SSB – Chapter 54.4

　But it ignited Sang Zhi’s anger in an instant.

　　Sang Zhi’s eyes lowered, focusing on the rolling lipstick on the ground, and then she looked back at Jiang Ying. With a cold laugh, she yanked her bag off her shoulder and forcefully threw it at Jiang Ying’s face. Stretching her neck a bit, her tone was far from polite, “Who indulged you in all these bad habits?”

　　”…”

　　Jiang Ying took a step back from being hit, stayed silent for a few seconds, and then surprisingly started laughing, “Who do you think indulged me?”

　　”…”

　　”Duang Jiaxu himself.”

　　A standoff ensued.

　　Sang Zhi’s dark eyes stared straight at her. “Auntie, if he has really indulged you like you claim, then why bother coming to find me today?”

　　”…”

　　”With all this spare time, instead of doing this, you could spend it on skincare. Otherwise, standing next to Duang Jiaxu, I might mistake you for his mother’s friend.”

　　After saying that, she left the restroom.

　　Angered, Jiang Ying followed her out immediately. She grabbed Sang Zhi’s arm, raising her hand that was trembling with rage.

　　Coincidentally, Liang Jun also came out of the restroom. Seeing the situation, he stopped in his tracks for a moment, then immediately held onto Sang Zhi’s hand, shielding her behind him. He angrily shouted, “What are you doing?!”

　　”…”

　　Jiang Ying didn’t respond. She stared fixedly at Sang Zhi before turning back to her own seat.

　　Liang Jun asked a few questions, and Sang Zhi vaguely gave a few excuses. She returned to her seat and absentmindedly glanced at her phone, with Jiang Ying’s words echoing in her mind.

　　After the event, the colleagues in the department decided to go to a nearby lounge bar to play games.

　　Sang Zhi had no objections and followed along. However, she couldn’t concentrate, inexplicably recalling the scene of Duan Jiaxu smoking alone on the balcony the night he stayed at her house.

　　She remembered his words, “Little Sang Zhi, the money you earn in the future should be used to buy yourself pretty dresses.”

　　She thought about his days in university, one part-time job after another.

　　She thought about how he refused to go to the hospital when he was sick and spent holidays alone.

　　Thinking about his recent life, it seemed to have become brighter.

　　She remembered him smiling at her with indulgence in his eyes as he said, “What other girls have, our Zhizhi must have too.”

　　The barrier that had been hard to overcome suddenly seemed to clear at this moment. Sang Zhi’s mind heated up in an instant. She stood up abruptly, bid farewell to the others, and said, “I have something to attend to, I’ll leave first.”

　　When she arrived downstairs at Duan Jiaxu’s apartment, someone happened to open the main door.

　　Sang Zhi followed them inside, her mind blank. She entered the elevator, went up to Duan Jiaxu’s floor, and stood in front of his apartment door. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

　　The door was quickly opened.

　　Duan Jiaxu seemed to have just taken a shower, with water dripping from his hair and emitting a rich and refreshing scent of mint. His expression was somewhat stunned, as if he hadn’t expected her to visit at this hour. 

　　Staring at his expression, Duan Jiaxu bent down a bit and hesitantly asked, “Why did you come?”

　　Sang Zhi also stared at him, not answering his question. It was like an impulse, but also like something she had been holding back for a long time. With unusual directness, she blurted out, “Can you keep liking me?”

　　After all, I was the one who liked you first.

　　And I also like you more.

　　So I want to be with you all the time.

　　Even if, in the future, you truly stop liking me, I feel like I wouldn’t be losing out.

　　Duan Jiaxu hadn’t fully processed things yet, and he even had a feeling like he had fallen asleep and was dreaming. He lowered his gaze and instinctively voiced his thoughts, “I can.”

　　Sang Zhi sniffled, “Then, um…”

　　”Wait a moment,” Duan Jiaxu chuckled, “What are you doing?”

　　Before Sang Zhi could say anything else, Duan Jiaxu had already taken hold of her wrist and pulled her into the house. He said, “Come in.”

　　”…”

　　”Tell me,” Duan Jiaxu spoke patiently, “What’s going on?”

　　”I just thought today was a suitable day,” Sang Zhi whispered, “So I didn’t want to wait any longer.”

　　Duan Jiaxu’s breath caught, realizing that she wasn’t joking: “Did you drink?”

　　Sang Zhi: “No.”

　　Duan Jiaxu: “Are you agreeing to be with me?”

　　”Yeah.”

　　Several seconds of silence passed.

　　Suddenly, Duan Jiaxu gently held her chin, tilting her face up. His eyes were deep, locked onto her clear yet nervous gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he confirmed once more, “Have you made up your mind?”

　　Sang Zhi didn’t break eye contact, continuing to gaze at him, and nodded again.

　　Finally, the affirmative answer he had been waiting for.

　　The escalating ambiance of ambiguity, just within arm’s reach, felt like a dreamlike scene. Duan Jiaxu’s gaze darkened as he focused on her lips. Suddenly, he spoke, his voice husky, “Open your mouth.”

　　Sang Zhi didn’t immediately grasp the situation, and she let out a soft sound of surprise before parting her lips.

　　In the next moment, his voice descended.

　　Accompanied by an intensely passionate and warm sensation.

　　”Gege’s going to teach you how to kiss.”