Obviously, Duan Jiaxu didn’t expect her to come up with such a reason. His expression froze for a moment before he burst out laughing, finding it utterly ridiculous. “What?”
As the words slipped out, Sang Zhi suddenly became aware of how foolish and silly her words sounded. It registered to her that she was probably too tired to think clearly. Her expression became somewhat embarrassed as she fell silent. With one hand to support herself on the bed, she tried to stand up.
Noticing her movement, Duan Jiaxu bent down, grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her up with a bit of force. Once she was standing steadily, his other hand supported her lower back, drawing her towards him.
Sang Zhi’s head bumped into his chest. She looked up, feeling inexplicably nervous. Her hand instinctively clenched into a fist against his chest. She could still feel the slight trembling of his chest, his mood extremely buoyant, his laughter unrestrained.
Feeling uncomfortable, she tried to step back. “What are you doing?”
There was a deeper intensity in his gaze, with a hint of open flirtation in his eyes. Raising an eyebrow, he suddenly pushed her back onto the bed without warning, his voice hoarse. “Do you like thrills?”
In a whirlwind, Sang Zhi found herself leaning against the bed, her eyes meeting his lips in an instant. The mattress was soft, his hand still supporting her back, and she didn’t feel any pain.
But because of this sudden move, her mind went blank, and for a moment, she didn’t understand the meaning behind his words.
He maintained his smile. “Hmm?”
Sang Zhi blinked slowly, snapping back to reality. She took a deep breath, attempting to kick him with her foot, and angrily shouted, “Duan Jiaxu!”
He remained unaffected, his lips close to her ear. He lowered his voice ambiguously and said, “Shall we have some excitement?”
Sang Zhi’s breath hitched, and in an instant, her neck to her cheeks flushed red, as if on fire, extremely hot.
She felt like her heart was about to burst out of her chest. She forced herself to calm down and stared straight at him. He wasn’t pinning her down, just using his hand to support himself on the bed.
Sang Zhi pursed her lips, extending her leg to push him to the side with force.
The strength between men and women was inherently disparate. Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, not resisting, and allowed himself to be forcefully pushed aside.
Sang Zhi sat up, gritting her teeth. “What kind of thug are you playing at?”
Duan Jiaxu lay on his side and supported his head with one hand, looking nonchalant. “What’s thuggish about being together?”
It didn’t really seem like it.
And he hadn’t actually done anything excessive.
Sang Zhi didn’t argue further with him. She rubbed her forehead with her hand and edged towards the edge of the bed.
Sensing her movement, Duan Jiaxu pulled her back. He raised an eyebrow as he stared at her forehead, noticing the red mark. “Did you bump into something?”
She nodded towards the edge of the bed, speaking softly. “I accidentally bumped it.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Does it hurt?”
Sang Zhi shook her head. “Not much.”
”Tell me,” Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “Why were you lying on the floor?”
Sang Zhi honestly admitted, “I suddenly felt tired.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Then why not sleep on the bed?”
”I just said that earlier. I was afraid you’d think I was avoiding you,” Sang Zhi said in a dull tone, “But I really need to study. I have an exam tomorrow afternoon, and I want to do well.”
”I’m not that petty,” Duan Jiaxu said. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you up in a while.”
Sang Zhi muttered, “Won’t you be bored?”
”A bit.”
”Then I’ll finish studying earlier…”
Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “Are you so afraid of making me angry?”
Sang Zhi glanced at him, as if in silent acknowledgement.
”I invited you to come here to study with me, and there must be some ulterior motive,” Duan Jiaxu said in a gentle tone, “But I really didn’t intend to affect you. My place is only filled with motivation. Can I stop you?”
Sang Zhi asked cautiously, “So, can I go to sleep?”
”Go ahead,” Duan Jiaxu kissed the back of her hand, his eyes curving into crescents. “I may be a bit bored, but I’m happy knowing you’re here.”
Sang Zhi climbed into bed.
Not long after, Duan Jiaxu came in with a warm towel, placing it on the spot where she had bumped herself, saying, “You hid when you heard me opening the door just now?”
Sang Zhi hesitated and nodded.
Duan Jiaxu smiled. “Silly girl.”
Half of her face buried in the blanket, she sounded a bit muffled. “I was just nervous.”
”If you’re nervous, then stay still.” Duan Jiaxu stood up, pulling the curtains shut to block out the bright sunlight outside. “Otherwise, what if you fall and hurt yourself?”
Sang Zhi thought for a moment, then suddenly called out to him, “Jiaxu-ge.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow: “Huh?”
”Well, you know, when you get too close, I also feel a bit nervous,” Sang Zhi licked her lips and explained, “Like just now, but I wasn’t angry, and I didn’t mean I didn’t like it…”
Duan Jiaxu took the towel off her forehead, nonchalantly saying, “So, does that mean you like it?”
Sang Zhi forced out, “Well, it’s not that I like excitement either.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed out loud. “Okay, let’s hold off on the excitement for now.”
”Save it for later.”
Sang Zhi stayed at Duan Jiaxu’s place until ten o’clock in the evening. Most of the time was spent studying, and eventually, she didn’t mind having Duan Jiaxu around. They studied together, one revising while the other lay on the bed reading. It was unusually harmonious.
When Sang Zhi heard that the power was back on in the dormitory, she started packing up to leave. She walked to the TV cabinet as if she knew the place well and took out a piece of candy from inside.
Both of them put on their shoes and headed out. Sang Zhi tore open the candy wrapper and casually asked, “Jiaxu-ge, do you want some candy?”
Duan Jiaxu, not particularly interested in snacks, pinched her cheek. “You have it.”
Sang Zhi tore open the candy wrapper and popped one into her mouth. “Okay.”
They entered the elevator.
Suddenly, Duan Jiaxu spoke again, holding out his hand with his palm upturned in front of her, his tone casual. “Give me one too.”
Sang Zhi obediently handed one over, placing it in his palm. Before she could retract her hand, Duan Jiaxu’s hand closed around hers, showing no intention of letting go.
With a slight raise of his eyebrows, he said in a slow and deliberate manner, “Giving candy or holding hands?”
Sang Zhi was puzzled. “Didn’t you want candy?”
Duan Jiaxu repeated, “Hold hands or hold hands?”
She realized, “Oh.”
Duan Jiaxu asked again, “Hold hands?”
Sang Zhi looked up at him, feeling somewhat amused by his behavior. She laughed because she had candy in her mouth, making her speech slightly unclear. “You’re asking so seriously.”
Duan Jiaxu remained unfazed. “Hold or not?”
Sang Zhi pulled the candy back with her other hand and blinked, saying, “Hold.”
Duan Jiaxu chuckled lightly and held her hand. The elevator arrived at the first floor, and he led her out, casually asking, “Are you planning to find an internship for the summer?”
”Yeah,” Sang Zhi said, peeling another candy wrapper with one hand. “I applied to several companies, and one of them invited me for an interview.”
”Why are you looking for an internship so early?”
”I just need something to do,” Sang Zhi said. “Otherwise, I’ll be bored at home. It’s just me at home every day.”
Peek-Aboo 
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