something like this. You’re being rogue.”

Duan Jiaxu followed along, “So, if we were together?”

Sang Zhi felt her resolve wavering, as if with just one more sentence from him, she wouldn’t be able to hold onto her position and would just agree outright. She pressed her lips together, struggled for a while, and finally, with a brave front, said, “You haven’t really pursued me much.”

A few seconds of silence reigned.

Duan Jiaxu mumbled, “You have a point.”

“Well,” he raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly playful, and the words he spoke seemed to inquire about her opinion with a great deal of respect, “Can I be a rogue then?”