Sang Zhi recalled and realized she had indeed seen such a thing quite a few times at school. She reluctantly agreed and asked softly, “What’s the speech you’ve prepared?”
Duan Jiaxu suddenly called her name, speaking slowly, “Sang Zhi.”
Sang Zhi: “Yes?”
”I like you. Please be with me.”
”…” Sang Zhi blinked, feeling skeptical. “Is it that serious?”
”This occasion definitely requires seriousness,” Duan Jiaxu lazily slouched in his seat and smiled faintly. “I’ll make it up to you, but I won’t tell you when this time will be.”
”There’s no need to make up,” Sang Zhi muttered, “We’re already together, why confess again?”
He uttered three words: “Sense of ceremony.”
Sang Zhi tilted her head. “You still care about such a sense of ceremony.”
”I don’t mind,” Duan Jiaxu recalled the bowl of noodles Sang Zhi specially made for him on his last birthday, and said calmly, “But my family does.”
Sang Zhi didn’t deny it. The corners of her lips dimpled, as she continued drinking her orange juice. “Jiaxu-ge, is this your first time being in love?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Yeah.”
”Oh. Why?”
Hearing the thoughtful tone in her voice, Duan Jiaxu turned his head, “Are you looking down on me?”
”?”
Sang Zhi didn’t know how he turned out the way he was without ever being in love, or perhaps she judged him by his appearance. She couldn’t help but smile. This time, without holding it in, she laughed to herself, “Nope.”
Duan Jiaxu looked at her laughing and didn’t get mad. Instead, he laughed along with her.
Noticing the time on the wall, Sang Zhi took a tissue to wipe her hands and pointed to the shredded squid on the table, “I can’t finish this. Can I take it home?”
”Yeah, take whatever you want.” “Great.”
Duan Jiaxu helped her twist the cap back on the orange juice bottle, “Take me home too.”
Sang Zhi replied seriously, “I’m only interested in the food.”
”I know.” Duan Jiaxu smiled ambiguously. “I’m tasty too, aren’t I?”
Sang Zhi tidied up her things and stood up. “I’m leaving.”
Watching her preparing to leave, Duan Jiaxu remained seated, not budging an inch. Suddenly he sighed, his eyes slightly downcast, and said softly, “I suddenly remembered that I never told you about my family situation.”
Hearing this, Sang Zhi stopped in her tracks, remembering Jiang Ying’s words earlier tonight.
Then, she replied softly, “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
”I want to talk about it.” Duan Jiaxu’s expression carried a hint of indifference, his tone very calm. “My mother passed away while my father is in a vegetative state. My father caused a fatal accident due to drunk driving. I don’t own a house, but I have a car, and some savings.”
Sang Zhi stared at him, unsure of what to say for a moment.
”Don’t feel uncomfortable. I just feel…,” Duan Jiaxu shrugged, “we’re in this relationship, and I feel like I owe you an explanation.”
Sang Zhi shook her head. “I don’t feel uncomfortable.”
Duan Jiaxu smiled again, “Okay, let’s go. I’ll take you back to school.”
As Duan Jiaxu walked, Sang Zhi felt something was off about him. She called him seriously, approached him and stared at his face. “Are you upset, bringing this up?”
”I’m not upset.” Duan Jiaxu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his calm expression crumbling instantly. “I’m a bit nervous.”
Sang Zhi was taken aback: “Nervous about what?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed self-deprecatingly, “I’m afraid you might mind.”
She looked at him, perplexed.
At that moment, she suddenly realized something absurd.
Such a man…
A man, whom, after Sang Zhi met, made it impossible for her to love anyone else.
He truly felt inferior because of the sins his father committed.
Sang Zhi stayed quiet for a few seconds, then confessed softly about what happened today. “I met Jiang Ying today, and she told me about your father.”
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze faltered. “She came to see you?”
”I guess so,” Sang Zhi said. “Don’t let her words get to you. She doesn’t make sense when she talks. Next time you see her, you should suggest she go to the hospital and get her brain checked.”
Duan Jiaxu wanted to say something more.
However, Sang Zhi looked at him with wide eyes, gently patted his head, and earnestly soothed him, “Actually, I don’t think a house is a necessity in life. But if you want one, wait a few more years for me.”
”Wait until I graduate and earn money. I’ll buy one for you.”
He escorted her back to her dorm.
Duan Jiaxu returned to the car, thinking about her words, and chuckled to himself. After some thought, he took out his phone, sent a message to Sang Yan, and then called Qian Fei.
After a few rings, Qian Fei answered, “I’m really curious.”
“Hmm?”
”Why do you always like to call me late at night?”
”It’s not that late,” Duan Jiaxu said good-naturedly. “I wanted to tell you something.”
”Did you succeed?”
Duan Jiaxu chuckled, “Yeah.”
”That’s great, bro!” Qian Fei exclaimed excitedly. “Isn’t it because of me? If it weren’t for me, could you have succeeded? You better thank me properly!”
Duan Jiaxu acquiesced, “Thanks, bro.”
”Don’t mention it. You’d better marry earlier than Sang Yan. I’m really fed up with him.”
“Bro, there’s something I haven’t been honest with you about.”
”Oh?”
Duan Jiaxu: “This girl, you actually know her.”
Qian Fei had an ominous feeling: “Huh? A girl I know, I know in Yihe? Have you gone crazy?”
Duan Jiaxu: “It’s not someone I met in Yihe.”
Qian Fei asked: “Were we classmates in college? Who went to Yihe to work?”
Duan Jiaxu: “It’s not for work. She came here to study.”
A cold silence dropped for a while.
Qian Fei’s voice trembled as he spoke, “Please don’t tell me it’s Sang Zhi.” Duan Jiaxu’s tone contained a hint of amusement as he simply replied, “Hmm.”
”…” Qian Fei remained silent for a few seconds, then said, “I’m hanging up.”
Duan Jiaxu repeated his earlier words casually, “Thanks to you, really.”
”Thanks my ass!” Qian Fei yelled, “I didn’t do anything! I’ve never helped you! Damn it, Duan Jiaxu, you’re really despicable. You’ve known that girl since she was about ten years old, you son of a…”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t you say it’s fine as long as she’s of legal age?”
Qian Fei retorted, “I did say something along those lines, but…”
”Have you told Sang Yan about this?”
“Not yet.”
”How are you going to explain it?”
”I haven’t figured it out.”
”Are you going to get killed by Sang Yan?” Qian Fei didn’t find the situation too hard to accept. Soon he chuckled and said, “Sorry, I’m actually looking forward to his reaction.”
”I just told him that I have a partner.” “And then?”
”I also told him,” Duan Jiaxu added casually, “that you taught me how to pursue her.”
Peek-Aboo 
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