Sang Zhi replied seriously, “I think we’re even now.”
In other words, he could stop talking now.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze flicked downwards, showing no signs of stopping. He spoke slowly with profound meaning, “From the looks of it, you dressed up today.”
Before he could finish, Sang Zhi said, lacking integrity, “I take back what I just said.”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyelids casually, saying nonchalantly, “How did you respond to that person just now?”
Sang Zhi honestly replied, “I said I have a boyfriend.”
Duan Jiaxu acted as if he had misheard, “You said what?”
Sang Zhi glanced at him, “Boyfriend.”
Duan Jiaxu curled his lips, turned his head to meet her gaze, “Here.”
His home only had one room, no study. Sang Zhi had originally planned to study at the dining table, not wanting to occupy his personal space. But he took the initiative to lead her in.
He usually worked in his room, where there was a desk. He had already cleaned up the table in advance. At this moment, it was empty except for a power strip, with nothing else.
Sang Zhi sat down on the chair and placed her computer and study materials on the desk. She noticed his figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head and asked, “What are you going to do now?”
Duan Jiaxu patted the bed and said casually, “I’ll just lie here.”
Sang Zhi asked, “Are you going to sleep?”
”Not really,” he said, “I haven’t seen you in days. I just want to look at you a bit more.”
Upon hearing this, Sang Zhi leaned her face close to his, paused for a few seconds, and then said mercilessly, “Alright, you’ve had your look. You can go to the living room to watch TV or take a nap. I need to study.” They locked eyes for a few seconds.
Suddenly, Duan Jiaxu grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms unexpectedly. “Can’t I do this?”
Sang Zhi instantly sat on his lap, locking eyes with his enchanting ones again. Then, he curled his lips and whispered, “Can’t you say a word?”
Sang Zhi was a bit absent-minded and was on the verge of giving in. Soon she snapped out of it, a hint of rationality remaining in her heart. She reminded him, “You said it wouldn’t affect me.”
”Alright,” Duan Jiaxu didn’t tease her anymore. With his fingertips brushing her cheek, he playfully said, “Heartless girlfriend.”
Sang Zhi got up from his lap.
Duan Jiaxu: “By the way, did you book your ticket back home?”
Sang Zhi sat back at the desk and whispered, “I’m not going back home this summer.”
”You’re really not going back?” Duan Jiaxu chuckled, “Where are you staying then?”
“In the dormitory.”
Did you tell your family?”
Duan Jiaxu stood up and opened the curtains. “Alright, focus on studying, Kiddo.”
Sang Zhi asked, “What about you?”
”I’m going to prepare lunch,” Duan Jiaxu rubbed her head gently and softly said, “Tell me what you want for lunch, I’ll make something delicious. You’ve been working hard studying.”
Sang Zhi blinked: “Anything is fine.”
”Well, I’ll go out in a while to buy some ingredients. If you want something, just go to the fridge or the cupboard and get it yourself.” Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment, then added, “If someone knocks on the door, don’t open it randomly.”
Sang Zhi muttered, “Why are you treating me like a child?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Well, I’m afraid someone will steal you.”
They went about their own tasks until it was lunchtime.
Duan Jiaxu quickly prepared a few dishes and called Sang Zhi to eat. After lunch, Sang Zhi helped him clean up the table. Following the fairness principle of “he cooks, she washes dishes,” she even volunteered to wash the dishes.
Then, accidentally, she broke a bowl.
Because of her insistence, Duan Jiaxu didn’t intervene and just leaned against the door, watching her. Seeing her plight, he didn’t show any displeasure; instead, he chuckled, “Stay there, don’t move, I’ll clean it up.”
Afraid of being scolded, Sang Zhi didn’t dare to speak and turned off the tap.
Duan Jiaxu swept away the broken glass with a broom, then looked up at her, teasingly asking, “You’ve never washed dishes before?”
”…” Sang Zhi awkwardly replied, “I’ll learn with practice.”
”What’s there to learn?” Duan Jiaxu handed her a paper towel to wipe her hands, chuckling, “I didn’t ask you to wash them either.”
Sang Zhi blurted out, “I can’t always let you do it in the future…”
She immediately stopped herself, clearing her throat and said, “I didn’t mean that.”
Duan Jiaxu calmly responded with a faint smile in his voice, “Understood.”
Sang Zhi continued to wash the remaining dishes, being much more careful this time. She muttered to herself, “Next time, I’ll buy a new one for you, a plastic one that won’t break.”
Afterward, she wiped the sink and then went out to the living room.
He was sitting on the sofa, pouring some water into the kettle, slowly saying, “It’s 12:30 now, lunch break. Want to chat with me? Or take a nap?” Sang Zhi hadn’t kept up with her study schedule for today and didn’t want to waste any more time. “A diligent student doesn’t deserve a nap.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow: “So, you’re planning to continue studying? Are you not sleepy?”
Sang Zhi nodded firmly: “Not at all.
Duan Jiaxu was puzzled: “Why are you so diligent about studying?”
”I want to get a scholarship.”
”Wow, impressive!” Duan Jiaxu poured some oolong tea for her, “Then go ahead. If you feel tired, lie down for a while. There’s still plenty of time.”
Afraid he might think she didn’t want to spend time with him, Sang Zhi earnestly added, “I really am not sleepy. I’m wide awake, I’ll study diligently all afternoon.”
Duan Jiaxu acquiesced, “Alright, you’re not sleepy.”
Though she said that, her body clock was incredibly accurate.
Sang Zhi had gotten up at seven this morning, wandered around various shops off-campus, then specifically took the subway to Duan Jiaxu’s place, studying all morning. Now, her energy was indeed running low. Despite being full and hydrated, fatigue hit her instantly.
Her eyelids were fighting to stay open.
She turned her head, eyeing the large and inviting bed nearby. She remembered what she had just said to Duan Jiaxu and the large portion of material still left to review.
She sighed, stood up, intending to wash her face in the bathroom.
As she stepped out of the room, she could see him sitting on the sofa. Hearing movement, he raised his eyelids and looked over. He asked, “What’s wrong?”
”Nothing,” Sang Zhi said, “I’m just going to the bathroom.”
Soon, shei came out of the bathroom. She glanced in Duan Jiaxu’s direction again, hesitated for a moment, and said cautiously, “I need to study seriously now, so please try not to disturb me.”
Duan Jiaxu lazily responded with a grunt.
Sang Zhi finally felt relieved and returned to the room.
Having sat back at the desk, Sang Zhi still felt sleepy, unable to concentrate. She felt her efficiency was too low like this and decided to take a fifteen-minute nap and then continue studying.
Recalling what she had emphasized to Duan Jiaxu earlier, she didn’t want him to know she was going to take a nap after all. It felt awkward, like she didn’t want to chat with him and was forcing herself to study, which wasn’t her intention at all.
She really did want to study.
But now. She was really tired!
Tsk!
Now suddenly explaining to him and then going back to sleep seemed strange. Moreover, she had already told him she needed to study well, so he probably wouldn’t come in, right?
Just fifteen minutes, the time it takes to blink.
Sang Zhi mentally prepared herself, grabbed a stack of study materials, and lay down on his bed, closing her eyes while glancing at the materials. As she was about to enter a state of sleep, she suddenly heard three knocks on the door.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately opened her eyes, looking towards the direction of the door.
The doorknob turned, as if it was about to open at any moment.
In that instant, Sang Zhi truly felt like she was doing something illicit. Her mind went blank, she scrambled out of bed in a panic, inadvertently knocking into the edge of the bed.
She didn’t even have time to feel the pain. She lay semi-prone on the carpet beside the bed, hiding behind it.
At the same time, Duan Jiaxu’s voice rang out: “Zhizhi, are you there?”
His voice stopped abruptly, lowering in volume, tinged with confusion. “Where did she go?”
The door slammed against the wall, making a muffled sound.
Then, his footsteps could be heard approaching from the other side of the door, getting closer to her side. Soon, Sang Zhi, who was half-lying on the ground, met his gaze as he stood there.
The air froze for three seconds.
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow slightly. “What are you doing there?”
Sang Zhi opened her mouth dumbly, trying hard to think of a reason. Her gaze fell on the study materials she still held in her hand. She cleared her throat and said seriously, “I’m studying here.”
Duan Jiaxu teased, “Then why didn’t you respond when I called you just now?…
Sang Zhi said, “I was studying sneakily. I didn’t respond because I was studying secretly. When there’s a chair, I don’t sit. When there’s a bed, I don’t lie down. I study secretly lying on the floor.”
Duan Jiaxu followed her lead, jokingly asking, “Why study sneakily?”
Silence reigned for a few seconds.
Sang Zhi’s expression turned serious as she dryly uttered four words, “For the thrill.”
Peek-Aboo 
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