偷偷藏不住The sun was blazing and the cicadas were chirping through the sky.
A classroom on the second floor of Rising Sun Middle School.
Chen Mingxu stood on the podium, holding a teaching tape measure and lecturing. His shirt was mostly wet with sweat.
The air was hot as if it was going to bubble. The fan on the ceiling operated with a loud noise. In this heat, the wind blowing out seemed to be boiling hot.
The students at the bottom also looked drowsy.
He couldn’t help but get a little cranky.
“Look at the blackboard.” Noticing the state of the girl sitting in the third row, Chen Mingxu frowned slightly, the force of the ruler tapping on the blackboard increasing, “Hear me! Look at the blackboard!”
A couple of students who were about to fall asleep jerked awake, opening their misty eyes wide and forcing themselves to look at the board.
As if she hadn’t heard, the girl still had her head down, scribbling on the paper with a pencil. She had a pretty and harmless face, all the more cute because she was still a bit young and tender.
Sitting upright, with a quiet and gentle demeanor, she looks like the kind of obedient student a teacher would love to have.
–row out the behavior of treating the teacher at the podium like air at this point in her life.
Chen Mingxu’s frown deepened as his mouth continued to chant, “Angle one equals angle two, angle three equals 108 degrees–“
Seeing that the topic was almost finished reading, she still had no signs of wanting to raise her head. Chen Mingxu’s anger that he had been holding back for half a day instantly went to his head, and he heavily slapped the triangle ruler on the table.
The plastic ruler and the wooden table collided with a loud noise.
The voice scared the class into cowering at the same time, and the ensuing roar made the atmosphere even more rigid.
“Sanji!”
Sang Chi, who was named, raised his head and looked at Chen Mingxu for two seconds. And then put the pen in his hand down and stood up consciously.
Chen Mingxu pressed his temper and said, “What did I just say?”
Sanji looked at the diagram on the blackboard with a calm expression, “Angle four equals 72 degrees.”
Accustomed to her being such a docile student at any given moment, Chen Mingxu wasn’t fooled again this time, and tapped the tabletop with the ruler again, sneering, “I haven’t gotten to that yet!”
“……”
Sanji was starting to feel a little tricky, “So you called me up to ……”
Chen Mingxu asked back, “What do you think I’m calling you up for?”
Sanji pondered for a few seconds and guessed, “You are not going to?”
Chen Mingxu: “……”
Sanjay: “So, when you call me up, are you asking me to teach you?”
Chen Mingxu: “?”
“I see.” Sanji understood and looked to the board, “Since angle one equals angle two, AB is parallel to CD, two straight lines are parallel, and same-side interior angles complement each other-“
Chen Mingxu couldn’t hold back, “You’re so good, I’ll give you this teacher’s position as if it’s not?”
Being interrupted by him, Sang Chi’s expression became more than a little bewildered, and his lips opened before he hesitantly said a few seconds later, “But I can’t steal your job.”
“……”
The scene is quiet for a few seconds and the class roars with laughter.
Chen Mingxu was on fire: “Quiet! Be quiet!”
The half-grown kids were still full of smiles, the classroom became as rowdy as a food market, and a couple of teenagers in the back rows were laughing and cooing-
“Teacher, I think it’s okay! Let Sanji take our class!”
“Does that mean you can stop doing your homework.”
“Can I just not come to school!”
Chen Mingxu yelled, “Shut up!”
“Sang Chi.” Chen Mingxu looked at Sangzhi again, his breathing intensified, trying to keep himself from losing his temper too much, but ultimately, she was still so angry that he growled, “Call your parents over tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
–
The bell rings.
Chen Mingxu had a stern face and left the classroom without looking back.
It happened to be the last class, and most of the students packed up early and piled out.
“Why did you mess with Baldhead Chen again?” Her friend Yin Zhenru moved to her place as soon as the bell rang, “Don’t you know he likes to invite parents when he has something to do? It’s only halfway through the month and your mom’s been here twice.”
Sanji stuffed the book on his desk into his book bag and zipped it up hard, “I don’t even know what I did to piss him off.”
Yin Zhenru’s eyes widened, “You don’t know?”
Sanji looked annoyed and muttered, “Didn’t I answer on it?”
“Didn’t you mean to look for a beating with that reply?” Yin Zhenru laughed out loud, “And what that I can’t steal your job. Not to mention him, it’s me who also wants to beat you up.”
Sanji gave a low grunt, “Then you’re just as unbelievable as he is.”
“Eh, tell the truth.” Yin Zhenru said, “Why don’t you listen to the lessons? And keep getting caught.”
“Don’t you think the bald guy is talking like he’s hypnotizing?” Sang-chil put on his backpack and yawned, “If I listen carefully and don’t find something to do, then I’m sure I’ll fall asleep ah.”
“……”
Kind of makes sense.
Yin Zhenru was still thinking of something else when she noticed a few boys standing in front of the school, she changed her words and brought up another matter, “By the way, are you going to the bookstore?”
Sanji glanced at her, “Going for what.”
Yin Zhenru explained, “Fu Zhengchu asked you out, and a few guys from class six, let’s go together.”
Sanji asked again, “To do what.”
“Say yes,” Yin Zhenru thought for a moment, “to buy the Empress Xiong?”
“……”
What the hell is a queen male?
Sanji was silent for a few seconds, “Queen Wang Xiong?”
Yin Zhenru: “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.”
Sanji: “Not going.”
“Why?” Yin Zhenru gently bumped her shoulder and ambiguously said, “Fu Zhengchu is quite handsome.”
The two exited the classroom side by side.
Hearing this, Sang Chi looked a little indescribable, “Go to the hospital and have your eyes looked at.”
Yin Zhenru was unconvinced, “What’s wrong with my eyes? It’s not like I’m the only one who thinks he’s handsome! Many people think so.”
Sanji nodded, suggesting again, “Then you can go together as a group.”
“……”
After saying that, Sang Chi took out her cell phone from her school bag. Opening the text message editing window, she hesitated and sent a text message to Sang Yan: [Brother, you haven’t been home for a long time. When are you coming home? Can you come back tomorrow? I miss you so much oh TAT]
Yin Zhenru didn’t notice her move and said in disappointment, “You’re really not going?”
“No go.”
“They could all be waiting at the school gates ……”
“You can go if you want.” Sanji said absentmindedly, “I’m not in the mood today.”
Yin Zhenru: “Ah, because of the calling parents thing? So what are you going to do? How about calling your dad this time instead?”
Sanji shook his head, “None of them are coming.”
“Huh? Why?”
Still staring at his cell phone, Sang Chil was waiting for Sang Yeon’s reply, “I won’t tell them.”
Yin Zhenru reminded her, “But if your parents don’t come, Bald Head Chen will call them as well.”
“It’s fine.”
The latter part of the sentence, “I’ll call my brother,” had not yet been uttered.
The text message came in just in time.
Sanyan: [?
Sang Yeon: [Can’t oh.
“……”
–
To the school gates.
Yin Zhenru said goodbye to her before walking over to Fu Zhengchu’s group.
Fu Zhengchu’s expression faded, staring at Sangji’s back and asking knowingly, “Sangji isn’t going?”
Yin Zhenru nodded, “She was scolded by her teacher and was in a bad mood.”
Fu Zhengchu’s eyebrows jumped, “Called parents again?”
Yin Zhenru: “Uh-huh.”
“……”
That’s almost as many times as he’s had.
Where to put his face as a delinquent boy ！！！！！
Fu Zhengchu settled in place for two seconds and suddenly lifted his feet in the direction of the school.
Another boy, Liu Weiqi, hurriedly called out to him, “Hey! What are you doing going! Aren’t you going to buy Wang Houxiong?”
Hearing this, Fu Zhengchu retreated and fiercely smacked Liu Weiqi’s brain, “I’ve told you to read more.”
Liu Weiqi reflexively covered his head, “?”
“It’s the queen male, stupid dick.”
“……”
The other side.
Sanjay continues to text Sanjayan – raging at him for being heartless and completely disregarding his thirteen-year-old sister, who is now incapable of living on her own, and abandoning her to fend for herself in order to go to college.
Wait a while.
Sangayan didn’t reply to her.
Waited a little longer.
The desperate Sang Yeon still didn’t reply to her.
Completely dead in the water, Sang-chi got on the bus home and started deliberating on what she should tell her parents when she got home about asking her parents for the third time this month.
So what’s the deal?
He said that he was asked to be a parent because he was too good and was envied by his teacher;
Or maybe, his own words in class caused a misunderstanding with the teacher and gave him a career crisis;
Or maybe it’s just that it’s too hot and the teacher is too idle and bored and wants to invite the parents over for a cup of tea ……
Sanji scratched his head in annoyance.
None of them seem to work well.
I looked up and realized that I had arrived at the station.
Sanjay got out of the car and milled in the direction of the house.
After entering the house and seeing the familiar surroundings, Sanji’s scalp tingled and he felt even more unable to speak.
At that exact moment, the voice of her mother, Li Ping, came from the kitchen, “Only only back?”
It’s only just Sanji’s nickname.
Sang Chi responded and slowly took off his shoes. Because of this full mood, he also didn’t notice that there was an extra pair of sneakers on the shoe rack that he had never seen before.
Li Ping called out to her again, “Only only, come here for a moment. Do mommy a favor.”
Still pondering what to confess, Sanji said vaguely, “What.”
“Help mom take this plate of fruit to your brother’s room.” Li Ping came out of the kitchen and said, “Your brother is back-“
“Hmm …… hmm?” Sangji instantly regained his spirits, his tone rising a few notches, “Brother’s back?”
“Yeah.”
This unexpected development left Sanji in disbelief.
The overwhelming emotion of surprise bubbled to the surface in an instant. The cold and heartless annoying Sang Yan, in this moment, turned into the perfect image of a cold on the outside and hot on the inside mouth and heartless brother in Sang Zhi’s heart.
Li Ping was still talking, “Pay attention when you go in, your brother brought a-“
“Okay, okay!” Not having the patience to listen anymore, Sang Chi took the fruit and ran towards Sang Yan’s room, “I know! I’ll send it to him right away!”
Li Ping’s hand was empty, looking at Sang Zhi’s extraordinarily enthusiastic back today, wondering, “What’s wrong with this child today ……”
Thinking of not having to be reprimanded by his parents, Sang Chi couldn’t help but curl his lips and push open the door to Sang Yan’s room with force.
The room was bright and spacious, with large patches of sunlight pouring in.
A warm odor instantly filled his nostrils. Another moment later, the strong smell of tobacco hit his face, choking his nose a bit, and Sanji couldn’t help but cough.
She scrunched up her open face and swept around the room.
Where the light was weak, the thin man was nestled in the sofa next to the computer desk, looking down at his cell phone. His back was turned to the light, his appearance obscure and dark. With one hand on the side of the sofa, his slender fingers were holding a cigarette, still burning with scarlet light.
The body type is somewhat similar to that of Sangyan.
But it was surprisingly strange.
Sang Chi’s footsteps stopped, blinked hesitantly, and the word “brother” in his mouth had not yet come out.
The man lifted his head.
She also got a good look at him at that moment and inexplicably held her breath.
The man’s expression was scanty, his features sharply defined, and his face wore a smile that didn’t reach the bottom of his eyes, making him seem gentle but hard to approach.
Slightly upturned peach blossom eyes with light brown pupils. Eyebrows converged with a hint of seduction.
Nothing like her brother’s deep black eyes.
She expected to see her brother, but instead she saw someone she didn’t recognize, and her brother was still missing.
For a moment, Sang Wiz’s brain short-circuited and he didn’t know how to react.
The scene seemed to freeze.
Both men stopped where they were, making no extra movement.
It didn’t take long.
The man lowered his eyes anew and pressed the cigarette out slowly and lazily. He didn’t seem to have any desire to speak, and in silence he got up to open the window for ventilation.
Watching his actions, Sanji shouted at a loss for words.
“…… brother?”
Hearing this address, the man moved and raised his eyebrows. He stared at Sang Zhi, straight ahead, his peach blossom eyes carrying a gentle hue and a few more points of playfulness. And then, he curved the corners of his lips, dragging his voice in response.
“Hmm?”
“……”
The response was like a thunderbolt to Sanji’s head.
The things that were unclear were painted a clear trail by her brainstorming thoughts in that instant.
The brother I haven’t seen in months.
When you see it again, it becomes what you see in front of you.
She was in complete disbelief, as if petrified, and held her tongue for half a day before stifling a single word: “You, you ……”
Pause for a few seconds.
Sang-chil swallowed hard and finished his sentence carefully, “Did you get plastic surgery?”
“……”
Chapter II
.
After staring at her for a long time, the man seemed to have thought of something, and a trace of absurdity crossed his eyes. Afterward, his interest inexplicably came up, and he narrowed his eyebrows, deliberately lowering his voice line, “Hmm.”
“……” Sanjay couldn’t calm down anymore and was close to breaking down, “Mom and Dad agree?”
It was quiet for a few more seconds.
The man licked the corners of his lips, a smile in his words, “Wouldn’t it be nice to be neat?”
The words fell out of his mouth, and Sanji froze again.
Compared to Sang Yan’s voice, this voice seemed a bit more clear and moist, and when he spoke, his tail end would drag on, sounding ambiguous and loving.
With her brother’s always cold and beaten voice and tone.
Totally, a little, different.
“Kids.” He laughed lowly and continued, “Come over here and see if brother’s whole thing looks good.”
Sanji instantly sensed the wrong point.
At that moment, there was other movement behind her. There came the sound of a door opening, and then the crash of shoes slapping the floor.
Sanji subconsciously looked back.
Instantly, he saw Sanjan’s face.
The man was broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, thinner than he had been a few months ago. His hair was wet, with a towel on his shoulder, he seemed to have just taken a shower. When he saw Sang Zhi, the corner of his mouth tugged, and he picked up the fork on the fruit plate she was holding, poked a piece of watermelon and headed inside.
As if he had seen a ghost, Sang-chil trembled and cried out, “Brother, brother.”
“What?” Sang Yeon glanced at her and took a bite of watermelon, “Handsome by me again?”
“I ……”
Before he could finish, the man behind him suddenly burst out laughing, interrupting Sang Chi’s words.
Sanji had a rare feeling of having his hands full and couldn’t help but look in his direction.
Reflected in the eyes was a presence that was brighter than the sunlight outside the window.
The man’s eyebrows stretched out, his appearance a little less unsympathetic. The ends of his eyes were raised, and his light-colored eyes were flooded with a fine light, containing a spring color, living as a male siren that seduced people’s souls.
Kuwabara’s heart stopped half a beat a moment later.
It was as if he had just been tricked and easily taken in.
Thinking that he was mocking his words, Sang Yan looked at him, “Duan Jia Xu you laugh a-“
Because of Sang Chi’s presence, Sang Yan didn’t say the last few dirty words. He changed the topic, picked up the cell phone on the side, opened the text message interface, and waved it towards Sang Chi.
“What’s the trouble again, kiddo?”
It shows the conversation they just had.
That brief heart-empty-like emotion, because it was interrupted by Sang Yan, disappeared without a trace in an instant. Sang Chi immediately retorted, “Where did I get into trouble.”
Sang Yeon stared at her, eyebrows raised, “No is best.”
“……” Sang-chi could only say stiffly when she had a favor to ask, “But, brother, I have something ……”
There was also a stranger present who he had never seen before, and Sang-chi looked in his direction, then back to Sang-yen, with a suggestive look in his eyes, wanting to speak.
Sang Yeon just ignored it.
The stranger then opened his mouth, his tone amused, “Sang Yeon, this your sister?”
Sang Yan walked over to the bed and sat down, “Can it hardly be my daughter?”
“……”
Sangchih asked in return as a courtesy, “Brother, who is this person.”
Sang Yeon was succinct: “Housemate, Duan Jia Xu.”
“Don’t recognize me?” Duan Jia Xu said, “Didn’t you just call me brother?”
These words made Sanji recall the silly idea she had just had, and her strongly tensed face instantly collapsed, looking a bit chagrined.
Sang Yan snorted lightly, “That’s affectionate.”
During the time he was speaking, Duan Jia Xu had already walked to Sang Zhi’s front and half squatted down. He seriously locked eyes with her, his light-colored pupils seeming gentle and compelling, “My name is Duan Jia Xu, I’m your brother’s friend.”
Sanji averted his eyes, his expression a little uncomfortable, “Oh.”
After making a serious self-introduction to a half-grown child, Duan Jiaxu sidled his head and resumed his usual careless demeanor, “Sang Yan.”
Sang Yeon didn’t raise his eyes and continued to play with his cell phone.
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Looks like I look quite similar to you?”
What’s that supposed to mean?
Sang Yeon stopped moving and looked up, “Look in the mirror.”
“That.” Duan Jia Xu took the fruit plate in Sang Zhi’s hand, “Why did this kid just ask me–“
“……”
There was a two-second pause.
Duan Jiaxu let out another laugh, “Is it plastic surgery?”
“……”
After a short silence.
Sang Yan coolly said, “What do you mean?”
“Brother!” Afraid that if he upset Sang Yan, he wouldn’t help himself to the teacher. Sang Chi hurriedly changed the subject, “I thought you said you weren’t coming back?”
“Kid.” Reminiscing about Sang Chi’s expression just now, Sang Yeon said expressionlessly, “You think he’s me?”
“…… No, no.”
“Still think it’s me after plastic surgery?”
“……”
“Where did you get this idea?” Sang Yan was always bursting with self-confidence, his tone was flirty and nasty, “I had plastic surgery? And also plastic surgery like him-“
Seeing that he seemed to have no end in sight, Sang Chi’s temper rose, “Isn’t it only natural for you to want to be like him!”
“……”
“It’s not like mom told me you brought a friend home.” Anger knocked Sanji back to his original form, revealing his original lawless look, “And that’s the only person in the room, isn’t it normal for me to have that thought!”
Sang Yeon pulled out his ears impatiently, “Keep your voice down.”
Sang-chi scowled, “Why do I have to keep my voice down, it’s not like I’m affecting anyone else.”
The two siblings confronted each other.
Without the slightest self-consciousness of having to back down from his sister, Sang Yeon continued to add fuel to the fire, “It’s affecting me.”
Seeing that the argument seemed to be going from bad to worse.
Duan Jia Xu took the initiative to ease the atmosphere and waved towards Sang Zhi, “Kid, come over and eat some fruit.”
With his friends around, Sang Yan wasn’t interested in bullying this sister who was always against him at every turn anymore. He looked at his cell phone and said to Duan Jia Xu, “Do you want to take a shower? Go back to school after washing.”
“No.” Duan Jia Xu poked a piece of watermelon and handed it to Sang Zhi, “Finish the fruit before you go.”
Sang Chi pursed her lips and subconsciously looked at Duan Jia Xu.
At this moment, the childish and ugly argument with Sang Yan just now surfaced before her eyes. Plus, this amiable looking big brother had just so indifferently shaken out her disgrace.
Aggrieved and unspeakable emotions rose to the surface.
With the feeling of being abandoned by the world.
Her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably, hot, and there was a sour feeling around her eyes.
It’s starting to feel embarrassing.
Sang Chi took it in silence, the tip of his nose seemed to be blocked by something, hot air surging upwards. After holding it in with all her might for a long time, a choked sob emerged uncontrollably from her throat.
Duan Jiaxu’s movements stopped.
Sang Yeon heard it too and raised his eyes, “…… Not really.”
The words were like magic.
As soon as they fell, Sanji’s teardrops were unsealed and fell out frantically. The suppressed sobs also amplified in a flash, echoing around the room and traveling down the walls to the living room.
“……”
Two large men froze in place at the same time.
Hearing the sound, Li Ping immediately walked in from the living room, “What’s going on?”
Sang Yan’s reaction was quick, and he shamelessly said, “Duan Jia Xu, how can you bully my sister.”
Duan Jiaxu’s expression was raw.
He had never been in such a situation before, and for a moment he didn’t know how to react.
It hadn’t even occurred to me whether or not I’d made the kid cry or not.
Didn’t wait for him to say the words of explanation.
In the next moment, Sang Chi tugged at the hem of his shirt and hid behind him, looking extraordinarily scared. She looked towards Liping, still huffing and puffing, and pointed her other finger at Sang Yan: “Mommy …… oooooooooo…brother, brother ……”
Li Ping looked at Sang Yan with cool eyes.
Sang Chi’s cries became even more mournful, “Brother hit me ……”
Sangyan: “……”
–
The child cried aggrievedly, bean-sized tears falling straight down, like they were going to hit people’s hearts. Rarely seeing Sang Chi cry like this, Li Ping instantly lost her stance and gently coaxed her for a few moments before changing her face and pulling Sang Yan into the living room to teach her a lesson.
The door opened and closed as they moved.
The atmosphere was chilled by the absence of a person. Sang Chi loosened Duan Jia Xu’s clothes, and his cries subsided.
Duanjia Xu looked back at her.
The little girl was still young and not as well developed as her peers. Her height was less than one meter five, only reaching his chest. Her eyes were large, red at this time, and she was still sniffling, looking like a rabbit.
She then took a pitiful bite of the watermelon.
The crying stopped completely.
Duan Jia Xu laughed and didn’t ask why she was crying, drawing two tissues on the table, “No more crying?”
The emotions dissipated with the crying, and Sanji was mostly better, but there was still the slightest hint of shame lingering.
She hung her head and didn’t say anything.
There was a big height difference between the two, so Duan Jia Xu simply bent down and wiped her tears with a tissue, “Go wash your face yourself in a while.”
Sanji was used to being taken care of like this and didn’t avoid it.
Silence.
A thought suddenly floated through Sanji’s mind.
An idea that must have been abrupt to strangers.
After thinking for a while, Sang Chi wheedled and opened her mouth. She hadn’t started to change her voice yet, and because she had just cried, she spoke with a little bit of a little milky voice, which was extraordinarily adorable, “Brother, are you leaving?”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyelashes lifted and he hmmmed, “What?”
“Are you free tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Right.” Sanji whispered, “Tomorrow.”
Duan Jiaxie laughed softly, “Why are you asking about my time?”
He did not explicitly say that there is time, Sang Chi can not say: “Just, just ……” half a day did not say a reason, and finally pulled back to the original question, this time also ingratiatingly added a name: “Brother, you are free tomorrow I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it.”
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and lazily said, “What if brother isn’t available tomorrow?”
Sanji was in a hurry, “No way!”
Having just messed with Sang Yeon, he definitely wouldn’t help her, and now the only hope in front of her was this man.
She clenched her fists and threatened dryly, “You must be free, if you’re not I’ll…I’ll tell my mom you two beat me together, male-male mixed doubles ……”
“……”
And the men’s mixed doubles?
Duan Jia Xu pulled the corner of his mouth lightly, “Kid, why aren’t you being reasonable?”
Sang-chi gave him a look and said with little energy, “I’m still young.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t know how to reason yet.”
“……”
All right.
Duan Jiaxu smiled wryly, “You tell me first what you’re going to do tomorrow.”
Sanji hesitated and said warmly, “Can you pretend to be my brother, pro.”
Duanjia Xu raised an eyebrow.
“And then tomorrow.” She found it a little hard to say, her voice dropping with it, “To meet my teacher ……”
Duan Jiaxu realized, “Called parents?”
Sanji fell silent, as if in acquiescence.
“The reason why.”
Thinking about the reasons she had thought of in the car, Sanji wondered if he would believe her if she said it. She scratched her head and hesitantly said, “Can I not say anything?”
“Could be.”
Not waiting for Sang Chi to breathe a sigh of relief, Duan Jia Xu added without much care, “That brother is not available tomorrow.”
Chapter III
.
If the person standing in front of her at this moment was Sang Yan, what Sang Zhi didn’t want to tell him, he probably couldn’t ask for half a word. Even, on the premise of not telling him, she still dared to stalk him for a very long time.
But now, the person in front of him, Sanji was seeing for the first time.
From the moment he said his first words, Duan Jia Xu was extraordinarily gentle, like he wouldn’t lose his temper at anything he heard. She couldn’t see through him, and didn’t dare to be too unrestrained because of this distant and unfamiliar relationship.
As long as there was a slight change in his tone, Sang Chi completely lost the guts to continue hiding.
Sang Chi was silent for a few seconds and reluctantly confessed, “I didn’t listen in class.”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
“The teacher told me to get up and answer the question, and I did.” Sanji paused, slowly organizing his wording, “Then he asked me if I wanted to take his place as the homeroom teacher of our class. I thought it definitely wouldn’t work, so I refused.”
“……”
Duanjia Xu:?
Kuwabara gave him a cautious look, as if to see his reaction, and quickly withdrew her eyes. She dutifully stood still, looking honest, “And then he said he was going to ask his parents.”
Said the last word.
Sanji felt as if the whole world had gone quiet.
After concealing some of the contents, Sang Chi’s mood actually became quite heartfelt. Seeing that he was hesitant to speak, she couldn’t help but say, “Don’t you disbelieve me.”
At those words, Duan Jiaxu finally opened his mouth, a smile in his words, “I’m really a bit unconvinced.”
He seemed genuinely amused. His shoulders trembled slightly, his chest rising and falling with it, and a thin chuckle escaped his throat, laced with a shallow breath. He was already born beautiful, and when he smiled, he was even more eye-catching and dazzling, the color of his lips so bright that they shone.
The two leaned in close.
Sanji could smell the still lingering smell of smoke on him and felt even more uncomfortable.
She barely managed to stifle a, “I’m telling the truth.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Huh? You didn’t lie to me?”
Sang Chi nodded his head vigorously, looking extremely sincere: “No, it’s true. If you don’t believe me, you’ll know tomorrow. If I lie to you now, the teacher will also tell you the truth tomorrow.”
“So ……”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the door was opened once again.
Sangyan didn’t look at them and headed in the direction of the closet, saying bluntly, “Kid, get out.”
Although Sang Chi was a little bit disadvantaged because of the false accusation against him, she was still not quite willing to leave just like that and mumbled, “Can’t I stay here?”
Sang Yeon turned back and smiled peevishly, “I need to change my clothes.”
“Then this brother ……,” said Sang Chi, tugging at the hem of Duan Jia Xu’s clothes, “this brother should be going out as well, I don’t think he really wants to see you change your clothes either.”
Sang Yan just pretended not to hear, “Close the door on your way out.”
Sang Chi took him for acquiescence and tugged Duan Jia Xu outside, “Okay, we’ll close it.”
“……”
Sang Yan stared at the two of them for a moment before waving his hand, not bothering.
Because this topic cannot be heard by a third person.
After leaving the room, Sang Chi immediately ripped Duan Jia Xu back to his own room, vigilantly closing the door behind him, and eagerly asked, “Brother, so are you coming tomorrow? I’ve told you the truth ……”
Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyelids and lazily said, “Why don’t you go find your brother?”
“How can I!” Sang Chi’s eyes widened, “I just wronged him like that …… If I tell him, he’ll tell my mom right away.”
Duan Jiaxu was still smiling, “Your brother isn’t like that.”
“……”
The tone couldn’t be heard as serious or joking.
Although Sang Chi had just threatened him, he was only talking big, and at this point, he was completely clueless.
With no way back, she remembered the earlier incident and reminded very vindictively, “Brother, if you hadn’t said something like that to my brother just now, he and I wouldn’t have quarreled.”
Duanjia Xu raised his eyebrows, “Huh?”
At this time, the door to the room was opened.
Sang Yan stood outside and looked at Duan Jia Xu, “Let’s go.”
As if he didn’t hear what Sang Chi just said, Duan Jia Xu nodded, “Kids, see you next time.”
Sanji couldn’t believe it.
How’s this for next time I see you!
It’s not a done deal yet!
Sensing that Duan Jia Xu was really leaving, Sang Zhi immediately tugged on his arm, “Are you leaving so soon? It’s so late, why don’t you have dinner before you go?”
Duan Jiaxu politely declined, “Next time.”
Sanji stared at him, not at all inclined to let go.
What next time!
Did you just forget what you were talking about! Are you amnesiac at your age!
But she didn’t dare say those words out loud either, and could only ask pathetically, “When is the next time ……”
Duanjia Xu curled his lips and didn’t say anything.
Watching the two of them interact in this life-or-death manner, Sang Yan raised his eyebrows, “What are you two doing, seeing each other for the first time? Duan Jia Xu, you can take it easy, my sister is only twelve years old.”
Sanji subconsciously retorted, “Thirteen.”
Hearing this number, Duan Jia Xu was a bit surprised, and his gaze went back to Sang Zhi’s body.
“Thirteen?”
The tone sounded as if it was extremely unbelievable.
As if it was such a pipe dream that she was thirteen years old.
This reaction very directly stepped on Sang Chi’s sore foot. She instantly forgot that she was still begging, and said unhappily, “Are you trying to say that I’m short and don’t look like I’m thirteen at all.”
Sang Yeon leaned against the door with his arms wrapped around him, fanning the flames, “That’s what he meant.”
Duanjash scratched the skin under his eyes and shook his head, “No.”
The words were not accompanied by a few moments of truth.
Sang Chi stared at the two of them for a few seconds and lost her temper, “Forget it, I’m not talking to you guys.” She didn’t argue against Sang Yan like she just did, as if she was really hurt, and whispered, “I’ll grow anyway.”
Seeing this, a trace of guilt rarely surfaced within Sang Yan’s heart, and he spoke out to comfort, “Isn’t it good to be short? When you’re thirty, there might still be people who think you’re only eighteen.”
It was more like sticking needles into her sore spots.
Sanji scowled, “So it’s because you’re tall that people think you’re my dad?”
“……”
Sang Yeon’s little bit of guilt was instantly gone.
The little girl’s eyes were still glowing red, and she looked like she had been bullied, but she remained defiant.
The source of upsetting her twice seemed to be him. Duan Jia Xu sighed, his attitude beginning to loosen, and asked, “Thirteen years old, in the second year of junior high school?”
Without looking at him, Sanji said stiffly, “First year.”
“Which school?”
“Rising Sun Middle School.” Kuwabara paused, not sure if she was right about this suddenly floating idea, but still added, spinelessly, “First year class.”
Duan Jia Xu dragged out his accent and repeated, “The first year class of Rising Sun Middle School–“
And then he bent down and met her eyes.
“What’s your name, kid?”
Sang Chi pursed her lips lightly and whispered, “My name is Sang Chi.”
“Sanji?”
“Right.” Sanji couldn’t help but avoid his gaze, “Wizened wizened.”
Duan Jia Xu pinched her face affectionately, “That, little Sang Chi.”
“……”
He lowered his voice, as if whispering to her so no one would hear.
“Any idea when the next one will be?”
–
After saying goodbye to Li Ping, the two of them went out of the Sang house.
The sun had fully set, the evening sunlight haloed the entire sky, and the temperature was more than a little cooler.
Duan Jia Xu suddenly asked, “Your sister should still be quite obedient, right?”
“Obedient?” Sang Yeon snorted, he had rummaged for a lollipop from somewhere and was currently biting it in his mouth, “That little brat is in his rebellious stage, it’s hard to control.”
Rebellion.
Difficult to manage.
It’s okay.
Duanjia Xu considered it. After all, it was a child whose mind hadn’t matured yet, and it wasn’t clear if anything serious had happened. He still mentioned this matter to Sang Yan: “Your sister was called to her parents and just asked me if I could help her go see the teacher, see for yourself how to handle this?”
Sang Yan tsked, “No wonder I kept keeping you for dinner, I knew this brat didn’t have any good ideas.”
Duanjia Xu smiled and didn’t say anything.
“I guess it’s not a big deal, called several times, and every time it’s those few reasons.” Sang Yan lowers his head to send a message back to someone, absentmindedly asking, “Are you free tomorrow? If you’re free, go there for me, I have something to do tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow ah ……”
“Uh-huh. If not, forget it, I’ll talk to my mom later.”
I just promised her, and then I’m suing my parents.
The kid will probably cry again.
“There has to be one even if there isn’t.” Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyebrows and said diffidently, “You can’t lie to a child.”
–
The sound of the door at the entrance hall being closed was heard. Sang Zhi peeked at it, and then ran to Li Ping’s face with bare feet, “Mom, why did brother come back?”
Lai Ping: “He said he was playing ball in the neighborhood, so he stopped by to take a shower.”
“Then it’s so late, why don’t you keep them for dinner?”
“Your brother’s friend had something to do.” Liping didn’t take this to heart and asked leisurely, “Only only, did your brother really beat you up?”
“…… “Sang Chi immediately got weak and didn’t dare to ask again, turned around and ran to his room, “I’m going to do my homework!”
Go back to your room and lock it.
Sang Chi kicked off her slippers and jumped onto the bed, pulling the Muppets aside and hugging them into her arms. She was still in a bad mood, but her thoughts were unconsciously letting go, and the last words Duan Jia Xu said echoed in her mind over and over again.
–“Any idea when the next one will be?”
The response should have been her “when’s the next time”.
That means he’s coming, right?
Finally relieved, Kuwabara rolled over, alternately wobbling on her legs and humming happily. She looked out at the darkening sky and continued to think about what had just happened.
Further on–
Duanjia Xu raised his hand and pinched her face.
“……”
“?”
Sanji immediately sat up.
She just had her face pinched by that man, didn’t she?
That’s right, isn’t it?
How could he pinch her face?
Just met for the first time!!! Him! How! Can! Pinch her face!
Pinch even.
For! Sh! What? Getting that close!
Also …… also! Call her little Sanji ……
Forget it.
Sanji calmed his emotions and pretended not to care, emphasizing, “Forget it.”
Consider it a favor he did for himself, barely giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Her gaze swept over and she happened to see the mirror on the desk.
Clashing eyes with herself in the mirror, she noticed her reddened face.
Sanji’s composure collapsed instantly.
?
You! Why? To! Show a pair! It’s you! Take advantage! The! Look like ！！！！
For the first time in thirteen years of living, I possessed such emotions.
Sanji collapsed back into bed and rolled himself into the covers with nothing to do, feeling the air inside getting thinner and thinner.
Then, listen to the amplified sound of the heartbeat.
–
Early the next morning.
When Sang Zhi finished washing up and walked out of the living room, both Sang Rong and Li Ping were already sitting at the table eating breakfast. Since she had already found help, she pretended that nothing had happened and didn’t tell them about the parents.
She went to the table and sat down.
Li Ping filled a bowl of lean meat porridge for Sang Zhi.
Just woke up and didn’t even feel like talking.
The house was peaceful and quiet.
Sang Chi slowly drank the congee and suddenly remembered Duan Jia Xu’s reaction yesterday. She exhaled and asked in a small voice, “Dad, am I a bit short.”
Sam Wing looked over at her and asked, “Did anyone say anything about you?”
Sang Chi nodded his head and pushed everything onto Sang Yan first, “Brother said I.”
Li Ping: “Don’t listen to your brother.”
Sang Zhi poked the bottom of the bowl with a spoon, “But all my classmates are only twelve, and they’re all taller than me. Yin Zhenru is six meters tall.”
Sang Rong comforted her, “How old are you, you’ll grow taller.”
“How come I can’t grow taller when you all grow taller. When I rode the bus, there were people who gave me their seats, thinking I was an elementary school student.” Sang Chi’s mood was extraordinarily low, and he asked sullenly, “Was brother one meter five when he was thirteen?”
Liping hesitantly said, “Your brother is a boy, so ……”
Sang Rong suddenly interrupted her and answered Sang Chi’s words, “No.”
“……”
“It’s not that high.” Sang Rong calmly said, “Dad doesn’t quite remember, but dad barely has an impression. At that time, your brother should have been less than one meter four.”
“……”
Chapter IV
.
Sang Chi’s appetite suddenly got better, hugging the bowl and gurgling the congee. She refused Sang Rong’s offer to drive her to school, put on her backpack, and took the bus to school by herself as usual.
As he neared the station, Sanji lowered his head and laboriously fished out his student bus pass in his book bag.
Noticing the convenience store next to her with her eyes, she hesitated and walked in.
This convenience store was small in size, and the freezers that held the drinks were placed at the entrance. Kuwabara stared at the row where the milk was placed, her eyes unblinking, not knowing what she was thinking.
Seeing her stay there for quite some time, the clerk standing at the register couldn’t help but ask, “Do you want to buy milk, little friend?”
In other words, Sang Chi would definitely be too lazy to count. But at this moment, she inexplicably turned her head back and pointed at the school uniform she was wearing, “I’m in middle school, don’t call me that.”
And without waiting for the store clerk to respond, Sang-chi continued, “I’m not buying, I’m just here to look.”
After saying that, she said goodbye, and then went out of the store, just in time to catch a crowded bus. Sang Chi hurriedly went up, squeezed in with the crowd, and found an empty seat to stand.
The car was shaking badly.
Because of inertia, Sang Zhi stood very unsteadily and had to stand on tiptoe to grasp the rings, which was extraordinarily laborious. A sharp brake, she fell forward uncontrollably, her heart was empty. The next second, someone grabbed her bag and pulled it back.
One complaint after another rang out.
Sanji stretched out his hand and grudgingly grasped the far side of the handrail.
In the midst of this light, she took a gap to look back and happened to meet Fu Zhengchu’s eyes.
The teenager’s height was about one meter seven, a head taller than her. The contours of his features hadn’t grown yet, and he looked soft and boyish, his face a deliberate pile of maturity, “Is everything alright.”
Sanji nodded his head and didn’t chime in.
Fu Zhengchu vacated his seat for her, “You stand here.”
He was tall enough to grab the ring, and Sanji didn’t hesitate to say “thank you”.
Silence.
After a long time, Fu Zhengchu stifled a sentence, “I heard Yin Zhenru say that you were called as a parent, right?”
Sanji looked over at him, not quite in pain, “Why does she tell you everything.”
“I thought you weren’t going to the bookstore together yesterday? I just asked.” Fu Zhengchu seemed a bit nervous, “Nothing else, I just wanted to tell you that I was called as a parent too.”
Sanji gave a start, “You got called a parent too?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What’s the reason?”
Momentarily unable to think of how to answer, Fu Zhengchu said vaguely, “Just do not listen in class ah.”
Sanji nodded, “I’m pretty much the same.”
“Why don’t you listen?”
“Too easy.” Sanji said, “Don’t want to hear it.”
“…… “Fu Zhengchu scratched his head, not moving, “Me too.”
Kuwabara queried, “But weren’t you at the bottom of your grade on your last exam?”
Sweat falls down Fu Zhengchu’s forehead, he averts his eyes, his grip on the hanging ring tightens, but the emotion on his face is light: “Uh-huh. The topic is too simple, I’m too lazy to write.”
Seeming to find this explanation reasonable, Kuwabara calmly said “Oh” without saying anything else.
The scene quieted down.
It was quiet to the point of being a little awkward.
Fu Zhengchu coughed lightly and took the initiative to break the awkwardness, “How many places did you take last time?”
Sanji: “First.”
“…… “Fu Zhengchu clenched his teeth and quickly loosened them again, grinning indifferently, “OK, I’ll take the first test next time for fun too.”
Sanji scanned him up and down, “You’re going to take first place next time?”
Fu Zhengchu nodded, the bottom half less: “…… What happened?”
“Nope, just reminding you.” Sanji didn’t take that to heart, and rightfully said, “Not with me around.”
“……”
Just like that, the two seemed to be in a situation that somehow became hostile.
After that Fu Zhengchu didn’t know what to say. In this regard, he has no experience at all, and he is not too good to shamelessly keep pulling awkward topics, and also fell silent.
Upon arrival.
Sanji got out of the car first and walked quickly towards the school.
Fu Zhengchu followed her, racking his brain on how to salvage the situation. When he didn’t have any clue, he happened to meet a boy he knew. The boy greeted him and naturally hooked his neck to walk forward.
The teenager’s stride was big and fast, and he soon overtook Sanji.
Fu Zhengchu turned around and shouted, “Sang Chi, I’m leaving first, huh?”
Sanji waved his hand at him perfunctorily.
The boy also looked at Kuwabara, gave a meaningful “oh”, and then hemmed and hawed.
Fu Zhengchu lifted his foot to kick him, and his line of sight always involuntarily glanced towards Sang Zhi’s side.
“You’re sick.”
Sanjay didn’t pay attention to what they were saying.
She hadn’t listened to a word of it and didn’t care at all. All that was going through her head was all the calling of the parents that were all coming next, and the man she had seen yesterday.
Yesterday was so rushed, Sang Yan was there, and Duan Jia Xu only promised her that he would come over temporarily, so he didn’t say anything clearly. Sang Zhi didn’t have his contact information and didn’t know how to tell him to come over at 4:30pm.
I wonder what time he’ll be here.
Because she was always thinking about this, Sang Chi didn’t listen to the class for the whole day, and from time to time, she looked in the direction of the school entrance along the window. Only after being criticized by a few teachers did she tighten up a bit.
The clock on the wall kept turning.
The bell rang at exactly 4:20 and the last class ended.
Thinking that Sangji was probably going home with her brother, Yin Zhenru didn’t wait for her and left the classroom after saying goodbye to her.
Sang Chi had nothing to do, so she fished out her book from the drawer and continued to draw. Time passed by, and when she looked up at the clock again, she realized that it was close to five o’clock at the moment.
She was also the only one left in the spacious classroom at that moment.
She froze.
Duanjia Xu hasn’t come yet.
Sangji didn’t know if he didn’t know that middle school ended early, or if he had forgotten about it. She barely managed to stabilize her mind and tried to continue drawing, but this time she was completely out of it and her head was a mess of threads.
Waited another quarter of an hour.
Kuwabara heard the sound of the doors of the other classes being closed hard from outside. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, she felt that the silence at this moment seemed even quieter than just now.
One person, making a very small commotion, all magnified at this moment.
What he had said the day before was like a joke.
Sanji couldn’t wait any longer and jerked to his feet.
The chair slid back with a zip that stung her ears. She stopped where she was, her eyes growing red. She forced her face to be taut, pushing down her aggravation.
“Forget it.”
Sanji casually stuffed a few books into his book bag, put them on his back and headed out.
The first year of school ended early, and the day’s lessons ended at four o’clock or so. At this time, just after five o’clock, the corridors were already empty, and only a few scattered people could be seen.
Sanji kept his head down and trotted down the stairs.
Her pace was fast, and she didn’t look at the road in front of her, like a headless fly. Suddenly, she bumped into a wall of people, and Sang Zhi took a few steps backward, stifling an apology.
Without even lifting his head, he continued on his way.
At the same time, the person she bumped into made a sound, “Classmate, do you know how to get to the first year class?”
The man’s voice was slightly raised, with a natural trailing tone, and always spoke with a bit of ineffable laziness, like it was close to the ear, with a breath that tickled the human heart.
A little familiar.
Sanjay returned his head.
Duan Jia Xu stood by the railing, white suit pants. His bangs were slightly long, covering his eyebrows, and his features were outstanding to the point of being too colorful. He lowered his eyelids, and when he looked at her face, the corners of his lips loosened, “Sang Chi?”
Sanji stared at him for a few seconds, then quickly lowered his head again and didn’t say anything.
I don’t know whether to say this was an expected or unexpected encounter.
Noticing her red eyes, Duan Jia Xu squatted down to look at her, “Crying again?”
“……”
He found it funny, “Scared like that?”
Sanji pursed his lips and said nothing.
Duan Jiaxu: “Don’t cry, brother will take the scolding for you.”
Sanji looked over at him.
Duan Jiaxu rubbed the top of her hair and asked, “Going to the classroom or the office now?”
Sanji didn’t answer his question, accusing, “What kind of person comes in that late.”
Upon hearing this, Duan Jiaxu raised his eyebrows and said good-naturedly, “Then what time should I come?”
Sanjay stiffened, “I get out of school at four-twenty.”
“This early? Brother didn’t know ah. Is it okay for brother to apologize to you?” Duan Jia Xu’s tone was immodest, like teasing a small pet, “Brother apologizes to you.”
Because of his arrival, Sanji’s emotions subsided by a small margin and he held back a, “No need.”
It’s been a while since school let out.
Afraid that the teacher would wait for a long time, Sang Chi didn’t make any more tantrums, “Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“Office.”
Walk to the first floor and turn left to see the faculty office.
The two stopped five meters from the door.
Sang Chi thought for a moment and gave a few words of explanation, “I’m quite experienced in this. For a while that is, the teacher will keep telling you off, and then you’ll just attach yourself to him.”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed diffidently.
What was to come next was, for Sanji, the most out of character and serious thing she had ever done.
Joining with others to deceive teachers.
Sang Zhi’s expression was grave, “Also, brother, you try to speak as little as possible. Otherwise, if we’re exposed and caught, we’re both screwed.”
Duan Jia Xu licked his lips and smiled, “Why does that sound kinda scary.”
Sanji was nervous and looked at him bluffly, “You’ve got some guts.”
“Good.” Duanjia Xu laughed out loud, “I’ll be brave.”
By this time, only two teachers were left in the office.
One was Chen Mingxu. The other is the class teacher of class six, also the English teacher of class one, surnamed Zhang. Their desks were side by side, Chen Mingxu was correcting homework and chatting with Mr. Zhang.
Sanji walked over, “Sensei.”
Chen Mingxu looked up, “Coming?”
Sanji lowered his head and said, “Well, my brother is here.”
Duan Jia Xu stood at her side. He was not as vain as her, and spoke frankly and calmly: “Hello teacher, my name is Sang Yan, I’m Sang Zhi’s brother.”
Originally, Sang Chi was afraid that he would be so scared that he could not speak, but unexpectedly heard the word “Sang Yan”, and he lied calmly and calmly, his tone of voice without waves and without waves, with a full of the bottom of the air.
She couldn’t help but look at him.
Chen Mingxu stood up and said busily, “I’m Sang Zhi’s homeroom teacher, surnamed Chen. Trouble you to make a trip, sit down first.”
Teacher Zhang joked from the sidelines, “That’s a few times now.”
Chen Mingxu lowered his voice and said without a trace of humor, “Aren’t you too?”
Hearing this, Sang Chi then noticed that there was a fifth person in the office at this time. Fu Zhengchu stood in the corner behind the two teachers, not making a sound, like a transparent person.
After the two men’s eyes met.
Fu Zhengchu’s feet moved as if he was struggling. Soon, he walked over and stood two meters away from Sang Zhi, right in front of Teacher Zhang.
The two stood close together.
They were close in age and both had good looks.
It’s easy to conjure up a thought.
Duan Jia Xu sat on the chair next to Chen Ming Xu, his gaze sizing up the two of them with a hint of meaning in his eyes before he waved at her, “Come here.”
Sanji dutifully went over, “What’s wrong.”
Chen Mingxu was looking for information on the side and didn’t pay attention to the situation on their side.
Duan Jia Xu held his face in one hand and hooked his finger towards Sang Zhi again.
Sanji paused for a few seconds and compromised by moving over to him.
“Kids.” He lowered his head and whispered to her in an airy voice, “You’re in love early, aren’t you?”
When that word in front of him popped up, Sanji was still a little disconcerted. But the word that ensued caused her head to go blank for a moment, “What.”
After reacting, Sang Chi’s face immediately filled with blood, red like a small tomato, and did not know whether she was angry or anxious. She was afraid of being heard by the teacher, and suppressed her voice and said angrily, “You’re the one who fell in love early!”
“Hmm? I’d like to.”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu leaned back in his chair again and lazily said, “Isn’t that age not allowing it.”
Chapter V
.
Sang Zhi was actually not sure how old he was. But after hearing him say this, and then associating it with Sang Yan’s age, she tensed her face and said unhappily, “You are quite old.”
“……”
You are quite old.
Quite old.
Old.
Even though Duan Jia Xu didn’t care much about age, he still felt a stab in the heart when he heard these words.
Having just turned twenty and being labeled as “old”, Duan Jia Xu didn’t know how to describe his feelings at this moment. He exhaled slowly and asked word for word, “I’m old?”
Sanji nodded again, “You’re old.”
“……”
A few seconds of silence.
“Child, you think I’m old,” Duan Jiaxu stared straight at her, probably thinking it was too absurd and nonsensical to be speechless to the point of straightening up, “then why don’t you call me uncle?”
“Oh.” Sang-chi thought about it for a moment, felt it made some sense, and immediately changed her tone, “Uncle.”
“……”
The little girl’s eyes are round and large, clear and clean, not stained with half a bit of impurity, talking seriously, as if the words spoken, are from the heart.
With the most innocent of expressions, mending over one’s wounds.
Chen Mingxu, who was next to him, interrupted the conversation between the two at this moment. He filled a cup of water for Duan Jia Xu and said somewhat awkwardly, “Sorry, you sit down for a while. I drank too much water, so I’ll go to the restroom first.”
Duan Jiaxu adjusted his emotions and turned back to answer, “Okay.”
Maybe it was because of the idle panic, when Chen Mingxu left, Duan Jiaxu skimmed his head, once again with Sang Zi Zhi counting up just now, “Do you know that if you shout at me like this, your brother will have to shout at me like this, too?”
Sanji answered honestly, “I don’t know.”
Duan Jiaxu: “So shout brother or uncle.”
Sang Chi thought for a moment and reluctantly said, “Then it’s better to call out to brother.”
Duan Jiaxu’s brows spread out and he leisurely said, “Still quite protective of your brother.”
“What’s the point of protecting him.” Sang Chi didn’t understand his words, “Why would I protect him, he’s always bullying me. I just don’t want him to call you uncle.”
“Why?”
“He looks older than you.”
“……”
I didn’t expect to get such a reply, Duan Jia Xu looked stunned, suddenly burst out laughing, and then held back his laughter and repeated, “Sang Yan looks older than me?”
Sanji: “Yeah.”
Though it was the battle among the “old” that was won.
Duan Jiaxu was still in a great mood. He coughed lightly and asked in a pretense of modesty, “Kid, how can you tell that he’s older than me?” After saying that, he added, “I think it’s about the same.”
Kuwabara’s eyes scanned his face, quickly dropping back down and speaking warmly, “That’s still a bit of a gap.”
“……”
In the next second, a woman knocked on the open door of the office, her eyes looking this way, her appearance a bit coy: “Hello, may I ask if Fu Zhengchu’s homeroom teacher is here?”
Teacher Zhang also stood up in a hurry, “Right! You are Zhengchu’s sister, right?”
The woman pursed her lips in a smile and walked in, “Right.”
Fu Zhengchu, who had been standing for half a day, couldn’t help but complain, “Sister, why did you just come.”
Sanji looked over in a submissive manner.
The woman’s eyebrow and eye contour was a bit similar to Fu Zhengchu, wearing a white dress, full of student spirit. She wore light makeup, her lips were light, her face was beautiful and colorful. She explained to Fu Zhengchu in a whisper, “I came over as soon as I got out of class, it’s a bit far.”
After saying that, the woman noticed Duan Jiaxu sitting on the chair, her gaze fixed for two seconds and quickly moved away, her tone of voice seemed a bit more nervous, “Sorry, Mr. Zhang, I guess I made you wait for a long time.”
Teacher Zhang waved his hand, “It’s fine, and it’s also troublesome for you to make a special trip.”
Because of what Sang Chi just said, Duan Jia Xu laughed half-heartedly. At this moment, the corners of his mouth were still upturned, and his gaze didn’t move out of place as he stared at Sang Chi, “When will your teacher come back?”
Sangji withdrew his gaze, “It should be soon.”
“Little Sangzhi, brother is a bit bored.” Duan Jia Xu teased her with boredom, “Why don’t you come and say something nice for brother to relieve his boredom?”
Sanji looked at him suspiciously, “Say what.”
“Let’s just say,” Duan Jiaxu didn’t think twice, “Brother Jiaxu is the world’s most handsome.”
“I’m not a repeater.” Sanji wasn’t happy about it.
“Just let you praise me.” Duan Jiaxu said, “Didn’t treat you like a repeater.”
Sanji refused, “I don’t want it.”
Duan Jiaxu wasn’t angry, dragging his voice and flirting, “Cheap bastard.”
At this time, Chen Mingxu, who had gone to the restroom, finally returned. He sat down on the seat and said smilingly, “Sorry ah, my stomach is suddenly a bit uncomfortable.”
Duan Jiaxu: “It’s fine, there’s no rush.”
He then pushed the cup of undrinkable water on the table in front of Sanji and asked, “Thirsty?”
“Cheapskate” didn’t say anything.
Duanjia Xu tapped his knuckles twice beside the cup, “Drink water.”
After that, he looked at Chen Mingxu and listened to him attentively.
Only then did Sang Chi pick up the glass of water and silently took a sip. Looking at the empty desktop, as well as remembering that he hadn’t had a drink of water since he came over, she stood still, struggled for a moment, and finally walked over to the water fountain to fill a glass of water for him.
–
One of the things that annoyed Sang Zhi the most about Chen Ming Xu was that every time he called his parents, he said the exact same thing. Sangji had heard it so many times that he thought he could recite it backwards and forwards. When you look at it, Chen Mingxu is really like what they call a “repeater”.
She was bored and tried to yawn as her thoughts drifted off.
Suddenly, she noticed that the atmosphere next door was actually quite harmonious, unlike her side which was like this, only hearing Chen Mingxu constantly complaining.
Sanji listened carefully.
Teacher Zhang suddenly smiled, ”This child Zhengchu is just poor in grades, but everything else is quite good. This time, it wasn’t because he did something wrong that I called you over. It’s that he suddenly rushed into the office yesterday, yelling that he wanted to call his parents over, and it even startled me.”
“……”
When these words came out, Fu Zhengchu immediately looked at Sang Zhi.
The two men’s eyes locked.
-Silence.
Not expecting her to hear, Fu Zhengchu’s complexion changed, looking embarrassed to the extreme, like he was going to find a hole to bury himself in the next moment.
Sang-chi, obviously finding it unbelievable, was silent and tapped his fingers twice on his temples.
Silent inquiry: is there something wrong with you here.
What kind of person even asks to call their parents?
Fu Zhengchu pretended to be calm and said “I’ll explain it to you some other time” with his mouthpiece, and then looked away.
His head turned, and Sang Chi happened to notice that Fu Zhengchu’s sister glanced her way, looking at her but not her.
Sanji followed her gaze.
Sure enough, he was looking at Duane Garcia.
It was thought to be just an accident. But then, Sanjay saw her looking over three times.
I don’t know if it was inadvertent or something else.
Kuwabara lowered her eyes, her fists slowly tightening before she shifted her position without moving, blocking the woman’s gaze.
–
This conversation lasted about forty minutes.
Chen Mingxu finished his complaint and took a sip of water, “That’s pretty much it. In fact, I don’t really want to bother you guys to come over, but this kid Sang Zhi really gives me a headache. When I asked her to get up and answer a question, she asked me if I didn’t know how to do it, said that if I asked her to get up, I wanted her to teach me, and also said that she couldn’t take my job. It’s making the other kids not want to go to class.”
Duan Jia Xu paused and swept a sideways glance at Sang Zhi, “There’s still this?”
Sang-chi immediately bowed his head and pretended to be reflecting.
Chen Mingxu nodded: ”I have communicated with your mother several times before, delaying you quite a bit of time, but also for the good of this child. Sangzhi is very smart, if he studies well, he will definitely be able to get into the first middle school in the future. You also go back and supervise more.”
“Good.” Duan Jia Xu said, “I’ll go back and discipline her well.”
The two men exited the office.
Things went smoother than expected, Chen Mingxu didn’t have any suspicions, and the big stone that fell on Sang Zhi’s chest also fell. She looked at Duan Jia Xu, and there was more intimacy in her expression, “Thank you brother.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed, “Back home?”
“Right.” Kuwabara blinked, because he’d helped himself out, and there was a bit of curtness in his tone at the moment, “What else is there to do?”
“I’m not,” Duanjia Xu’s voice paused in a slow reminder, “starting to discipline you yet.”
“……”
These words were like a pot of cold water poured over Sangji’s body, her pleasantness was lost for the most part in a moment, and she reluctantly held back the words, “You’re going to nag at me too?”
“Let’s go.” Duan Jia Xu was noncommittal, “Brother will take you home.”
When he didn’t answer, Sang Chi assumed that the words he said were just a joke, and before she had time to breathe a sigh of relief, soon Duan Jia Xu continued, “Take your time to nag on the way.”
Sanji: “……”
The two of them walked left and right in the direction of the school entrance.
He did give her a buffer and didn’t continue to talk about these things in the school. Sang Wizi pinched the strap of her school bag with fear and couldn’t help but say, “My brother helped me go see the teacher and wouldn’t even teach me a lesson after that.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Really?”
Sanji: “Of course it’s true!”
Duan Jiaxu stared at her, as if he was discerning the truth of her words, before taking out his cell phone from his pocket, “I’ll ask.”
“……”
“Wait!” Sang Chi jumped in shock and jumped to grab his cell phone, “If you go and ask, won’t my brother know! If he knows, it means the whole world knows! Then you came here today for nothing!”
“Brother this is not something he has to ask.” Duan Jia Xu was like teasing a cat, raising his hand up and down, just not letting her get it, “Having come all the way here, if I’m still being tricked by a kid like you, how pathetic would brother be.”
At this point in time, a female voice behind them interrupted the interaction between the two of them. The voice was thin and soft, so small it was almost inaudible, and carried a palpable nervousness, “You, hello!”
The two men subconsciously turned back.
It is Fu Zhengchu’s sister. At this time, she is the only one standing in the same place, Fu Zhengchu does not know where to go.
The woman was not too tall, with a thin and lean figure. Her features were small and pretty, and her face was flushed. She looked at Duan Jia Xu and took her cell phone out of her pocket in a panic: “Can you give a contact?”
The atmosphere became subtle.
Duanjia Xu looked at her and didn’t say anything.
It was like a silent rejection.
The woman’s expression became increasingly awkward and uncomfortable.
Sang Chi’s eyes were bony, swirling around the two of them, and she couldn’t see through Duan Jia Xu’s meaning either. Without waiting for him to respond, she suddenly tilted her head and said in a shocking way, “Sister, my brother has twenty-nine girlfriends.”
Duanjia Xu’s eyebrows jumped and he hung his head to look at her.
“You don’t have to be nervous, he should give it to you.” Sang Zhi didn’t dare to look at Duan Jia Xu, her look was sincere and cheerful, “He changes one a day, this month there’s still one missing, so I guess it’s you.”
“……”
Chapter VI
.
Sang Zhi’s volume was not loud and his tone was calm. But perhaps because the content was too shocking, at this moment it was as if it had been amplified with a loudspeaker and carried into the ears of the other two.
The silence was broken and the atmosphere relaxed for a moment. And then, it entered an even more awkward situation.
Duan Jiaxu restrained his lips and remained silent.
The woman couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Was he being poked and prodded, or did he think it was just an irrelevant joke. The smile on her face couldn’t hang on, and her hand holding up the cell phone gradually dropped.
San Zhi quietly glanced in Duan Jia Xu’s direction.
Coincidentally, she met his gaze. She immediately lowered her eyes, and like a thief, she carried her schoolbag back to her chest, fumbling for the cell phone inside as if she were just a background cloth.
A few more seconds passed.
Duan Jia Xu retracted his gaze and followed Sang Zhi’s words, “Well, I’m a bit of a slag.”
“……”
“And it’s been a bit much to handle lately.” He laughed softly and shook the cell phone in his hand, saying diffidently, “You might have to wait in line if you want to call me.”
His tone was rightful, as if he didn’t think there was anything wrong with those words, and his face wasn’t half ashamed. It was as if he felt superior because he had a good skin.
Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows frivolously, “Do you want to reconsider?”
The woman took a deep breath, barely keeping her manners, “No need.”
“That’s a pity.” Duan Jia Xu sighed and lamented, “Why don’t you leave a contact? Maybe you’ll change your attention one day ……”
Without waiting for him to finish his sentence, the woman simply turned her head and walked away.
Sang Chi and Duan Jia Xu were left standing in place.
When he couldn’t see the woman’s back, Duan Jia Xu skimmed his head to look at Sang Zhi and leisurely asked, “Kid, what should I do if my brother can’t get thirty together?”
“……”
The tone was gentle and calm, as if it were really an inquiry.
Again, it’s like a smile.
Kuwabara even thought that he might as well be mad at himself. The killing power was probably not that strong.
“One short.” Duan Jiaxu smiled, “How are you going to spend this month?”
“……” Sang Chi didn’t dare to speak, coughing uncomfortably twice, his back tingling. Timidity hit his heart all at once.
Duan Jia Xu, who was standing on the side, didn’t speak again, and was excessively quiet.
It was as if some big move was brewing.
Sang Chi was so scared that she didn’t even dare to peek this time, but just stood obediently in place. The unpredictable future made her apprehensive. She swallowed and took a step back without moving.
She gathered all her courage and quickly shouted “Goodbye, brother”. Then she suddenly ran forward, as if fleeing for her life.
Duanjia Xu raised his eyebrows and easily grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
“Run for what?”
Not even two steps before he was caught.
Sanji suddenly realized that the possibility of escape was basically zero.
She deflated.
“It s too late …… It s almost dark.” Sang Zhi Zhi sheepishly lowered his head, his voice is small like a mosquito screaming, “A moment later my mom came home and saw that I have not gone back will be worried.”
Duan Jia Xu symbolically looked at the sky, “It’s so late, how can brother let you go back alone?”
Sang Chi immediately said, “It’s fine, the station is nearby, and then I’ll be almost home when I get off. Brother you have to go back to school as well, otherwise it’ll be very late to go back.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu said, “Why didn’t I see you care so much about me before.”
“…… “Anyway, can’t run away, Sang Chi simply broke, “Brother, just such a small thing, why do you remember so long, you have nothing to lose.”
Duan Jiaxu lazily said, “How come there’s no loss?”
Sang Chi justified: “You’ve been thinking about it for so long, but you don’t want to give that sister’s number and you’re too embarrassed to refuse. Then wasn’t I just helping you? By that reckoning, you still have to say a word of thanks to me.”
The little girl’s bullshit was awesome, and she didn’t bat an eyelid. Duan Jia Xu stared at her for several seconds, seemingly angry and laughing, he lightly pulled the corner of his mouth and said, “Okay.”
“But brother you just helped me too.” He just responded like that, and Sang Chi’s heart was still half-assed, so he could only say stiffly, “Then let’s call it even.”
“This can’t be done.” Duan Jia Xu said, “Let’s go, brother will personally come to the door to thank you.”
“……”
The two words that kids this age are probably most afraid of are – “sue the teacher” and “call the parents”.
The person in front of her always used these two points to intimidate her, making her instantly lose her temper. Sang Zhi didn’t dare to mess with him anymore, and said in a very stifled manner, “Why do you want to sue your parents if you can’t move, you’re very childish like that.”
The tail of Duan Jia Xu’s eyes rose slightly as he said lightly, “Isn’t it true that I’m still short of a girlfriend and I’m in a bad mood?”
Sang-chi retorted, “Then you’re here to help me meet my teacher, not for a blind date.”
“Okay, you tell me. Who taught you all this?” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “And changing a girlfriend a day, talking about your brother like a duck.”
Sanji blinked, not understanding, “Why is this like a duck?”
“……”
Suddenly realizing that standing in front of him was just a little kid who had just started middle school.
Duan Jia Xu’s expression lurched, scratched his face, then lifted the school bag she was carrying, and said without changing his face, “Just the meaning of keeping a pet, keeping a duck, and then giving the duck a new owner for a day.”
Kuwabara drew her arms out obediently. She thought about it for a moment, pretending to understand even though she thought it was a little weird.
“Oh.”
The powder blue book bag just fell into his hands.
Duan Jiaxu weighed the bag in his hand and pulled away, “So light?”
The two headed in the direction of the station.
Sanji: “I have nothing to bring.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Where’s the homework?”
Only then did Sang Chi’s expression change, wheedling, “…… I don’t want to write.”
“Don’t want to write?” Duan Jiaxu said, “Then what do you do with your time?”
“……”
“Kid, you have to be obedient. Listen well in class, don’t disrupt classroom discipline, deliberately go against the teacher, and finish your homework well.” Thinking of the boy in the office just now, Duan Jia Xu instructed again, “Also, don’t fall in love early, talk about it when you’re an adult, it’s good to benefit from some innocent friendship at your age.”
Sanji looked at him and gave a perfunctory oh.
Seeing that she didn’t listen at all, Duan Jia Xu added seemingly offhandedly, “If you’re called a parent again, the matter of me posing as your brother to come here today will probably be exposed, and then I’ll really be screwed at that time. You can’t just be so gracious and hateful, right?”
Sanji: “Wouldn’t it be better if you came over next time ……”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t respond, and his smile tightened a bit.
I don’t know why, but Sang Wiz was a bit afraid that he would get angry, and because of that, he lost his stance all of a sudden: “I know.”
He smiled then, “That’s a good boy.”
It sounded like a reward.
Duan Jia Xu leaned down and rubbed her head affectionately.
“Come on, brother will take you home.”
–
Send her downstairs.
Duan Jia Xu didn’t have the intention to go up and put his school bag in front of her, “Go back.”
Sanji nodded and said obediently, “Thank you, brother.”
Walking to the front door, Sanji pulled the key out of his pocket and opened the door slowly. She didn’t know if she would meet him again, and she couldn’t hear his footsteps leaving behind her. She stopped moving and cautiously looked back.
Duan Jia Xu was still standing in the same place and happened to meet her eyes.
As if she had been caught red-handed, Sanji’s face flushed red and she immediately shouted, “Bye brother!”
Then ran hand over hand into the straddle.
No one from the family had returned yet, and the house was empty.
Sang Chi put her hand against her burning face, quickly kicked off her shoes, ran to the balcony, and grabbed the security railing to look down. Duan Jia Xu was already almost out of the neighborhood, and at this moment, one hand was raised to his ear, as if he was on the phone.
After a few seconds, as if noticing something. He suddenly raised his head and looked in Sanji’s direction.
Sanji was caught off guard and was a thief.
She jerked her back into a crouch.
Her heart thumped like it was going to jump out of her body the next moment. She gulped, the unwarranted weakness and helplessness keeping her from moving, and it took a while before she looked out again.
However, Duan Jiaxu’s figure was no longer visible.
Sanji exhaled.
The heart inexplicably felt a little empty.
–
It worked out extraordinarily well.
The teachers didn’t notice anything wrong, the parents didn’t know anything about it, and therefore, Sang Chi didn’t receive too many lessons. But it seems to bring endless sequelae.
She began to think of the same person over and over, over and over again.
Something with a tinge of sourness and a hint of sweetness you could taste was bubbling up and sprouting.
Sang Zhi felt that this feeling was very inexplicable and overwhelming. She didn’t dare to tell anyone about it, feeling a bit ashamed, and like she had grown up overnight with a secret that belonged to her and couldn’t be told to anyone.
Sanjay began to go on and on.
Gradually, the sketchbook, the diary, too, began to fill with a man’s name. Though, she didn’t even know which word of that man’s name corresponded to the homophone.
The feeling only lasted for a while.
Maybe it was because they didn’t see each other again, washed away by time. Or perhaps it was, pressed forcefully to the bottom of her heart, wanting to pretend it didn’t exist like that.
In the blink of an eye, the midterm exams were over and the Dragon Boat Festival vacation was ushered in.
Sang Chi returned home early, took a bowl of strawberries from the refrigerator and plopped down on the couch to slowly nibble on them. Her parents hadn’t come back yet, so she was alone in the house, and the cartoons on the TV were emitting a joyful soundtrack.
Suddenly, the door at the foyer was opened.
Sang Chi subconsciously looked over and saw Sang Yan’s face in a flash.
Not expecting him to come back on this vacation, San Zhi froze for a moment before withdrawing her eyes as if she hadn’t seen it and continuing to watch the TV.
Sang Yeon laughed in exasperation, “You don’t know how to yell for someone?”
“Why didn’t you tell me in advance that you were coming back,” Sang Chi’s hand was holding a palm-sized strawberry, biting it as she said, “Mom just called to ask you to cook two bowls of rice, so go and cook it.”
Sang Yeon said coolly, “I didn’t even tell her I was going home, so why did she ask me to cook?”
Sang Chi’s gaze hadn’t moved away from the TV, fumbling for her cell phone from the side, dialing a number for Lai Ping while pressing the amplifier, “If you don’t believe me, I’ll give her a call.”
Sang Yeon lazily ignored her and went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of ice water to drink.
The person on the other end quickly picked up the phone and called out, “Only only only, what’s wrong?”
“Mom.” Sang Chi said without changing her face, “Brother is back, did you just ask me to tell him to cook?”
Sanjayan closed the refrigerator and looked in Sanjay’s direction.
And then he heard Liping on the phone be silent for a few seconds before saying, “Yeah, has he cooked yet?”
Sanjan: “……”
Sang-chi swallowed the strawberries, raised his voice and said to Sang-yen, “Brother, mommy asked if you cooked it!”
Sang Yan stared at Sang Zhi for a while, not saying a word, and walked directly into the kitchen. Seeing this, Sang Chi climbed up and walked to the kitchen, leaning against the door and probing to see, “He’s cooking now.”
After saying a few more words to Li Ping, Sang Zhi hung up the phone. She looked at Sang Yan’s back and suddenly remembered the incident of recognizing Duan Jia Xu as him. After a long moment of silence, she inexplicably ventured out, “Brother, did you fall in love in college?”
Sang Yeon ignored her.
“No? Not even once?” As if interested in the matter, Sanji stopped even watching the cartoon, “I’m serious, brother.”
Sang Yeon turned around, his tone not so good, “What for?”
Sang-chi said seriously, “Do you want to go to the whole Yung?”
“……”
Sang Yan’s breath barely came up. Not wanting to see her again, he turned his back and sneered, “The brother who came back with me last time, do you remember?”
Sangchil’s biting movement gave a start, lowered his eyes, and said slowly, “Remember.”
“He said you look like me.”
“……” Sanji was silent for a few seconds, then sprang up, “Did I mess with him?”
“What.”
Sang Chi pursed her lips and said unhappily, “If not, why did he call me ugly?”
“……”
Chapter 7
.
Sang Yan held back and violently turned off the faucet, turning around and getting the remaining water on his hands into Sang Zhi’s face, “I’ll give you two options. Go back and keep watching your idiotic cartoons, or stay here and give me a beating.”
“Why are you angry.” Sang Chi wiped the water off her face and frowned, “I’m the one being scolded, not you.”
Sang Yeon put the liner into the rice cooker without lifting his eyes, “There’s the door.”
Sang-chi didn’t move and said gravely, “Anyway, don’t tell anyone that I look like you.”
He skimmed his head and snorted, “Who cares.”
After saying that, Sang Yeon pinched her face hard, snatched the bowl of strawberries from her hand and walked out of the kitchen.
Sang Chi subconsciously rubbed her face. Noticing that her hand was empty, her eyes widened in disbelief and she asked, “Why are you robbing me?”
“How come it’s just yours?” Sang Yeon picked one up and took a bite, “You earned the money to buy it?”
Sanji reached out to reach it, “I got it out of the fridge.”
Sangyan easily put his hand up, “That’s for the fridge too.”
She tiptoed laboriously and bounced, “But it’s mine when I take it out.”
“By your reasoning, now that I have it, it’s mine.”
“……”
The two men were at a standstill for a while.
Sang Yan was about to eat the fifth strawberry when the cell phone in his pocket rang. He looked at Sang Zhi, and without moving, lowered his hand holding the strawberry a bit, freeing his other hand to flip through the cell phone.
Taking advantage of this gap, Sang Chi jumped up in a hurry and snatched the bowl back.
Sang Yeon grunted lowly and picked up the phone, “What for.”
I don’t know what was said over there.
“I’m going home, didn’t the dorm check for illegal appliances and shut down the power for a day? I went home to take refuge.” At this point, he paused and said meaningfully, “Not to mention, I kinda regret it.”
Sanji went back to watching cartoons on the TV, not wanting to pay attention to him.
Sang Yan idly said, “Nothing, unlucky to step on shit.”
Taking the remote control, Sanji turned up the volume of the TV.
Sang Yan was completely unaffected, lazily talking to the person on the other end of the phone, ”Qian Fei has gone home too, right? Ask Duan Jiaxu, he’s not going back. He’s not necessarily at school though.”
Hearing that long unheard of name, Sang Chi’s gaze subconsciously looked over. She picked at the remote control with her fingers, worried about being caught on the trail, and quickly lowered her head again.
Silence turned the volume down a bit.
There was a very strange kind of tension floating up to the heart. Feeling that her chest was a bit stuffy and her head was a bit blank, she also felt that her breathing had become a bit rapid. Her attention was uncontrollably focused on Sang Yan’s body.
“How many times have you forgotten your keys?” Sang Yeon fell on his sword, “Auntie definitely won’t give it to you, but you can go and ask for a scolding if you want to.”
There was no mention of Duanjia Xu after that.
Thinking about what Sang Yan had just said, Sang Zhi suddenly had a bad association.
–Didn’t go home at the end of the day, not necessarily at school.
If that’s the case, then there’s probably a girlfriend.
But it’s about time at this age.
Going to see a teacher can be made to look like a sorority, it must be there.
It wasn’t any of her business anyway.
If you have it, you have it.
It’s not that big of a deal.
The more he thought about it, the more Sang Chi felt blocked in his heart and suddenly threw the plastic bowl in his hand onto the table.
It made a snapping sound.
Sang Yan, who was sitting on the dining chair, happened to hang up the phone. Noticing that she had inexplicably spilled fire, he looked at her thoughtfully and asked, “Can you be that indignant watching a cartoon?”
Sanjay turned off the TV.
Sang Yan sighed, “Has Pleasant Goat been captured by Gray Wolf again?”
Sanji finally retorted, “That’s not what I’m looking at.”
Sang Yeon wasn’t interested either, pouring down the last sip of water and reminding, “If you’re still going to watch, turn down the TV for me, I’m going to take a nap.”
“Brother.” Sanji suddenly called out to him.
“?”
Sang Chi scratched his head and hesitantly ventured out, “Are you the only one in your dormitory who doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“…… “Sang Yeon stared at her for two seconds and suddenly smiled, “Kid, why do you care so much about my business lately?”
Sang-chi got a little weak, “I’m just asking.”
“Mom and Dad told you to ask?”
“Am I not concerned about you?” Sang Chi muttered, “I heard mom say that recently Grandma Chen wanted to set up a match for her youngest daughter. If you haven’t, wouldn’t it be just right to make the trip.”
“……” Sang Yeon paused, “Grandma Chen’s youngest daughter?”
“Right.”
“Isn’t that one forty?”
Sanji blinked, “What’s wrong with that, you can’t be that picky in this condition.”
“……” Sang Yeon wanted to swear.
And he was afraid that the little brat would learn it and use it against him later.
“Don’t need you to care.” Sang Yeon woozily walked over and knocked her on the head with the empty bottle, “Do you know why none of my roommates have a date?”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
“Because they’re all lining up to pick me up.” Sanjayan said, “I came home because of the shelter, understand?”
Sanji looked at him, not arguing with him this time, and nodded silently.
She watched as Sangayan threw the bottle into the trash can in displeasure, got up and headed in the direction of her room, and quickly turned back to add, “Because the old man is straight.”
Sanji nodded again.
But she didn’t listen to any of the other words again.
Only clearly, hear the four words that preceded it.
-None of them.
–
During dinner time, Sang Yeon ate his meal and suddenly brought up something: “Right, Dad. I’m going to move campuses after the exams, move back to the main campus, will you lend me your car then?”
Sang Rong nodded, “Is there a lot of stuff? Should I call a moving company?”
Sang Yeon: “No, I’m just too lazy to squeeze on the school bus.”
Liping asked, “Main campus? Isn’t that near only only school?”
Sangyan hmmm’d.
Sang Rong: “Then you can still pick up your sister from school when you’re free.”
“……” Sang Yeon’s mouth twitched, “I’m going to college and I have to bring up a child?”
Sanji was also reluctant, “I don’t need him to pick it up.”
“It better be.” Sang Yan snorted lightly and looked at Sang Rong again, saying, “It should be the beginning of next month, you lend me the Toyota one, the bigger one. I’ll get one of my roommate’s stuff over there as well.”
Sang Rong: “Anything if you don’t bully your sister.”
Sanji followed, “Anything if you don’t bully me.”
“……” Sang Yeon held back, “Got it.”
Thinking of the word “roommate” in his mouth, Sang Chi had some expectations in her heart and hesitantly asked, “Brother, which roommate are you going to help you move things together?”
Sang Yan didn’t even move his eyelids, “What are you asking for.”
Without changing his face, Sanji said, “I want to help you move along.”
“……” Sang Yeon’s eating stopped. Thinking he had misheard, he began to doubt his ego, “You’re going to help me move my dorm?”
Sanji: “Yeah.”
Not knowing what she was playing at, Sang Yeon reminded, “You have class.”
“Isn’t there a weekend? Besides, I get out of school at 4:20.” Sanji said, “It’s okay if I go over and help you after school, you shouldn’t be that early anyway.”
Sang Yeon: “It’s that coincidental, I’ll be done moving by 4:20.”
A clear refusal.
Sang Chi gave him a sideways glance, pursed her lips, and stopped talking.
Sang Rong suddenly snapped, “What’s wrong with your sister wanting to help you? It’s not like it’s a bad thing, and it doesn’t affect you.”
Sang Yan was helpless, “No, the stuff is heavy as hell, how is she going to move it? I also have to prevent her from bumping into it, I’m too busy packing, how can I have that energy to care about her.”
Sang Rong: “Then you let your sister watch you clean up.”
Sanjan: “……”
He exhaled, looked over at Sanji, and slowly said, “Fine, whatever.”
Receiving an affirmative answer, Sang Chi immediately cheered up, her round eyes curved into a crescent moon, and she said with a smile, “Good, I’ll watch my brother clean up properly when the time comes.”
“……”
–
In fact, even Sang Wiz himself didn’t quite understand this series of things she was doing.
She didn’t know why she was trying to find out if Duan Jia Xu had a girlfriend or why she offered to help Sang Yan move his dormitory.
Many signs point to one thing.
But Sanji wasn’t quite willing to admit it.
Is simply missing someone;
Or, perhaps, at the age of first love, an uncontrollable emotion grows from deep within that has never been felt before, yet is extraordinarily strong.
Trying to let such emotions out.
But only dared, secretly, to keep it pressed to the bottom of his heart.
Hidden away where no one knows.
–
The day Sang Yeon moved into the dormitory was a Wednesday.
As soon as the school bell rang, Sang Chi immediately put on his backpack and ran outside without even saying hello, causing Yin Zhen Ru to be confused.
Perhaps because of the campus move, there was a lot more foot traffic than usual along the route.
Sang Zhi knew that the main campus of Nanwu University was there, and she would often pass by when she went home. Moreover, because Rising Sun Middle School was so small, their school athletic meet was previously held in their playground.
When the school has any cultural performances, it also borrows the venue of Nanwu University.
That’s why Sunrise High School is jokingly referred to as the “High School Affiliated to Nanwu University”.
Sanji walked to the entrance of Nanwu University, stopped, and called San Yan.
But Sang Yeon completely forgot about her coming over to help, and froze when he received the call, “No, you’re really coming?”
Sang-chi said innocently, “I’m all the way to the door.”
“……” said Sanjan, “are you at the front door.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t have time to go out and pick you up right now. You come in and turn right, then keep going straight, you can see a staircase, come up it. Ninth building, fifth floor, 525,” Sang Yan added, “If you feel unsure, just ask for directions and ask where the ninth building of the boys’ dormitory is. Hear me?”
Sanji dutifully said, “I hear you.”
Sanjay hung up the phone and followed the route Sanjayan said.
There are a lot of local students at Nanwu University.
There were also quite a few people who had their families come over to help out today, so along the way, Sang Wiz could see a lot of people who didn’t look like they were college students anymore, as well as students who were also wearing junior high school uniforms just like her.
Walked for ten minutes or so.
Sanjay saw a very wide staircase. The lower part was spacious, with several buses parked and a row of small cars, leaving a three-meter wide path.
She looked around and was about to call Sang Yeon when she suddenly noticed Sang Rong’s car parked not far away.
Sanji put down his cell phone and walked over.
No one was in the car, but the trunk was open, so I don’t know if I forgot or something else.
All that was inside was a stack of books and a very ugly Muppet.
Thinking that he was going to go up there, why not just carry these two up together. Sanji hesitantly picked up the ragdoll, wanting to put it at the top of the pile of books and hold them together. It was easier to hold.
She hadn’t finished her motion, and her hand hadn’t been released.
A shadow suddenly loomed down behind her, as if someone had stepped up behind her and blocked her light.
Sanji subconsciously turned back.
What caught his eye was a plain black short sleeve.
The sight moved upward.
Running across the man’s throat, his jaw, his lips, and then meeting his smirking eyes.
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyelashes, his gaze fixed on the muppet in her hand for a few seconds. And then, suddenly, he bent down to be at eye level with her. He pulled up the corner of his lips and laughed with a long breath, “Where did the thief come from?”
The distance is leaning a little close.
Kuwabara’s expression stiffened, and for a moment she didn’t know what to say.
Afterward, Duan Jia Xu pointed at her hand and raised his eyebrows, “Why are you only stealing from your brother.”
There was a pause of a few seconds.
He asked slowly, “Eyeing me?”
Chapter 8
.
There was the swift sound of wind in his ears.
The scent of lime blew in if anything, mixed with a light hint of tobacco. The sunlight fell on his body, haloing the golden outlines and adding a touch of softness.
After not seeing him for two months, Duan Jia Xu’s hair was cut a little shorter. I don’t know if it was Sang Zhi’s illusion, but he seemed to have grown taller again. But the rest, there didn’t seem to be any major changes.
Still so wantonly indulgent and dazzling.
Sanji’s heart skipped a heavy beat.
Surprisingly, because of these words, there was also a sense of weakness of being poked in the heart. As if she had really done something wrong, so uneasy that she didn’t even know where to put her hands and feet, and her spine involuntarily straightened.
Half-heartedly, she shoved the muppet in her hand into his and whispered, “I didn’t know it was yours.”
Kuwabara lowered her head and moved a step outward with some urgency.
When she didn’t hear him respond, she pointed to the books in the trunk of the car and explained in a proper manner, “I’m here to help my brother move his dorm room, and when I saw that there was something in the car I wanted to help him move it up piece by piece.”
Waiting a few more seconds, he still wasn’t talking yet.
Sanji hesitated and added, “If I knew that doll was yours, I wouldn’t have helped take it.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows twitched as he straightened up and repeated questioningly, “You won’t help take it if you know it’s mine?”
Sang Chi immediately nodded her head, “Definitely don’t take it.”
“Still absolutely not taking it?” Duan Jia Xu’s voice was lazy, his tone slightly accusatory, “Kid, do you have a conscience.”
“……”
Take it and call her a thief, don’t take it and call her heartless.
The man is simply more fickle than the sky.
Duan Jiaxu added, “Don’t you remember the big favor your brother did for you?”
As soon as these words fell, the dissatisfaction in Sang Chi’s heart dispersed for the most part and he mumbled, “Remember.”
“And not be nice to your brother?”
Sanji glanced at him and said nothing.
Duan Jia Xu laughed softly and didn’t tease her any more, handing her that muppet, “Take it and play with it if you like it.”
Sangji’s right hand moved. Suddenly, remembering that he just said, “He’s on to me”, she abruptly put her hand back, not having the guts to take it.
“Don’t?” Duan Jiaxu took his hand back, “Then I’ll throw it away?”
Sanji paused before taking it.
Duan Jia Xu felt funny, “Take it if you want it, why are you so twisted as a kid.”
At those words, Sanji was a bit displeased, “You just called me a thief.”
“Brother is joking with you.” Duan Jiaxu moved the stack of books out of the car and freed his other hand to close the trunk, “Let’s go, upstairs.”
Sanji followed him without saying a word.
Duan Jiaxu glanced at his cell phone before asking, “Upset?”
Sanji remained silent.
Duan Jiaxu: “I’ll give you a doll to make it up to you, okay?”
Sanji said bluntly, “This doll is ugly.”
“Ugly?” Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows rose and he glanced sideways, “It’s okay.”
“Why did you buy this.”
“Not bought.” Duan Jia Xu thought about it and said, not too concerned, “I forgot where I got it.”
Sang Chi suddenly understood something and asked, “Brother, is this something someone else gave you?”
Duanjia Xu: “Hm? Seems like it.”
Sanji was not interested anymore, “I’ll give it back to you then.”
“Don’t like it?” Duan Jiaxu reached out toward her, “Then bring it here, brother will take it.”
Sanji returned it in silence.
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Is the book bag heavy?”
Sanji: “It’s okay.”
Duan Jiaxu asked again, “We’re going to climb the fifth floor in a while, can you do it?”
“Of course you can. I’m thirteen, not three.” Sang Chi frowned, upset that he was taking care of her like a baby, “And if I can’t climb, are you hardly going to carry me up?”
Duan Jia Xu looked her up and down and tugged at the corner of his lips, “It’s not impossible.”
Sanji: “You wish.”
Duan Jiaxu paused and suddenly burst out laughing, “I’m thinking about it?”
Sang Chi pursed her lips, “It was meant to be.”
“Okay.” Duan Jiaxu admitted in a compromising manner, “I was thinking beautifully.”
That muppet was placed on the book by him, not too small and with a somewhat twisted shape, it looked particularly conspicuous. Sangji looked at it for more than a few moments, and quickly lowered his eyelids and withdrew his eyes.
The stairs are not small in width, but there are a lot of people going up and down them.
Afraid that she would be squeezed, Duan Jia Xu walked in front and let her follow his lead.
The two walked peacefully up to the fifth floor.
Sang Zhi’s physical strength is not good, at this time panting, her face is a little red, and her forehead is sweating. Climbing up the last step, she held onto the wall and squatted on the ground, topping it off with a look of reliance, saying, “No, I have to rest for a while.”
Duan Jiaxu looked at her for two seconds, “Okay, I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“……”
Sang Chi immediately grabbed his right leg, playing a trick on him, “I’ll just take a break, which will take an hour.”
Duan Jiaxu teased, “Kid, that’s a lot of stamina for you.”
Sanji retorted, “It’s obviously your school that’s so petty that they didn’t even build an elevator.”
“It’s only six floors total, what an elevator to build.”
Sang Chi muttered, “Then you’re also too unlucky to live on the fifth floor when there are only six floors in total.”
“Okay, get up.” Duan Jiaxu looked at his cell phone again and said, “My legs are numb from squatting for a while.”
He looks like he’s in a bit of a hurry.
This time Sanji obeyed and stood up.
The two went in down the hallway.
Sanji followed behind him on the right, looking around curiously.
Soon enough, I walked to the door of 525.
The door was left open, and Duanjia Xu pushed it open directly and put the book on the table closest to the door.
Sang Chil walked in slowly and craned his head to meet Sang Yeon’s line of sight.
Sang Yan was in the opposite bed from Duan Jia Xu. At this moment, he was sitting on a chair, his long legs lifted up on the table, idly drinking water, “Good brother, hard work.”
He was extraordinarily beaten in this gesture.
Sanji was disgruntled, “And you said you didn’t have time to come down and pick me up.”
Sang Yan said without changing his face, “Yeah, just finished packing. I’m not just sitting down to rest for a while.”
Hearing another voice, a chubby boy emerged from the bed, “Huh, is this Sang Yeon’s sister?”
Sanji nodded, “Hello.”
Another boy came out from the balcony, “Holy shit, little sister’s pretty cute.”
Sang Yan screwed on the cap and threw the water bottle in his hand over, “Don’t talk dirty.”
The boy nimbly took the bottle and threw it to him, “Who are you educating, you yourself usually say can-” the words did not speak, he suddenly reacted and smiled, “Oh, this is not my mouth is fast. Little sister don’t learn ha.”
Sanji nodded silently.
Her gaze moved to Duan Jia Xu’s and quickly dropped again.
Duan Jia Xu gathered up the things on the table, and then his own chair was pulled up next to Sang Yan’s. The corners of his mouth curved up in a small arc, and he called out to her like a boy, his tone dangling, “Little sister, sit here.”
Kuwabara gave a low “oh”.
Duanjash then walked to the restroom.
The small dormitory was all of a sudden in an uproar. Sang Zhi roughly sorted it out, the chubby boy was called Qian Fei, while the one who just said dirty words was called Chen Junwen. The people were all very nice and talkative.
Sang Yeon seemed to be on good terms with all of them. He chatted with them while playing with his cell phone, occasionally picking up a few lines.
The two chatted and suddenly finalized the dormitory dinner to go off-campus for a barbecue.
Take Sanji with you.
It wasn’t long before Duan Jia Xu came out of the restroom. He changed into a top and returned to his seat, not getting involved in their chat, pulling open a drawer to rummage through his wallet.
Chen Junwen looked at him and said playfully, “Old Xu, just moved here. Let’s go eat hot pot together in a while.”
“Tonight?” Duanjia Xu shook his head, “You guys go ahead, I have something to do.”
Sanji immediately looked at him.
Qian Fei said, “What are you doing! Do you have a girlfriend! Absolutely not! Our dormitory is one! If you want to find a girlfriend! You have to help me find one first!”
Chen Junwen argued with him, “No, help me find it first.”
Qian Fei: “I don’t have any conditions, just don’t be too bad-tempered.”
Chen Junwen: “It’s fine if it’s a woman.”
Qian Fei: “Men are fine.”
“……”
Sanji stared at them, and suddenly popped up, “Aren’t you guys chasing my brother?”
Sanjan: “……”
Chen Junwen looked over in horror, “Little sister, meals can’t be eaten indiscriminately and words can’t be spoken indiscriminately!”
Qian Fei sat up from the bed, looked at Sang Yan thoughtfully, rubbed his chin and said, “Looking at it this way, Sang Yan does look quite browbeaten.”
Sang Yan’s forehead twitched, “You two get the hell out of here.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed silently from the side, put on a pure black school bag on his back and headed out, “I’ll leave first, you guys chat.” Halfway there, he suddenly remembers something and stops to rub Sang Chi’s head, “That doll, take it yourself if you want it.”
After that, he left the dormitory.
Chen Junwen sighed, “Then let’s go out as well.”
Qian Fei: “OK, I’m hungry too.”
Sang Yan looked at Sang Zhi, “Kid, do you want to eat hot pot.”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds and shook his head, “I’m going home.”
“Then eat something else?” Sang Yan wrinkled his eyebrows, “I’ll send you back after eating.”
Sanji shook his head again.
Sang Yeon was impatient and got up, “Think about it yourself, I’m going to the restroom.”
Sang Chi also silently stood up and moved Duan Jia Xu’s chair back to his place. She then noticed the muppet on his table and hesitantly picked it up, her mood a bit stuffy.
Qian Fei put on his shoes just in time to see Sang Zhi’s move and subconsciously said, “This thing Duan Jia Xu hasn’t thrown it away yet? Is he toxic.”
Hearing this, Chen Junwen also looked at it, “He seems to have put it on the bed to use as a decoration.”
Qian Fei: “Doesn’t it feel creepy to have this next to you when you sleep?”
Sang-chi squeezed the muppet with a heavier force, gathered her courage, and asked with feigned curiosity, “Is this one from brother Ka-chan’s girlfriend?”
Chen Junwen immediately said, “What girlfriend, how would he have time to have a girlfriend.”
Qian Fei: “Yeah, busy as a dog.”
Chen Junwen: “Why don’t I have a girlfriend even if I’m not busy.”
“And why? Because you’re ugly.” Qian Fei looked at the doll in Sang Zhi’s hand and thought for a moment, “This doll seems to be a prize that Duan Jia Xu gave away when he went to some competition, I think I remember.”
Chen Junwen: “Yeah, went last semester.”
At those words, the force on Sanji’s hand loosened and he exhaled softly.
There were two toilets in the dormitory. Probably because Sang Zhi was present, Chen Junwen and Qian Fei didn’t change clothes in the dormitory and took their clothes and squeezed into the other toilet together.
Sanji stared at the muppet in his hand and silently unzipped his school bag and stuffed it in.
But it was too big, so she took the muppet out, then took all the stuff from the inside of her book bag and put it on Duanjia Xu’s desk. Half the space was freed up, just enough to fit it in this time.
Sanji curled his lips and zipped up his zipper.
The next moment, Sang Yeon and the other two came out of the restroom at the same time.
This time, Sang Chi really had the feeling of being a thief. She immediately turned her back and walked back to Sang Yeon’s position with a feigned calmness.
Sang Yeon pulled a tissue to wipe his hands and asked, “Have you thought about it?”
Sanji: “I’ll eat at home.”
Sang Yan nodded, “Okay, I’ll walk you to the station.”
–
Ten o’clock at night.
When Duanjia Xu returned to the dormitory.
Chen Junwen and Qian Fei were sitting in front of the computer playing a game, their mouths screaming words of fighting and killing. Sang Yan was lying on the bed, motionless. Hearing the movement of him coming back, he lifted his head sleepily, “Hey, Duan Jia Xu.”
Duanjia Xu put his book bag on the table, “What?”
“My sister just called me.” Sang Yeon handed him his cell phone, “Said you left something at her place, I asked what it was and wouldn’t say, so call and ask yourself.”
Duan Jia Xu opened the closet and didn’t find any clothes, “Give it to me when you get through.”
Half sleepy, Sang Yan lights up the screen, finds Sang Zhi’s number, dials it, and hands the phone to Duan Jia Xu again. Duan Jia Xu took it, pressed the phone to his ear, and walked to the balcony to collect his clothes.
The other end picked up and called out, “Brother?”
Duan Jia Xu lazily said, “Kid, I left something at your place.”
“…… “Sang Chi quieted down, and soon said sheepishly, “Brother, it’s not that you left something at my place, it’s that I left something at your place.”
“Something.”
Sanji said honestly, “Homework.”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed without much concern, “I’ll have your brother send it to you in the morning?”
“But I didn’t write ……”
“……”
Duan Jia Xu’s movement to collect his clothes stopped, and after a few seconds of silence, he suddenly understood her intention to find him.
“You want me to write it for you?”
Seeming to also feel that she was being unreasonable with this request, Sang Chi stumbled to explain, “I could have written it myself too. But, but there’s a 500-word weekly journal to write in it, and I can’t make it up by going to school tomorrow morning.”
“……”
Duan Jia Xu’s smile took on a bit of absurdity, “Why don’t you look for your brother.”
Sanjay: “He won’t write it for me.”
Duanjash: “So I’ll write it for you?”
At those words, both sides fell silent.
After a long time, Sang Chi’s voice more crying, muffled said: “You just help me write a little bit of it …… that teacher is so fierce, I used to all other homework dare not write, but the language homework do not dare to …… “
“……”
“Why are you still crying.” Duan Jia Xu was speechless to the point of straightening up, “Kid, how about this. You get up early tomorrow and go to school to write. I’ll bring it to you earlier too, okay?”
She huffed and cried, “No.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “Why not.”
“I… I can’t get up… ooohhhh ……”
“……”
Chapter 9
.
I don’t know whether he really felt panicked or was frightened by his distant and unsympathetic tone, after finishing the sentence with a very insufficient bottom, Sang Chi stopped speaking and only let out intermittent whimpering sounds.
And inside the dormitory, Qian Fei sitting in front of the computer suddenly struck the keyboard heavily, crackling, and then yelled, “Holy shit, this aids stupidity!”
The next moment, Sang Yan threw a pillow over, “If you don’t keep quiet I’ll beat you into a fool.”
“Kuanyan! When human life is at stake!” Qian Fei’s voice sounded like it was loaded with trumpets, “Don’t you fucking sleep, get up as soon as-“
Bombing at both ends.
Duan Jia Xu pursed his lips lightly and turned his head to close the balcony door. He leaned against the railing, his arm resting on it. Looking downstairs at the glowing streetlights, he gathered his emotions and slowed his tone, “Kids, what time do you usually get to school.”
Sanji choked back a sob and answered honestly, “Seven-forty.”
“Getting up at seven?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Can I get up at six tomorrow?”
This time Sanji didn’t say anything.
Duan Jia Xu didn’t care either, weighing his words and trying to reason with her, “Kid, this homework is a task assigned to you by the teacher, it’s your own business. You didn’t bring it home, you can confess to the teacher, apologize to the teacher, and say you’ll make it up afterwards. But you can’t have someone else write it for you.”
The sound of the little girl sniffling came from the other side of the phone, and a muffled hmmm followed.
I haven’t seen you in two months, and this time you’re listening.
Duanjia Xu was slightly relieved, “So can you get up at six tomorrow.”
This time she was silent for several seconds before she ventured, with very little confidence, “Can ……”
“Then tomorrow–” Duan Jiaxu counted the time in his mind, “Tomorrow at 6:40, brother will wait for you at the station and accompany you to finish writing, okay?”
Sanji hmmm’d again.
Duan Jia Xu: “Don’t cry, think about what you’re going to write in that weekly journal first. Then wash your face and go to bed.”
Sang Chi’s voice was still nasally and milky, “Good.”
Soon after these words fell, Sang Chi suddenly requested in a small voice, “Brother, can you not tell my brother about this matter.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “You don’t dare to tell your brother even after you’ve landed the assignment?”
“No.” Kuwabara didn’t know how to explain, and barely managed to stifle a, “Anyway, don’t tell him.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu didn’t know where he got so much patience, and reminded, “Remember to get up at six tomorrow, I’ll call you then.”
Sanji obediently said, “Got it.”
Duanjash: “Go to sleep.”
Hearing the sound of hanging up on the other end, Duan Jia Xu put down his cell phone.
The phone had gone black, but Sang Yeon’s phone didn’t have a password. He tapped the screen, found in Recent Calls, and scanned Sang Chil’s number before returning to the main screen.
He gathered up all his dry clothes and returned to his quarters.
The small room has become even more noisy. Sang Yeon had already gotten off the bed, and was now standing next to Qian Fei watching him play the game, occasionally uttering the phrase “garbage operation”, looking careless and indolent.
Duanjia Xu handed the cell phone back to him.
Sang Yeon lazily said, “What fell in your place?”
Duan Jiaxu casually said, “It’s just a trinket, just put it at your sister’s place.”
Sang Yeon nodded and didn’t ask again.
Duan Jia Xu went into the restroom to take a shower. When he came out, it was already lights out time. He rubbed his hair with a towel and walked over to his seat to turn the desk lamp on. Sweeping around the desktop, he didn’t see the weekly diary that Sang Zhi had mentioned.
He looked sideways and noticed his book bag, lifting it.
Sure enough there were a couple of exercise books and a light blue weekly journal pressed.
Duan Jia Xu tugged at the corner of his lips and pushed these assignments aside, taking a specialized book to block them. Afterward, he booted up his computer, opened a document on his desktop, and continued to prepare the report that would be on stage in two days.
The sounds of the housemates’ playfulness diminished until they were quiet.
The night was deepening, and inside the dormitory, other people’s lights and cell phone lights went out one after another. Inside the dormitory, there was only one light left on, and the time on the lower right side of the computer was precisely set at two in the morning.
Duanjia Xu turned off the computer and organized the things on the desktop.
Suddenly, noticing Sanji’s weekly notebook with half a corner exposed. He raised his eyelids, pulled off the towel that was resting on his neck, and pulled out that notebook with his hand.
He casually turned a page.
Happened to flip to the latest one.
Duan Jia Xu slightly raised a hint of interest. With absolutely no self-consciousness of having to respect the privacy of his little friend, he crinkled his eyes sleepily and swept down in boredom.
The title is “A Stray Dog”–
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, was cloudy.
Today’s weather was not good, the sky was gray and looked like it was going to rain. I didn’t bring an umbrella, so I got out of the car and ran all the way back to my neighborhood. When I passed a patch of grass, I suddenly saw a black stray dog.
At the sight of this, I stopped in my tracks and my mood suddenly became as bad as this weather. Noticing the dog’s face, I suddenly felt even sadder and couldn’t help but go over to talk to him.
When I see it, I think of my brother. Because it looks like my brother, like it was made from the same mold. As if, it was like my brother’s son.
……
……
Duanjash: “……”
His gaze paused for a long moment. The fatigue that had lasted all day dissipated for a moment, and suddenly he smiled. In the quiet of the chamber, no sound was made. Only a few faint sounds of breath coming out of laughter.
Duan Jia Xu laughed for a long time before closing the book and walking to the toilet to wash up.
When he came out, he noticed the weekly diary on the table again. Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, remembering Sang Zhi’s words “I can’t get up”, he paused for a few seconds, but still sat down.
Took out a new book and tore a piece of paper down.
–
Early the next morning.
Sang Zhi struggled for half a day, listening to the alarm clock on the side ringing several times in a row, with dozens of thoughts of pigeonholing floating in his mind. Finally, when he heard the alarm clock of his cell phone ringing as well, he still sat up peacefully.
She stomped the covers off unhappily and got out of bed to wash up.
Li Ping had already gotten up to make congee. When she heard the movement of the door opening, she thought it was Sang Rong waking up and didn’t say anything. When she came out of the kitchen, she noticed a sleepy-faced Sang Zhi sitting at the dining table waiting for food, and she froze, “Only only? Why are you up so early today?”
Sang Chi rubbed her eyes, “I left my homework at school, I’ll go make it up early.”
This kind of thing basically never happened, and Li Ping didn’t criticize her, but just said, “Then I’ll ask your dad to send you to school? You can still sleep in the car for a while.”
“No need.” Thinking of Duan Jia Xu’s comment about waiting at the station, Sang Zhi vaguely said, “I’m meeting up with my classmates to go together.”
Li Ping didn’t ask too many questions and went into the kitchen to fill a bowl of porridge for her.
After breakfast, Sang Chi put on her backpack and hurried out the door. After waiting at the station for a few minutes, she boarded the earliest bus and found a seat.
Sleepiness had vanished with time, and an overwhelming sense of nervousness took its place, striking the mind.
The closer we get to our destination, the more we feel a little uncomfortable.
The distance from home to the school is not too far, about ten minutes by bus. Hearing the announcement of the bus stop, Sangji followed the crowd and got off the bus, his heart in his throat.
I don’t know where the tension, too, came from.
Sanji grabbed his book bag strap and looked around.
No one in sight.
Afraid that he was blocked by the stop sign, she made a serious circle around the bus stop.
Still no one in sight.
Sang Zhi fished her cell phone out of her pocket and realized that it was only half past six. Not knowing Duan Jia Xu’s number, she couldn’t call him, so she could only wait. A little depressed, she sat down on a chair at the bus stop.
After a couple of minutes, Sanjay’s cell phone vibrated.
The caller ID shows an unfamiliar number in Iho.
Sanji picked up.
The person on the other end of the phone was indeed Duan Jia Xu. His voice came along with the current, appearing a little more magnetic, low and pleasant: “Kid, are you awake?”
You’re here and you’re asking if you’re awake.
A little speechless, Sanji replied slowly, “Awake.”
After thinking about it, she also asked, “Are you still awake.”
“Hmm?” Duanjia Xu laughed softly, “How can I call you if I’m not awake yet?”
“Then I didn’t see you.”
“Maybe because I haven’t gone out yet?”
These words were very much in line with Sang Chi’s speculation. She wasn’t surprised, kicked the stone in front of her unhappily, and said with a taut face, “Brother, if you’re late, your girlfriends in the future will look just like Ruohua.”
After thinking about it, and feeling that it wasn’t shocking enough, she added, “And built like a Transformer.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, something warm pressed against Sanji’s cheek.
Sang Chi was startled and subconsciously turned back.
Duan Jia Xu leaned against the side of the stop sign with a glass bottle of milk in his hand. He wore a red striped shirt today, the color of which was on the lighter side, and he looked wild and untamed. He stared at Sang Zhi, his light brown pupils looking a lot deeper because of the light.
He stood up straight and said in amusement, “Kisame?”
“……”
“Transformers?”
“……”
“That’s all you can find?”
“……”
“Kid.” Duan Jia Xu said with a wry smile, “Do you have a conscience.”
I didn’t expect him to come over immediately. In front of him, Sang Chi was a bit vain about what he had just said, and lowered his head, not daring to look at him or say anything.
After two seconds.
“But,” Duan Jiaxu’s eyes tailed off slightly as he slipped the milk in his hand into hers and said thoughtfully, “Hearing you say it like that, the pairing–“
“……”
“Seems kinda appealing.”
“……”
Chapter 10
.
His tone was olfactory, with a hint of teasing.
Sang-chi couldn’t hear whether he was joking or stating a fact. She rubbed the milk bottle with her fingertips, put on a knowing look, and asked him, “Brother, have you never seen these two movies.”
The corners of Duan Jia Xu’s lips curved slightly, “Saw Transformers.”
Sure enough.
Surely it’s because of ignorance that you can say something like that.
Knowing something he didn’t, Sang Chi was a little proud. She stood up and warmly explained to him, “Ruhua is not a movie title, it’s a supporting role in a Hong Kong movie called ……”
At that, she paused, momentarily unable to remember the name of the movie, “Call, Call-“
Half a day couldn’t wait for her next words, Duan Jia Xu stared at her racking her brain and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “The name Ru Hua is quite nice.”
Sanji was still thinking of names and ignored him.
Not minding her indifference, Duan Jia Xu continued, “Should be quite a pretty girl?”
This time, Sangchih couldn’t pretend she didn’t hear him, raised her head, and just wanted to retort. The next moment, he playfully pinched her face and continued, “Just like little Sangchih?”
Sanji: “……”
Sanji couldn’t believe his ears or what he was hearing.
He actually said that she looked like Ruhanna.
Sunny! Oh, my God! Thunder! Leak!
Soon after, Duan Jia Xu took out his cell phone from his pocket and looked at the time. He swept around and pointed to a convenience store not far away, “Go write there?”
Sanji was still frozen in place and didn’t say a word.
Duan Jia Xu turned around and trailed off, “Hmm? Why isn’t Little Ruohua speaking.”
“……”
Still! Little! As! Flowers!
Sunny! Day! Spinning! Spin! Thunder! Thunder!
Sang Zhi couldn’t figure out if he was complimenting her or being sarcastic. She was a bit stifled and her tone was not very happy, “Don’t you call me that, Ruhua doesn’t look pretty at all.”
“Yeah.” Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows, “Sounds pretty.”
Hearing this, Sang Chi tilted her head and stared at him. Seeing his expression, she suddenly realized that something was wrong. Remembering how he reacted at the beginning when he heard the word “Ru Hua”, it was obviously completely different from his current dumbfounded look.
Sanji instantly realized that he was just teasing her.
She looked at him expressionlessly for a few seconds before straightening her lips and walking in the direction of the convenience store in silence.
This kid is a little man with a temper.
Duan Jia Xu laughed twice and slowly followed.
This convenience store is not a small space. In addition to selling a variety of goods, there was also a machine set up next to the cash register to sell ready-to-eat foods such as grilled sausages and carne asada noodles. In front of the freezer, there were two empty tables.
Sanjay took the seat at the far end.
Duan Jia Xu sat across from her and took her homework out of her backpack, “Write it.”
Sanji took it and flipped through the weekly journal.
The convenience store was quiet.
The clerk stood at the register playing with her cell phone without making much noise. The smell of car noodles and fish eggs was extraordinarily strong, and the odor swept through and filled the entire interior.
Duan Jia Xu looked at her with his cheeks resting on his head, “Kid, did you eat breakfast?”
Sanji flipped out his pen, not really wanting to pay attention to him, and nodded in silence.
Duanjia Xu: “Do you still want to eat?”
Sanji shook his head.
“So brother go get a breakfast?”
Sanji nodded.
Duanjia Xu got up and headed in the direction of the cash register.
Sanji wrote the date into his weekly diary, his eyes quietly glancing towards Duanjia Xu’s.
At the moment, he was standing in front of the merchandise rack. The lighting in the store was sufficient to make him appear to have a white complexion, with greenish gray below his eyes, looking like he had stayed up late for a long time, but his spirit was very good. When looking at something, those eyes would always converge unconsciously, focused and gentle.
But the smile is always dangling.
Like a svengali scum.
Soon, Duanjia Xu walked back with a sandwich.
Sanji lowered his eyes and pretended to be thinking about the beginning.
Duan Jia Xu took a bottle of water from his bag, as well as a specialized book. He then tore open the package and lazily took a bite of the sandwich. He ate well and didn’t make much noise. However, the speed of eating was not slow.
It was not long before that palm-sized sandwich was settled.
Sangji dawdled with his pen, but his mind couldn’t focus on his homework at all, and always drifted towards him involuntarily.
Thinking of Sang Yeon’s words earlier, they had moved the campus after the exams.
That would have been a vacation by now.
I heard from my parents that Sang Yeon didn’t come home because he still had an elementary school term.
So this is uniform?
Noticing Sang Chi’s wandering off, Duan Jia Xu tapped the desktop with his knuckles and faintly said, “Write your homework.”
Sanji looked back and nodded again.
The table was circular, the space wasn’t too big, and the two of them had their books stacked on top of each other. Duan Jia Xu’s eyes glanced, simply closed his textbook and leaned back, giving her all the space.
After a long time.
Duan Jia Xu saw the milk on the table that hadn’t been opened yet and asked out loud, “No milk?”
At those words, Sang Chi raised her eyes, looked at the milk, and then glanced in Duan Jia Xu’s direction, before silently stuffing the bottle of milk into her school bag.
Looking at her actions, Duan Jia Xu laughed and said, “How come the whole thing looks like brother is trying to rob you.”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
Duan Jiaxu half-joked, “Not drinking for your brother?”
Sanji twisted his head, alertly closing the zipper on his book bag.
“Why is this child of yours so grumpy.” Duan Jia Xu’s sitting posture was lazy, with a seemingly frivolous look on his face, “Isn’t brother just joking with you, and he hasn’t been talking to me?”
This time Sanji didn’t even move his eyelids.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t care too much, and just lightly said, “Little heartless.”
Sanji couldn’t help himself and said stiffly, “I want to do my homework.”
Duan Jiaxu scanned her weekly notebook and had already written most of it. He leisurely said, “Okay, you write.”
Once the first words were spoken, the words afterward became easier to exit. Sang Chi didn’t unilaterally cold war with him like she did just now, seeing that her homework was almost finished, she pretended to casually ask, “Brother, are you still on vacation?”
“Nope.”
“Oh, so your family lives this way?”
“No.”
Sanji thought for a moment and guessed, “So are you finishing your classes and going home for the summer?”
“No, why are you still curious about me?” Duan Jia Xu tapped her homework with his fingertips and said lightly, “Hurry up and finish writing, finish it and go to school.”
“…… Oh.”
A quarter after seven, Sanjay finished his weekly journal.
She packed up her things, put on her backpack, and went out of the convenience store with Duan Jiaxu piece by piece.
Seeing that it was still early, Duan Jia Xu simply sent her to the school entrance.
Inexplicably a little reluctant to leave, Sanji was slow to do anything. She warmly said goodbye to him, while slowly turning around and walking towards the school.
Soon after, Duan Jia Xu suddenly called out to her, as if remembering something, and handed her a piece of paper that had been folded up from his pocket, “That’s right. Kid, I forgot to tell you.”
Sangji took it in a neutral voice, “Huh?”
“Brother peeked at your weekly journal.” His tone seemed to be meant to be a little apologetic, but Sang Zhi couldn’t find half of it. And then, Duan Jia Xu pointed to the small ball of paper in her hand and trailed off, “So brother wrote a new one to make it up to you.”
–
It was early and the classrooms were mostly empty.
There were still twenty minutes to go before morning reading began, and the class usually arrived at a stepping stone. Sang Chi walked to her seat and sat down, rummaging through the contents of her book bag.
She didn’t stop moving until her entire book bag was empty, fumbling in her pockets.
Take out the small ball of paper that Duan Jia Xu just gave.
Unwrap and flatten.
Sure enough, it was a weekly journal, and seemed to mimic her handwriting.
Small, graceful, one stroke.
The title is Helping My Brother Move His Dormitory. The content was written in a proper and serious manner, minutely writing down the day’s events like a running account. She turned it over, and on the back he added in large letters, Can’t use it anymore.
Sanji couldn’t imagine that image.
It was probably late in the day by that time, and the lights around him were dimmed. He sat at his desk with a rare problem and a headache holding back such a piece.
Maybe it’s a picture like this.
Images that made her breath and heartbeat, start to speed up.
Then, like tasting sugar in the air.
Sang-chi’s thoughts went a little blank as she looked at it again carefully, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up before she folded the paper and carefully tucked it into her drawing book.
At that exact moment, Yin Zhenru also arrived in the class. She walked in through the back door and greeted Sang Chi.
After a few steps, she whipped her head around and asked, “Hey, why are you so happy today?”
Hearing this, Sang Chi froze, barely restraining the uncontrollable smile on his face.
“Nope, remembered a joke.”
Yin Zhenru didn’t ask much. With a stroke of her eyes, she noticed the milk on Sang Zhi’s table and wondered, “Aren’t you allergic to milk? Why did you buy milk?”
Sang-chi was silent for a few seconds and put the milk in the drawer, “I accidentally took the wrong one.”
–
When he got home, Sanji put the bottle of milk in the refrigerator.
And he was afraid that Lai Ping would see him.
She hesitated, but finally hid it in the box she kept her treasures in, turning it over to look at it when she thought of it.
Time passes day by day.
Even though the distance was close by. After Sanji left the school, all she had to do was walk for five minutes and she would be at the place where that person was. Even, she could pretend that she was going to look for Sang Yeon, thus going to see the person who was in her heart.
But she didn’t have the guts.
It always feels wrong to do anything.
Would worry if she couldn’t hide it at all.
That little mind that only you care about.
That’s how half the month went by.
On the first day of summer vacation, when Sang Chi took out the bottle of milk, it happened to be seen by Li Ping. Thinking that Sang-chi wanted to drink the milk, Li Ping politely talked to her.
After that, she was still worried that Sanji would drink it and wanted to confiscate it.
All Sanji could do was pour the milk out of the inside and wash and dry the bottle. She occasionally filled it with stars she had folded, one after another, day after day.
Later, the weekly journal written by Duan Jiaxu was also put in.
The tiny bud gradually took shape and grew into a big tree.
She was beginning to have a very small hope.
The hope that you look forward to every day.
I wish the days would go by faster.
Wish I could grow up faster.
–
In the first half of August, because Sang Rong and Liping had to go to another city to attend a friend’s wedding, only Sang Yan and Sang Zhi were left at home. Before they left, Li Ping instructed Sang Yan to take good care of his sister.
Coupled with a few threats from Sang Rong, Sang Yan could only agree with annoyance.
The first day of their life was quite harmonious.
Sang Yan most of the time lying on the bed to play with the phone, occasionally Sang Zhi over to annoy him, he just perfunctorily cope with the past. When it comes to meal time, just order a takeaway and eat your own.
The day just went by.
But the next day, a friend asked him out to play a game.
Not wanting to refuse, Sang Yan quickly changed his clothes and left the room.
At this time, Sang Chi was sitting on the sofa in the living room watching cartoons. Hearing the commotion, she looked over, her face not wearing any expression, peacefully.
Sang Yan walked to the entrance hall to put on his shoes, “I’m going out, you stay home and do your homework.”
Sanji understood, “You go out to play?”
Sang Yeon replied, “Call me if you need anything.”
Sanji: “No way.”
Sang Yan stopped moving and said with a smirk, “You still care about me?”
Sanji looked back at the TV and picked up the chips on the coffee table and unwrapped them, “What am I going to do if a thief comes later, I can’t fight.”
“You keep the door closed, no one is coming.”
“And what if I’m hungry, I don’t have anything to eat.”
Sang Yan got impatient and stared at the bag of chips in her hand, “How many snacks are in the cupboard, not enough for you?”
Sanji bit into a chip, “I don’t want a snack.”
Sanjan stared at her, “So what do you want to eat?”
Sanji: “Didn’t want a snack anyway.”
Sang Yan held back his fire and took off his shoes, “What do you want to eat, I’ll go out and bring it to you.”
Sang-chi glanced at him and rightfully said, “I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“……”
“Kid.” Sang Yeon squatted down and pinched her face hard, “When I was your age and mom and dad weren’t home, not only did I have to get food for myself, but I had to get your share as well.”
Kuwabara’s face was torn into contortions by him and her speech was slurred, “It’s not the same.”
“Where it’s different.”
“You didn’t have a brother when you were my age.” Without batting an eyelid, Kuwabara smiled like a little fox and spoke slowly, “- but I did.”
“……”
Friends called again to urge, Sang Yeon did not have the interest to grind with her again: “Now you have two choices, either you tell me now what you want to eat, I go out to buy back to you, or at home by yourself waiting for death.”
Sanji continued to nibble on his chips, “I’ll take the second one.”
“……”
After saying that, Sang Chi pulled her phone out from under her butt and flipped through Sang Rong’s number. She stared at the screen and muttered, “Okay, I’m going to talk to Daddy-“
Sang Yeon snorted, “Feel free to sue.”
He didn’t bother to pay any more attention to her and walked back to the foyer.
After a two-second pause, the voice of Sanji talking on the phone came from behind him, “Daddy.”
Sanjayan slipped on the first shoe.
Before he could slip on a second shoe, he then proceeded to hear Sanji speaking in a very honest tone, “My brother told me to go to hell.”
Sangyan: “……”
Chapter 11
….
Sanjan closed his eyes and took his shoes off for the second time. He walked briskly next to Sanjay and jerked away her cell phone, dropping his eyes expressionlessly as he tried to hang up the phone.
When he tapped the screen to look at it, it didn’t show the call screen he expected.
Instead, it’s the main phone interface.
There’s no record of the call at all.
He reacted instantly, so angry that his stomach hurt vaguely, and laughed instead, “You’re shitting me, kiddo?”
Sang Chi blinked and said innocently, “I didn’t say I hit it either.”
Sang Yan’s tone was cool, “Then who were you just talking to?”
Sanji moved to the other side of the couch, “I’ll rehearse it.”
“……”
“You would have just told me to wait for death, it’s not like I’m bullshitting. I’m now,” Sanji suddenly remembered that he had taken his cell phone and tried to go grab it back, “I’m calling now that I’m done with my maneuvers.”
Sang Yeon stared at her for a long time without stopping, and obediently gave her the phone.
“OK, you fight.”
This development was not quite what Sangji had imagined. She gave him a look, a little suspicious, and not wanting to lose her position, she could only slowly tap on her address book.
Watching her move, Sang Yan faintly said, “It’s my turn to fight after the fight.”
“It’s not like I’m doing anything bad.” Sanji frowned, “What are you going to tell mom and dad about me?”
“Didn’t say you.” Sang Yeon said with a leathery smile, “I was talking about the fight.”
“……”
“It’s fine, you sue.” Sang Yeon got up and went to close the window, pulling the curtains closed in the process, “Finish saying whatever you want to say, say it how you want to say it, and finish taking my turn.”
The room was instantly darker, like a prelude to a mountain of rain.
Sang Zhi Zhi bottom with it less than half, began to be uneasy: “…… If you hit me, dad will come back to beat you to death.”
“OK.” Sang Yeon didn’t care, “I’ll wait for him to come back and beat me to death.”
“……”
Sang Yan didn’t look at her, looking around towards the living room, while then picking up the chicken feather duster placed on the TV, silently gesturing twice in his hand, and slowly said, “Kid, do you want your brother to go over there or do you want to come over yourself?”
Sanji stared at the object in his hand and didn’t answer.
Sang Yeon didn’t seem to want a response from her either, “Then brother go over there?”
Noticing that the situation was reversed, Sanji suddenly called out to him, “Brother.”
Sang Yan responded idly, “Good, brother will go over there himself.”
Watching him take two steps forward. Sanji was silent for two seconds, stared at him with one eye, and said sagely, “I was wrong.”
“……”
“I’m sorry brother, I’ll never do it again.”
“……”
Pretty good at seeing what’s going on.
“Early this is not it.” Sang Yan has always eaten soft, threw the duster away, “Behave yourself every day, don’t always go against me, and my brother will bring you good food every day, know it?”
Kuwabara oh-so-convincingly.
Sanjayan: “So I’m going out?”
Sanji looked at him sideways and suddenly asked, “Brother, who are you going out to play with?”
Sang Yeon put on his shoes for the third time and casually said, “Housemate.”
Sanji: “Oh.”
“There’s nothing else, is there? Do your homework at home by yourself.” Sang Yan said, “Don’t go into the kitchen, don’t cook anything yourself. There’s so much food in the house, if you’re hungry, you can do it yourself, if you want to go out to buy food, it’s fine, call me if you need anything.”
“……”
“And.” Sang Yeon scratched his cheek and added, “Don’t open the door to just anyone.”
Sanji nodded.
After a while, Sanjayan went out the door.
The crisp clang of a door closing resounded in the foyer before returning to silence.
The cartoon on the TV had ended and the music for the end credits was playing. Feeling a bit bored, Sanji threw the chips onto the coffee table before turning off the TV and going to the restroom to wash his hands.
Thinking of the word “roommate” in Sang Yeon’s mouth.
The tip of Sangji’s heart felt like it had been scratched, gently, bringing an itch. It felt as if the opportunity was close at hand, a grip away, and the impulse surged up instantly and was suppressed in a moment.
She grabbed a bottle of ice water from the fridge and took small sips.
Sanji returned to his room.
Yin Zhenru happened to call her, “Sanji!”
Sanji: “What for.”
“Next week Fu Zhengchu’s birthday yeah.” Yin Zhenru said, “They said they’re going to sing karaoke together and asked if you want to go.”
“Next weekday?”
“Tuesday.”
“Oh.” Sanji said, “I’ll check it out then.”
“Are you going to prepare a gift for Fu Zhengchu?”
“Do you still need to prepare a gift?” Sanji thought for a moment, “I’m not available then.”
“……” Yin Zhenru said breathlessly, “It doesn’t say it has to be. Isn’t this someone’s birthday? Just prepare for it, or else going over without bringing anything feels so awkward.”
“I think so.” Sanji said seriously, “So I’m not going.”
“But surely there isn’t much to prepare!” Yin Zhenru didn’t want to go alone and busied herself, “You don’t have to care too much about this, the big deal is that I’ll say when the time comes that the one I prepared was the one we bought together.”
Sanji pulled a comic book out of the bookshelf, “Let’s talk about it then, don’t you have to go to cram school?”
“Ah!” Yin Zhenru’s tone was instantly sharp, “I forgot! I won’t talk to you anymore, I’m going out!”
With that she hung up.
Sang Chi flopped onto the bed and flipped through the address book again. Seeing the number she had noted as “Duanxx”, she hesitantly clicked on the send SMS interface. Her fingers moved and then stopped.
If I were to post it, what would it be about?
Happy Holidays?
But lately it seems like there’s only been one just past Army Day.
So – belated wishes for a Happy Army Day!
“……”
Seems a little strange.
Or pretend to send the wrong text.
It seems quite deliberate.
Why don’t you give Sang Yeon a call and say you’re going over to see him? Maybe we’ll be able to run into each other.
Sanji threw away her cell phone and began to think about it while looking at the comic book. After a long time, she threw the comic book away, hid herself under the covers, and began to brew her afternoon nap.
So why meet up.
There doesn’t seem to be anything good about meeting with him, he’s always being played with, and with such a big age difference, I feel like there’s a generation gap when I talk to him, and I have absolutely nothing in common.
Might as well sleep at home.
Right.
Who the hell is he.
Before sleep – him! Counts! Old! A few!
Kuwabara climbed up and took a few more gulps of water, dousing all her urges in the process. Satisfied, she lay back down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, suddenly starting to hypnotize herself, “This shouldn’t be considered that anything.”
“Just good looking. Anyone who sees a better looking person on the road will look at them a little more, right? Even a better-looking dog would want to go over and pet it.”
The air froze for a moment.
Sanji exhaled and resumed his hypnosis, “I might actually have that thing, but I might meet a better looking one, so I’ll just have that thing for someone else instead.”
“For example, right now, if I can’t see you, I wouldn’t particularly want to.” Kuwabara nodded, brainwashing herself, “That proves that such feelings are very hypocritical.”
With that said, her mood relaxed a little and she laid back down, continuing to read the manga.
Without realizing it, I fell asleep on the book.
I don’t know how long it took, but the cell phone sitting on the nightstand rang.
It rang for dozens of seconds in a row before Sang Chi was woken up. She opened her bleary eyes and stared blankly for several seconds before taking her cell phone and directly pressing the call.
Then came some more phone bombing.
Sang Chi fumed on the bed for a while. It was only when the bell rang for the third time that he sluggishly picked up the phone, “Hello?”
Sang Yeon’s slightly impatient voice sounded on the other end, “What are you doing? This hangs a few times.”
“I’m sleeping.” Sanjay wasn’t happy either, “You shouldn’t call again if I hang up once.”
Sang Yan snorted, “You’ll have to sue again if I don’t fight, won’t you? Hurry up and get up, I’m eating dinner outside with my friends, do you want to come over and join me or should I pack it back for you.”
Before Sanji could answer.
Another voice suddenly sounded on the other end, “Eh, Duan Jia Xu seems to be doing tutoring in the neighborhood, should we call him up for a piece?”
Sanjayan: “Whatever.”
“I called it then.”
Sang Chi pursed her lips, withdrew the words that were about to come out of her mouth, and said in a low voice, “I’ll eat with you.”
Sanjayan: “Sure?”
“Uh-huh.” Sanji climbed to his feet and found the most logical excuse, “I’m hungry, and it’s so late for you to pack and come back.”
“Okay, you change.” Sang Yeon said, “I’ll call you before I come down.”
Hanging up the phone, Sang Chi walked to the closet, looked at the clothes inside and took a dress to change into. Sang Zhi went to the bathroom and washed her face, just as Sang Yan called, so she quickly changed her shoes and went out the door.
Sanji got into the elevator.
I don’t know if it was because she slept too much, but she always felt a little bit uncomfortable when she woke up.
Especially the abdomen.
Sanji thought it was possible that he had diarrhea, and kind of regretted that he hadn’t just gone to the bathroom to take a look.
She walked out of the downstairs gate and caught a glimpse of Sang Rong’s car. Sang Yeon was sitting in the driver’s seat, and next to him sat a man, who was on the chubby side.
Sanji walked over and got into the trunk.
The man in the passenger seat turned around and greeted her with an audible, “Little sister, remember me?”
It’s Sang Yeon’s roommate, Qian Fei.
Sanji nodded.
Sang Yan looked back at Sang Chi, “Seatbelt on.”
Only after watching Sang Chi fasten his seatbelt did Sang Yan start the car.
Because she was going out with Sang Yan, Sang Zhi didn’t bring anything but a cell phone. She glanced at her cell phone before looking out the window and asked, “Where are we going now?”
Qian Fei: “To pick up the other brother.”
Sanji nodded, not saying anything.
Sang Yan glanced at Qian Fei, “Make a call and ask him where he is.”
“He said it’s right there at the bus stop in the East Plaza-” Here, Qian Fei pointed not far away, “Eh, isn’t that the one?”
At those words, Sang Yan glanced in the direction Qian Fei pointed, while driving the car over.
The car stopped. Along with the window, Sang Chi saw Duan Jia Xu walking this way, and then opened the door of the trunk and sat next to her. She subconsciously lowered her eyes and averted her gaze.
Qian Fei muttered from the front, “Do you tutor high school kids?”
Duan Jia Xu lazily responded, and there was no other movement after that.
Sanji peeked at him with his afterglow.
He seemed a little tired, leaning back in the seat when he got into the car, his eyes half-lidded, his forehead strewn with fine hair, looking inexplicably disheveled. The dim yellow street lamps spread on his body, light and shadow interlacing, hidden and unknown.
After a long time.
Duan Jia Xu suddenly raised his eyelids and looked over.
It was as if it caught her eye.
Somewhat caught off guard.
Sang Zhi subconsciously grabbed the hem of her skirt, fearing that moving her eyes away would be like appearing vain, she didn’t dodge. After a few seconds of staring at him, she lowered her head, pretending to be calm and collected as she looked at her cell phone, as if nothing had happened.
Seeing this, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes playfully. Not knowing what had gotten into this kid again, he sat slightly straighter, rested his elbow on the car window, and asked with a light smile, “Kid, why don’t you yell for someone?”
Sanji looked at him and dutifully said, “Brother.”
Qian Fei turned back again and said unwillingly, “Eh, why don’t you shout at me then.”
Sanji paused and shouted again, “Hello brother.”
As if he didn’t hear Qian Fei’s words, Duan Jia Xu stared at Sang Zhi, a pair of eyes that were bright and luminous, born with blatant seduction, but didn’t seem to mean that.
As if he hadn’t heard, he suddenly asked, “What’s good about brother?”
Sang-chi was puzzled: “It’s just that brother is good.”
At these words, Duan Jiaxu dragged his breath out in a long, heated laugh. This time, as if he had heard him, he cocked his head and leisurely repeated, “Brother is so handsome, huh?”
“……”
“No wonder–” Duan Jia Xu suddenly came closer to Sang Zhi, raising an eyebrow and laughing, “You blush whenever you see your brother.”
Chapter 12
….
Loud heavy metal music was playing in the car, shaking Sanji’s heart.
Relieves a few moments of the uncomfortable feeling.
Because he was sitting in the backseat, Duan Jia Xu didn’t tie his seatbelt. He didn’t come too close either, only leaning forward slightly. The distance between the two was still separated by an empty seat.
Not too far, not too close.
Sangji’s breath stuttered, a bit unable to react, wanting to touch his face in response to his words. But then again, he could clearly hear the teasing laughter in his words, without any proper form.
Instantly there was an unpleasant |feeling of being tricked by an old man again.
She stopped moving and tensed, “Where are you handsome.”
Qian Fei’s gaze was still looking backward. Hearing this, he subconsciously looked at Sang Chi and said with an indignant face, “That’s right. And Duan Jia Xu can you have some face, where does a human child blush?”
The music was a bit loud, and Sang Yan didn’t pay much attention to their conversation. Through Qian Fei’s words, he probably guessed what Duan Jia Xu had just said. He turned down the volume a bit and swept his eyes along the rearview mirror.
“Isn’t he always like this?”
“Also.” Qian Fei turned his head back, his white eyes could literally roll up to the sky, “Last time during the physical test, I was panting like a dog after running 1000 meters, and when he came over and saw it, he asked me why I blushed whenever I saw him.”
Sanji: “……”
Duan Jia Xu leaned back into his seat, sitting in a paralyzed position like he was boneless. When he heard Qian Fei’s words, he laughed lowly twice and did not interrupt out loud.
Qian Fei became more and more indignant as he spoke, “I was already out of breath, and when I heard him say that, I almost choked.”
“Don’t say it’s a human being,” Sang Yeon turned the steering wheel and joined in the attack on Duan Jia Xu, his tone slightly mocking, “He talks to dogs like that.”
“Huh?” Qian Fei froze for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed maniacally, “Talking to a dog, blushing at the sight of your brother?”
“……”
Sanji imagined that image.
Qian Fei gave Duan Jiaxu a thumbs up, “Bull.”
After saying that, he said to Sang Zhi in a soothing manner, “Little sister, don’t take care of him. This brother is not a good person, play with your cell phone by yourself for a while, you’ll be there soon.”
Sang Chi glanced at Duan Jia Xu and nodded expressionlessly.
Only then did Duan Jiaxu open his mouth and lazily said, “Qian Fei, why are you still stirring up trouble?”
Qian Fei ah’d and asked, “Did I stir up trouble?”
Without waiting for anyone to respond, he looked at Sang Chi again, “Little sister, I’m stirring up trouble?”
Sanji shook his head, “No.”
Qian Fei spread his hands innocently in front of him.
Sanji grabbed his seatbelt and added with deliberate seriousness, “This brother really doesn’t look like a good person.”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids twitched as he looked at Sang Zhi. As if he thought he heard wrong, he slowly repeated, “I don’t look like a good person?”
Sanji ignored him.
“OK.” The corners of Duan Jiaxu’s lips curled up impishly, and he said meaningfully, “I’m not a good person.”
Pretending not to hear, Sanji looked out the window.
After a few seconds, she seemed to hear, from his end, a sentence.
“Little white wolves.”
–
Sanjayan drove his car to a business district near his home.
This business circle had just been built, and many of the storefronts hadn’t been rented out yet, so they hadn’t started to open. There were only a few sporadically open outside, and it looked a bit cold.
Afraid that this lot was not good for parking, Sang Yan first put the three of them down, and after that drove the car into the underground parking lot alone.
After getting out of the car, Sang Chi felt more and more uncomfortable. And this feeling wasn’t quite the same as diarrhea. She suddenly had a bad guess and walked silently at the end.
When she was about the same age, Liping had told her about girls’ menstruation. Most of her classmates, including those around her, had already had their first period, and occasionally Sang Wiz could hear them chatting about it.
Watching them skip gym class because of this, drink hot water in the middle of the summer because of this, and make a trip to the restroom every recess because of this.
See more, hear more.
At this point, even if he was considered to be slow, Kuwabara could also associate it with that matter.
Li Ping was very meticulous in this regard. She specifically kept two sanitary napkins in each of Sang Zhi’s bags, just in case.
But Sanji was thinking that she was just out for dinner and hadn’t even brought her bag with her. Her mind went blank and she walked slower and slower, beginning to expect that it was just her thinking too much.
Duan Jiaxu and Qian Fei walked to the front.
Qian Fei was excitedly telling him about the game battle he had just had with Sang Yan.
Duan Jia Xu listened diffidently. Soon, noticing that Sang Chi was slow to follow, he stopped and turned around to ask, “Kid, why are you walking so slowly?”
Kuwabara’s lips moved without speaking.
“Come to the front.” Duan Jia Xu waved at her, “Go behind and get abducted, brother doesn’t even know.”
Qian Fei scratched his head awkwardly, “I had forgotten that Sang Yan’s sister was here ……”
Sang Chi dawdled over and whispered, “Brother, I want to go to the restroom.”
Seeing her face, Duan Jia Xu said, “Why is your face so white, not feeling well?”
“Nope.” Sanji’s voice dropped even lower, “I just want to go to the bathroom.”
Seeing this, Duan Jia Xu roughly guessed what was going on and also lowered his voice to ask, “Stomach upset?”
Sanji paused and nodded.
“Let’s go into the mall first.” Afraid that she would feel embarrassed, Duan Jia Xu didn’t ask much, “Brother will take you to find a restroom.”
A few people had discussed in the car that they were going to come to this new barbecue bar for dinner, on the third floor of the mall. There was a bit more foot traffic indoors than outside, and there were a lot more stores open in comparison.
Duanjia Xu told Qian Fei to go ahead and take his place.
With that, he looked around for signs and said something like, “Kid, did you bring any tissues?”
Sanji was quiet for a few seconds, “No.”
“Then go to the restroom first and see if there are any tissues in there.” Duan Jia Xu thought about it and added, “If there isn’t, you send a text message to your brother, and he’ll buy it for you, and then have one of the sisters bring it in for you, okay?”
The two men followed the direction of the sign.
Kuwabara shook her head and said somewhat unnaturally, “I’ll just go by myself.”
“I’m letting you go alone?” Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows and asked, “This is your first time in this place, right? If you lose it and your brother comes looking for me, where am I going to find someone?”
Sanji mumbled, “Isn’t there a cell phone?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Why are you talking so much when you go to the restroom?”
Sanji immediately shut up.
Walking to a position ten meters away from the toilet, Duan Jia Xu stopped, “Go.”
Sang Chi gave him a look and walked into the restroom in silence. Fortunately it was a small crowd and the restroom was spacious. She found an empty cubicle and went in, lifting up her skirt and taking off her bottoms and panties together.
Sure enough, it was as she had imagined.
The panties were stained with a large bright red color, and the black bottoms seemed to have a wet look to them. Kuwabara’s expression gaped as she pulled the back of her skirt up to look at it.
She was wearing a dark blue dress today. You could see that there was one area of the dress that was a little darker in color, and you couldn’t notice it unless you looked closely.
Sanji crumbled a little.
She wanted to go upstairs to the supermarket to buy a pack of sanitary napkins, but she didn’t have a penny on her. But she couldn’t talk to Duan Jia Xu about it, so embarrassed that she didn’t want to mention a word.
As if the world had collapsed, Sanji froze in place for several moments. Only after a long time did he make up his mind and yanked a large section of tissue paper from the side and padded it over his underwear.
And out of the restroom.
Duanjia Xu was still standing in his original position looking at his cell phone.
Noticing her coming out in the afterglow, he put his cell phone back in his pocket, “Gone?”
“Brother.” Sanji hesitated, “You go up first, I want to wait for my brother to go up together.”
Duanjia Xu: “Your brother has already gone up.”
One last hope dashed.
Sanji hung his head, “…… Oh, let’s go then.”
Feeling that she was too abnormal today, Duan Jia Xu was a bit puzzled, “What’s wrong with you kid today?”
Tonight’s impromptu decision to go out was probably one of the most regrettable things Sanji had ever done in his current life.
The unlucky arrival of a delayed menarche, accompanied by three older men.
None of them understood her.
Just think she’s capricious and abnormal.
She accepted Duan Jiaxie’s lesson and walked ahead in silence.
Duan Jia Xu couldn’t figure out what a child of this age was thinking. Just assuming that she was in a bad mood, he didn’t put too much stock in it. He was about to follow her when his gaze swept.
In this moment, in this instant.
It took him a moment to notice that one piece of her skirt was a little darker than normal.
“……”
Recalling Sang Chi’s series of abnormal behaviors, Duan Jia Xu scratched the skin under his face and immediately stepped forward to grab Sang Chi’s arm, weighing his words and asking, “It’s not diarrhea?”
Sang Chi stopped, pursed her lips to look at him, her eyes red, and quickly lowered her head again, not saying a word.
Duan Jia Xu was also a bit embarrassed. After a few seconds of pause, he said, “Why don’t you go back to the restroom first, and brother will go buy it for you?”
Sanji didn’t move, his head so low that he couldn’t see the expression on his face.
“You go back to the restroom first and stay there.” Duan Jiaxu soothed, “It’s fine, just a little thing.”
Hearing this, the little girl’s shame bubbled to the top, and the tears she had held back for half a day suddenly fell. Sang Chi reached out and wiped her tears, whimpering and crying, her shoulders twitching as if she had been wronged by the heavens.
The awkward atmosphere was broken by her crying.
Duan Jia Xu was still a bit at a loss for words and inexplicably laughed out loud as he watched her cry like this. And afraid of making her even more unhappy, he had to hold back his laughter and said, “Why are you crying again?”
Feeling ashamed, Sang-chi didn’t raise her head and just cried to herself.
“Alright, don’t cry.” Duan Jia Xu coaxed in a low voice, “It’s not something bad, go wait for brother in the toilet.”
She didn’t want to stay outside for too long, so she could only nod her head and choke out a “thank you, brother”, and then walked back to the restroom while holding back her sobs.
Watching her go inside, Duanjia Xu exhaled. Headed in the direction of the second floor. After getting on the escalator, he thought about it and called Sang Yan.
Sang Yeon quickly picked up, “Why aren’t you up yet?”
Duan Jia Xu was surprisingly at a loss for words for a moment.
Sanjayan: “Hello? Do you hear me?”
Duanjia Xu hmmm’d.
“The food is on the table, why don’t you come up?”
“……”
Sanjayan: “Speak up bro.”
Duan Jia Xu: “Bro, your sister–“
Sanjayan: “What for.”
Duan Jiaxu: “I should be on my period.”
“…………”
There was instant silence on the other end, so quiet it was like hanging up the phone.
Duanjia Xu walked into the supermarket and coughed lightly.
It was only then that Sangyan opened his mouth, “What then.”
“……” Duanjia Xu’s tone took on a bit of incredulity, “You’re asking me?”
Sang Yan was silent for a few more seconds before saying, “There seems to be a supermarket on the second floor, so go and buy it. Bro.”
Duan Jia Xu thought it was absurd: “Is it hard to be my sister then?”
Sang Yeon said in a serious manner, “You are my brother.”
The implication is that my sister, is your sister.
Duan Jia Xu felt a headache, “You come down, you buy the intimate apparel, it’s not appropriate for me to buy it.”
The air seemed to stand still for some time.
Sang Yeon suddenly exploded with an expletive, “Fuck.”
Duanjia Xu: “?”
Sang Yeon: “The signal is bad.”
Duanjash: “……”
Sanjayan: “Hanging up.”
“……”
Chapter 13
….
After these last two words fell sharply, the sound of hanging up unexpectedly didn’t come from the receiver. Duan Jia Xu didn’t make another sound either, scanning the shelves everywhere.
After several more moments, Sang Yeon suddenly said, “Brother.”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t bother with him.
The sound of a chair dragging resounded on the other end, and then Sang Yeon exhaled and spoke with resignation, “Why don’t I accompany you to buy one?”
“……”
“Okay.” Sang Yeon’s tone was a bit depressed, “You accompany me, okay?”
–
Never been to that section when I come to the grocery store.
Besides, it was Duan Jia Xu’s first time to come to this supermarket, and after searching for half a day, he finally found his target on the shelf next to the laundry detergent. He was about to walk over, when he suddenly noticed that there were several women standing over there, and a salesperson was recommending products to them.
He paused in his tracks.
Thinking that Sang Zhi is still waiting, Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids twitched, and he couldn’t worry about anything else, so he could only go over there with a stiff upper lip. He walked to the leftmost shelf and bent down to look at the pink package in front of him.
Trying to pick up a random packet and being a bit clueless.
It didn’t take long for Sangyan to find this spot as well and walk next to him.
At the same time, Duan Jiaxu picked up a blue packet and handed it to his eyes, “How about this?”
Sang Yeon dropped his inner baggage and glanced up, “What do you mean, for daytime use?”
“……”
“It’s not nighttime anymore?” Sang Yeon scratched his head in annoyance and pointed in the other direction, “Why don’t you take the black packet, it says night.”
Duan Jiaxu looked along and said faintly, “400 millimeters, that’s 40 centimeters long?”
“……”
“It’s not too big?”
Sang Yeon stared at the four words on it and frowned, “What does dry mesh mean again.”
Duanjash: “I don’t know.”
“And the cotton-soft surface-“
A couple of women off to the side had already finished their purchases and walked away. The salesman shifted his target, walked up next to the two of them, and asked, “Are you here to buy for your girlfriends?”
Sang Yan’s words were interrupted, and both of their eyes looked over at the same time.
At this time, the person who answered should be Sang Yan. After all, of the two, the one who had the most direct relationship with Sang Zhi was him. Duan Jia Xu withdrew his gaze and did not take the initiative to speak.
“No.” Sang Yan didn’t follow common sense. His eyes swept toward Duan Jiaxu, and he suddenly said with meaning, “Don’t look at him like that.”
After a pause, he added without changing his face, “Actually, he’s a woman.”
“……”
Duanjia Xu’s movements were a beat.
The salesman’s expression became visibly stiff, “Huh?”
Sang Yeon: “Don’t be like that. People are just a little rough looking, but they’re really a woman.”
After a few seconds, Duan Jia Xu raised his head. His peach blossom eyes slightly converged, looking deep and ambiguous. And then, he revealed a slightly playful smile and shouted, “Baby?”
Sang Yan instantly got goosebumps, “……”
“What’s the point of explaining so much.” Duan Jia Xu laughed softly twice and pinched his cheeks, “You don’t have to say it for me to understand that I’m the prettiest in your mind.”
“……”
–
Under the salesman’s strange eyes and slightly perfunctory recommendation, Sang Yan barely maintained the calmness on his face and simply picked two packs for both day and night use.
After leaving that area, Sang Yan sneered, “You’re also disgusting enough.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “Really.”
Sanjayan: “I almost threw up.”
“Didn’t you say I’m a woman?” Duan Jia Xu smiled gently, like a male leprechaun, and slowly said, “I think I should be quite pretty if I’m a woman, right?”
“……”
The two of them went back to the place that sold panties. Sang Yeon picked a box at random and was about to go to the checkout.
Duan Jiaxu reminded, “Buy a set of clothes too.”
Sang Yeon responded, “Did you get it on your clothes too?”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Sang Yeon nodded, not asking more questions.
The two of them turned a corner to the clothing area, and Sang Yan casually swept around, eyeing a set of clothes of about the same size. Without waiting for him to pick it up, Duan Jia Xu suddenly pointed at one of the dresses and said, “Buy this one.”
Sang Yeon looked over.
The size is about right.
The color was almost exactly the same as the one Sanji wore today, and it didn’t look very different.
Sang Yeon didn’t ask why and didn’t really care about the details, so he just took that skirt off.
After exiting the supermarket, the two returned to the first floor in front of the restroom.
Sang Yeon called out to a woman who was about to go in and politely asked, “Hello, can you help bring this to a little girl named Sang Chi inside?”
The woman froze for a moment and said, “That’s fine.”
Sanjayan: “Thank you.”
Just as the woman was about to go in, Duan Jiaxu on the side made a sound and added, “By the way, I’ll trouble you again. She’s a bit young, so she might still know too much about this.”
“Huh?”
Duan Jia Xu touched the skin on the back of his neck, and after a few seconds he added, “Can you teach her about usage? The little girl is thin-skinned and may be too embarrassed to ask.”
The woman understood and smiled, “No problem.”
–
Sanji waited in the restroom for a while.
The decoration of this mall was made very user-friendly, and there was an area in the toilet where you could sit and wait. But she didn’t dare to sit for fear that the marks on her skirt would rub off on the chair.
She was too embarrassed to call and rush Duan Jia Xu, so she could only stand and wait.
After ten minutes or so.
A tall and thin strange woman walked in. She looked around the restroom, her eyes settled on Sang Chi’s body, and walked over, “Little sister, are you called Sang Chi?”
Sanji nodded his head in a hurry.
“Your brother asked me to come in and give you something.” The woman handed her the bag in her hand, thought for a moment, then added, “Do you know how to use it?”
Sanji took the bag and nodded again, “I know, thank you sister.”
Seeing her eyes red, the woman consoled a few words, “It’s okay, it happens to everyone. Don’t cry, go change.”
Sanji said thank you again before taking the bag into a cubicle. She looked at the contents of the bag and was finally relieved when she saw that she had basically everything she needed.
Carefully cleaning herself up, Sang Chi clumsily changed into a new sanitary napkin and was soon out of the restroom. She didn’t know with what expression to go out to meet Duan Jia Xu, and went back to the sink to dawdle for a while.
Finally, it went out like a broken can.
Unexpectedly, there was no Duan Jia Xu outside. Instead, there was Sang Yan, who he hadn’t seen since getting out of the car. For a moment, Sang Chi’s embarrassment and awkwardness faded a little.
Noticing her figure, Sang Yeon waved at her.
Sanji walked up to him in silence.
Staring into her red eyes, Sang Yan bent down slightly and asked, “Kid, what are you crying about?”
Hearing this, Sang Chi’s tears began to well up again, her voice choked, “Shame on you.”
Sang Yeon: “Who said you were ashamed?”
“It’s just humiliating.” Sangji took the back of his hand and wiped his tears, “Oooh…oooh you even gave me a transparent bag to put it in …… everyone else can see it ……”
“This is the bag the cashier brought me.” Sang Yeon found it funny, “Why are you still blaming me, go blame the cashier.”
“I don’t care… oooooo……” whimpered Sanji, capriciously, “You’ll have to find me an opaque bag… …”
“Where can I find it for you.” Sang Yan was annoyed by her crying and straightened up, reaching out towards her, “Alright, I’ll get it for you. This way the one who loses face becomes me, okay.”
At that, Sanji looked in his direction. Seemingly agreeing to the proposal, her crying slowed down and she handed him the bag while dropping her tears.
Sang Yeon took the bag and tugged on her wrist with his other hand, mocking her, “Still saying you’re not a child, crying over nothing but a big deal.”
Without a word, Sanji rubbed all the tears on his hands onto his shirt.
Rarely, Sang Yan didn’t get angry, but just said, “Are you dirty?”
Sanji sniffled, “It’s not like I rubbed snot on it too.”
Sang Yan coolly swept her a glance, “Don’t you dare.”
As soon as this was said, Sanji immediately tugged at the hem of his coat, as if he must be against him, and blew his nose hard on it.
Sanjan: “……”
A large and small group of two people stood frozen for a while.
Sang Yan Xian was defeated and held back his temper, but could only take her to the third floor toilet again. Letting her go and wash her face again, she cleaned up the miserable state of her clothes in the meantime.
By the time I got back to that BBQ bar again, it was close to 7pm.
Sang Chi followed Sang Yan’s ass inside. She peeked ahead and noticed Duan Jia Xu sitting side by side with Qian Fei at a table for four.
Duan Jiaxu sat in a leaning position, his body leaning against the back of the chair, a careless smile on his face as he listened to Qian Fei speak, answering a couple of sentences from time to time.
Not sitting properly, always slouching, like a loitering young lord.
And yet, it somehow carries an attraction that makes it impossible to take your eyes off of it.
Sang Chi doesn’t know why it turned out to be Sang Yeon who came to her in the end. She guessed that it should be Duan Jia Xu who called Sang Yan. But thinking that it wasn’t him who went to buy those things for her, she really wasn’t that embarrassed.
Sanjayan motioned for Sanjay to take the inside seat.
Finally waiting for the two of them to return, Qian Fei wondered, “Where have you been? I’m almost full.”
Sanji opened his mouth and didn’t know how to explain.
Sang Yan put the bag in his hand next to the chair, glanced at Sang Zhi and blindly said with ease, “This brat ran off to play with the crane machine, and refused to come back for half a day.”
Qian Fei didn’t think much about it. Probably because of the similarity in color, he didn’t even notice that the skirt on Sang Zhi had changed, and just wondered, “So none of the dolls were captured, huh?”
“Yeah.” Sang Yeon said slowly, “Can’t catch it and still crying.”
“Huh?” Qian Fei glanced at Sang Zhi and comforted, “Little sister, it’s fine. After dinner in a while, brother will go catch one for you.”
Sang Zhi pretended not to hear, and happened to bump eyes with Duan Jia Xu across the street.
She averted her eyes momentarily.
Qian Fei didn’t continue the topic and pointed to the menu on the side, “Then why don’t you order some more?”
“Okay.” Sang Yan put the menu in front of Sang Zhi, “Order what you want to eat yourself.”
Qian Fei nibbled on a skewer of Palm Treasure and asked, “Sang Yan, do you drink alcohol? Let’s have a zhang, it’s no fun for me to drink alone.”
Sang Yeon said bluntly, “No, I’m going to drive later.”
Qian Fei rolled his eyes, “I’ll go, you don’t drink, and neither does Duan Jiaxu. What kind of person comes to a barbecue bar and doesn’t drink?”
Sanjayan: “Don’t you see it here?”
Sanji quietly raised his eyes ahead again.
This time it didn’t meet his eyes so aptly. Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes, scalded a glass with boiling water, and then filled it most of the way with water. The moment he raised his head, Sang Chi immediately withdrew his gaze.
She then noticed with her afterglow that the glass of water was placed in front of her.
Sanji looked up and dutifully said, “Thank you.”
Soon, Sang Chil ordered the food and handed the menu back to Sang Yeon.
Sang Yeon swept his eyes and was about to call out to the waiter when he noticed two of the skewers ordered and asked with a sideways glance, “This what you want?”
Sanji: “Yeah.”
“Be conscious of yourself.” Sang Yeon took a pen and scratched it right off, “Don’t make me remind you.”
Sang Chi wasn’t too happy, but she was too embarrassed to argue with him in front of others, and could only mutter in a small voice, “It’s okay to eat a little bit, I just ordered a skewer.”
Sang Yan was impatient, “Don’t even think about it, I don’t have that kind of free time to take care of a little kid like you every day.”
Qian Fei accused from across the room, “Sang Yan, your sister wants to eat something and you still won’t let her? It’s fine, little sister, you order, brother treats you.”
“Shut up.” Sang Yeon didn’t have the heart to say, “She’s allergic to beef and lamb.”
“Oh.” Qian Fei immediately changed his words, “Then little sister, eat something else. It’s not nice to be sick.”
It was supposed to be a mild allergy and it’s okay to take a little bit of it.
But Sang-chi had no decision to make and could only give in. She picked up the glass of water in front of her and took small sips, listening to the other three big men talking about topics she had no interest in.
Wait a while.
Sang Chi couldn’t help himself and poked Sang Yan’s arm, “Brother.”
Sang Yeon looked sideways, “What for.”
“I’m so hungry.”
This BBQ bar can be slow to serve food.
Sang Yan looked around the table and put a plate of untouched ox river in front of her, “Eat this first, pad your stomach.”
Kuwabara ohs and picks up her chopsticks.
She was about to fill a small bowl into her own when she suddenly noticed that there was still quite a bit of beef left in this plate of ox river. As if she had discovered some treasure, Sang Zhi’s first reaction was to look at Sang Yan, and then in the direction of Duan Jia Xu and Qian Fei.
None of the three men looked in her direction.
As if he were a thief, Sanji hid one of the pieces of beef in the river noodles.
Trying to clip together.
Then no one would notice the extra piece of beef in her bowl or know that she’d snuck a piece of beef in tonight.
–Seamless operation.
She had just pinned up the ball of river flour.
At this time, Duan Jia Xu suddenly called out to her.
“Kids.”
Sangji’s chopsticks loosened and he looked up, “Huh?”
Duan Jiaxu rested the right side of his face with one hand, his eyebrows slightly raised, and the corners of his lips were also outlined in a shallow arc as he said in a long drawn out trailing tone, “Let brother fill a bowl first?”
Her movements stopped and she silently withdrew her chopsticks, “Oh.”
And then pushed the plate in front of him.
The other two were chatting away and didn’t notice the two of them moving.
Duan Jia Xu unwrapped a new pair of chopsticks and slowly and methodically flipped the plate of beef river. For the next few moments, Sang Chi kept an eye on his movements.
Then, watched as he didn’t chuck a single river noodle, but piece after piece, he put all the beef inside into his bowl, not even a single shred of beef.
It wasn’t until it was picked clean that he pushed the plate back in front of her, “There.”
“……”
“Eat.”
“……”
Chapter 14
The….
Sang Zhi stared at the bare river noodles in front of her, only interspersed with a few shredded carrots and vegetable leaves, pitifully vegetarian. Her gaze shifted and she looked fixedly at the bowl full of beef in Duan Jia Xu’s bowl.
A mouthful of depressed air was blocked in his heart and could not come out.
“……”
She really didn’t want to talk about it.
You! There! So! Like! Eat! Beef! Do!!!
Sang Chi pursed her lips and picked up her chopsticks without much pain.
Knowing that none of the people present would help her, she didn’t waste her energy complaining about anything and endured the humiliation of loading up a bowl of river noodles after he had picked and chosen.
At this table, the person who talked the most was Qian Fei, and even more so after drinking the wine. Throughout the entire night, he was the one who talked most of the time, and he was basically the one who took care of everything on the table.
Sanji listened to the content of their chatter with boredom.
There was no mention of girls or a word about studying except that it was a game.
Sanji lowers his bite into the river noodle, his cheeks puffing out.
After a long time, Qian Fei, who has a very poor capacity for alcohol, suddenly went crazy. This time finally began to bring up his love life, desperate and broken: “How the fuck do I not have a girlfriend in my third year of college, I’m in my third year of college ah–“
Sang-Chi tried to reach out for a bunch of chicken wings, was startled by the sudden roar, and immediately retracted his hand again.
She looked away quietly.
Sang Yeon tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Don’t yell, it’s not too late for you to come crying after you graduate.”
“I don’t! I’m so sick of it!” Qian Fei pointed a finger at Sang Yan, “The girl who came to me either asked me for your phone number-” and pointed at Duan Jia Xu, “or asked me for yours!”
“……”
Qian Fei wailed, “No one is ever coming for my number, personally!”
Looking at a big man crying like this, Sang Yan suggested with a clear conscience, “How about this, next time you just say your name is Sang Yan. That way it’s your own number that’s wanted.”
Duan Jia Xu didn’t even raise his eyelids, pulled a paper towel, took a skewer of chicken wings and put it into Sang Zhi’s bowl, and casually chimed in, “It’s okay to say your name is Duan Jia Xu.”
“……”
Isn’t this adding insult to injury?
Hearing this, Qian Fei immediately stopped crying and stared at the two of them.
The scene froze for a moment.
Sanji didn’t dare to watch the drama anymore, always feeling that the atmosphere was going to explode the next moment.
After a while, Qian Fei suddenly cried out again, as if he had been favored by the emperor, and said with teary eyes and gratitude, “Good brother! Wooooooo good brother!!!”
Sanji: “……”
–
Seeing that the food was almost done, Sang Yeon went to check out first and went to get the car out on the way.
Duan Jia Xu helped Qian Fei stand up and looked down at Sang Zhi, “Kid, walk in front of your brother.”
Kuwabara oh-so-quietly.
Hearing Sang Chi’s voice, Qian Fei struggled to look at her and suddenly remembered something: “Ah, little sister, brother still has to clip dolls for you. Wait, which one do you want? Brother is good at pinching dolls.”
Looking at the way he couldn’t even walk steadily on the road, Sanji hesitantly said, “No need ……”
“No way! I’m a person who will always keep his word and never lie!” Qian Fei touched a twenty dollar bill out of his pocket, “Let’s go, go clip dolls.”
Just outside the grill bar, there was an empty space next door with six crane machines.
Qian Fei cashed all the money into coins and distributed ten to Sang Zhi, looking bold: “Which one do you want, tell brother, brother will clip it for you.”
Sanji pointed to a random one.
Qian Fei then walked crookedly.
Sang Chi looked around and headed for a doll machine with Doraemon, directly stuffing three coins into it. She wasn’t very good at playing, her movements were slow, either she didn’t get it right, or she grabbed it and dropped it.
After a while, Duan Jia Xu came over and stood next to her.
Sanji looked up at him.
When I see him, I think about what just happened and still feel ashamed. Also a little upset because of the beef.
She didn’t say anything and dropped another coin in.
Still no catch this time.
Sang Zhi looked to the side and realized that Qian Fei hadn’t caught a single one either, and only then did her psyche balance out a bit. She was torn between continuing to play or not wasting the money.
In the next second, Duan Jia Xu lazily voiced out, “Kid, give brother a coin?”
“……” said Sanji, twisting his head, less than reluctantly, “why would you want it from me.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Brother doesn’t have any money.”
After a long stalemate, Sanji still gave him a coin.
Duan Jia Xu stood in front of the doll machine and asked her, “Which one do you want?”
Sang-chi pointed to the one with a red hat and couldn’t help but say, “I couldn’t clip it six times.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Uh, brother will clip it for you.”
Sanji stood aside and watched. Seeing him aiming at the doll, he tapped the button and the curved hook descended and grabbed the doll, rising a few centimeters before falling back down.
“……”
Sanji moved his eyes to Duanjia Xu’s face.
He wasn’t embarrassed, he just skimmed his head at her and added, “Another one for brother?”
“……”
For the rest of the time, Sang Chi stood by breathlessly, enduring Duan Jia Xu’s persistent and brazen attempts to ask her for coins. It wasn’t until the last chance was left that he managed to pinch the doll out.
Duan Jia Xu squatted down and took out the doll from the machine, “It’s pretty hard to pinch a doll.”
Sanji: “Might as well go out and buy one.”
“It’s not like brother hasn’t played with it.” Duan Jia Xu looked up and gave her the doll, “So disgusted?”
Sanji’s fingertips moved, not taking it.
Duanjash kept his movements unmoving.
After several seconds, Sang Chi lowered her eyes and took it, “Thank you, brother.”
Duan Jiaxie laughed softly, “Twisted little friend.”
“……”
“Caught the doll for you.” Duan Jia Xu stood up and rubbed her head, “Stop crying ah.”
This was said like a counterpart to what Sang Yan had just said to deal with Qian Fei.
But he knew it wasn’t for that reason. It was as if he had completely forgotten about that incident and treated it as if he had no knowledge of it, in order to take care of her feelings.
There was hot air surging upwards from the neck, scalding to the roots of the ears. Sang Chi’s hold on the doll gradually tightened, converging the upward curve of his lips, he silently nodded.
–
Because Qian Fei was so drunk, Sang Yan first drove the car to his house and helped him up with Duan Jia Xu. After that, he drove the car to the entrance of Nanwu University.
Duanjia Xu got out of the car, waved with the two of them, and went into the school.
The night was thick, the main entrance of the university was spacious and bright, and the streetlights inside were significantly darker. The man’s back was lean and tall, gradually merging with that darkness until it disappeared.
The car started.
Kuwabara withdrew her eyes and asked, “Brother, does Brother Kaeshi live at the school?”
Sanjayan: “Uh-huh.”
“Why doesn’t he go home?”
“His family isn’t on this side.”
“Isn’t it a vacation now?”
“I don’t know.” Sang Yeon clearly didn’t want to talk to her, “Where do you get off talking so much.”
Sang Chi was silent for a while, still bored, he put his head forward and asked, “Just now Brother Qian Fei said that someone approached him for your phone number, is it true?”
Sanjayan: “Nonsense.”
Sanjay: “Is there a follow-up on that?”
Sanjayan: “Where’s the follow up if you didn’t give it.”
“Oh.” Sanji thought for a moment, “Good thing you didn’t give it.”
Sang Yeon hit the steering wheel and didn’t say anything.
In the next second, Sang Chi added, “I think it might be that they came to Brother Qian Fei to ask for your contact information, and then asked if you could give them Brother Jia Xu’s contact information.”
“……”
“Take care of yourself, brother.”
“Shut up.”
“Don’t let them humiliate you.”
“……”
“While it’s true that you’re the ugliest one in our family,” Sanji paused, as if weighing his words, and said honestly, “still, you’re still, kind of ugly on the outside, too.”
“……”
Chapter 15
….
After returning home, Sang Chi immediately went back to her room and took a change of clothes into the bathroom to take a shower. Before she could take off her clothes, she suddenly remembered the dress she had just soiled and quickly ran out again.
Sanji glanced around the living room and the foyer.
Didn’t see the bag.
She glanced again towards the door of Sangyan’s room, which was left open. But there was movement in the kitchen, and he could be heard crackling as he pounded something inside.
Didn’t you just get back from eating?
Sangchil murmured, “What an appetite,” and then walked back into the room. At a glance, he saw the bag sitting on the edge of the desk.
She took the bag back to the bathroom and grabbed a basin to throw all the dirty clothes in.
This was the first time Sangji had ever done her own laundry. She squeezed the laundry detergent and rubbed her hands together where it rubbed into the marks, moving awkwardly and slowly as she washed.
By the time Sanji got out of the bathroom, it was almost an hour later.
She hugged the basin and trotted to the balcony to dry her clothes. Sang Zhi was about to go back to his room when, at that moment, he heard Sang Yan’s voice.
He seemed to be on the phone, his tone slightly impatient, “It’s cooked.”
“What do I care? I don’t see her uncomfortable.” Sang Yan said, “Add any red dates and angelica? No, mom, why didn’t you say so earlier, how would I know.”
“Aren’t you guys coming back tomorrow? By then you’ll be on your own, I’m exhausted, and you’ll bring your daughters by yourselves, okay? I’ve done my best to bring her for two days–okay, let’s drink like this.”
After a few seconds, Sang Yeon seemed to hang up the phone. Soon, he walked out with a bowl. Seeing Sang Zhi, he didn’t have a half-hearted feeling on his face, and coldly said, “Come and drink it yourself.”
Sanji slowly came over to me, “Why are you treating me so poorly.”
“If I didn’t treat you well.” Sang Yan tsked and said in a single word, “You’d probably have been beaten to death by me by now.”
“……”
After saying that, Sang Yeon didn’t bother to pay attention to her anymore and went back to his room.
Sanji walked over to the dining room table and carefully picked up the bowl from the table and went back to her room as well. She sat down at the desk and sipped into the bowl.
It’s still a little hot.
She simply put it aside. Turning back, she noticed Doraemon, who had been placed on her bed.
San Zhi walked over and picked up the doll and put it in the corner of the bed, next to the other doll Duan Jia Xu had given her earlier. She lay down on the bed, her legs wobbling, and poked the doll’s face with her fingertips.
Quickly rolling over again, he lay on his back, staring at the white ceiling.
Out of Mind.
Seems like a bit of a shame today.
Again, inexplicably, it seemed a little happy.
–
This sudden menarche, except for the soreness in her abdomen and the feeling of falling, Sang Chi actually did not feel too bad. But early the next morning, she was woken up by pain, her abdomen felt like someone was sticking needles in it.
Li Ping and Sang Rong had already returned and had boiled a bowl of millet porridge for Sang Zhi.
“Is it still hard?” When she finished washing up, Li Ping sat next to her and talked to her, “It’s good to be here, I heard your aunt and uncle say that Xiaobing jumped up to one meter seven all of a sudden after she got her period.”
Sang Chi took a small sip. Hearing this, she thought for a moment, “Little cousin?”
“Right.”
Kuwabara said suspiciously, “Wasn’t she already over six-feet tall?”
Li Ping: “Yeah. If you do the math this way, you might grow to six-feet tall all of a sudden.”
“One meter six …… “Sang Chi swallowed the porridge into his stomach and shook his head, “I want to be a little taller, preferably grow to one meter seven.”
“Then we only just eat well.” Li Ping said gently, “Slowly you will grow taller.”
After breakfast, Sanji had a hard time lying in bed all day, not wanting to do anything. But the thought of growing taller was the first symbol of growing up, after which one would become less like a child.
The pain didn’t seem so bad.
–
Every other Wednesday is Fu Zhengchu’s birthday.
Originally, Sang Chi had already made up her mind not to go, after all, and that circle of people are not familiar with, Li Ping also helped her enroll in a summer painting class. However, because of Yin Zhenru’s chain of life-calls, she has made up her mind to go.
Yin Zhenru’s home was in the neighborhood, and she came early to find Sang Zhi, intending to travel together. Because the KTV location was in another district, the two of them went to a nearby bus stop to wait for the bus.
It was still hot enough in August that the ground was piping hot and smelled of earth. Two little girls in short sleeves and shorts stood under the station sign with umbrellas.
After waiting for a while, Sang Chi was hot to the point of being a bit grumpy, “Isn’t it one in the afternoon? Why come out so early.”
“I forgot to buy a gift ……,” Yin Zhenru embarrassedly spat out her tongue, “Anyway, we’re going over to Shang’an, so we just happen to be strolling around there, and we’ll go to Fu Zhengchu and the others after we buy a gift.”
“It’s only ten o’clock.”
“It takes an hour to get there by car ah.” Yin Zhenru looked at her watch, “It should be eleven o’clock by the time we get there, and after we finish shopping and go have lunch, won’t it be just the right time?”
Sanji grunted, “Can I go straight to lunch?”
“No way! How am I going to shop alone!” Yin Zhenru said, “Also, didn’t you say that you and Fu Zhengchu were in the same class for six years in elementary school? Why do I feel like you guys are so poorly related.”
“It’s just pretty bad.”
“……” Yin Zhenru couldn’t believe it, “Really? I thought Fu Zhengchu …… was just that …… you know.”
Sanji frowned, “What, I don’t understand.”
Yin Zhenru came close to her ear and whispered, “Crush on you.”
“……”
The car came just in time.
Without waiting for Sang Chi to reply, Yin Zhen Ru immediately dragged her into the car.
The bus was empty, not many people, and there were still many empty seats left. The two found a seat in the back row and sat down.
Sang Zhi was still thinking about Yin Zhenru’s words and his expression was a bit subtle, “Who told you that?”
“It’s obvious from this look.” Yin Zhenru said, “He’s always looking for me to ask you out. The sixth class is on the third floor, our class is on the second floor, and he’s always hanging out outside our class.”
Sanji asked again, “Then why didn’t you say it was you he had a crush on?”
“……”
“Why else wouldn’t he come to me directly, but through you.” Sangji’s expression was rightful, “I don’t think you two knew each other before.”
“…… What you said kinda makes sense.” Yin Zhenru bristled, “But if it wasn’t about you, he wouldn’t have sought me out at all.”
Silence.
Sanji stared at her and suddenly pointed a finger at the right side of his face.
Yin Zhenru was puzzled, “What for, you don’t have anything on your face.”
Sanji pointed again.
Yin Zhenru immediately ducked back, her face full of rejection, “You’re not going to let me kiss you, are you?!”
“What are you talking about.” Sang Chi looked at her speechlessly, “I just wanted to tell you that I used to fight with Fu Zhengchu a lot.”
“Huh? When?”
Sanji recalled, “Second grade, I think.”
“Second grade? How old were you then?”
“I’m a year older than him.” Sanji said, “When you’re younger, some boys do hit girls, but not like him. He wouldn’t do that to other girls either, just to me.”
“What?”
“Beat me like a male.”
“……”
“Once.” As if to confirm how outrageous what she said was, Sanji pointed to the right side of his face again and said with a clear bite, “He punched his fist at me, here.”
The word fist, she deliberately bit a little harder.
Yin Zhenru: “Holy shit, is it serious?”
“Hmm? I don’t know if that’s considered serious.” Kuwabara thought for a moment, and then began to emphasize, “It’s not that I couldn’t beat him. The main thing is that I didn’t have any defense and I fell to the ground.”
“……”
“And then knocked out a tooth.” After a pause, Sanji continued, “I was angry and pushed him too.”
“…… And then what.”
“He also fell to the ground and broke a bone.”
“……”
–
Once these words came out, Yin Zhenru really dispelled her thoughts. When she bought the gifts afterward, she didn’t persuade Sang Zhi to pick one for Fu Zhengchu as well.
It was as if the two of them were treated as enemies and were extraordinarily avoided.
Sang Chi was happy to be free and followed her, looking at some knick-knacks to himself.
Yin Zhenru was extraordinarily casual in picking out a gift, and bought a nice looking night light when she saw it. It was still early, so the two of them simply went into a dessert store on the same floor.
This is a chain dessert store. The store is small, decorated in a Chinese style, with wooden tables and chairs, dark colors, and dim colors of lights, which looks very warm.
The air conditioner was on low, insulating it from the dry heat outside.
There were no other customers in the store and only one clerk.
At the sound of the door rattling, the clerk raised her eyes, her tone sounding sleepy as she lazily said, “Welcome.”
The voice was extraordinarily familiar.
Sanji’s breath hitched, and he subconsciously looked up.
The man wore a brown apron and sat within the cash register, his eyebrows slightly downcast, his pupils appearing lighter in the light. His eyes glanced over and stopped at Sanji’s face.
And then, the corners of his eyes seemed to flicker so much.
Two seconds of silence.
Sanji took the initiative and called out, “Brother.”
Duan Jia Xu looked at the girl next to Sang Zhi and nodded, “Come over here to play?”
Sanji: “Uh-huh.”
Yin Zhenru’s eyes darted over the two of them without speaking.
Sang-chi picked up the menu laid out on the cash register and hesitantly asked, “Brother, do you work here?”
“Uh-huh.” Duan Jia Xu’s expression wasn’t too concerned, “Go find a seat, come back and order what you want to eat, and my brother will send it over to you later.”
Sang Chil ohs and sits with Yin Zhenru to the most inward seat.
Flipping through the menu, Yin Zhenru quietly looked in Duan Jiaxu’s direction and curiously said, “Who is that one? I remember your brother doesn’t seem to look like that.”
“My brother’s friend.”
“So handsome.” Yin Zhenru covered her chest, “I remember your brother is also very handsome, Sangji, you are too happy, aren’t you.”
Sanji: “Don’t you talk nonsense.”
Yin Zhenru: “Huh?”
Sanji: “My brother where handsome.”
“……”
Soon, the two of them picked out their desserts. Holding the menu, Sang Zhi walked over to Duan Jia Xu, “Brother, I want a coconut sago dessert, and mango double skin milk.”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
Sanji calculated the price, while then took a twenty and a ten from her pocket and fumbled for three more coins. She fumbled again and missed.
Sanji put all the money on the cash register. She turned her head, wanting to go back to her spot to get her bag and get another dollar out of it to make up for it.
Just two steps away, Duan Jiaxu behind her called out to her, “Kid.”
Sanji turned back, “Huh?”
Duan Jiaxu tapped the money on the table with his bony knuckles, propped his elbows on the edge of the table, bent his body down slightly, and asked with a low smile, “Bullying brother won’t count?”
Sang Chi reacted, pursed her lips, and returned to her position in silence, took a coin out of her bag, and walked over to the cash register again, placing the dollar in front of him.
Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes and swept them, “There’s still a piece missing.”
“……”
Sang Zhi felt that he was cheating her out of money and started to get serious with him, “One is eighteen dollars and one is sixteen, adding up to thirty-four, where is the difference of one dollar.”
“I thought you said your brother was handsome?”
“……”
When did she say that? That’s what Yin Zhenru said.
And what does that have to do with anything.
“After sneaking a peek at my brother so many times, if I give you a look for nothing-” his trailing voice hitched, sounding hangdog, “how much of a loss would my brother be then.”
Chapter 16
….
“……”
Sang Zhi stared at him without saying a word for a long time, seemingly feeling suffocated, and only after half a day did he stifle a sentence, “No wonder you have no business in this store.”
Duanjia Xu: “Huh?”
Sang-chi pushed the money in front of him, obviously not wanting to give a dime more, his little face was so serious, and two words came out in a resounding voice: “Shady store.”
Duan Jiaxu found it funny, “Charging you an extra dollar makes you a black store?”
Kuwabara scowled, “It’s not like I peeked at you.”
“Okay.” Duan Jiaxu picked up the money on the table, “It’s my brother who’s talking nonsense.”
Sangji looked at him and didn’t say anything more, wanting to go back to his position.
Before she could take two steps, Duan Jiaxu behind her called out to her again, “Wait a moment.”
Kuwabara stumbled and turned around, “What for.”
Duanjia Xu: “Come here.”
Sanji looked doubtful, not really wanting to go over there. But he stood there quietly watching her, as if he was sure she would go over there, as if he were treating a dog that had always been at his beck and call.
After settling in place for a while, Sanji reluctantly walked over and asked again, “What for.”
“How can my brother really charge you money?” The height of the table is about one meter, Duan Jiaxu bent down, grabbed her wrist across the table, and shoved the money back into her hand, “Keep it for yourself to buy candy.”
Sanji froze.
He had withdrawn his hand.
Behind the cashier’s counter was a large tending table with a variety of ingredients. After speaking, Duan Jia Xu turned around, took out two clean bowls, and started to make the dessert.
Sanji silently put the money back into his pocket.
How it’s always like this.
Give a candy for a slap.
And then, she actually failed to say no every time.
He was very stubborn and argued with him over his “slap” and then took the “candy” in a very humiliating manner.
–
Returning to her position, Yin Zhenru came over, this time keeping her voice low and whispering to her, “Sang Zhi, is your brother’s friend going to invite us?”
Sanji nodded, “Right.”
“Hey hey really good.” Yin Zhenru was very happy, “I don’t have much pocket money left after buying the gift, I still want to fill up a point coupon for Adventure Island, a new hat has recently come out that looks good on a thief.”
“How much have you charged.”
“It’s nice.”
Knowing that Sang Zhi is not interested in this, Yin Zhenru changed the topic, “Right. Just now Fu Zhengchu looked for me on QQ and asked where we were, so I told him.”
“Oh.”
“He seems to have arrived as well, and said he’d come over to us first. There’s also Liu Weiqi there.”
Sanjay: “Why don’t they get a room first.”
Yin Zhenru: “It’s only twelve o’clock now, and that KTV can’t open a room until one o’clock in the afternoon. They said they’ve already called to make a reservation and will come over to meet us first, then go to lunch together.”
“Who else is coming?”
“It seems like there are a few others from their class.” Yin Zhenru said, “But those are the ones who went straight to the KTV after one o’clock to find them.”
Coincidentally, Duan Jia Xu brought up two bowls of dessert at this moment. Hearing this, the peak of his eyebrows lifted slightly, his peach blossom eyes swept over, and he casually asked, “Going to karaoke?”
Yin Zhenru was immediately silenced.
Sanji nodded.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t say anything either, but just instructed, “Go formal, remember to go home before dark, and don’t play outside too late.”
It sounded like he was helping Sang Yeon discipline her, but really, Sang Yeon didn’t even discipline her much.
Kuwabara let out an oh-so-subtle cry.
When he was gone, Yin Zhenru came back over and said, “Why does your brother’s friend talk like my father, he said the same thing to me before I left the house.”
Sanji agreed with her, “My dad told me something like that too.”
“……”
Before they were halfway through the meal, Fu Zhengchu and Liu Weiqi arrived.
Sangji actually saw these two quite rarely. At this moment, he realized that they seemed to have grown a bit taller. Dressed in civilian clothes, they looked like little adults.
Yin Zhenru put down her spoon and said with a smile, “The birthday girl is here.”
Fu Zhengchu touched his nose.
Liu Weiqi, covered in sweat, went ahead and sat down next door to Yin Zhenru: “You guys hurry up, I’m starving. Why don’t we go next door and eat a KFC.”
Yin Zhenru: “I can’t afford to eat KFC.”
The cramped store was instantly buzzing with two more people.
Yin Zhenru ate quickly and had finished long ago. The remaining three were waiting for Sang Zhi. She listened to Yin Zhenru and Liu Weiqi fight and sped up.
Seeing that Sang Zhi finished eating, Yin Zhenru handed her a tissue, “Let’s go.”
Sanji nodded.
The other two boys stood up first and walked out. Yin Zhenru took Sang Zhi’s hand and tried to pull her along.
When she passed the cash register, Sang Chi looked like she thought of something and stopped in her tracks, pulling her hand out of Yin Zhenru’s arm, “You go out and wait for me first.”
Upon hearing this, Yin Zhenru glanced at Duan Jiaxu and said in understanding, “Alright, hurry up.”
Then it went out.
Duan Jia Xu was sitting on a chair playing with his cell phone, one foot resting on the side of the chair, sitting in a casual manner. Seeing this, he put his hand down and said with interest, “Kid, what do you want to tell your brother?”
Sang Chi hesitated for a few seconds, but finally asked very directly, “Brother, are you short of money to spend?”
Not realizing that she came to ask this, Duan Jia Xu smiled, “Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“The last time we went to a barbecue, Brother Qian Fei also said you were working as a tutor in the neighborhood.” Sang Chi whispered, “And then I saw you working here again today.”
Duanjia Xu stared at her and didn’t speak anymore, peacefully.
His gaze was a bit puzzled, unable to tell what the mood was.
Sanji inexplicably started to get nervous and gulped, “Aren’t you going home?”
“Well, a little.”
The words seemed to answer the question she had asked earlier.
But Sanji was a little unresponsive and let out a slow “ah”.
“Go play.” Duan Jiaxu’s expression was diffident, as if he didn’t take it to heart at all, “Your little friends are still waiting.”
Finishing his sentence, he turned around and turned on the faucet to wash something.
After a while, just when Duan Jia Xu thought that Sang Zhi had already left, a brittle “Goodbye Brother” suddenly sounded behind him, and after that there was a sound of footsteps running away.
Duanjia Xu wiped the table clean with a rag and glanced back.
The eyes settled on the table.
There was a pile of money stacked on the table, and in addition to the ones he had just returned to her, there seemed to be quite a bit more added. There was a red hundred dollars pressed at the bottom, and all the way up were some ten and five dollar pieces of change.
The top was pressed with half a dozen one-dollar coins and a two fifty-cent piece.
Looks neat and tidy.
Like putting your whole self into it.
Duan Jia Xu froze for a while. After a long time, he hesitantly reached out and poked the stack of coins. The tower of coins collapsed smoothly and slid onto the tabletop.
His eyebrows lifted and he suddenly burst out laughing.
What’s going on.
Why does it seem like there’s a real …… guilty pleasure in scamming kids out of their money this time?
–
Sang Zhi really didn’t leave a penny for herself, and she borrowed money from Yin Zhenru to buy lunch. Without money, with a group of less familiar classmates to stay together, she always feel not much confidence.
At five o’clock in the afternoon, a group of people were singing happily in the KTV. Sang Zhi held a cup of tea and sipped it, her ears were shaken to the point of pain, and after half a day of agonizing, she still said to Yin Zhenru, “Yin Zhenru, I’m going to go home.”
Yin Zhenru didn’t hear and looked up, “What did you say?”
Sanji had to raise his voice, “I said I’m going home!”
At this point in the song, the crescendo of the song passed right over into a section of pure music. Her voice stood out all of a sudden.
A group of people looked in her direction in passing.
Soon the music started again, breaking the frozen atmosphere.
The rest of them didn’t take her words to heart. Only Fu Zhengchu came over and sat in the seat next to her, “Sang Zhi, are you going back?”
“Uh-huh.” Sanji said, “My dad told me to be back before dark.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “Happy birthday.”
Fu Zhengchu was silent for a few seconds before saying, “I’ll walk you to the station?”
“Why do you need a ride? The station is downstairs.” Sanji looked odd and stood up, “Just stay here, I’m going.”
She turned her head and said goodbye to a few people nearby and headed out of the KTV.
Sanjay took the student bus card out of his bag.
The KTV was on the fifth floor of this mall, and the dessert store that Duan Jia Xu was in was on the fourth floor. When she took the escalator down to the fourth floor, her footsteps stopped for a moment.
Fu Zhengchu’s voice abruptly sounded behind him, “Why aren’t you leaving?”
“……”
Sang Zhi was startled and immediately turned back, with the feeling of being caught with something wrong, and said in annoyance, “What are you following me for.”
“Didn’t follow you.” Fu Zhengchu’s expression was a bit embarrassed, “I came out to get some air.”
“Oh.” Sanji continued to walk down the hall, “See you later then, Tooru.”
Fu Zhengchu still followed her, “By the way, I’ll see you off.”
Sanji didn’t bother with him anymore.
“Right.” Fu Zhengchu scratched his head and found a topic to talk about, “There’s a placement test at the beginning of next semester, did you know?”
Sanji nodded, “I heard you improved on your finals.”
“……”
“Took the fifth lowest grade?”
Fu Zhengchu felt ashamed and reluctantly said, “That was me falling asleep.”
Looking at him like this, Sangchil pondered. He recalled the time he told her on the bus that he would “play around with being number one next time”, and the time he told her that he had been called as a parent because he hadn’t listened in class, when in fact it was he who had taken the initiative to ask the teacher to call his parents.
She suddenly asked, “Do you have a pretty low self-esteem?”
Fu Zhengchu: “?”
“It’s not much of a thing, I guess, mostly because I don’t see you studying much either. If you study hard, your grades should improve.” Sang Chi said, “You just need to not be so lazy and put your mind on your studies. You don’t have to have low self-esteem.”
“Sang Chi.” Being chopped up by her, Fu Zhengchu finally couldn’t help himself, “I don’t believe you can’t see it.”
Sanji paused, “What.”
Fu Zhengchu didn’t say anything.
“What can’t be seen.” Thinking about Yin Zhenru’s words, Sangchil hesitantly asked, “The fact that you have a crush on Yin Zhenru?”
“……”
Fu Zhengchu almost didn’t raise his breath.
He calmed his breathing and gritted his teeth, “Who told you that?”
Sanji said innocently, “I guessed.”
Fu Zhengchu: “Can you stop guessing.”
Sanji was puzzled, “Then you can’t be crushing on me.”
Fu Zhengchu stared at her expressionlessly and said brokenly, “Why not.”
“……”
Sanji’s expression finally changed a bit, “Huh?”
The teenager was young and impetuous, and said the most egregious thing in the most flamboyant tone of voice: “Suppose – I mean, suppose! Suppose I had a crush on you, what could you do!”
“……”
Chapter 17
The….
I don’t know whether it was because his volume was too loud, or because the words he said were too hard to accept, but Sang-Chi obviously looked shocked, and stood still.
Both of them stopped in their tracks at the same time.
The silence made the atmosphere awkward.
Fu Zhengchu stares at her eyes gradually avoiding, and the roots of his ears are also tinted with scarlet color. He touched his head, forced himself to calm down, and asked, “Why don’t you say something.”
Sanji let out another ah, a little overwhelmed.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t been confessed to before, but it was usually by stuffing love letters in her drawer, or sending her text messages. Face-to-face confessions were a first, and they were so high-profile.
“Eh.” Sangchil just assumed that this hypothesis was valid, and was suddenly a little curious, “Do you remember the time you knocked out one of my teeth?”
“……” Fu Zhengchu extremely regret this matter, but he also did do it, at this moment can only be far-fetched to give their own defense, “This is how many years ago, my finger was not also fractured at that time? “
Sanji doesn’t hold much of a grudge, “That too.”
Fu Zhengchu breathed a sigh of relief and perked up his ears, looking forward to her next words.
Sang Chi didn’t know how to write the word “euphemism”, and directly said, “Then you’d better not like me, I don’t like those who are smaller than me.”
Fu Zhengchu paused and became angry: “This is not age discrimination!”
“……”
“You have to say something I can change, right?”
Sanji thought for a moment, “I like good-looking ones.”
“…… “Fu Zhengchu took a deep breath and pointed a finger at her, “Except for you, no one has ever said that I’m ugly. Are you targeting me? Are you adding an ugly filter to me?”
“Just–” Sanji said meekly, “everyone has different aesthetics.”
Fu Zhengchu was extremely aggrieved, “Is it hard for me to go for plastic surgery?!”
“Where did I mean that.” Sang Chi was also a little aggravated by his yelling, and mumbled, “So didn’t I tell you not to like me?”
“Forget it.” Fu Zhengchu gave up talking to her, “Pretend I didn’t say that.”
Seeing that he was in a bad mood, Sang Chi also began to regret whether he had said too much, and said stiffly, “What do you like about me?”
Fu Zhengchu gave her a look that was extremely superficial: “You’re good-looking.”
Sanji: “Oh.”
Fu Zhengchu: “Is that your reaction?”
Sanji: “I can’t argue with that.”
“……”
The two were still parked in front of the escalator on the third floor.
Fu Zhengchu suddenly felt a heavy mood, stared at her for a while, and then asked, “Are you not wanting to fall in love early.”
Sanji nodded, “Partly for that reason.”
“And part of it is that you think I’m small and ugly.” The more he said, the more unwilling he felt, Fu Zhengchu pursed his lips hard and his eyes started to redden, “Sang Zhi, today is my birthday. Can’t you reject me another day?”
“……” Sanji was confused, “Are you crying?”
“I’m crying my ass off!” Fu Zhengchu felt ashamed and turned his head to rub his eyes, and when he wanted to say something, he suddenly noticed a person standing behind him.
Fu Zhengchu collided with him at eye level.
Stare into each other’s eyes for a few seconds.
Fu Zhengchu’s tears gradually dispersed, inexplicably feeling that the person in front of him looked somewhat familiar.
But for a moment I couldn’t remember where I’d seen it.
Noticing that Fu Zhengchu didn’t say anything for half a day, Sang Zhi suspiciously looked over and followed his line of sight to the back, and he suddenly saw Duan Jia Xu’s figure.
I wonder how long he stood behind them.
Seeing them all look over, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows playfully, “Disturbing you?”
“……”
Fu Zhengchu immediately remembered who this person was.
Sanji’s brother.
The last time Sanji was called as a parent, he had seen it in the office.
Thinking of what he had just said, Fu Zhengchu’s back stiffened and he bowed violently, with a look of being caught in the act of being caught in the act of being vain: “Good day brother Sang Zhi!”
Duanjia Xu hmmm’d.
Fu Zhengchu ran to the other side with the same hand and foot, “See you later brother Sangji!”
“……”
Strangely enough, it was clear that there wasn’t anything wrong with what she was doing, but Sang Chi actually had the feeling that she had done something wrong as well. After a few short seconds of thinking, she decided to make a preemptive strike, “Brother, are you eavesdropping?”
Duan Jiaxu looked at her with downcast eyes, “Yes.”
“……”
He admitted it just like that, putting made Sang Zhi instantly swallow her next words back down. She was a bit caught off guard and didn’t know what to say, so she simply kept quiet and continued on her way.
Duan Jiaxu followed her slowly and methodically, “Our little Sangji’s charm is quite strong?”
“……”
He seemed to find it extremely amusing and laughed out loud, bringing out a shallow breath, “Making other little boys cry?”
Kuwabara didn’t know what to say back and held her red face, “What are you doing.”
Duan Jia Xu: “Brother cares about you.”
Sanji was squirming, “Don’t you mention it.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu pulled away from the topic, the smile on his face converging a bit, “What did brother say to you last time after he helped you go see your teacher, repeat it back to me.”
She instantly understood what he implied by that.
“I don’t remember what you said, but I didn’t fall in love early.” After a pause, Kuwabara emphasized again, “Absolutely not.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Quite obedient.”
Sanji grunted unhappily.
Duan Jia Xu thought about it and suggested in a low voice, “It’s quite normal to start having these thoughts during adolescence. But you shouldn’t hurt others, you can thank the other person for liking you before rejecting it.”
Sanji: “Where did I hurt him.”
Duanjash: “Didn’t you make someone cry?”
“I’ve made him cry plenty of times.” Sang Chi justified, “I used to fight with him, and no matter who won, he was the one who cried.”
Duan Jia Xu scanned her up and down and said in amusement, “You can still fight?”
The two exited the mall gates and went to a nearby station to wait for the bus.
Sanjay honestly said, “I would fight when I was a kid.”
He said lazily, “You’re still a kid now, too.”
After a few seconds of silence, Sanji couldn’t help but say, “Not so little now.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu skimmed his head and smiled, comparing her height, “Okay, it seems like you’ve grown a bit taller. You also know how to be nice to your brother.”
Sanji looked at him in silence.
Duanjash: “Give me your hand.”
Sanji reached out hesitantly.
In the next second, Duan Jia Xu handed back to her the “whole body” that Sang Zhi had just given him, and said with curved lips, “Thank you little Sang Zhi.”
Sanji looked up numbly.
“Do you know what people will say about me if this gets out?” Duan Jiaxu trailed off, “It’ll say that I’m blackmailing middle schoolers and that I’m going to be arrested.”
Sang-chi said seriously, “No blackmail, this is the money I spent on dessert flowers.”
Duan Jia Xu: “You ate two hundred ah? Then others mustn’t say that brother is roaming around.”
Sangji couldn’t say anything to him and shoved the money back into his hand, “I’ll just give it to you anyway.”
“What’s the point of giving money to your brother?” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “Think brother is miserable?”
“No.” As soon as he mentioned it, Sanji remembered again what she had just seemed to have upset him about. She hesitated, but apologized, “I’m sorry brother.”
“Hmm?”
Sang Chi stumbled over the words that had been brewing all afternoon, “I shouldn’t have asked just now. I’m just embarrassed because you seem to be very busy and I’ve been bothering you before. Also, this is your hard-earned money, I can’t just spend it like that. And I brought a friend with me.”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu’s brows relaxed and the curve of his lips hooked up, “Why are you suddenly talking so officially?”
Sanji said honestly, “My dad says you have to admit when you’ve done something wrong.”
“Who said you did anything wrong?”
“I think what I asked upset you.” Sanjay said, “That’s just the wrong thing to do.”
“It’s fine, I’m not unhappy.” Duan Jia Xu rubbed her head, “Take back the money you bought for candy.”
Sanji put his hands behind his back, “I don’t like candy.”
“Then buy what you like.” Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyelids and stared into her bright eyes, “When my brother is really too poor to get out of the pot in the future, I’ll come back to borrow money from you, okay?”
–
Getting into the car, Sang Zhi Zhi walked to the rear window seat and sat down. She looked out the car window at Duan Jia Xu, and quickly withdrew her eyes to look at the money he had stuffed into his bag.
Sanjay sullenly zipped up his zipper.
Night had not yet fallen, and the sky was dark red, coloring the large clouds. The distant mountains were picturesque, their outlines clear and crisp, dotted with this color.
Sanji reached out his finger and penciled the word “Duan” on the window, quickly rubbing it off again.
Her mood was suddenly low.
Feeling a bit perplexed.
Is it that the older you get, the more trouble you get with it?
But she didn’t think she was old enough.
Duanjash doesn’t seem to have one either.
–
This unexpected encounter was the last time that Sangji saw Duan Jiaxu during this summer vacation. For the next month, Sangzhi attended a summer painting class and started writing his summer homework.
Starting to get busy with things that she should be busy with at her age.
Sang Zhi didn’t ask Sang Yan about Duan Jia Xu and never took the initiative to contact him. She didn’t know if he ended up going home or if he was still working so hard at his part-time job.
But she quietly bought a piggy bank.
Quietly, a lot of unused pocket money was saved in there.
Probably won’t be used after that either.
But then again, she occasionally thought that she might be able to use it later.
The new semester of the second year begins.
At the beginning of the school’s placement test, Sang Zhi played normally and entered a key class. Most of her classmates have been replaced with people she doesn’t know, and even Yin Zhenru, whom she is most familiar with, has been assigned to another class.
In the same class as Fu Zhengchu.
After the shift change, Yin Zhenru didn’t come to play with Sangzhi much.
Sangji herself is not a proactive character, so the contact between the two became less and less. She herself is also a person who is relatively solitary, and did not take this matter too seriously.
In the blink of an eye, the end of October passed.
Rising Sun Middle School begins preparations for the school sports day, and goes next door to Nanwu University to borrow a venue again. Sang Zhi is completely uninterested in sports stuff, but there aren’t many girls in her class, and she’s strong-armed by her teacher into signing up for one.
Kuwabara could only reluctantly sign up for a long jump.
The class also spent money to get a class uniform. This class uniform was designed by Chen Mingxu, and according to his taste, no rebuttals were accepted. The pattern in the center was a grand sunflower that looked fancy.
It was the dirtiest class uniform Sanji had ever seen.
The day of the school sports day.
Sang Zhi felt ashamed, to the school only changed into that class uniform, and then followed the large group of a piece to the nearby Nanwu University.
Other than the time when Sang Yeon moved dormitories, this was the second time Sang Chi had come here, and it didn’t feel new.
The boys who weren’t competing around them formed a group at the bleachers and started playing Triple Triad. Sang Chi watched from the side for a while and heard the radio call out for the check-in for the junior girls’ long jump before she went to the check-in with one of the girls in her class.
In addition to the venue, SWC has arranged a bunch of volunteers for them.
Like right now.
Sanjay met her own brother right at the check-in.
Sang Yan sat under the tent where the check-in was taking place. Seeing her, the corners of his lips curved up slightly, the tip of the pen in his hand tapping the table, looking a bit nasty, “Student, you are not qualified to participate, go back.”
Sanji held his tongue and said, “Where does it not fit.”
“Not tall enough.”
“I didn’t hear about the height requirement for the long jump.”
Sang Yan’s eyes glanced up and his body leaned back, “Then it can’t be that he’s not even one meter two.” After saying that, he looked sideways at the person sleeping on his back next to him and laughed, “You think so? Bro.”
Chapter 18
….
It can’t be a meter and a half.
Sanjay picked out the key words.
One meter two, no.
Reverse the order a bit and connect the dots.
Not one meter two.
Sang Zhi was completely captivated by a few words, not noticing what Sang Yan said to the person next to him afterward, much less what the person lying on his back looked like.
At this time the sun was shining, under the tent, although it was shady but not cool, the sultry temperature was everywhere. Her face was slightly reddened by the heat, and her mood was a little agitated, unable to tolerate this inexplicable dirty water he threw at her.
“I’m not five-foot-two.” Even though Sangji felt that he didn’t need to confirm this statement, he still couldn’t help counting, “I’m already 5’5″, where am I not 5’2”.
“You’re all 155? Then this student, you look–” Sang Yeon didn’t think so, and rolled over the list with his eyes downcast, “quite short.”
“……”
“Okay, you have to say it in advance in the future. Otherwise how easy it is to misunderstand.”
“……”
Does she have to say “I’m 5’5” when she meets someone?
The whole thing is like showing off.
“See for yourself if the number on the clothes matches the list.” Afterwards, Sang Yeon pushed the person next to him, “Don’t sleep, come and do me a favor, brother.”
The man who had been lying on his back moved twice, and only then did he lift his face out of the crook of his arm.
Sanji looked over in a submissive manner.
The man looked sleepy, his eyes half-squinted, as if he was not used to the brightness. After a few months, his hair had grown a bit longer, covering his eyebrows, and was a bit messy from sleep. His complexion was a cold white, but his lips were so colorful that he looked like he had dyed them with rouge.
Demon like half not gradual, the more obvious hook.
Duan Jia Xu slowly sat up, leaning back with a sleepy look, and lazily answered, “Huh?”
Sang-chi stared at him for two seconds, her heart beating heavily, and suddenly withdrew her eyes, pretending as if she hadn’t seen it. She found something for herself to do, following Sang Yan’s words and looking for her name and number on that list on the table.
0155.
Sangchil looked down at the number on his chest before saying to Sangyan, “Right on.”
“That’s a pretty interesting number you have.” Sang Yan said idly, “As if you’re afraid that the world won’t know that you’re one-fifty-fifty.”
Sanji was not happy, “It’s not like I chose it myself.”
Hearing the conversation between the two, Duan Jia Xu lifted his drooping eyelids. Noticing Sang Zhi, and the clothes she was wearing, his eyebrows lifted, and his sleepiness instantly dissipated most of it.
Then, suddenly, he burst out laughing.
Sanji sniffed and looked over.
He was seen staring at the clothes he was wearing, lowering his jaw in a grin that was undisguised. The implication was extraordinarily obvious, a blatant mockery of what she was wearing.
This reaction immediately reminded San Zhi of the class uniform she was wearing that her grandmother’s generation probably wouldn’t even want to wear. Her ears grew hot, and she took a deep breath and stepped to the side in annoyance.
Faintly, I could still hear Duan Jia Xu chuckling lowly as he said, “Your sister’s aesthetics can be okay.”
“……”
It’s now fashionable to bully the small with the big and team up.
Two! Old! Man! Man!
Sanji simply pretended not to recognize them.
She stayed with the girls in her class who were also participating in the long jump and waited for them to finish matching the names and numbers of the competitors.
The girl’s name was Cen Rui, and her character was relatively quiet. At this time, she seemed to feel a bit bored, so she took the initiative to say, “Sang Zhi, do you know those two brothers?”
Sanji reluctantly nodded, “But not familiarly.”
“How do you know each other?” Cen Rui was curious, “There seems to be quite a difference in age from us.”
“My mom’s friend.” Sanji blurted out.
“Huh?”
“My mom likes to square dance and they often dance together.” Sang-chi said, “Occasionally I would invite them to my house for dinner and I got to know them.”
The words “square dance” and “often dance together” hit Cen Rui’s head like a thunderbolt, and she asked incredulously, “You mean square dance? Like ‘The Beautiful Seven Fairies’?”
Sang-chi didn’t change his face and said, “Yeah.”
“That’s still ……” Cen Rui’s expression was indescribable, stifling the sentence, “kinda hip.”
“It’s okay.” This reaction of hers instantly soothed Sanji’s mood, “Everyone at this age seems to like dancing to this.”
“……”
Soon after, Sang Yeon shouted for the bunch of them to go over and draw lots to arrange the order of the matches.
Sanji drew one at random and was placed in the penultimate position.
There were three inspectors, besides Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu, there was another woman. They wore uniform black short sleeves and a uniform white cap.
Once the check-in was complete, they took the contestants to the field of play.
Kuwabara actually kind of couldn’t believe it.
Although she knew that there would be students from Nanwu University to volunteer, the fact that Sang Yeon and Duan Jia Xu would sign up for this thing seemed like a pipe dream to her.
Not wanting to be laughed at by the two of them, she walked with Cen Rui at the very back.
Bring them to the field of play and the checker’s job is done.
Sanji grew relaxed and prayed for them to hurry up. It was just after eleven o’clock, and the sun was getting fiercer and fiercer, so she crouched down and hid under the shadow of the person next to her.
It wasn’t long before someone suddenly put a cap on her head.
Sang Chi was blinded by the sunlight and subconsciously raised the brim of his hat upwards and tilted his head.
Noticing the person in front of her, her expression froze.
Moving her eyes, she saw another person standing on the side. What she had just prayed for had half been realized, and neither of the two men had left, and now they were at her door.
Duan Jia Xu squatted in front of her, his hair color looking light in the sunlight. He tilted his head slightly, his arm resting on his knee, and said with a smirk, “Little Sangji is wearing a bit of a pretty dress today.”
Sanjay didn’t want to pay any attention to him.
Sang Yan stood next to him, a camera in his hand from somewhere. In the next second, he aimed it at Sang Chi and added, “You can go to a beauty pageant.”
“Brother!” Sanji’s eyes widened, “Why are you taking pictures?”
“Mom and Dad asked me to take the picture.” Sang Yeon bent down slightly and brought the camera closer, “You can do it brat, dressed like Miss Hong Kong today.”
“I haven’t said that you’re dressed like Popeye today,” hearing the mockery in his words, Sang Chi immediately jumped up to grab his camera, “No pictures! I don’t see you taking pictures when I look good!”
“Like this?” Sang Yeon was prescient enough to put his hand up high and humbly ask for advice, “When do you look good, you tell your brother okay, or else my brother doesn’t know ah.”
“……”
Sanji was still trying to jump up and was immediately held down by his head.
Can’t move.
She felt like she was going to explode, but she was so overwhelmed by him that she couldn’t move, and she was helpless in a hundred ways. Sang Zhi held back her temper and said in a sensible manner, “Brother, I won’t take it.”
Sang Yeon’s hand still didn’t let go.
Sanjay picked up again and said, “Go ahead and shoot, it’s okay.”
She really felt too much pain.
Originally, the fact that Sang Yeon went to college was something for her to thank God for and be thankful for. But she didn’t expect that she would actually have to endure Sang Yan’s torture while she was in school.
As if he hadn’t heard her words, the corners of Sang Yan’s eyes rose slightly, still maintaining his original movements, “Am I not filming properly?”
“……” threatened Sanji, unable to hold back any longer, “I’m going to tell Daddy if you keep this up.”
“Fine, you go and sue.” Sang Yeon said indifferently, “I’ll be home for a long time yet.”
Stalemate for a moment.
Duan Jia Xu also squatted beside him and watched for a moment. It wasn’t long before he stood up and ripped Sang Yan’s hand away from Sang Zhi’s head, his words tinged with teasing, “Can you stop bullying my sister?”
Sangyan: “?”
Though knowing that the man was no better than Sang Yeon.
But with a big leg to hold, Sang Chi still very much did not want to lose face and hid behind him, foxing him, “Hear that, my brother told you not to bully me.”
Sang Yeon stared at the two for a while, finding it absurd, “Who your brother?”
She pointed at Duan Jiaxu as a matter of course.
“Okay, brother.” Sang Yeon put the camera down in his hand and seemed to think that the deal was a good deal, his expression became pleasant, “Sending it to you.”
Without realizing it, it was Sanji’s turn to compete in the order.
In terms of sports, there wasn’t really a single one that Sang Wiz was good at, but on balance, she still found the long jump easier. She chose it quite simply.
This was the first time Sanji had ever competed in a school sports event.
Originally, she didn’t feel nervous, thinking that she would leave after the dance. Whether or not she could get a place or not, Sang Chi didn’t think about it at all.
But now inexplicably two more people were watching her.
Sanji exhaled slowly.
She stood in the runners’ lane and looked forward to the starting line, mentally estimating approximately how many steps she would have to run. Soon after, San Zhi listened to the referee give the order and began to run forward.
Running to a meter from the starting line, Sang Zhi’s footsteps stopped for a moment, and then continued to run forward. As if she was afraid of pressing the line, she swept the line with her afterimage, stood exactly in front of the starting line, and jumped forward with all her strength.
The world went quiet, and the only sound around was the whistling wind.
After a few seconds, the referee came over with a ruler to measure the distance, looking carefully and seriously, “0155, first time score zero – zero point five meters.”
“……”
Sang Chi could vaguely hear the people next to her laughing. She acted as if she didn’t hear them and scratched her head, “More dancing?”
Ref: “Two more jumps.”
Sanji didn’t really want to dance anymore, but he couldn’t break the rules of the game either, “Oh.”
Duan Jiaxu, who was standing on the sidelines and watching, found it funny, and his shoulders shook slightly, “What’s wrong with your sister? Running that fast to the starting line and then stopping to do a standing long jump?”
“This little brat is wary and timid.” Sang Yan had recorded the scene just now into his camera, tugging at the corner of his lips, “I guess he’s afraid of falling.”
The second time Sanji still did the same thing.
But it did improve a bit, jumping zero point eight meters this time.
As she passed Sang Yeon, she heard him seemingly clapping and very sweetly encouraging, “That’s a long jump, not nearly as long as the distance I’d walk in one step.”
“……”
Chen Ming Xu happened to come over to watch the competition. Seeing Sang-chi’s unmotivated look, he lectures her and demands that she must dance properly for the last time.
Even if you’re not good at long jumping, you still have to jump well.
Attitude determines everything.
Under the double stabbing|excitement of Chen Mingxu and Sang Yan.
Sang Chi pursed her lips, not knowing who she was fighting against, and decided that this time, she must jump a good score to impress them. She adjusted her breathing and ran forward slowly.
It starts to accelerate when you get to the midway point.
She jumped five centimeters from the starting line and landed on the sand pit. Then, just like the image she had made up in her head a thousand times, an unsteady standing, Sang Zhi’s ankle wrenched and her body leaned forward.
Sang Chi subconsciously reached out for support, and his hands rubbed against the sand, causing raw pain. And then, the whole person fell into the sand pit.
Immediately a volunteer came alongside and tried to help her up, “Is everything okay?”
Sang Chi’s tears fell uncontrollably from the pain, hissed but didn’t cry out, and reluctantly said, “No, it’s fine.”
The ankle was drilling pain, and Sang Chi couldn’t stand up after half a day’s effort.
This situation took everyone by surprise.
Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu rushed over, and even Chen Ming Xu, who was watching from a short distance away, ran over.
Duan Jia Xu’s distance was closer, he ran to the side of Sang Zhi first, half squatted down, grabbed her arm, but didn’t make any effort, “Can you stand up?”
Sanji was beginning to regret her more seriousness. More than the pain, it was the fact that she had fallen on her face in plain sight that made her feel so ashamed. She bowed her head and shook it.
Sang Yeon tugged on her other arm and frowned, “Why don’t you continue with the standing long jump?”
Only then did Sang Chi cry out, aggravated to death, “You’re not mocking me.”
The two men worked together to pull her up.
Sang Yeon squatted down, “Come up here and get some medicine applied.”
Chen Mingxu watched from the sidelines, somewhat guilty: “Sangzhi, are you okay? Teachers should not say that kind of words to you, if I had known that you just jump like that, enjoy participating in ……”
Sang Chi climbed onto Sang Yan’s back with tears still in his eyes, stifling his sobs and saying, “It’s okay ……”
This appearance of hers made Chen Ming Xu feel even more guilty. He turned his head, wanting to say something when he suddenly noticed Duan Jia Xu standing next to him, “Brother Sang Zhi? Why are you here?”
“Ah, I remember.” Chen Mingxu began to ramble, “I think you told me last time that you were studying at Nanwu University, right? I’m really sorry ah, I didn’t take care of your family’s children ……”
When he finished speaking, he noticed Sang Yan, who was carrying Sang Zhi, and froze, “And this is?”
Sanji’s scalp tightened.
Thoughts drifted instantly to the time she’d called her parents six months ago, and the pain all but paled into insignificance in the moment as a huge sense of emptiness and fear gripped her.
What’s the answer?
Saying that he’s the one who’s Sang Yeon, the one who’s her real brother, then all the lies will be recognized and she’s definitely doomed.
Or was he a friend of her brother’s?
Then why was he the one carrying her, so that would be weird.
Seeing Sang Zhi tense up like this, Duan Jia Xu also thought of something and just wanted to speak.
In the next moment, Sang Chi’s force on Sang Yan’s neck tightened, as if she wanted to strangle him to death, but also as if she wanted to block his next words. Her head was blank, the words she said were completely out of her head, and she spat out two words like a broken jar.
“Dad.”
Sang Yeon immediately looked sideways, “?”
The pain and tension catalyzed Sang Chi’s tears again, snapping down. She sniffled and spoke with a huff, “Teacher, this, this is my father ……”
“……”
Chapter 19
The….
Sang Yan was strangled by Sang Zhi a little breathless, his neck slightly red. Hearing this, the corners of his mouth twitched, like he was choking, coughing violently.
“Huh?” Chen Mingxu didn’t react, and then looked at Sang Yan’s face, his expression instantly became complicated, “Sang Zhi, you said this is your father?”
Sang Chi was scared to death, imagined a lot of images of being scolded by everyone after being exposed, for her it was like the end of the world. She did not have enough energy, she did not dare to say anything, just nodded her head.
Duan Jia Xu, who was staring at Sang Zhi’s expression, suddenly lowered his head and laughed out loud.
The little girl’s eyes were round and large, covered with a layer of wet tears, the circle around her eyes was red, and her cheeks had been rubbed with stains, which made her look wretched and pitiful.
This appearance of hers blocked all the words Chen Mingxu wanted to say at the end of his throat.
The man whom Sanji called “Dad” was standing with “Sanji’s brother”, obviously of the same age, and wearing uniform volunteer clothes.
But listening to Sanji, he and Sanji did still look a bit alike.
Chen Mingxu thought darkly.
Although he didn’t know what the reason for her lie was, Chen Mingxu couldn’t bear to continue asking, and raised his hand to touch his head, which had already begun to go bald, “Let’s go and treat the wound first.”
The school set up tents in the two corners of the playing field, under which volunteers from the Red Cross and the school doctor were seated in case any students were injured in an accident.
Sang Yeon barely calmed down and said expressionlessly, “Okay.”
Then he carried Sanji in the direction of the tent.
Chen Mingxu pulled Duan Jiaxu in the back to say a few words. He was also relieved because there were parents present, and then he went elsewhere to observe the other students.
The two siblings walked ahead in silence.
After a few dozen seconds, Duan Jiaxu followed suit.
Sang Zhi was lying on Sang Yan’s back, her heart kept lifting up and down. She couldn’t help but look in Duan Jia Xu’s direction with an expression that looked like she was asking for help.
In the next second, Sang Yeon opened his mouth coolly, “What did you just call me?”
Sang Chi immediately withdrew his eyes and didn’t dare to say anything.
“I’m your father?”
“……”
“Did you fall on your leg or your brain?”
Originally, because he had fallen and was in pain all over his body, Sang Chi didn’t want to say a word. Having just forced himself to speak out to deal with the teacher, his mood had only relaxed a little, and now he had to accept Sang Yan’s accusations.
Her throat tightened, and a flood of aggravation swept toward her.
“Why do you keep scolding me, you’ve been scolding me for a day.” In this instant, Sang Chi felt like she had become the most pitiful person in the whole world, she pursed her lips hard and tried to hold back her sobs, but she still couldn’t, “I want to talk to dad…you go away, I don’t want you to carry me ……”
“……” Sang Yeon shut up immediately.
After two seconds, he added, “How are you going to walk without me carrying you if I break my foot?”
“I can walk by myself.” San Zhi stomped on that uninjured leg and tried to get down, “I want to walk by myself, I don’t want you to carry …… me.”
Sang Yan turned back and said impatiently, “Will you listen.”
“I don’t want it!” Sanji’s tears were still falling as he stared at him, “Why should I obey, you keep scolding me, you’ve been scolding me all day ……”
Sang Yan’s anger subsided for the most part, “…… Brother this is not fooling around with you.”
That softening didn’t work half as well.
When Sang Chi’s emotions came up, words came out of his head, “You dislike me so much, why didn’t you tell mom to abort me when she hadn’t given birth to me yet.”
“……”
Sang Yeon frowned, “What are you talking about?”
His tail end rose and his volume rose slightly, as if he was extremely disapproving of her words.
The tone made Sang Chi pause for a few seconds, as if she couldn’t believe it. She stared blankly at Sang Yan for a few seconds before blinking her eyes and dropping another large string of bean-sized tears, “You scolded me again ……”
Sanjan: “……”
It’s a good distance from the tent.
It was like Sanji was going to shed all the tears in his life.
Duan Jia Xu listened to the conversation between the two, as well as Sang Chi’s never-before-heard cries. He scratched the skin under his eyes and couldn’t help but call out, “Hey, Sang Yeon.”
Sanjayan: “What for.”
He stepped forward and glanced at Sanji, “I’ll carry it.”
Hearing these words, Sang Chi’s crying abated a bit and looked up at Duan Jia Xu.
This reaction gave an extraordinarily obvious meaning. Sang Yeon sidled his head slightly and asked very respectfully, “You want him to carry it?”
Sang Chi completely stopped crying and stared fixedly at Duan Jia Xu.
“……”
She didn’t give an affirmative response, but it was a reaction like how unbearable it was to be on his back.
Sang Yeon exhaled and held back his humiliation and said, “Okay.”
When he finished, he put Sanji down without a word.
After Sang Chi stood firmly, Duan Jia Xu squatted down and carried her up.
Sang Chi was lying on Duan Jia Xu’s back and looked back at Sang Yan, wanting to say something, but then quickly retracted his eyes because he was still angry.
Duan Jiaxu adjusted his posture, stared ahead, and casually asked, “Where else does it hurt besides my feet?”
Sanji sniffled and whispered, “My hand hurts.”
“Any more?”
“Knees a bit too.”
“Well, don’t cry.” Duan Jia Xu said, “Brother will give you medicine later.”
Sanji nodded in silence.
At this angle, Kuwabara could only see the side of his face.
The hat that Duan Jia Xu had just put on her head was returned by her because of the competition. At this time it appeared on his head again. The distance between the two was close enough that she could still smell the faint tobacco odor emanating from his body.
The sun shines from the other direction.
Half of his face was exposed to the light, his hair tinted with a bit of light, his lips lightly pursed. The upper half of his face was in the shadows, his peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, his nose straight.
The features were sharply defined, and it was impossible to tell what the mood was.
Soon, as if noticing her line of sight, Duan Jia Xu suddenly called out to her, “Kid.”
Sanji immediately withdrew his eyes and pretended that he hadn’t done anything.
Without waiting for her to reply, Duan Jiaxu added, “Take off your brother’s hat.”
“……”
Sanji did as he was told, “And then what?”
Duan Jiaxu’s tone was diffident, “And then put it on your head.”
Sanji froze.
Seemingly noticing her stupefaction, Duan Jia Xu subconsciously turned back. He looked at her silly expression, raised his eyebrows, and laughed lightly, “Don’t feel sunburned?”
–
Get to the tent there.
Duanjia Xu put Sanjay on a chair.
There weren’t many injuries, mostly from heat stroke.
Sangayan called the school nurse over and asked her to help look at Sanjay’s injury.
The school nurse checked Sang Zhi’s ankle, brought an ice pack and medicine over, and said, “It’s nothing, not serious. Just ice it and spray some medicine on it. Don’t exercise again for the next few days.”
Duan Jiaxu looked away, “No need to go to the hospital?”
“It’s fine, just a minor sprain.” The school nurse said, “But just in case, it’s okay to go to the hospital to see if you’ve hurt any tendons.”
Sanjayan: “Better go check it out.”
Sanji looked down at his slightly swollen ankle and didn’t say anything.
Duan Jia Xu went to the side and took a bottle of saline and iodine vapors, squatting down in front of Sang Zhi, “First treat the other places, then go to the hospital.”
Sangyan walked over, “I’ll do it.”
Only then did Sanji open his mouth and said gamely, “No.”
“…… “Sang Yeon stared at her and held back, “Okay, I’ll go get you a glass of water.”
Seeing this, Duan Jia Xu looked at Sang Zhi and smiled with a raised eyebrow, “Trust me that much?”
Sangji’s eyes were still red, and he lowered his head again, spreading his palm flat in front of his face and stammered, “My brother is so impatient, he’ll make me hurt.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Little Sangchu is afraid of pain?”
Sang Chi nodded his head, and feeling a bit disgraced by this, he added, “What kind of person isn’t afraid of pain.”
“That’s right, but it might hurt a little.” Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and unscrewed the cap of the saline bottle, “Can you bear it?”
Immediately, Sang-Chi put her hand back and held it behind her back, “Can’t you be a little less forceful?”
“It hurts a little bit.” Looking at her wary and defensive look, Duan Jia Xu couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Not even a little?”
Sanji was extraordinarily determined, “No.”
“That’s fine.” Duan Jia Xu said, “Brother be less forceful.”
Sangchil looked at him suspiciously, torn for a while, before slowly putting his hand in front of his face and saying, “Brother, I hold grudges.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t you lie to me.”
“Is it that serious?” Duan Jia Xu’s movements lurched, lifting his eyelids to look at her, “Then is it okay if I have someone else come and apply it to you?”
“……”
“I don’t want little Sanji to hold a grudge against me.”
Sanji pursed his lips, “No.”
Duan Jia Xu’s tone took on a bit of playfulness as he slowly poured saline into the wound on her hand, “Nothing works, are you still being reasonable?”
“……”
The sting of the saline was not strong, and there was only a small discomfort at the wound, not too painful. Sang Chi stared at his movements and felt it was still bearable.
As if helping to distract her, Duan Jiaxu spoke carelessly, “Still don’t know how to reason after your second year?”
Sanji frowned, “I’m a very reasonable person overall even though I’ve told you before that I don’t know how to be reasonable.”
Duanjia Xu laughed again, “Really.”
After cleaning the wound on her hand, Duan Jia Xu smoothed up the pant leg of her right leg and treated the wound on her knee.
This tone of his voice upset Sanji, “It was meant to be.”
Duan Jia Xu’s expression was serious and focused as he stared at her wound, and in turn, his tone seemed distracted, “Well, Little Sangzhi is the most obedient.”
Sanji looked at him and silently shut his mouth.
“By the way, just now you told your teacher that your brother is your father.” Duan Jia Xu curved his lips and suddenly brought up this matter, “Do you think he’ll believe it?”
Sanji thought for a moment, “My teacher never met my father.”
Duanjia Xu: “Huh?”
Sanji: “Then there’s nothing to be suspicious about.”
“……” Duan Jia Xu screwed the cap back on the bottle and laughed, “Your brother is that old, huh? He still wears the same clothes as me.”
It was only then that Sang Chi noticed this point, and his expression instantly froze before he said after a long while, “Then why didn’t you remind me just now.”
Duanjia Xu began to apply iodophor to her without speaking.
Sanji hesitantly asked, “Then if the teacher asks, can I say that you two are wearing parent-child outfits.”
“…… “Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes, stared at her for a long time, and said meaningfully, “Child, do you have a conscience?”
“Huh?”
Duan Jiaxu said faintly, “My brother treats you so well, and you still help your brother bully me?”
Sanji paused, not understanding, “Where did I bully you.”
Duanjia Xu pretended not to hear.
Sang Chi blinks her eyes, a little at a loss for words, explaining to herself, “Brother, I think I …… I’m still …… kinda good to you, right?”
This time Duanjash made a move to put the hat on her head back on his own.
Sanji: “……”
She couldn’t help but say, “You’re kinda childish.”
Duan Jiaxu said faintly, “Well, and cursing.”
“…… “Sang Zhi Zhi stared wide-eyed, wrongly accused, “Where did I curse. And you’re such a big person, how can I bully you. You don’t accuse me wrongly.”
Duanjash: “Give me your hand.”
Sanji paused and dutifully reached out.
He took hold of her wrist and immobilized it before lowering his eyes and slowly and methodically applying iodine to the wound on her palm. But completely ignored her words, as if he was truly angry.
Sang Chi mumbled, “Brother, why are you ignoring me.”
“……”
After pasting half a day’s hot face to no avail, Sang Chi was also a little unconvinced, “You’re still quite calculating-“
Seeing that he instantly looked over, Sang Chi immediately changed his words, “No, it’s holding a grudge – no, it’s just, so what, your memory is quite good.”
“Remembering quite well?” The corners of Duan Jia Xu’s eyes rose slightly as he finally began to give her a response, “Isn’t it still scolding your brother for holding a grudge?”
“If you want to interpret it that way it’s not not-” Sanji paused, taking the words back quite spinelessly, “It’s certainly not that.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means complimenting you.”
Duan Jia Xu stood up, took a packet of wet tissues from the side and tore it open, “But brother doesn’t like to hear this.”
Sanji: “……”
Really hard to deal with.
Afterward, Duan Jia Xu bent down slightly and came closer to Sang Zhi, trying to wipe the stains off her face, “Say something else to hear?”
Because of this sudden distance, Sanji subconsciously shrunk back.
Thinking that she didn’t like others touching her face, Duan Jiaxu’s movements stopped and he didn’t care too much, handing her the tissue, “Got something dirty on your face, wipe it off yourself?”
Sanji was silent for a moment, not taking it, leaning forward again.
The implication is clear.
Sanji said, quite rightfully, “I can’t see.”
“Why are you still so twisted.” Duan Jia Xu laughed lowly and slowly wiped her face. When it was wiped clean, he didn’t immediately stand up straight, and instead spoke, “Kid, do you think-“
Sanji was inexplicably a little nervous, “What.”
Duan Jiaxu cocked his head and trailed off, “Why am I acting like I’m serving an ancestor.”
Chapter 20
….
The ankle was iced for a while, and the wounds on the hand and knee were also treated, relieving the pain a lot. Sangji’s mood was also not so bad.
She’d been taken care of like this since she was a child, so she didn’t feel anything wrong at the moment, except for the fact that she felt a little close to him.
Sanji gave him a look and muttered, “I didn’t ask you to do anything, did I.”
It’s just a medicine, a face wipe.
It’s not like he’s being asked to do anything much tougher.
How come it’s serving the ancestors.
Then this ancestor of his is too good to serve, isn’t he.
“You got a sister out of nowhere, and your own brother ran away.” Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids lifted and he stood up straight, “Kid, do the math yourself, how many favors has my brother done for you?”
Sang Chi paused, and couldn’t help but say, “Then I can also help if you have something to do.”
As if he found it interesting, Duan Jia Xu sat next to her with interest and smiled over his head, “Huh? What do you want to help me with?”
“Just ……” only emerged a word, Sang Chi stopped, completely unable to think of what can help him. She scratched her head, defeated, can only stupidly pull away from the topic, “my brother ran where ……”
Duan Jiaxu lazily said, “Don’t you want it.”
Sanji grunted, “I still dislike him.”
After saying that, she remembered what just happened, and began to worry, “Will my brother be surprised that I called him dad in front of the teacher, and that he heard the teacher call you brother Sanji.”
“Uh-huh.” Duanjash said, “Probably guessed that I posed as him to meet your teacher.”
“……”
Sanji’s scalp tingled, “What then?”
“What can we do?” Duan Jiaxu sighed, “We’re both screwed.”
“……” by him so say, Sang Chi also a little bit worried about the fear, nerd said, “also won’t it, I will talk to him later, he won’t talk to my parents… …”
Duanjia Xu: “Didn’t you ignore him?”
“It’s not like I don’t want to care about him, it’s him who always talks about me.” Speaking of this, Sang Chi’s mood began to drop, “Usually it’s even if I fall, he’s still mean to me.”
“You don’t think he cares about you?”
Sang Chi pursed her lips, not nodding or shaking her head.
“Wasn’t what you just said in front of the teacher quite interesting?” Duan Jia Xu said, “When your brother heard it, he had to ask more questions, isn’t this also concern?”
Sang Chi sullenly said, “Then can’t he ask gently?”
Duan Jia Xu found it funny, “Making your brother gentle? Aren’t you being forceful?”
“……”
Seems to make some sense.
Not knowing what to say, Sanji looked at him again and quickly lowered his head.
In this quiet atmosphere, Sang Yan, who said he would go and pour her a glass of water and then disappeared for half a day, finally came back. He was holding two bottles of water in his hand, handing a bottle of room temperature to Sang Zhi: “Drink up and go to the hospital.”
Sanji didn’t move.
Sang Yan simply squatted in front of her and raised his hand toward her again, “Drink?”
It was only then that Sanji wheedled and took it.
And then, Sang Yan twisted his head to look at Duan Jia Xu and asked, “Is the wound taken care of?”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Sang Yeon tossed him the rest of the bottle of water, “Thanks bro.”
Duan Jia Xu leaned back in his chair and smiled indifferently. After a few seconds, Sang Yan turned his back in front of Sang Zhi and said, “Come up.”
Sanji felt like he was still chilling out with him and pretended not to hear.
Sang Yan turned back to her and stared at her for a while before saying, “Your ‘real brother’ has classes in the afternoon and doesn’t have the time to send you to the hospital, so he can only let your ‘real father’ send you.”
“……”
“Hurry up.”
Hearing this, Sang Chi subconsciously twisted his head to look at Duan Jia Xu.
Duan Jiaxu also stood up, flipped out his pocket phone to check the time, and casually said, “Don’t you have classes too?”
That was a statement that really didn’t intend to go.
“You’re remembering it wrong.” Without lifting his eyes, Sang Yan said to Sang Zhi again, “Come up quickly.”
There was always a hint of impatience in his tone.
Without Duan Jia Xu as her thigh, Sang Zhi didn’t dare to get emotional for too long, fearing that Sang Yan really didn’t care about her anymore, and could only lie down on his back in a very spineless manner.
Duanjia Xu put the hat on her head again.
“Listen well to your brother.”
Sanjayan carried Sanjay towards the exit of the playground.
Both were quiet.
After walking a dozen meters or so, Sanji suddenly turned back and looked in the direction of the tent.
Not far from the tent, a little boy fell while running. Sang Zhi saw Duan Jia Xu quickly walk over and help him up.
It wasn’t too close, and the sun was still beating down.
She couldn’t read the expression on his face.
He could only be seen bending down and patting the ash on the boy’s pants for him, his temperament warm and clear, as if he was smiling. It looked like a person who was able to transmit gentleness from his bones.
Sanji’s mood was suddenly a bit stuffy.
There was something else I wanted to say to him.
Wanted to ask him if he could stop calling her “kid”. At least she didn’t feel like a kid anymore.
But it seems like it’s unnecessary.
Because there aren’t that many times you have to meet.
And it seemed like he wasn’t just being nice to her.
He’s like that with everyone, it seems.
Gentle, yet distant.
–
Sang Yeon carried Sang Chi out of the playground and walked in silence in the direction of the school entrance.
Because of the argument just now, Sang Chi’s mood was a little complicated. There was a little bit of small regret, and not quite willing to pull down his face and make up with him.
At this point, Sang Yan didn’t say anything, and she didn’t take the initiative to speak.
Sang Chi hooked one hand around his neck and held the water bottle in the other, unconsciously lost in thought. Thinking back to when she was a child, he often carried her home like this.
Seems like a long time ago.
Kuwabara remembered again the words she had just said to him as soon as the fire came up.
Sang Yan suddenly spoke out at this moment, interrupting her thoughts, “I won’t talk to mom and dad first, they’re at work right now, and it’s quite troublesome to make a trip back.”
Sanji: “Oh.”
Sang Yan faintly said, “I’ll have mom make a call later to ask your teacher for a leave of absence.”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds, then oh-so-quiet again.
After leaving the school gate, Sang Yan stopped a cab and helped Sang Zhi into the car. He said to the driver, “Go to the nearby hospital,” and then turned to Sang Zhi and said, “Put your seatbelt on.”
Glancing at Sanji’s hand, he came over to tie it himself.
Sanji couldn’t help but say, “Why don’t you tie it.”
Sang Yeon tugged at the corner of his lips, “I’m too strung out.”
Sanji: “Then I’m too strung out too.”
Sang Yeon had sat back down, not caring too much, and said, “Then you’re panicking.”
“……”
The car fell silent again.
After a while, Sang Yeon suddenly threw a strip of fudge over, “Eat the candy.”
It landed squarely on Sanji’s thigh.
Sang Chi subconsciously lowered her eyes and looked at the fudge in silence and picked it up. Her tastes were a bit similar to Sang Yan’s, both liked this brand of fudge.
There are nine inside.
It was always her who took five and Sanjan took four.
Sanji looked at Sanjayan again.
He didn’t look in her direction, his gaze fixed on the window, looking a little weary. The sudden sugar was like a concession and an apology.
Between family members, that unspoken apology.
In the middle of the day, Sang Chi suddenly asked, “Brother, did you just go to buy candy?”
“Thinking about what?” Sang Yeon’s eyelids drooped and he didn’t even look at her, “Took it in passing.”
Sang Chi didn’t say anything, and lowered her head to tear the wrapper open, pouring out all nine of the soft candies inside. She then picked up four of them and leaned over next to Sang Yan.
Put the candy in his hand.
Sang Yeon’s fingers moved. Again, as if they hadn’t noticed, they remained in their original motion.
After a few seconds, Sanji took two more from his own five and gave them to him.
Used the same way with him.
In using these two candies to convey his words.
One is saying thank you;
The other one is saying, “I’m sorry.
–
Arguments between siblings come and go quickly.
As soon as Sang Chi’s temperament passed, he no longer kept silent, and the words he had held back for half a day were all said at this moment, “Originally you were in the wrong, as soon as I went there you said that I was short, made fun of the clothes I wore, and said that I was not a good jumper in the long jump.”
Sang Yan sneered, “I’ve been told by you every day that I’m ugly what did I say?”
“That’s different.”
“Where it’s different.”
“It’s not like what I said was a lie.”
“……”
Sang Yeon didn’t bother with her anymore.
Kuwabara leaned on the window and looked out for a while, soon calling out with nothing to do, “Brother.”
Sanjan didn’t respond.
Sanji: “Why are you volunteering today?”
“……”
“Do you want to participate in more activities.” Sanji thought for a moment, “And then meeting a few more girls improves the chances of getting off.”
Sang Yeon’s forehead twitched.
“Then brother, I think you should stop wasting your time.”
“Shut up.”
“You should study hard and make more money.”
Seeing her endlessly, Sang Yan was annoyed to no end and frowned, “I’m just going to volunteer, where do you get off talking so much?”
Sanji scrunched his neck back and muttered, “I’m not just asking.”
“I don’t usually see you so concerned about me?”
“I don’t usually see you.” Sang-chi said rightfully, “Now that I see you, it’s rare to see you, so I’m just concerned about it.”
When this brat comes on strong, no amount of talking will help.
Sang Yan exhaled and said in a coping manner, “There’s a shortage of people. Chen Junwen is the head of the sports department, so he filled in the names of the other three people in our dormitory.”
Having gotten an answer, Sang Chi finally subsided a bit. Her lips moved, kind of wanting to ask about Duan Jia Xu, and after hesitating for a long time, she still didn’t ask a single word.
After a while.
Sang Yan suddenly voiced, “Daughter?”
Sanji: “?”
But he didn’t seem to be talking to her, his eyes half-closed, “Duan Jia Xu your brother?”
Sanji looked at him subtly, “What are you doing.”
Sang Yeon stroked his chin and continued to mumble to himself, “It’s also quite good.”
“……”
Sick.
–
After going to the hospital for a checkup, there was really nothing serious. After re-treating the wound, Sang Yan sent Sang Zhi home and waited until Li Ping came home and then went back to school.
Once the school sports day was over, it was time for the weekend.
Sang Zhi rested at home for two days, and he still couldn’t walk very well. But Sang Rong and Liping both had to work, so they thought of Sang Yan, who was in his third year of college and had to idle his ass off in every way.
It made Sanjayan do the same thing he did before Sanjay was in third grade.
Pick her up from school every day.
At first Sanji wasn’t too happy about it.
But then, when Sang-chi realized that Sang-yen seemed to be even less happy about it than she was, and that every time she came to pick her up she had a face that stank to high heaven, she became happy again.
Thursday after school day.
Since Sang Yan was free after five, Sang Zhi stayed in the classroom to do his homework as usual. There were still a small half of the students left around, cleaning up.
It wasn’t long before someone suddenly called out to her, “Sang-chi, someone is looking for you.”
Sang Chi immediately looked up from her pile of homework and was surprised to see Yin Zhenru, who she hadn’t seen in a while, standing in the doorway. She blinked, got up and walked over, “What brings you here?”
Only then did Yin Zhenru notice her feet, “What’s wrong with your feet?”
“Twisted.”
“Why don’t you pay attention too.” Yin Zhenru frowned, “Does it hurt?”
Sanji shook his head, “It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”
The two hadn’t spoken in quite some time, and were still a bit of strangers at the moment.
Yin Zhenru scratched her head and was quiet for a moment before she hesitantly said, “Sangji, can you accompany me somewhere?”
Sanji froze, “Huh?”
“That is, I have something …… to do,” Yin Zhen Ru shook her arm as before and pampered her, “You just accompany me, I am not good to go alone.”
“Where to?” Sanji said, “I’m still waiting for my brother.”
“What’s your brother doing here?”
“To pick me up.” Sanji said honestly, “Because I hurt my foot.”
Yin Zhenru: “I see you’re walking quite well here, too.”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
“Come on.” Yin Zhenru shook her hand again, “It’s not like I’m going to take you anywhere, I’m just bored. Let’s go eat something nearby.”
Sanji stared at her for a while before nodding slowly.
“I’ll talk to my brother first.”
Sang Chi returned to her seat and fished out her cell phone from her book bag, and was about to give Sang Yan a call when the other end just happened to call. She picked up the phone, “Brother.”
Sanjayan: “Are you out yet?”
“Not yet.”
“You’ll come out later.” Sang Yan said, “I’m a bit busy today. I’ve asked Duan Jiaxu to pick you up, and he doesn’t get out of class until five-thirty, so you’ll have to wait a little longer.”
Chapter 21
。。。。。
That came as a surprise.
Sang-Chi’s words were withdrawn from her lips. She raised her eyes to look at the clock hanging on the wall, it was just after 4:30 pm. It was just after 4:30pm. There was still one hour left before 5:30pm.
There was an uncontrollable little anticipation fermenting in her heart, mixed with a few hints of inexplicable nervousness. But soon, thinking about what she had just promised Yin Zhenru, her heart felt like it was missing an opening, and all her emotions leaked out one by one.
Sang Zhi was a bit speechless, but also felt that it was not good to go back on his words, and looked in Yin Zhenru’s direction, looking extremely hesitant.
Delayed in waiting for her response, Sang Yeon opened his mouth again and asked, “Do you hear me?”
Sanji slowly ah’d, as if he hadn’t heard.
Sang Yan reluctantly repeated with patience, “I said, Duan Jia Xu will pick you up later, around five thirty. He should call you then, so you can do your homework in class first.”
Sanjay: “Five-thirty?”
Sang Yeon: “Uh-huh. Also, be honest with me today and don’t get anyone in trouble.”
“……” Sanjay was about to retort.
Sang Yeon said, “Okay, I’m busy,” and hung up the phone without a second thought.
Listening to the mechanical beeping sound coming from the receiver, Sang Chi put the cell phone down and looked at the screen speechlessly. She put the cell phone down, and withheld her breath as she began to pack her school bag, and after putting it on her back, she limped to the door.
Yin Zhenru came over and took her arm.
Walked a bit.
Thinking of what happened before, Sang Chi asked suspiciously, “You won’t be taking me to Fu Zhengchu again.”
“Huh?” Yin Zhenru froze and quickly waved her hand, “No, I haven’t played with him for a long time either. He’s been like a new person lately, studying all day long.”
“Not on the line.” Yin Zhenru hadn’t lied to her, and Sang Zhi didn’t doubt it, only adding, “Then I’ll accompany you to eat something. But at five-thirty, I have to come back for my brother.”
The neighborhood Yin Zhenru was talking about was in the back street of the school, in an alleyway where Nanwu University walked out. There were quite a few small stalls and stores in there, and the two of them had been there a few times before.
That’s about an hour of back and forth.
Yin Zhenru was silent for a few seconds and nodded, “Good.”
The two went downstairs.
Because of her legs and feet, Sang Zhi walked a bit slowly, one foot stepping on the step, the other stepping on it again before continuing to the next step. She didn’t let Yin Zhenru help her, and moved slowly with her own handrail.
Yin Zhenru, who used to talk a lot, for some reason, spoke extraordinarily little today.
Sang Chi took the initiative to bring up the topic, “Why did you suddenly come to see me today?”
“Hmm?” Yin Zhenru seemed to be thinking about something and her reaction was a bit slow, “I haven’t looked for you for a long time? Eh, because the classes were divided, then I met a few new friends, so I didn’t have much time to look for you. I’ll introduce you guys some other time.”
She’s always been well liked, Sang Chi didn’t care too much, “It’s fine, I’m just asking.”
Yin Zhenru: “I just kind of missed you, so I came to play with you.”
Kuwabara nodded her head, the corners of her lips curving up, a pear swirl sinking in around her lips. Although she couldn’t say anything meaty, she was quite happy to hear her friend say that.
Exit to the outside of the school and the two of you turn left and go straight, then turn left again.
Along the way, they chatted one by one, talking mostly about the recent events in the class. Seeing that Yin Zhenru was always absent-minded, Sang Zhi also felt a little meaningless talking and couldn’t help but ask, “I think you seem a little strange today.”
Yin Zhenru immediately raised her head, “What’s wrong?”
Sanji: “Are you unhappy?”
Yin Zhenru: “No, no.”
“Then I feel like you talk so little.”
“Yes?” Yin Zhenru rubbed her nose, “Maybe a little sleepy.”
“You stayed up late yesterday?”
“…… hmmm.”
The two of them walked to the back street, Sang Chi looked at the nearby stores and casually asked, “What do you want to eat? Let’s go order a wonton?”
Yin Zhenru didn’t respond and asked instead, “Sang Zhi, did you bring any money with you today?”
Hearing these words, Sangchih bowed his head numbly and fished out a bill from his pocket, “I brought twenty, that’s enough.”
Yin Zhenru suddenly lowered her head, her tone seeming to carry a bit of shame and guilt, and pointed toward another alley, “I don’t want to eat wonton, let’s go over there.”
Sanji looked along. The alley was a bit dark, and there was little foot traffic at that end, and there were a few teenagers standing at the mouth of the alley smoking cigarettes. Seeing this, her footsteps stopped and she wondered, “What’s the point of going over there? I’ve never been over there, and it doesn’t look like there’s food over there.”
“It’s just that-” Yin Zhenru’s expression became a bit anxious, “I don’t want to eat, I want to go to the internet cafe.”
Sanji was confused, obviously not expecting to hear those two words, “Internet cafe?”
Yin Zhenru responded with some embarrassment, “Right.”
Sang Chi reminded her, “Yin Zhenru, you can’t get into an internet cafe without being an adult, you need an ID.”
Yin Zhenru: “That one can get in.”
“Isn’t that a dark Internet cafe?”
“…… right.”
“No way.” Kuwabara frowned, rejecting what she said, “What are you doing in an internet café?”
“I want to play the game ……,” Yin Zhenru said with a bitter face, “My grades have gotten worse recently, and my parents won’t let me touch the computer.”
“That’s no way to go to a dark Internet cafe.”
Yin Zhenru tugged on her hand, “Just accompany me, I don’t dare to go in alone.”
“No, my parents won’t let me go to those places.” Although Sang Chi was a bit capricious, she would still listen to what she should hear and didn’t back down half the time, “You can go to my house to play if you want to.”
Yin Zhenru shook her head, “That game takes forever to download.”
Sang Chi: “Then I’ll go back and download it for you today, and tomorrow you’ll come to my house to play. Then after you study hard and improve your grades, your parents will let you play.”
“It’s all here anyway.” Yin Zhenru’s eyes fluttered, “You can accompany me once today. I’m only going this once, and I won’t go anymore, okay?”
Sanji stared at her, not saying anything.
The two men were at a standstill for a long time.
Saying half a day she didn’t agree, Yin Zhenru got angry and walked in the direction of the alley by herself, raising her volume and saying, “Forget it then, I’ll go by myself. You go home.”
The teenagers standing at the entrance to the alley just swept her off her feet and didn’t do anything else.
Sang Chi was a bit uneasy, but afraid that something might happen to her, she pinched the strap of her school bag and followed up with a stiff upper lip: “Yin Zhenru, can you not go?”
The alley is dimly lit, there are no lights, the road is slightly narrow, there is trash piled on one side, and it looks dirty and messy.
Sang Zhi didn’t walk as fast as Yin Zhenru and shouted several times before Yin Zhenru stopped and looked back at her. She looked around, not wanting to continue staying here at all, “You stop, let’s go back.”
Without waiting for Yin Zhenru to speak, Sang Zhi saw a few people coming out of a nearby house.
It was three girls, wearing the uniform of a vocational high school.
The girl in the lead stared at a head of burgundy hair, her face smeared with heavy makeup, unable to see her original appearance. Her school uniform was also covered in all sorts of weird patterns, and she held a cigarette in her hand, spitting out smoke rings and saying to Yin Zhenru, “Why are you so late? Been waiting for you for half a day, little sister.”
Yin Zhenru slowly turned her head and timidly said, “Old, teacher stayed in class today ……”
Redheaded girl: “So, I thought you ran away, and was planning on going to your school tomorrow to hang out with you.”
“……”
“Did you ask your parents for money?”
“Sister, I really don’t have any money, my parents won’t give it to me …… but, but, my friend brought money …… ” Saying this, Yin Zhenru looked back to Sang Zhi, pleading, saying. “Sang Chi, didn’t you bring money?”
Sang Zhi instantly realized something and looked at Yin Zhenru, his eyes dark and unable to see his emotions.
Yin Zhenru didn’t dare to meet her eyes and immediately looked away.
Only after hearing Yin Zhenru’s words did the red-haired girl notice Sang Zhi standing behind Yin Zhenru, and walked over to her in a flowing manner, “How much money did you bring.”
San Zhi pursed his lips and took the twenty out of his pocket.
The redheaded girl took it, “Is that all?”
Sanji nodded.
The red-haired girl tsked twice, “Little sister, are you ever that poor?”
The two girls standing behind her laughed violently, “Looks like a cripple after all.”
“Little cripple.” She instantly changed her tone, patted her hand holding the cigarette towards Sang Chi’s face, and laughed, “You don’t have any money, but your parents should have some, right? Lend some to your sister to spend?”
Afraid of being burned by the cigarette, San Zhi didn’t dare to move and slowly hmmmed.
Only then did the red-haired girl withdraw her hand and said softly, “Then come over here and find me tomorrow after school. By the way, if you dare to tell your teacher’s parents, my sister will go to your school every day to look for you to play oh.”
Sanji paused for two seconds, then hmmmed again.
Only then was the red-haired girl satisfied and walked back, and when she passed Yin Zhenru, she pulled her hair hard and sneered, “You’ll bring me money tomorrow as well, so don’t deal with me with words that your parents won’t give you, and you’ll have to steal it even if you have to steal it for me.”
Yin Zhenru’s body leaned back along with her force, shivering, her words carrying a sobbing tone, “Sister, don’t hit me …… I’ll definitely give it to you tomorrow ……”
After the intimidation, the three girls talked and laughed in their faces for a long time before exiting the alley.
Leaving Yin Zhenru and Sang Zhi standing where they were.
Sang Zhi looked at Yin Zhenru and said expressionlessly, “You know them?”
“I went to the Internet cafe yesterday and met it.” Yin Zhenru began to shed tears, “Sangzhi I’m sorry, I’m really too scared …… I’m all out of pocket money and my parents don’t give me much, I don’t know what to do ……”
She didn’t respond, turning her head in the direction of the alley.
Yin Zhenru was anxious and hurriedly followed up, “Don’t be angry with me, just give them money anyway, they shouldn’t be able to hurt anyone …… waiting for vacation, it’ll be fine after vacation ……”
“……”
“Sanji ……”
Sang-chi suddenly turned her head and asked, “Are you being blackmailed by them?”
Yin Zhenru nodded pitifully.
“Then why did you call me over?” Sanji was visibly angry, his voice vaguely flaming, “You should have told your parents, or told your teacher, why did you call me over?”
“Didn’t you just hear what they said ……” Yin Zhenru was ferocious by her and whimpered, “If I tell my parents, they’ll have to come looking for me every day, I don’t dare… …”
“……”
“And, and ……” Yin Zhenru’s voice became slurred, “Isn’t your family quite rich?”
An extreme sense of betrayal surfaced.
Sanji stared at her, unable to say a word for a moment. Without another word, she walked out of the alley in silence.
Yin Zhenru wiped her tears and followed her fearfully.
After a long time, Sang Chi came out, “Don’t you ever come looking for me again.”
Yin Zhenru began to cry again, “Sanji ……”
“You don’t have to listen to them scare you.” Sang Chi said calmly, “Tell your parents when you get home, they can’t possibly leave you alone, and those guys don’t look much older than us. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“……”
Yin Zhenru lowered her head, not knowing whether she had heard her words or not.
After saying that, Sanji was also silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll be going then, bye.”
Yin Zhenru didn’t follow up again either.
Sang Chi didn’t dare to continue to stay in that area and walked a little faster until she came to a stop near the usually familiar beef and pork store. She froze for a while, a little confused, and suddenly remembered Duan Jia Xu.
Kuwabara’s spirits tightened and she violently fished her cell phone out of her book bag.
Just realized it’s after six.
Duanjia Xu called her a dozen times.
After keeping him waiting for quite some time, San Zhi began to be wary of being scolded and of his anger. He was about to call back when another call just happened to come from the other end.
She picked it up in a hurry.
As if she hadn’t expected her to pick up this time, there was a noticeable pause on the other side of the phone for a few seconds before she voiced out, “Sanji?”
Sanji hmmm’d good-naturedly.
Duan Jiaxu sighed in relief, “Where have you been? Your brother didn’t ask you to wait for me at school?”
Sanji: “Next to the Chan Kee Wonton, my brother said.”
Quiet for a few seconds.
Duan Jiaxu: “Wait for me over there.”
–
A few minutes later, Duan Jia Xu appeared at the entrance of the Wonton Noodle House. He seemed to have run over, with a fine sweat on his forehead and a few shades of red on his face. His expression was rarely half-smiling.
Seeing that Sang Wiz was half-assed, a slight relief wrinkled his brow again.
Sanji took the initiative to call out, “Brother.”
Duan Jia Xu’s tone was light: “Where did you just run off to?”
Sanji hesitated and honestly pointed to the alleyway he had just been in.
“Over there?” Duan Jiaxu looked over, and his line of sight stopped for a moment. He looked at her again, as if he found it unbelievable, and laughed in anger: “Internet cafe?”
“……”
“Who told you to go?”
Sanji looked at him, not daring to say anything.
Duan Jiaxu’s chest rose and fell slightly, as if he was pressing his temper, “Not answering the phone either?”
“……”
“If you’re not happy to let me pick you up, you tell your brother.” Duan Jia Xu paused, staring straight at her, his peach blossom eyes suddenly converging, the corners of his lips curving up. His voice line lowered, his tone changed back to his usual hangdog self, but inexplicably it seemed like he was carrying a sharp thorn, “You know that brother is poor and doesn’t have that much time.”
It was then that Sanjay opened his mouth, “I didn’t ……”
She grabbed the strap of her book bag uneasily, hesitating how she was going to tell him what had just happened. Didn’t really want to bother him, and was afraid he’d think she was stupid for being tricked into going over there so easily.
Seeing that Sang Zhi looked as if he was ashamed. Duan Jia Xu’s fire only slightly dispersed, but still put away his smile and said expressionlessly, “Do you know what’s wrong?”
“……”
“Hmm?”
“……”
His tone was deliberately bit heavy, “Speak.”
Sang Chi had never seen Duan Jia Xu’s angry appearance. At this moment, he inexplicably associated it with the tone of voice that used to teach Sang Yan a lesson before he got into trouble and Sang Rong was ready to beat him up.
It seemed to be exactly the same tone as Duan Jiaxu’s now.
Another phrase instantly popped into her head.
— “Kids don’t listen, just give them a beating.”
Sanji jerked his hands behind his back and took a timid step backward.
Her movements were large and came suddenly, looking somewhat inexplicable and strange. Duan Jia Xu froze for a moment, not reacting to what she meant by this, and his taut expression cracked.
In the next second, Sang Chi swallowed and said carefully, “Brother, I’m sorry.”
The little girl’s tone was timid and nervous, seemingly genuinely frightened, and Duan Jia Xu’s fire subsided, and when he wanted to say something, he heard her utter a shocking outburst, “–You don’t hit me.”
“……”
“Let’s…let’s just be reasonable.” Sang Chi took a few more steps back, not daring to come too close to him, “I’ll listen this time, I know how to reason ……”
“……”
Chapter 22
。。。。。
It’s getting dark.
The street light on the side is not yet lit up, showing Duan Jiaxu’s eyes more deep color. He looked at Sang Zhi, lips slightly pursed straight, not too see how the mood, and no other behavior.
Such quiet, like the calm before the storm.
Nervously and worriedly, Sanji added, “Neither of my parents ever hit me.”
Duan Jiaxu said plausibly, “I beat you?”
Kuwabara gave him a look of immovable relief, “Isn’t it?”
Duan Jia Xu laughed, “Did I say otherwise?”
“……”
His eyelids twitched, and he suddenly noticed a particularly conspicuous mark on Sanji’s clean school uniform. The location was next to the collar, obviously burned by soot.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze lurched, thinking he was mistaken, and slowly moved closer.
Sang Zhi thought that he was really going to teach her a lesson, pursed her lips tightly, looked scornful, resigned herself to putting her hands hidden behind her back flat, and timidly put them in front of him.
The knot in Duanjia Xu’s throat rolled and he pointed at her collar, “How did you get it?”
Sangji was stunned, and looked in the direction he was pointing. Only then did she realize that there was a mark on her clothes. She subconsciously rubbed it with her fingers, but it didn’t rub off.
“Kid.” Duan Jiaxu asked in a low voice, “Did someone bully you?”
Sanji nodded hesitantly.
Duan Jia Xu’s face instantly turned not so good, subconsciously checking if there were any wounds on her body, frowning and saying, “Why didn’t you tell your brother?”
“I don’t want to bother you. My brother also told me to be honest, not to cause trouble for you.” Sang Chi said meekly, “I don’t intend to hide it, I’ll tell my mom and dad when I get back.”
Duan Jiaxu patiently asked, “Did it hit you?”
Sang-chi thought about it and shook her head, “Just patted my face, took me twenty dollars, and then told me to take the money to them tomorrow.”
“Why are you running over there?”
“My friend asked me to go.” Thinking of Yin Zhenru, Sang Zhi’s mood deteriorated again, and her volume lowered with it, “She felt scared, so she asked me to go along.”
Duan Jia Xu’s words carried a few hints of absurdity, “Why didn’t she tell her parents?”
“Because those people said that if they tell their parents, they will come to our school every day to find us.” What he asked, Sanji answered, “So she’s afraid to tell her parents.”
At those words, Duan Jiaxu half squatted down and leveled with her.
And then out of nowhere, “Give me your hand.”
It was obvious that he wasn’t looking like he was going to give her anything. Kuwabara looked at him suspiciously and didn’t move, only to extend her hand after a long time.
Duanjia Xu raised his hand and hit her palm unawares.
The force was gentle, rather like a high five to her.
Sanji immediately retracted his hand, “What are you doing.”
Duan Jia Xu lazily said, “Beat you.”
“……”
“Kid, listen up. In the future, if anyone tricks you into going to an unsafe place, even if it’s a good friend, you can’t go.” Duan Jia Xu stood up straight and rubbed the top of her hair, “Do you hear me?”
Sanji held his tongue, “Then you can’t hit people either.”
“Hmm? How come you can’t hit people?” Duan Jia Xu laughed lowly, “If you don’t listen–“
Sanji’s expression was wary.
He trailed off with a long drawn out tone, his tone taking on a bit of playfulness, “Once my brother sees you, he beats you.”
“……”
–
Seeing that it was getting late, the two didn’t continue to stay where they were.
“You’re quite bold this time?” Duan Jia Xu held her arm and slowly walked out of this alley, “I didn’t cry even when I was bullied.”
Sanji didn’t care, “It didn’t hurt me anyway.”
“Where did your friend go?”
“I don’t know.”
Duan Jia Xu: “At your age, you probably understand some things? If this friend is not good to you and is a bad friend, you should not associate with her in the future.”
Sanji nodded silently.
“Go back and remember to tell your parents.” Duan Jia Xu said, “In the future, if you encounter anything else, don’t hide any of it either, they’ll all protect you.”
“Got it.”
Seeing that she seemed to have listened, Duan Jia Xu also stopped mentioning this and asked, “When your brother picked you up, how did you two get home?”
Before the word “fight” came out of his mouth, Sang Zhi abruptly remembered something and immediately swallowed the words back into his stomach, changing his words to, “Take the bus.”
“Taking public transportation?” Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “You’re not afraid of being accidentally stepped on with this foot?”
Sanji stammered, “No.”
The road out of the alley and towards the bus would pass by the entrance of Nanwu University. There was significantly more foot traffic, probably all college students going out for dinner.
Duan Jia Xu didn’t seem to listen to her and intended to stop a cab at the curb.
Soon, a boy Duan Jiaxu knew pedaled by on his bicycle and playfully greeted him with a sound, “Hello senior.”
Duan Jia Xu suddenly called out to him, “Lin Hai.”
Boy brakes: “Huh?”
“Lend me the bike? I’ll give it back to you later.”
“OK.” Lin Hai got out of the car very quickly, glancing at Sang Zhi next to him, he curiously said, “Senior, this your sister?”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
“Hello little sister.” Lin Hai waved his hand at her as he ran in the direction of the school’s entrance, “I’ll leave first then, senior! My girlfriend is waiting for me!”
“Go on.” Duan Jia Xu absently patted the dust on the backseat and said to Sang Zhi with a sideways glance, “Kid, brother drive you home?”
Sanji didn’t hesitate and moved a step in his direction.
The corners of Duan Jiaxu’s lips curved slightly as he teased, “So happy?”
“……”
“And snickering.”
Sanji subconsciously touched the corner of his lips.
No upside at all.
When she wanted to retort something, Duan Jiaxu had already mounted the bicycle and urged her with a smile on his back, “Come up.”
“……”
Shame on you.
Feeling a little uncomfortable because of his words, Sanji shuffled into the seat, his hands grasping the sides of the back seat restlessly.
Wait for her to sit upright.
Duan Jia Xu’s two legs were still supported on the ground, and there was no extra movement.
Sanji reminded, “Brother, I’m sitting down.”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu turned back and stared at her, asking, “Kid, you lost your hand?”
What’s that supposed to mean?
Sanji brought his hand up in wonder, “Where is it missing.”
“Then you don’t know to hold up your brother?” Duan Jia Xu grabbed her wrist and placed it at his waistline, “Hide it for what.”
Sanji’s breath hitched. The force in his hand immediately loosened, grabbing his shirt instead.
Duane Cash stepped on the pedals.
The bike slowly moved forward, gradually picking up speed.
The night was considerably cooler than the day, and the wind was so loud that it blew into his ears, whistling and pouring into them and slapping against his eardrums.
The night was filled with the sweet scent of flowers, interspersed with the smell of the man’s body, almost like orange soda. Like a compulsion.
It was a bit confusing for Sanji to tell the difference.
That in the end is the wind in your ears;
Or, in fact, the sound of her heart beating.
–
There was silence for quite a while.
Sang Zhi gradually calmed the speed of her heartbeat. Feeling bored, she took the initiative to speak to Duan Jia Xu, “Brother, where did my brother go?”
Duan Jiaxu: “It seems like I’m accompanying someone to a job interview.”
“Huh?” Sanji thought for a moment, “Is that the job interview for the job search?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Isn’t my brother only a junior now? How come he’s looking for a job.”
“Internship.” Duanjia Xu said, “If it doesn’t interfere with the curriculum, you can intern whenever you want.”
Sang Chi gave an oh-so-sweet sound, staring at Duan Jia Xu’s black T-shirt that was bulging from the wind, and asked in a small voice, “So, brother, aren’t you going to the internship?”
“Well, I have classes this semester.”
“So when are you going to do your internship?”
“Next semester, or wait for senior year.”
“Just look around the school?”
“No.” Duanjia Xu turned a corner and casually said, “Look over there at home.”
“……”
The wind was penetrated by the cool air and slapped on her face. Sang Chi froze for a while, her heart a bit empty, mumbled a mumble, and asked again, “Brother, aren’t you going to stay on the Southern Waste side in the future?”
“Uh-huh.” Duan Jia Xu smiled faintly, “Brother has to go home.”
Sanji: “Oh.”
After a while.
Sang Chi asked again, “Brother, when are you going to go home?”
“Hmm? Where are you getting all your questions today?” But he didn’t seem impatient, and returned slowly, “Depends. Haven’t thought about it.”
Afraid of upsetting him, Sang-chi carefully asked one last question, “Back years ago?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Not back.”
“……”
Why don’t you go home for New Year’s Eve ……
Sanji was a bit puzzled, but she didn’t dare to ask again.
Unconsciously arrived at the downstairs of Sang Zhi’s house. Duan Jia Xu braked the car, skimmed his head to look at her, and asked, “Can you go up by yourself?”
Kuwabara nodded and said, “Thank you, brother,” and then limped off in the direction of the gate.
Without taking a few steps, Duan Jia Xu called out to her, “Wait a moment.”
Sanji stopped and turned back.
Just then, he saw Duanjia Xu walk up to her and bend down.
The streetlight next to her was mostly blocked out by the lush foliage, and her vision became a little darker. Sangji could feel that he seemed to have stuffed something into her pocket.
When she was about to flip it out and look at it, Duan Jia Xu raised his hand and pinched her face to divert her attention, while reminding her once more, “Remember to tell your parents when you get back.”
“…… Oh.”
–
When I arrived home, it was just about meal time.
Sanji mentioned this to his parents at the dinner table, startling both of them.
Li Ping immediately went to contact the teacher. Sang Rong, on the other hand, asked her for some details and gently calmed her down, telling her not to be afraid.
Sang Chi really wasn’t scared either and nodded frequently. After eating, she went back to her room and prepared to write her homework. Just as she turned her homework over, she suddenly remembered that she had just been downstairs and subconsciously touched her pocket.
Like a piece of paper?
Sanji took it out.
At first glance, it was a twenty dollar bill.
It looked a little old, creased at the corners, and obviously not hers. But with this extra money in her pocket, it was as if she hadn’t been blackmailed or robbed of her money today.
Like none of the bad things happened.
Like it was comforting her in that way, in a very pure way.
After staring for a while, Sang-chi jumped onto the bed and rolled herself under the covers, feeling the air being drawn out a little. It wasn’t until her face was suffocatingly red that she poked her head out.
Staring at the ceiling, inexplicably, he burst out laughing.
Afterward, Sang Chi climbed up, flattened out the twenty dollars, and pressed it into his drawing board. Then he took out his cell phone from his school bag and found out Duan Jia Xu’s number.
Notice that the location of his number is the city of Iho.
It seems to be from another province.
Sanji had heard of this place, but had never been there. She thought about it and googled the distance from Nanwu to this city. It would still take three hours to get there by airplane.
Seems a little far away.
Sang Chi hesitated and searched for universities in Yi He City again, rummaging around for a while before slumping onto the table in annoyance. Noticing the star paper next to her, she casually pulled one out and sat up straight, absentmindedly writing words into the white side.
— “I won’t play with Yin Zhenru anymore.2009.11.05”
She quickly folded it into a star and dropped it into that milk bottle. Then, pulling out another one, this time writing slower and falling extremely slowly.
After a long time.
The bottle that chronicled her life.
Packed in, again, one of the biggest secrets of her adolescence.
— “It’s hard to admit it, but I seem to really like someone. 2009.11.05”
Fell for her brother’s friend, a man seven years older than her.
At the age of her first love.
–
The next day after school.
Sang Chi did her homework in class as usual and waited for Sang Yan to come up to pick her up and take her home. This time, she didn’t have to wait until five o’clock like she usually did, and as soon as four-thirty rolled around, Sang-chi saw Sang-yen’s silhouette.
And brought two of his housemates with him.
One is Duan Jiaxu and the other is Chen Junwen.
Like coming to pick her up and rounding up a table to go play mahjong.
Sang Zhi quickly packed up his things and came over to Sang Yan’s side, sneaking a look at Duan Jia Xu with his afterglow, quickly retracting his sight and asking in a small voice, “Brother, why did you bring someone else along today?”
Sang Yan glanced at her, “Didn’t those people who blackmailed you yesterday tell you to go over there today?”
Sanji nodded, “What’s wrong?”
“Lead the way.”
“……”
Thinking of the three girls yesterday, and looking at the three tall men in front of him, Sang Chi was somewhat speechless, “Don’t go ……”
“Kid.” Sang Yeon yanked her face hard, “In my place, I’ve never tried being bullied and still tolerating it, understand?”
Chen Junwen chimed in next to him, “That’s it!”
Duanjia Xu just laughed.
“……” Sanji looked at the three of them, “Oh.”
Sanji silently led them to the door of that alley.
Sang Yeon: “Kid, what do those people look like? Don’t you go in there.”
Sanji: “Three girls.”
“……” Sangyan paused, “Female?”
“Uh-huh. That boss is half a head taller than me and has burgundy hair.” Sanji thought for a moment, “With a face that looks like a color palette.”
Chen Junwen’s anger subsided for the most part, “The female …… female is a little bit affecting my play.”
Sang Yan sneered, “Who cares if he’s male or female.”
Like it lost its challenge all of a sudden.
Chen Junwen felt that it was a bit humiliating for three big men to go in and find trouble with three girls. Sang Yan simply asked Chen Junwen to stay here and watch Sang Zhi, and then went into the alley with Duan Jia Xu.
The dirty alley smells like sewer.
In the center section hung a stained sign that read “Internet Cafe”. Perhaps they heard the commotion, and before long, three girls came out from inside.
Duan Jia Xu rummaged through his pockets for a pack of cigarettes, pulled one out, and lit it with a diffident look. He held the cigarette in his mouth, half squinted his eyes, and from the faintly lingering smoke, he saw the appearance of the girl standing at the very front.
Match the description from Sanji’s mouth.
Half a head taller than her, burgundy hair, toned palette face.
Perhaps seeing the person who came was different from what she had imagined, the girl waved her hand in disappointment, but she couldn’t help but look a few more times at the person who came because of his good looks, and then signaled the other two girls to go back to the inside with her.
Sang Yan played with the lighter in his hand and called out to them, his tone slightly cool, “Classmate.”
The redheaded girl stopped and turned around, wondering, “You called out to me?”
Didn’t wait for Sang Yeon to speak.
On the other side, Duan Jiaxu did take the initiative to speak out.
“I heard–“
His pair of peach blossom eyes curved up and he smiled gently and ambiguously, “You’re asking my kids to give you money to spend, huh?”
Chapter 23
。。。。。
It was five o’clock in the afternoon, and the sun, though not as fierce as at midday, was still blinding.
The smell outside the alley was not good, Chen Junwen did not let Sang Zhi stand here with him. He looked around and simply took her to a small stall nearby and bought two bunches of ice-sugar strawberries.
The two of them found a shady spot, and one of them took a bite from a skewer.
Afraid of Sang Chi feeling embarrassed, Chen Junwen took the initiative to chat with her, “This neighborhood is a bit messy, don’t come over here if you’re not doing anything.”
Sanji obediently said, “Got it.”
“Originally Qian Fei was going to come over too.” Chen Junwen said, “You remember, that fat brother. But he had something to do today, so he didn’t come over.”
Sang Chi didn’t like to eat the candy paper on it, tearing it off little by little: “I remember. During the summer vacation, my brother took me to have dinner with him.”
Chen Junwen: “Huh? Then maybe I had already gone home by that time, so I didn’t go.”
Kuwabara nodded, “Brother Kashi went too.”
“Huh? Lao Xu?” Chen Junwen suddenly remembered something, “Eh, right. He doesn’t come home on vacation.”
Sang Chi gave a start and said hesitantly, “Why?”
Chen Junwen is not quite sure, scratching his head: “Maybe he’s too lazy to go back, plus the elementary school term and so on, there’s not much time left in the vacation.”
“Oh.”
“But he still goes back occasionally.” Chen Junwen thought about it, “Basically, he goes back during small vacations. For example, last semester, he seemed to go back during the Qingming Festival? I haven’t seen him go home during the long vacation.”
Sanji whispered, “Not returning even in the New Year?”
“Yes.” Chen Junwen said, “But this thing is quite normal, our school is quite a lot of people don’t go home in the New Year, the school will also make New Year’s Eve dinner. Those who stay in school for New Year’s Eve also have red packets.”
Sang Zhi bit through the outer layer of icing sugar, not knowing what she was pondering. After a long time, she didn’t continue to ask and changed the topic, “Brother, what will my brother and the others do inside?”
“Huh?”
“Can you fight?”
“If it’s a guy it might be.” Chen Junwen stroked his chin, “But if you just said that those people are girls, umm …… then maybe just be reasonable?”
–
At this moment, inside the alley.
Because the road was narrow and upwards there were bay windows protruding from the floors, the sunlight was blocked out for the most part. The light was obviously much darker than outside, like entering another world.
Hearing Duan Jia Xu’s words, Sang Yan’s eyelids twitched as he looked over.
Immediately realizing that something was wrong, the red-haired girl took two wary steps back and began to play dumb, “What? I don’t know you guys.”
After saying that, she glared at the two girls next to her.
“It’s fine, I recognize you guys just fine.” Sang Yan lightly raised his eyebrows and kindly laughed, “You’re the one who took my sister’s twenty dollars yesterday, aren’t you, and burned her with a cigarette?”
“What burned her!” The redhead’s volume rose, “I just took twenty dollars from her, I didn’t do anything else, okay? Don’t accuse me! It’s just twenty dollars, I’ll just give it back to you if you want it.”
“Twenty dollars only?” Sang Yan’s face was devoid of any smile, “Classmate, not to mention twenty dollars, even if you only robbed my sister of two dollars, this is a debt I have to settle with you.”
The red-haired girl’s fire obviously came up, but she wasn’t stubborn, pursed her lips tightly and rummaged through her pockets for money, handing it to Sang Yan in silence.
Sang Yeon didn’t move.
Duan Jiaxu scanned the school emblem on their clothes: “Vocational high school? You’re underage, aren’t you?”
“What are you doing here at this age if you’re not studying hard in school?” Sang Yan faintly mocked, “Planning to do this for the rest of your life?”
“Take the money and get out.” The red-haired girl’s face changed, “It’s none of your business what happens to me.”
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and took another drag on his cigarette, slowly exhaling smoke from his mouth, not knowing what he was thinking. Soon, he lifted his foot and walked to the front of the girl, his long eyelashes lifting as he stared at her thoughtfully.
A silent gaze.
His eyes were shaped with an inner hook and outer curvature, naturally charged with love, and when he stared at people, it was as if he was discharging electricity. At the moment without any temperature, it inexplicably seemed creepy.
The red-haired girl’s heart lifted in fear to the point where she finally started a fire, “What’s going on! Are you guys bothering me! I said I’d give it back to you!”
A girl next to her pulled her back, “Let’s get out of here ……”
In the next moment, Duan Jia Xu suddenly raised his hand that was holding the cigarette.
Thinking of Sanji’s “patted my face”, he raised his eyebrows slightly, his long fingers slowly coming closer to the redhead’s face, murmuring a guess, “Yesterday?”
“……”
An overwhelming sense of oppression came toward her.
Staring at the cigarette in his hand, which was still tinged with red light, the red-haired girl clenched her fists and didn’t dare to move, her eyes gradually reddening.
In her opinion, this extremely good-looking man in front of her was essentially a demon. Obviously smiling, he looked even more terrifying than the man next to him whose mouth was poisonous with hostility.
The cigarette stopped two centimeters from her.
Duan Jia Xu’s hand didn’t touch her face, his fingertips clicked twice, and there was soot that fell onto her clothes, burning a shallow mark. He straightened up slowly and methodically, his tone was gentle and mild: “Scared you?”
“……”
The red-haired girl immediately took a step back, tears instantly falling from her eyes.
“Not to mention,” Duanjia Xu laughed, “it seems to be quite scary?”
–
Way out of the alley.
With his hands in his pockets, Sang Yan followed behind Duan Jia Xu and idly said, “Brother, you’re really good at scaring people lately, I’m scared just looking at you.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “Really.”
“Ever heard of that idiom?” Sang Yeon said, “Hiding a watermelon knife in a smile.”
“……”
“And,” Sang Yeon remembered something and snorted, “how does my sister become your child? According to your math, wouldn’t you be my fucking father?”
Duan Jiaxu said carelessly, “OK.”
“……”
“I don’t mind.”
“Roll.”
The two of them walked out of the alley and saw Chen Junwen and Sang Zhi by a small stall not far away. A large and small group of two people stood side by side, holding a bunch of red-colored ice-sugar strawberries.
Sang Chi’s eyes glanced in the direction of the alleyway entrance every now and then, and soon spotted the two of them. She had just swallowed a large strawberry into her mouth, and at that moment her cheeks were bulging, wanting to speak but unable to do so.
Instead, it was Chen Junwen who opened his mouth first: “Have you seen anyone?”
Sangyan hmmm’d.
Chen Junwen’s voice was like a machine gun: ”Then what did you do? Intimidating? How did you intimidate? Tell me about it! I’m curious!”
“I said I would only kill ten people a month.” Sang Yan lazily said, “This month’s quota has been used up, I’ll come back next month to kill you.”
“…… “Chen Junwen was speechless, “Who are you fooling.”
“You.”
Chen Junwen was exasperated by Sang Yan. He rolled his eyes and looked sideways at Duan Jia Xu, trying to get an answer from his side: “Old Xu, can’t you satisfy my curiosity?”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu breathed a long, heated laugh, “Why should I satisfy you?”
“……” Chen Junwen almost choked, pointing at him with the string of ice candy gourds in his hand, “The little friend is still there, what kind of yellow accent are you opening! You still want to be shameless!”
Listening to their words, Sangji didn’t say anything, silently thinking about what it meant to “open a yellow mouth”.
Pornographic words?
So where was the pornography in that comment just now.
Isn’t this a normal conversation?
However, she did agree with Chen Junwen’s phrase “shameless”.
Kuwabara was inexplicably a little sad.
How does he talk to anyone like this, without listening to the content, just listening to the tone of voice is shameless. Talking to men is like talking to a lover.
Only when he heard the words “little friend” did Duan Jia Xu look down at Sang Zhi, the corners of his lips curved up in a shallow arc, and he said in a droll manner, “Little friend, how do you eat?”
Sanji: “?”
He laughed, “Like a blowfish.”
Immediately swallowing what was in his mouth, Sang-chi licked the sugar stains on the corners of his lips and whispered, “You’re the one who looks like a puffer fish.”
“Like this?” Duan Jia Xu pointed to the iced strawberry in her hand and half-joked, “Then you give brother a bite? Brother will perform a handsome blowfish for you.”
“……”
“You eat mine.” Chen Junwen couldn’t look at it anymore, “Can you stop cheating children, I feel uneasy with my conscience. You’re cheating to eat and drink.”
Sang Yeon glanced away, “Don’t bother, she won’t give you any.”
As if he hadn’t heard, Duan Jia Xu didn’t respond to either of them.
In the next moment, Sang Chi really shook his head, “No.”
With that, she hung her head, fished five dollars out of her pocket, and slipped it into his hand quite readily, “Go buy yourself a bunch.”
“……”
Duanjia Xu froze.
This matter was clearly not within Sang Yan’s range of acceptance. He put the phone back in his pocket, stared at Sang Chi for several seconds, and said coolly, “Why don’t you buy me a string?”
Sang-chi looked at him, felt his pockets again, and said innocently, “But I only have five dollars left.”
It means, I don’t have any money for you.
Sang Yan was silent for two seconds and laughed in exasperation, “Okay, good job.”
Duan Jia Xu looked at the money in his hand, laughed lowly, and quickly gave it back to her, “Brother is messing with you. Brother doesn’t like to eat this, take it and buy it for your brother.”
Sang Chil ohs and passes the money to Sang Yeon again.
Since Duan Jia Xu didn’t like it, Sang Chi backed out and gave him the money. The situation seemed to Sang Yeon that he was a trash can receiving Duan Jia Xu’s garbage.
Sang Yeon took a deep breath, took the money and put it in his pocket, “Go home.”
Sanji blinked, “Why don’t you buy it.”
“Don’t want to eat.”
“Then you give me my money back.”
“No return.”
Sang Chi was not happy, “Aren’t you cheating me out of my money?”
“Cheat?” Sang Yeon pulled out the five dollars from his pocket again, as well as the twenty dollars he had just taken back from that red-haired girl, “Don’t say this five dollars, I even took twenty dollars from you.”
“Huh.” Sanji stopped moving, “Got it back, huh?”
“Crap.”
“Then you give it to me.”
Sang Yan pulled the corner of his lips, did not make trouble with her again, returned the money to her: “Talent how big is so realistic, encountered the money with me so much, in the future also got ……”
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the “very realistic” Sang Chi in his mouth, after receiving the money, turn his hand to Duan Jia Xu in a flash, with a good and pleasing remark.
“Brother, here.”
“……”
Sanjayan: ????
Chapter 24
。。。。。
Duanjia Xu bent down, leveled with her, “For me?”
Hearing him say this, Sang Chi suddenly felt that the word “give” seemed inappropriate. She thought for a moment and immediately changed her words, her voice softly: “Give it back to you.”
When Duan Jia Xu wanted to say something, he raised his eyes and suddenly noticed Sang Yan’s expression. His eyebrows raised slightly, instantly changing his attention, and he smiled lightly, “Okay.”
Afterward, Duan Jiaxu took the money and said leisurely, “Thank you sister for giving my brother money to spend.”
Aside.
“Eh, Sang Yeon, how do I feel this is more like Lao Xu’s sister ……” did not wait for Chen Junwen to finish his words, he suddenly noticed Sang Yeon’s emotions, immediately retracted the words in his mouth, and went over to pat him on the shoulder, “Forget it! .”
“……”
–
Walking back to the entrance of Nanwu University, the four separated two by two.
As Sang Chi bites down on the last strawberry, her eyes always subconsciously look towards Duan Jia Xu’s back. It wasn’t long before her eyes rolled and suddenly met with Sang Yan’s not-so-friendly gaze.
She inexplicably felt weak, and immediately pretended that she was looking at the scenery, “…… What for.”
Sang Yeon ignored her and expressionlessly stopped a cab at the curb.
Sangji was afraid that he would find something wrong, her heart beating like a drum. She pretended to be calm, simply also straighten the corners of the lips, show a look of emotions do not show, pull open the car door and sit up first.
The two siblings sat left and right.
Silence without words.
The driver, a middle-aged uncle, saw the two men’s appearance in the rearview mirror and cheerfully said, “Brother and sister quarreled ah?”
Sanji froze, “Nope.”
She took a look at Sang Yeon’s face, her eyes blinked, and she couldn’t help but say, “Again, it seems like it.”
“……”
“Uncle, just now it was–” muttered Sang-chi, “my brother asked me to treat him to a bunch of iced strawberries, so I gave him the money and told him to buy them himself. But when he didn’t buy them, I made him give me back the money, and then he got mad.”
The driver heard this and didn’t quite agree, “Huh? Young man, that’s where you’re wrong.”
Sang Yeon pretended he didn’t hear and took the headphones out of his pocket and put them on.
“……”
Watching him move, Sanji was a bit puzzled.
It’s only five dollars. Is he going to be like this?
Haven’t Mom and Dad given him any money lately?
After hesitation, Sang Chi did not really want to fight with him, then she would be bored to death this way. She took out the five dollars and reluctantly put it into his hand: “I’ll give it to you then.”
Sang Yeon took off his headphones and tsked, “Do I care about these few dollars of yours?”
“Oh.” Sanji stared at him for a couple seconds, then silently put it back in his pocket.
“Kid, think for yourself.” Sang Yeon pulled the corners of his mouth in a leathery smile, deciding to let her take this elbow back so she wouldn’t break a bone, “Have you ever given your brother, your own brother, money to spend.”
Sanji shook his head and said seriously, “But didn’t you take them all yourself?”
Sanjan: “……”
“That gamepad you bought last winter vacation.” Sang-chi’s speech was slow, “It wasn’t two hundred dollars short and then it was stolen from my red envelope.”
“That red envelope of yours is thick like that.” Sang Yeon didn’t feel guilty, “How else would you know I took it?”
“I know all about the dollar you took from me.”
“……”
“I’m just not with you.”
“……” asked San Yan, “What did you just give Duan Jia Xu twenty dollars for.”
“That’s what Brother Kash gave me yesterday. He saw that I was robbed of twenty, so he secretly gave me twenty dollars.” Sang Chi said calmly, “It’s not like you’re like that, you’ll only take money from me secretly.”
Sangyan: “……”
–
The matter of Sang Zhi being blackmailed by the students of the third grade next door, Li Ping specially communicated with Chen Mingxu. Plus Yin Zhenru’s parents from the third class also contacted the school on the same day about the same situation.
The school then took the matter seriously.
Various homeroom teachers asked about this in their classes, only to find out that there were not a few students in such a situation. However, most of them went to a dark Internet cafe next to the school after school, and because they were intimidated, they did not dare to confess to their parents.
Black Internet cafes were reported and quickly shut down.
How exactly things were resolved, Sanji was not well informed and did not pay much attention to it.
Some time later, Yin Zhenru came to Sangzhi several times to apologize to her. But it didn’t take long before she was also driven back by her indifference. As Sangzhi’s foot injury gradually recovered, Sang Yan still came to pick her up every afternoon as usual.
When he’s unavailable, the people who come in become other people.
Occasionally it’s Qian Fei, occasionally it’s Chen Junwen, but more often-
It’s a paragraph of kudos.
It was the chance to meet without even having to fight for it herself.
Sang Zhi perceived that Duan Jia Xu’s attitude towards her was a bit like Sang Yan’s. He liked to tease her, but was a bit more gentle, taking care of her emotions in many ways.
He doesn’t think much of it when he notices her acting in some unusual way, he just finds it amusing.
The attitude was the same as always, but it seemed, too, that it was beginning to become a little more familiar with her.
Before that.
Sang Chi had always felt that she had suffered from the disadvantages of her age. All those things she didn’t dare to do, all because she was too young to take that step.
But as time went on, Sanji inexplicably began to change his mind again.
She seems to, in fact, take advantage of her age.
Things adults think she wouldn’t understand at her age.
In fact, she was starting to get it.
And yet, you can, too, pretend you don’t know anything about it.
–
Sang Chi didn’t do too well on his final exams and fell straight out of the top ten in his grade.
A small part of the reason was that there was an additional physics subject in the second year; and a large part of the reason was that she was completely disinterested in physics and basically never listened in class.
Grades are in the toilet.
After Li Ping and Sang Rong discussed the matter and sought Sang Zhi’s opinion, they finally decided to let Sang Yan tutor her. After all, if she didn’t understand the content at the beginning, then the rest of the lessons were probably going to be hard enough.
But the tutoring lasted less than half an hour before it was over.
There are problems on both sides.
Sang Zhi unilaterally felt that what Sang Yan said was wrong, he said one sentence she topped one sentence; and Sang Yan patience is not good, feel that this content is very pediatrics, said once she could not understand, do not want to say it again.
Liping had no choice but to simply decide to hire a tutor.
But the time of the winter vacation is not long, plus there is still the New Year’s visit to relatives, Sang Zhi does not want to study at all. But her grades did drop, and she didn’t have the face to refuse.
Kuwabara wrestled with this for half a day and finally spent the rest of the evening working out what it would take to scare this tutor away.
Sanjay couldn’t think of anything.
Had to come up with an evasion tactic.
She was going to run out and play all day the next day, before the tutor came. That way, the tutor would probably get the message, and would be able to do what she needed to do to know what to do and disappear from her world forever.
Li Ping had told her in advance that the tutor would be here at nine o’clock today. As a result, Sang Zhi made a plan, but because of the things she was trying to figure out, she slept too late and didn’t get up until ten o’clock the next morning.
When he saw the time, Sanji felt like he couldn’t breathe.
At this time of the day, both Li Ping and Sang Rong had gone to work, leaving Sang Yan and her alone in the house.
Resigned to her fate, Sanji stepped out of her room and glanced into the living room, surprised to see no one there. She blinked and glanced again at the door to Sang Yeon’s room, it was still closed, it looked like he was still awake.
Looks like the tutor didn’t show up at all?
Sang Zhi’s tense emotions completely relaxed, before she went into the toilet to wash up. Halfway through toothbrushing, she heard the sound of Sang Yan’s room door opening, and subconsciously shouted, “Brother, why don’t you cook me some instant noodles, with a ham.”
Her voice slurred a bit as she spoke because of the foam in her mouth.
Sanji then turned on the faucet and cupped the water to rinse the foam out of his mouth.
I didn’t hear whether Sang Yeon answered or not.
Sanji washed his face and quickly exited the restroom.
She climbed into the dining room chair and sat down, hearing a rustling movement from the kitchen, and casually asked, “Do you know why the tutor didn’t come, brother?”
“……”
Sanji paused when he heard the sound of tearing packaging, and it soon sounded again.
Sang-chi didn’t pay much attention, “Is mom not going to look for it? Or did that tutor sleep late and still not come. Brother, then in that case, the person’s professionalism is not good enough to be late on the first day of work.”
There came the sound of water boiling.
Sangji picked up the candy next to him, tore it open and threw it into his mouth, “Or else just change it. But I think it’s almost New Year’s Eve, so I guess it’s not easy to find one, so it’s best just to stop looking.”
“……”
“Brother, if you speak up for me.” Sang Chi thought for a moment, “I’ll split a hundred dollars of my New Year’s red packet with you.”
“……”
“Why don’t you say something?”
“……”
“The two hundred?”
All of this and still not waiting for a response from him, like he was extremely disdainful of her small amount of money.
Sang Chi gritted his teeth and doubled the price, “Five hundred! Five hundred will always do!”
The next second, the door to Sang Yan’s room stirred again, accompanied by Sang Yan’s slightly impatient tone, “Early in the morning, what are you yelling about?”
Sanji gave a start and turned his head.
Just saw Sangyan yawning as he sat down next to her.
The sounds in the kitchen continued unabated.
Sanji realized something was wrong and lowered his volume, “Who’s in the kitchen, brother?”
“Huh?” Sang Yan lazily said, “Duan Jia Xu, didn’t mom tell you? He’s coming to be your tutor.”
“……”
Kuwabara’s expression petrified, “Ah, ah?”
“Ah what ah. Have the nerve to get up so late, others have been waiting for you for half a day.” Hearing the movement in the kitchen, Sang Yan asked, “Hey, Duan Jia Xu, are you cooking noodles?”
It wasn’t long before Duan Jia Xu’s careless voice came from the kitchen, “Uh-huh.”
Sanji: “……”
Soon, Duan Jia Xu came out of the kitchen with a noodle pot. His appearance was handsome and carried a bit of nobility. Wearing a white sweater, his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, yet he still didn’t have a hint of smoke and fire.
Sang Chi’s heart was weak as hell and immediately lowered his head, pretending that he hadn’t said anything just now.
Sangyan glanced toward the pot and got up to go to the kitchen to get a bowl.
Duan Jia Xu sat down across from Sang Zhi and said leisurely, “Good morning?”
“…… Good morning.”
“Look at you sleeping quite well.” Duan Jia Xu leaned on the back of the chair, the corners of his lips curved up in an ungentlemanly manner, “Your brother knocked on the door a few times to call out to you and didn’t wake up, so he didn’t knock anymore.”
Kuwabara said stiffly, “I slept a little late yesterday.”
“Yeah.” His eyelids twitched thoughtfully, “Not pretending not to hear?”
Sanji immediately retorted, “I really didn’t hear it.”
Sang Yeon brought out three sets of dishes and glanced at them, “Didn’t hear anything.”
Sanji whispered, “Didn’t hear you knock.”
“Didn’t hear it?” Hearing her mention it, Sang Yan remembered this, he filled a bowl of noodles and put it in front of Sang Zhi, sneering, “I’ll set off firecrackers next time to see if you can hear it.”
“……”
–
It was a fidgety breakfast for Sanjay.
It always felt like Duan Jia Xu’s line of sight was always glancing towards her if anything, and seemed to be extremely vindictive. After taking the last bite of noodles into her stomach, she used the excuse of packing her things to quickly run back to her room.
Sanji flipped through the book as he thought about what he had just said.
It’s actually okay.
None of the words were really directed at him.
There should …… be no need to get upset, right?
Kuwabara exhaled, wary, and clutched the study materials she was going to use out of the room.
The table in her room was small, more than enough for one person, but it was cramped for two. Li Ping had told her in advance that it was time for tutoring, so that she and her teacher could study in Sang Yan’s room.
As he was about to walk into Sang Yeon’s room, Sang Chee sneaked a glance in the direction of the dining room.
And no one was to be seen.
She put her things away and walked suspiciously to the living room again to find two men sitting on the couch playing a game at that moment, using the same pair of joysticks that Sang Yeon had stolen two hundred dollars from Sang Chi to buy.
Sanji was a bit speechless, “Isn’t it studying?”
Sang Yan sight didn’t move a bit, “Just finished eating to learn what to study, you first go look at the book by yourself.”
“…… “Sang Chi felt that Duan Jia Xu, the tutor, must have been introduced to him by Sang Yan, in which case, in addition to teaching her how to study, she could also play games with him, “Brother, are you finding me a tutor, or are you finding you a playmate? “
Duan Jiaxu’s laughter took on a few breaths as he whispered, “Kid, wait a while? Brother will play a game and go teach you.”
Sanji gave him a look and held his tongue as he walked over to the edge and sat down.
He sat in a lazy position, always leaning back in his chair with a weary look. Next to him was the bay window, and a few rays of sunlight fell to the tips of his hair, making it appear lighter in color.
Sang Chi had never seen him play a game before and couldn’t help but look at him a few more times at this point.
Duan Jiaxu’s hands are also good-looking, with long, strong fingers and distinct palm bones, and you can clearly see the light greenish colored blood. Compared to the usual dangling look, his appearance looked a little more focused, warm and scholarly.
The face is still long and colorful like a demon, extraordinarily dazzling and eye-catching.
Sang Zhi pursed her lips and suddenly felt for her cell phone in her pocket. Her gaze paused and she glanced in Duan Jia Xu’s direction again. He seemed completely oblivious to her observation, his gaze still on the TV.
A thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.
An extremely strong thought.
Sang Chi rubbed the sweat of his palms on his pants, opened the camera on his phone, and carefully raised it up, stealthily covering the rest of the phone with a hugging pillow as the lens was aimed at Duan Jia Xu.
She held her breath and pressed the photo button.
The game was just about over and the living room was quiet.
Afterwards, Sang-Chi’s cell phone rang with an exceptionally loud “click”.
In the silence, it seemed unusually clear.
Perhaps it was Sanji’s psychology that made her feel that the sound was almost deafening in its effect.
Duan Jia Xu and Sang Yan were attracted by the voice and looked at her at the same time.
“……”
Sanji’s head instantly filled with blood.
It’s over.
It’s over. It’s over.
It’s over.
She is! Finished! Over!
Her! No! Off! Sound! Sound! Ah!!!
Chapter 25
。。。。。
The sofa in the living room was in the shape of an “L”, with a transparent coffee table in front of it. Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan sat side by side, separated by two people.
One end is left empty.
Sang Chi just subconsciously sat there, right next to Duan Jia Xu.
Because of this sudden situation, Sang Chi’s head was blank. She even forgot to put her cell phone away, and the direction was still facing Duan Jiaxu, her expression was uneasy and nervous.
Glancing at her appearance, Sang Yeon threw the gamepad aside and asked with a frown, “Kid, what are you filming.”
Kuwabara didn’t know how to explain and looked up numbly.
Noticing the direction that the cell phone was pointed at, Duan Jia Xu’s eyebrows raised, and the corners of his mouth curved up. Afterwards, he leaned forward slightly, moved closer to Sang Zhi’s direction, and said with interest, “Huh? Shoot me?”
Sang Chi flinched back, immediately snapping the cell phone screen onto the pillow to block it, “No, no.”
“No?”
“……”
“Why did you shoot your brother?” Duan Jiaxu dragged his accent and brought a few laughs into his words, “Is brother so good looking?”
Hearing this, Sang Yan immediately snorted, “Can you have some face.”
He seemed to have thought of something and looked sideways at Sang Chi, “You don’t want to take pictures and sue-“
Without waiting for him to speak, Sang Chi stood up fiercely, not looking at the two of them, and spoke extremely fast, “I told my classmates that I have a handsome brother.”
Sang Yeon’s voice stopped.
Her cheeks were a little red, and she moved in the direction of the bedroom as she spoke. It seems that she really can’t think of any other reason, and after holding her tongue, she held back a sentence, “- but I’m too embarrassed to show them your picture.”
Sanjan: “……”
After saying that, Sang Chi immediately ran back to the room, leaving a silence behind.
The living room was instantly quiet, so quiet that it inexplicably seemed awkward. The two men were sitting at one end of the room each, with wildly different expressions on their faces and a very stark contrast in their emotions.
After a long time, Sang Yan turned his head to look at Duan Jia Xu, his lip line straightened, his face gradually lost its expression, and a ball of depressed gas surged up at his heart, “I thought she was going to take pictures to tell my parents.”
Duan Jia Xu tightened the curves of his lips and gave a fake calm hmmm.
As if recalling Sang Zhi’s words again, Sang Yan slowly exhaled, trying to hold down his temper, but the fire still flared up at the slightest point: “It’s fucking worse than suing.”
“……”
A few more seconds of silence.
“Fuck.” Sang Yan couldn’t bear it anymore and suddenly stood up, “You wait here first.”
In the next second, Duan Jia Xu followed him and stood up as well, acting with the intention of stopping him. His chin slightly converged, and he laughed lowly, “Brothers, let’s not bother with children about this, right?”
Sangyan: “?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Kids don’t know any better, there’s no need.”
Sang Yeon looked at him expressionlessly.
“Children at this age,” Duan Jia Xu patted his shoulder, his voice paused for a few seconds, as if he was holding back a laugh, “do tend to be a bit facetious, do you understand her as well?”
To, Noodle, and Son.
Rationalize, Explain, I, Under.
“……”
Sangyan’s brow jumped, “I understand your mom.”
–
Sang Zhi stayed in her room for a few minutes, crouching by the door to listen to the movement outside. She could vaguely hear Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu saying something, but she couldn’t hear much because they weren’t close.
She pondered the excuse she had just made.
It still seems very reasonable.
Waited a little longer.
Kuwabara was bored as he rummaged through the “trophies” he had just received.
The pixels were not clear. From the angle that Sang Zhi took the picture, he could only see the side of Duan Jia Xu’s face, which was three-dimensional and distinct, yet appeared soft. The corners of his lips were slightly curved, and he looked in a good mood.
Sang Chi instantly felt that everything that had just happened was worth it.
She couldn’t help but smile, her fingertips touching the screen and darting back.
Sang Chi looked at it several more times before suddenly pressing the screen out and stomping her feet, clutching her phone. Barely able to calm herself, she pretended not to care at all and climbed up to look in the mirror.
Feeling unscathed, Sanji coughed lightly twice and hid her cell phone under her pillow. She quietly pulled open the door and swept a glance outside. And then quickly ran to Sang Yan’s room and went to the desk to sit down.
Sanji flipped through his physics exercise book and very deliberately began to find things for himself to do.
Instead, all the attention was on the living room side.
It didn’t take long for a man to walk in.
Sang Chi didn’t look up, but she could guess that it was Duan Jia Xu. She scratched her head and pretended to be working on a question.
Duan Jia Xu sat down next to her, one hand supporting the side of his face, and glanced at the exercise book she was working on, “Kid, show me your final exam papers.”
Kuwabara oh-so-quietly flipped the test paper out of her physics book and put it in front of him. She looked back to the original question, her pencil quickly stopping. She hesitated and asked very quietly, “Brother, can you stop calling me that.”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes, seemingly not understanding her words, “Huh?”
Sanji looked at him and didn’t say anything.
Duanjia Xu reacted, “Kids?”
Sanji withdrew his eyes and nodded silently.
Duan Jia Xu: “Don’t like your brother shouting like that?”
“Not really.” Sanji cooed, “That’s just it, I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Not a kid anymore?” Duan Jiaxu found it funny, “So you think you’re a big kid?”
“……”
Sang Chi pursed her lips and ignored him.
Duan Jia Xu didn’t think it was a big deal and didn’t care too much, “Brother this isn’t called habit.”
Sanji’s stance was firm, “Then you’ll have to change that habit.”
“Okay, so what’s the shout?” The end of his hit a twang, “Little Sanji?”
Sanji moved his lips, a little disgruntled.
Can’t we just get rid of the word “small”?
How to emphasize that she’s small.
Forget it.
Sanji decided to endure.
At least it’s better than the original anyway.
She didn’t bother with him, nodding grudgingly.
Hearing her mention it, Duan Jia Xu recalled how she looked when he first saw her and reached out to rub her head, “It seems like she’s grown a bit taller.”
Sanji said in all seriousness, “It will still grow.”
“Uh-huh.” Duan Jia Xu’s tone was dangling and didn’t sound too serious, “When the time comes, I’ll grow taller than my brother and come to protect him.”
“……” muttered Sanji as he visualized that image, “That doesn’t have to be that high.”
Duan Jia Xu just laughed and continued to look at her test paper, “Kid, you haven’t been listening in class here, have you?”
I just said yes, and now I’m calling it that.
Sanji pretended not to hear.
Duan Jia Xu lazily said, “Did you hear what brother said?”
Sang Chi felt stifled, but still did not dare to pretend that he did not hear anymore, and came over to defend himself, “I’ve heard it, I just don’t understand it.”
“How is this question on change of state of matter still a wrong choice?”
“Oh.” Sanji pointed out, “I wrote it too fast, I was going to pick A.”
Duan Jiaxu said with a wry smile, “Choose B for this question.”
“……”
The two men’s eyes collided.
Sang Zhi felt a little bit of loss of face, but also felt that he could not lose his momentum, simply straightened up and said, “Anyway, I just don’t understand. I listened to the lesson, I’m just too stupid to understand it.”
“Before, my brother told you to listen well.” Duan Jia Xu said, “Forgot?”
“How long ago was that ……”
“So you still need your brother to remind you once a day?”
Sanji hesitated for two seconds and said warmly, “That’s fine.”
“……” Duan Jia Xu was angry and amused, “Bring the textbook here.”
The tutoring was set for two hours a day, three times a week.
Originally it was agreed that it would start at nine o’clock sharp and end at eleven o’clock sharp. As a result, Sang Zhi Zhi slept until ten o’clock, plus the time she took to wash up and eat breakfast, the two of them didn’t officially start tutoring until eleven o’clock.
Another hour break for lunch at the halfway point.
Duan Jiaxu doesn’t seem to be busy, and when the time comes, he is still watching her do the questions. When she finished, he took one by one to check, while absently mentioning this morning’s matter, “You don’t want to find a tutor?”
Sanji said ambiguously, “Don’t want to study.”
“At your age,” Duan Jiaxu laughed softly, “what else do you want to do besides study?”
Sanji choked and puffed out his cheeks, “You don’t understand.”
Duan Jia Xu pointed to the wrong questions and asked her to look at them a few more times before saying, “Okay, brother doesn’t understand. You can do whatever you want to do, but you have to take time out of class, at least don’t delay your studies.”
Sanji: “I know.”
“Go back and digest it again yourself.” Duan Jiaxu closed his textbook, “That’s all for today.”
Sanji nodded.
As soon as the lesson ended, Duan Jiaxu leaned back in his chair again. Soon, his eyelids moved as if he suddenly remembered something, and he trailed off with a long drawn out voice, “Kids-“
“……”
How used is he to shouting like that?
Can’t you change it?
Sanji was about to accuse.
Again, I heard him say, “I heard that you think your brother is handsome, huh?”
“……”
She instantly held back the words that came out of her mouth.
Duan Jiaxu slowly came closer to her and let out a laugh with a long breath, “What kind of shot did you just take, show it to your brother.”
Sang Chi didn’t want to show him, and at this point was extremely glad she hadn’t brought her cell phone with her. She pretended to feel her pockets and calmly said, “The phone is in the room.”
Results.
Duan Jiaxu said naturally, “Go get it.”
“……” said Sanjay stiffly, “I don’t want it.”
“Not taking more pictures?” Duan Jia Xu supported the side of his face, his voice carried a few points of flirtation, “Little Sangzhi wants to take as many pictures as she wants, brother will cooperate with you. Then pick the best looking one to show your little friends, and give our little Sangzhi a face to compete with.”
Sang-chi said uncomfortably, “…… No need.”
“So-” he seemed to still feel some regret, “that’s a shame.”
“……”
“Don’t think about it anymore?” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “Kid, don’t you think it’s a waste?”
A little annoyed by his teasing, Sang-chi didn’t respond, jumped off the chair and silently picked up her things and went back to her room. She packed up her things and stared in the direction of her pillow, silent and speechless.
Maybe it’s brainwashed.
In this moment, with Sang Chi irritated, she actually really felt very sorry for her.
There was even the urge to backtrack.
–
After that, San Zhi didn’t hear the movement of Duan Jia Xu leaving.
Listening to the voices outside, Duan Jia Xu and Sang Yan seemed to be playing the game again, only to move the battlefield to Sang Yan’s room. Sang Zhi was a little depressed, but in fact, even if Sang Yan wasn’t there, she couldn’t pull the face to bring up this matter again.
Sanji flipped through the picture on his cell phone, thinking that only this one seemed to be enough.
She was no longer greedy.
Kuwabara kind of wanted to go over there, but felt she had no reason to go over there and bother them.
Suddenly remembered that usually when a guest came, Li Ping would cut some fruit to greet them. Sang Zhi didn’t think of counting on Sang Yan, and felt that she couldn’t treat Duan Jia Xu poorly, she hesitantly walked out of the room, went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and carried a watermelon out.
Putting the watermelon on the runner, Sang Chi picked up the fruit knife and was a bit clueless. She scratched her head and simply took a tray and put both the watermelon and the fruit knife on it.
Then with great effort, he carried it up and walked into Sangyan’s room.
Noticing the movement, Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu’s eyes subconsciously moved over.
Duanjash: “……”
Sanjan: “……”
Sangji put the watermelon next to the two of them and said, thinking he was being considerate, “I’ll bring you fruit to eat.”
“…… “Sang Yeon’s forehead corner jumped, “You want to eat directly shout, I will go out and cut it for you, don’t need to be so laborious.”
Duan Jia Xu sat on the sofa and couldn’t help but laugh at Sang Zhi’s behavior.
Being misrepresented in his purpose, Sang Chi was upset, “I didn’t want to eat it, I just gave it to you guys.”
Sang Yeon: “Just carry a whole watermelon in?”
“……” Sanji lost his breath, “Then I won’t cut it.”
Sang Yan stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly climbed up, lifted the tray again and headed in the direction of the kitchen, “Served, how long have I been playing this game? Have to serve you again.”
“……”
Being scolded, Sang Chi also felt unpleasant, but did not dare to talk back.
The next moment, Duan Jia Xu waved at her, pointing at that gamepad of Sang Yan’s and said, “Come play games with brother.”
Sanjay wheedled his way over and took Sanjayan’s seat.
They were playing King of Fighters, which Sang Chi didn’t really like to play, but she used to play it with Sang Yeon, and she was pretty good at it. She was a bit unable to concentrate, pressing the buttons on the joystick, and didn’t play seriously.
Within moments, her in-game character had lost most of her blood.
Duan Jiaxu stopped moving and asked, “Can you play?”
Sanji nodded, “Will do.”
“So it’s not like playing this?”
“Uh-huh.”
Duan Jiaxu let go of the handle, pointed to the game cassette in front of him, and said diffidently, “Go change your favorite one yourself.”
“Oh.” Sanji flipped it over and replaced it with Super Mario, “Play this.”
“OK.”
It wasn’t long before Sang Yeon came in with a plate of watermelon. He didn’t know who he had received a text message from, and while looking at his phone, he said, “I’m going out, I’ll be back soon.”
Sanji: “What are you doing.”
“You brats have a wide pipe.” Sang Yeon shook his cell phone, “Go eat your watermelon.”
Afterward, he grabbed his wallet from the drawer and was about to head out when he suddenly remembered such a person as Duan Jia Xu, “Eh, are you leaving with me or staying on?”
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze was still on the screen, “A little later. I have a part-time job later, so I’ll go straight through here.”
“Okay.” Sang Yeon said, “I guess I’ll be back before you leave.”
Soon, they were inexplicably the only two people left in the house.
This round was played by Duan Jia Xu first, Sang Zhi was a bit bored, so he started to pull the conversation, “Brother, do you know what my brother did?”
“Hmm?” Duanjia Xu said without any proper form, “Probably wants to get off before Valentine’s Day.”
“……”
Sang-chi suddenly remembered that this year’s Valentine’s Day happened to be the first day of the New Year.
It’s not many days from now.
She twisted her head to look at Duan Jia Xu, thinking of his personality and appearance that attracted peach blossoms so much, she asked as if she didn’t mean it, “What about you?”
Duanjia Xu: “Huh?”
Kuwabara was silent for a few seconds and inexplicably held her breath, “Are you planning to fall in love, brother?”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyes tailed off, “Me.”
“……”
“Depends.” He laughs.
Sang Zhi suddenly thought of what he said before, that after graduation, he would go back home to work there, and then linked it to his current words. Her chest felt like it was being pressed by a boulder, blocked and panicked, and she felt extremely powerless.
When it happened to be her turn, Sanji took it as a pass on the subject and played the game quietly.
In the midst of this quiet.
Sanji suddenly had an extremely selfish thought.
It felt like at this age it could still be said and treated by him as childish talk, as a joke. When she was a little older, she shouldn’t be able to open that mouth again.
Only now is the right time to talk.
Staring at the screen, Sang Chi’s heart beat like a drum, she nervously licked the corner of her lips and gathered her courage to ask, “Brother, can you not fall in love?”
Duan Jia Xu gave a start and looked at her sideways, as if he thought he had heard wrong.
“What.”
“Don’t fall in love.” There was no expression on Sangji’s face, as if it was a matter of course, “It’s better to study hard.”
Duan Jia Xu stared at her for a long time, and seemed to find it absurd, but instead laughed out loud, “Kid, be reasonable. Why don’t you tell your brother not to fall in love?”
Chapter 26
。。。。。
Sang Wiz couldn’t argue with that.
She didn’t dare to look at Duan Jiaxu, and when she was nervous, her reaction slowed down by half a beat. The little red hat on the screen instantly fell in the air, accompanied by a line of subtitles “game over”.
In the quiet of the room, the game’s soundtrack echoes, cheerful and loud.
In this atmosphere, it seems too weird.
Sang Zhi could notice with his afterglow, Duan Jia Xu took his eyes back, idly playing with the buttons on the handle, making a clicking sound, the rhythm was mechanical and flat. Do not know what he was thinking.
Kuwabara instantly realized that she shouldn’t have mentioned it.
She shouldn’t have mentioned it.
Sangji’s mind went blank and he poked a piece of watermelon and bit into his mouth. This season’s watermelon was not sweet, juicy and tasteless, not very tasty. She chewed slowly and found it a bit hard to swallow, before long she said vaguely, “I told my brother that too.”
Duanjia Xu’s movements stopped.
“My friend’s brother just got a girlfriend.” Sanji put his fork back on his plate, his tone unusually calm, “And then she wasn’t nice to my friend at all. So brother, you shouldn’t have a girlfriend either.”
At that, Duan Jiaxu looked toward her again with a thoughtful expression, “Why are you treating your friend badly?”
Sanji explained in a whisper, “It’s like she’s upset because she thinks her brother is too good for her.”
“Like this.”
“Yeah.” Kuwabara explained dryly as she desperately searched her mind for a reason, “If you have a girlfriend, then you can’t be nice to me either.”
“Kid, what are you thinking about how long ago for.” Duan Jiaxu’s brows loosened and he said lightly, “Maybe you’ve forgotten all about your brother after not seeing him for a few years.”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
Duan Jia Xu put the handle on the table, “Brother will find a gentler one then.”
“……”
“It’s also good for our little Sang-child.” Duan Jia Xu smiled gently and his tone was careless, “Is this okay? Find one more person to treat you well.”
Sanji stared at the watermelon on the table and slowly nodded, “Okay.”
After a long moment, she pushed down the astringency that rose in her throat and added grudgingly, “Then when you do, you’ll have to show me first.”
–
Sanjayan really didn’t go out for long and was back in less than half an hour.
Seeing this, Sang Chi didn’t continue to stay here and found an excuse to go back to his room.
After Sang Chil went out, Sang Yeon took off his jacket and casually asked, “What time is your part-time job?”
“Soon.” Duan Jiaxu said, “What have you been doing?”
“There’s a friend in the neighborhood.” Sang Yan lay down on the bed, staring at his cell phone without lifting his eyelids, “He didn’t bring any money for dinner and told me to go over and give him money.”
Duanjia Xu hmmm’d and started packing, “I’ll be going then.”
“Uh-huh.”
He stood up and suddenly remembered what had just happened and asked again, “Sang Yan, let me ask you something.”
Sanjayan: “Ask.”
“Your sister-” Duanjia Xu’s voice stopped for a moment, as if in thought.
“What happened to my sister?” Sang Yan’s patience was not good, “Just ask, what’s the point of dawdling for half a day.”
Only then did Duan Jia Xu finish his sentence, “Did your sister ever mention to you that she told you not to fall in love?”
“Huh?” Not expecting that question, Sangyan paused, “There is, I guess.”
“……”
“When I was a freshman in high school, my parents thought I had an early crush.” Sang Yeon thought back for half a day and scratched his head, “She was like seven or eight years old? Cried a lot when she found out.”
Duan Jiaxu asked again, “Now what.”
“Now?” Sang Yeon sneered, “She doesn’t even think I can find a girlfriend.”
“……”
“What are you doing asking that for nothing.”
“It’s fine.” Duan Jia Xu returned to his senses and smiled, “I was just asking.”
–
Not long after going back to his room, San Zhi heard the movement of Duan Jia Xu leaving.
Sang Chi stared at the ceiling and slammed the curtains shut, pulling aside the doll Duan Jia Xu had given her and cradling it in her arms, quickly throwing it away again. She rolled over and flopped down on the bed, feeling her heart empty and not wanting to move a muscle.
It was like having heart palpitations that way, some regret, a feeling that something bad could happen at any moment.
She seems to be too impulsive.
You shouldn’t be able to get away with anything just because you’re young.
He isn’t finding out.
Would he have found out already.
What happens when he finds out.
Is it going to be weird to think she’s just how old to start thinking about things like this and can’t understand why she’s in such a state of mind;
Is it going to educate her a bit and then start to have a change of attitude towards her;
Or, is it going to start to alienate her and then never be as nice to her as it once was.
None of it turned out well.
Sang Chi suddenly sat up, pulling her cell phone out from under her pillow and flipping through Duan Jia Xu’s phone number, wanting to explain something more but feeling as if she would only be getting worse.
She watched her phone fade to a black screen, her nose suddenly sour.
Sanjay didn’t know what to do.
All she knows is.
The secret, it seems, cannot be discovered.
–
Ten o’clock the next night.
After finishing the day’s work, Duan Jia Xu took the key and opened the door to the dormitory, and was about to grab a change of clothes and go wash up when he suddenly received a call from Sang Yan. He pressed the phone to his ear and headed in the direction of the balcony.
“Hello.”
Sang Yan’s voice came from the receiver, “Duan Jia Xu, don’t come over tomorrow, change it to the day after tomorrow.”
“……” Duanjia Xu’s movement was a beat, “What’s wrong?”
After a few seconds of silence, Sang Yan tsked, seemingly feeling extremely speechless, “That brat fell in love early and said she was going to go find her boyfriend. Now it’s being taught a lesson by my parents.”
Thinking he heard wrong, Duan Jia Xu almost choked, “What?”
Sang Yeon repeated, “Early love.”
Duan Jia Xu remembered the little boy he saw earlier, “With her little classmate ah?”
“No.” Probably feeling a bit middle-aged, Sang Yeon coughed lightly, “I heard it, I think it said …… online dating?”
“……”
Sanjayan: “She said she was going to her boyfriend’s city to find him.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “That’s not good.”
“Nonsense, how can I let her go, the brat is so clueless. My parents have been lecturing her for two hours.” Sang Yan said, “She probably won’t have the heart to study tomorrow, so you can just come back the day after tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu didn’t hold back a laugh, and a shallow breath sound came out of his throat, “Don’t be too mean to her, it’s quite normal to have this kind of idea at this age. Just reason with her and let her be a bit more reasonable.”
“……”
“It’s time to understand that she’ll understand.”
–
Sanjay thinks he’s come up with a brilliant idea.
Although the price was being lectured by her own father, her own mother, plus her own brother in turn, but on the way to being lectured, she secretly heard that phone call made by Sang Yeon, and it was worth everything.
Just had to let him know!
One did not have a crush on him at all! Even! She already had! Object!
Otherwise, according to that old man’s such a narcissistic character, even if he didn’t suspect it this time, he would sooner or later.
Sanji was extremely certain.
If he knew about her little mind, what she got would definitely be a bad result.
What can she do.
There was nothing she could do but wait, nothing she could do but like.
At least so far, until Duane Cash felt that she was no longer a child.
–
Homeschooling has been rescheduled for Thursday mornings at 9:00 am.
This time, Sanjay got up on time and sat at the desk in Sanjan’s room half an hour early.
Sang Yan’s sleep was shallow, all of a sudden he was woken up by her crackling movement, and took a look at the time it was only half past eight. His waking breath instantly came up, the veins at the corners of his forehead jumped straight up, “What are you doing?”
Sanji searched for his pen and didn’t say anything.
Sangyan pointed at the door and held his temper, “You better get out before I get mad.”
“Brother, I have to study.” Sanji flipped open his exercise book, “You go out.”
“……”
“You go sleep in the living room.”
“……”
At this time, Sang Yan was really lazy to take care of him, holding in a belly full of fire, rolled over and continued to sleep.
Sang Chi didn’t make any other noise either. Her eyes were on her textbook, but her attention was always moving towards the entrance hall, thinking about what expression she should use to face Duan Jia Xu when he came later.
Or do you actually have to think about this at all.
Just act as if nothing happened.
It didn’t seem right that she was in a situation where, in his opinion, something very serious had happened that had hurt her very greatly.
So she’s supposed to have to act like she’s just been forcibly broken up with, lost her relationship, and is painfully numb over it?
Sang Chi pondered while looking at what Duan Jia Xu had told her the day before.
Soon the doorbell rang in the foyer.
Sang Zhi subconsciously looked in Sang Yan’s direction and realized that he didn’t show any signs of getting up. She hesitated and could only run over herself and open the downstairs door for Duan Jia Xu.
After waiting for a few minutes, movement sounded outside, and San Zhi looked through the security door before silently opening it.
Seeing her, Duan Jia Xu’s eyes lifted in slight surprise, “Xiao Sang Chi got up so early today?”
Sanji nodded and said nothing, turning his head towards Sangyan’s room.
Duan Jia Xu took off his shoes and followed her, “Have you had breakfast yet?”
Sanji nodded again, “My mom made porridge.”
The two walked into the room.
Sangayan sleepily opened his eyes and stared at the two of them, then sat up as if to calm his breathing. He then slammed on the covers and left the room in silence and speechlessness.
Duan Jia Xu smoothly closed the door behind him and lazily said, “Your brother has quite a temper.”
Sanji sat back in his chair, “Uh-huh.”
Sitting down next door to her, Duan Jia Xu didn’t rush to tutor her, casually took a pen, tapped it on the desktop, and asked in a low voice, “Kid, my brother heard that you fell in love early, huh?”
Knew he’d mention it.
Sanji gave him a look as if he hadn’t heard.
Duan Jia Xu: “How do you know each other? Tell me about it for brother to hear.”
“……”
“Brother give you an idea?”
Sang Chi pursed her lips and said unhappily, “Why are you so nosy.”
“Brother still can’t care about you?” Duan Jia Xu’s gaze swept over her face, the corners of his lips curved slightly, “Telling your brother not to fall in love, but you fell in love yourself?”
“……”
Duan Jia Xu asked again, “That little online boyfriend of yours asked you to go over to him?”
This was supposed to be a character fabricated by Sanji, and she didn’t know what to cope with, so she could only nod along with his words.
“How old?”
Sang Zhi thought about Duan Jia Xu’s age, and then felt that if she said she was the same age as him, it seemed to reveal a crack. She hesitated for a few seconds and said in a moderate manner, “Almost graduated from university.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu thought it was children playing house, and when he heard the word “university”, he doubted his own ears, “Huh? How much?”
“…… I think it’s over twenty.”
The smile on Duan Jia Xu’s face withdrew, “Where did he tell you to find him?”
Sangji said sheepishly, “Just, Yiho’s side.”
“You’re this-” Duanjash changed his title, “old boyfriend.”
“……”
He tugged at the corner of his mouth and said in a single word, “Know how old you are.”
Sanji nodded hesitantly.
The smile on Duan Jia Xu’s face completely disappeared, throwing the pen in his hand and reaching out toward her, “Give it to me.”
Kuwabara looked up and mumbled, “Huh? Give what.”
Duanjash: “Telephone.”
Sanji: “Didn’t you?”
“I’m talking about,” Duanjash stared at her expressionlessly, “that old boyfriend of yours.”
“……,” Sanji glared, “No way.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed in exasperation, “Still protecting your shortcomings?”
Where is she going to find a number to give him!
Sanji said stiffly, “Just not anyway.”
“Sang Chi, brother doesn’t want to lose his temper with you.” Duan Jia Xu felt that this matter was extremely unbelievable, and patiently said, “Listen carefully, your family won’t want to harm you, they feel that this can’t be done because something like this could indeed bring you harm. You can’t have a relationship until you’re an adult, until you graduate from high school. When you grow up, you can do whatever you want, no one cares.”
“……”
“Do you hear me?”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds and grudgingly ohmed, “But I can’t stand the temptation.”
Duanjash frowned, “What.”
“Other people fall in love in front of me.” Sanji said, “I would want to talk too.”
“……”
What sense does that make.
Duan Jia Xu felt speechless and amused, “So you want to fall in love just because you watch a romantic drama?”
“No.” Sanjay muttered, “I meant someone close.”
“Why are you so careful as a child?” Duan Jia Xu scanned her up and down and said slowly, “If you can’t fall in love yourself, you won’t allow others to do so?”
“Yeah.” Kuwabara gave him a quick look, “Isn’t this a deliberate stabbing|excitement of others?”
“Okay, let’s say you have a point.” Duan Jia Xu spread out the textbooks on the desktop with an idle expression, “Brother won’t mention anything about the future to you first. About that old boyfriend of yours telling you to go to Yiho.”
“……”
“Coincidentally, brother lives there, and brother will go back after the year.” Duan Jia Xu smiled again, the corners of his eyes curving up slightly, “To let brother know that you went over before you became an adult.”
Sanjay: “…… What for.”
“Then little Sang Wiz is probably also,” Duan Jia Xu pinched her cheeks affectionately, his voice containing a light smile, “not going to see himself as an adult.”
“……”
Chapter 27
。。。。。
What’s that supposed to mean?
She was only in her second year of junior high, and there were still four and a half years left until she graduated from senior high. She had planned to find a summer vacation in the middle of the year, make up an excuse to go out with her friends, and go over there to play with him.
But when he said that, didn’t he leave her no chance to even think of an excuse?
Sanji held his tongue a little, “Aren’t you threatening?”
“Intimidation?” Duan Jiaxu looked sideways and said lazily, “You could say the same thing.”
“……”
“Kids, isn’t that what you said?” He pushed the exercise book in front of her, tapped his fingertips on it, and returned what she’d said before, “It’s better to study hard.”
“……”
–
It still didn’t end with that.
Although Sang-chi took the initiative to confess her “online dating” thing, and asked her parents’ opinion very seriously – can she take this winter vacation to go to that city to look for her “online dating partner “The
Seems to respect them a lot.
But also because she is so righteous, let the parents of the Sang family more angry.
Sang Chi’s idea, for them, is even more out of the ordinary than those things she did in the past, such as “fighting with classmates”, “not listening in class”, “disrupting classroom discipline”, hundreds and thousands of times. to them, it was hundreds of times more out of the ordinary than the things she used to do.
It was also extremely impactful for them.
Even though Sang-chi has promised them that he won’t contact this “Internet lover” again, Sang-rong has Sang-yen change the password of the home computer and confiscate Sang-chi’s cell phone.
He also told Sang Yeon to keep a good eye on her and not to let her go out recklessly.
So before the New Year came, Sang Chi’s life was like living in a prison. Apart from his family, he could only see Duan Jiaxu, who came to visit him every two days.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t mention her online romance again. When he was doing his job, he was always very serious and wouldn’t mention anything else to her. Only in his free time did he occasionally say a few words to tease her.
Afraid of revealing himself again, Sangji didn’t take the initiative to ask him about his affairs like he used to.
All she knew was that the things Duan Jia Xu had to do every day didn’t seem to be too stable, but it didn’t seem to be as busy as before. Sometimes after helping her with her lessons, there was nothing else to do after that.
Will still stay in Sangyan’s room.
And except for the tutoring time, Sang Chi basically won’t go in to disturb them. Sometimes, Li Ping would let her go in to deliver some fruits and snacks, and Sang Zhi would be able to use this to see, Duan Jia Xu’s many other looks.
Occasionally he was smoking, but the moment he saw her, he would put it out and smile at her, telling her, “Little Sanji. Cover your nose and get out quickly.”
Occasionally he was playing a game, or sleeping, but he was able to instantly notice the movement of the door opening, and then absently raised his eyes. Seeing her put a plate of fruits on the tabletop, he looked sleepy and didn’t forget to tease her, “What’s wrong with you, kid?”
And not forgetting, to smile like a demon.
“Blushing at the sight of my brother.”
A man of many changes.
Most of the time he is cynical and unorthodox, but he is careful and gentle to the extreme. Seems to be merciful everywhere, but in fact will keep a distance from people.
is that she’s at an extremely inappropriate age.
The man she met, the man she felt sure she would love no matter what age she was.
It was when she was an adolescent that
The one you meet, the treasure you don’t want anyone to find.
–
The day before New Year’s Eve, Sanji finished her last tutoring session for the winter break. Thinking that she wouldn’t see him again for some time afterward, she packed her things slowly, while listening to the words that were instructed to her.
“Listen well in class in the future, if you don’t know anything you can come to the teacher, or ask your brother, or else ask me.” Duan Jia Xu thought about it, “If you don’t know the content, you can take a picture and send it to your brother, and your brother will get back to you when he sees it.”
Sanji nodded.
Duan Jiaxu: “Is there an exam at the beginning of the school year?”
Sanji: “Yes.”
“Tell brother the results after the exam.” Duan Jiaxu said, “It’s best to test a little higher, so that brother can feel a little sense of accomplishment.”
“Oh.”
“Okay, go play with yourself.”
As Sanji grabbed her things and walked to the door, she couldn’t help but turn back to him, gathering the courage to call out to him, “Brother.”
Duanjia Xu looked up, “What’s wrong?”
Sanji hesitantly said, “Do you want to have dinner at my house tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” Duanjia Xu raised an eyebrow, “No.”
Sanji looked at him and slowly hmmm’d.
“Brother stayed in school just for the two hundred dollars red packet that the school gave out for the New Year.” Duan Jia Xu laughed softly and said, “When you mention it like that, isn’t it a waste of effort for brother to hold out for so long?”
Silent for a few seconds, San Zhi didn’t know what to say, but could only nod and twisted the door handle to go back to his room.
Sang Chi put the things on the desk, pulled open the drawer and rummaged through it, finding a red envelope received last year. The money inside had already been taken out, and it was empty.
The New Year hadn’t arrived yet, and Sanjay didn’t have much money.
At that thought, she looked back at the deposit box that she had placed on her nightstand. This deposit box only had the small opening at the top, so if she wanted to take the money, she would have to smash the whole thing.
But then again, Sanji felt as if it would be strange to give him such a red packet.
She considered it for half a day, and eventually just slipped a candy into it.
Then he drew a piece of starched paper and wrote seven words on it in one stroke.
-Happy New Year, Brother Cash.
Fold it into a star and tuck it into the red envelope as well.
After doing this series of things, Sang Chi quietly opened the door to her room and could hear Sang Yeon and Duan Jia Xu talking in the living room. She blinked and tiptoed to Sang Yan’s room.
Glancing at Duan Jia Xu’s school bag on the desk, Sang Zhi pulled open the zipper, and did not look inside, just carefully red bag stuffed in.
It does look a little shabby though.
But then.
He’ll get two bonuses for staying over here this year.
–
On the night of New Year’s Eve, after the New Year’s Eve dinner, Sang Rong returned Sang Zhi’s cell phone to her. The family sat in the living room to watch the Spring Festival Gala, and Sang Zhi was not too interested, so she opened her cell phone and looked at it.
In a pile of group texts, I found a message from Duan Jiaxu.
–Wish Sang-chi a happy day and get into the desired high school and college. Happy New Year. And, thank you to little Sanji for the red packet he sent to his brother.
Sang-chi deliberated for half a day, wanting to ask if the New Year’s Eve dinner at his school was good, wanting to ask if there were many people at his school, wanting to ask if he would feel lonely at all.
Wanted to ask him if he wanted to still come over here to spend New Year’s Eve together.
But she didn’t ask anything.
Sanji exhaled, deleting all the words and retyping them.
–Thank you brother, happy new year brother.
–
Within a few days of spring break, winter vacation ended with it.
On the exam that started the school year, Sang Zhi Zhi scored third in her grade, and her physics was also very unbelievable at ninety points. She took a picture of the result slip and sent a MMS to Duan Jiaxu.
It was only the next morning that San Zhi received a reply from Duan Jia Xu.
–Little Sanji is really good, brother will give you a reward in a couple of days.
Because of this text message, Sang Chi looked forward to it for two days. But when she received the reward, she found out that it wasn’t Duan Jia Xu himself who personally gave it to her, but rather he asked Sang Yan to bring it to her.
It adds up to three.
A reward, a complementary New Year’s gift, an early birthday present.
A box of colored pencils, a bag of candy, and a pink bunny ragdoll.
It was as if he really thought of her as a sister.
For a long time afterward, Sanji seldom saw him again either.
Sang Zhi secretly found a photo studio. She did not even have the guts to be discovered by strangers, and deliberately told the boss that she wanted to wash the dozen or so photos in her cell phone, and that what she wanted was only the one she took of Duan Jiaxu during the winter vacation.
She snuck the photo into her treasure box.
Occasionally, Sang Zhi could learn from Sang Yan’s mouth that Duan Jia Xu finished all of his classes in the second semester of his junior year ahead of schedule and went back to Yiho in April, seemingly looking for a job there.
Nearly two thousand kilometers away from her.
She’d never been that far in her life.
Sometime in May.
The language teacher assigned an essay in class titled – My Dream.
Sang Chi pondered, slowly wrote a few lines on the composition paper, quickly tore it off again, and stuffed it into the drawer. In the disorganized drawer, the little girl’s handwriting was green, yet clear and crisp –
My dream:
- Get into the University of Iho.
- Paragraph Commendation.
–
Because of various formalities and thesis matters, Duan Jia Xu went back to school a few times in the middle of the process, but he also came and went in a hurry. During that time, Sang Zhi had seen him a few times, but they were all extraordinarily hasty.
He doesn’t seem to have changed much.
Still the same not-so-serious look and drawn out speech, still teasing her with the same attitude as always.
The two have had far fewer encounters throughout the year.
During some major festivals, Sang Chi would also receive text messages and gifts from Duan Jia Xu. In his spare time, he would also send text messages to ask about her study status. It also made her feel that she wasn’t forgotten.
The next June, when he went back to school to take his graduation photos, was when he actually met with Duan Jia Xu again without being rushed.
Sanji was brought there by his parents together.
As soon as he got there, Sang Zhi could see Sang Yan in his bachelor’s uniform, as well as Duan Jia Xu, who he hadn’t seen for a long time. He stood in the sunlight, his posture erect and tall, his sideways head was listening to Chen Junwen, a faint smile on his face.
It didn’t seem to be any different than before, except for the shorter hair.
Seeing this, Sang Wiz was inexplicably a little nervous.
She held a bouquet of flowers in her hands that she wanted to give to Sang Yan, and silently followed behind Sang Rong and Liping, not taking the initiative to go over and talk to him either.
There weren’t a lot of people there, besides the recent graduates, there were also a lot of family and friends who had come to their graduation ceremony. There was a lot of noise around them, hundreds of people’s voices covered together.
Sang Chi couldn’t hear what his parents were saying to Sang Yan, and his head was a little dizzy from the heat. But the attention kept moving in the direction of Duan Jia Xu, and his heart was beating fast and pounding.
Soon, Sang Zhi noticed with her afterglow that Duan Jia Xu walked over and greeted Sang Rong and Li Ping. They spoke for quite a while, and she didn’t really hear them.
It didn’t take long for Duan Jia Xu to skim his head and look at Sang Zhi, raising his eyebrows slightly, “Little Sang Zhi.”
Only then did Sanji raise his head, “Brother.”
“Do you have a conscience?” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “You haven’t seen your brother for so long, and you don’t know to come over and say hello to him?”
Not knowing what to say, Sanji muttered, “I thought you forgot about me.”
“Hmm? That’s something you can say.” Duan Jia Xu found it funny and unbelievable, “I didn’t give you a gift for your birthday? I didn’t give you a gift for Children’s Day? Do you think that fell from the sky?”
“……” Sanjay looked at him, “Isn’t that what my brother brought me?”
“I asked your brother to bring it to you.” Duan Jia Xu was about to say something when he suddenly noticed her height, “Xiao Sang Chi seems to have grown taller again?”
Sang-chi murmured.
Duan Jiaxu: “So you don’t need to send it next year for Children’s Day?”
Sanji frowned, “To deliver.”
“Okay, brother will send you if he has the money.” Duan Jiaxu thought about it and then asked, “Is it time for the midterm?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Can you get into the first grade?”
“That should do it.”
There was a classmate next to her who was coming to take a picture with Duan Jia Xu, and Sang Zhi Zhi wisely walked away a bit. Taking a picture was quick, and within seconds, she was called over by Duan Jia Xu again.
Sanji said hesitantly, “What for.”
He pointed in the direction of the camera, “Take a picture with your brother?”
Kuwabara looked down the line while silently walking over to stand next to him. She looked at the distance and stopped a meter away from him.
“……” Duan Jia Xu wondered, “Did brother mess with you again?”
Sanji was puzzled, “Nope.”
“Then why are you standing so far away.” Duan Jia Xu waved at her, “Stand over a bit, why are you acting like your brother’s enemy.”
Sanji had to move over two more steps, his expression a little uncomfortable.
After taking the picture, Duan Jiaxu said to the student who helped take the picture, “Send me the picture when you get back.”
Sang Chi stood next to him. After a while, she hesitantly asked, “Brother, is it true that you won’t come over to Nanwu again?”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes and laughed lowly, “Huh? Can’t bear to part with your brother?”
Kuwabara pursed her lips and nodded.
As if he hadn’t thought that the answer she gave would be in the affirmative, Duan Jia Xu froze. He lowered his head and noticed Sangzhi’s expression. Afterward, he tugged at the corner of his lips and bent down slightly to meet her eyes, “When brother is free, he’ll come back to play with little Sangzhi, okay?”
Sanjay asked, “When is the free time?”
“That brother isn’t sure.” Duan Jia Xu pinched her face and said gently, “If brother wants to come back, he’ll tell you in advance.”
Sangji actually didn’t quite believe him, thinking that it was probably just a lie told by an adult to coax a child.
But she didn’t think it mattered.
If he doesn’t come over, she can come over.
If you want to meet, you can. That’s what she thought.
But at that time, Sanji didn’t think about it.
The next meeting would be the last with Duan Jia Xu before she became an adult.
Chapter 28
。。。。。
The graduation ceremony was held in the gymnasium.
But before the time came, most people stayed outside to take pictures. Duan Jiaxu is exceptionally well-liked and good-tempered, and was dragged by many people to take photos, so he didn’t have much time to take care of Sangzhi.
Kuwabara had no intention of influencing him and wanted to go back to his parents, but because of the crowd, he didn’t know where they had gone.
Duan Jiaxu was afraid that she would get lost, and also afraid that she would be squeezed by the crowd. In the end, he simply pulled her to his side and told her to follow him and not to run around.
And didn’t care that she was in the shot too.
Sangji felt like he had become his little tail. Or a little tail with eyes that couldn’t help but sneak a peek at him.
Duan Jiaxu today wearing a uniform black bachelor’s degree, a large robe, more appear to be his body thin and tall, temperament reserved indifference. His skin color is cold and white, his features are sharp and clear, smiling inexplicably with a bit of provocative meaning, good to see people can not move their eyes.
Sanji could feel that many more girls were looking at him.
Probably because it was too uncomfortable, Duan Jiaxu didn’t wear his bachelor’s hat, just casually holding it in his hand. Later, he realized that the sun was too fierce, so he put the hat on Sang Zhi’s head.
The bachelor’s cap was a bit big and always fell down, collapsing in front of Sang-chi’s eyes and blocking her vision.
When he saw it with his afterglow, Duan Jia Xu immediately helped her right herself and said with amusement, “What are you thinking about, hold yourself up. Otherwise, do you still want your brother to help you?”
Sanjay ohs and adjusts the position of his hat himself.
But it still always fell down, so she simply took the hat off and handed it back to Duan Jiaxu, “Brother, I’m not wearing it anymore.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu looked down at her, “Not sunburned, huh?”
“Sun.” Sanji pointed to his head, his tone a little depressed, “But it keeps falling off.”
“Stand in front of your brother.”
Sanji did as he was told, hesitantly saying, “What for.”
Duan Jiaxu raised his hand to fix his hat and laughed softly, “Brother will give you a hand up.”
“……”
“But we can’t sunbathe our little Sanji.”
A large and small group of people stood, one in front of the other, surrounded by an assortment of people in baccalaureate uniforms.
Duan Jia Xu’s hands were holding the bouquet of flowers that Sang Zhi had brought, and the bachelor’s cap that should have been on his head was put on her head.
When someone asked, Duan Jiaxu replied with a smile, “This my sister.”
In this way, Sang Chi appeared in most of Duan Jia Xu’s graduation photos as a “sister”. She had never seen those photos and was too embarrassed to ask him for them.
Sanji was just suddenly a little glad.
Luckily, I wore a very nice dress today.
–
After the graduation ceremony, Sanji followed his parents home.
Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu went out to dinner with their friends. That night, Sang Yan came home at nearly twelve o’clock and brought back Duan Jia Xu.
Technically speaking, it should be said that Duan Jia Xu sent Sang Yan back.
Sanji was already asleep at the time, and when she was awakened by the sound of movement, she suspiciously climbed up to look.
As soon as he came out of the living room, he saw Sang Yan sitting on the sofa, obviously drunk. Sang Rong scolded Sang Yan while talking to Duan Jia Xu who was at the side.
Lai Ping was in the kitchen cooking a sober soup.
Noticing Sanji, Sang Rong looked over, “Only only, did I wake you?”
Sanji rubbed his eyes and shook his head in silence.
“Look at your brother, how much did he drink to get like this!” Sang Rong frowned, “Right, only only. This brother is sleeping at our house today, so go find him a new towel and toothbrush.”
Duan Jiaxu immediately excused himself, “I won’t bother you.”
“Interrupting what ah.” Sang Rong patted his arm, “Quickly go and wash up, you’re tired from tossing and turning all day today, so don’t go out and stay outside.”
The next moment, Sang-chi walked next to him and said, “Brother, come with me, I’ll get it for you.”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t refuse anymore and nodded his head, “Then I’m sorry to bother you.”
Sang Zhi brought Duan Jia Xu to Sang Yan’s room and rummaged through a set of pajamas for him, then suddenly stopped moving, “Brother, I don’t know where I put my underwear, shall I ask my mom?”
“……” said Duan Jiaxu, “Just get your brother a towel and toothbrush.”
“Oh.” Sanji took him to the restroom again and pointed to the upper cabinet, “There’s a new one in that cabinet, just get it yourself.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Niinii,” Sanji walked out of the restroom and suddenly turned around to ask, “Have you been drinking?”
Duanjash: “Didn’t drink.”
“Really didn’t drink?” Sang-chi stared at his face and hesitantly said, “If you drank it, I’ll have my mom make you a sobering soup as well.”
“Really didn’t drink.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “Brother doesn’t drink.”
After thinking about it, Sanji walked back into the toilet and pointed to the things on the counter, “Brother, this is shampoo, conditioner, this is body wash, and then this is face wash, and the razor is here-you can use all of them.”
Duan Jia Xu rubbed Sang Zhi’s head, his brows slightly narrowed and the corners of his lips curved up.
“Okay, brother knows. Thank you little Sanji.”
Sanji nodded and exited the restroom.
Seeing that Sang Yan was left alone in the living room, Sang Rong went into the kitchen to help Li Ping.
Thinking about what just happened, Sang Chi jogged to Sang Yan’s side and pushed his arm, “Brother.”
Sang Yeon struggled to open his eyes, “What for?”
“You go to your room and get a new pair of panties.” Sanji whispered, “Brother Kash is in the shower, go get him a pair.”
“……”
“Come on!”
Sang Yeon perfunctorily said, “It’s in a small cabinet in the closet, go get it for him.”
Sanji’s expression was less than comfortable, “…… How can I take this.”
Sang Yeon closed his eyes again and ignored her.
Looking at Sang Yan’s difficult appearance, Sang Zhi did not say anything else. She looked at the already empty water cup on the table and re-poured him a cup of warm water, “Brother, you drink water.”
Sang Yeon didn’t say anything.
“You remember to drink.” She stood up and muttered, “There’s nothing to drink so much for ……”
Sanjay ran back to Sanjayan’s room, opened the small cabinet he had mentioned and unwrapped a new pair of panties. Scratching her head, she walked to the bathroom door and knocked.
The sound of water inside immediately stopped, “Is that a knock?”
“Brother, I …… I’ve hung it on the door for you. You take it yourself.”
After saying that, Sang Chi immediately went back to his room.
She didn’t go out again after that, and could hear the sound of movement outside from her room. It lasted for about an hour or so, and Sanji gradually fell asleep again amidst the rustling.
When she woke up again, she was awakened by thirst.
It was still light, the view was dark and the world was silent. Sanji climbed up, intending to go to the living room to fill a glass of water.
Afraid that she might disturb her parents, she moved very little, filled the water and planned to go back to her room. As she passed by the living room, she suddenly noticed that there seemed to be someone over the balcony.
Sanji’s footsteps stopped.
It was instantly realized that the person was Duan Jia Xu.
He was sitting in a chair on the balcony with the floor-to-ceiling windows drawn up, smoking. He didn’t notice Sanji’s presence, tilting his head, the knot in his throat sliding slowly as the smoke lingered in the moonlight.
Sanji couldn’t read his expression.
Yet inexplicably he was in a bad mood.
Sanji hesitated, but walked over.
Soon, Duan Jiaxu noticed with his afterglow and looked over sideways, his eyebrows raised and he immediately smiled, “Why aren’t you still asleep?”
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, his voice was small.
Sanji carefully pushed the floor-to-ceiling window open and asked in an airy tone, “Brother, can’t you sleep?”
Duan Jiaxu put the cigarette out and lazily said, “Well, brother is a bit bedwetted.”
“You can sleep if you lie down a little.” Sanji said, “Or you can sleep on that couch in my brother’s room, I remember you used to sleep on that.”
“Good.” Duan Jia Xu looked gentle, “It’s late, go to sleep.”
Without moving, Sanji asked in a small voice, “Brother, are you in a bad mood?”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed, “A little bit.”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds without asking why, “Let me get you a glass of water then.”
She had just taken two steps out when Duan Jia Xu behind her suddenly made another sound.
Maybe it was the night that gave him the desire to talk.
“Little Sangzhi, brother told you a little secret.” Duan Jia Xu looks up at her, his peach blossom eyes curving into a nice crescent moon, “Brother has a lot of debtors.”
“……” Sanjay paused and turned back, “Is it a lot of money owed?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “It’s not the money.”
He thought for a moment and added, “Or you could say money.”
“A lot?” Sang Chi didn’t know what to say, and could only whisper, “Brother don’t be anxious, I’ll grow up later and make money to help you pay it back together.”
Duanjia Xu froze, and soon laughed out loud, making shallow breath sounds.
This time, Sanji could clearly feel that he seemed to be in a better mood.
After a long time, he pinched Sangji’s face as if he was doting, “Thank you little Sangji. But these are not brother’s debts, there’s no need for little Sangji to help brother pay them back.”
“……”
“The money Xiao Sang-chi earns later,” said Duan Jiaxu, “is going to buy herself nice dresses to wear.”
–
The next day, Duan Jiaxu took the earliest flight back to Yiho.
Sangji thought that this time would probably be the last time he would come to Nanwu. Because there was no other reason for him to come over, completely and utterly detached from the campus and completely and utterly integrated into society.
Everyone continues to live their lives by the book.
At the beginning of July, Sang Zhi’s midterm results came out, and she successfully got into the city’s first middle school. Before the start of the school year, she received a new school bag from Duan Jiaxu.
As a reward for her getting into the first grade.
In fact, Duanjia Xu was far away from her.
But there were times when it made her feel as if he was everywhere.
After the start of the first year of high school, Sang Zhi found Fu Zhengchu also admitted to the first high school, coincidentally with her in a class. The two have not spoken for a long time, she remembered Fu Zhengchu’s previous confession, but also did not have the courage to take the initiative to talk to him.
But it was Fu Zhengchu who came over and greeted her, without any mental stigma.
Sanji was relieved by this.
Senior winter break.
Fu Zhengchu used the excuse of coming out together to write homework to ask Sang Zhi out and confessed to her again. This time the little teenager is no longer as bottomless as last time, but still nervous.
“Sanji, I like you. It’s fine if you want to be my girlfriend now, if not, I’ll ask again in three years.”
When he heard this, Sanji was a little lost in thought.
The first reaction was actually a flashback to the passage when she was thirteen years old, when Duan Jiaxu suddenly appeared after being confessed by Fu Zhengchu and educated her.
— “It’s pretty normal to start having these thoughts in adolescence. But you don’t want to hurt people, you can thank them for liking you before you reject them.”
There was silence for a while.
“Thank you for liking me.” Sanji stared into his eyes and said seriously, “But I have someone I like, so I can’t accept you.”
“……”
“You’re a very nice man, thank you.”
Fu Zhengchu scratched his head and exhaled, “I knew I’d be rejected again.”
Sanji was a little embarrassed.
“I wasn’t planning on continuing to like you either.” Fu Zhengchu said, “But I just can’t fucking find girls who look better than you, what can I do.”
“……”
“Forget it.” Fu Zhengchu thought for a moment and asked, “Can I ask who you like?”
Sanji shook his head in silence.
Fu Zhengchu: “As handsome as me?”
Duan Jia Xu’s phrase “Don’t hurt others” floated in his mind again, and Sang Zhi waved his hand and said vaguely, “Don’t you ask.”
“……”
–
Sanji thought it would stay like that.
Her crush will last forever.
Then, as long as she worked a little harder now, she should be able to get into Yiho University, and then three years later, she would go to the same city where Duan Jia Xu was.
But life is always variable.
Everything, too, doesn’t always go just like that, the way it’s supposed to.
In the first semester of senior high school, during the Qingming holiday, Sang Chi learned a piece of news from Sang Yan.
She was planning to go to the restroom, and when she passed by Sang Yeon’s room, she heard him talking to a friend on the phone, then casually said, “Holy shit, Duan Jia Xu has a date, huh?”
Sanji’s footsteps immediately stopped.
But after that, he didn’t hear Sang Yan mention Duan Jia Xu’s name again.
Her mind went blank and she stood frozen in place for a long time.
Sang Chi didn’t go back to his room and walked to the living room, pretending to be watching TV, then when Sang Yan came out, he pretended to ask without thinking, “Brother, is Brother Jia Xu in love?”
“Huh?” Sang Yeon grabbed an apple from the fridge, “Seems like it.”
Sanji’s eyes were glued to the TV, and he hmmm’d slowly without saying anything else.
When Sang Yan went back to his room, she turned off the TV and went back to her room as well. Sang Zhi picked up the cell phone on the table, opened WeChat, and found Duan Jia Xu.
She pursed her lips and typed a line very, very slowly.
–Brother, I heard my brother say you’re in love?
Sang Zhi stared at it for a long time, but finally deleted it. She lay down on her bed and looked sideways at the several dolls Duan Jia Xu had given her next to her, her nose turning sour.
Fake it.
It must be a fake.
Sanji looked at the picture of Yiho University that she had taped to the wall and rubbed her eyes hard, grudgingly putting the matter behind her as she climbed up to study.
She told Duan Jiaxu about it.
If you get a girlfriend, you have to show her first.
He promised.
He’ll tell her.
Despite what Sang Chi thought, she couldn’t take her classes seriously for the next few days. She would always think of Sang Yan’s words and Duan Jia Xu when she saw couples being intimate.
Would wonder if that’s what he was like when he was in love.
A guy that gentle must be good to his girlfriend too.
But Sanji didn’t dare to ask.
She was afraid of getting an affirmative answer.
The more time drags on, the more such a state accumulates.
At the end of April, Sanji did something that was the most out of character thing she had done in the sixteen years she had been alive.
That day, Sang Chi ran back home after school and dropped the piggy bank that she had prepared especially for Duan Jia Xu. She took the money inside and went to her parents’ room to steal her ID card.
Afterwards, Sangji went to an air ticket outlet near her home and bought a ticket to Yiho at noon the next day. The next day, she put on her backpack and said goodbye to her parents as usual before heading out the door.
But Sangji didn’t get on the bus that she usually should have gotten on. She went to the nearby KFC to change into her school uniform, and then took a car and went to Nanwu Airport.
It was the first time Sanjay had ever flown alone on an airplane.
For the first time, alone, I went that far away.
Three hours later, Sanjay got off the plane.
Before she came, Sang Chi didn’t check the weather. The temperature in Yiho was quite a bit lower than Nanwu, and she was shivering with cold, wearing only a long sweatshirt. She turned on her cell phone.
See dozens of missed calls.
It’s all from the family.
Guilt-ridden and scared, Sanjay found Sanjan’s number and called back, carrying his heart.
The other end picked up immediately, accompanied by Sang Yeon’s anxious voice, “Sang Chi?”
Sanji hmmmed.
Sang Yan: “Where have you been? Your teacher said you weren’t at school, what time is it?”
“Brother.” Sanji said slowly, “I’m in Yi He City.”
“……”
Sang-chi lied, “My former online dating partner, asked me to come over.”
“……” The other end fell silent, as if forcing down a fire. Only after a long time did Sang Yan say in a single word, “Where are you in Yiho now.”
“Airport.”
“You find a seat and stay there, I’ll let Duan Jia Xu go over first.” Sang Yan said in a cold voice, “You dare to go to that so-called online love object of yours, see if I beat you to death when you come back.”
“Got it.”
Sanji lowered his eyes and went inside the airport.
She found a seat and sat down, her eyes staring into the void, a little dazed. Knowing that what she was doing was wrong, knowing that what she was doing would worry everyone.
But she just couldn’t help it.
Sang Zhi received phone calls from Sang Rong and Li Ping one after another, listening to their anxious and angry voices, but they didn’t scold her for anything anymore, just told her to pay attention to her safety.
I don’t know how long it took, but the phone in Sanji’s hand rang again.
This time it showed Duan Jiaxu’s number.
She picked it up in silence.
Duanjash: “Where.”
His tone was also clearly angry, indifferent and cold.
Sanji looked around and whispered, “The chair next to exit T3.”
Soon, Sang Chi saw Duan Jia Xu appear in her field of vision.
It had been close to a year since we’d seen each other, all things considered. He looked a little more mature, with little expression on his face, wearing a shirt and suit pants with a jacket at his arm.
Obviously in a hurry.
Sanji’s eyes moved to see a very pretty woman following beside him.
She immediately lowered her eyes.
Duan Jia Xu swept his gaze and saw her at a glance. He exhaled and walked over quickly, half squatting in front of her before wrapping his jacket around her body without saying a word.
Sanji couldn’t say anything either, and with his afterglow he could see the woman’s bright red heels.
The knot in Duanjia Xu’s throat rolled and he laughed in exasperation, “An online love interest?”
“……”
“Don’t you remember what I told you before?” Duan Jia Xu’s tone was cold and hard, “Sang Zhi, you’ve grown up now? Still dare to run to such a faraway place by yourself?”
Sang Zhi lifted his head and looked fixedly at Duan Jia Xu, then turned his head to look at that beautiful woman, wanting to say something, but he couldn’t say anything.
She was tempted to ask.
Is it true that you have a girlfriend.
Are you really becoming someone else’s.
I thought you said you’d tell me.
Is it that I’m so young that you think it’s okay to lie to me.
You are not lying to me.
But Sanji didn’t dare.
Duanjash: “Speak.”
The woman next to her couldn’t help but say, “Kash, don’t be so mean to the little girl.”
Duan Jia Xu treated it as if he didn’t hear it, still staring at Sang Zhi.
Sang Chi held back the lump in his throat and slowly said, “I’m sorry.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “He called you over?”
Sanji: “I had to come here on my own.”
“See anyone?”
“Hmm.” Sanji said softly, “He thinks I’m too young.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu’s brow loosened, “People are gone?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Sang Chi, it’s only right for him to do this, you’re still too young now.” Seeing her looking so pitiful, Duan Jia Xu’s fire dissipated, “This is not appropriate, you know?”
Sanji looked at him, his eyes gradually reddening, “But I’ll grow up.”
She mumbled and repeated, “I’ll grow up ……”
“Then wait until you’re older, okay?”
“Then he’ll,” said Sanji, dropping a tear and holding back a sob, “he’ll like someone else.”
It was something she couldn’t stop, no matter what.
Sang-chi suddenly remembered the scene a year ago when he was smoking on the balcony of her house, when he looked so lonely and hopeless.
And he now had another man standing beside him.
Shouldn’t she be so selfish.
He’s such a nice guy.
It’s desirable and worth having the company of others.
Who is he to wait for her.
Two years later, he was also twenty-five years old, so if he met the right person, wasn’t he all thinking about getting married too. Can’t be that many years and be alone all the time.
Wouldn’t that make him happier.
Seeing her like this, Duan Jia Xu couldn’t let out any more fire. He didn’t know how to comfort her, and just touched her head, “When our little Sangzhi grows up, she’ll definitely be able to meet a better person as well.”
A few seconds of silence.
Sanji’s lips twitched as he pulled a box from a bag he had tugged aside and pulled it out of it.
“Brother,” that intimate two words, as she grows older, she can no longer call out. Sang Chi lowered her head and softly shouted, “Brother Jia Xu.”
“……”
“I got you a birthday present.” Sanji said, “I’ll just drop by and bring it to you.”
Duanjia Xu froze, “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry to trouble you, I won’t do it again.” Sanji’s tears snapped, holding back the tremor in his voice, “…… I want to wait here for my brother to come.”
Having a crush is probably the sweetest and most painful thing in this world.
Kuwabara suddenly remembered the two dreams she had written when she was in her second year.
With a stroke of a pen, the little girl, in the purest blaze of emotion, wrote down the dream she felt certain would come true.
So she works for it and keeps moving towards that goal.
And then she found out.
It turns out that dreams, too, can be, well, unfulfilled.
She is at the age of love and secretly discovers a treasure.
Regrettably.
But not to be the one to hide the treasure.
Chapter 29
。。。。。
The airport is spacious and brightly lit.
People were coming and going, and all kinds of voices covered Sanji’s whimpering. She felt a little embarrassed, and wanted to find a hole in the ground to hide herself, and also wanted to stop her tears and pretend that nothing had happened.
Anyway it’s good, at least not like this.
Feeling extremely groundless.
That woman is very pretty, very soft-spoken, and seems to be a very good person. She should be able to help him a lot in life and emotion. Unlike her, who was a willful and rebellious person in everyone’s eyes, like a burden, and always brought him trouble.
From the beginning, it was an extraordinarily superfluous existence.
There’s no use.
It also requires him to use his extra energy to take care of her when he’s busy.
Looking at the way Sang Chi didn’t dare to cry out, Duan Jia Xu suddenly remembered his first meeting with her.
At that time, she would cry at will, not worrying about anything, and her biggest worry was “asking her parents” as the teacher said today.
Is it really grown up?
Or maybe, it was the tone he just took.
Duan Jia Xu pursed his lips. He didn’t have any tissue on him, so he could only use the sleeve of the jacket draped over her to wipe her tears, “Don’t cry, brother didn’t find you troublesome.”
“……”
“It’s cold over here, put your coat on.”
Sanji sniffled and did as he was told.
“It’s good that you can figure it out yourself and know that you’re wrong.” Duan Jiaxu said slowly, “People don’t want to be angry with you, they are worried that something will happen to you, they are anxious to be like this, do you know?”
She lowered her eyes and choked out, “I know.”
“Get up, go wash your face.” Duan Jia Xu glanced at his cell phone, he seemed a little uncomfortable, skimming his head and coughing twice before continuing, “Brother will take you to have a lunch first.”
Sanji shook his head in small increments, “I’m not hungry.”
“What not hungry?” Duan Jia Xu stood up and said faintly, “You’re still planning to go on a hunger strike for a man?”
“……”
“Kids.” Duan Jia Xu then looked around and pointed not far away, “The restroom is over there, can you see it?”
Sanji paused for a few seconds and nodded.
“Go over and wash your face yourself.” Duan Jia Xu thought for a moment and added, “Give me your ID card, brother will go ask for your airfare and go over to find you later. Don’t run around.”
Seeing this, the woman next to her spoke up, “I’ll take her there.”
Sanji handed her his ID card from his bag and stood up silently, subconsciously looking in the woman’s direction.
In the next second, Duan Jiaxu said, “No need.”
Hearing those two words, Sang Chi walked in the direction of the restroom without uttering a word. After walking for some distance, she suddenly stopped and looked in the original direction.
Sanji could see the two men still standing in place.
The woman wore a black slim-fitting dress that outlined a pretty figure, with vintage patterns tattooed on the hemline and a length up to mid-calf. She was tall, about one meter seven, and was only half a head shorter than Duan Jiaxu when wearing high heels. With a smile on her face, she didn’t know what she was talking about, and then reached out and patted his arm.
Then, San Zhi saw that Duan Jia Xu also smiled.
She pursed her lips hard and withdrew her eyes.
Sanji walked into the restroom and looked at his appearance in the mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen, her nose was red, and there were tear marks on her face. She lowered her head and repeatedly rinsed her face with water.
The cold water stung her skin and re-stimulated her tear ducts.
Any amount of washing still brings tears to my eyes.
A grandmother next to her saw her like this and subconsciously asked, “Are you okay, little girl?”
Sanji drew a tissue and said with lowered eyes, “This water is too cold.”
As if she had found a reason to explode, her tears fell uncontrollably, “Why is this water so cold ……”
“Then don’t wash it.” The old granny didn’t find this reason strange and sighed, taking a warm baby from her bag and handing it to her, “It’s been a bit cold these past two days, remember to wear more clothes yourself.”
Sang-chi didn’t take it and huffed, “No, thank you Grandma.”
The grandmother didn’t say anything more, just a few more reassuring words and left.
After a long time, Sanji barely managed to adjust her emotions. Noticing the suit jacket on her body, she took it off and held it in her arms as she headed out the door.
Duan Jia Xu was already waiting for her outside.
He was the only one left this time, and the woman who had just been there was nowhere to be found.
Sanji walked over.
Seeing the jacket in her hand, Duan Jia Xu frowned, “Why did you take off your clothes?”
“I just washed my face for fear of getting dirty.” Kuwabara casually lied, her voice heavily nasal, “And I’m not cold.”
She looked at Duan Jiaxu, “You wear it.”
Duan Jia Xu didn’t make any other movements, just stared at her fixedly. After a long time, he sighed imperceptibly, his eyebrows dropping, “Is it because brother’s tone was too fierce just now?”
Sanji shook his head, “No.”
“So are you kids all forgetful?” Duan Jia Xu re-draped her coat, “It’s only been a year, why have you become like a stranger to your brother.”
“……”
He said slowly, “You can make your brother too sad.”
Kuwabara didn’t know what to say, so she changed the subject, “Any more airfare?”
“Well, bought you the two o’clock in the afternoon.” Duan Jia Xu gave her the boarding pass and ID card in his hand, “I’ve already taken the boarding pass for you, go and have a meal first, I’ll send you through security later.”
“Good.” After a few seconds of silence, Sang Chi added, “How much is it.”
“Not much money.” Duan Jia Xu loosened the tie around his neck, not too concerned, “What do you want to eat?”
Sanji: “Both.”
Duan Jia Xu then took her into a McDonald’s in the airport.
The two ordered something random, but neither seemed to have much of an appetite. He didn’t mention the woman from just now, nor did he say where she had gone. Sangji didn’t have the courage to ask either.
She was afraid that if she heard the word “girlfriend” from him, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her expression.
Perhaps noticing that she was in a bad mood, Duan Jia Xu would say a few words to tease her from time to time. His voice was a bit muffled, and he would always cough sideways when he spoke.
Sanji couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sick?”
“Uh-huh.” Duan Jia Xu casually said, “A little cold.”
Sanji was quiet for a moment before saying, “You remembered to take your medicine.”
Duanjia Xu smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Little Sanji.”
His hand played with the box that Sanji had given him, and he asked with a raised eyebrow, “Can brother open it?”
Sanji bit into his fries and nodded wordlessly.
Inside is a tie.
Dark red base with black and white striped accents.
Duan Jia Xu didn’t take his hand to touch it, and covered the box after looking at it for a few moments, the corners of his eyes curved up, and his mood seemed to be extremely good: “Thank you Xiao Sang Zhi. Receiving this gift, brother is also very happy to be a year older.”
Sanji hmmmed. Quickly, she wiped her hands with a paper towel, rummaged through her book bag for all the cash she had brought with her, and stuffed it into the pocket of her suit jacket.
The two sat for a while longer.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Duan Jia Xu got up, sent Sang Zhi to the security checkpoint, and instructed a few words, “Listen well to your uncle and aunt when you go back, study well, and don’t be unhappy because of this anymore.”
Sanji took his jacket off and gave it back to him, “I know.”
She paused for a few seconds, and then out of nowhere, “Brother Kash, you don’t have to tell me.”
–If you’re in love, you don’t have to tell me.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t understand, his eye lashes moved, “Huh?”
Without explaining, Kuwabara forced a smile and walked backwards in the direction of the security checkpoint. She then waved her hand at him, “And then, I hope you’re happy every day.”
–
Maybe the window seats were all bought out, and Sang Zhi’s seat was on the side of the aisle. She actually didn’t cry anymore, and after getting on the plane, she asked the flight attendant for a blanket and covered her head to sleep.
She had a dream.
Dreaming that she wasn’t thirteen when she met Duan Jia Xu.
Instead, it’s eighteen.
She dreamed that there was still a seven-year age difference between her and Duan Jiaxu, but it was no longer an insurmountable gap.
Dreams come true for her.
Dreaming that crushes can, as it turns out, be more than just one person.
–
Get off the plane.
Sang Zhi turned on his cell phone and called Sang Yan. After a few hours, his fire had collected quite a bit and his voice was extraordinarily calm: “You come to the T2 exit, I’ll wait for you here.”
She oh-so-dutifully followed the flow of people out the door.
Going out to the outside, Sang Chil saw Sang Yeon’s figure before he lowered his head and hung up the phone.
Sang Yan walked over and swept his eyes toward her face, as if he wanted to say something, but quickly swallowed it all back in his stomach. He grabbed her wrist and faintly said, “Forget it, I won’t scold you. Go home.”
“……”
“On your teacher’s side, mom helped you take a leave of absence.” Sang Yan’s tone was bad, “When you go back, how mom and dad want to scold you, I can’t help. Because I want to scold you too.”
“……”
“Now you’re really–“
Before he could finish his sentence, he heard Sanji sniffle.
Sang Yeon stopped his voice and turned back, staring at Sang Chee’s drooping head, unable to see what she looked like. He stopped walking and sighed suddenly, opening his arms toward her, “Hey, kiddo.”
“……”
“Don’t cry, what’s the big deal about losing love.” Sang Yan said, “Come here, brother hug.”
–
When he got home, Sang Rong and Liping hadn’t come back yet.
This trip out of her life seemed like it was literally just going to school in the morning, getting out of school at the end of the afternoon, and then coming home. Nothing was any different than usual.
San Zhi walked into the room and in silence put together the dolls on the bed, the gifts from Duan Jia Xu over the years, and the milk bottle on the windowsill. She stared at the empty spot on the nightstand and remembered the money jar she had smashed into pieces.
She got up and tore down the picture of Iho University that was taped to the wall.
Stare for a long time.
Tears suddenly began to fall again, one by one, hitting the top.
The look of Duan Jia Xu smiling at that woman floated back and forth in his mind.
Kuwabara wiped it off with the palm of her hand. Her whole body was trembling because she was holding back her sobs. She raised her head and slowly, glued that picture back together again. Afterward, she took out from her drawing book, which she had clipped inside, the note with those two dreams written on it.
Picking up a pen, Sanji quickly crossed out the second one.
Dreams that can’t be realized.
It should just be shed.
The man she’s loved since she was thirteen.
A crush she’s had since she was thirteen.
From that time, the idea of growing up quickly and being with him was held.
Now Sanjay finds out.
Maybe, even if she did grow up, he’d already been with someone else.
Or, even if she did grow up, in his eyes, she would still be the same child who would cry because she couldn’t hand in her homework and would never grow up.
–
Sanjay began to reduce his contact with Duanjia Xu.
He still buys her gifts during the holidays and asks about her grades after every big or small test. Sanji would reply but no longer answer his calls.
When he asked me about it, I just used the excuse that I was too busy with my studies.
Only on holidays, and on his birthday, Sang Chi would take the initiative to send blessing text messages. After all, this person, who really loved her as a sister, was really good to her.
She couldn’t do it, completely treating him as if he never existed.
Couldn’t do it either and just cut ties with him.
Sang Zhi didn’t take the initiative to ask about Duan Jia Xu anymore, and blocked his circle of friends. She put all her energy into her studies and chose science when she was divided into classes in her second year of high school. She also applied for a residency, and as the days went by, she didn’t even bring her cell phone.
Grades were also mentioned in the upper echelon, from the middle of the grade.
The little girl’s features grew and her chin sharpened, making those eyes look big and bright. Her skin was naturally white and her lips were rosy. When she smiled, there would be two small pear swirls around her lips, cute and pretty.
The body looked like it had drawn bars and sprung to six-foot-five.
Sanji was becoming famous in his grade.
Because of her good looks, she was also privately and not so officially considered by some to be the flower of the class. Moreover, the physics teacher of the key class always boasted about her when she was in another class, and was extraordinarily proud of her.
As a result, many people knew that there was a female bully in the science focus class with an extremely pretty soft face, and most importantly, her grades had never fallen out of the top five in her age.
Physics scores are basically perfect every time.
Good grades and beautiful.
The combination of these two points makes them the “goddesses” of other people’s school years.
Sang-chi can often find milk snacks on the table from people he doesn’t know, rummage through the drawer, and can somehow turn up a love letter. After the evening training back to the dormitory, occasionally will be blocked in the stairway confession.
She refused all of them and returned everything. Gradually, these things became less frequent.
In the first semester of her senior year of high school, a gym student in the next class started chasing after her. Every day after training, he would bring a lot of snacks to Sangzhi, and after evening classes, he would come over to pick her up on time.
She didn’t really want to pay attention to it, but at a certain moment, she realized that the person’s voice and tone of voice were somewhat similar to Duan Jia Xu’s, and she didn’t say anything firm after that.
Two weeks later.
This gym student confessed to her.
His voice was still similar to Duan Jia Xu’s, but his tone was nervous and stumbling.
Sanji had never heard Duanjia Xu have such a tone.
It also made her instantly come back to her senses and earnestly reject his confession in accordance with the words that Duan Jia Xu had taught her.
She thought she was pretty stubborn when it came to relationships.
When you like one person, it’s hard to like another.
But she couldn’t afford to trash her relationship with someone else any more than she had to.
You can’t go for someone who is somewhat similar to someone you can’t forget for a while and use that person as a replacement.
It was only because of this incident that Sanji occasionally felt.
When she thought of Duan Jia Xu again, she didn’t seem to feel so sad. Because the memories with him, only the last time they met, were gray.
The rest of the time, it’s with a splash of color.
Vibrant and beautiful.
–
At the end of June of the next year, Sang Zhi’s college entrance examination results came out. She played steadily and was more than a hundred points above the rest of the university line. With this score, she was able to get into both of the universities she was considering.
Her family was hoping that she would enroll in Nanwu University and did not want her to go too far away.
Sanjay considered it for a long time, but finally filled in the name of the University of Iowa.
Not quite the same as before. Simply because, in comparison, the Digital Media Arts program she wanted to enroll in was a bit better at Yiho University.
On the day of reporting to school, Sang-chi didn’t bring much luggage, only a school bag and suitcase on his back.
Originally, Sang Rong had asked Sang Yan to accompany her there, but Sang Zhi felt that there was nothing to accompany her, and it was only after half a day of grinding that they loosened up and agreed to let her go there by herself.
Sang Yeon says he’ll let Duan Jia Xu pick her up, and Sang Chil refuses too.
It’s been too long, she said, and it’s not good to bother people.
Sang Zhi got off the plane, exited the airport, and boarded the school bus of Yiho University that picked her up at the airport. She checked in, received her dormitory number, and bought her own living supplies under the guidance of her seniors.
I said hello to my housemates and grew familiar with them.
She attended military training, and when it was over she started taking classes and joining clubs. Doing all the things she used to do when she fantasized about her future, except one thing was missing.
Sanji’s main purpose in coming to Yiho.
It seems to have gradually become an irrelevant thing in the process.
–
In the middle of October, Sangji had a roommate’s birthday. The group took the subway for two stops and went to a seafood restaurant for dinner. After finishing, seeing that it was still early, they decided to sing at a nearby KTV.
It just so happens that tomorrow is Saturday and the school is not gated.
More often than singing, they were drinking.
Sanji tried to stay out of it and still got poured several drinks as well.
The small private room was crowded with more than a dozen people, and Sang Zhi’s drinking easily went to her face, and she soon felt a little hot and stuffy. Feeling noisy and annoyed, she used the excuse of going to the restroom to run out for air.
In addition to the main door, this KTV has a small door that goes out to a corridor that connects to a nearby supermarket and KFC.
The temperature outside was slightly cooler and extra cozy.
The hallway light seemed to be out, flickering on and off.
The sight was also dimmed excessively.
Kuwabara was lying on the railing, trying to feel her cell phone out of her pocket to play with it. Inexplicably, she realized that there was an extra quad in her pocket.
She didn’t hold it steady and rolled to the ground a short distance away.
Dropping his eyes to look over, he realized it was a pack of lady’s cigarettes.
Sang Chi was about to walk over and pick it up when she suddenly realized that there was a man standing near where the cigarette had fallen. He was tall and lean, wearing a simple white shirt.
From this angle, only the outline of the side of his face could be seen, hidden and unknown. The man leaned against the wall, a cigarette held at his fingertips, emitting a scarlet light.
Something felt familiar to her.
But didn’t dare to guess at his own thoughts.
Sang Chi felt that the pack of cigarettes should have been casually stuffed into her pocket by her roommate, she pursed her lips, lowered her head a bit, took two steps towards that end, and was about to pick it up.
At this point in time, the man made a move.
His eyelids twitched and he bent down slowly, helping her pick up the pack of cigarettes.
The overhead lights dramatically stopped flickering at this point as well.
Sanji got a good look at him.
Peach blossom eyes, demonic face. As well as that, always frivolous and prodigal smile.
She saw him staring at the pack of cigarettes and quickly raised his eyes, like slow motion in an old movie, and collided with her line of sight. Then with a raised eyebrow, he dragged out his accent and asked, “Sang-chi?”
As any time before.
Chapter 30
.
The weather in October is still hot, the night is a little cooler, but still can not hide the stuffiness.
The moment Duan Jia Xu confirmed that Sang Zhi was indeed Sang Zhi, his gaze slightly narrowed, subconsciously pressed the cigarette out, and when he wanted to throw it into the trash can, he suddenly noticed the lady’s cigarette in his other hand.
His movements stopped.
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes again, and flicked the cigarette in his hand toward her, “Who taught you to smoke?”
I haven’t seen her in two years, and the little girl is obviously much taller.
The last time we met was just to his shoulders, this time has been able to hold his chin. Her features have not changed much, just a little longer open some, compared to the previous such a childish look, more a few points of the girl sense.
She was wearing a pink halter top, light blue denim shorts that showed off a tiny waist and nicely shaped collarbone, and two thin, straight legs.
Her hair color is naturally light, and it looks pretty and fresh when it’s balled up in a little ball on top of her head.
It’s really a woman.
Sang Chi was completely unable to react, staring at him in disbelief. After a while, she withdrew her hand and muttered, “It’s not mine.”
“My brother saw it with his own eyes,” Duan Jiaxu said in a lazy tone, “fall off of you.”
“……”
“Sonny boy doesn’t learn, does he?”
Hearing the word “brother” from his mouth, Sangji still had a feeling that it was like a lifetime ago. She didn’t explain, just pointed to the cigarette in his hand: “You don’t smoke too.”
“Which time did brother smoke in front of you?” Duan Jiaxu threw the cigarette away and put the pack of cigarettes into his pocket, “This one, confiscated.”
“…… “I didn’t expect him to have such a thing, Sang Chi quickly said, “It’s really not mine, it’s my roommate’s.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu looked at her and suddenly noticed something, his tail voice rising slightly, “Little friend, let’s not talk about anything else first. I haven’t seen my brother for so long, you don’t know to call out to someone?”
Sang Chi gave a start, pursed her lips, and called out very stiffly, “Brother Kaoshi.”
“Come over here to play?”
“Uh-huh.”
“When did you finish military training?”
Like being interrogated by his parents for returning home late, Sang Chi touched his head and honestly said, “In the middle of last month, military training for half a month.”
“That National Day seven-day vacation,” Duan Jiaxu laughed, “how come I don’t see you coming to play with your brother?”
Originally, Sang Chi thought that after not seeing each other for so long, the few communications were through social software, and both sides were expected to be a little awkward when speaking face to face.
Turns out it didn’t.
She was the only one who felt a little embarrassed.
Sanji looked at him and grunted, “I have other things on my mind.”
Duanjia Xu: “What is it?”
“Classes.”
“Still taking classes on vacation?”
“……,” Sanji instantly felt out of place and changed his tone, “Part-time.”
“Well, brother used to have to work part-time.” Noticing that she was just stonewalling herself, Duan Jia Xu looked diffident, the corners of his lips curved up into a shallow range, “I also had to take the time to help you meet your teacher, watch you write your homework, and pick you up from home.”
“……”
“Little white wolves.”
“……”
Silence for half a day.
He stood up straight, his brow sparse in this light, and handed her the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, spitting out two cool words, “Pretty good.”
Sanji didn’t dare to pick it up.
“Little girls without a bit of conscience,” Duan Jiaxu smiled gently, “is also quite good.”
“……” Sang Chi was a little annoyed by his words, barely holding back the sentence, “So you were a sophomore and junior then, and I’m only a freshman now.”
“Hmm.” Duan Jia Xu said faintly, “And attacking age.”
“……”
“Kid, figure it out for yourself.” Duan Jia Xu’s elbow rested on the railing next to him, his fingertips tapping on it, “Where did brother treat you badly.”
“…… It’s not like I said that.” Sang Chi couldn’t help but say, “And I’ve grown so grown up and you’re still calling me a child, don’t you think it’s awkward?”
“How adult can you be?” Duan Jiaxu said, “Not still a child.”
Sang Chi held his breath and pulled the cigarette from his hand, still not holding his fire, “That brother, after not seeing you for a few years, you still did age quite a bit.”
Duan Jia Xu didn’t get annoyed either, hanging back and saying, “Huh? It’s still better to shout brother.”
“……”
“Sang Chi, go back to your cell phone and do the math yourself.” Duan Jia Xu said, “How many times did brother call you and you didn’t answer.”
Sang-chi said with little confidence, “Didn’t I tell you I want to study?”
“You have to isolate yourself from the world to study? What kind of study are you doing? I’ll settle this with you later.” He glanced at the time, the ends of his eyes rising slightly, “It’s eleven o’clock, why don’t you go back?”
“I don’t know when they’re going to leave.” Sanji looked at his cell phone as well, “I’ll go back first then.”
“……”
“Brother Jia Xu,” afraid of being called heartless by him again, San Zhi asked very officially, “I didn’t have time to ask, you’re here so? Aren’t you leaving?”
“There’s a new colleague in the company, got a party,” Duan Jia Xu said casually, “You go back and get your stuff, brother will send you back to school.”
Sanji shook his head, “I’ll go back with them.”
“That’s fine.” He didn’t force it.
Duan Jia Xu was still leaning back in his original place, staring at her with his eyes downcast, his gaze thoughtful.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Sang Chi couldn’t help but avert her eyes, smelling the faint odor of alcohol carried in the wind. Wearing these clothes, originally she didn’t feel anything.
But at the moment, Mo had the feeling of going to school without a uniform and being discovered by the head teacher.
Sanji asked again, “Have you been drinking?”
“Didn’t drink.” Duan Jia Xu felt funny, “Wasn’t it you who drank? And you’re still relying on your brother?”
Sanji then remembered, “Oh.”
He popped up with, “Stand over here a little.”
Sanji didn’t move, “What for.”
“Haven’t seen you for so long,” Duan Jiaxu stood still, his peach blossom eyes bright and radiant, as if he was feeling a bit magical, his voice containing a smile, “Let brother take a closer look, after little Sangji grows up– “
“……”
“Good-looking or not.”
–
Sanji returned to the booth.
Several people had collapsed in their seats, and one man was so drunk that he was yelling with his mike. He was so drunk that his voice was so loud that it sounded like he was going to blow his eardrums out.
She just came in and tried to get out.
Noticing her figure, her roommate Wang Ruolan asked, “Eh, Sangzhi, why did you go to the restroom for so long? Let’s play cards.”
Sanji sat down next to her; “When are we leaving?”
Woof Woof: “They say a little bit.”
“……” said Sanji, “So the subways are out of service.”
“Let’s take a taxi back.” Wang Ruolan said, “Or take the bus? Eh, but I don’t know how many points the latest class on 888 is.”
Sang Zhi a bit unable to accept the smell in the private room, also may be because of the relationship of a few glasses of wine, feel a little stomach: “I’ll go back first, I can’t stay up all night.”
Ning Wei, the birthday girl, came over and said with a smile, “Sang Sang, are you leaving?”
Sanji: “Uh-huh.”
“How are you going to get back alone, it’s so late.” Ning Wei said, “Why don’t you let Jiang Ming send you back?”
Sanji paused, “Who is Jiang Ming?”
“That one.” Ning Wei took her arm and quietly pointed it out to her, while then coming up to her ear and saying, “My department’s, isn’t it kinda cool? I feel like he’s interested in you.”
“Don’t you guess, I haven’t said a word to him.” Sang Chi stood up and rubbed her somewhat sleepy eyes, “It’s okay, the subway station is just outside. I’m leaving, I’m sleepy.”
“Eh, okay.”
“You guys don’t want to be too late, it’s not safe.”
“What are so many people afraid of!”
“So you guys have your keys, right?”
“Bring it on bring it on.”
Only then did Sang Zhi feel relieved to go out of the private room. KTV at night is always particularly lively, the waitresses who greeted them were extraordinarily enthusiastic, and the volume of their greetings was like a self-contained loudspeaker.
She was taken aback the first time, but she got used to it after that.
Sanji walked out of the KTV and headed down the stairs.
She reached up and covered her face, finally having the presence of mind and time to recall Duan Jiaxu’s appearance and the last words he said.
Maybe it was the booze that made Sanji feel inexplicably nauseous.
Dog man.
Old, dog man.
What does looking good have to do with him.
And she’s been pretty since she was a kid, and she’ll definitely be pretty when she grows up.
And you have to look closely to see it?
Sanji stopped and exhaled slowly.
The reunion came so suddenly that she wasn’t prepared for it at all. Although there was happiness in it, it was more of a handful of emotions, and the mood was still a bit blocked afterward.
She remembered Duan Jiaxu’s words again.
–“How grown-up can you be? You’re still a child.”
Sanji laughed out loud inexplicably.
Sure enough, it was exactly what she thought it would be.
She’s an adult, but she’s still a child to him. He’ll probably still be clinging to the word “kid” when she’s old enough to die.
The whole thing. Seven years older than her.
It’s one piece more! A superior thing! thing! The same.
Sanji was a bit angry and couldn’t think of how to vent her emotions. She has never said dirty words, and she can’t swear. At this moment, after holding her tongue for half a day, she only managed to hold out three words, “Old thing.”
The words just fell.
A man’s familiar voice suddenly emerged from behind him, “Hmm?”
“……” Sanji stiffened and turned his head.
“Calling out to me, huh?” Duan Jiaxu stood just two steps behind her, and it seemed that as long as she had stopped, so had he. He thought for a moment and seemed to laugh in exasperation, “Also.”
“……”
“It seems like I’m the only one you’ve seen tonight-” Duanjia Xu stared at her, paused for a few seconds, and then said with a clear, wordy bite, “Old, east, west?”
Chapter 31
。。。。。
“……”
Sanji suddenly remembered the summer vacation of his second year of junior high school.
She was confided in by Fu Zhengchu in front of the escalator on the third floor of Shang’an Plaza, and then Duan Jiaxu suddenly appeared behind them in the same way.
And also, I don’t know how long I stayed behind her.
Originally shouted out these three words, Sang Chi’s mood is comfortable, but also because the scolding party heard, so that her sense of emptiness hundreds of thousands of surging up, but also mixed with a few trace of suffocation.
She subconsciously denied it, “Not shouting at you.”
Duanjia Xu faintly hmmm, as if listening to it.
Sanji just breathed a sigh of relief.
Duan Jiaxu asked again, “Then who is shouting?”
“……” Sanji’s scalp began to tingle, and his head was a little unclear from the wine, stumbling, “You don’t recognize it.”
Duan Jiaxu trailed off with an “ah”, “That’s right.”
Sanji nodded his head in a hurry.
“Then brother would like to get to know, what kind of person can make little Sangchih scold him like this.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “Little San Zhi say it to brother?”
“……”
It’s been said that he doesn’t recognize it, and he’s still asking.
Now to say who.
Says who!!!
I should have known that I would have just moved Sang Yeon out straight away.
But she had already said it was someone he didn’t know, so it was too late to say it was Sang Yeon. It was too late for her to say it was Sang Yeon. She felt uneasy with her conscience if she just pulled someone else out of the equation.
Sang Chi averted her face, deliberately pulling away from the topic, “Why are you so nosy?”
“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu walked down two steps, standing to her side, “Maybe because the old thing is too busy.”
“……”
“Let’s go, young – little friend?” Duan Jiaxu emphasized the word “young” and said slowly, “The old man will take you back to school.”
“……”
After saying that, Duan Jia Xu raised his feet and continued walking down.
Sang Chi’s palms were sweating unconsciously, and he followed him anxiously, hesitantly explaining, “This word, I think it’s quite, quite civilized.”
“……”
“It’s just that, I don’t think,” stammered Sanji, so nervous that he clasped the chain on his bag with his hand, “I should, not count it as swearing.”
As soon as you step outside there is a parking lot.
Duan Jia Xu took out the car keys from his pocket and pressed them not far away. As if he didn’t hear what she just said, he only said two words, “Get in the car.”
Sang-chi didn’t move, “Brother Kash, where is your house?”
“Venting Court.”
Sanji had only been in the city for a month or so, and was completely unaware of it, and vaguely oohed and aahed.
Duan Jiaxu explained again, “Over at the city library.”
“That seems to be in the opposite direction from my school,” Sang Chi pointed to the subway station next to her, “It’s so late, I’ll just take the subway back, don’t bother you-“
“Young kid.” Duan Jia Xu played with the car keys in his hand, skimming his head and smiling, “As for my brother, he wanted to settle the score with you and then send you back by the way.”
“……”
“Not to send you back specifically,” he paused deliberately and looked over at her, his tone languid, “get it?”
“……”, Sanji said without saying anything else, and in silence and uneasiness, he walked over to the passenger seat and pulled the door open with all his might. But out of expectation, the door was still locked.
She subconsciously looked back at Duan Jia Xu.
He was seen walking over and standing at her side, not too close, but breaking the mold and giving her a sense of oppression. Duan Jia Xu paused for two seconds and pressed the car key again, pulling the car door open for her.
Sanjay dug in smoothly and removed the bag.
Soon, Duan Jiaxu sat in the driver’s seat and glanced at her, “Seatbelt on.”
Sanji oh-so-dutifully did as he was told.
He didn’t start the car right away, tapping his fingertips on the steering wheel, stopping abruptly after a long time and starting to interrogate, “How much did you drink today?”
Sanji thought for a moment, “It should only add up to one or two bottles.”
Duanjia Xu: “Be careful when you’re out on your own, and don’t drink when you’re with people you don’t know well.”
“Mostly people I know, my roommate was there.”
“Well, brother will just remind you.”
“I know.”
Sanji had expected a long list of admonitions to be heard.
But after saying this, Duan Jiaxu started the car, did not mention what just happened, and the imagined “settlement of accounts” did not come as expected.
Instead, it made Sanji feel wary.
She didn’t initiate a conversation to influence him to drive and took her cell phone out of her bag to play with it.
Happen to see the WeChat address book that more a red dot, Sang Zhi Zhi clicked to see, to see the person who added her note “Jiang Ming” two words.
The name reminded Sang Chi of Ning Wei’s words.
I do not know how he knew her micro signal, Sang Chi does not like to add people who do not know, want to pretend not to see, directly exit. But then inexplicably hand shaking point to pass.
“……”
Forget it.
Duan Jiaxu opened his mouth at this time, “Kid, let’s communicate?”
Sanji immediately looked up, “Huh?”
Duan Jia Xu: “Why did you scold your brother?”
Kuwabara gave him a quiet look, unsure of how to explain, and finally had to be honest and get the words out, “I don’t like being treated like a child.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu’s eyelashes twitched slightly, “Just because of this?”
“Uh-huh.”
The tone of the “uh-huh” was serious.
Duan Jia Xu felt funny and inexplicable, “Why don’t you like it? This is of the same nature as when you get married later on and both your parents still think you’re a child.”
“……”
Sanjay was in a bit of a foul mood.
In addition to wanting to be her brother, this man now wants to be her father.
She didn’t want to bother with him anymore and looked sideways out the window.
Halfway through a convenience store, Duan Jia Xu got off the bus to buy something, and soon returned with a plastic bag. Sang Zhi didn’t ask him what he bought.
I didn’t realize that I had already driven to the entrance of the school.
The car couldn’t drive into the school, so Duan Jia Xu found a spot to park and said, “I’ll walk you in.”
Sanji nodded and unbuckled his seatbelt to get out of the car.
The distance from the main entrance to the dormitory building where Sang Chi is located isn’t too far, it’s about ten minutes to walk in.
Sang Chi wanted to say something, but didn’t know what to say, and only after half a day could she stifle a sentence, “Brother Jia Xu, don’t you have to go to work tomorrow?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed softly, “Tomorrow Saturday.”
“Oh.”
The two had a conversation.
Basically, it was Sang Wiz who racked his brain and took the initiative to throw out questions, in order to try to make the atmosphere not too awkward, after all, he was kindly sending himself off. Just like this all the way to the dormitory downstairs awkward chat.
Sang Chi finally breathed a sigh of relief and waved her hand at him, “Goodbye Brother Jia Xu, it’s so late, you drive carefully. Pay attention to safety.”
She hadn’t taken a few steps when Duan Jia Xu suddenly called out to her, “Sang Zhi.”
Sanji turned back.
In the next second, he held up the plastic bag in his hand that he had carried all the way, “Go back and make some honey water to drink, don’t get up tomorrow with a headache.”
Sanji paused and slowly took it, “Thank you.”
“You came all that way by yourself, if you need help, you can look for me.” Duan Jia Xu rubbed her head, the corners of his mouth curved up, “Brother is joking with you, knowing that you have your own things you want to do at this age. Didn’t really think Little Sangchu was heartless.”
“……”
“As for the word old thing.” Duan Jia Xu couldn’t help but laugh out loud with a low breath, “How is it not a dirty word? Little girl speak civilized.”
Sanji didn’t dare to look at him, “I won’t say it again.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Just know yourself that it’s wrong, go back.”
He thought for a moment and added, “You can come and have dinner with your brother sometime.”
Sanji squeezed the plastic bag in his hand and gave a small nod, “Good.”
“Brother is alone over here, so I heard your brother say that you’re coming over here to study in college.” Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and looked at her gently, “Brother feels very happy.”
–
Sanji returned to the dormitory.
The dormitory was empty and the lights were off. Sang Zhi turned the lights on, walked to the balcony, and leaned over to the railing to look down. But the color of the night was too thick, and she couldn’t quite find Duan Jia Xu’s figure.
She walked back to her table and put everything in her hands on it.
Sang Chi opened the box of honey and scooped some into a cup with a spoon, then filled it with some hot water. Her stomach was a little upset, and a few sips of water eased it a bit.
Thinking of Duan Jia Xu’s last words, the corners of Sang Zhi’s lips straightened as he stared at a point in the void, as if a stone had been pressed against his chest.
So strange.
Why do you feel in such a bad mood.
He said a man.
Isn’t his house over here? Why is it alone.
It shouldn’t be what she thinks it is.
If so, then isn’t it bad behavior for her to not even contact him much or even answer his calls since she came over here.
This man, who had done nothing wrong to her.
It was good for her from the beginning.
Isn’t that really too much of a white-knuckle act on her part.
But Sanji knew it well.
If only she had stayed with him as often as she had, as often as she had, as often as she had listened to him talk to herself, as often as she had been subjected to his kindness to her.
She would, surely, become as fond of him again as she had been.
–
After taking a shower, Sang Chi called home as usual, after which she went back to bed and lay down for a while. She felt a little tired, and it didn’t take long for her to drift off to sleep.
But she didn’t sleep well because of the alcohol.
At two in the morning, Sanjay heard the sound of his roommate rustling and moving.
They had probably just come back, but for fear of waking her up, they only turned on a small table lamp and moved gently, but they still couldn’t avoid making some noise.
When she woke up, Sang-chi couldn’t sleep much more, she lifted her head and whispered, “You guys turn on the lights, it’s fine.”
Upon hearing this, Ning Wei immediately looked up at her, her tone somewhat guilty, “I’m sorry, did I disturb you?”
“No.” Sanji said, “I just had a nap, and now I can’t sleep either.”
“Then don’t go to sleep first!” Wang Ruolan suddenly said excitedly, “Sanji, let me tell you a gossip!”
Sanji: “Huh?”
Wang Ruolan: “Ning Wei is off the hook!”
Ning Wei’s cheeks reddened a bit as she snapped, “Keep your voice down.”
Sanji’s reaction was a little slow, “Who is it?”
“From our department, just the one who has been sitting next to me today.” Ning Wei’s mood looked good, her tone was a little embarrassed, “I didn’t expect him to suddenly ……”
Woof Woof: “Sanji you should have stayed a few more minutes.”
A good mood is always contagious, and Sanji smiled back, “That’s the one you said you were interested in someone in the department before, isn’t it?”
Ning Wei nodded, “Yeah.”
Another roommate, Yu Xin, happened to come out of the shower at this moment and curiously said, “What are you guys talking about?”
Wang Ruolan: “Just the Ning Wei thing.”
“Eh, speaking of which, Ning Wei, you really are too fast too.” Yu Xin said, “It’s only been a short while, and you’re off the hook, and I still haven’t found anyone I want to take a shot at.”
“He said he fell in love with me at first sight!” Ning Wei grabbed a change of clothes and smiled as she headed for the restroom, “I won’t talk to you guys anymore, I’m going to take a shower.”
After she went in, Wang Ruolan added, “Right, Sang Zhi. I just heard Jiang Ming ask the class president for your WeChat, did you go through?”
The people at this party were basically all acquaintances of Ning Wei’s. Aside from them, there were also a few people from Ning Wei’s department and their class, including the class president of their class, who was a boy.
Sanji hmmmed.
Woof Woof: “Are you interested in him too?”
Sanji muttered, “Shaky hands ordered it.”
It was only after mentioning this that Sang Chi remembered to look at her cell phone. She flipped her phone out from next to her pillow, opened WeChat, and tapped on it to see that Jiang Ming, who had just passed, had sent her a few messages.
And a paragraph of kudos.
Sang Chi didn’t give him a note, his nickname was just the word “Duan”. She paused and clicked on Duan Jiaxu’s first.
Just one sentence.
–From now on, if it’s so late at school, find someone to go back with you.
Sangji stared at it for a few seconds, wanting to reply with “Got it”, but noticing the time, he decided to reply tomorrow.
Wang Ruolan was still talking, “It seems like he realized you were gone and wanted to ask where you were, and said he’d send you back. The person was quite nice.”
“Uh-huh.” Sang Chi clicked on the chat window with Jiang Ming and politely replied with a few words.
Yu Xin: “Sang Chi, so are you getting off the hook too?”
“No.” Kuwabara was in a really bad mood, and she sat up violently, moving a little too loudly, startling the other two.
Yu Xin: “What happened to ……?”
Sanji stared at them both, then said slowly, “Let me ask you a question.”
Wang Ruolan: “What?”
Sanji said in all seriousness, “Just a friend of mine.”
Yu Xin: “Okay, I know it wasn’t you.”
“……” Sang Chi pretends not to hear, “A friend of mine used to like one of her brother’s friends, and then this friend of her brother’s treated her like a sister. Then she realized that he seems to have a girlfriend, so she gave up. Recently met again, you think she should do?”
Wang Ruolan was curious, “How old?”
Sanjay: “Three years out of undergrad.”
“That would be,” Yu Xin calculated, “almost twenty-five or twenty-six.”
Wang Ruolan: “That’s okay, does he have a girlfriend now?”
“I don’t know.” Sanji shook his head, “But I don’t think so.”
Otherwise it wouldn’t say one person.
Yu Xin: “You still, no, your friend still likes him, huh?”
“I don’t know.” Sanji propped his chin on the rail beside the bed and sulked, “Not really a favorite, and the guy just thinks of my friend as a sister’s.”
Yu Xin: “Then you’ll see if your friend still likes it, if you like it, then chase it, if you don’t like it, just be a normal friend and contact it occasionally.”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
Woof Woof: “What else is your friend struggling with?”
“She just feels so unhappy.” Sanji exhaled and said softly, “Thinks that person is in love with someone else, and every time she thinks about it, she gets, well, upset.”
Yu Xin: “How old was your friend when she liked him?”
Sanji: “Second year, I think.”
Yu Xin froze, then mentally counted the ages, “That’s normal. If he likes you at that time, this person is a fucking pervert!”
“……”
Wang Ruolan: “Besides, this man is twenty-five years old, right? If he says he’s never been in love, doesn’t that mean he has no sexual experience. A twenty-five year old man with no sexual experience would be perverted ah!”
Sanji was confused, “Huh?”
Yu Xin: “Perverted isn’t so bad, is it, but maybe there’s something wrong?”
Sang Chi froze for several more seconds, instantly reddening her face, her melancholy mood gone at all, “What are you guys babbling about?”
Wang Ruolan: “Sanji, describe this man.”
“Handsome, good grades, and then,” Sanji scratched his head, “talking just, he’s got that kind of personality, just-“
Yu Xin got a little anxious at her grinding, “Just what?”
Sang Chi didn’t know how to describe Duan Jia Xu’s character and his way of speaking, and held his tongue for half a day before saying, “Just, kinda flirtatious? Kind of like a flower|flower|public|son ……”
“You would also say, handsome and good at flirting, how could such a person not have a girlfriend?” Wang Ruolan said, “By the way, how did you and that guy meet?”
Sang Chi whispered, “Just my brother’s friend, he often comes to my house.”
Silence for half a day.
“Sanji, I don’t think you need to mind.” Yu Xin thought for a moment, looking serious, “Not counting before he met you. If he hasn’t been in love for so many years, that only leaves one possibility.”
Sanji stared at her blearily, his heart lifting, “What.”
“He might like your brother.”
“……”
Chapter 32
。。。。。
Sang Chi began to regret mentioning this to them. She thought that she had drunk too much today, and her brain was a bit jerked, or she hadn’t woken up yet, and was in a half-asleep, half-awake state of confusion.
“You’re all talking nonsense.” She waved her hand, indicating that she didn’t want to talk anymore, “Forget it, no more, I’m going back to sleep.”
“Don’t I make sense?” Yu Xin smiled and said, “By the way, does your brother have a girlfriend?”
“…… “Sang Chi opened his eyes and hesitated, “I don’t think so yet, he hasn’t told his family, I don’t know if he has.”
Woof Woof: “So has your brother ever been in love?”
“……”
Noticing Sang Chi’s reaction, Yu Xin’s eyes widened as she felt her suspicions add up to a plausible proof in a flash: “Holy shit! There can’t be none, right?”
“I don’t know, he doesn’t talk to me about these things.” Sang Chi thought back, “But when he was in high school, it seems that he was called to his parents because of his early love? I don’t really remember.”
Yu Xin got excited: “If it’s high school, how many years ago was that? Two big men more than twenty are not in love, every day mixing together …… you say, there is another reason?”
“I also didn’t say that they definitely haven’t been in love.” Sang Chi glanced at her depressingly and said in a single word, “Stop guessing and read less novels.”
Woof Woof: “What is this friend of your brother’s doing right now?”
“Seems to be working in a game company.” Kuwabara thought for a moment, “Programmer? The kind that writes code. I heard my brother say that the project team he’s in seems to be doing online games.”
“Programmer?” Wang Ruolan was silent for a few seconds, “Really good looking?”
“Really.” Sang Chi said, “Or maybe it’s just that I haven’t seen much of the world, but as long as I’ve grown up, I’ve never seen a man who looks better than him.”
Roland Wang: “But this industry isn’t about staying up late for long periods of time and then still being on a computer or something ……”
Sanji: “Then he probably still cares quite a bit about his appearance, so he goes to the beauty parlor to take care of it.”
“……” Yu Xin said, “That’s kinda gay.”
Woof Woof: “You said he talks kind of ruffled, so does he talk like that to anyone?”
Sang Chi thought about the way he got along with those people in Sang Yan, and said, “Pretty much, with his peers, or those younger than him, basically saying the same thing.”
Wang Ruolan erred a few times, “Then isn’t this just casting a net everywhere? I don’t think it’s very appropriate, right, this kind of guy might cheat on his wife too when they get together later.”
Sanji frowned, “It won’t.”
Wang Ruolan: “I’m just guessing, after all, I’ve never seen this person either.”
“He’s not like that.” Sanji whispered, “He’s nice to everyone. And it’s actually pretty obvious to see that he talks like that all in jest, teasing you.”
At precisely this time, Ning Wei finished her shower and came out of the restroom. Seeing that the atmosphere within the dormitory was somewhat subtle, she rubbed her hair and subconsciously asked, “What are you guys talking about.”
Wang Ruolan then quickly retold what had just happened.
Ning Wei came to a realization, “Eh, Sang Sang. You’re so good looking, you don’t have to hang on to this one tree, maybe if you don’t want this person anymore, you’ll realize that there are too many people better than him.”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds, “Right.”
“If you still feel that you can’t let go, then you can try, anyway, the man is unmarried and the woman is not married. He treats you as his sister, and you two aren’t really related by blood.” Ning Wei said, “As for the matter of whether or not he’s ever been in love, just forget about it, there’s nothing to mind about this kind of thing.”
Sanji: “…… You want me to go after him?”
Ning Wei: “Yeah.”
“Impossible.” Sang Chi couldn’t imagine at all how Duan Jia Xu would react if she really did such a thing, and she didn’t dare to fall in the same place twice, “Forget it, I’ll just live my comfortable life normally.”
Yu Xin: “Actually, there’s no need to chase, so you just show that sign too?”
Sanji: “What.”
“Didn’t you say that he always teases you and talks kinda provocatively?” Yu Xin gave her an idea, “Then you’ll use the same tone back?”
“……”
When you hear it that way, it seems to make some sense.
Sanji nodded sluggishly, imagining it.
She curved the corners of her lips and stared at Duan Jiaxu, then trailed off and said to him, “Brother, what’s wrong with you? You blush the moment you see only only only.”
“…………”
It’s horrible, isn’t it.
Haven’t acted on it yet, just thought of the image.
Sanji started to feel suffocated! Breathe! It’s over!
Yu Xin felt that her method was particularly good, “What do you think?”
“Pull the plug.” Sang-chi pulled the covers over her head and said slowly, “Forget it, you guys can just pretend I’m drunk and crazy and made up a BE romance novel for you.”
“……”
–
Despite what Sanji thought.
I want to put this encounter directly behind me, and want to treat it as if nothing had happened. After all, this city is so big, the chance of meeting again will not be so high.
Wanting to be treated in the same detached way as before again until she was completely out of it.
But because of Duan Jiaxu’s sentence, “Brother is alone over here”, when Sangji fell asleep again, he had a dream for some reason.
She dreamed about his life from a third point of view.
Because of that one sentence, and thus by association, his life.
Going to and from work every day, eating alone and going home alone every day.
Arriving home still alone as well.
Doing everything is a life of one.
Then, Sang Chi dreamed of the time when the new school year started in the second year of junior high school, and went home with a few girls from her class. Because it was still early, they took a detour to a snack bar next to Nanwu University and bought a piece of chicken fried steak each.
She happened to see that Duan Jia Xu was working part-time there.
His life seemed to be completely dominated by the words studying and making money. Other than that, there didn’t seem to be anything else that he could be half interested in.
But she never heard him complain half as much.
Not once.
That time, he stopped confiscating her money like he did at the sweet store.
Instead, she filled her share to the brim.
Duan Jiaxu folded the closure, and the bag was opaque and couldn’t be seen from the outside.
A few other girls had already taken their share and were waiting for Sanji while eating, not paying attention to this side of the situation.
Duan Jia Xu put the paper bag into a plastic bag and handed it to her, “Kid, take it.”
Sanji took it, “Thank you brother.”
“Brother sees that you look the cutest,” he said to her in an airy voice, as his extremely good-looking face smiled again in the uniform apron of the snack-bar, while he bent down slightly and
“-so sneak in more for you.”
–
The next day, Sanji woke up early.
Maybe it was because her conscience was uneasy, or maybe it was because of other emotions, she tossed and turned on the bed for a while, and soon picked up the cell phone that was placed aside, and replied to Duan Jiaxu with a sentence of “Got it”.
Sangji had thought that he should still be sleeping at this hour. After all, last night shouldn’t have even slept early, and it was only a little after six now. She was still hesitant to offer to invite him for dinner as she hugged the quilt.
Duan Jiaxu, however, unexpectedly already replied: [Getting up so early?
The moment the cell phone vibrated, Sanji was still taken aback.
It was still light, and the dormitory was dark, with only her cell phone glowing faintly. It was so quiet around her that it was as if she could still hear the sound of air flowing.
Sangji was a bit frazzled, didn’t know what to reply, and was embarrassed to keep him waiting, and immediately found a nodding emoticon and sent it.
Duanjia Xu: [Not feeling well after drinking?
Sanji: [No.]
Duan Jiaxu: [If you go out, don’t drink alcohol if you can avoid it.]
Sang Chi pursed her lips and knocked on the word: [Good.]
There was no more talk on the other end.
Sang Chi stared at the screen, hesitantly weighing his words, [Brother Jia Xu, when are you free? If I’m not bothering you, I’d like to treat you to a meal, thank you for sending me back yesterday. It’s okay if you’re not free in the near future, just set the time. If you can’t think of a time you’re free, how about Thanksgiving next month? I’d also like to take this day to express my gratitude to you.]
After typing it in, Sang Chi read it word by word for a long time, and then hesitantly changed the word “you” to “you”. Normally, I don’t care too much about this when I speak, but using “you” in written language seems a bit disrespectful.
Sang Chi continued to check for a while, saw the word “love”, she somehow felt a little awkward, simply delete it directly.
This paragraph took her a whole half hour. After double-checking that nothing was wrong, Sanjay lifted her heart and pressed send.
Perhaps surprised by her sudden string of words, Duan Jiaxu took a while before replying: [Thanksgiving?
Sanji: [Uh-huh.
Sanji: [Or else you can decide the time.]
This time, Duan Jiaxu sent a direct voice over.
Sanji’s headphones were not on the bed. She lifted the covers, tiptoed out of bed, and ran to the balcony to listen.
He seemed to be feeling a little amused, and spoke with a low breathy voice, “Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving, but it’s the end of next month, and my brother isn’t sure if he’ll be available on that date.”
Sanji asked hesitantly, [Do you have something else?
Duanjia Xu: “Well, I might have to work overtime.”
Without waiting for her to reply, Duan Jia Xu sent another voice: “Let’s do this first, it’s still early, so go sleep for a while. By then, brother will take you to fix your cell phone by the way.”
Sang-Chi was a little confused: [My cell phone is not broken.]
Duan Jiaxu: “Huh? It’s not broken?”
Sanji: [Yeah.
Duanjash: “Brother thought you couldn’t type ‘you’ on your cell phone.”
Sanji: “……”
Duan Jia Xu: “Where did this ‘you’ word come from, why didn’t I see you honoring your brother before? A mouthful of you.”
San Zhi looked at the chat log on it and also felt that she just seemed a bit stupid. She pondered how to salvage the situation, her fingers frozen on the screen without moving.
The next second, Duan Jiaxu dragged his voice “ah”, and added: “This means is not it, the heart of the brother ah?”
His tone was lazy, trailing off slightly, and he spoke with a very distinct chuckle, like he was bored and casually scratching a cat that ran by him.
Sanji had been teased like this by him since he was a child.
It also feels annoying more often than not.
She tightened her cheeks, grimaced, and instantly sent a voice over, “That’s what my dad told me recently. You have to use honorifics when talking to anyone over twenty-five.”
“……”
“Good morning Brother Kash, your voice sounds very young.” Sanji said, “I hope your appearance is as young as your voice.”
“……”
–
This unexpected meeting has eased the relationship slightly.
Sang-chi no longer like before do not answer his phone, the two free time will also chat a little bit on WeChat, basically he instructed her something or other things, like an elder.
She also deliberately put herself into the role of “sister”, as if the remnants of her own little heart did not exist.
Thanksgiving Day is on a Thursday.
Duan Jia Xu had told her the day before that he didn’t know if he would be working overtime, and asked her to wait at the school, and that he would give her a call when he came over.
Sang-chi didn’t have much class and spent the afternoon in the dormitory drawing pictures on the computer.
Close to six o’clock, she got up and changed into a dress, put on a fine coat of makeup, even put on a rare eye makeup and false eyelashes, and highlighter and blush.
Soon, she suddenly didn’t feel quite right and unloaded it all again.
Sanji stared at his veiled face in the mirror.
It was an internal struggle for a while.
LOL.
That’s all.
Otherwise, with his character, he would have to say again in a while, “Little Sang-wa came to see his brother for a while, and dressed up so nicely on purpose, huh?”
Do! Dream!!!
She’d rather not be that pretty than give him a chance to narcissize.
Sanji went back to his seat to look at the computer.
Time passes by minute by minute, and without realizing it, it’s eight o’clock in the evening. Sang Zhi waited until his stomach was a little hungry and sent a tweet asking if he was not available.
But he didn’t answer half the time.
Sanjay hesitantly called him.
Still no answer.
Sang Zhi thought that he might have had to work overtime and didn’t see it, but also thought that if he really had to work overtime, he would have told her in advance. Without further hesitation, she called another one over.
This time the phone rang seven or eight times before the end picked up.
Sang Chi then sighed in relief, “Brother Jia Xu, are you working overtime?”
“I’m sorry, Sanji, brother just saw you call.” Surprisingly, his voice was a bit muffled, and he spoke slowly, like it was a bit hard, “I’m not going to go today, okay? Go eat something by yourself, don’t starve.”
Hearing his discomfort, Sang Chi whispered, “Brother, are you not feeling well?”
Duanjia Xu: “It’s fine.”
That’s no different than a default.
And by the sound of his voice, it sounded like it was pretty serious.
Sang Chi immediately grabbed her bag and walked outside, while asking, “Where are you not feeling well?”
His voice paused as if he was thinking, “Seems like a stomach ache? Maybe I ate the wrong thing yesterday. It’s fine, just take some medicine brother.”
Sanji frowned, “You’re not going to the hospital?”
Duan Jia Xu laughed softly, “I won’t go, thank you Xiao Sang Chi for caring about brother.”
Quickly stepping out of the dormitory building, Sang Chi happened to meet one of the new on-campus buses, and she sat on it, asking as she did so, “Brother Jia Xu, where is your company?”
“You’re coming over, huh?”
“Uh-huh.”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t say much, and slowly and methodically reported an address.
Sang-chi made a note of it and asked seriously, “Are you very uncomfortable, brother?”
His voice was soft, “It was okay.”
Sang Zhi thought for a moment and added, “Then you can sit in your position for a while, I’ll go over to you and take you to the hospital. If it’s really uncomfortable, we’ll call an ambulance, okay?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Which is so serious.”
“Then if you don’t feel well, you need to go to the hospital.” Sang Zhi was inexplicably a bit angry, her tone was fierce with it, “Which one says that it’s okay to endure it. Or else you can see if you still have any coworkers around, and have them send you to the hospital.”
“Why did you start your temper?” Duan Jia Xu seemed to be feeling amused, and his words carried a few hints of indulgence, “Xiao Sang Chi don’t be angry, brother be good, okay?”
“……”
“Brother is right here,” said Duanjash, “waiting for you to come and get brother.”
–
Duan Jiaxu’s company is in Gangbei Building, a large office building.
Sanji can be reached directly by subway.
She followed her cell phone map to find the location and walked into the building. This office building didn’t restrict access to people, and she was about to ask Duan Jia Xu what floor he was on when she found him sitting in the lobby on the first floor.
A couch was set up across from the front desk and he sat on it.
His face was extraordinarily pale, and his normally reddish lips had become bloodless. He leaned back on the sofa, his eyes half-closed, his hand resting vaguely on the lower right side of his abdomen, wondering if he was really having a hard time.
There was little expression on Duanjia Xu’s face.
Sanji walked over and called out, “Brother Kash.”
At the sound, Duan Jia Xu opened his eyes. Seeing her, his eyes curved into a beautiful crescent moon, and then he stretched out his hand and said diffidently, “Pull brother up.”
“It’s better to go to the hospital.” San Zhi grabbed his wrist and pulled him up with force, “Brother Jia Xu, do you still have a fever?”
He stood up straight and slowly said, “Seems like a bit?”
Sanji moved his hand up a bit and held his arm, “Is there a hospital around here?”
Duan Jiaxu thought back, “There’s a community hospital.”
Sanjay: “Let’s stop a car and go there then.”
Duan Jiaxu obediently said, “OK.”
Afraid of his difficulties, Sang Chi did not dare to walk too fast, two steps to move a little.
After walking for several meters, Duan Jiaxu asked, “Xiao Sangzhi, are you assisting the elderly?”
“……” Sanji looked at him.
“Didn’t think you were a child,” noticing her eyes, Duan Jia Xu remembered her previous words and dragged his voice out, “Brother really can’t change, is it okay to shout like this first?”
Didn’t think you were a kid.
Who are you kidding?
Sang-chi didn’t want to bother with him anymore, “Just shout it.”
Walking out from the building, there was a bus stop nearby besides the subway station. There were a bit too many people, and Sang Chi didn’t dare to get too close for fear that he would be squeezed. She looked ahead, turned back and said, “Brother Jia Xu, you wait for me here. I’ll go to the front to stop the bus, and call you over when I get it.”
Why is she treating this like a little princess.
Duan Jia Xu followed her and said with less concern, “I’ll go over with you.”
There was a lot of foot traffic in this location, the neighborhood was full of office buildings, and there were several sets of people who had just finished working overtime coming out. Some of them went in the direction of the subway station, and the rest of them were waiting for the bus over here.
Hearing his words, Sang Zhi turned back again, intending to help him over with him. At this exact moment, a bus just happened to arrive at the stop.
People who were still a good distance away immediately ran to catch up with the car.
One of them was in too much of a hurry and accidentally pushed Sang Chi. She wasn’t prepared, her body subconsciously leaned forward, trying to find something to stabilize herself, and her palm instantly supported Duan Jia Xu’s abdomen in front of her.
The next moment, Sanjay heard him seem to draw in a breath, his voice faintly audible.
The body also bowed down reflexively.
Sangji’s breath hitched and she immediately withdrew her hand, thinking that she should have touched the place where he felt pain. She tilted her head and her lips moved, a little anxious to ask him how he was doing.
Before he could say anything, Sanji felt a heat on his forehead.
Soft and warm to the touch.
If Sanji hadn’t sensed it wrong.
It was as if his lips, touching her forehead.
From this angle, she could only see the knot of Duan Jia Xu’s sliding throat, pulled into a nice line. Attached to it was the man’s hot breath, which swept towards her in an overwhelming manner.
Chapter 33
。。。。。
The touch was extremely brief, less than a second.
Sang Zhi’s mind was still blank, and she didn’t even have time to react. In the next second, she felt that Duan Jia Xu seemed to have frozen as well, and then immediately stood up straight and took a step back.
A not-so-distant distance was drawn between the two.
The position where they stood was at the back of the bus stop, behind the light, the light was extremely dim. Sang Zhi subconsciously raised his head, his expression was dull, and met his slightly dark gaze.
I don’t know what kind of psychology is at work, Sang Chi did not dare to meet his eyes, immediately retracted his eyes, inexplicably also took a step back, his hands and feet do not know where to put.
She didn’t know the right response to make.
It seems strange to react too much, and isn’t it wrong to react too little.
Either that or just pretend it didn’t happen.
Treat the accident as a trivial matter, and continue to talk to him as you normally would.
But Sanji couldn’t say anything.
When her head was confused, she wanted to rub her forehead with her sleeve, and when she raised her hand, she felt that her action was a bit obvious, so she had to touch her head instead.
Soon, Sangji heard Duan Jiaxu open his mouth. His breathing was a bit heavy, as if he was holding down some kind of pain, and his voice became low and muffled as a result: “I’m sorry.”
Sanji paused and looked at him again.
Only then did he realize that Duan Jia Xu’s face looked extremely poor. In this single-digit weather, there was a fine sweat on his forehead, and the hair at the corners of his forehead was wet. His lips were so pale that they were purple, his bite muscles were tightened, and his whole body was tense.
It was as if they were going to fall the next moment.
Sanji froze.
She had never encountered such a situation before, and instantly remembered where she seemed to have just bumped into him. She was so anxious that she stumbled over her words in fear, “Brother…are you having a hard time? Is it possible that I bumped into you somewhere ……”
“What you bumped into.” Duan Jia Xu calmed his breathing and barely curved his lips, “You then bumped it, and gave your brother the chance to touch the porcelain ah?”
“I’m sorry.” Sang Chi inexplicably wanted to cry a little, her eyes gradually turning red around her eyes, her voice taking on a nasal tone, “Brother, wait for me here for a moment, I’ll go stop a car.”
This time, Duan Jiaxu didn’t say anything else and slowly said, “Go.”
Just walked to the side of the road, there happened to be an empty cab driving over, Sang Chi hastily stopped it, and after talking to the driver, immediately jogged back next to Duan Jia Xu.
She helped Duanjia Xu in the direction of the cab.
Duan Jia Xu’s walking speed was a bit slower than just now, and it seemed like it hurt to move a bit. He suddenly heckled, his tone carrying a few hints of playfulness, “It seems like I’m really assisting the elderly this time.”
Sanji couldn’t stop laughing.
“Little Sanzhi, brother feels as if it’s not a stomachache?” Duan Jia Xu looked sideways at Sang Zhi, seemingly in thought, his speech slow, “But brother is still–“
“……”
“It really hurts a little.”
–
After getting in the car, the driver looked back and noticed Duan Jiaxu’s face: “Is this drunk or what? What’s the situation? You won’t throw up in the car.”
Perhaps the pain was eased a bit after sitting down, Duan Jia Xu’s face didn’t look as bad as it did just now, and said with a light smile, “Don’t worry, Master, I can endure it.”
The driver furrowed his brow and made it clear up front, “Two hundred dollars for throwing up.”
“If he vomits he will pay for it.” Sang Zhi was busy saying, “Uncle, he’s not feeling well, he’s not drinking. You drive the car to the city hospital, thank you.”
The driver said nothing more and started the car.
After saying that, Sang Chi subconsciously looked in Duan Jia Xu’s direction. He was leaning on the back of the chair, sitting in a lazy posture, with one hand still covering the lower right side of his abdomen.
Sanji didn’t want him to bother talking anymore, so he didn’t volunteer a word either.
Instead, it was Duan Jiaxu who opened his mouth first, “Sanzhi, fasten your seatbelt.”
She subconsciously oh-oh’d and tugged her seatbelt from the right rear, trying to buckle it when she suddenly remembered that he hadn’t buckled it either. Sanji’s movements stopped and instantly loosened, scooting up next to him.
Probably noticing her movements, Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids twitched, “What?”
Sanji probed for the seatbelt next to him and muttered, “I’ll fasten it for you.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Tie it for brother for what, brother let you tie it for yourself.”
“I’ll tie it for you, you sit properly.” Sang Zhi shook his head and insisted, “Brother you sleep for a while, you won’t feel the pain after you sleep, I’ll call you when we arrive.”
“Alright, then I’ll trouble Little Sangchih.” Duan Jia Xu didn’t refuse and sat in place, tilting his head to stare at her, “And you have to take care of brother.”
–
Fortunately, the city hospital is not far away.
The driver parked the car in front of the hospital, San Zhi paid the money and helped Duan Jia Xu into the hospital, while going to register him in the emergency room.
The doctor sent Duan Jia Xu to take a film and determined that it was acute appendicitis. Sang Zhi listened on the sidelines, roughly saying that his case had dragged on for quite a long time, and that if he came in later he would have been perforated.
It won’t be a small problem then.
She pursed her lips and glanced at him.
Duan Jia Xu didn’t seem to care too much, the corners of his eyes curved up and he just smiled.
The doctor then wrote something into the medical record book and told Sanji to go ahead and pay the money before scheduling the surgery.
Sang Chi nodded her head, looking at the slip while twisting her head to walk outside. Before she could take a few steps, Duan Jia Xu called out to her, “Sang Chi.”
Sanji turned around, “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a card inside, the password is brother’s birthday.” Duan Jia Xu handed her the wallet from his pocket, his tone was gentle and mild, “Thank you Little Sang Wiz for helping.”
She stared at him for a few seconds and took it, “Good.”
This is just a minor surgical procedure with very little risk and not much time.
After she paid her money and went back, Duan Jia Xu noticed the time and took the initiative to say, “Xiao Sang Zhi. It’s nine o’clock, you should go back to school, it’s not safe to go any later.”
Sanji didn’t move.
“It’s not a big deal,” Duan Jiaxu said, “This disease will be fine after surgery and a few days of rest. When you’re free, just come and see your brother.”
Sanjay handed the order to the doctor and said, “I’ll wait until you’re out and then go back.”
“It’s going to take an hour.” Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows, his face still close to sickly white, “You’re not bored out there alone?”
Sang Chi was not in a good mood and said sullenly, “You stop talking.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu laughed again, “Brother won’t say anything.”
Sang Chi didn’t say anything else and stood beside him in silence. It suddenly occurred to her that if she hadn’t made a dinner date with him today, she probably wouldn’t have gone to the hospital according to what he just said on the phone.
Her heart was inexplicably clogged.
–
After Duan Jia Xu went into the operating room, San Zhi sat outside and waited.
Afraid of her roommate’s worry, she said in the dormitory group, “I may be late tonight,” and then opened the webpage to search for “post-operative precautions for appendicitis”.
After a while, Sang Chi put away her cell phone and suddenly remembered the accident at the bus stop. She subconsciously touched her forehead. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, at this moment, the spot touched by him began to burn.
As if it were burning.
The scent of him pawing out in that moment still seemed to be wrapped around her.
Extremely intimate distance.
Forget it.
Don’t even think about it.
Don’t! Think! I’m not thinking about it!
She was the one who bumped into them first, and they apologized for being bumped instead.
Analyzing the situation on a case-by-case basis, it would be her taking advantage of him instead. And it’s not like it’s a big deal to just touch a forehead.
It’s not a child anymore ……
Looking at his reaction, he didn’t seem to be taking this too seriously either.
Not waiting for Sangji to continue to think, the cell phone in his hand vibrated, and the caller ID was “Mom”. Noticing the time at the top of the screen, Sangji quickly picked it up, “Mom.”
Li Ping’s voice came from the other end of the phone, “Only only, have you not returned to the dormitory yet?”
Because she came so far to school, before coming over, Li Ping said to her in advance that she would have to make a phone call every night at ten o’clock. If she had something to do, she could send her a WeChat to talk about it.
Sanji didn’t lie: “Yeah.”
Lai Ping: “Did you go out with your friends?”
“No,” Sang Chi said, “Mom, I met that friend of my brother’s over here, the one who tutored me when I was in middle school, Duan Jia Xu.”
Lai Ping: “Eh, mom remembers.”
“Since he also did me quite a favor, I wanted to treat him to a meal.” Sanji explained, “But he got sick, so I sent him to the hospital, where he is now.”
Li Ping: “Sick? Is it serious?”
Sanji: “It says it’s acute appendicitis, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.”
“Then you take more care of it, that kid doesn’t have much at home.” Li Ping sighed, “Take care of yourself, go back earlier, okay?”
“……” said Sang-chil, his attention caught by her words, and nebulized, “What does it mean that there’s not much in the house? How do you know that, mom?”
“Huh?” Liping said, “I don’t think I’ve mentioned this to you? But you shouldn’t mention it in front of him either. This friend of your brother’s, it seems like during, the winter break of the first semester of freshman year? Borrowed thirty thousand dollars from your brother.”
“……”
“How old was your brother then, how could he have this money, so he asked your father for it.” Li Ping said softly, “Said it was for his mom’s treatment. Later the money was paid back, but it seems to say that the person is gone too.”
Sang-chi was a bit speechless, and only after a long time did he say, “What about his father?”
“This mom doesn’t know.” Lai Ping said, “But if his father was there, how could this money be borrowed by a child?”
–
After the surgery, there is a one-week hospitalization.
Duan Jiaxu was put into a two-bed ward. He was wearing a hospital gown, his hair was hanging down in front of his forehead, his face was cold and white, and his mental state was not considered good.
The surgery was a local anesthesia, so he was still awake, with fluids infused into the back of his hand. Looking at Sang Zhi on the side, Duan Jia Xu curled his lips and reminded again, “Little Sang Zhi, it’s time for you to go back to school.”
Sanji whispered, “Got it.”
“Go out and stop a car, write down the license plate number and send it to your brother.” Duan Jia Xu said, “Then after you get to the dormitory, give your brother a call.”
“Oh.” Sang-chi grabbed the strap on her shoulder bag and hesitantly asked, “Does this surgery hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “There’s anesthetic, I don’t feel it.”
Sanji nodded, “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Come over when there are no classes.” Duan Jia Xu said, “There’s nothing for brother to do over here, so there’s no need for Xiao Sang Zhi to run back and forth every day.”
“……,” Sanji looked at him, “See you later Brother Kash.”
“Uh, bye.”
Seeing her leave the hospital room, Duan Jia Xu picked up the cell phone on the side and looked at it. Noticing that Sang Yan had called him, his eyebrows lifted and he called back slowly and methodically.
Listening to the mechanical dripping sound ringing in his ears, Duan Jia Xu suddenly remembered what happened by the station.
And Sanji’s reaction.
The little girl was extremely caught off guard, and seemed to be frightened, not even daring to look at him. Perhaps even feeling a bit embarrassed, she didn’t say a word for half a day.
Maybe it’s still a big deal?
Without waiting for the other end to pick up, Duanjia Xu hung up the phone.
Finally had the time and energy to think about it.
Counting, this kid should be twenty in a few months? Even if we don’t count the age, that behavior he just did, it seems like he took advantage of someone else’s little girl.
Or his brother’s sister.
Sort of a kid he watched grow up.
And it’s twenty years old, he can’t always tease her like that. It wouldn’t be good if the kid’s mind got up and mistook him for a brute.
Little girls are probably more concerned about that?
Duan Jiaxu touched his eyebrows and inexplicably had a few …… guilty feelings.
He suddenly remembered her previous online love interest.
At this point in time, the cell phone rang, interrupting his mood. It was Sang Yeon calling.
Duanjia Xu picked it up, pondering whether or not to confess about it.
Sang Yan’s voice came from the other end with a lazy tone, “Brother, did you cut your appendix? How does it taste.”
“Quite good.” Duan Jiaxu tugged at the corner of his lips and said diffidently, “You can try it.”
“Handsome people don’t have this stuff, understand?” Speaking of which, Sang Yeon mentioned something, “I heard that my sister sent you to the hospital, huh?”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
“You need a ride for this problem? Can’t you go to the hospital yourself?” Sang Yeon said idly, “Do you think you can take a life? It hurts to take the initiative to go to the hospital on your own, and that’s the end of it.”
Duanjia Xu: “Is that why you called?”
“I just happen to be free here, and when I heard you were sick, I called to celebrate.” Sang Yan said, “Since you’re fine even, I’ll go to bed.”
“Wait a minute,” Duan Jia Xu was silent for a few seconds, “I’ll tell you something.”
“Say.”
Duanjia Xu deliberated on how to phrase it.
What does that say.
Say I just accidentally kissed your sister, and the little human girl kinda minded.
I hope you as a brother don’t mind.
Isn’t there something wrong with that?
“Forget it.” Duanjash said, “It’s nothing.”
“……” Sang Yan side also quiet for a while, soon said, “I’m especially not accustomed to your point, a big old man’s talk like a little girl, what can not be straight talk?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Hanging up.”
“Later.” Sang Yan seemed to be interested, “Brother, I heard that you’re going on another blind date recently? This boss of yours is quite enthusiastic, how many have you been introduced to.”
“……”
“Is there one that’s a done deal? I see you don’t have a date now.” Sang Yeon said, “Okay, brother. I’ll teach you, so don’t talk like you did before.”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t even move his eyelids, “How am I supposed to talk?”
“I’ve been too embarrassed to hit you with the tone of your voice.” Sanjan’s speech was slow, “You know, a little too earthy.”
“……”
“It doesn’t look like you’re into sibling love,” Sang Yeon said, “Bro, I’m just telling you, the post-90s nowadays don’t like that.”
Duan Jiaxu’s brow jumped, “Post-90s?”
“We post 90s are more hip, get it?” Sang Yeon said leisurely, “I know you, the post-80s, don’t get it, but you have to keep up with the times.”
Duanjia Xu and Sangayan are a year apart.
One ’89, one ’90.
Duan Jiaxu was speechless to the point of straightening up, “You’re really idle, hang up.”
He glanced at the time, calculating how long it would take to get from here to Yiho University, and was about to make a call to ask if Sanji had gotten on the bus yet, when his afterglow noticed a bit of movement on the other side of the door.
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes.
Immediately saw that the person who had just left was back at this moment. She stood next to the door, didn’t move, seemingly afraid of being scolded by him, her voice was small: “Brother Jia Xu, should I still accompany you?”
“……”
“I have a feeling if it was me who was sick.” Sanji scratched his head, “You shouldn’t have left either.”
Chapter 34
。。。。。
In the small two-bedded room, the other bed was empty. At this time, Duan Jia Xu was the only one in the ward, the room was excessively quiet, appearing empty and lonely. He lay flat on the bed, his throat knots sliding down, not speaking.
The corners of his lips were flat, his face expressionless. It was impossible to tell what was on his mind.
Without his consent, Sang-chi didn’t dare to go in, and could only ask again, “Is it okay?”
Duan Jiaxu then opened his mouth and asked softly, “Have you eaten?”
“I just went to the neighborhood to buy a loaf of bread,” Kuwabara blinked, hesitantly walking next to him and handing him the bag to look at, “and a box of oolong tea.”
“Can you get full eating this?” Duan Jiaxu swept his eyes, “Order a takeout and eat it.”
Sanji shook his head, “I’m not too hungry.”
Duan Jiaxu: “You haven’t eaten anything here, why aren’t you hungry?”
“Just not hungry.” Sangji put the bag on the table next to him, turned around and moved the chair at the end of the bed to the bedside, moving slowly, “I’ll eat if I want to, I’m not going to starve myself when I’m this old.”
Duan Jiaxu stared at her and suddenly smiled, not saying anything else.
Sanjay sat down in the chair, took the bread out, and whispered, “I just asked the nurse, and you’ll have to lie flat on your back for six hours, and then you won’t be able to get out of bed until twelve hours later.”
“Uh-huh.”
Sanjay took a bite of bread and grunted, “And then you can’t eat right now, and you’ll have to be on a liquid diet for the rest of the week. This IV will take like three days.”
Duan Jiaxu listened absently and answered again, “Uh-huh.”
The room was quiet after that.
All that was left was the small rustling noise that Sanji made as he ate.
The hospital room was heated, and it didn’t take long for Sanji to feel a little hot sitting there. She stood up and took off her jacket, folding it a few times and hanging it on the chair.
Noticing her movement, Duan Jia Xu glanced over, his gaze fixed for a few seconds before he faintly said, “What kind of skirt are you wearing in this winter.”
The silence was suddenly broken.
Sanji looked up numbly, just in time to meet his slightly upturned eyes.
It sounded the same as if her mother had caught her not|wearing fall pants in the fall.
This person was, in a way, like a combined version of her dad, her mom, and her brother. He was always being disciplined to dress on his side of the family, and Sanji didn’t want to be disciplined when he came over to this side of the family.
“It’s a long dress.” Sanji lowered his head and continued to nibble on his bread, “You can wear it if you want.”
“……”
Duanjia Xu skimmed his head to look at her.
The way she eats is still exactly the same as before, her cheeks bulging out, like a small puffer fish. He kind of wanted to laugh, but was afraid of pulling the wound, and spoke softly, “It’s colder over here than over in Nanwu. Just take care of yourself, it’s not good to get sick.”
Hearing this, Sang Chi inexplicably remembered the last time she came to Yiho. The contents of her mouth suddenly became difficult to swallow, and without looking at him, she picked up the oolong tea and took a sip, nodding her head.
After barely finishing the bread, San Zhi looked at the time, “Brother Jia Xu, do you want to sleep?”
“What time is it?”
“It’s almost eleven.”
Duanjia Xu: “How do you sleep?”
Sang-chi thought for a moment, “I’ll rent a companion chair, it doesn’t cost much.”
“A companion chair? It’s not hard for you to fall asleep?” Duan Jia Xu frowned, obviously disagreeing, “The bed next to it is empty, go rent that one.”
“No need.” Sanji muttered, “It’s not like I’m here to enjoy myself.”
“……”
Without waiting for him to say anything else, Sang Chi got up and headed out, “Then, Brother Jia Xu, you brew some sleep first. I’ll go out and ask.”
Companion chairs are only a dozen dollars a day to rent.
After paying the money, taking this time, Sang Zhi Zhi incidentally went to the neighborhood to buy a double supply of toiletries. When he returned to the hospital room, Duan Jia Xu was looking at his cell phone, as if he was sending a message to someone.
Sanji looked away and didn’t say anything.
“Why did you go for so long?” Duan Jia Xu put his cell phone down and asked, “What did you buy?”
“Toothpaste, toothbrush, and a towel.” Sanji turned the things out, “I want to go wash up.”
Duanjia Xu: “Well, go ahead.”
After taking two steps, Sang Chi suddenly remembered something and turned back hesitantly, “Brother Jia Xu, do you want to wipe your face? Brushing your teeth shouldn’t be possible yet.”
–
There was quite a lot of stuff, so Sanji simply took the whole bag.
There wasn’t much in the restroom, so she set her things down on the counter, took a deep breath, and warmly began to wash, her mind beginning to consider what she was going to do in a few moments.
Asked in the heat of the moment.
Because it felt like if she didn’t initiate the question, he wouldn’t initiate the request.
But it’s nothing, I guess.
She’d fallen before, and he’d treated her wounds.
It’s not too dirty either.
He’d wiped her face too.
And he’s too sick to do anything on his own now.
It was supposed to stay here to take care of him.
You can’t propose this yourself and then regret it for half a day afterward, isn’t that too petty?
Without further dilly-dallying, Sanji took the towel out of the bag and went to the shower and washed it down with hot water.
Then it was back to the ward.
Sang Chi found a spot to put his things away and walked next to Duan Jia Xu, informing him in advance, “Brother Jia Xu, I’ll wipe your face.”
“No need.” Duan Jia Xu didn’t seem to intend for her to come, “Bring it here, I’ll just wipe it myself.”
“How do you wipe yourself.” Sang Zhi was already embarrassed, at this time by his refusal, inexplicably a bit of anger. She frowned and sat down on the edge of the bed, her tone hard and cold, “If you tear the wound later, you’ll have to stay in the hospital for a few more days.”
Duan Jia Xu paused and smiled instead, “Why are you always angry with me today?”
“…… “Sang-chi didn’t look him in the eye, folded the towel smaller and wiped it down from his forehead in a smooth motion, “Where did I lose my temper, I talk like this all the time.”
She didn’t hesitate any longer and went straight to the top.
The towel ran from his forehead to his eyes.
Duan Jia Xu subconsciously closed his eyes.
She didn’t lean too close to him, her movements were careful and light, and no hands touched him.
Duan Jia Xu basically had never been taken care of like this.
Nor did he ever think that he would be taken care of like this. He didn’t like to trouble others, and besides, this was still, despite being an adult, a little kid who he still felt hadn’t grown up yet and still needed to be protected and taken care of by a lot of people.
The warm touch of the towel then moved to the bridge of his nose, then to his cheeks and chin.
Duanjia Xu opened his eyes.
The eyes collided with Sanji’s.
Her eyes are large and bright, with a pronounced crease in her eyelids and curly, arched eyelashes that look like little two-bristled brushes. The corners of her eyes were naturally droopy and shaped a bit like puppy eyes.
It looks clean and pure.
It was fixed for a few seconds.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze slipped slightly and he lazily said, “Wiped?”
“Wipe it off.” Sanji withdrew her eyes and her hand with them. Quickly, she stood up, “I’ll go wash the towel.”
Then, Sanji exited the hospital room. Her forced composure immediately collapsed and her spine instantly relaxed. She slowly calmed her breathing and suppressed her accelerating heartbeat.
It’s not.
How could these eyes suddenly open when they were closed properly.
Couldn’t you have said something in advance?
— “I’m going to open my eyes.”
— “You get ready.”
Can’t you?
Can’t you?
Scary.
Scary! Dead! People! Oh, my God!
Sanji recalled how he had just reacted.
It should be kinda normal.
There didn’t seem to be any overreaction, and it was completely just treated as an unusually normal thing to do.
The attitude is not condescending.
Sanji gradually relaxed.
At the end of the day, there was only one thought left in his mind.
It was the first and last time in her life that she would wipe his face.
–
Back in the hospital room, Sanji opened the companion chair and sat on it. She thought about it and planned to use her jacket as a quilt and make do with a night’s sleep.
Duan Jia Xu was still awake. Seeing this, he called out, “Sang Chi.”
Sanji looked up, “What’s wrong?”
Duanjash: “Take my jacket and sleep on it.”
Sanji paused, “Oh.”
He was wearing a long coat today, spread out larger than her entire body. Sanji spread out onto the companion chair and cleaned up a bit, while getting up to the point where he turned off the lights.
Duanjia Xu didn’t speak again.
Sang Zhi fished her cell phone out of her own jacket, turned the brightness down, and realized that Ning Wei had called her several times. She froze, suddenly remembering that she hadn’t told her roommate that she wasn’t going back today.
She immediately opened WeChat and said in the dormitory group, [I’m not going back today, I have a brother I know–]
Sangji thought for a moment, changed the word “brother” to “sister”, and then continued to lose: [– sick, I’m taking care of him in the hospital].
Sanji: [I didn’t look at my cell phone just now.]
Ning Wei: [Eh, it’s fine. Seeing that you didn’t come back so late and didn’t answer the phone for half a day scared me a bit.]
Ning Wei: [Also, Jiang Ming seems to be looking for you for something. He said that you haven’t been answering WeChat, so I told him that you went out with a friend and haven’t come back yet].
Sanji: [Good.
Sanji exited the chat window and slid down.
Since Ning Wei’s birthday last time, Sang Zhi rarely saw this person again. He hadn’t asked her out, only occasionally looking for her to chat, which wasn’t too often.
She tapped on the chat window with Jiang Ming.
Seeing that he had only sent her a couple of hilarious snippets, down the line he was left with is a couple of voice overs of a few seconds. She tried to convert it to text, her hand shook, and she just clicked on it.
The boy’s clear voice rang out instantly, echoing in the small room.
“Sanji, are you free–“
Sang Chi was startled and immediately pressed the power button.
That was forcibly interrupted as well.
Sang Chi couldn’t help but look at Duan Jia Xu, her breath subconsciously held. But because her vision was too dim, she couldn’t tell if he was asleep.
After waiting for half a day, Sang Chi didn’t see him speak. She sighed in relief and gently rolled over.
Tapped his phone again to look at it.
Sang Zhi didn’t dare to click on those voices again, and planned to listen to them tomorrow before returning. She looked at tomorrow’s class schedule and wondered if she would be able to make it back for the first class, so she sent a message to Ning Wei: [I may not be able to make it to the Civics class tomorrow, so you can help me order one for me].
Ning Wei: [ok.
San Zhi turned off her screen and put her phone to the side, her body curled up in her jacket. She sniffled, and underneath was Duan Jia Xu’s jacket. It was like all of his scent was taking over around her body.
A light tobacco aroma, combined with the scent of lime.
Like a big, grown-up boy.
Inexplicably, it gave her a sense of security.
Perhaps it was because she was in an unfamiliar environment, Sang Chi was somewhat unable to sleep, and after brewing for a while with her eyes closed, she didn’t feel like sleeping. She couldn’t help but roll over, wanting to play with her cell phone for a while longer.
Sanji reached out cautiously, feeling his way toward the table.
At this time, Duan Jia Xu suddenly made a sound, “Can’t sleep?”
Sanji’s movements lurched and he nodded, “Uh-huh.”
“Because the voice didn’t finish?”
“…… “Sang Chi looked at him, and instantly felt that the emotions she had just been up and down with were like a joke. She held her tongue a little, “You heard me and you’re still pretending to be asleep.”
“What pretending to be asleep?” He laughed, “I just didn’t say anything.”
“That’s pretending to be asleep.” Sang Chi said in a depressed voice, “Why do you like eavesdropping so much.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu’s voice rose, “Didn’t you put that there yourself? You’re a little young to have learned how to touch a porcelain, aren’t you?”
Sang-chi couldn’t talk him out of it and pulled his jacket over his head, “I’m not talking to you, I’m going to sleep.”
Duanjia Xu: “It’s not that you can’t sleep?”
Sanji: “You have to sleep even if you can’t.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Come to have a chat with your brother?”
Sanji bared his eyes and looked over, “Talking about what.”
“Do you want to keep listening to the voice over?” His voice took on a few hints of playfulness, “Let my brother listen to who wants to ask our little Sanji out.”
Sanji was not pleased, “It’s not like you know.”
Duan Jia Xu: “I won’t recognize it if you say it. You describe it, and my brother will help you with it.”
Convinced.
Just said she looks like Lai Ping when she wears a dress in winter.
Now it’s like Sang Yong again.
Sanjay: “You have to be a gatekeeper to ask me out to dinner?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Isn’t this because I’m afraid you’ll be cheated at your young age?”
Sanji said perfunctorily, “Oh, okay.”
Without waiting for Duan Jiaxu to say anything else, she rubbed her eyes and added, “It’s a bit much, I wouldn’t be able to say it all in one night–“
“……”
“You take a notebook and write it down.”
Chapter 35
。。。。。
Upon hearing this, Duan Jiaxu looked at her sideways. His eyes looked a little bright in the dimness, and the corner of his lips curved up, saying with interest, “Can’t you finish talking all night?”
“It would have been.”
“Little Sang Wiz is so popular, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” Sanji said rightly, “I’m pretty.”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows raised and he didn’t say anything.
This sudden silence was as much a denial of her words as it was a denial of her words.
Sang Zhi’s mood is a bit unpleasant, retracted his eyes, picked up the cell phone on the table: “You go to sleep, nothing to pry into the young people’s lives for what.”
“……”
Sanji grunted, “It’s not like you understand.”
“You two siblings are doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Duan Jiaxu’s voice rose, and he said diffidently, “Attacking my age all day long, did you agree in advance?”
Sang Chi looked at him, “How did my brother attack you? Aren’t you two the same age?”
One hundred paces of laughter.
“He thinks he’s young.” Duan Jia Xu laughed softly, and brought back to what had just happened, “Alright, let’s start talking.”
Sanji didn’t respond, “What.”
“I’ll be your gatekeeper.” At this point, he suddenly remembered something, with a little bit of laughter in his voice, “Ah. By the way, Xiao Sang-chi give brother a book.”
“……”
“Brother remember well.”
Sang Chi stared at him for a few seconds. Soon, she turned her back and lit up the screen of her cell phone, the meaning of not wanting to talk any more was obvious: “I’m not telling you.”
–
The next morning, Sang Chi still didn’t have the heart to reluctantly wipe his face again, and afterward rubbed his arms and palms in passing.
This time, Duan Jia Xu didn’t suddenly open his eyes like last time, nor did he say anything else.
But Sanji hadn’t been looking into his eyes either, her vision glowing empty. She tried to keep her mind on it, as if she were rubbing an immobile corpse.
Before leaving, Sang Chi thought for a moment and asked, “Brother Jia Xu, is there anything else you need, I’ll bring it to you when I come over tonight.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu seemed to still be a little sleepy, his eyelids half-closed, “There’s a key in my jacket, take it. Help brother bring the computer in the room.”
“……” said Sanji, “What do you need a computer for.”
Duanjia Xu raised his eyes and smiled, “Work.”
Sang Zhi froze, and his expression instantly became a bit ugly, “Didn’t you take all the time off, and why are you working when you’re sick? It’s not like your boss is going to give you extra money.”
Duan Jia Xu looked at her and didn’t say anything.
Sanji: “I’m not taking it, I’ll watch and take the others for you, I’m leaving.”
After that she left the hospital room.
Sangji listened to a few of Jiang Ming’s voices on the subway: “Sangji, are you free? I’m playing a game with my friends at the playground. –Are you coming over? –I heard Ning Wei say that you haven’t gone back to school yet, it’s not safe to go back to school alone this late, why don’t I pick you up?”
She hesitated and replied, [Sorry, I haven’t been checking my phone yesterday. Thank you for your concern]
San Zhi first went back to the dormitory to take a shower and change his clothes.
Afterwards, they went to the school building to attend classes. Sang Zhi’s Friday class wasn’t too small, and it lasted until six o’clock in the afternoon. She didn’t have time to eat, and after class she took the subway to Duan Jia Xu’s house.
After leaving the subway station, Sang Chi followed her cell phone’s navigation to find her location.
This side of the area is a residential area, next to the city library, but there is still a small distance from where Duan Jiaxu lives. There is a food street and a small square nearby, which is particularly lively.
Sang Zhi used his door card to enter the neighborhood, found the building where Duan Jia Xu lived, and went up to the fifteenth floor.
There are four houses on the first floor here, and the house where Duan Jiaxu lives faces south. She walked over, took the key and opened the door, not too familiarly touching the wall, found the switch and turned on the light.
The interior was decorated in dark tones, with the living room’s sofa and coffee table in gray and black, and the walls painted a similar color. Wooden floors with a dark square rug in the center.
A half-opened book sat on the couch next to a tall table lamp.
The curtains were closed and the house looked a little stuffy.
Sanji took her shoes off and looked at the only pair of slippers on the shoe rack and hesitated to wear them. She walked in with her socks on, thinking about what to bring.
She glanced around the living room.
Suddenly I noticed three picture frames sitting on the TV stand.
One was a group photo of Duan Jia Xu and their entire dormitory in their bachelor’s degree uniforms, and next to it was the photo of the two of them that Sang Zhi had taken with him at the graduation ceremony. She saw this photo for the first time and subconsciously looked at it a few more times.
At that time, she was only up to his shoulders and looked a little tender. Wearing a powder blue dress, standing twenty centimeters away from him, the corners of her lips revealed two small pear swirls.
Duan Jiaxu put his hand on her head, his demeanor dangling, his smile was bright.
The shots are kinda nice too.
Sang Chi licked her lips, and like a thief, she took out her cell phone and snapped that picture. Her eyes shifted, and she suddenly noticed that on the other photo frame, there was also a group photo.
That photo is obviously old and the tones are all different.
Duan Jiaxu in the photo looks no more than ten years old.
He was wearing a school uniform, and next to him stood a woman who was slightly shorter than him by half a head. The two had extremely similar eyebrows, and both had a faint smile on their faces.
Thinking of Li Ping’s words, Sang Zhi instantly understood the identity of this person. She squatted down, thought for a moment, and whispered, “Hello Auntie, I’m Sang Zhi, the sister of Brother Jia Xu’s friend.”
After a few seconds, Sang Chi added, “Brother Jia Xu didn’t come home yesterday because he was sick and had a minor surgery, but it wasn’t serious. I’m just here now to get something for him, so don’t worry.”
After saying that, Sang Chi stood up, took out her cell phone and searched “what do I need to bring for hospitalization”, and took them one by one according to what was marked on them. When she noticed the words “intimate apparel”, her line of sight was drawn.
And then turned to the closet in his room.
“……”
Why is she doing this again.
Sanji closed her eyes and opened the closet to see two new boxes sitting inside. She sighed in relief and dropped the boxes directly into the bag.
She looked upward, wrestling with the idea of bringing more clothes.
Suddenly I saw an extremely familiar tie.
It was a birthday present she gave him when she came back to Yee Hee City last time.
Sanji’s vision paused for a few seconds and slammed the closet shut.
Forget it.
That’s it.
She’s been kind.
–
Sang Zhi exited Duan Jia Xu’s house and walked to the elevator room to wait for the elevator. Bored, she took out her cell phone and flipped through it before taking it back into her pocket. The elevator arrived just in time.
Inside stood a woman with a clean face, wearing a designer dress with a strong perfume odor. She seemed to be calling someone, but the other party never answered, so her expression wasn’t too good.
The woman looked at Sanji and walked out.
Sanji stepped into the elevator with him.
The moment the elevator doors closed.
San Zhi saw that the woman seemed to be heading in the direction of Duan Jia Xu’s house.
But it could be the one next to it.
Sanji lowered his eyes, not taking this to heart.
By the time Sanji arrived at the hospital, it was almost eight o’clock.
She walked into the hospital room and found another bed occupied by a sixty or seventy year old grandfather with a middle aged man sitting next to him who looked like he should be his son.
Three men of considerable age difference were chatting.
Sanji put a couple bags in his hand on the table.
Noticing the commotion, Duan Jia Xu turned his head, his eye lashes moving, “Why did you bring so many things?”
Exhausted and a little out of breath from talking, Sangji immediately sat down on a chair and took off his jacket, “It’s not much, it feels like it’s all going to be used.”
Duan Jiaxu glanced into the bag and said slowly, “What’s the point of bringing so many clothes?”
“I just brought two sets, and a jacket you can wear when you’re cold.” Sanji took the bottle out of his bag and took a sip of water, “And the charger and stuff I brought for you too.”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed, “Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet.” Sang Chi just remembered this and didn’t feel hungry, “I came over as soon as I got out of class, I didn’t have time. I’ll go eat later.”
Hearing this, Duan Jia Xu glanced at the time, “It’s eight o’clock, haven’t you eaten yet?”
Sangji took a chocolate out to nibble on, taking out his cell phone in the process to reply to the message, “I’m not very hungry, I’ll go eat later.”
“Eat now.”
“……” Sang Chi raised her eyes, not in a very painful mood, “It’s not like I’m not eating, I just brought so many things over, can’t you just let me sit down for a while.”
The old grandfather in the next bed suddenly spoke out at this time, smiling, “Young man, is this your daughter-in-law?”
“……”
Sanji’s fire disappeared in a flash. She jerked her head up and almost choked.
Duan Jiaxu’s expression lurched and suddenly laughed, his tone taking on a few absurdities, “Grandpa, how do you see this my daughter-in-law?”
The old grandfather stared at Sang Chi, his face kind, “The little girl is so handsome.”
Fearing that Sang Zhi’s thin skin would feel embarrassed, Duan Jiaxu spoke up again and said, “Master, this is my sister, not my daughter-in-law.”
At those words, the old grandpa looked at Duan Jia Xu, “Eh, I know your daughter-in-law is good-looking.”
Sanji: “……”
Duanjash: “……”
The middle aged man opened his mouth at this time, a little embarrassed, “Sorry ah, my dad s ear is a little serious …… so he didn t even talk much just now.”
After saying that, the middle-aged man came to the old grandfather’s ear and raised his volume to yell, “Dad! That’s someone’s sister! Not a wife! It’s the sister! Not a wife!”
Gramps ah’d and nodded as if in a daze, “Still not married?”
Sang Chi also felt anxious as he listened from the side, and couldn’t help but make a sound, “Grandpa, no, it’s not that relationship.”
“Young man, I see you’re not too young, why don’t you get married?” The old grandpa said, “We can’t keep the little girl waiting for long.”
“……”
Sanji felt like he was going to choke.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t hold back his laughter, his chest heaving, “Grand Master, can you stop making me laugh? I still have a wound on this stomach.”
The old grandfather got serious: “Young man, I’m not kidding you. How handsome this object of yours is, and he can also take care of people. If you don’t cherish it, you won’t even have time to regret it.”
Duan Jiaxu gave up the fight: “Okay, I understand.”
Sanji still struggled, “Grandpa, it really isn’t.”
“Young man, you have to treat people well.” The old grandpa said in a serious tone, “The other little girl also brought you so many things, and it’s not too much to ask.”
Duan Jiaxu nodded, “Okay.”
“……,” Sanji couldn’t stand it anymore, “I’m leaving.”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu turned back his head. Noticing Sang Zhi’s expression, he collected the smile on his lips, coughed lightly, and said in a serious manner, “Don’t pay attention to this, people can’t hear you, just take it as a joke, okay?”
Sang Chi pretended not to hear. She slowly exhaled and said in a dying breath, “Grandpa. I’m really not his date, he’s much older than me. He’s much older than me. He could be my father.”
Duanjash: “……”
“Well, it’s good to be a father.” Old Grandpa nodded repeatedly and seemed to be extremely agreeable, “You guys get married early and have a big fat kid early. Stabilize and everything is good.”
“…… “Sang Chi also gave up and looked at Duan Jia Xu, “Brother Jia Xu, I’m leaving.”
Duan Jia Xu covered the location of the wound with one hand, as if he was trying his hardest to hold back a laugh, his voice seemed hoarse for a few moments, “Okay, be careful on your own way, and remember to eat.”
Kuwabara pursed her lips and put on her jacket, “Uh-huh.”
Duan Jia Xu: “Give me a call when you get to the dormitory.”
Sang Chi oh-so-quietly. She pressed on, not wanting to pay attention to that old grandpa anymore, but still reluctantly said goodbye to them in order to maintain the appearance of politeness.
She said a quick goodbye, then turned her head in the direction of the door.
In the next second, Sang Chi could still hear the old grandfather behind him saying, “Eh, is your daughter-in-law going back?”
Accompanied by Duan Jia Xu’s cynical laughter, he seemed to find his words extremely amusing and echoed, “Well, my daughter-in-law is going back.”
“……”
Can he have it! Point! Face!
–
For the next six days, Sanji came over as usual when he was free.
The next bed is still always the same old grandpa. He seemed to have quite a few children, and the person accompanying him changed from one day to the next. He talked a lot and often chatted with Duan Jia Xu and Sang Zhi.
The talk is always about that same topic.
Like it’s the only thing that interests them.
Like right now.
The old grandfather looked at the two of them and said amiably, “When are you planning to get married?”
Duan Jia Xu lazily said, “We’re not getting married, it’s not that kind of relationship.”
Hearing this, the old grandpa immediately slapped up his face in obvious disapproval, “How can you not get married! Aren’t you delaying other girls!”
Sanji: “……”
The old grandpa said bitterly with the air of a man who has been there before, “Get married early and stabilize early. Marriage isn’t something to be feared, two people who are right for each other, together, will live a good life.”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyebrows, “Okay.”
Grandpa asked again, “So when are you going to tie the knot?”
Duan Jiaxu glanced in Sang Zhi’s direction. He hadn’t shaved for a few days, and stubble grew on his chin, making him look a little more mature, and he hung back and said, “The human girl hasn’t reached the legal age for marriage yet, so let’s give it two more years.”
“……”
At the back, Sang Chi directly blocked their words. Once they started chatting, she put on her headphones, and when she heard them, she pretended she didn’t hear them.
After a full week’s hospitalization, Duanjash was discharged with his stitches removed.
On that day, Sang Chi went over early and helped him pack up his things. Before leaving, the old grandpa sat on the hospital bed and watched them for two days with a big smile, “Getting discharged?”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed, “You take care of your body, grandpa, and get better sooner.”
Gramps nodded, “You two are in for a treat.”
Duanjia Xu was about to say something.
This time instead, it was Sang Wiz who opened his mouth first, “Got it.”
Duanjash skimmed his head at her.
Noticing his line of sight in the afterglow, Sang Chi also looked over. Seemingly enduring it for a long time, she stared straight at him, her eyes dark and unable to see her emotions.
And then, word for word, “Will get married as soon as possible.”
“……”
Chapter 36
。。。。。
Out of the ward.
Duan Jia Xu looked at her sideways. He had changed back to his own clothes today, a military green short jacket with a white sweater underneath, as well as slim black pants.
Clean shaven, looking younger, like a college student.
He leaned down slightly, leveling his eyes with Sang Chi. As if he thought it was new to hear such words from her, he curved his lips and said in a teasing manner, “Getting married as soon as possible?”
Sang-chi also stared at him, without blinking: “Didn’t you take the lead first?”
Noticing that she was indeed in a bad mood, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows and stood up straight: “Angry?”
A few seconds of silence.
“Not angry. It’s just that, brother,” Sanji stopped and said seriously, “you should never joke around like that again.”
Even if you know it’s a joke.
But because she knew better than that, he wouldn’t really like her.
So, she didn’t find it funny at all.
He could frankly treat it as a joke, and say those words without a trace of unnaturalness in his countenance. It was also as if he were making a joke of her little mind, her careful concealment, in such a way that he knew nothing of it.
Sang Zhi lowered her eyes, wanting to say something, but she didn’t say it. She suddenly let out her breath and continued to walk forward, “Let’s go, I still have some things to do in a while.”
Duan Jia Xu collected his laughter and slowed down his steps to follow her, “Really angry?”
“No.”
“It’s not that brother has been hospitalized for too long and is a bit idle.” Duan Jia Xu rubbed the back of his neck with his palm and added, “Brother gave you an apology?”
“No need.” Sanji whispered, “Just don’t do that in the future.”
Seeing her mind so much, Duan Jia Xu’s eyebrows jumped, his mood a little hard to describe. After a long while, he seemed to feel good and funny, and suddenly popped out, “Brother isn’t that bad, right?”
“……”
“Can you make little Sanji that unhappy?”
Hearing this, Sang Chi twisted his head to look at him, his face devoid of expression. The corners of his eyes were slightly raised, his peach blossom eyes deep and mesmerizing, his tone half joking.
Seeing this, she inexplicably wanted to give him a hard time as well.
Sanji said seriously, “It just can.”
“……”
“Brother, I didn’t mean anything else, I’m just being honest.” Sang Chi’s words warmed and swallowed, “After hearing that I went back and cried all night.”
“……”
–
Duan Jiaxu was so sick that the company granted him half a month’s vacation. After being discharged from the hospital, he was able to rest at home for a week to recuperate.
After leaving the hospital, the two of them stopped a cab to Duan Jia Xu’s house.
Duanjia Xu only has one pair of slippers at home.
He glanced away, barefoot himself, and put his slippers in front of Sanji’s face for her to wear.
Sang Chi wasn’t bashful and put it on straight away. She motioned for Duan Jia Xu to sit on the couch for a while while she threw all the clothes she brought back into the washing machine and put the rest of his things back in their original places for him.
The slippers looked huge on her feet and she walked a beat slower.
Afterward, Sang Chi sat down next to Duan Jia Xu and took a stack of sticky notes out of his bag.
Duanjia Xu nestled on the sofa, lazily playing a game.
Sanji opened her cell phone and did a web search for precautions, plus the instructions the doctor had given her. She read them in pairs, then plopped down on the coffee table and copied them down sentence by sentence.
Noticing her movement, Duan Jiaxu looked over and asked, “What are you writing?”
“Just the do’s and don’ts after you get out of the hospital.” With his eyes lowered, Sanji explained, “I’ll write it up and stick it on the fridge for you, so you’ll have to pay attention to it when you eat.”
Growing up, Sang Wiz didn’t take care of anyone. So she wasn’t very good at it, and she couldn’t remember many things, so she looked them up on the internet.
Duan Jia Xu’s movements stopped and faintly hmmmed.
“By the way, don’t sit all the time, walk around more.” Sangji said as he thought, “And then don’t carry heavy objects, do strenuous exercise or anything.”
“OK.”
“Also, if there’s anything you need, let me know and I’ll take the time to get it for you.” Kuwabara calmly said, “And then on a normal day, I probably won’t come over much.”
“……”
“Get yourself in shape.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’ve fallen behind on a lot of homework lately and it’s also the end of the semester, so I have to prepare for my exams.” Sanji looked up at him, “That meal I was going to treat you to, let’s wait until you’re better.”
“There’s no need for Little Sang Wizards to treat.” Duan Jia Xu laughed softly, “Brother treats you.”
Sanji blinked, “Then we’ll see.”
She put the pen down, stood up, and put the written sticky note on the refrigerator. Afterwards, Sangji returned to the living room and put her jacket on, “Then, brother, I’ll leave first.”
Duan Jiaxu stood up, “I’ll walk you to the car.”
Sanji shook his head, “You’d better rest, you just got back from the hospital.”
“……”
“The subway station isn’t far once you go out, I know the way.” Sanji went to the foyer to put on his shoes and waved his hand with him, “Bye brother.”
After that, and without waiting for him to say anything, Sanji went out the door.
The door slammed shut.
The room became quiet for a moment.
Duan Jia Xu was still a bit unresponsive. He directly retired from the game, took the jacket aside and put it on, opened the door and walked out. However, there was already no trace of Sang Zhi.
He tugged at the corner of his lips and reentered the chamber.
Duanjia Xu walked over to the refrigerator and looked at what she had written.
After so many years, her handwriting was obviously much better and sharper. Unlike the old days, when she would write with one stroke and take more than an hour to write a 500-word weekly journal.
Duan Jiaxie looked a little scattered, reaching out and rubbing his fingers together.
He was inexplicably reminded of his time at the hospital.
The big man in the next bed with the back of his ears kept praising Sang-chi in front of him, recognizing her as his daughter-in-law.
— “What a handsome guy you’ve got here, and he takes care of people.”
After a long time.
Duanjia Xu walked back to the living room and gave an inexplicable laugh.
–
In December, the temperature in Yihe City has reached a few degrees below zero.
The department’s activities had stopped because of the weather and the upcoming exam week. Sangji was so cold that he didn’t want to move. Every day, in addition to classes, he was nestled in the dormitory drawing diagrams and making videos.
Duan Jia Xu’s side didn’t ask her to do any more favors.
When I occasionally looked for her, I just told her that it was cold and told her to take care of herself.
Sangji changed Duan Jiaxu’s WeChat note to “brother 2”, and his name became like when he was a child, only shouting the word “brother”.
Strongly, he had made him the same as Sangyan in his own mind.
Kuwabara suddenly felt that this was fine.
Try to cut yourself off and put an end to this impossible, unfulfilled crush. No more taking the bull by the horns, no more thinking that you can only love one person in your life.
Sanji was even beginning to look forward to it.
Sometime in the future, when she’s completely out of it.
He shows up with a woman and tells her that this is his girlfriend. She wouldn’t feel bad anymore, and the only thought she might have was that he was finally no longer alone.
He even managed to call the woman “sister-in-law” without thinking about it.
–
Last night of ’15.
The remaining three people in the dormitory went out to celebrate New Year’s Eve with other people, and Sang Wiz had little interest in this kind of ritual and refused the invitations of a few people.
Plan to order takeout, take a shower, watch a movie, and take a nap.
The night passed.
Before she could execute her plan, Duan Jia Xu called her.
Sanji bit into a chip and picked it up.
Duan Jia Xu’s lazy voice came from the other end, the words always contained a light smile, dragging his voice: “Xiao Sang Chi in what.”
Sang-chi glanced at the time and casually said, “Getting ready to order a takeout.”
“What takeout to eat?” Duan Jiaxu smiled, “Came to spend a holiday with my brother.”
Sanji’s gills stopped and he quickly said, “I don’t want to go out.”
Duan Jiaxu casually said, “Then come and have a meal with brother.”
“……”
“Hmm? Why don’t you say anything.” Duan Jia Xu’s speech was slow, “Aren’t you going to treat me to dinner? Want to renege on the bill?”
Sang-chi threw the chips back into the bag, “Where did I renege, you didn’t mention it before.”
Duanjash: “Then come out now, I’m outside your school.”
Sanji couldn’t help but say, “You said before that you didn’t need me to invite you.”
Duan Jiaxu trailed off with a long ah, seemingly unable to remember: “I said such a thing?”
“……”
This one’s weird.
Be sure to look for her once the holiday season rolls around.
It was as if he felt sorry for her being over here alone if she was still spending the holidays alone. On Christmas Day, he looked for her too, but didn’t say much when he heard she was with her roommate.
Sang Chi hung up the phone and got up to quickly change into a set of clothes. She put on a scarf, went to the mirror and looked at it, felt that her face was not too good, hesitated, or put on a thin layer of lipstick.
After leaving the school, San Zhi was about to give Duan Jia Xu a call.
Eyes lifted just in time to see his car and him in the driver’s seat.
Sanji walked over and got into the passenger seat, calling out “brother” before putting on his own seatbelt.
Duan Jia Xu looked at her, “Why don’t you go out to play?”
“Cold.” Sanji said truthfully, “Don’t want to go out.”
“Why are you living like an old man at this age.” Duan Jia Xu laughed and started the car, “What do you want to eat?”
Sangji didn’t have anything he particularly wanted to eat, “You set it.”
Duanjia Xu: “Then eat hot pot?”
Sanji nodded, “Yes.”
“I’m picking the location?”
“Uh-huh.”
Duan Jiaxu drove his car to a business circle a few kilometers away, near the neighborhood where he lived. But this location was closer to the city library.
It’s not far from the University of Iowa.
This hot pot restaurant is a chain restaurant, only four or five have opened in Yiho, and it is very popular. So there weren’t a lot of people sitting in line on the chairs outside.
Sang Zhi has not eaten this home, at this time smell the fragrance also came to interest, went over to take the number.
The two waited a while for a place.
Duan Jia Xu gave her the menu to order.
Thinking that Duan Jia Xu’s illness hadn’t been well for long, Sang Zhi ordered clear soup and then ordered some meat and vegetarian dishes according to normal people’s tastes. When she saw the fatty beef, she agonized for a while, but still ordered one.
Soon after, Sang Chi handed the menu back to him, “Brother, see what else you want to eat.”
Duan Jiaxu swept his eyes absently, picked up a pen, and crossed out the fatty beef that she had agonized over for half a day and finally made up her mind to order, replacing it with squid balls, “That’s it.”
“……”
Kuwabara gave him a look and held her tongue as she looked down to play with her phone.
Duan Jia Xu poured some tea into her cup and asked, “When is the exam?”
“It starts next month on the 11th.”
“So when do we go home?”
“Finish the exam.” Sanji thought back, “I think the 20th.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Remember to book your tickets in advance, it’s not easy to book tickets before the New Year.”
Sanji nodded, “I know.”
The two had a conversation.
Soon, the people at the next table finished eating, and after the waiter cleaned up, he brought in two young women. The soup base also happened to come up.
Sanji put his cell phone down and his eyes lifted.
Noticed something familiar about one of the women, but she couldn’t recall where she’d seen her before for a moment.
That woman seemed to recognize Duan Jia Xu. Seeing him, her gaze lurched, and the smile on her face instantly closed, releasing her friend’s elbow and walking over, her tone extraordinarily overbearing, “Duan Jia Xu.”
Duan Jia Xu was still talking to Sang Zhi.
At the sound, his expression lurched and he raised his eyes.
Sanji looked over in passing as well.
The woman wasn’t exactly good-looking, at best, she was clean-cut, with delicate makeup on her face. Her expression was extremely gloomy, and her eyebrows appeared a bit mean, “If I hadn’t seen you here, I would have thought you were dead.”
As soon as she came closer, Sanji could smell her perfume.
Sanji was instantly stabbed|stimulated to remember.
It seemed to be the woman she saw in the elevator the last time she went to Duan Jia Xu’s house.
Sang Chi retracted his eyes and subconsciously glanced at Duan Jia Xu.
He had also withdrawn his eyes, not looking toward the woman. As if he hadn’t heard her, he picked up the teapot to pour tea into his cup in a loose manner.
The woman added, “You didn’t see me call you?”
Sang Zhi pursed her lips, suddenly feeling as if it was a bit awkward for her to be sitting here. She tried to narrow down her presence and took out her cell phone again to play.
“You called me?” Duan Jia Xu picked up the cell phone next to him and looked at it, then slowly raised his eyes and smiled gently, “Ah, I pulled the plug.”
“You pulled the plug on me?” The woman instantly exploded, “Who are you to blackmail me? I’ll fuck you up! You should work for me for the rest of your life!”
Her volume drew up, shrill to the point of ear-piercing.
Sanji instantly looked at her again, a little taken aback.
The woman’s friend pulled her back, seemingly also unsure of the situation, looking puzzled: “Ying, what’s wrong? Who is this?”
The next moment, Sang Chi saw that the woman broke away from her friend’s hand, suddenly picked up the water cup filled with water on the table, and as if she was extremely angry, she threw it hard on Duan Jia Xu’s face.
He was defenseless and couldn’t dodge.
Only had time to close my eyes.
Slightly scalding hot water drenched his body. It slipped from his hair and fell down his forehead, the bridge of his nose, his lips, and converged on his jaw.
Drop after drop.
Wolverine.
Sanji froze, staring blankly at his appearance at the moment.
The head felt like it was filling with blood for a moment, the blood rushing upwards, all sense completely gone. Sang Chi clenched his fists and stood up in an instant, also picking up the water on the table and raising it to the woman’s head, drenching it downwards.
The woman’s attention was all on Duan Jia Xu and she didn’t react at all. She screamed and yelled, “Who are you! What’s gotten into you?”
Hearing the commotion, Duan Jia Xu opened his eyes.
He also didn’t seem to have thought that Sang Wiz would act this way, staring at Sang Wiz’s back, his gaze a little frozen.
Like a baby protector.
Sanji stepped in front of him and asked rhetorically, “What’s gotten into you.”
“What do you care?” To the others, the woman was obviously not as aggressive as she was in front of Duan Jia Xu, “You know why I splashed him ……”
“I don’t care what your reasons are.” Sang Chi interrupted her and said word for word, “Auntie, if you do it who’s interested in reasoning with you? Also, let’s not talk about splashing water, if you dare to hit him, I will definitely hit him back-“
“……”
Her tone was extremely cold, “Definitely don’t mind getting your hands dirty.”
The woman was a little annoyed, her face instantly red and her hand raised all at once.
Noticing this move of hers, Duan Jia Xu immediately stood up and pulled Sang Zhi behind himself. He stared at the woman, his eyes with a cool look, but still smiling, “That’s not good.”
“……”
“I’d kinda hate to get dirty.”
“……”
The manager of the hotpot restaurant came over at this time and persuaded the fight nicely.
The woman was dragged away by her friends. It seemed that she also felt ashamed, and she didn’t force herself to stay on, but those eyes were dead set on Duan Jia Xu.
Like a stern ghost.
The atmosphere loosened up.
The eyes of the people next to him, however, still looked this way from time to time.
Sang Zhi’s aura instantly subsided. She couldn’t eat anymore at all and went to the front desk to settle the bill, after which she tugged Duan Jia Xu out of the hot pot restaurant. Fishing out paper towels from her bag, she handed them to him.
Duan Jia Xu took it, but did not make any other movements. His eyes were fixed on Sang Zhi, and his eyes were a little deep, not being able to see his emotions too well.
This motionlessness of his made Sang Chi a little anxious, she simply drew a few paper towels out herself and padded over to help him wipe the water out of his hair.
Sang Chi encountered this kind of thing for the first time, so angry that his eyes were red, his tone was muffled: “Who is that person.”
“An unrelated person.” Duanjia Xu came back to his senses slightly and bent down, thinking, “Technically speaking, it’s my father’s ex-debtor, isn’t it?”
For the second time, he heard the word “debtor” from his lips.
Sangji subconsciously glanced at him without asking in detail, “When I went to your house last time, I think I saw her too.”
After thinking about it, she asked, “Is she like this every time she sees you?”
Duan Jiaxu was silent for a few seconds, “Pretty much.”
“That’s too scary.” Sang Chi drew another tissue out and wiped off the water at the corner of his forehead for him as well, muttering, “Is she having problems with emotional regulation? Say a few words and suddenly get on the ……”
Duan Jia Xu laughed and said as if he didn’t mean it, “Maybe I really did something very wrong to her?”
Sanji looked at him, “I thought you said it was your father’s ex-debtor?”
“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxie’s tone was light, “I don’t know if it counts as ‘ex’ either.”
“Your father’s debtor,” Sang-chi’s movements paused, carefully rationalizing his thoughts, then said seriously, “That’s also your father’s debtor, no matter if it’s former or not. It’s not like it has anything to do with you.”
— “It’s not like it’s any of your business.”
Duan Jia Xu’s heart pounded heavily, and his expression finally changed a bit. He suddenly raised his eyes and stared at her.
Sangji’s demeanor was serious as he took a tissue and wiped down the corner of his forehead. Fortunately it was the tea that had been sitting there for a while, and although his skin was a little red, it looked like it wasn’t burned.
She continued to talk, “Anyway, I just saw her somehow come up and splash you with water. My brother said, you can’t stand being bullied at your door-“
Before the words were out of his mouth, Sanji’s eyes moved downward in a smooth motion.
The words stopped at once.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze hadn’t moved.
It just happened to hit her in the eye.
In this moment.
It was like going back, to before, in the hospital, being helped by her to wipe her face.
That time, at that intimate gesture, close up to the eyes. He inexplicably, of his own accord, moved away.
Like losing the battle.
This time, the two leaned even closer to each other than last time.
Her eyes were extremely beautiful, clean and clear with a bright shine.
No offense in front of him.
It was nothing like the way she had just stood up to that woman in order to protect him.
In fact, compared to the past, her change is not small. The baby fat on her face has faded, and her facial features look delicate and beautiful, which is really not related to the word “child” at all.
He hadn’t been too concerned and had simply ignored those changes.
But it seems, indeed, to be not quite the same.
Duan Jiaxu could see the fine downy hairs on her face, her skin was so white that it looked like it was transparent, and her lips were red and full. As well as her breath, gently, regularly, breathing on his face.
Some itch.
A long moment of staring at each other.
It seemed like just a few seconds, and like a long time had passed.
The knot in Duanjia Xu’s throat rolled slowly.
Sang Zhi suddenly came back to his senses and retracted his hand numbly, “Brother, wipe it yourself.”
Duanjia Xu was quiet for a moment, then softly answered, “Uh-huh.”
Afraid that he would feel that his reaction was a bit sudden, Sang Chi hesitantly explained, “You’re too tall, I’ll wipe you you still have to bend down.”
When she finished, she handed him a tissue, “Here’s your tissue.”
But I didn’t see him pick it up for half a day.
Sanji raised his eyes again, meeting his gaze once more.
Duan Jia Xu’s eyes were deep and slightly converged, with a small droplet of water that hadn’t been wiped clean on his eyelashes, blatantly staring at her as if he was discharging electricity. He stood up straight, his gaze straight, without the slightest intention of converging.
The look was thoughtful, not sure what he was thinking.
Being stared at by him was also a bit uncomfortable, but Sang Chi didn’t feel that she had exposed anything. She was a bit annoyed, and her tone rose a bit, “What for.”
“It’s nothing.” Duan Jia Xu paused for a few seconds and coughed lightly, his brows and eyes carrying a few hints of spring, “I forgot to say, thank you Xiao Sang Chi for protecting brother.”
Sanji grudgingly ohs, “No need.”
She glanced around and offered, “Should we go around the neighborhood and get something to change into?”
Not hearing his response, Sang Chi turned her head again and once again collided with his line of sight. She frowned, wondering if she had gotten something on her face, and said in confusion, “What are you always staring at me for.”
“Yeah.” Only then did Duan Jia Xu withdraw his gaze, curling his lips and saying, “Then I won’t look.”
Sanji’s eyes were odd and he pointed, “So go to that one?”
Duan Jiaxu smiled, “OK.”
“Why do you keep smiling.” Sanji couldn’t help but say, “Have you been splashed silly?”
“Well, it seems like it.”
“……”
It could have been the illness that made his mind less clear; or it could have been because of that moncler outlet store next bed, brainwashing him day and night during that week; or it could have really been the glass of water that washed over him.
In this moment.
Duan Jia Xu suddenly, very much wanted to be an animal.
Chapter 37
。。。。。
Sanji found his reaction a bit frightening.
What’s wrong with this old man?
Had she just reacted too much?
But if she just stood by and watched him get bullied, and did nothing, like a spectator, is that even human?
Sanjay didn’t think he had done anything wrong.
“Brother, you don’t need to take what just happened to heart.” Sang Chi thought about it, but still said, “When I was blackmailed in my second year, you also helped me.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Sanji added, “Now that you’re old, it’s my turn to help you.”
“……”
Happening to pass by a garbage can, San Zhi threw all the tissues in her hand into it. When she looked back, she noticed Duan Jiaxu’s expression stiffen, and the smile on his face narrowed a bit.
Looks a lot more normal.
It was as if he had come to his senses and realized what he had just thought out of the blue.
Then, Sanjay saw it.
Duan Jiaxu’s eyes hung down, his lips pursed straight, as if he was feeling a bit incredulous. His tone was close to absurd, and he ventured out in a faintly audible voice: “I’m really crazy.”
“……”
It’s kinda like being crazy.
However, having water thrown at you in public does hurt your pride.
Sang Chi did not know how to comfort him. She walked into the men’s clothing store and changed the subject, “Brother, change into something else, wet clothes are not comfortable to wear.”
Duanjash didn’t move.
Sang Chi casually picked up a piece of clothing and shoved it into his hand, “Or this one.”
He responded then, his eyelashes moving slowly, “Uh-huh.”
After he went into the fitting room, Sang Chi wandered around the store again. She had her eye on a dress, and was about to pick it up when her cell phone suddenly rang.
Sang Chi withdrew her hand, glanced at the caller ID, and immediately picked it up, “Brother.”
Sang Yan’s voice came along the electric current, sounding a bit lazy, “Kid. What day are you on vacation, I’ll book your ticket for you.”
Sang Chi frowned, “What’s the rush, there’s still more than half a month to go.”
“So you ordered it yourself?”
“You transfer me the money and I’ll order it myself.”
“What am I transferring money to you for, I’m your father?”
“Oh, Dad.”
“……”
“It’s the end of the month, time for alimony.” Sanji reached out and touched the man’s jacket in front of him, “Brother, you’ve put it off until the last day.”
“……”
“If you don’t transfer me the money, you don’t transfer it. Just take that money and buy me a coffin.”
Sang Yan sneered, “You get double living expenses every month, do you want to be shameless, you little brat?”
“Where is the double.” Sang Chi’s eyelids didn’t even blink, justified, “Dad said ah, he gives half, you give half.”
“How high are the prices in Yiho?” Sang Yeon asked, “You have to use six thousand a month?”
Sang Zhi looked at the size of the dress and rummaged around inside: “I’m still saving money here, the sugar doesn’t even bother to buy an extra strip, or else I’d be overspending.”
“A thousand dollars a candy bar at your place?”
“No.” Sang Chi said without changing his face, “One thousand dollars a piece.”
“……” said Sang Yeon, “OK, let’s pretend I don’t have you as a sister.”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds before two more words suddenly emerged, “Coffin.”
Sang Yeon hung up the phone straight away.
Listening to the cold beeping sound in her ear, Sang Zhi looked at the cell phone screen and shrugged indifferently. She put the phone back in her pocket and continued to flip through the sizes, finding the XXL size and taking it off.
Sang Zhi turned back around, only to realize that Duan Jia Xu had already changed his clothes and came out. She had just casually grabbed him a black sweatshirt and didn’t look at the size.
At this point, looking at it this way, it fits pretty well.
Holding the dress in his hands, Sanji walked up to him and asked, “Is this the only one?”
Duanjia Xu glanced at it and casually said, “Did you just talk to your brother on the phone?”
“Yeah, he asked me if my ticket was booked yet.” Sang Chi replied honestly, and then handed him the clothes in his hand, “Brother, try this one on for me.”
When he heard the word “help”, Duan Jiaxu took it slowly and methodically, lifted his eyelids a little, and faintly said, “Who are you going to give it to?”
“My brother.” Sanji glanced around again, “New Year’s gift.”
“……”
“I’ll buy one for my dad by the way, so I don’t have to shop anymore when I go back.” Saying this, Sang Chi raised his eyes and pointed to the one he was wearing, “By the way, do you like this one?”
Duan Jiaxu looked diffident, “Good looking?”
“It’s pretty good.”
“This one then.”
San Zhi nodded and took out his cell phone to look at it, just in time to see the alert for the Alipay transfer.
She clicked on it to see.
-Sanyan transfers 5,000 dollars to you.
Note: Don’t call me brother next time you see me.
“……”
That cuts it off.
But it’s too relentless.
Kuwabara’s eyes blinked and she quickly returned, [Okay.]
She picked out another dress and went to the register to check out.
Duan Jia Xu took off the jacket he was wearing. He took out his cell phone from his pocket and walked up, as if he wanted to just buy all three pieces.
“Eh, I’ll pay.” Not wanting to spend his money, Sang Chi pushed his phone back, immediately opened the payment code, and told the cashier, “Three pieces paid together.”
After saying that, she turned her head and said in a serious manner, “Brother, this dress is even my early New Year’s gift to you.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “I’ll make it up to you some other time.”
Listening to the conversation between the two, the lady at the cashier’s eyes glanced toward the two and asked curiously, “Are you two brother and sister?”
Sanji froze, silent for a few seconds, and nodded, “Uh-huh.”
Cashier: “Doesn’t look much like a pro?”
Duan Jia Xu stood next to him, holding his cell phone and looking at the WeChat, his demeanor careless. He didn’t hear Sang Zhi answer immediately, and only after a few seconds did she slowly give a response.
But not a negative answer.
Duanjash heard.
She hmmmed again, then whispered, “Almost.”
–
Probably because he was affected by that woman’s mood, Duan Jia Xu didn’t talk much more after that, as if he had been thinking about things, somewhat absent-minded.
Sang Chi had originally planned to talk to him as little as possible during this time. But seeing him like this, she could only pull at the conversation stiffly, trying to make him forget about that matter.
But seeing her so frazzled, Duan Jia Xu immediately laughed again, seemingly unaffected by the incident, and would even crack a few jokes with her.
Sanji was also a bit clueless.
The two of them went to a nearby noodle shop to settle their dinner. Seeing that it was getting late, Duan Jia Xu sent Sang Zhi back to school. After that, he drove back to his own neighborhood.
Duan Jia Xu took his door card into the building and took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. As soon as he exited the elevator, he saw the woman standing in front of his house, and he stopped in place, instantly remembering Sang Chi’s words.
And then took out his cell phone and called the property.
The woman’s expression was ugly to the extreme, as if she had been waiting for a long time, “Still know to come back ah? I thought you went to a room with that college student today.”
The call was answered.
Like he didn’t hear the woman’s words, Duan Jia Xu’s tone was cold and wave-free, “I’m a resident of Block 12, 15th floor, Block B. There’s a stranger in front of my house, so please come over and take care of it. Thank you.”
She cried out violently, “Duan Jia Xu!”
Duan Jia Xu hung up the phone, fished out the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, drew one out and lit it. He bit down on the mouthpiece of the cigarette and leaned against the wall, not saying a word.
The woman’s eyes reddened a bit, “Who was that woman today.”
“……”
“I asked you a question!”
Duan Jia Xu looked a little sleepy, his eyelids drooping downwards. The light in the elevator room was so bright that it appeared that his complexion was extremely white, lining that extremely distinguished face with a bit more of a sickly look.
He was unmoved.
Not a single response was given to her.
The woman stormed up to him and raised her hand as if to slap him.
Noticing her movement in his afterglow, Duan Jia Xu’s eyes lifted and stared at her coolly, and the corners of his lips lifted without any semblance of warmth.
She was getting angrier and angrier and her hand was about to fall.
Duanjia Xu skimmed his head slightly and lifted the cigarette in his hand upwards.
The lighted cigarette touched her bare palm.
The woman retracted her hand reflexively, and tears immediately sprang to her eyes from the pain. Her eyes widened and she said hysterically, “Why are you such a bitch!”
Looking at her tears, Duan Jia Xu’s eyes curved into crescent moons, “It looks quite painful?”
“……”
“No, seeing you in so much pain.” Duan Jia Xu trailed off and laughed softly, “Why am I so happy?”
“……”
“Where did you get the face to do this to me.” The woman suddenly began to cry, staring him dead in the face, “Your whole family owes me.”
Duanjia Xu ignored her and walked around her, taking the keys out of his pocket.
“That woman today is your girlfriend?” The woman’s words seemed to pop out of her teeth, one word at a time, “Don’t even think about it, people like you-“
“……”
“What are the qualifications for a good life.”
Duan Jia Xu just pretended not to hear and opened the door with the key.
The woman seemed to be trying to squeeze in with brute force, but stopped in her tracks when she sensed that he seemed to have absolutely no fear of her getting caught in the door.
“Duan Jia Xu, your whole family shall not die.” She slapped the security door hard, crying as she said, “That’s why your mom died, you-“
He closed the inner door as well, shutting out all sound from her.
Duan Jia Xu put out his cigarette, walked to the toilet, and flushed into the toilet. He turned on the faucet and carefully washed his hands, including the arm that had just accidentally touched Jiang Ying.
Soon, Duanjia Xu went out of the living room and glanced at the photo on the TV stand.
Duan Jia Xu walked over and squatted in front of him. The corners of his mouth curved up, as if he found it extremely interesting, “Mom, did you just hear those words?”
“Don’t take it personally.”
The tenderness of a woman’s smile is frozen in time forever.
Duan Jia Xu rubbed her face with his fingertips, revealing a smile similar to that of the woman in the photo: “Do you think she’s pretty good too, she doesn’t get tired of saying things like this for how many years.”
–
Duanjia Xu went to the bathroom and took a shower.
It was close to twelve in the morning when he came out. He sat down on the couch and casually turned on the TV, and there came the sound of dialog from the characters of the TV show.
The quiet living room instantly came alive for a few moments because of the sound.
Duan Jia Xu turned the computer in front of him on, and suddenly remembered the thought he had inexplicably floated up today. His eyes glanced and stared at the photo of Sang Chi, who was standing side by side with him.
It was only fifteen years old then, girl.
At the time of his college graduation.
Kids who are just getting ready for high school.
Even, treating him as if he were his own brother.
Duan Jia Xu closed his eyes and lit another cigarette. There was some bustle outside, someone had set off fireworks that exploded and crackled in the sky.
He looked over calmly, his eyes tinted with a few points of light.
The clock stopped exactly at zero.
Duan Jia Xu’s cell phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He lazily raised his eyes and saw that Sang Zhi had sent him a message on WeChat.
Duanjash reached out and clicked on it.
Little Sanji: [Happy New Year to Brother Kashi, every day.]
Duanjash: [Well, happy new year.]
Kouzanji: [I’m going to bed, you go to bed early too.]
Duanjash: [Good.
He clicked on Sang Zhi’s profile, changed her note to “Sang Zhi”, and then after some thought, changed it to “only”. After a long time, Duan Jia Xu still changed it back to “Xiao Sang Zhi”.
Duan Jia Xu remembered the night he spent the night at Sang Zhi’s house. Hearing that he had many debtors, the little girl stood next to him and earnestly told him, “Brother don’t be anxious, I’ll grow up later and make money to help you pay back together.”
Duan Jia Xu remembered Jiang Ying’s words again.
— “What right do people like you have to live a good life.”
The line of Duanjash’s lips straightened and the knot of his throat slipped upward.
“Well, I didn’t.”
He extinguished the screen with a gentle frown and murmured and whispered, “But we have to have a good life for our little Sanji.”
Chapter 38
。。。。。
Maybe it’s because of what happened today.
That night, Duanjia Xu had a dream.
He dreamed that he had received the acceptance letter from Nanwu University, and that the money his mother Xu Ruoshu had given him for his college education had been taken away by the so-called “debtors” a week before the report.
Dreaming about that night.
The family house was sold long ago. They rented a one-bedroom house, the room was for Xu Ruoshu to sleep in, and he slept in the living room.
Duan Jiaxu got several tutoring and part-time jobs during the summer and came home late every day.
That day, when he came home, he heard Xu Ruoshu on the phone.
She’s on the phone with her uncle. A relative who helped her a lot when he saw her raising a child by herself.
The phone is in the living room.
Duan Jia Xu saw Xu Ruoshu dialing the phone, greeted the other party, and then, with a smile, she slowly said, “Big brother, my family’s Xu got into Nanwu University.”
After saying this, she fell silent, as if she found it difficult to speak, and did not say another word.
But all the things I wanted to say seemed to come out of those words.
Can’t even hide it.
Nanwu University, what a great university.
My son got into such a good college.
But I don’t have any money.
I didn’t even keep the money he made working for himself to go to college.
I want him to go to school.
Can you …… lend me a few thousand dollars.
The next moment, the tirade of the eldest uncle came from the phone. The quality of the receiver wasn’t good, the sound was noisy, and when he spoke, it carried throughout the living room, “Do you guys want to be ashamed or not! Are you the only ones in trouble? What obligation do I have to help you? I have children to feed too! I also have to live! I have to live, too, and I borrow money all the time! Fuck you! Go away!”
Duan Jia Xu immediately walked over, took the phone in her hand, and hung up.
The room quieted down.
Xu Ruoshu froze for a long time, suddenly covered her eyes and cried out, muttering and repeating, “Mommy is sorry for you …… Mommy is sorry for you ……”
Before junior high school, Duanjash never lacked for money.
So he never felt, how important money was.
But when reality presses in.
He realized that money could make a huge difference to a person, in just a few years.
Duan Jia Xu watched the former bright and confident mother, gradually crushed by these things, became timid and inferior. Under the influence of these things, she became seriously ill and aged rapidly.
Then Duanjia Xu saw.
At that time, his own self, who had only just reached adulthood, squatted in front of Xu Ruoshu and looked up at her. He curved up the corners of his mouth, smiled and told her, “Mom, do you believe it? I’ll be able to earn all this money back later.”
“……”
“You don’t have to borrow money from anyone else. I’ll make my own money and I’ll provide for you.” The teenager said gently, “I can get you back to the good old days.”
“……”
So.
–Just wait a little longer, okay?
–
Duanjia Xu woke up from his dream.
It was still light and the room was dark. Without sleep, he got up and left the room, going to the living room to fill a glass of water, while later taking two ice cubes from the fridge and throwing them in.
It was just after three in the morning.
Duan Jiaxu stood by the dining table and picked up his cell phone and scanned it. The only new message left besides the blocked group chat was the realization that Qian Fei was going crazy in the WeChat group.
Qian Fei: [Brothers!
Qian Fei: [Laozi! To! Marriage! Now!
CHINFIELD: [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Qian Fei: [Laozi! Proposal ！！！！！！ Successful ！！！！！！！！]
Comes with a string of emojis.
Qian Fei: [I’m so excited I can’t sleep I must come up and tell you guys hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Qian Fei: [Are you all asleep?]
Duan Jiaxu returned the word: [No.]
The next moment, the cell phone rang, and Qian Fei called him.
Duanjia Xu raised an eyebrow, walked back to the sofa with the cup and sat down, picking it up.
“Old Xu, why are you still up at this hour?” Qian Fei’s voice was greatly grinning, “It’s not like you have a sex life.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed softly and said slowly, “Hanging up.”
“……” said Chance Fly, “Wait a minute. I haven’t said anything here! Do you know how I proposed? Isn’t it New Year’s Eve? ……”
Duanjia Xu leaned back in his chair and listened in silence.
After a while, Qian Fei finished sharing about himself, but his excitement was still half-decreased, “How was it? Awesome, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“How come you didn’t fart a few times tonight?”
“Hmm? It’s probably because you’re getting married.” Duan Jia Xu said carelessly, “It’s a bit sad, didn’t you used to say you’d make do with me?”
“…… “Qian Fei said, “Can you stop disgusting me? How many years have you been remembering what I said when I was drunk?”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t joke anymore and laughed, “Alright, congratulations bro.”
“Eh, right.” The quasi-married man instantly and immediately went into matchmaking mode and said with a smile, “Did you go on that blind date you were talking about last time?”
“I just casually mentioned it to you.” Duan Jia Xu’s tone was lazy, “How many people did you tell about this?”
“No, how can you keep failing to find it?” Qian Fei said, “If you don’t come to Nanwu, how many girls in our school like you? I’ll arrange a blind date for you, you can step on several boats if you want to over here.”
Duanjia Xu smiled lowly, “Spare me.”
“If I wanted to look like you, I’d have a new fucking girlfriend every day.”
“You’re not afraid to let your wife-to-be hear you, are you?”
“Isn’t she not here?” Qian Fei said, “I’m serious, not to mention the right one, you can’t even have a favorite.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Qian Fei was shocked, “Then don’t say like, good feeling, good feeling there?”
At those words, Duanjia Xu fell silent.
It was as if it was a default, and Qian Fei immediately said, “Holy shit, there’s a situation.”
“……”
“Who?”
Duan Jia Xu lied, “You don’t recognize it, it’s a bit small.”
“How small?” Qian Fei said, “It can’t be born yet.”
He laughed, “It’s not that small.”
“I won’t say anything if you’re underage, but if you’re an adult and you’re still afraid to go after them, then I’ll look down on you.”
“You’re done being excited, aren’t you? It’s time to sleep.” Duan Jia Xu didn’t intend to talk about this topic anymore and said lightly, “Married.”
“You’re still finished!”
“Sleeping.”
Duanjia Xu hung up the phone.
He then drank the water in his hand, walked over to the TV stand, picked up the picture with Sanji, and walked back into the room, placing it on the nightstand.
Duanjia Xu stared for a few seconds.
It’s still childlike any way you look at it.
What was he thinking.
Been single too long.
Duanjia Xu sighed, tapped with his fingertips, and spat out three words slowly, like a reminder.
“Little friend.”
–
San Zhi felt that there was something strange about Duan Jia Xu tonight, and as she thought deeper about it later, she was a little worried that she hadn’t reacted in a way that was out of place.
But then again, if he knew what was on her mind, he probably wouldn’t have reacted the same way.
After New Year’s Day, and then remembered this thing, Sang Chih asked Duan Jiaxu on WeChat whether that woman had gone to find him again, and heard his negative answer before putting down his heart.
She didn’t dwell on it and focused on preparing for the exam.
The exam ends on the 20th.
Sang-chi booked a flight for noon on the 21st in advance, and planned to take a taxi directly on that day, and then go to the neighborhood to take the airport bus.
She was the first one in the dorm to go home.
The four of them agreed in advance to find a night to go out together before everyone went home. So the four of them didn’t go back to the dormitory after leaving the exam room, and went directly to a Japanese restaurant off campus for dinner.
After the meal, Yu Xin suggested, “There’s a new bar nearby, should we go and have some fun?”
Ning Wei blinked, “Can I bring my boyfriend then?”
Yu Xin: “OK.”
Wang Ruolan: “Then I’m going to ask my boyfriend for a piece too!”
Several bars had opened in the neighborhood, and most of the patrons were students who occasionally bumped into a few people they knew. There’s also a store owned by a former graduate.
Sanji had been there once with the department and had no problem with it.
Yu Xin: “Eh, Ruolan, did you catch up yet?”
“Almost.” Wang Ruolan tapped words on her cell phone and smiled, “I feel as if he has that same intention, and even told me that we’ll ride home together when the time comes.”
Sanji took a small sip of water.
“Alas, I actually have my eyes on a little brother in that bar, you guys should also be able to see it even if you go later, the one playing the guitar.” Yu Xin rested her cheeks and hesitantly said, “I feel that, as long as you don’t look ugly, it feels like a woman chasing a man can be chased.”
Hearing this, Sanji paused in his drinking.
Speaking of this, Yu Xin used her cell phone to take a picture of her face and said narcissistically, “I should be able to catch up if I go after it, right? I feel like I’m quite pretty.”
The other two coaxed.
Sanji picked up his chopsticks and ate the last sushi on the table.
Ning Wei turned her head, noticed her constant silence, and subconsciously asked, “Eh, Sang Sang, are you in a bad mood? Why don’t you say anything?”
“Nope.” Sanji looked back and smiled, “I’m listening to you guys.”
–
Probably because it had just opened, there weren’t many people in this bar, and it wasn’t as noisy as Sanji had imagined.
Ning Wei called her boyfriend over. Then, her boyfriend also called up Jiang Ming. The others were almost in pairs of two, so naturally, Jiang Ming sat next to Sang Zhi.
Sang Zhi hadn’t spoken to him face to face yet, the usual communication was through WeChat. She glanced at him and didn’t feel awkward, but she didn’t take the initiative to speak either.
Jiang Ming is handsome, single eyelid, three-dimensional face. His body is thin and tall, and he smiles brightly, like a big sunny boy.
The group played shaking the dice.
Sang Zhi would not play this, simply did not participate, playing with her cell phone by herself on the side. Her mood was inexplicably a little bad, and she didn’t say much all night, just drinking the wine in front of her.
This wine has a nice color and tastes a little strong with a touch of sweetness.
Sang Zhi thought it tasted a little strange, not quite to her taste, but having ordered it and not wanting to waste it, she could only reluctantly drink it.
Jiang Ming didn’t continue playing and came over to talk to her. He pointed at the wine in front of her and warned, “This wine has a high degree ah, can you drink it?”
“High?” Sanji paused and rubbed his face, “I’m not drinking then.”
Jiang Ming brought over another cup, “You drink this.”
Sang Chi felt a little dizzy afterward. She shook her head and whispered, “It’s okay, I won’t drink. You drink.”
Jiang Ming didn’t force himself, “Then do you want some water?”
“No, thanks.”
Sang Zhi looked around, wanting to ask Yu Xin if she wanted to go back to the dormitory with her. In the next moment, the cell phone that was grasped in her hand suddenly vibrated.
She looked down.
It was Duan Jia Xu who called her.
Sanji picked up, “Brother.”
“Well, you tomorrow morning at eight o’clock-” Before he finished, Duan Jia Xu suddenly heard the sound of movement from her side, and after a moment of silence, his words changed, “Where are you?”
“A bar near my school.” Sanji was a little uncomfortable and spoke lukewarmly, “Came with my roommate, but I’m ready to go back.”
Duan Jiaxu asked, “You’re going back alone?”
Sanji: “I’ll ask my roommate if he’s leaving.”
“Drinking?”
“Uh-huh.” This Sanji didn’t dare to be honest, “Just a little.”
Duanjia Xu’s voice faded, “Name of the bar?”
Sang Chi was a bit unable to remember, and twisted his head to ask Jiang Ming, “What’s the name of this bar?”
Jiang Ming thought for a moment, “It seems to be, like, Monday.”
“Oh, thanks.” San Zhi turned back to Duan Jia Xu and continued talking to him on the phone, saying hesitantly, “Calling like it’s Monday.”
Duan Jia Xu was silent for a few more seconds, “Uh-huh. You sit inside for a while, I’ll go over now.”
Sang Chi ah, did not respond to how he suddenly want to come over, wondering, “What are you coming over, you want to come and play too?”
The sound of Duan Jiaxu’s door slamming came from the other end, interspersed with the sound of the breath he carried as he spoke, low and sexy: “Brother went over to catch the drunkard.”
“……”
–
Sang Chi felt a bit stuffy in the bar. She put on her jacket and said goodbye to the others, “I’m going back first, I haven’t packed my stuff yet.”
Jiang Ming also stood up, “I’ll send you back.”
“No need.” Sanji said vaguely, “My brother is waiting for me outside.”
Jiang Ming froze, “Is your home over here?”
“No.” Sanji blinked hard and waved a hand, “But my brother works over here.”
She walked out of the bar.
It was extraordinarily cold outside, and tiny fluffs of snow drifted up from the sky. The cold wind blew her spirits awake for a moment, and Sang Chi sniffled as she took her gloves out of her pocket and dawdled to put them on.
Sang Zhi seldom saw snow, at this time also came to the interest. She picked up a branch nearby and squatted on the ground to draw a match little person.
She’s a little out of energy and her drawings are crooked.
After squatting for a long time, Sang Wiz was still a bit tempted to vomit, and then he simply sat down directly on the ground.
Duanjia Xu just happened to arrive at this time.
He parked his car on the side of the road, got out and walked over. Noticing Sang Chi sitting on the side of the road, Duan Jia Xu froze, took a big step over and asked, “Sang Chi, why are you sitting here?”
“It seems to be wet.” Sanji twisted his head around and mumbled, “The pants seem to be wet.”
Duanjia Xu raised an eyebrow, “What?”
Sang Chi tried to get up, but didn’t have the strength, “Brother, this snow is wet.”
“……” Duan Jia Xu took a deep breath, grabbed her wrist and pulled her up, “How much have you had to drink?”
Sanji muttered, “Just half a cup.”
“Half a glass of what?” Duan Jiaxu dropped his eyes and laughed in exasperation, “And who told you to come to the bar?”
“I’m an adult.” Hearing the lesson in his words, Kuwabara suddenly looked up, and then, earnestly, repeated it again, “I’m an adult.”
“Being an adult doesn’t–“
Sanji interrupted, “Why not.”
Duan Jia Xu was slightly stunned, then he bent down to look at her and asked in a low voice, “Why is Xiao Sang Chi throwing a tantrum?”
The sense of grievance bubbled to the surface all of a sudden, Sang Chi inexplicably wanted to cry a little bit, and spoke with a few moments of crying, “You said it yourself, when I’m an adult, I’ll do whatever I want, no one cares about me.”
“……”
“You said it yourself.”
How many of the things she wants to do must wait until she’s an adult.
Just that one too.
But as an adult, she seems to have become less bold instead.
Once upon a time she was just afraid to tell him what she liked.
Now, she has become, not even daring to like it.
Obviously everyone else is, at this age, very brave, to go and express their liking to the object of their desire.
Why she had to hold back.
I want to have less contact with him, but I’m afraid he’s not doing well on his own.
“What’s wrong?” Duan Jia Xu frowned, “Who bullied you?”
Sanji rubbed the tears away with his glove, his voice muffled, “No.”
Dizzy and unsteady on the road, she tried to sit on the ground again and was instantly grabbed by Duan Jia Xu. Sang Chi leaned against him and muttered, “I want to go home.”
Duan Jiaxu was angry and amused, “Will you be able to go back tomorrow here?”
“I’m not feeling well.” Sanji frowned with his eyes and his tone slowed, “Brother, I want to throw up.”
Duan Jia Xu took off the jacket he was wearing and placed it in front of her, “Then throw up.”
Sanji tried, “I can’t spit it out.”
Duan Jiaxie said softly, “Then go sit around for a while first?”
“I can’t walk.” Sanji shook his head, “I’m not walking.”
“Brother carries you.”
Sang Chi stared at him, and after a while, she suddenly began to shed tears and threw an inexplicable little tantrum: “I don’t want it, I’m not leaving.”
“……” said Duanjash, “So to the car?”
“I don’t want it.”
Duan Jia Xu inexplicably wanted to laugh a bit, “Then Xiao Sang Chi wants to blow the wind here ah?”
Sang Chi shouldn’t respond to his words as if she hadn’t heard them. She sniffled and out of the blue, “Brother, can I tell you a secret?”
“Hmm?”
“I have a, well, a favorite.” Sanji lowered his eyes and huffed, “But he just doesn’t like me.”
“……”
The arc of Duan Jia Xu’s mouth converged a bit, a bit unable to maintain his smile, “Who?”
Sanji didn’t answer.
“That online love interest of yours, huh?” Duan Jia Xu’s throat knots rolled up and down as he asked in a muffled voice, “Or is it from your school?”
Sangji raised his eyes to look at him, and after a long moment of silence, his lips moved, “I won’t tell you.”
She likes the Duane Garcia thing.
Sanjay didn’t tell anyone about it.
Not a single one.
She went from liking it, to giving it up, to not being able to resist continuing to like it.
It’s all about her alone.
All of it, all alone, she knew.
Duan Jiaxu asked, “You can’t tell your brother either?”
Sang Chi was still about to say something when her throat suddenly became acidic. She slammed down onto his chest, as if she couldn’t help that, and spit the filth that came up in her mouth onto his body.
“……”
It wasn’t long before Sang Chi stood up straight, seemingly slightly more awake. Noticing what she had just done, she took a step back and timidly said, “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Afraid that she would fall, Duan Jia Xu reached out to support her.
Sang Chi broke away from him and took a few more steps back, crouching on the ground, “Don’t be mean to me.”
“…… “Duan Jia Xu looked toward the clothes and took them off directly, then put the jacket back on. He also squatted down in front of her, wiped her mouth with the clothes, and rapped, “How am I being mean to you?”
Sanji whimpered, “Don’t you scold me ……”
Duan Jiaxu: “Get up.”
“I don’t want it.” Sang Zhi simply sat on the ground again, with a look of relying on not leaving, “You’re definitely going to scold me again ……”
“Not scolding you.” Duan Jia Xu patiently said, “Get up, don’t catch a cold.”
Still a little wary, Sanji didn’t move a muscle.
Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows flirted as he asked, “Also, when did I scold you?”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
“Where did the little drunkard come from.” Duan Jia Xu didn’t get angry, suddenly curved his eyes and smiled, “Get up, brother’s clothes are dirty, he can’t hold you.”
Sanji lowered his head, his voice nasal, “So you just left me alone.”
“Hmm? Indeed don’t really want to care.” Duan Jia Xu turned his back and squatted in front of her, “But it’s kinda hard to give up.”
“……”
“Come up,” said Duan Jiaxu, “Brother will carry you.”
Chapter 39
。。。。。
Looking at his back, Sang Chi hesitated for a few seconds. She wanted to lie down on her back, but as if she remembered something, she quickly withdrew her hand, and said in a serious manner, “You can’t carry me.”
Hearing this, Duan Jiaxu looked back, “This isn’t allowed either?”
Sang Chi nodded and said to herself, “The doctor said that you should avoid heavy labor for three months.”
Duan Jia Xu was slightly stunned, and the corner of his lips curved up, “You remember even when you’re drunk like this?”
As if he did not hear his words, Sang Chi did not respond, just lowered his eyes, breaking his fingers and counting slowly: “You were operated in November. So, December, thirteen, fourteen ……”
“Not right.” As if he felt something was wrong, Sanji frowned, “Twelve, thirteen ……”
“……” Duan Jiaxu burst out laughing uncontrollably, “Twelve, one.”
Only then did Sang Zhi look at him. Her brain is messed up like a ball of thread, do not understand why all of a sudden jumped from twelve to one, hesitantly said, “That, that is how many months …… brother, you help me count it ……”
“Three months.”
Sang Zhi oh sound, and did not feel that there was anything wrong. She laboriously stood up and asked with a sniffle, “Three months …… then can you carry me?”
Duanjia Xu smiled, “Can.”
Not waiting for Sang-chi to lie on his back, she suddenly remembered another thing: “But I have more than eighty pounds …… ” said Sang-chi, began to cry again, breaking down as if: “I have more than eighty pounds… …”
“……”
“I still,” she looked down, her expression froze and her sobs became more mournful, “I don’t have any boobs yet …… I don’t have any boobs ooohhhh… I don’t have any … …”
Duan Jia Xu was still squatting on the ground. Probably not expecting to hear such words, he was stunned for a few seconds, and then, he was made to laugh straight by her. His chest rose and fell as he laughed so hard that he was a little breathless, and his voice was muffled for a few moments.
“Say what.”
“Why are you laughing at me.” Sanji snapped and dropped his tears, pointing at him, and said unhappily, “You didn’t either, so why are you laughing at me.”
“Well, I didn’t either.” Duan Jia Xu immediately collected a few points, “So let’s comfort each other, okay?”
“…… “Sang Chi immediately stopped crying and willingly flopped onto his back as if she had found her camp, “Then, then you don’t, don’t be too sad.”
Duanjia Xu stood up and stifled a smile, “Well, it’s not sad.”
Sanji wiped his tears with his glove, “Brother, what if I throw up again later.”
Duan Jia Xu threw the clothes in his hand into the trash can next to him, looked around, and coaxed in a warm voice, “Tell me when you want to throw up.”
She hiccupped, “What if I can’t help it.”
“Then you can’t help it,” said Duanjash, “just don’t spit on your brother’s head.”
Sang-chil ohmed and didn’t say anything else.
Afraid that she would be more uncomfortable in a car, Duan Jia Xu didn’t get in the car and carried her in the direction of Yiho University. He casually asked, “We have a plane to catch tomorrow, why are you still drinking today?”
Sanji rested his chin on his shoulder and whispered, “I’m not happy.”
“……”
She said and was about to cry again, her voice muffled, “Only only unhappy.”
Duan Jia Xu skimmed his head to look at her, “Only only why are you unhappy?”
Sanji didn’t answer.
Duan Jia Xu retracted his eyes and looked ahead. The light in the night was dark, and his expression was shadowed, so it wasn’t very clear: “Because of only the one you only like, huh?”
Sanji rubbed another tear from his eye and hmmm’d.
“Can’t say who?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then describe to your brother,” Duan Jia Xu’s tone was calm, “what this person is like, is he good, is he good to you.”
Sang Chi raised her head and looked at the side of his face. In the middle of the day, she tilted her head and stumbled over a word: “Male, male ……”
Half the time he didn’t finish his next words.
“Male what?” Duan Jia Xu said, “Male God?”
Sanji shook his head and said, word for word, “Male, male vixen.”
Duanjash: “……”
What kind of description is that?
“He’s nice, he’s nice to me.” Sang Chi’s emotions all of a sudden lowered, choked out, “But he’s good to anyone, he’s good to anyone ……”
“……”
Speaking of this, Sang-chi suddenly became angry, and his voice instantly rose, crying as he shouted, “The center! Center! Air! Empty!”
“Scum ah?” This time Duan Jia Xu didn’t laugh out, and after a few seconds of silence, he added, “Like it so much?”
Sang Chi was really feeling sad, burying his face into his shoulder, tears kept falling and sobs kept coming out of his throat, completely uncontrollable, crying like a child.
Duan Jiaxu continued, “It can make only only so sad?”
“……”
His tone was mild, “Then you don’t like it, okay?”
Sanji stopped talking and just cried.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t say anything else either.
He entered the gates of Yiho University and headed for Sanji’s dormitory building as he remembered from before. The cries of the person on his back gradually diminished until they were silent, seemingly asleep.
The school was quiet and bustling at night, with piles of students coming and going. The path into the dormitory building was lit with a warm yellow light that colored the tiny bits of snow.
It was like entering another world in a flash.
Quiet down.
It was so quiet that you could hear the sound of drifting snow.
Duan Jia Xu suddenly turned back to look at her.
Noticing that Sanji had closed his eyes, as if he had fallen asleep from crying, but tears were still bubbling out along with them. It looked like he was sad even when he was sleeping.
Duan Jia Xu called out to her, “Sang Chi.”
All it got was a silent response.
Her breath was even and rhythmic, lapping at his neck, warm and shallow.
Duan Jiaxu stared at her for a long time, then suddenly smiled and said in an airy tone, “Like that?”
“……”
“Male vixen?”
“So,” Duanjash murmured, “is it okay if I become like that?”
The little girl didn’t move half as much as she should have, torn into the middle of a dream by fatigue and sleepiness, unable to hear any words.
“And then only be good to you alone, okay?” Duan Jia Xu continued, “Then we only only won’t be so sad, right?”
“I’m still, really, a little put out by having someone else take care of you.”
“Okay?”
“……”
“If you shouldn’t, brother will take that as a yes.”
Duan Jia Xu waited for a while. His brows gradually spread out and his voice contained a smile, “Good, we only just agreed.”
“Brother’s condition is not bad,” Duan Jia Xu said danglingly, “It’s not poor anymore, and how handsome he looks. Except for being a bit older than you.”
“You called me old when I was twenty, and rounding up, you’re almost twenty now.” He seemed to think it made some sense, and teased, “So, our little Sanji is also old.”
This little girl he’s been babysitting for so many years.
It would be nice to meet someone, who she likes and who will always be good to her.
That’s certainly nice.
But he was afraid she would get hurt in the process.
It will be like tonight, when you’re even too drunk to say what’s on your mind.
Even when I fell asleep I was crying.
Duanjash thought.
There should be no one, other than her family, who could treat her better than he could.
“Brother earns more money so that you can eat candies that cost a thousand dollars a piece.” Duan Jiaxu said, “And then you’ll forgive brother-“
“Intent on the behavior of an old cow eating a young one.”
He laughed, “Okay?”
–
Sang Zhi was in a daze when she heard Duan Jia Xu waking her up and asking her what her dormitory number was, while being carried up the stairs by him. He made her a cup of honey water and told her to finish it.
It seemed that a girl from the next dormitory had been called in to help her change.
After that, Sanji crawled into bed and went to sleep. By the time she woke up again, it was the next morning. She had a terrible headache and sat up sluggishly, still a little dazed for a moment.
Memories of last night came flooding back in a flash.
She said a lot of things.
Told him he had a crush on someone, too.
Her drunken mouth was still tight, though, and she didn’t seem to say what she needed to say.
But.
She is! Go! To him! Body! Up! Spit! Spit it out! Ahh!
“……”
Sang Chi scratched her hair hard and crumpled, burying her face in the covers. She glanced at her cell phone and found that Duan Jia Xu had sent her a few WeChat messages.
She pursed her lips and opened it.
A few of the remaining housemates had long since woken up.
Noticing her movement, they all looked over in unison.
Wang Ruolan sat in her seat, tilted her head to look at her, and gossiped, “Sang Zhi, is the one who gave you a ride yesterday your brother’s friend, as you said before?”
Sanji paused and raised his eyes, “Uh-huh.”
Yu Xin got excited, “Holy shit, it’s really handsome! I didn’t really believe you when you said it before, this is too fucking handsome!”
“Ugh, really, in comparison my boyfriend is like a dinosaur.” Ning Wei held her heart, “When we came back yesterday, we thought we had gone to the wrong dormitory.”
Sanji couldn’t help but ask, “When did he leave?”
“We came back about twelve, I think,” said Ning Wei, “and he seemed to have been sitting in your place, and he left when we came back.”
Wang Ruolan: “I think it’s because I’m afraid you’re not feeling well, so I’m keeping it to take care of you.”
Sanji nodded and looked down at his phone.
Brother #2: [I’ll have your roommate wake you up at nine.]
Brother #2: [Airline tickets are all bought out at this time of day, and you can’t change them. There are none left any later, you have to get up or you won’t make it back.]
Brother #2: [Drink lots of water when you wake up, I’ll come by at ten to take you to the airport.]
Sang Chi returned a “good”, and then looked at the time, just after nine o’clock. She lifted the covers and started to make up the bed, saying, “I’m a dog if I ever drink again in my life.”
Yu Xin was curious, “What’s up.”
Sanji couldn’t say it.
Wang Ruolan smiled and said, “You kissed him while drunk, huh?”
“How can that be.” Sanji snapped his head up, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You made a drunken confession?”
Sanji removed the covers and glanced at them, “Then I’ll have to go crazy now.”
Ning Wei: “So what the hell did you do with yours?”
Sang-chi stopped moving, and after half a day’s agonizing, she still said, “I threw up on him.”
“……”
The dormitory was quiet for a long time.
Yu Xin coughed lightly, “No wonder I felt an odor yesterday.”
Wang Ruolan sympathized, “This crush of yours looks like it’s going to have to end.”
Ning Wei: “Why didn’t you hold back a bit too.”
“I didn’t want to.” Sang Chi exhaled, instantly remembering that image again. She sniffed herself and frowned, “Ugh whatever, I’ll apologize to him later.”
Ning Wei: “He didn’t seem to mind much though, did he.”
“He’s got such a good temper, he probably wouldn’t even get mad if I spit on his head.” Sang-chi quickly cleaned up the bed and got out of bed, “I have to take a shower first.”
She grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom.
The moment before entering the restroom, Sanji could still hear his roommate saying, “Godly man.”
“……”
After taking a shower, San Zhi Zhi took a blow dryer to dry her hair. Because of the alcohol she drank, her mental state didn’t look too good.
Sang Zhi Zhi quickly put on a light makeup, and then she opened her suitcase and started to pack her things. She didn’t have much to take home, except for her computer and a few books, as well as a change of duvet cover and bed sheets, she didn’t intend to bring anything else back.
It didn’t take long to clean up.
The time happened to be ten o’clock, Sang Chi said goodbye to his roommate and pulled his suitcase out of the dormitory.
The car can be driven into the school because it is time for the vacation period.
Just after leaving the dormitory building, Sang Chi saw Duan Jia Xu’s car. She shuffled over to him, pondering how it would be more appropriate to apologize to him.
Soon, Duan Jia Xu got out of the car and walked over to pull over the suitcase for her.
Not daring to look at him, Sanji whispered, “Good morning brother.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed, “Good morning.”
She didn’t say anything else, intending to apologize to him properly when she got in the car, and went straight to the passenger seat. Duan Jia Xu put her suitcase in the trunk and got in the car a little later than her.
Hearing the sound of the car door closing, Sang Chi looked over and stammered, “I drank too much yesterday and I’m not feeling too well ……”
Duanjia Xu looked over, “Uh-huh.”
“So I didn’t hold back,” Sangji was a little hard to say, and lowered his head, “I accidentally threw up on you, it’s quite disgusting, right …… I’m sorry brother.”
He said without much concern, “It’s fine.”
As the words fell, Sang Chi felt him come over. Her breath hitched, and also uncertain, she subconsciously raised her eyes and happened to meet his gaze.
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and looked at her fixedly, suddenly smiling. He leaned a little closer, and his hand went in the direction of her side face before grabbing the seatbelt next to her.
But there was no rush to back away, and he settled in place for several seconds.
“What’s wrong?” Being looked at by him like this, Sanji felt inexplicable and uncomfortable, retracting his eyes, “Oh, I forgot to tie it ……”
Duan Jiaxu tied it on her, his sight did not move, and he was still looking at her. Peach blossom eyes slightly converged, deep and amorous, with a few hints of seduction.
Feeling him still looking at him with his afterglow, Sanji couldn’t help but say, “What are you doing.”
Duan Jiaxu slowly sat back down and lowered his head to fasten his seatbelt, a faint smile in his words, “It’s nothing.”
Kuwabara said suspiciously, “Oh.”
The car started up with it.
Sang Zhi looked at him and felt that something was a bit strange, but she couldn’t tell. She scratched her head and didn’t pay much attention to it, lowering her eyes to look at the boarding time, “The flight is at 2:30, are we going to the airport now?”
“Let’s go eat a meal first.” Duanjia Xu said, “Eat and then go to the airport.”
Thinking that he would have to go back for about a month this time, Sang Chi hesitated, but still asked, “Brother, what are you going to do for the New Year?”
“Watching the Spring Festival Gala at home?” Duan Jia Xu thought for a moment, “Then wait for Xiao Sang Zhi’s SMS blessing.”
“……”
Why does that sound so tragic.
“That is.” Sang Chi pursed her lips, weighing her words, “You’re also, that is, twenty-six this year. You should have a girlfriend too, right, and you’re free to-“
“Where’s the girlfriend?” It happened to be a red light, Duan Jia Xu stopped the car and lazily said, “Xiao Sang wizened to introduce one to brother?”
Sanji was puzzled, “What am I introducing you to, I know people my age.”
Hearing this, Duan Jia Xu looked over sideways, his gaze sweeping from top to bottom, gently yet quickly. He smiled, his gaze ambiguous and gentle, “You’re this big?”
I guess the next thing to say is, “Forget it, your little friends.”
Kuwabara could have guessed that. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and nodded in silence.
After a few seconds’ pause, Duanjia Xu’s eyebrows lifted and his breath was long as he chortled.
As it happened, the green light came on and he withdrew his sight. As the car started, Sang Chi heard two more words emerge from him, his voice soft and seemingly indistinct.
“It’s okay.”
Chapter 40
….
“……”
Sangji wanted to play with her cell phone and stopped. She raised her eyes and looked at him, her head became blank for a moment, and there was a feeling that she had not yet sobered up and was hallucinating.
The car was quiet, echoing with soothing music.
After a long time, Sangchil came back to his senses and reacted sluggishly, “Huh?”
Duan Jia Xu was still looking ahead, the contours of his side face were three-dimensional and clear, the knot in his throat was pulled out into a nice line. Hearing her voice, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but rise a few more points, his tone careless: “What?”
Sanji whispered, “What did you just say?”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t seem to understand, “Huh?”
Sanji: “Huh?”
“Ah what.” Duan Jiaxu’s face didn’t change, he looked gentle and calm, he laughed several times, “Did I speak?”
“……” Sanjay paused, hesitantly, “No?”
Duanjia Xu was still laughing, and didn’t say anything.
Sang Chi looked at his eyes became a little strange, slowly retracted the line of sight, confused and tilted his head. She lowered her head, fished out a thermos from her bag, and violently filled several mouthfuls of water.
Noticing her movement, Duan Jiaxu swept her a glance, “What are you doing.”
Sanji frowned and continued to pour the water, “Wake up.”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows raised slightly, and without a trace of weakness in his expression, he said gently, “Well, drink more.”
–
Yesterday’s wine did have a bit of a strong aftertaste, and Sang Chi was still a bit nauseous and her head was heavy at the moment. She didn’t have much appetite for food, and only wanted to eat some fruit or drink a bowl of hot soup.
Duanjia Xu considered it and looked for a Cantonese restaurant in the neighborhood.
When he passed by a fruit store, Duan Jia Xu went in and bought two boxes of strawberries. During the time Sang Zhi ordered, he got up and went to the bathroom to wash both boxes of strawberries.
Sang Zhi rummaged around for half a day and finally just ordered a bowl of skinny pork porridge with eggs.
Seeing that Duan Jia Xu had returned, Sang Zhi pushed the menu in front of him, “I’ve ordered. Brother, see what you want to eat.”
Duan Jiaxu put the strawberries to the side and pulled a paper towel to wipe his hands before taking the menu. He casually scanned it and asked, “A bowl of congee is enough?”
“I don’t want to eat those.” Sanji pointed, “I want strawberries.”
“Eat something to pad your stomach before eating.” Duan Jia Xu picks up a pen and adds a few snacks according to Sang Zhi’s taste, “Drink some tea first, I’ll have something to ask you later.”
“……”
He sounded as if he wanted to settle scores.
Sang Zhi instantly recalled the matter of going to the bar yesterday again, and subconsciously explained first, “That bar yesterday was in the neighborhood of our school. The audience is basically students, and all the students in our school go there often.”
Duan Jia Xu handed the menu to the waiter, lifted his eyelids, and glanced at her faintly.
“And then that wine was something I randomly ordered,” Sanji said honestly, “and never drank it before, I didn’t realize it was that high of a degree. I don’t think I’m a bad drinker, so I ordered it not wanting to waste it ……”
“With whom?”
“Housemates.”
“Yeah.” Duan Jia Xu supported his face with one hand, his eyes slightly drooping as he stared straight at her, “Why do I still hear a boy’s voice?”
Sanji thought back, “That one was my roommate’s friend.”
“That voice still sounds familiar?” As if remembering something, Duan Jia Xu suddenly popped up, his tone idle, “Sang Zhi, are you free? –“
“……” Sanji froze, “What.”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyes raised at the end, “Is this the man?”
Sanji still didn’t respond, “What this man-“
Before she finished her words, her mind suddenly recalled that voice from Jiang Ming that he had heard on the first night of Duan Jia Xu’s hospitalization. At that time, Jiang Ming’s words seemed to be this.
“……”
Why doesn’t this old man go be a cop.
It’s all audible.
Feeling like he knew everything about himself, Sang Chi was a bit stifled by the question, “What’s wrong with that? I just know a few friends, it’s not like I’m a bad person. I didn’t do anything bad either.”
“Is this boy nicknamed Male Vixen?” Duan Jia Xu, as if he didn’t hear, picked up the teapot and filled her cup with tea, “Or is it called Central Air Conditioning?”
“……”
At the mention of this, Sang Zhi immediately felt weak, and her aura subsided for the most part. She didn’t dare to look at him, pretended to look down and drink water, and vaguely said, “No.”
Duan Jia Xu curled his lips and smiled, “Then tell your brother about it?”
Starting to lasso.
The man is as nosy as ever.
Sanji decisively said, “Don’t.”
A moment of silence.
Sangji quietly glanced at him and realized that he wasn’t looking at himself either, just staring at the desktop, seemingly thinking about something. Just when Sangji thought he had given up gossiping and was ready to change the topic of conversation.
Duan Jia Xu suddenly repeated it again, thoughtfully, “Male, fox, vixen, spirit.”
“……”
Duan Jia Xu skimmed his head and asked, “Does that look like a little girl?”
Sang Zhi originally didn’t want to take care of him. But when she heard this, she couldn’t help but look over, her gaze settling on his face for two seconds, and argued in his defense, “Unlike, it’s a ……”
At that, she paused abruptly, laboriously thinking of adjectives, and said halfway through, “Very manly male vixen.”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu almost choked, his voice taking on a few hints of absurdity, “What?”
The person she describes is sitting right in front of her, but that person has no idea and seems to think the image she describes is so unbelievable that it can’t possibly exist.
Sanji felt the feeling was a bit subtle and muttered, “Anyway, I didn’t describe it wrong, it’s just the way it is.”
It so happened that the congee that Sang Wiz had just ordered came up.
She didn’t want to continue this topic, afraid that if she was asked too much by him, she would really expose something. Sang Chi filled half a bowl of porridge with a spoon and casually asked, “Brother, do you want porridge?”
Duan Jiaxu moved the bowl closer for her, “You drink it.”
Sanji nodded and pretended to be eating seriously, not saying another word.
Like it was never ending, soon Sanji heard Duan Jiaxu start asking again, “Little Sanji likes muscular men, huh?”
“……” Sang Chi didn’t want to answer and said unhappily, “Can you stop being so nosy.”
“How come you’re gossiping?” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “It’s not that brother hasn’t seen such a person and wants to satisfy his curiosity.”
Mulberry boy forcibly mouth that sentence “you find a mirror to look at the line” stifled back, muffled accusation: “This is gossip, you are I have seen the most gossip man.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “most?”
Sanji didn’t bat an eyelid, “Right.”
Duanjia Xu: “Is it that serious?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu’s fingertips tapped on the table, “Hearing you say that, brother is still a bit sad.”
Sanji looked over and his lips moved to say something.
In the next moment, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes, his tone was not too concerned, and still contained a shallow smile, “However, brother does gossip.”
“……”
“So little Sang-wiz said to brother?”
“……”
–
Knowing always that this person had no skin and no face, Sang Chi didn’t bother with him anymore. For the questions he threw out, she also only selectively chose a few to answer, and the rest were all treated as if she hadn’t heard them.
The two of them sat around for quite a while after they finished eating. Only when it was about time did they start moving to the airport.
Sang Chi sat down on the passenger seat and took out the rest of the box of strawberries to nibble on. Having just eaten something hot, her whole body was much more comfortable and her head wasn’t as heavy as before.
Duan Jiaxu: “It’ll take an hour to drive there, do you want to get some sleep?”
“Don’t want to sleep.” Sanji shook his head, “I’ll sleep later when we get on the plane.”
She lowered her head and pulled off the leaves of the few remaining strawberries. Happening to run into a red light, Sang Chi casually asked, “Brother, do you eat strawberries?”
Duan Jia Xu turned his head sideways and stared at the strawberry in her hand for two seconds. The corners of his eyes curved slightly, and he softly hmmmed, before bringing his head over. There was no movement in his hand, but his mouth opened instead.
It’s pretty obvious what it implies.
Sanji was confused, “You want me to feed you?”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
“Why did you let me feed you?” Sang-chi blew up a bit and immediately handed the box over, “I’ve ripped the leaves off for you, so eat it yourself.”
“It’s not touching the steering wheel.” Duan Jia Xu said leisurely, “My hands are not clean.”
“……”
There was a stalemate for several seconds.
Sang Chi took a deep breath, thinking that she had fed Sang Yan candy before and didn’t feel bad about it. Not wanting to show too much reaction, she reluctantly took a strawberry and passed it to his lips.
Duanjia Xu came over some more and bit the strawberry into his mouth.
Her fingertips accidentally touched his lower lip.
As if she had inadvertently touched something hot, Kuwabara retracted her hand as a reflex. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, she felt that the spot where she touched him seemed to start to release heat as well.
Sanji rubbed his fingers uncomfortably against his shirt.
Duan Jia Xu also noticed it. He bit through the strawberry, and the sweet and sour flavor instantly permeated his entire lips and tongue. He lightly licked his lips, his lips were dyed bright red by the juice, lining that face more and more demonic, and suddenly called out to her, “Xiao Sangzhi.”
Sanji reluctantly said, “What for.”
“Pay attention.” Duan Jia Xu’s smile took on a bit of a gangly flavor, his mood seemed extremely good, his tone slightly raised, “Don’t take advantage of your brother.”
“……”
Sanji barely caught his breath.
Him! In the end! Can it!
To! Point! Face!
–
After sending Sang Zhi into the security checkpoint, Duan Jia Xu left the airport and returned to his car. He looked at his cell phone and saw that there was a missed call, it was from Qian Fei. He directly called back.
Qian Fei answered in seconds, “Lao Xu.”
Duanjia Xu: “Huh?”
Qian Fei said sorrowfully, “I won’t ask you to be the best man when I get married.”
“What?” Duan Jia Xu said in amusement, “You have a problem with me?”
“To both you and Sang Yan.” Qian Fei said, “The two of you standing next to me is the same as coming to steal my wife.”
“Say what.” Duan Jiaxu said, “Is that all you’ve got?”
“Wait a minute, there is also there,” Qian Fei said with a smile, “Let’s talk about that little girl you said before, I still see you send | love for the first time.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Hanging up.”
“Later!” Qian Fei’s tone carried a few points of condemnation, “Eh, has it been so long since I’ve seen you that you don’t even treat me as a brother anymore! Otherwise, why don’t you even tell me about you!”
“For that matter,” Duan Jiaxu gasped, “how many times have you called me in the meantime.”
“Isn’t that why you never said anything? I’m not curious!” Qian Fei said, “Don’t you talk to me about guilt, the whole thing makes that girl look like she’s underage.”
Duan Jiaxu touched his brow, “Where do you get off talking so much.”
Qian Fei: “How do you know each other? From your company?”
“No.”
“Then I haven’t seen you mention where you usually go to play ah.” Qian Fei said, “Seriously, have you started chasing her yet? You don’t really have the guts to chase just because you’re young, do you?”
Duan Jia Xu was silent for a few seconds and suddenly smiled, “Take your time.”
The girl still thinks of her as her own brother.
Too much at once doesn’t seem to work.
Thinking about what he’d done today, he cleared his throat, “I haven’t really done anything like that, but for some reason it’s kinda-“
“……”
“Getting it right.”
Hearing the desired answer, Qian Fei was shocked instead: “Didn’t you tell me two days ago that there was no such thing? You said that people’s girls are small, don’t mention this again, what’s wrong with you today?”
“……”
“Guilt gone, huh?”
“How old am I.” Duan Jia Xu laughed softly, “What do I need that for.”
“……,” Qian Fei growled in a pinched voice, “Animal! Beast!”
A few more seconds of silence.
Duanjia Xu looked sideways at the passenger seat.
He remembered, suddenly, the way the little girl had looked the morning he woke up in the hospital, curled up in a ball, asleep in the companion chair;
Thinking of the way he looked when he was splashed in public and his first reaction was to shield him;
Thinking about the way she was so drunk she didn’t know how to count the months, but still remembered his post-op notes;
Thinking of the way she had just sat in the passenger seat, cheeks puffed up like a blowfish, eating a strawberry.
Thinking of the two little pearly swirls on her lips when she smiled and
As well as, the way she cried for someone else.
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and said with a faint smile, “This feels pretty good.”
Qian Fei: “What?”
“I’m also almost thirty, and I haven’t done much of what I want to do, so I want to try it.” Duan Jia Xu whispered, “But if it scares her, forget it.”
“……”
“But I have a feeling,” Duan Jia Xu rubbed his lower lip with his fingertips, remembering Sang Zhi’s reaction just now, and stifled a laugh, “that I’m still doing quite well?”
Chapter 41
。。。。。
After getting on the plane, Sang Chi found his own location, and after talking to Sang Yan on WeChat, he turned off the phone.
The plane taxied, rumbled, and rose into the air.
Sangchil pulled the window open and looked out. Watching the city of Yiho gradually shrinking in his eyes, and was covered by a white fog, until it could not be seen.
She retracted her eyes, closed her eyes and rested for a while, but she still didn’t feel sleepy. Sangji simply took a comic book from her bag, and flipped to the page she saw last time.
But can’t read much of anything.
Sanji exhaled, slamming the manga shut.
Once again, he began to think back to last night.
She was sitting on the ground playing in the snow when Duan Jiaxu showed up and she started to cry, saying she had a favorite, and then threw up on him. She said she had a favorite guy and threw up on him. Then she said a lot of nonsense and cried and yelled, which was extremely messy.
After that, being carried back to school on his back, there’s not much to remember.
It’s an extremely coherent memory, and it doesn’t feel like any part of it is missing.
But how Duan Jia Xu reacted today, how it looked like she had drunk herself out of her mind and then said something to him that she shouldn’t have.
It doesn’t seem quite right to think that way.
If she did say something, he couldn’t have reacted the way he did today.
Sang Zhi also thought, before he was splashed with water after the reaction, also inexplicably in the smile. Then, she threw up on him yesterday, and he was in a good mood today.
Sanji: “……”
Isn’t this old man a bit mental.
–
To Nanwu Airport.
Sang Zhi got off the plane and followed the signage to her location, waiting to get her checked luggage. She opened her cell phone and looked at it, saw Sang Yan replying to her message, and immediately replied, [Arrived, coming out right away].
She waited half a day before finally seeing her suitcase, grabbed it and headed out.
Sang Yan was standing just outside the exit, wearing a thin black jacket. His eyes were lowered, one hand in his pocket, and the other holding his cell phone, as if he was replying to someone.
Sanji walked up to him.
Seeing that he was hesitant to look up, Sang Chi suddenly remembered what he had said on the phone earlier and swallowed back the word “brother” in his mouth, affectionately changing it to, “Sang Yan.”
“…… “Sang Yeon’s movements stopped and he raised his eyes coolly, “Want to rebel?”
Sanji blinked, “You told me not to call you brother.”
“Did you listen when I told you not to ask me for money? And, tell me about saving money,” Sang Yeon scanned her up and down, his tone light, “Have you ever been on the scale?”
“……”
“Next time you act pathetic,” Sang Yeon took the suitcase in her hand, “remember to lose some weight and come back.”
Sanji was offended, “I’m only eighty pounds.”
“Uh-huh.” Sang Yeon said, “Then you kinda look fat.”
Sanji couldn’t help but choke back, “You still look like you’re only five-foot-five.”
Sangyan hmmmed indifferently, “So do you have a meter?”
“……”
–
Sang Rong had gone out of town on a business trip, and Liping was the only one in the house. There were already a few prepared dishes on the table, and she was still busy in the kitchen.
Hearing the movement of the door, Li Ping immediately walked out, her hands still wet.
Sanji jumped up and hugged her.
Not seen for several months, Li Ping also extraordinarily miss her, frowning at her, constantly chattering about how she had lost so much weight, but the smile on her lips could not be half hidden.
Soon, she saw Sang Yan at the back, her expression instantly changed: “You brat still know to come back? Did you not go to see Auntie Wang’s daughter, the human girl waited for you for more than an hour in that store before!”
Sang Chi is still the first time to hear about this matter, immediately quiet down, eyeballs bony, in the two people.
“What do you have nothing to introduce me to?” Sang Yan put Sang Zhi Zhi’s suitcase aside and lazily said, “Didn’t I tell you I’m not going?”
Li Ping cursed with hatred and went back into the kitchen.
Probably having been told off quite a few times on this matter, Sang Yeon didn’t care too much, lifting his feet and walking over to the couch to sit down and pour a glass of water.
Sang Chi immediately came next to him and said curiously, “Brother, you’re on a blind date?”
“……” Sangyan glanced at her, “What’s the matter with you?”
“I’m not just asking.” Sanji was particularly interested in this, “You didn’t go?”
“I’m guilty of going on a blind date?”
“But you don’t have a date either.” Sanji thought carefully and found a reason, “Are you embarrassed to go?”
Sang Yeon leaned back on the couch, not bothering with her.
Sang Chi remembered Duan Jia Xu’s words of asking her to help introduce her girlfriend, hesitated, but still opened her mouth, “Why don’t you go with Brother Jia Xu?”
At those words, Sang Yeon’s eyelids lifted.
“He also seems to be quite interested in finding a girlfriend lately. You can go to Yiho to find him, or have him come to Nanwu to find you.” Sang Zhi sincerely said, “And then you guys, you can team up for a blind date.”
“……”
“But then,” Sanji suddenly felt that it wouldn’t work, “you might be at a disadvantage because you’d be setting him off. …… Why don’t you guys go back to… …”
Sang Yeon said coldly, “Can you shut up?”
Sanji swallowed back his words and grunted, “Forget it, you’ll end up alone.”
As it happened, the cell phone that Sang Yan had placed on the table rang. He opened it and looked at it, suddenly pulling up the corners of his lips, looking in a good mood, “Kid, let me tell you something.”
Sanji looked at him, “What.”
“Recently a girl tried to hit on me.” Sang Yeon said, “I don’t have time to deal with others, understand?”
“……” said Sanji, a little skeptical of what he was hearing, extremely one-liners, “You mean, someone, tried, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, chase, you?”
“So.” Sang Yeon extinguished the screen and said slowly, “You let that Duan Jia Xu, all by himself, go on a blind date happily with that dirt to the bone love talk.”
Sanji: “……”
–
Not long after Sang Yan graduated from college, he moved out from his home. So after dinner, he didn’t continue to stay and left after talking to Li Ping.
Sang Zhi helped Liping clear the table before returning to her room and taking out the things in her suitcase.
The clothes she prepared with the intention of giving them to Sang Rong and Sang Yan were packed in two separate bags. Seeing this, Sang Zhi remembered the New Year’s gift that Duan Jia Xu said he would make up to her.
There’s no telling what will be sent.
On her eighteenth birthday, Duan Jiaxu sent her a set of cosmetics. She was still preparing for the college entrance examination at that time, so she only thanked him and didn’t think about it again.
After that, the set of makeup was put on her dresser and not touched again.
She didn’t think to bring it with her when she went to Yiho City.
With that thought in mind, Sanji climbed up and grabbed the makeup bag that was on her dresser. She rummaged inside, glancing at the brand, which didn’t seem cheap.
When you think about it that way, it seems like he’s in a much better position now than he was in college.
Have a car and live in a pretty good neighborhood.
It shouldn’t be as hard as it was before.
LOL.
Then why does she still always feel sorry for him.
Sanji sat back down on the floor and rested his chin on the edge of the bed, thinking about things in silence.
Her thoughts were a little empty.
After a long time, her mind inexplicably recalled, sitting in his car today, hearing those two words that she didn’t know if she had misheard.
— “It’s okay.”
The previous sentence was.
–“You’re this big?”
“……”
Forget it.
She must have misheard.
And maybe he’d just say a few words to tease her, as usual.
But it didn’t seem quite right.
I don’t think he’s ever said anything like that before.
“……”
The more Sanji thought about it, the more annoyed he became.
She climbed onto the bed and rolled. Sang Zhi took out her cell phone, no longer thinking about it, and sent a tweet to Duan Jiaxu: [Arrived home.]
After thinking about it, Sang Chi added, [Brother Ka Shi, my brother seems to have a girlfriend].
Brother #2: [Uh-huh.
Sanji scratched his head and said tentatively, [It seems like he’s quite young.]
Brother #2: [Your brother would never hook up with an underage.]
Sang-chi hesitated, [Is it okay to be an adult?
After a while.
Duanjash sent a voice over.
Kuwabara’s heartbeat inexplicably sped up and she nervously nodded away.
The man’s low voice came along the receiver, diffident and matter-of-fact: “Adult, high school graduate, college. Isn’t that being a little adult?”
Send another one.
His voice took on a few chuckles, “Why not?”
–
Because Duan Jia Xu was able to say such words, Sang Zhi felt extremely unbelievable and didn’t sleep well all night. But judging rationally, she again felt that he was looking at it from a bystander’s perspective.
At least that’s what it does look like to anyone.
It’s not a huge age difference across the board, just a six or seven year difference.
But Sanji was thirteen years old when he met Duan Jiaxu.
So, perhaps, there would be a possibility of that. In his eyes, she would always be the same thirteen year old, unchanged.
She met him when she was a child.
So she would always be a child in his eyes.
Even though he thought that he was capable of being in a relationship with someone in her age group.
And yet it doesn’t include her.
Sang Chi couldn’t sleep, so she got up in the middle of the night and ripped a cardboard box out from under her bed. She used a utility knife to separate the top tape and took out the contents.
Saw the ugly muppet that Duan Kash said he’d give her years ago if she wanted it.
Sanji put it on the bed and stared at it for a while.
After a long time, her mouth loosened, and she ventured sullenly, “Suppose, I mean, suppose, you don’t think of me as a child any more-“
“It’s not like I’m going to chase you.” Kuwabara jabbed a finger at the muppet, emphasizing, “It’s not like I have no one to chase after, I’m so pretty, and you’re how old you are. In a few years you’ll probably have wrinkles.”
Sanji muttered, “You wish.”
–
Qian Fei’s wedding was scheduled for the eighth day of the new year.
Because he lived in Nanwu, Sangji was quite familiar with him. Except for when she was in middle school, he came to pick her up a few times. When Sang Zhi was in high school, he would occasionally be brought back by Sang Yan and eat at home.
That’s why when he got married, he also invited Sanjay.
On the eighth day of the year.
Sang Zhi specially changed her clothes and followed Sang Yan. The seat she was placed at was the table of Qian Fei’s college classmates, most of whom were men.
Then, San Zhi also saw Duan Jia Xu.
Sanji knew he would come, so he wasn’t too surprised.
Just couldn’t help but look at him more.
Duan Jiaxu wore a simple white shirt with a black suit today, looking a lot more serious, and his flamboyant temperament was converged for a few points. He sat in the seat opposite her, and next to him sat a woman who was currently chatting with him.
San Zhi retracted his eyes, suddenly feeling that something was wrong, and glanced at him again.
The first thing he noticed was the tie he was wearing today, the one she had given him.
Seemingly sensing her gaze, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes and looked towards her, his peach blossom eyes curving up in a moment. In the next second, he spoke to the woman next to him, before standing up and walking next to Sang Yan.
After consulting with the man next to Sang Yeon, the two switched places.
Sanjay was sitting right next to Sanjayan.
Hearing Sang Yan laugh, he said very beatifically, “Duan Jia Xu, I’ve only just sat down, and you’re rushing over to meet dad?”
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and changed the cutlery, not paying much attention to his words.
“Call out to daddy.” Sang Yan leaned back in his chair and reached out to pull over the red envelope that Sang Zhi had placed on the table, the corner of his mouth tilted to the side, “After the New Year is over, daddy will give you a red envelope as well.”
The red envelope was given by a relative who came to visit out of the blue just before Sanji left the house.
Sang Zhi looked at it, but it was not good to snatch it back in public, so he could only hold his breath as if he didn’t see it, drinking the water in front of him.
Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids twitched, his gaze crossing over Sang Zhi extremely quickly. He supported the side of his face and looked at Sang Yan, dragging out his voice, “Dad can’t shout too well, is it okay to call him brother?”
Sang Yan raised an eyebrow, “It’s fine to be called big brother.”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu once again looked at Sang Zhi, his gaze straight, his brows and eyes looked like they contained love. He laughed lightly, without any baggage at all, and without struggling, he instantly shouted out.
“Uh, brother.”
The sound was extremely alarming.
“……”
Sanji almost choked, pulling a tissue and coughing several times.
After several seconds of silence, Sang Yeon stared at him in silence, like he didn’t recognize him anymore. His forehead twitched and he was extremely speechless, “Who are you disgusting by shouting superimposed words?”
“Brother,” Duan Jiaxu took the red packet, tapping his fingertips twice on the top edge and dangling, “Thanks.”
Sang Yan said expressionlessly, “No thanks, bring it back.”
“I’ll take the red packet as you said.” Duan Jia Xu acted as if he didn’t hear him, putting the red packet into his pocket and smiling gently, “Then it’s settled, from now on you’ll be my brother.”
Sang Yan’s eyes were subtle, “What’s gotten into you today.”
“Not crazy.” Duan Jiaxu laughed, endlessly as if, trailing off, “Thank you brother for caring.”
“……”
Chapter 42
。。。。。
The host was on stage getting ready, when music suddenly started in the ballroom.
The whole room was instantly quiet.
It also aborted the conversation between Duan Jia Xu and Sang Yan.
Sang Yeon gave him a cold look and took out his cell phone from his pocket.
Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes and sipped his water, smiling.
After a couple dozen seconds.
Sang Chi felt that this matter should already be considered closed. Taking this opportunity, she looked in Duan Jia Xu’s direction. At the moment, he was looking towards the stage, seemingly listening to the host’s introduction, not looking this way.
Sang Chi retracted his eyes and came to Sang Yan’s ear, whispering, “Brother–“
Before she could finish her latter words, Sang Yan coldly interrupted her, “Kid, don’t call me like that, I kind of want to vomit when I hear those two words right now.”
“……” Sanjay continued, “What’s Josh doing?”
Sang Yan was looking at his cell phone. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and handed the screen directly to her to see.
Sanji looked away.
The screen displays a web page, and the search bar reads – Yiho City Psychiatric Hospital.
“……”
Sang Yeon tsked, “I can only help him so far.”
The next second, Sang Zhi saw Sang Yan handing his cell phone to Duan Jia Xu, accompanied by an extremely concerned sentence, “You can apply for hospitalization directly after you return.”
Duan Jiaxu glanced at him and said mildly, “Really no need, thank you brother-“
This time, without waiting for him to finish, Sang extended his hand to strangle his neck and pressed down hard, as if he couldn’t bear it any longer: “I’ve lived for more than twenty years, but I’ve never been called this by a big old man like you.”
Duan Jia Xu froze slightly, not resisting. Being treated like this, he instead laughed out loud, his shoulders shaking with the sound of his breath, “What’s wrong?”
Sang Yan stared at him for a few seconds. Just when Sangji thought he was going to drag Duanjiaoshi out and beat him up, he violently let go of his hand, twisted his head and said to Sangji, “Change seats.”
Sang Chi, who was watching the play from the sidelines, was still a bit unresponsive when he heard this, and dumbfoundedly said “Ah”, “Switching places with me?”
“I’ll sit next to him again,” Sang Yeon said lightly, “and Qian Fei will probably think I’m going to make a scene.”
“……”
–
Sitting in Sang Yeon’s place, Sang Chil silently moved his cutlery over.
She didn’t look in Duan Jia Xu’s direction and was about to refill her cup with some tea when her cell phone, which was placed aside, vibrated.
Sanji withdrew his hand and glanced at it casually.
Sang Rong sent a voice message to the group at home.
She clicked right on it.
Sang Rong: “Only only, dad bought a chocolate cake and put it in the fridge, you can have it if you want. Your mom and I have a social gathering today, I’ll be back late.”
Sanji replied with a “yes”.
She then exited this chat window and slid down.
Noticing Duan Jia Xu’s gaze looking this way, Sang Zhi subconsciously raised his head and immediately turned off the screen of his cell phone, “What are you doing?”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyelashes lifted slightly as he suddenly asked, “Only who?”
Sanji felt weird, “It’s not like you don’t know.”
Duanjia Xu laughed, “It’s your brother?”
“What my brother.” Sanji was puzzled, “It’s me, my nickname.”
“Oh.” Duan Jia Xu picked up the teapot and poured water into her cup while asking, “How come I haven’t seen your brother call you that?”
“He shouts occasionally,” said Sanjay, “only rarely.”
“Who all yells like that?”
“My parents,” Sang Chi pondered, “and my uncle and sister-in-law and they …… are closer anyway.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed thoughtfully.
After a while.
“By the way,” Duanjash said absently, “what’s brother number 2?”
“……,” Sanji’s demeanor didn’t change as he pointed to Sanjan, “Number 1.”
Pointing to Duanjash again, “Number 2.”
“How did I become your brother number 2?” Duan Jia Xu leaned toward the back of the chair, looked at her sideways, and said leisurely, “Your brother just recognized me as his brother?”
Sanji looked at him and reminded, “My brother is younger than you.”
“The age on my ID is fake.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, speaking without any proper form, “Reported high, in reality, it’s a bit younger.”
“And how much are you actually?”
“Hmm?” Duanjash said, “Ninety-six.”
“…… “Sang Chi was shocked by his chutzpah, stared at him wide-eyed for a while, and said in a nebulous voice, “Even if you say a 90, you still say a 96.”
“What?”
“You look like a 69 to me.”
Trying to fool anyone.
How old do you want to pretend to be eighteen.
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “What are you talking about?”
What he said now, and then recalling his behavior just now when he was very happy to call Sang Yan “brother”, Sang Zhi hesitantly said, “Brother, why are you so strange today. Is it because a lot of people have been calling you old lately?”
“Sang Chi, your brother is here too,” Duan Jia Xu picked up his cup and took a sip slowly, “You called me ‘brother’, is this me you’re calling out to, or your brother?”
Sanji paused, “Why didn’t you say that before.”
Duanjia Xu: “Isn’t that your brother’s absence?”
“Oh, Brother Jia Xu.” Sangji didn’t mind the name calling too much and continued to ask, “Did you go on a blind date when people said you were too old to look at?”
“Blind date?” Mentioning this, Duan Jia Xu asked, “I heard that you asked me to team up with your brother for a blind date, huh?”
“I’m just giving you two a piece of advice,” Sang Chi said seriously, “Isn’t this just like a friendship? There’s a companion in your heart.”
Duan Jia Xu smiled lightly, “But your brother isn’t happy about it.”
Without waiting for Sang Chi to speak again, the corner of Duan Jia Xu’s eyes curved slightly and he leaned down slightly, coming a little closer to her, and asked in an airy tone, “Why don’t you form a team with me?”
After freezing for a few seconds, Sang Chi slightly understood the meaning of his words, “You’re asking me to accompany you on a blind date?”
Duan Jiaxu’s expression lurched, “……”
Sang Chi’s mood was a bit unpleasant, “How can I accompany you on a blind date, others have opinions.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu asked, “What opinion.”
“Would say you,” Sanji said slowly, “went on a blind date and took your daughter with you.”
“……”
–
At the end of the wedding banquet, there is also a “cave-in”.
It was impossible for Sang Chi to follow. Seeing that it was almost time, she spoke to Sang Yan and took the initiative to go and say a few blessings to Qian Fei.
It was nearly nine o’clock in the evening.
Sang Yeon had been drinking, and Sang Chi didn’t intend to let him give her a ride. She knew the place and planned to go out and take a bus home in the neighborhood.
Just got out of the ballroom.
It wasn’t long before Duan Jiaxu’s voice came from behind him, “What’s the point of walking so fast.”
Sanji turned around and casually said, “You’re leaving too?”
“No.” Duan Jia Xu played with the car keys in his hand, his eyebrows lowered, and said in a faint voice, “It’s so late, I’ll send you back first.”
Sang Chil looked at it, it was Sang Yeon’s car keys, “You haven’t been drinking?”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
“Better not.” Just as the elevator came, Sang Chi walked in, “I’ll just take a bus nearby. Brother Jia Xu, you don’t have to make a trip back and forth either, how troublesome.”
“It’s not bad,” Duan Jia Xu lifted his eyelids, the corners of his lips curving into a shallow arc, “Giving it to someone else might be troublesome.”
“……”
San Zhi pursed his lips and didn’t say anything.
Duanjia Xu pulled the trigger, “When do you plan to go back to school?”
“Tomorrow, so gotta get back to packing.” Sanji said, “School starts the day after tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m also going back tomorrow.” Duan Jia Xu said, “What time did you book your flight?”
“My brother ordered it.” Speaking of this, Sang Chi fished his cell phone out of his pocket and whispered, “I forgot what time it was too, let me check.”
The elevator goes down to the underground parking lot.
The two walked out.
“So.” Duan Jiaxu restrained his jaw, a few chuckles inexplicably escaping his throat, “Then take a look?”
Sanji looked over, “The flight is at eight twenty tomorrow morning.”
“My ticket-” Duan Jia Xu symbolically took out his cell phone and looked at it, his tone was natural, “It’s also 8:20. Then we’ll go together tomorrow?”
Sanji looked at him and nodded.
Finding the spot where Sang Yeon had just parked, the two got into the car.
Duan Jia Xu was about to fasten his seatbelt when he suddenly felt something in his pocket. He took it out and realized it was the red envelope from just now, “Your red envelope?”
Sanji looked over and didn’t move, “Are you going to give it back to me?”
“Uh-huh.” Duanjia Xu smiled, “Give us just one.”
Except for the last time when she was drunk, it was the first time Sang Chi heard him call her that. Her breathing stopped for a moment, her fingers unconsciously playing with the zipper on her dress, “Why are you calling me that.”
Duan Jiaxu’s tone was lazy and diffident, “Didn’t you say that people close to you shout like that?”
Sang Chi unnaturally oh sound, did not take that red packet: “You’d better take it, you just all that shouted my brother, you this back to me, is not a loss?”
“Give us only just,” Duan Jiaxu looked at her motionlessly, pausing for two seconds before withdrawing his gaze, a faint smile in his voice, “How do you take a loss?”
“……”
Without another word, Sanji took the red envelope. She pulled her seatbelt on herself and lay down on the window to look out.
The car started, and there were no words in the car for a while. After a long time, Sang Chi took the initiative to speak, “Brother Jia Xu.”
“Hmm?”
“Look at Brother Qian Fei, when he was drunk in the past, he even said he couldn’t find a date.” Sang Zhi said, “Now he’s married too, and he looks like he likes that sister too.”
“Uh-huh.”
“When you saw it,” Sanjay weighed his words, speaking in a lukewarm tone, “wasn’t there a thought that you’d like a companion, too?”
“Why are you either dating or telling me to find a girlfriend lately.” Duan Jia Xu felt funny, “Counting I’m only twenty-five, what’s the rush.”
Sanji: “And how long do you have to wait? Even my brother has people chasing after him.”
She didn’t want to rush him all the time either.
But then I’m afraid he’ll simply decide not to look for it and then there’s no one else to rush him.
I’ll have to spend next year alone again.
You don’t go to the doctor when you’re sick, you’re alone with everything.
The car is playing a soothing love song, soft, long, like to the atmosphere, colored with a few points of charming.
Duan Jia Xu’s features were sharply defined, and the streetlights outside hit in with a dim yellow light, making his expression look a lot softer. His gaze looked ahead, not looking too concerned.
Seeing that he hadn’t said anything, Sang Chi thought that she had annoyed him, and after a long moment of silence, she said, “Don’t be unhappy. I see my mom talking about my brother all the time, and my brother isn’t happy either. I just don’t want to, eh.”
She couldn’t bring herself to mention his family, and not knowing what to say, she whispered, “I won’t talk about it later.”
Duan Jiaxu suddenly said, “How old are you?”
I don’t know why he’s asking.
Sanji froze, then thought for a moment and said, “Nineteen after his birthday.”
After answering, I didn’t see him take up the slack.
Sanji was a little confused, “What’s wrong?”
She then heard Duan Jiaxu laugh, his tone seeming to mean something.
“Another year then.”
Chapter 43
。。。。。
“Ah? In a year’s time you’ll be 27 right ……” His words were a bit jumpy, Sangji didn’t react too well for a moment and soon felt that something was wrong, “No, what are you suddenly asking me about my age for.”
“I see you always bring it up tonight.”
“What happened to ……?”
“I didn’t hear it just now,” Duanjia Xu laughed, “but I hear it now.”
“What ah.”
“What you’re saying is,” Duan Jiaxu’s tone was loose and flirtatious, “seeing Qian Fei get married, you want to get married too?”
Sanji: “……”
“What a little age to think.”
“……”
“Brother will calculate your age, didn’t I realize that you haven’t reached the legal age for marriage yet?” Duan Jiaxu said, “In another year, we’ll be married, so don’t be in a hurry.”
“…… “Sang Chi held back, no longer looking at him, “I’m too lazy to talk to you.”
“Also, I’ll only be 26 in a year, what 27,” Duan Jia Xu said, “I don’t recognize that extra year.”
Sanji couldn’t help but retort, “You’re 26 this year, what 25.”
“Birthday has not yet passed, can only be counted as 25,” Duan Jiaxu turned the steering wheel and drove the car into the neighborhood where Sang Zhi lives, “We are older, very sensitive to age, understand?”
After a few seconds of silence, Sanji felt odd and began to speculate again, “Is it true that people have been calling you old lately?”
Duan Jiaxu lazily said, “Besides you, my little friend, who else can say I’m old?”
Sanji paused, also a little vain, “I didn’t say that a few times, did I.”
“Well, since I was 20 years old.” Duanjia Xu’s voice paused, and he said faintly, “It makes me feel younger than I have ever felt in my life.”
“……”
It just so happened that the car arrived under Sanjay’s house.
Sang Chi quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and pretended not to hear him, “I’ll be going home then, thank you Brother Jia Xu. Tomorrow’s flight is so early, you remember to rest early.”
“Later.”
Sanji looked sideways, “What’s wrong?”
Duan Jiaxu reached out to loosen the tie around his neck and suddenly took out a four-sided box from another pocket, curving his lips and saying, “A New Year’s gift for only only only.”
“……”
She thought he’d forgotten.
Sanji blinked slowly and reached for it, “Thank you.”
–
Sang Zhi returned home and looked into the living room. Sang Rong and Li Ping really hadn’t returned yet. She went straight to her room and sat on the carpet beside her bed, rummaging through her bag to find the box that Duan Jia Xu had just given her.
A very simple solid color box with the logo printed in the center.
She reached down and opened the box.
Inside is a silver bracelet in the style of what looks to be a fox. At each end are the head and tail, which are attached by a chain, accented with small crushed diamonds and wrapped around in a circle.
The letters SZ are engraved on the inside.
Sanji put it on his hand and stared at it for a while.
Then, she took out her cell phone, hesitantly googled “meaning of bracelet” and the first thing that popped up – different people give different meanings.
Sanjay poked it open and looked at it.
–A man giving a bracelet means that he likes it and will keep you for the rest of his life.
Seeing this sentence, Sanji’s heart stopped half a beat and licked his lips as he continued to look down.
-Elders also often give bangles as gifts to their juniors as a sign of their eternal care and blessings.
“……”
All right.
Kuwabara’s mood inexplicably became a little empty.
Half-heartedly, she exhaled and put the bracelet back in the box. Without another thought about it, she got up and pulled over her suitcase and began packing what she would take back to school tomorrow.
In addition to the ones she brought back earlier, Sang Chi looked around and brought the set of cosmetics that Duan Jia Xu gave her. She took a shower and went to the living room to cut a piece of cake to eat.
After that it was back to the room and onto the bed.
Sang Zhi took out his cell phone and set an alarm clock, while later sending a tweet to Duan Jiaxu: [Then we’ll leave tomorrow at six o’clock? We’ll take a cab over there.]
Brother #2: [Uh-huh.
Sang-chi remembered one thing and asked again, [Brother Ka-su, how come you don’t even drink?
Qian Fei got married, even she drank a small cup, he actually did not drink a mouthful. Sang Chi had thought that he would be dunked quite a bit.
Thinking about it that way, it seemed like she’d never seen him drink before.
After a while.
Brother #2: [Alcohol allergy.]
Sanji: [Oh, that’s good too.]
Sanji: [It’s not good anyway, it’s better than me not being able to drink milk and eat beef].
As the time grew late, Sang Chi held her cell phone and began to get sleepy, her eyes closed and she fell asleep in a daze. Before she completely lost consciousness, she suddenly remembered the words that Duan Jia Xu said today.
–“Give us just one, how do we lose out?”
–
The next morning at five in the morning, Sanjay got up.
The day was still young, and no movement could be heard outside from Li Ping and Sang Rong. Afraid of disturbing them, Sang Zhi’s movements were gentle, and he went into the toilet to quickly finish washing up.
When she came out, Liping also came out of the room wrapped in a coat.
“Only only,” Li Ping was not in good spirits, “Your father and I both drank yesterday, so we can’t drive you to the airport. I’ll make a call and ask your brother to come and take you there?”
“No need.” Waking her up, Sang Chi feels a little guilty and whispers, “I’ll go with Brother Jia Xu, he came back yesterday to attend Brother Qian Fei’s wedding, and he’s also going back to Yi He today.”
“Yes?”
“Well, you go back to sleep.” Sanji said, “Brother has also been drinking, so don’t call him.”
Sang Chi returned to his room and sent a tweet to Duan Jia Xu: [Brother Jia Xu, are you awake?
Duan Jiaxu replied in a second: [Waking up.]
She put her heart down, sat down in front of the dresser, and quickly put on a light makeup. Sanji changed her clothes, after which she pulled on her suitcase and headed out.
At this time of day, the temperature outside was colder than expected, razor-sharp cool with a slight dampness that burrowed down the pores and into the bones.
San Zhi sniffled, flipped out his cell phone, and called Duan Jia Xu.
Soon, the phone picked up on the other end. His voice didn’t sound like he’d been up all night, coming along with the current, clear and rumbling, “Out?”
Sanji hmmmed, “I’m getting ready to leave the neighborhood now, where are you?”
“It’s in this bakery outside your neighborhood,” Duan Jia Xu said, “buying breakfast, have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet.”
“So what do want to eat?”
“A sandwich would be nice.” Sanji thought for a moment, “And a tart.”
“OK.”
Sang-chi hung up the phone, her hands freezing until they were a little stiff. She scrunched her neck, took her gloves out of her bag, and put them on, while continuing to drag her suitcase slowly.
She went out of the neighborhood and caught a glimpse of Duan Jia Xu who was holding a black duffel bag not far away.
Duan Jiaxu walked over and handed her the plastic bag in his hand, pulling her suitcase over in his hand and placing his own duffel bag on top.
Sanji looked away, “Have you eaten?”
“No, I’ll eat in the car later.” Duan Jia Xu said, “You drink a soy milk first to pad your stomach.”
“Oh.” Sanji hooked the plastic bag around his wrist, removed his gloves, poked a bottle with a straw and handed it to him, “You drink.”
Duan Jiaxu took it and smiled, “Thank you only only only.”
The two waited at the curb for a while and stopped a cab. Sanjay sat in it and handed him the sandwich from the bag while unwrapping the other one for himself.
Sang Chi was about to take a bite when she suddenly noticed that Duan Jia Xu was unmoved, just looking sideways, at the sandwich in her hand.
“…… “Embarrassed by the way he was staring at her, Sanji hesitantly handed him the sandwich in his hand, “You want it?”
Duan Jiaxu took it, his tone so gentle that it was almost ambiguous: “Thank you only only only.”
Sanji: “……”
Inexplicable.
A dozen egg tarts were left in the bag. Sanji could only take one out and nibble on it while staring at the sandwich in his hand, looking a little displeased, “Are you going to eat two?”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
He paid for it, so Sang Chi couldn’t say anything. But remembering that she had just told him she wanted sandwiches, she could only politely say, “Then why don’t you buy three.”
“Buy three for what?” Duan Jiaxu didn’t seem to understand, and spoke in a hangdog manner, “I can’t eat three.”
“……”
Sanji held back the fire and continued to nibble on the tart.
It didn’t take long for Duan Jia Xu to finish one and unwrap the other. His movements stopped, his eyebrows raised slightly, and he handed it to Sang Zhi, “Eat it?”
Sang-chi was very bony and didn’t raise her eyelids, “No food.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Can you get full with just an egg tart?”
Sanji: “Can’t.”
“Then why don’t you eat?”
“I don’t eat contempt.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu froze, suddenly laughed lowly, like he was interested that way, “How is it contempt?”
Sangji sipped soy milk to himself, “You gave it to me only when you couldn’t eat it.”
“Can’t eat it? For a sandwich that size,” said Duane Cash, “I could eat three more.”
Sanji sidled up, “Then why didn’t you just give it to me.”
“Playing around with you.” Duan Jia Xu’s eyes were deep and bright, staring straight at her as he calmly said, “If you pamper your brother, won’t he give it to you?”
“……”
This man is so shameless the older he gets.
Sanji resisted the urge to spit, “You wish.”
“You want to get ready?” Duan Jia Xu put the sandwich into her hand, “Then you prepare, brother will wait.”
Sang-chi was extraordinarily more serious, repeating earnestly, “I said you’re thinking of something beautiful.”
“Uh-huh.” Duanjia Xu laughed, “We’re just so cute when we’re pouting.”
“……”
–
Sang Chi inexplicably understood how Sang Yeon felt yesterday.
Was really able to get chesty from his lack of skin, but couldn’t think of anything to say back.
Sanji stopped ignoring him and finished her sandwich before putting on the hat on her jacket and leaning back against the seat to close her eyes. She had gotten up early today and it didn’t take her long to fall asleep.
When I woke up again, I was at the airport.
The two went to pick up their boarding passes and chose two seats side by side. Still feeling sleepy, Sang Chi went to the terminal and found another seat, continuing to sleep with his eyes closed.
It was Duanjash who woke her up at the beginning of the boarding.
The two of them were seated three seats in a row, with the two of them sitting in the inward position. Duan Jia Xu let Sang Zhi sit in the innermost seat and reminded her to fasten her seatbelt.
Sang Chi fished out the bottle from her bag, the water inside was the water that Duan Jia Xu had just filled for her in the terminal. She opened the cap and took a small sip.
Duan Jia Xu talked to Sang Zhi, “Is it cold?”
Sanji shook his head, “It’s not cold.”
Soon, the man next to Duan Jia Xu also took his seat.
The man put the bag on his body on the luggage rack. He then sat down in his seat and glanced at Duan Jia Xu next to him, and it didn’t take long for him to withdraw his gaze.
The next moment, as if he felt something was wrong, he looked over again and stared at Duan Jia Xu for a while.
“Eh, you’re Duan Jia Xu, right?”
Hearing this, Duanjia Xu turned his head.
Sanji also looked over at the voice.
It was a man about the same age as Duan Jia Xu. Wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, his face was white and clean, and he was wearing a simple sports jacket.
“It’s really you.” The man said excitedly, “I’m Yuan Lang, remember? We were in middle school together.”
Duanjia Xu looked at him quietly and didn’t say anything.
“Long time no see ah, count up how many years it is …… We both seem to be the same table before.” Yuan Lang also said, “I see they seem to be a while ago and get a class reunion, how also did not see you go? I didn’t go this time because my mom was sick.”
Duan Jiaxu retracted his gaze and said with a faint smile, “There’s no time.”
“That’s also true.” Noticing his indifference, Yuan Lang snorted, “I heard from Jiang Ying that you’re busy with your work now, and you should be earning quite a lot.”
After saying that, noticing Sang Chi beside him, Yuan Lang curiously said, “Is this your girlfriend? No, how come I heard that you and Jiang Ying are getting married?”
Sanji froze.
“……” Duan Jia Xu obviously felt incredulous as well, skimming his head. After a few seconds’ pause, he suddenly pulled the corners of his mouth and laughed, his tone extremely absurd, “What did you say?”
“Is not it? I also forgot who I heard it from ……,” Yuan Lang was a little embarrassed, and said to Sang Zhi, “Don’t you mind ah, I have no gate in this mouth, just say that.”
Sang Chi came to Duan Jia Xu’s ear and asked in a low voice, “Who is Jiang Ying?”
Duan Jia Xu faintly said, “The woman I met at the hotpot restaurant before.”
“……”
Sanji thought back, somewhat confused by the relationship.
Next to him, Yuan Lang asked again, “So this is your girlfriend?”
Duan Jia Xu sidled his head and whispered something that Sang Zhi didn’t quite hear.
Soon, Duanjia Xu turned his head to look at her again.
Sanjay hesitated, “That ……”
Noticing her expression, Duan Jia Xu explained seriously, “There’s no such relationship, and she’s not an ex-girlfriend.” He stared at Sang Zhi, his brows stretching a bit, “Besides, I seem to have promised you?”
Sanji didn’t respond, “What.”
“If we were going to have a girlfriend,” Duan Jia Xu lifted his eyelids and spoke slowly, “we would be given just one to look at first.”
Chapter 44
。。。。。
“……”
Kuwabara ahs, withdraws her eyes and nods her head sluggishly.
Scowling, he mulled over the meaning of the words.
She thought he had forgotten about it, or didn’t take it seriously at all. And Sang-chi hadn’t seen him mention the fact that he had a girlfriend, nor had he shown it to her.
And who was the one at the airport earlier?
Sanji looked at him again and couldn’t help but ask, “What about the one before that?”
Duanjash: “Which one.”
“That’s,” wondering if she’d look weird for suddenly bringing up something so long ago, Sang-woo played with her fingers and pretended to ask offhandedly, “the older sister who came to Yiho when I was in my first year of high school, the one who came to the airport with you.”
“Your freshman year of high school?”
“……” Sanjay struggled for a few seconds, and could only say it more precisely, to reinforce his memory, “The time I came over to that online date of mine.”
Duanjia Xu remembered, “My boss.”
Sang Chi pursed her lips, hardened her head, and dryly continued to ask, “Then how come she came with you.”
“I didn’t know how to drive at that time,” Duan Jiaxu couldn’t remember much of what happened three years ago, and recalled, “And that day, I seemed to have worked all night, and I was a bit uncomfortable.”
“……”
“When your brother called me, she happened to hear it and drove me there.” Duan Jiaxu looked sideways at her and added, as if unintentionally, “The children are in elementary school.”
Sangji’s thoughts were a bit empty for a moment, suddenly remembering the extremely difficult time she had, remembering all the memories she had hidden in a box and blocked off.
Think of her deliberate distancing.
Thinking about the crush that, unilaterally, she started and unilaterally ended.
Kuwabara nodded in silence and asked absentmindedly, “Then why haven’t you been looking for someone?”
Duan Jiaxu casually said, “Didn’t your brother not look for it either?”
“……” Sangji recalled his roommate’s words and said with a complicated face, “Then you can’t be the one who’s been waiting for my brother …… “
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Say what.”
Sanji whispered, “I just thought it was strange.”
“I didn’t have time when I first graduated,” Duan Jiaxu said absently, “I’ve been introduced to several in the past two years by that boss of mine, and they’re not quite right.”
Kuwabara oh-oh’d and didn’t ask any further questions.
The plane takes off and the flight attendants are handing out blankets.
Sanji asked her for one and put it over her head, pretending to go to sleep. Her head was tilted to the side of the window, her eyes closed and opened, and soon closed again.
Like he’s thinking.
Halftime.
Sanji lowered his head slightly.
All the places that once felt like scars were inexplicably like being filled with honey at this moment. She pursed her lips hard, and the corners of her mouth, hidden in the blanket, still curved up like she couldn’t help it.
No sound.
–
The plane arrives in Iho.
Before getting off the plane, Sang Zhi heard that the person called Yuan Lang asked Duan Jia Xu for contact information. The two of them found a place to settle their lunch, after which Duan Jia Xu sent Sang Zhi back to school.
It was just after not even one o’clock, and Ning Wei was the only one in the dormitory.
Sang Zhi’s dormitory didn’t have an elevator and lived on the third floor. Duan Jiaxu helped her carry her suitcase up to the dormitory, and didn’t stay long, politely greeted Ning Wei, and instructed Sang Zhi a few words, and soon left.
When he was gone, Ning Wei wondered, “In what capacity did he send you here?”
Sang Chi squatted on the ground, pulled open the suitcase and started packing, “Elder, I guess.”
“……” said Ning Wei, “And elders?”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds, “Actually, I’m not quite sure.”
Hearing this, Ning Wei immediately came over, blinking, “What’s happening here?”
“I can’t tell the difference a little right now,” Sanji pondered, his tone a little hesitant, “because I feel as if he used to talk like that.”
“Huh?”
“But it doesn’t seem quite the same.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
Sang Chi stopped moving and whispered, “He just told me that he hasn’t had a relationship in the past few years. Said he didn’t find a suitable one.”
“Wait, so has he ever been in love before?” Ning Wei was shocked, “It can’t be no.”
“That I don’t know.” Sanji said, “It’s always bad for me to ask that much.”
“So what do you mean you think it’s indistinguishable?”
“He used to talk like that when I was little, like he’d drive me home and then he’d talk about me sneaking a smile or something, or, that I blushed when I saw him.” Sanji scratched his head, “Just kinda a shameless one.”
“……”
“He’s been, I feel like, getting a little worse lately.” Sanji exhaled and wheedled, “I just can’t tell the difference, you know. It feels like maybe I’m getting ahead of myself too ……”
Ning Wei: “You think he might kind of like you too, huh?”
“No.” Sanji immediately denied, “Neither.”
“……”
Noticing Ning Wei’s expression, Sang Zhi locked eyes with her for several seconds before suddenly deflating, “Well, it’s a little bit of that.”
Ning Wei: “Why don’t you even dare to say that you have this idea, your condition is not bad.”
“Because I don’t think it’s likely. And, I’m quite aware of it a little bit myself.” Sanji said softly, “Because I like him, and because I have that kind of mind in me, some of his actions that feel normal to him might be misinterpreted by me as well.”
“……”
Sanji laughed, “I’m kinda experienced.”
Crush.
Narcissistic, yet inferior.
“Besides, the relationship was already, not very transformative.” Sang Chi lowered her eyes and continued to pack her things, “If he was a stranger, I would probably go after him now. If I can’t catch him, the big deal is that I won’t contact him, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Ning Wei didn’t quite understand how she felt, sighed, and asked again, “How many years hadn’t you seen each other before you came to Yiho?”
“It feels like I haven’t seen much of him since my second year.” Sanji added, “After the second semester of junior year, he got busy, and then he went back to Yiho.”
“How old were you when you met him?”
“Second semester of junior year.”
“Are you thinking that he’s watched you grow up and couldn’t possibly have that in mind?”
“Pretty much.”
“Then if we go by your math,” Ning Wei said innocently, “you haven’t seen much of him since your second year, and you didn’t see him again until your freshman year, so how can that be considered watching you grow up.”
“……”
Seems to make some sense.
Sang Chi did not know what to say for a moment, and hesitantly said, “In the time in between, there have been a few times that I’ve seen them.”
“Be reasonable.” Ning Wei said, “The summer of my senior year of high school, my dad brought a dog back to raise, and it stuck to me for a month. When I went back this winter break, it didn’t even recognize me.”
“……”
“Even an animal as loyal as a dog is like this, you’ve only met a few times in the past few years, what does it count as watching you grow up.” Ning Wei said, “At best, it’s a, a brother I knew as a child.”
“But he does give me gifts.” Sanji said, “And usually asks me about my studies and stuff.”
“Oh.” Ning Wei said, “Barely an online friend then.”
“……”
“I’m just saying what I think, just listen. My brother is also in middle school now, and if he has a friend that I know, I’ll treat him like a little friend too.” Ning Wei said, “When he grows up, if he’s still handsome, come after me.”
Sanji looked at her.
Ning Wei smirked, “I’m sorry I really might …… hehehehehehe ……”
“So what do you think,” Sanjay blearily said, “I’m going to do now?”
“Just go with the flow.” Ning Wei said, “You shouldn’t always think he’s older than you or anything, just come to get along normally. If he flirts with you or something, will you flirt back?”
A little depressed, Sanji nodded.
“Say, what does it mean to become more aggressive?” Ning Wei wondered, “Do you think the way we used to get along was better, or the way we are now?”
Sanji thought hard, “I think the recent ones are, kind of, I don’t know how to describe them ……”
Inexplicably, she remembered Sang Yan’s “earthy love words”, embarrassed to say it, but could only vaguely say, “The original is quite good.”
–
After returning home, Duan Jiaxu looked at WeChat.
Yuan Lang, whom he had just met on the airplane, sent him a friend verification, and he casually scanned it, didn’t press agree, and just backed out.
Duan Jia Xu took a change of clothes and went into the toilet to take a quick shower, then went back to his room and lay down on the bed with the intention of catching up on some sleep.
The cell phone rang at that moment.
Duan Jia Xu looked at the caller ID and picked it up.
Qian Fei: “You got to Yiho?”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
Qian Fei was a bit sad, “Once you go this time, how long will it take for the two of us to see each other again.”
Duan Jia Xu laughed and lazily said, “If you weren’t married, listening to your tone, I would have thought you had a crush on me.”
“What ah.” Qian Fei said, “I was thinking that you’d move a little faster, and when I get married this time, you could bring that girl you like over here for the brothers to meet.”
Duan Jiaxu: “It’s not that fast.”
Qian Fei spat, “Don’t you think you’re doing pretty well?”
“…… “At the mention of this, Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids lifted and he sat up. With some difficulty in speaking, he coughed lightly, “It’s better not to mention this.”
“What?”
“Why do you think this little girl’s favorite type is so strange.” Duan Jia Xu was speechless until he laughed outright, “I really haven’t seen this kind of person.”
“Huh?”
“Brother.” Thinking about calling Sang Yan that brother, and Sang Zhi’s reaction in the past few days, Duan Jia Xu’s eyebrows jumped, “It’s kinda funny, but I really-“
“……”
“It feels ridiculous.”
“……” said Chancey, “Will you fucking stop whetting my appetite.”
Duan Jiaxu lost his sleepiness, got up, sat down in the living room, and took a pack of cigarettes out from under the coffee table. Using a lighter to light the cigarette, he pondered and laughed, “It’s really a bit difficult.”
Qian Fei was going crazy, “What the!”
“That girl told me a, favorite type.” Duan Jiaxu bites his cigarette, looking lazy, “I’ve learned a bit, during this time.”
Qian Fei said incredulously, “Are you alright? What are you doing learning from others.”
Duan Jiaxu smiled lowly, “Isn’t this a shortcut?”
Qian Fei: “It works?”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “It really isn’t much use.”
Chance Fly: “So what’s your plan?”
Duanjash: “Tell me more.”
“Aren’t you afraid that the human girl will look at someone else?”
“It’s not a normal thing.” Duan Jia Xu tugged at the corner of his lips and said in a nonchalant manner, “It’s fine if you meet a better person.”
“Why do you live like a monk.”
“……”
Qian Fei said bitterly, “Why don’t you just come normally? What you’re learning here is different from the alternatives? Brother, we’re not in a bad situation, why do we have to please people like this?”
Duanjia Xu sat up straight and tapped his fingertips, shaking off the ashes of his cigarette. He didn’t say a word.
Qian Fei: “Say, what kind of type is that girl talking about?”
This time Duan Jia Xu didn’t hide it, “Male vixen.”
“……”
“As I understand it, it’s probably,” Duan Jiaxu paused for a few seconds and leisurely said, “a combined version of flirtatious, slutty, and shameless.”
Qian Fei couldn’t help but say, “Isn’t this talking about you?”
“……” Duan Jiaxu choked on his cigarette and coughed a few times, “What are you talking about?”
“Let me ask you something,” Qian Fei thought seriously and said sincerely, “After all, I haven’t seen this girl you’re talking about, so think for yourself, is it possible that what she’s talking about is you?”
Duan Jiaxu’s expression gave a lurch.
“Women, they always talk out of their asses.” Qian Fei looked like a man who had been there before, “You can’t just believe whatever she says. You have to observe for yourself, she said there is this person, have you seen him?”
Duan Jiaxu put out his cigarette and looked thoughtful.
Qian Fei: “I did the same thing when I was a backup for someone in college. Brother, do you remember? The one from the foreign language department, as soon as she broke up with her boyfriend, she looked for me, got back together and asked me if I had a favorite, she gave me ideas, so I made one up according to her character.”
Halftime.
Duan Jiaxu voiced out, “Unlikely.”
“……”
After a few seconds, he muttered, “But it’s possible.”
“Forget it I’m too lazy to talk to you, my wife called me.” Qian Fei said, “Also, let me remind you, you’re a person who’s already like that, so don’t be deliberately like that.”
“……”
“Otherwise it would be a little, too much force.”
“……” said Duanjash, “wait a moment.”
“What for.”
“Have you told anyone else about this?”
Qian Fei hemmed and hawed, “No, it’s not too late, isn’t it?”
“Let’s not talk about this.” Duan Jiaxu slowly said, “It’s rare to tell you something about your heart, always telling others–“
“……”
“It’s kinda heartbreaking.”
“……”
–
After hanging up the phone, Duan Jia Xu sat in the living room for a while longer. He thought about what Sangji had said when he was drunk, and started thinking about things a little further ahead.
But it’s all been a while, and the memories have all washed away quite a bit.
After staying up all night last night and getting up early today, Duan Jia Xu was tense at his temples at this time and still had some pain. He stood up and stopped thinking about it.
Duan Jia Xu went back to his room, heard his cell phone ring, and scanned it again.
Found another friend verification with a note that said, I’m Jiang Ying.
He covered the phone and flopped onto the bed and closed his eyes.
What woke him up was a series of ringing phones.
Duan Jia Xu sat up and saw that the sky outside was already dark, the room was dark and gloomy, and only the cell phone screen was lit up.
The caller ID shows an unfamiliar number in Iho.
Duan Jia Xu stared for two seconds and picked up.
The handset instantly resounded with Jiang Ying’s crying voice, like drinking wine, sounding confused: “Duan Jia Xu, you can finally pick up my phone …… I find you still have to, with someone else’s number.”
“……”
“I heard Yuan Lang say that you are chasing a female …… really?”
Duan Jiaxu’s tone was emotionless, “You have something?”
“I live like this, what right do you have to pretend that nothing has happened?” Jiang Ying said, “I …… forgive you, okay? Let’s, let’s ……”
“Let me ask you something. Yuan Lang said we’re getting married? Did you rumor that?” Duan Jia Xu interrupted her and said in a droll manner, “Do you want me to marry you?”
Silence fell for a few seconds.
Ginger Ying ventured softly, “No?”
The arc of Duan Jia Xu’s lips converged and he directly hung up the phone. He stood up, found a tool to pull out the phone card, snapped it, and threw it into the trash.
His temples jutted with pain and his stomach ached with it.
Duanjia Xu went into the restroom.
Like he felt extremely nauseous, he bent down and inexplicably spat out a few mouthfuls of acidic water. Duan Jia Xu turned on the faucet, rinsed his mouth, and washed his face with cold water.
Ryoko.
Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes and looked at himself in the mirror.
Suddenly he laughed.
Do you believe that?
These days, there are still people who think.
Guilt is something that should be linked.
–
The classes in the second semester of the freshman year were obviously a lot more. Sang Chi’s class schedule was full, and there wasn’t much free time during the week, except on weekends.
After the New Year, Duan Jiaxu’s work seems to be busy as well, working overtime day and night.
The two have their own things to do, communication is basically through WeChat.
Although Ning Wei was saying that, but when Sang Zhi got along with him, there still wasn’t any major change from earlier. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he was separated by a screen, and he didn’t say any more inexplicable things like he did earlier.
In the blink of an eye, March is at the end of the month.
The two made a date to have dinner together on Friday night. After class, Sang Zhi went back to the dormitory to put her things away and was about to go out when Duan Jia Xu gave her a call.
Sang Chi picked it up while taking out her lipstick from her bag and smeared a thin layer on her lips.
“Where are you now?” Duan Jiaxu said, “The group suddenly said they were going to get a potluck.”
Sanji’s movements stopped and he guessed, “So I don’t have to go out?”
Duan Jia Xu loosely said, “I’m not here to ask for your opinion, if you don’t want to eat with them, you don’t have to go. We’ll eat something else.”
“It’s fine.” Eating what isn’t food, Sanji didn’t mind too much, “Go ahead.”
“Come out then.” Duanjash said, “I’m at the door.”
Sanji hung up the phone and straightened her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror a few more times and was soon out the door, heading in the direction of the school entrance.
Duane Garcia’s car is parked outside the school.
Sanji sat up and greeted him, “Brother Kash.”
A month has not seen, Duan Jia Xu’s hair has grown a little longer, slightly covering the eyebrows. The face is cold and white, a layer of greenish gray below the eyes, looks like it has stayed up a lot of night, some sleep deprivation.
Duanjia Xu hmmmed and swept her a glance before starting the car.
Sanjay: “Have you set a place for your get-together yet?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Just that hot pot restaurant from last time.”
Sanji nodded.
She didn’t know what to say, so she simply lowered her head and played with her cell phone. After a while, Duan Jiaxu took the initiative to speak, “Lots of classes lately?”
“Right.” Sanji said, “The schedule is full Monday through Friday.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Oh.”
After another moment, Duan Jia Xu asked slowly, “Still going after that male vixen?”
“……” Sanji didn’t know what to answer, “Why are you asking.”
Duan Jiaxu smiled, “Casual conversation.”
Sanji didn’t say anything and continued to play with his cell phone.
Duanjia Xu: “The person you’re talking about, is he from your school?”
Sanji said honestly, “No.”
“Who else would you know then?”
“…… “Seeing that he was not finished, Sang Chi was a little afraid that he would reveal a crack, turned off the screen and stumbled to make up a lie, “Just, I met him outside the school.”
Duanjia Xu: “That’s right.”
Sanji sighed in relief and looked out the window.
Duan Jiaxu asked again, “How did you meet?”
“……”
Suffocated.
Where the hell did he get so many questions.
Kuwabara said stiffly and moderately, “I met them when I went out to play.”
Duanjia Xu: “Where did you meet?”
“Like, like,” Sanji hesitated, “a bar, a bar near my school ……”
Duan Jia Xu looked ahead, thinking that meeting her again was outside the small door of the KTV. He suddenly curved the corner of his lips and slowly, released a bait, “Is that so? How come I heard you say that you met at the KTV when you were drunk.”
“……” Sanji froze.
Did she really say anything else?
Her! True! Drink! Break! Pieces! It’s over!
Sang Chi was so frightened that she was somewhat speechless. She didn’t dare to look at him, licked her lips, and changed her words, “Oh, it seems like it’s indeed a KTV, I remembered it wrong.”
There was silence for several seconds.
And then, San Zhi heard Duan Jia Xu suddenly burst out laughing.
Sanji immediately looked at him, a little sheepish, “What’s wrong.”
Duan Jia Xu was still smiling, with a shallow breath. He seemed to be in an extremely good mood, his peach blossom eyes bright and shining, slightly raised, “It’s nothing.”
“……”
“It just suddenly struck me,” Duan Jiaxu barely restrained his laughter and whispered, “that your Brother Qianfei is quite smart.”
“……”
Chapter 45
。。。。。
What’s this about Brother Qian Fei?
As we chatted, we suddenly thought he was smart.
Sang Zhi completely unable to understand his thoughts, can only nod in agreement. She was silent, lit up her cell phone again, and found Qian Fei in WeChat’s address book.
I want to ask something, but I feel that I have never looked for him, suddenly because of this matter to find him seems a little strange. Moreover, he was on good terms with Duan Jiaxu, so he probably wouldn’t tell her easily.
Sanji decided to fend for himself, trying to think of the logic of the words.
She thought about it for a while.
Can’t really think of a connection.
But.
Sanji suddenly reacted to something.
Why should she be good enough to answer his questions?
Why did she have to be obediently interrogated by him like a prisoner?
It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with him. Why would she make up a lie to answer, just keep quiet, and there’s nothing he can do about it, right?
Realizing his own stupid reaction just now, Sang Chi exhaled sullenly. Always feel as if he fell into a pit, the depression can’t be aired out, can only hold it in himself.
In the next moment, Duan Jia Xu asked carelessly, “How did you like it?”
Sanjay slumped against the car window, not even looking at him.
Half the time he didn’t wait for her response.
Perhaps sensing her displeasure, Duan Jiaxu didn’t continue the topic and said calmly, “Will you feel uncomfortable when you’re surrounded by people you don’t know?”
Sanji’s tone was hard, “No.”
Duanjash: “Tell me if you don’t want to stay.”
Sanji: “Oh.”
Duan Jiaxu swept her with his afterimage and asked, “Why so few words?”
“Quite a lot.” Sangji looked at the colorful neon lights outside and said, “And I don’t mean to be opinionated, I’m just reminding you. You may not have noticed, but you’re the one who talks too much.”
“Hmm?”
“I really didn’t mean to have an opinion.” Sang-jae blushed, repeating deliberately, “You can go on if you want to, I’m just reminding you.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu burst out laughing again, “I talk a lot, huh?”
“Uh-huh.”
Duan Jiaxu asked with an open mind, “Where are the many?”
Just this whole way, Sang Chi was asked hundreds of questions by him. Getting a little impatient, she jerked her head around and said, “Can you stop saying questioning sentences.”
Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows and subconsciously said, “Why–“
Sanji stared at him, clearly about to explode.
Without waiting for her to say anything, Duan Jiaxu added two more words slowly and methodically.
“–period.”
“……”
–
The place for the gathering was set at the hot pot restaurant where Duan Jia Xu and Sang Zhi lined up for half a day last time, and in the end, because of that accident, they still didn’t get to eat.
Everyone else is basically there already.
Three square tables were put together to form one large table, and there were three pots and pans. Sang Zhi took a rough look, there were about ten or so people.
There were still two empty seats in the corner, which should have been purposely reserved for them.
Sanji also saw the woman he had seen earlier at the airport.
One of the men with an inch head saw it and said with a smile, “Brother Duan, you’ve come too late, we’ve all started eating here.”
Duan Jiaxu smiled lightly and explained, “Pick up someone.”
Inch Guy: “Girlfriend, huh?”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu turned his head sideways and glanced at Sang Zhi.
And then calmly said two words, “Friend.”
“……” Hearing those two words, Sang Chi froze, calmly greeted them, and was led by Duan Jia Xu to the most inward seat.
She reached down to unpack the dishes, a little distracted.
He actually, said, friend.
Surprisingly, no, sister.
Sanji kind of couldn’t believe his ears.
Soon, the man sitting across from Sang Chi handed over the menu and smiled, “You guys see if you want to add anything else.”
Duan Jia Xu sat down next to Sang Zhi, “See what you want to eat.”
Sang Chi nodded, scanned and added a few random ones while pushing the menu in front of Duan Jia Xu, “Brother Jia Xu, I want to go to the restroom.”
“Go out to the left,” said Duane Cash, “and find it yourself?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Go on then.”
The hot pot restaurant didn’t have its own toilet, but each floor of the mall was equipped with one. Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu had been to this place before and had some impression of this floor, and it didn’t take them long to see the location of the restroom.
Sanjay walked in, went to the bathroom, and came out of the cubicle.
As soon as he came out, he saw Duan Jia Xu’s “boss” standing in front of one of the sinks.
San Zhi’s steps stopped, inexplicably embarrassed for a moment, and she quickly walked over. She turned on the faucet and politely greeted her.
The woman drew a tissue to wipe her hands and said gently, “You’re Sanji, right?”
“……” Sanjay nodded, “Uh-huh.”
“My name is Jiang Siyun, just call me Sister Jiang.” Jiang Siyun smiled, “I picked you up from the airport with Jia Xu before, remember me?”
Sang Chi was busy saying, “I remember.”
Jiang Siyun: “Going to college over here?”
“Right.”
The two of them went out of the restroom side by side, Jiang Siyun continued, “I remember seeing you at that moment, you still looked tiny, and now you’re almost taller than me.”
“I’m a slow developer,” whispered Sanji, “and I shouldn’t grow any bigger.”
Jiang Siyun: “It’s fine, little girls don’t have to grow too tall.”
Sanji nodded again.
Jiang Siyun’s tone was gentle and sounded comfortable, “The time I saw you at the airport, I didn’t properly greet you either.”
Sanji: “It’s fine, it would have bothered you too.”
“Thinking about it this way, it wasn’t really appropriate for me to follow him there at that time, and I mainly didn’t think much of it, I just wanted to do a favor.” Jiang Siyun laughed, “Because Jia Xu had a bit of a fever that day, I was going to ask my husband to send him over, but he had to meet a client temporarily.”
Sanji raised his eyes, not knowing what to say for a moment.
“He’s done the company a lot of favors over the past few years, and my husband and I want to help him out a little more. At that time, seeing that he was not in a good state, I got off the car and helped him look for you together. Later, Jia Xu was afraid that you would feel uncomfortable with a stranger around and asked me to leave first, so I didn’t stay on.” Jiang Siyun said, “I didn’t have time to say goodbye to you either.”
Sanji scratched his head and added, “It’s fine.”
Happened to be back in the fondue restaurant.
Jiang Siyun patted her arm and both of them sat back in their seats. Sang Zhi glanced in her direction before noticing that she was acting extraordinarily close to the man next to him.
Sanji withdrew his eyes.
It always felt like, what she just told herself.
Seems to explain ……
But Jiang Siyun didn’t seem to have the need to explain so much to herself, it couldn’t be that, just by seeing her these two times, she could tell what she had in mind.
She’s not that obvious ……
The next moment, Duan Jiaxu’s voice interrupted her thoughts, “What are you gawking at? Eat.”
Sanji snapped back, “Oh.”
–
After dinner, the group was planning to move on to the next one.
This time, Duan Jia Xu didn’t follow, and after saying goodbye to them, he took Sang Zhi for a stroll around the neighborhood. Sang Chi took out his cell phone and asked, “Brother Jia Xu, should we go see a movie?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Look at what.”
“Look at the Great White.”
“Great White?”
“The Incredibles,” he sounded like he had never even heard of it, and Sanji couldn’t help but give him a look, “an animated movie.”
Duan Jiaxu made a long trailing “ah” sound and lazily said, “This one.”
Sangji didn’t poke him, and lowered his head again, looking at the most recent scene, “I don’t know if it’s off the shelves yet, I’ve never gotten around to checking it out.”
“Find it?”
“Uh-huh.” Sanji showed him, “This movie theater is right here on the fifth floor, there’s one at 8:30, shall we book this?”
Duan Jiaxu: “OK.”
When she passed by a milk tea store, Sang Chi pointed and said, “Brother Jia Xu, I want to get a cup of oolong tea to drink, do you have anything you want to drink?”
Duan Jiaxu: “I’m not drinking, you drink.”
“So, aren’t you thirsty at the movies?”
“I’ll get a bottle of water later.”
“……”
Nourishing old earth old men.
Know nothing and drink nothing.
This store is doing well and there was a line outside the store.
The two of them lined up for a while before Sang Chi placed her order and took her number to the side to wait. She glanced at the time and winked, “Why don’t you go to the side and buy a bottle of water first, or you won’t have enough time in a while.”
Duan Jia Xu thought for a moment, “Then wait here and don’t run around.”
Sang Zhi Oh, found a seat in the milk tea store and sat down while waiting. When Duan Jia Xu came back, he also happened to call her number.
The cups are opaque paper cups that you can still feel the warmth inside when you pick them up.
Sang Chi inserted a small straw into the mouth of the bottle, and lowered her head to take a sip. She felt that something was wrong just after she entered the bottle, and before she could react, the drink in her mouth had already been swallowed in her stomach.
Her steps stopped.
Noticing her movement, Duanjash skimmed his head, “What’s wrong?”
With the flavor still lingering in his mouth, Sang Chi licked his lips and said hesitantly, “This cup doesn’t seem to be oolong tea, it’s kind of like ……”
Without waiting for her to finish, Duan Jia Xu took her bottle and opened the lid to look at it. His expression changed and he frowned, “This is milk tea.”
Sang Chi ahs, subconsciously looking at him. Perhaps it was a psychological reaction, she felt her face instantly itch, “But I ordered oolong tea ah ……”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes and his gaze gave a beat, “You have a rash on your face.”
“……” Sanji reflexively touched his face, feeling that his throat seemed a little swollen as well, and speaking with some difficulty, “I just took a small sip.”
The knot in Duan Jia Xu’s throat rolled, not looking too good, and immediately tugged her toward the stairs.
“Go to the hospital first.”
–
Fortunately, it was the small amount she drank, and Sang Chi went to the hospital to get a shot, and her symptoms gradually subsided. She even had the presence of mind to return the movie tickets, while saying, “Brother Kaoshi.”
Duan Jia Xu took the list and returned with medicine for her, “What?”
Sanji blinked and couldn’t help but say, “The milk tea is pretty good.”
“……” Duan Jiaxu felt ridiculous, “Is it hard for you to want to drink?”
“Don’t dare to drink. It’s not like I’ve never had a drink before. Just post my thoughts.” Sang Chi shook his head and muttered, “The last time I drank milk, I threw up all night, how dare I drink it again.”
Speaking of this, Duan Jia Xu remembered something and asked plausibly, “Did I buy you milk before?”
Sanji paused, and hmmmed vaguely.
Duan Jiaxu was silent for a few seconds, “You drank it?”
“No.” Sang Chi hastily said, “It was given to someone else to drink.”
The fact that she couldn’t drink milk was something that Duan Jia Xu still heard from Li Ping when she stayed at Sang Zhi’s house one time. He stood in front of her and felt that it wasn’t quite right: “Why didn’t you tell me if you couldn’t drink it?”
Sang Chi whispered, “…… Then I didn’t drink it either.”
Duan Jia Xu stared at her, as if he was recalling something, and only after a long time did he open his mouth again, “When you’re outside in the future, before you drink these drinks, open the lid and check it yourself.”
Sanji’s face still had a red rash and didn’t want him to see it, his head stayed down, “Uh-huh.”
The two exited the hospital and walked side by side in the direction of the parking lot.
Sang Zhi’s face was still a little itchy, always unconsciously reaching out to scratch. At the back, Duan Jia Xu directly clasped her two hands and led her forward.
She stood at his side, staring at the action.
Always felt like a dog, being walked by him.
Halfway there, Sang Chi suddenly remembered that he introduced her to his colleagues today, saying that she was a “friend”. She pursed the corners of her lips, and after a long internal struggle, she still asked, “Brother Jia Xu, why did you tell them today that I am your friend?”
After a pause, she added, “Didn’t you used to say I was your sister?”
Hearing this, Duanjia Xu turned back his head.
Quiet night, blinding white light, empty parking lot.
Covering half of his face with his scarf, Sangji raised his eyes slightly, noticing his slightly raised eyebrows with a touch of affection and his lips curved in a small curve.
Her heart inexplicably began to beat faster.
An extremely brief silence passed.
The piercingly cold wind blew through and clattered in his ears.
The next moment, Duan Jiaxu opened his mouth.
The low words followed this wind and blew into Sanji’s ears.
“Still think I’m your brother?”
Chapter 46
。。。。。
These words were like fireworks, instantly exploding in Sang Chi’s head, knocking her upside down. Her lips opened, but she could not say a word because she was at a loss.
The heart felt like it was going to crash out of his body.
Flop, flop.
It almost drowned out the sound of the whistling wind.
Sanji even felt his palms sweating, in this weather of a few degrees.
Without waiting for her to think of how to respond, Duan Jiaxu didn’t move and let go of her wrist, turned around, and stood silently in front of her.
The distance closes in an instant.
Sanji was caught off guard and staggered his eyes.
Duan Jia Xu bent down slightly, those narrow peach blossom eyes slightly curved, with unknown emotions, and stared at her for two seconds. And then, reached out and pulled her scarf down.
Exposing her entire face.
The little girl has delicate features, the corners of her mouth unconsciously rising, the two pear eddies on the edge of her lips are deep-set. A pair of eyes bright, uncomfortably away, and soon looked at him again.
Because of allergies, my face is a little swollen and my cheeks have a red rash.
When you look at it like that, it looks like you’re blushing instead.
Duan Jia Xu’s eyes darkened a bit, and the knot in his throat slowly rolled. The hand resting on her scarf lifted upwards, and with his fingertips, the force was extremely light, rubbing down her pear edges.
Sanji’s backbone stiffened.
In just a moment’s time, Duanjia Xu withdrew his hand, his thumb and forefinger subconsciously rubbing together. He stood up straight and let out a chuckle in his throat, “Why are you blushing again?”
“……”
He trailed off, “And snicker.”
Kuwabara’s head went blank and she tugged the scarf back up. She forced herself to stay calm, dropped her eyes, and said vaguely, “You’re not smiling too.”
Duan Jiaxu said with interest, “Then why do you think I’m smiling?”
“How should I know, it’s not the first day you’ve smiled like that.” Sang-chi walked around him and continued on, saying to himself, “Don’t stand here, it’s cold.”
Staring at her back, Duan Jia Xu stood in place for a few seconds and couldn’t help but laugh again, quickly lifting his feet to follow.
When he got into the car, Sanji still hadn’t taken his scarf off.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t rush to drive, turned his head sideways and said in a droll manner, “Little friend, you still don’t take off your scarf in the car? Aren’t you afraid of being suffocated?”
Without changing his face, Sanji explained, “I cover my face.”
“I’ve already seen it.” Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Why are you still covering up?”
San Zhi paused, feeling a little bit of sense, and reached down to take off the scarf. Without another word, she looked down and played with her phone before turning her head to look out the window again.
Taking the time to wait for the stoplight, Duan Jia Xu casually glanced in her direction.
Only the side of her face could be seen.
Noticing that she seemed to be in a daze, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on the edge of the window, the corners of her eyes pulling down and the corners of her mouth turning up, she couldn’t hide her emotions.
It wasn’t long before, as if noticing something, she reached up and touched the corner of her mouth, her expression stiffening. Perhaps afraid of being seen by him, the next moment, she very deliberately tightened her grip for a few moments.
Duan Jiaxu withdrew his gaze, his eyelashes dropping, and smiled as well.
–
Since the next day was a weekend, Ning Wei was the only one in the dormitory at this time, and the remaining two were probably going to departmental activities or dating their boyfriends.
Noticing the movement of the door, Ning Wei looked over. When she saw Sang Zhi’s face, she was startled, “What’s wrong with your face?”
“Accidentally drank milk tea.” Sanji put his hand on the table, “I’m allergic to milk.”
“Huh? Is everything okay, did you go to the hospital?”
“There goes the shot.”
“That’s good.” Ning Wei sighed, “You’re too miserable, how many things can’t you eat if you’re allergic to milk?”
Sanji thought for a moment, “It’s okay.”
She took her jacket off and casually asked, “Why didn’t you go out today?”
“I went out ah, but I came back after having a meal.” Ning Wei unwrapped a bag of chips, “My boyfriend has to catch up on his homework tonight, he doesn’t have time to accompany me. How about you, how’s the date with that brother of yours going?”
Hearing this, Sanji quieted down and suddenly came to crouch next to her.
Ning Wei turned her head sideways and handed her the chips, “You want some?”
“I’m not eating, I just got full.” Sang Zhi was like a puppy, his eyes round and bright, as if he was talking about some heavenly secret, his voice pressed extremely low, “Ning Wei, I’ll secretly tell you something.”
“What’s wrong?”
“That friend of my brother’s,” said Sang-chi, reaching out and tugging at the hem of her coat, his eyes curving in a smile, “seems to like me a little.”
“Why does this look like you won the lottery.” Ning Wei was amused by her, “How did you find out?”
“He told his coworkers that I’m his friend, and he told me,” Sang-chi mimicked his tone of voice and trailed off, “that he really thinks I’m your brother?”
“Eh, how is that like telling you not to recognize your relatives?”
Sanji blinked, “Are you thinking he’s trying to alienate me with that comment?”
After the words came out of her mouth, Ning Wei also felt that what she said wasn’t quite right, and for fear of affecting her mood, she busied herself by saying, “No, I just said it casually.”
“It shouldn’t be.” Sanji thought back to what had just happened again and said seriously, “He should have meant that he didn’t think of me as a sister anymore. But it’s not meant to be estranged either.”
“So does he know you like him too?”
“I don’t know.” Sanji smirked, “I didn’t show it.”
“You can pretend that you don’t mean that to him first and let him chase you for a while.” Ning Wei said, “After all, men are like that. If he confesses and you say yes right away, he might think it’s too easy to get it and not cherish it.”
Sangchil froze, and said in a muffled voice, “Then what if he doesn’t chase me?”
“……” said Ning Wei, “I don’t think so.”
“And I’m not particularly sure.” Sanji muttered, “I don’t know why he likes me …… I still think it’s kinda weird.”
“What reason could there be for that?” Ning Wei asked, “Then why do you like him?”
Sanji honestly said, “Good looking.”
“……” said Ning Wei, “Why are you so shallow.”
“Also, good person, good to me.” Sang Chi’s expression was serious, counting, “The grades and everything are also very good, except for being a bit old, there’s nothing bad about it.”
Ning Wei nibbled on her potato chips and said, “Then aren’t you pretty much the same? Aside from being a bit younger than him, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“That.” Sanji coughed softly, “I’ll just wait for him to come after me?”
“OK.”
“If he doesn’t go after me,” Sanji said dryly, still with nothing in his heart, “I’m going to either, or I’m going to go after him.”
“……”
–
After sending Sang Zhi back to the dormitory, Duan Jia Xu returned to his car and was about to drive home when he suddenly received a call. He scanned the caller ID and picked it up, quickly hanging up.
Start the car and drive to the city’s care center.
The care center is excessively quiet.
Duan Jia Xu rarely came to this place except when necessary. He also rarely came to see his father, Duan Zhicheng, who had been lying in a hospital bed for eleven years.
Doctor: “Your father hasn’t been in the best of shape lately.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
“It’s been ten years since he was bedridden, and his body functions and resistance are poor.” The doctor said, “The fluid in the lungs has been a bit serious lately, and the recommendation is to have a small operation to pump out some of the water, or else it may cause a lung infection, which will be serious then.”
“Doctor.” Duan Jiaxu didn’t seem to care much about these things and faintly said, “Do you think he’ll wake up?”
The doctor was silent for a few seconds and said, extraordinarily officially, “There’s always a miracle if you live.”
Duan Jia Xu just laughed and didn’t comment on that.
Where are all the miracles.
Duan Jia Xu actually didn’t expect that Duan Zhicheng would be able to wake up at all.
It’s been so many years that there’s not even a semblance of hate left.
The only emotion that remained was tiredness.
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and looked at Duan Zhicheng’s appearance. Because he had been bedridden for many years, his appearance had changed greatly, his entire body was unconscious, lying there like a dead man.
In fact, Duan Jia Xu kinda wanted to know if he regretted it or not.
Soon after, Duan Jiaxu withdrew his gaze and said mildly, “Then I’ll trouble you.”
Duan Jiaxu paid for the surgery and the next two months, and then left the care center. This matter had little effect on his mood and was quickly put behind him.
He returned home and sent a tweet to Sanji reminding her to remember to apply the medicine.
Afterward, Duan Jia Xu took a bottle of ice water from the refrigerator, thinking about Sang Zhi’s reaction today and slowly recalling what she said when she was drunk.
— “I have a, well, a favorite. But he just doesn’t like me.”
— “Only only unhappy.”
- “He’s nice, he’s nice to me. But he’s good to whoever he’s good to ……”
It couldn’t be, could it, that he was really the one who made her so sad.
Duan Jiaxu always felt that it wasn’t quite right.
After so many years of not seeing him, if she really had feelings for him other than her brother during this time together, how did she come to that conclusion that “he just doesn’t like me”.
Because of his earlier comments, treating her like a child?
Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment, and then called Qian Fei.
Only rang a few times, Qian Fei picked up, straight to the point: “Give you a minute to say things, finished I want to wash ……”
“What you said before was quite right,” Duan Jiaxu dunked his water and said slowly, “The male vixen that girl was talking about really doesn’t seem to exist.”
“Right? I’m so awesome, I’m really fucking in love.”
“It may also exist,” said Duanjash, “with a high probability that it is me.”
“Right!” Qian Fei got excited, “As soon as I heard about Sassy|Wandering and Shameless, I knew it was you!”
“……”
“So you can’t go straight on? Still guessing my ass here.”
“No way.” Duanjia Xu laughed, “Got to chase.”
“…… “Qian Fei was puzzled, “Didn’t you say she likes you? What are you still chasing after?”
“My girl thinks I just don’t like her.” Duan Jiaxu lifted his eyelashes and said slowly, “I have to show her the cards and make her happy.”
“What the fuck? How come your girl is on it?” Qian Fei was speechless, “Also, does this girl know that you know she’s interested in you?”
“I don’t know.” Duan Jiaxie gave a low chuckle, “I’ll pretend I don’t know either.”
Gotta save face for my kids.
Qian Fei was inexplicably a bit sour, “You can be so affectionate.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Okay, one minute is up, hang up.”
“Wait a minute,” Qian Fei wondered, “how are you going to show your hand?”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t think about it.”
–
Sanji’s nineteenth birthday was the first one she had ever spent without her family.
The day of her birthday happened to be Sunday. Duan Jiaxu made an appointment with her in advance to go out and celebrate that day. Sang Zhi arranged, at noon with the roommate a piece of dinner, and then back to the dormitory until the agreed time, then go out to find him.
Duan Jiaxu didn’t drive over, he was under the dormitory building. Wearing the black sweater and slim pants she had given him earlier, he stood there like a college student.
Sangji was about to walk over when someone suddenly called out to her from the side, “Sangji.”
She subconsciously turned back.
Noticing that Jiang Ming was standing under the tree on the other side, holding a bag in his hand, his smile was refreshing and bright, “I sent you a message on WeChat, did you see it?”
Sanji touched his cell phone and said, “I didn’t look.”
“Nothing else,” said Jiang Ming, “just came to give you the gift.”
Sanji hesitantly took it, “Thank you.”
Jiang Ming: “What are you doing later?”
Noticing Duan Jia Xu’s seemingly unnoticeable line of sight, Sang Zhi inexplicably felt a little embarrassed. She forced a smile and pointed in Duan Jia Xu’s direction, “Well, I have an appointment with someone.”
“That way.” Jiang Ming swept a glance at Duan Jia Xu, seemingly with some regret, and rubbed his nose, “Then I won’t bother you, I’ll leave first ah.”
Sanji waved his hand, “Well, see you later.”
After saying that, Jiang Ming walked in the other direction.
San Zhi walked up to Duan Jia Xu and asked, “Where are we going?”
Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids lifted, his fingertips gently hooked down that bag, and Sang Zhi’s hand loosened, the bag instantly falling into his hands. He smiled and said naturally, “Holding it for you.”
“……,” Sang-chil ohs, “Take it then.”
The two walked in the direction of the school entrance.
Duan Jia Xu asked absently, “That boy is that male vixen?”
Knew he’d bring it up.
Sang Chi was silent for a few seconds, and put up a serious response, “No.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed thoughtfully.
After a long time, he never made a sound.
Sanji couldn’t help but look over.
At this time, Duan Jiaxu happened to stop, “Then take a look.”
Sanji: “Huh?”
In the next moment, the corners of Duan Jia Xu’s lips curved up, his eyebrows slightly converged, and he leaned down to be at eye level with her. After a few seconds, he stood up straight, a few hints of teasing in his words, “Finished reading?”
Sanji was confused, “What?”
“Do I look like,” Duan Jia Xu said in a less serious and slightly prodigal tone, “that male vixen you were talking about?”
Chapter 47
。。。。。
Sang Chi did not react for a moment, the answer in her mouth almost came out with his words. Her breath caught in her throat and she raised her eyes, looking at him in silence.
To her way of thinking, it seemed to have two meanings.
Either that, or I’m not the person you’re talking about;
Either that, or I can’t be who you say I am.
Either way, if she admits it, it’s like she revealed her heart first, right? But if she doesn’t admit it, how about if he backs off because of it?
Sanji was at war with the sky in his mind.
Duan Jia Xu also waited extraordinarily patiently for her answer, half-heartedly rushing.
In the middle of the day, Sangji made up his mind and spat out two words decisively, “Unlike.”
Duanjia Xu ah, elongated tone, as if some regret.
Without waiting for him to say anything, Sang Chi lowered his eyes and added in a serious manner, “Don’t mention this word, I don’t like this person anymore.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “So.”
Sang Chi nodded her head calmly. Afraid that he wouldn’t believe her, she thought about it and made up a lie: “Didn’t you say that this one is a scum? I haven’t contacted him since then.”
“……” Duanjia Xu’s smile tightened a bit.
Kuwabara skimmed the surface and said seriously, “I don’t have a favorite right now.”
Duan Jiaxu was silent for three seconds, the emotions in his eyes were a little difficult to describe, as if he had dug a pit and jumped into it. He retracted his eyes, not very concerned about asking: “This person, the central air conditioning?”
Sanji hesitated, “A little.”
It was only now that he remembered that she had said such a word, Duan Jiaxu was furious and amused, and said word for word: “Do you know what that word means?”
Hearing this, Sanji’s expression was odd, “You didn’t know?”
“……”
“How come you don’t know anything, don’t you even go online?” Sang Chi didn’t mind and slowly explained to him, “Central air conditioner means a male who has a lot of female friends and is nice to all the girls, but just doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes, swept her up and down, and faintly mumbled, “These three points, conforming to one point, even if the central air conditioning?”
“……,” Sanji said rightfully, “of course it has to fit all three points.”
The conversation ends there.
The two walked side by side in the direction of the school entrance.
Passing by a group of college students who were playing around, Sang Zhi seemed to have heard, Duan Jia Xu seemed to say something, the tone of his voice could not be named, with a few points of coolness.
“Kinda good at making false accusations.”
–
Most of the movie theaters had already taken down The Incredibles, which Sanji had wanted to see earlier, leaving only one with one last showing.
The location is in a business circle in the center of the city.
Duane Kashi booked his ticket in advance.
The two got on the subway. Because it was a weekend, it was extraordinarily crowded, and San Zhi and Duan Jia Xu just happened to catch up and squeezed into a spot right next to the door.
Afraid that she would be squeezed by others, Duan Jia Xu pulled her to his side.
Surrounded by people and unable to find a single thing to hold her up, Sanji couldn’t help but say, “If I stand here I won’t have anything to hold me up.”
Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyelashes, let go of his hand, and pointed to the hanging ring he was originally holding, “Then you hold this.”
Sanji reached out, grabbed it dutifully, and looked back at him, “What about you?”
Duan Jiaxu easily grabbed the crossbar above. After a few seconds, as if noticing something, he suddenly laughed lowly and lazily said, “It’s a bit high, it’s hard to grip.”
“……” Sanjay was about to say something.
The next moment, his hand moved down and took hold of her wrist, “Easy here.”
Sang-chi remained in his original position, his eyes widening a bit and staring at him bone-deep, obviously extraordinarily unashamed of this behavior, “Where did you bother holding that?”
“It’s really laborious.” Duan Jiaxu’s smile didn’t change as he leisurely said, “Or you can try holding it?”
“……,” muttered Sanji, a little uncomfortable, reaching out with his other hand to grab the crossbar, and it didn’t take long for him to let go, “You have the nerve to compare your height to mine.”
But she didn’t rip his hand away either.
The eyes couldn’t help but glance upward.
Sang Chi looked at his long and slender fingers, clasped on her wrist. The touch with warmth was extremely real and impossible to ignore.
Duan Jia Xu would actually rarely make physical contact with her.
Including when she was still young, the most he would do was to rub her head or pinch her face, seemingly intimate, but he would also grasp a degree.
She dropped her head and began to touch the corners of her mouth again.
Duan Jia Xu’s eyes looked forward, staring at her reflected in the window, before lowering his eyes and slightly tilting his head sideways, not moving to look at her appearance at the moment.
Two people doing their own thing.
One is trying to act as if nothing happened.
The other was staring at her in silence, watching the occasional, still unobtrusive curl of her lips.
Then, inexplicably, he smiled too.
–
By the time we got to the mall, the movie didn’t start for another half hour.
The two were in no hurry to get their tickets, Sang Chi glanced around and couldn’t help but point to the milk tea store not far away, “I’m going to buy a drink to drink, do you want one?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Not drinking.”
Sanji: “So you’re not thirsty for the movie later?”
Duan Jiaxu: “I’m going to buy ……”
Without waiting for him to finish, he suddenly felt that this conversation was similar to history repeating itself. Duan Jia Xu’s eyebrows twitched and he changed his words, “Before you drink it this time, you have to check if what’s filled inside is what you ordered or not.”
“Oh.” There was no one else lined up in front of the milk tea store, San Zhi walked up to the front desk, looked at the drink list, and didn’t dwell on it for long before settling on, “Frozen lemonade with pearls.”
“……” Duan Jia Xu heard of this pairing for the first time, “Can you drink it like this?”
Sanji looked at him, “Sure.”
Duan Jiaxu frowned, “And it’s only how many degrees today? And drinking ice.”
Sanji: “It’s not cold indoors.”
Duanjia Xu: “Don’t drink too much.”
A little disgruntled, Sanji grunted, “Why are you always in charge of me.”
At those words, Duan Jia Xu looked at her sideways, staring at her somewhat depressed appearance. His eyebrows stretched out, his tone slightly raised, playful, “Think I’m annoying?”
It just so happened that the clerk had her drink ready.
Sanji took it, poked the straw in, and took a sip. She wasn’t good at being too blunt, just saying vaguely, “I didn’t say that either.”
Duanjia Xu laughed, “Isn’t that what you mean.”
Sang-chi pretended not to hear it and nibbled on his own pearl.
After a few seconds, Duan Jiaxu tugged at the corner of his lips, meaningfully, yet slowly spitting out four words, “Get used to it early.”
Sanji’s movements paused in silence as he swallowed the pearls in his mouth.
The two went to the movie theater and picked up their tickets.
There were still a few minutes to go before the ticket check started, so they found a seat and sat down to wait. Although he didn’t feel it too much when he drank it, after holding it for a long time, Sanji still felt that the cup did feel a little cold.
Noticing that she always changed hands to get a drink, Duan Jia Xu directly reached out and took it for her.
Sang Chi glanced at him and didn’t say anything. When it was almost time to enter, she still couldn’t hold back, pointed to the drink and said, “I want to drink it.”
Duan Jia Xu passed the drink over, but not with the intention of returning it to her. He only put the mouth of the straw to her lips, his eyelashes slightly raised, and he looked at her without changing his face.
Sanji didn’t have the cheek to drink right out of his hand and tried to take it.
Without waiting for her to touch that cup, Duan Jiaxu made a sound and said diffidently, “Drinking a drink is drinking a drink, why are you taking the opportunity to touch your brother’s hand.”
“……” Sang Chi held back and slammed his face, “Who wants to touch your hand, I’ll drink it myself.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Not too cold?”
Sanji: “It’s not cold.”
Duan Jiaxu gave it back to her, “I’ll hold it for you again if you don’t drink it.”
“No need.” Sanji glanced toward his palm and whispered, “You don’t get cold too.”
Hearing this, Duan Jia Xu hooked his lips and put his hand in front of her, saying without any proper form, “Then you warm it for me?”
Sanji didn’t move, just sipped his drink.
He, however, did not feel embarrassed, withdrew his hand, and said blandly, “Let’s go, the entrance is over.”
The two men stood up.
After a few seconds, Sang Chi suddenly rummaged through her bag and handed him a baby warmer, “I just brought one, for you to use.”
Duanjia Xu froze.
Sang Chi explained in a low voice, “My hands are cold, I can’t warm them for you.” After saying that, she gave him a fake calm look and added, “And just that what, holding hands isn’t really appropriate.”
Duan Jia Xu skimmed his head at her, paused for a few seconds, and said in an echoing manner, “It’s not quite right.”
“……”
The two men found seats and sat down.
Duan Jia Xu put the bag that Tisang Zhi had taken all the way on his lap and tore open the warm baby’s package, his voice was gentle and gentle, “There’s no name for it either.”
“……” Sanjay’s brain went blank and he put the drink in his hand down.
At the same time, Duan Jia Xu put the warm baby into her hand.
The movie started to show as well, and music played in the background, stopping all her words.
–
After the movie was over, it was time for dinner.
Though Sanji spent most of the movie watching thinking about his remark, she couldn’t bring it up again after an hour or so.
The two found a restaurant outside to eat.
Afterwards, he went back to the neighborhood of Duanjash’s residence and picked up the cake at a cake store.
Back to Duanjash’s house.
Sang Chi took off her shoes and noticed a new pair of lady slippers on the shoe rack, which happened to be her shoe size. She looked in Duan Jia Xu’s direction and didn’t take the initiative to bring them to wear.
Instead, Duan Jiaxu put the shoes in front of her and calmly said, “Bought them for you.”
He put the cake on the table and then went into the kitchen.
Sandy wheedled her shoes on, walked over, and unwrapped the cake box.
Just as he took the cake out, Duan Jia Xu also came out of the kitchen, holding another cake in his hand.
Sanji’s movements stopped, “How two?”
“I made this one.” Duan Jia Xu said, “I was afraid it wouldn’t be good, so I ordered another one.”
Sanji blinked, “And you can make cakes.”
“I used to work in a café and learned a bit.” Duan Jia Xu prepared to insert candles into the cake, while asking absently, “Which one do you want to use as a birthday cake?”
Sanji pointed to the one he made, “This one.”
“How many plugs?”
“Just stick one in, I guess.”
The tip of Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrow lifted, and his words carried the meaning of rejection, “Nineteen.”
Sang-chi was speechless, “How do you blow it with so many insertions.”
“Little girl,” Duan Garsh hung back, “you need to recognize your age.”
The cake store gave two packs of candles, twelve in one pack, so it was still enough. Sang Chi couldn’t help but spit out, “Then you’ll have to ask someone for an extra pack of candles for your birthday.”
“For my birthday,” Duane Cash was double standard, “just stick one in.”
“……” said Sang-chi, irritated and very calculating, “I’ll make sure to stick you with all twenty-six of them when the time comes.”
Duan Jia Xu just laughed, and after putting the candles in place, he went to the coffee table and got a lighter, and a pink bag. He lowered his eyes and slowly lit all the candles.
Sanji ran to the foyer to turn off the lights.
When I came back, Duan Jiaxu had already lit it. His face was tinted with warm colors by the candlelight, which flickered and flickered, making it hard to see his expression, but it looked particularly loving and soft.
Counting on it, this was the first birthday Sanji had ever spent with him.
Duan Jia Xu opened his mouth to sing her a birthday song, his low and gentle voice echoing in the living room. After the last line of the song fell, Sang Chi made a wish and blew out the candles with force.
Only blew most of it.
Her mouth twitched and she blew a few more times before it all went out.
Watching her move, Duan Jia Xu laughed out loud, his chest rising and falling, bringing his shoulders with him. And then, he got up and turned on the light, handing the pink bag to Sang Zhi, “Birthday present.”
Sang Chi took it and it wasn’t light. She said thank you and, holding back her curiosity, took the cake knife and started cutting the cake.
After only one cut, Duan Jia Xu took the cake knife and helped her cut a small piece out. He glanced at the bag that was placed aside and suddenly asked, “Do you want to look at the gifts that other people gave you?”
Sang Chi looked at it and shook his head, “Go back and look at it again.”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t force the issue and asked again, “This boy is chasing you?”
Sanji thought for a moment, “I suppose.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed softly, dragging out his tone as he asked, “Many people chasing after you?”
Thinking of the bullishness he had bragged about earlier in the hospital, Sang Chi didn’t know how to answer, and could only vaguely say, “It’s not bad.”
Soon after, Duan Jiaxu asked again, “What are the conditions for chasing you no?”
Sang-chi was puzzled: “Where are the conditions for this, it’s not like choosing a date.”
“So tell me,” like it was just a casual conversation, Duanjia Xu’s tone was light, “what are the terms for the ones you’re likely to look at.”
Sanji raised his eyes and said hesitantly, “Good-looking.”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
“Good temper.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Gotta be a head taller than me.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Three things are right.”
“Well, there’s more.”
Sanji took his fork and took a bite of the cake, “No more.”
“I fulfill all the conditions you mentioned.” Duanjia Xu smeared a layer of chocolate sauce with his fingers and lightly rubbed it onto her cheek, “So, let me ask you something.”
“……”
Like something long awaited, finally about to happen, with an extremely strong sense of foreboding.
Kuwabara hit his eyes and could almost guess what his next words would be, yet her heart still missed half a beat and she was so nervous that she couldn’t breathe a little. She licked the remains of the cake off the corner of her lips and looked at him numbly, “What.”
Duan Jia Xu laughed, his gaze ambiguous, yet he looked serious.
This time he didn’t have any cover up or say anything ambiguous like he did earlier.
Straight to the point with her.
“Can I chase you now?”
Chapter 48
。。。。。
The light in the room was cold and white, hitting Duan Jiaxu’s face, the outline was clear and distinct. His eyes were lowered, and his dense and long eyelashes made his brown eyes deeper and deeper, with a fine light.
Duan Jia Xu was still staring at her, without any sense of pressure. He has always been extremely patient, not rushed, did not show a look of urgency, quietly waiting for her reply.
At this juncture, Sanji also inexplicably remembered the scene when he first met him.
He was sitting in the sofa, his expression was distant and playful, and he only laughed at her outrageous speculation, and agreed immoderately, “Isn’t it just a matter of making it look good?”
After all those years, he had grown so many years older.
And yet, it seems, not much has changed.
It had just gotten a little more mature, yet it was still the same look she liked.
In a trance, she suddenly had the illusion that time actually waits for people.
The two men stood and sat.
In about ten seconds or so, Sang Chi snapped back to her senses, her tail voice faintly trembled, but still pretended to be calm and asked, “Do you mean what I understand you to mean?”
“Huh?” Duanjia Xu withdrew his hand and licked the chocolate sauce on his fingertips, “Can you find a second meaning for that?”
Sanji fell silent and asked softly, “I thought you said I was a child?”
“If you want,” Duan Jiaxu curled his lips, a vague smile in his words, “I can call you that when you’re ninety years old.”
“……” Sanji lowered his eyes and continued to nibble on the cake.
“Just a name calling.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, his speech slow and leisurely, “Otherwise, if you call me brother, you also really consider me as your own brother?”
Sang Chi was a bit squirmy and purposely antagonized him, “It’s just treating you as my own brother.”
“This way.” Duan Jia Xu glanced at her and didn’t break her down, saying in a tone of playing consultation, “Then brother will clean up his act in 15 years, okay?”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu added without much care, “Become an animal instead.”
Sanji coughed twice and couldn’t help but say, “It’s not that serious.”
“Then give me an answer, okay?” Duan Jia Xu’s fingertips tapped on the table, his tone slightly scattered, “If you don’t say anything else, I’m going to be so nervous I can’t breathe at this moment.”
I haven’t seen you nervous either.
Sanji muttered inwardly.
“Where else would someone chase someone before,” Sanji thought, still not holding back his spit, “and come to ask if I could chase you first.”
“If I don’t ask,” Duan Jia Xu pulled a chair and sat down next to her, “don’t you take those things as elder care?”
Three seconds of silence.
“Then whatever.” Sang Chi retracted his gaze and pretended to be indifferent, “It’s your business, it’s not like I can care.”
Duan Jiaxu smiled lowly, “So do you mean that to me?”
Thinking about Ning Wei’s words, Sang Chi very seriously denied, “No.”
After a few seconds, worried that she might discourage him, she deliberately added, “But if you chase me for a while, I might have one.”
After saying that, San Zhi raised his head and looked in Duan Jia Xu’s direction for a few moments.
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu supported his face with one hand and asked, “But, can you give me some spoilers first, how long I’ll probably have to chase?”
“What drama.” Kuwabara frowned, feeling a bit disgraced, “How do you say that like I’m sure to be chased by you.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “There’s still a reason why you can’t catch up?”
Sanji: “Of course, I’m hard to follow.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Then let’s sign a contract and set a deadline.”
Sangji was a bit stifled, “There’s still a contract for this?”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed, his demeanor careless and matter-of-fact: “What about people of our age, we prefer to do things steadily.”
“……”
Sanji swallowed the last bite of cake and stood up, “I’m not signing with you.”
“Okay.” Duan Jia Xu said lazily, “Then I’ll be patient and chase you for ten or eight years. But if you run off with someone else by then, I’ll go to your parents’ door and tell them off.”
Sanjay: “What are you suing for?”
Duan Jia Xu thought about it and cocked his head, his tone was like inquiring, “Just sue, you asked me to impersonate your brother to go to your parent-teacher conference?”
Sang-chi was all over the place, “It was hundreds of years ago.”
She stopped paying attention to him and walked to the restroom to rinse her mouth. When she looked up and saw the mirror, she noticed that she had a layer of chocolate sauce on her cheeks.
Sang Chi instantly remembered Duan Jia Xu’s demeanor just now, washed it off with water, and quickly walked out, “Brother Jia Xu, why are you rubbing things on my face?”
Duanjia Xu gathered the things on the table, “What?”
“I put on makeup.” Sanji wasn’t too happy, “You’re not getting it off.”
Upon hearing this, Duan Jia Xu raised his head and swept his eyes, his eyebrows raised, his tone flirty and frivolous: “Coming to see your brother and still putting on makeup, and saying that you don’t have any interest in your brother.”
“……,” Sanji righted himself, “I wear makeup on everyone I see.”
“Why are you always hitting people here?” Duan Jia Xu put the cake back in the box and laughed, “You’re not interested in me, so I can’t think about it and make myself happy?”
Sanji was calculating, “Then don’t say it.”
Duan Jiaxu loosely said, “Wouldn’t you know if I didn’t say it out loud?”
“……”
Sang Chi walked over and took the two bags and hung them on her wrist. She glanced at the cake on the table that Duan Jiaxu had made, with a large portion left over, and called out to him properly, “Brother Jiaxu.”
“Hmm?”
“That’s right, you’re not exactly confessing to me now, you’re just asking me if I can chase, I said yes, and I didn’t reject you.” Sang Chi carefully said, “Then can I take this cake back?”
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes to look at her, pretending to be puzzled: “Then if I confess to you now, will you accept it?”
Sanji choked, “Of course not.”
“Forget it then,” Duan Jia Xu gently refused, “I’d rather keep it for myself.”
Sanji pointed to the one he bought, “Can’t you eat this one?”
Duan Jiaxu: “No way.”
Sanji held back, “It’s not like you have a sweet tooth.”
“Love it now.”
Sang Chi exploded, and the words he had been holding back for half a day finally came out, “Why are you so careful! I didn’t say how demanding I am, you have to chase me a little bit!”
Instant silence.
Sang Chi reacted to what she had just said and immediately defended herself uncomfortably for a few moments, “I mean, you always have to chase me a little bit so that I can know if I mean that to you or not.”
Duan Jiaxu cleared his throat as if he was holding back a laugh, “It’s fine.”
Afraid of really pissing her off, Duan Jia Xu reached the point and didn’t tease her anymore, “If you don’t have that intention, I’ll chase after her a few more times.”
“……”
Duan Jia Xu reached out and pinched her face, saying gently, “Put it in a box for you, go back and share it with your friends. If you like it, I’ll make it for you every day in the future.”
–
Sanji took his things and went back to the dormitory.
At this time, Wang Ruolan hadn’t returned yet, and Yu Xin was standing next to Ning Wei, chatting with her about gossip. Seeing her return, Ning Wei smiled and waved her hand at her, “Little Sang Sang, did you have a good date?”
Sanji put his hands on the table and said seriously, “Is there a doorstop today?”
“Yes.” Yu Xin said, “Twelve o’clock.”
Sanjay: “What time is it?”
Yu Xin: “It’s only ten o’clock, what’s wrong?”
Sanji opened the closet, “I want to go out for a run.”
“……” Ning Wei was a bit puzzled, “You don’t mind the cold?”
“I’m a little,” Sanjay looked over at them, “a little excited.”
Yu Xin: “Which is a bit like you.”
Sang Chi touched his face, calmed down, and inexplicably began to giggle again, “I’ve been holding back my laughter all night, I think my face is going to cramp up.”
Ning Wei laughed along with her, guessing, “Confessed to you, huh?”
“I guess that counts.” Sanji said, “He said he’s going to start chasing me.”
Ning Wei was curious, “How long are you going to let him chase after you?”
Sanji blinked, not quite sure, “How long a chase is usually appropriate.”
Ning Wei: “I’m with my boyfriend, a month or so. But I’m still a little bit regretting that I agreed to him so early, man, just chasing you when it’s best for you.”
“Oh.” Sanji scratched his head, “So how long is better.”
Yu Xin: “See for yourself, when you feel it’s appropriate.”
Sanjay: “I think it’s appropriate right now ……”
“……”
Sang Chi suddenly got a bit melancholy and exhaled, “But I’m a bit worried that this liking of his is spur of the moment. Maybe he never had a girlfriend, and then suddenly there’s someone around who’s still the right age, and he thinks he sees eye to eye.”
Ning Wei: “But I think according to what you said, with a relationship like yours, if he can come and say something like that to you, he should have made up his mind, right?”
Sanji froze, thought hard, and smiled again.
“Also.”
She split the cake with her roommate, returned to her seat, and unwrapped the bag that Duan Jia Xu had given her. Inside was a small portable camera, plain black, with a retro style.
Sanji turned on the machine and tried to take a picture.
She then opened the album to see how the shot came out and subconsciously swiped down to the right.
Found other photos inside.
It is a self|photo of Duan Jiaxu.
“……”
This photo, taken at close range.
Extremely straight man gave himself a close-up, clearly seeing the five features. On the photo, he appeared to have just taken a shower, his hair was half wet, those peach blossom eyes were radiant and bright, and his lips were tinted with a watery color.
Eyes glued to the camera, his smile took on a bit of a gangly quality.
In the next moment, Sanji’s cell phone rang.
The person on the other end looked like he had calculated the time and sent her two tweets over.
Brother #2: [The picture inside is the gift.]
Brother #2: [Remember to be the wallpaper.]
Sanji: “……”
Sang-chi replied in a high and cold voice: [No.]
Afterwards, she clicked on Duan Jia Xu’s profile, changed his note back to “Duan Jia Xu”, and the corner of her lips curled up. She then looked at the message that Duan Jia Xu had just sent, resisted the urge to scroll, and after some thought, changed it to “suitor”.
The next moment, the phone vibrated.
Sanji withdrew to look at it.
Sang Yan transferred two thousand dollars to her on WeChat, accompanied by a sentence: [Buy whatever you want to buy for yourself].
Sang Chi collected the money. Thinking about today’s events, she inexplicably had a bit of a mountainous and oppressive feeling, hesitated, and sent him a sentence in a gradual manner: [Brother, I might be in love.]
Brother: [?
Brother: [Are you going to college or on a blind date?
Sanji: [Isn’t it normal to go to college and fall in love?
Brother: [Whatever, take care of yourself, don’t get ripped off.]
Sanji: [Oh.
Chill out for a moment.
Sanji added: [A little too old.]
Brother: [?
Brother: [Can’t be older than me.]
Sanji: [……]
This time, Sang Yeon sent a direct voice over, his tone was not very pleasant: “Really older than me? Kid, where do you know people here?”
Sang-chi didn’t dare to be frank and made it up: [Graduate students in our school.]
Sang Yan: “You study hard for me, ass man learning people to fall in love. Also, let me tell you, not even one day older than me, I can’t stand a man older than me calling me brother.”
Sang-chi was unconvinced: [Where did you get so many problems.]
Sanji: [It’s not good enough to call you brother?
Brother: [?
Brother: [Do you remember Duan Jia Xu?
Sanji: “……”
–
On the other side, Duan Jia Xu came out from the toilet after taking a shower.
He toweled his hair and grabbed a bottle of ice water from the fridge, glancing at his phone in the process, noticing that Sangyan had sent him a couple of messages.
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyebrows and clicked on it to look at it.
Sang Yeon: [My sister seems to have a date.]
Sang Yeon: [She’s out there all by herself, keep an eye on her for me].
Sang Yeon: [Don’t let her be fooled.]
Duan Jiaxu breathed a long laugh, without a trace of shame between his brows. He opened the cap of the bottle and drank slowly and methodically, before replying: [OK ah.]
Chapter 49
。。。。。
After taking a shower, Sang Chi sat back down and fiddled with the camera for a while. She uploaded the photo of Duan Jiaxu to her computer, and created a new favorite to put it in.
I also put in the group photo I took last time when I went to Duan Jia Xu’s house.
She thought for a moment, logged on to QQ with her computer, and from a private album in her space, she pulled out the photos she had taken of Duan Jiaxu in the past.
All three photos have different tones and pixels.
Placed in one piece like this, it brings a clear and distinct sense of time.
Sangji stared blankly for a while, suddenly remembering that stage of his senior year of high school.
During that time, her condition was inexplicably poor, and she often made careless mistakes in physics, which she had always done well in, so her overall grades plummeted, and her ranking in the grade was always backward.
On the day that he received the gift of adulthood from Duan Jiaxu, the results of the first model of Nanwu City also came out.
It was the worst test she had taken in her entire senior year.
And so, after the day’s study session.
She was called in for a talk by her teacher.
The homeroom teacher had noticed the earlier incident between her and the gym student from the next class. So as soon as her grades dropped, she thought it was because she was in a relationship that her grades were affected.
When I talk to her, I’m very unforgiving.
After listening to her lecture in silence, Sang-Chi just repeated “I’m not in love”, and then went back to his class, grabbed his bag and took the bus home.
In total, senior year is only a half-day vacation a week.
After school on Saturday afternoons, they have to come back the next day to continue their evening study. However, it is common for students to leave home at noon and arrive at school in the afternoon.
The day she came home happened to be her birthday.
Li Ping and Sang Rong were cooking in the kitchen.
Perhaps because of her birthday, Sang Yan unprecedentedly was also at home and was sitting on the sofa watching TV. When he saw her come back, he just lifted his chin and said in a faint voice, “Duan Jia Xu sent you an express delivery and put it in your room.”
Sanji nodded and went back to his room in silence.
She closed the door to her room, put her bulky book bag on the table, and looked down at the sender on the courier box. And then, slowly, she unwrapped the box.
See the set of cosmetics inside and a greeting card attached.
Sanjay opened the greeting card.
The man’s handwriting was atmospheric and sharp, with just one line.
–Happy adulthood to little Sonja.
It seemed like words she had been expecting for a long time.
All the emotions came in a rush.
Senior year brings with it stress, unspoken accusations from teachers, and a sense of aggression that is hard to restrain.
Sang Chi stared at the words, his eyes gradually reddening, and after a long time, he couldn’t help but let out a choked sob from his throat, accompanied by tears that kept slamming downward.
Finding it hard to get through.
Not daring anyone to hear her, she crouched on the floor, holding back her sobs with all her might, her whole body shaking, and then began to hiccup with sobs.
Like he’s going to run out of breath.
In that moment.
Kuwabara truly realized what it was like to be truly grown up.
It is to no longer dare to cry out with abandon and make telling it a matter of shame;
It’s to no longer dare to make capriciousness a family affair and to clearly understand what to do and what not to do;
It’s no longer daring to dream in the sky, no longer daring to live a fairy tale as if it were a life, making the days disciplined and bland.
is one thing that is, simply, not worth looking forward to.
……
The cell phone rang, interrupting Sanji’s thoughts. She snapped back to her senses, blinked hard, and reached over to pick up the phone and look at it.
–The suitor sent a message.
Sanji clicked on it.
Suitor: [Free tomorrow?
Sanji thought for a moment: [No.]
SUITOR: [The day after tomorrow?
SANCHEZ: [And no.
Suitor: [The day after tomorrow?
Sanji: [No.]
SUITOR: [Not even at night?
Seeing this, Sang Chi flipped through the class schedule and returned, [There are no classes on Wednesday night.]
Suitor: [What a coincidence.]
Suitor: [I’m also available.]
Sanji: [But I have to do my homework.]
Suitor: [I’ll stay with you?
Sang Chi curled her lips and typed “yes”, then quickly deleted it and changed it to “let’s talk” in a very reserved manner. She put down her cell phone, went to the toilet to wash up, and then went back to bed.
It was already lights out time, and everyone else in the dorm was already in bed.
Only the cell phone was left lit up.
She chatted with Duan Jia Xu and fell asleep without realizing it. Perhaps it was because she never received a reply from her, and after a long time, the screen lit up again.
SUITOR: [Good night.]
The time displayed on his cell phone had crossed twelve o’clock, ushering in a new day.
Sanji said goodbye to her eighteen years.
On the day she turned nineteen, revived a dream she had when she was thirteen.
Yet again, it’s not quite the same as it was last time.
That one was hopeless.
This time, however, it will definitely be realized.
–
The next day, after morning classes.
Sang Chi went to the dining hall to eat with her roommates, and heard them chatting about a thing: “I see the group is saying that the school is going to hold the fifth Digital Media Art Competition recently, do you want to participate?”
Wang Ruolan: “Did you have to team up?”
Ning Wei: “Well, a group of no more than six people.”
Yushin: “Can other departments participate?”
Ning Wei: “Yeah, it’s open to the whole school.”
Woof Woof: “Are you guys going to participate?”
Yu Xin didn’t have much interest, “Forget it I’m lazy.”
“Let’s see,” Sangji took out his phone and opened the class group to look at it, “The categories of entries are, animation short, microfilm, game design, interaction design ……”
Ning Wei: “The animated short seems pretty good, what’s the theme?”
“There are several, commemorating the centennial of Yiho University’s founding, publicity, and Yiho folk culture.” Sanji flipped it over and scanned it again, “The game design wouldn’t have to fit that theme.”
Wang Ruolan: “But for game design, don’t we have to find a piece of the software department to team up with.”
Ning Wei: “It’s not necessary, you can ask the teacher first.”
Wang Ruolan: “How can I participate in this?”
Sanji: “Gotta find an instructor, then form a team and sign up.”
Yu Xin: “You’re all going to participate, huh?”
Wang Ruolan: “I’m just asking, I’m actually too lazy.”
A few more people rattled off a few more things about the matter, and soon the conversation naturally drifted elsewhere.
Sang Zhi adheres to the attitude that if there is a competition, she will participate in it. It so happens that she heard that there is a senior in the department with the same major, Liang Jun, who also intends to participate in it, so she talked to him and the two of them formed a team.
Plus Ning Wei, one of Liang Jun’s classmates, and a girl from the class.
The group then settled on these five.
Accommodating everyone’s time, Liang Jun set a Wednesday night for the five of them to have a dinner together and discuss the work in the meantime. So, the thing that was sort of agreed upon with Duan Jia Xu before just fizzled out.
Knowing that she had her own things to do, Duan Jia Xu didn’t say much and only made another appointment with her for the weekend.
This contest has a two-month period from registration to submission of entries.
The group settled on a theme and a mentor, and planned to make a short animated movie. The creative class didn’t have a good idea to settle on for a while.
After some discussion, there were still individuals in the group who had classes, and Liang Jun didn’t waste any more time, dividing up the work for each person and telling everyone to go back and think about it.
Ning Wei didn’t go back to the dormitory with her and went to find her boyfriend after the meeting broke up.
Sang Zhi looked at the time, it was just after 8:30, still quite early. She fished her cell phone out of her pocket and slowly sent a tweet to Duan Jia Xu: [What are you doing.]
SEEKER: [Overtime.]
Sanji: [Oh.
The next second, Duan Jiaxu called and asked, “Free?”
“The meeting just broke up,” said Sanjay, “Why are you always working overtime at this job?”
“Nothing else, just an extra shift.” Duan Jia Xu’s voice carried a faint smile, “If you’re free, then I’ll be off work.”
Recently, Yiho had started to warm up, but at night, the temperature still carried a few degrees of coolness. Sang Zhi tucked his other hand into his pocket, kicked the small stones in front of him, and reminded, “It’s half past eight.”
Duanjia Xu: “The dormitory is gated?”
Sanji: “Yes.”
“What time?”
“Twelve o’clock.”
“Doesn’t that leave three and a half hours?”
“Oh.” Sanji whispered, “But I don’t go back that late.”
There was a rustling sound of movement on Duan Jiaxu’s end, and he said leisurely, “Take you to have a late-night snack, and then I’ll send you back to your dormitory, okay?”
Sanji considered for two seconds, “What’s for dinner?”
Duan Jia Xu: “What do you want to eat?”
Sanji: “Not thinking about it.”
“Then I’ll go over there and finalize it, you find a place to sit for a while,” Duanjia Xu said, “I’ll drive over there now.”
–
Duan Jia Xu walked into the parking lot, found his car, and unexpectedly also saw Jiang Ying, who he hadn’t seen in months. His eyelids twitched as he swept a glance at her and immediately withdrew his gaze.
Seeing him, Jiang Ying moved her feet and stood in front of his car. She fished her wallet out of her purse, turned it upside down, and said seriously, “I don’t have any money to spend.”
Duanjia Xu unlocked the car and got in.
Jiang Ying stood still, staring at him sitting in the driver’s seat, and said, extremely matter-of-factly, “You give me some money to spend.”
“……”
A few seconds of silence.
“Duan Jia Xu, are you really looking for a girlfriend?” Jiang Ying took the initiative to speak again, “Just the college student from the last hot pot restaurant? It’s true that college students are still good at cheating.”
Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes and looked at his cell phone, replying to the words sent by Sang Zhi.
Jiang Ying said to herself, “I’ve already told the others that you’re going to marry me, and I’ve also told my mom about this, and she agrees.”
“……”
“You don’t want to find another woman either, I’m not done with you for the rest of my life. You know full well that I’ve liked you since middle school,” Jiang Ying raised her hand and pointed at him, red-eyed, “and you still dare to find a girlfriend! How dare you!”
Hearing this, Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes.
He thought back to middle school.
Compared to that time, the woman in front of her had faded away her childishness and become mature with a bit of old age. But again, it was like her appearance hadn’t changed at all.
Still as hysterical and full of hate as it is now.
She accused him of being the son of a murderer in front of anyone. When she saw him, she was always agitated and angry, and her eyes were full of resentment, as if he was Duan Zhicheng.
The worst time, she pushed him straight down the stairway from the second floor of the school building. Looking at his bumped and bleeding forehead, instead of being half disturbed, she showed an almost twisted smile.
“Your dad ran my dad over, so you have to die too.”
……
Duan Jiaxu lowered the window and pulled up his lips, “I’ll tell you something.”
Jiang Ying stared at him dead in the face.
“If you don’t think this matter is over, you go find Duan Zhicheng.” Duan Jiaxu’s emotions were light, and he said without waves, “If you want him to marry you and be my stepmother, I don’t have a problem with that at all.”
Sickened by this, Jiang Ying immediately walked over to the driver’s seat and said, as if in a fit of anger, “I’ll fuck you up!”
Next moment.
Duan Jia Xu started the car and said in a gentle tone, “Then I wish you a happy wedding in advance.”
Chapter 50
….
The fall down the stairs, it wasn’t really that bad.
Without any warning, Duan Jia Xu didn’t even know that Jiang Ying was near him. Because she was from behind, suddenly pushed him down. He was not prepared, his body leaned forward and fell down, but fortunately only the corner of his forehead was bumped.
It was when we went out to do drills at recess.
Surrounded by fellow classmates, some people backed away, some people stood still and whispered to the people next to them, and a few people came forward to persuade Jiang Ying not to go too far.
Yuan Lang next to him helped him up.
Noticing the movement at this end, a class officer immediately ran upstairs to find the homeroom teacher.
That year, Duan Jiaxu was not yet fifteen years old.
The young man was still too young to easily adjust and disguise his emotions. Even if he did feel a little bit of guilt because of his father’s sins, it was instantly wiped out by this kind of anger-inducing behavior.
He used the back of his hand to rub off the blood from the corner of his forehead, looked up at Jiang Ying, and forced down his anger: “Shouldn’t you apologize to me.”
Jiang Ying stood in place holding her arms, red eyes, but the words out of the vicious to the extreme: “You did not die I apologize to you, I prayed every day that you and your mother died earlier.”
Hearing these words, Duan Jia Xu slowly broke away from Yuan Lang’s hand. His teeth gradually tightened, the muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably, and his eyes were thin and cold to the extreme.
Duanjia Xu walked upwards in silence.
As he walked up to Jiang Ying, he repeated, speaking with a deliberate bite, “Shouldn’t you apologize to me, and to my mother.”
Jiang Ying stared at him, her voice sharpening, “What did I say wrong! Don’t you deserve to die!”
Duan Jia Xu’s fire surged upwards, without any sense of reason. He laughed back in anger and reached out to grab her arm with extreme force, wanting to return the favor in his own way.
The homeroom teacher arrived just in time.
At this time, Duan Jia Xu also heard a certain classmate around him, whispering, “How can he have the nerve to let Jiang Ying apologize to him ……”
Duan Jiaxu’s movements stopped and were also stopped by the homeroom teacher in an instant.
Then, he saw that Jiang Ying, the one who would have been considered the aggressor, at the same time as he saw the homeroom teacher, suddenly started to cry, her shoulders jerking, pitiful to the extreme: “My dad died …… oooooh my dad …… “
The homeroom teacher comforted her instead.
Also because of Duan Jiaxu’s behavior just now, he sternly accused, “Duan Jiaxu! What are you doing! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?!”
Duan Jiaxu, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?
In this moment, in the eyes of those around them.
He seems to be the aggressor.
The class teacher forced Duan Jia Xu to apologize to Jiang Ying, but he only said nothing. He didn’t stand still to receive the lesson either, he directly turned his head away, went to the restroom to wash his wound with water, and returned to the classroom only after the bell rang.
It happens to be the classroom teacher’s class.
Watching Duan Jia Xu walk into the classroom, the homeroom teacher stopped her lecture content and sneered, “You don’t even know how to respect your teacher, let’s see what kind of person you can become in the future.”
Duanjash sat back down.
Yuan Lang whispered, “This old woman has taken the wrong medication lately.”
He took the book out of the drawer and didn’t say anything.
“Just put up with it,” Yuan Lang couldn’t help but say, “After all, your dad really killed her dad, and you’re kind of indebted to her …… But she might just not think about it for a while, and it’ll be fine later.”
Duan Jiaxu opened his book, the undried water on his face sliding down his jaw and dripping onto the textbook.
At those words, his eyelids twitched and he calmly glanced at Yuan Lang for a long time before laughing mockingly.
Duanjia Xu suddenly understood.
He couldn’t show the slightest bit of anger or express a hint of resentment for the harm he had suffered, or everyone would think that he and his father were kindred spirits.
He has to be gentle with everyone.
Gotta laugh forever.
Gotta be the one, who doesn’t seem aggressive at all.
In that year, the term “moral abduction” had not yet appeared.
Duan Jiaxu, however, had felt it clearly.
himself is suffering from it.
–
Hanging up the phone, Sang Wiz went into the convenience store next door and wandered around, finally taking only a candy bar. The store was empty, except for the clerk.
Sang Zhi found a seat, took out her cell phone, and told Duan Jiaxu her specific | location on WeChat. She was afraid of affecting his driving, and didn’t say anything else after that.
Found a comic I’ve been catching up on lately and read it.
It’s a little warmer indoors than it is outside, and it gets a little stuffy after sitting for a long time.
After reading the last sentence, Sangji raised his eyes in boredom and looked out along the glass window, suddenly noticing a small stall outside. Business wasn’t good, not many customers.
At this point, two girls had just left, holding fluffy masses of white that looked like clouds.
It’s an older man selling cotton candy.
Sang Zhi came to be interested and went out of the convenience store, also going to the stall and ordering one. She hadn’t eaten one in a long time, and seeing how the uncle was making it, she even asked a few questions every now and then.
Looking at the gradually growing white cotton candy, Sang Chi looked at the colorful sugar in the jar next to him and couldn’t help but make a request, “For the outer ring layer, can you sprinkle some pink sugar?”
The uncle smiled and said, “OK.”
The next moment, Duan Jiaxu’s voice suddenly came from behind him, “Why are you sprinkling pink?”
Caught off guard, Sanji subconsciously turned back.
I don’t know when it started, but Duan Jia Xu was standing behind her. His body was slightly bent down, his head slightly to the side. The two of them locked eyes, and the distance instantly closed.
Only about twenty centimeters.
Afterward, Duan Jiaxu curved his lips and said danglingly, “Is it true that when you see your brother, your mood turns pink?”
“……”
The older man chimed in at that moment, “All right.”
Sanji withdrew his eyes and took the marshmallow, “Thank you.”
She took the small stick and turned it around in her hand. Sang Zhi thought it looked good and didn’t bother to eat it, and twisted her head to look at him again, “Why are you talking so earthy.”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyebrows, “Dirt?”
“Earth.”
“Not bad.” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “Why do I feel that it sounds quite romantic.”
“…… “Sang Chi couldn’t hear if he was serious or joking, thought about it and didn’t blow him off, pulling away from the conversation, “Did you drive here?”
“Uh-huh.”
Sanjay: “Where did you park the car?”
Duan Jiaxu pointed, “Over there.”
“Oh.” Thinking about him working overtime, Sanji casually asked, “What did you have for dinner?”
“Takeout.”
“So what do you want to eat now?” Sanjay reached out, keeping his original shape as long as possible, and carefully tore a piece of marshmallow, then sighed in relief, “I just ate not long ago, I’m not hungry.”
After a pause, Sanji added calmly, “But I can accompany you to eat.”
Staring at her movements, Duan Jia Xu didn’t reply, a few hints of playfulness in his eyes.
Noticing Sanji bring his hand up to stuff the piece of marshmallow into his mouth, he suddenly dropped his head and bit into the small piece of marshmallow she had just torn off.
His move came so suddenly that Sanji froze, staring dumbfounded at the small remnants of what was left of his fingers before looking over at him, caught off guard, “What are you doing.”
Duan Jia Xu licked his lips and said naturally, “I want to eat cotton candy.”
“No way.” Sanji was protective of his food, “It’s mine.”
Duan Jia Xu looked at her for two seconds and laughed out loud instead. He then took paper towels from his pocket and wiped her fingers clean for her, while raising his eyes to look at her and flirting, “Cheapskate.”
Sanji frowned, “You’re the one who’s petty.”
“Eat up,” Duan Jia Xu stopped teasing her, “it’ll melt away later.”
Sanji tore another piece and wheedled it into his mouth, “So what are you going to eat?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Go eat a bowl of noodles.”
“Then go to that one?” Sanji pointed toward the neighborhood, “It’s pretty good.”
“OK.”
The two entered the establishment and found a seat.
Duan Jia Xu simply ordered a bowl of signboards and didn’t ask for anything else, casually asking, “What have you been up to lately?”
“Our school is getting a digital media art competition recently, and I’m planning to participate.” Kuwabara said honestly, “I’ve teamed up with someone, and I’m set on doing animated shorts, but I haven’t figured out what content to do yet.”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Sanji added, “I was going to get microfilm, but I feel like a lot of groups should pick that. And then with game design, it’s not like I can program.”
Duan Jia Xu leisurely said, “I will.”
Why does that sound like bragging.
“……” Sanji looked at him, “It’s not like you can help me race.”
Duan Jiaxu half-joked, “You quit that group, and we’ll work together.”
Sanjay reminded, “It has to be a college student.”
Duan Jiaxu said carelessly, “Huh? Don’t I look like that?”
“……”
Soon, Duanjia Xu ordered on the surface.
Most of the marshmallow in Sangji’s hand was also eaten, and the rest gradually melted in the temperature of the room. She threw the stick into the trash can and wiped her hands with a paper towel.
Duanjia Xu seems to have a poor appetite and eats slowly.
Sang Chi took out her cell phone to play, looking up at him a few times every now and then. Seeing that the noodles hadn’t lost a bit in half a day, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you not wanting to eat?”
“No,” said Duanjia Xu with an impassive face, “I’m stalling.”
“……”
“Eat slow and stall for two hours before I send you back.”
Hearing this, Sang Chi paused, looked down at his cell phone again, pretended not to care, and said calmly, “In a moment this noodle is soaked.”
Duan Jiaxu laughed lowly and didn’t say anything.
She casually mentioned a few more things, and Duan Jia Xu responded normally. At first, she didn’t notice, but as time passed, Sang Zhi always felt that something wasn’t quite right.
It felt like he was smiling an extraordinary amount tonight, but it didn’t look like he was in a very good mood. The mood was muted, the corners of his lips pulled upward in a raw manner with a few hints of fatigue.
Sang Chi put down her cell phone and asked hesitantly, “Brother Kaash, are you in a bad mood?”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes, seemingly amused, “How did you find out?”
“……” Sanji ahs, “Really bad, huh?”
Duan Jiaxu said gently, “A little bit.”
Sanji thought back, suddenly regretting something, and asked dryly, “Because I didn’t just give you a marshmallow?”
“……”
Sanji was a bit overwhelmed, “So I’ll go buy you a bunch now?”
Duan Jia Xu finished the last bite of noodles and drew a tissue to wipe his mouth. He raised an eyebrow, feeling a little amused, “What are you thinking about.”
Sanji: “Then why are you in a bad mood?”
Duan Jiaxu faintly said, “Maybe I’ve been working overtime a lot and I’m a bit tired.”
The two stood up and exited the noodle shop.
Sang Chi didn’t suspect, “Then you don’t work overtime ah.”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
Sang Chi pondered, and suddenly fished out the candy bar he had just bought at the convenience store from his pocket, tore it open, and handed one to him, “Please eat the candy.”
Duan Jiaxu took it, his brows stretching slightly, “Coaxing a child?”
Sanji blinked, “Cajoling old kids.”
“……”
Seeing that he didn’t move, Sang Chi took one, tore the candy paper open and handed it to his lips, “This candy is delicious, my brother likes it too.”
Duanjia Xu paused, then took her hand and lowered his head to take the candy into his mouth.
Sangji shoved the rest into his hand, “It’s all yours.”
Duan Jia Xu stared at the candy in his hand, the haze under his eyes dispersed, and he collected his jaws and smiled, “This is the first time I’ve been coaxed like this.”
The way he acted just now was a bit intimate, but it’s not like Sang Chi wanted to see him upset. She averted her eyes and said stiffly, “I just ate too many marshmallows just now, and I don’t want to eat this one.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu raised his eyes and met hers, his line of sight inexplicably sliding downward, stopping at her lips. After a few seconds, the knot in his throat slid, and he asked in a muffled voice, “Then can I get an inch?”
Sanji looked at him as well and said honestly, “But it’s all I have.”
“……”
“You can get more if you want.”
“Not sugar.” Duan Jia Xu looked at her, eyes with light, deep and seductive. He raised his hand and rubbed his fingertips against her lower lip, asking with a light smile, “Can I kiss you?”
“……” Sanji didn’t respond, “Huh?”
He withdrew his hand without repeating it, still staring at her.
Sang Zhi even had the feeling that she was hallucinating. She couldn’t believe her ears, her blood rushed upwards, the roots of her ears instantly became red, and she couldn’t say a word.
Duan Jiaxu waited for a while and asked again in a very gentlemanly manner, “Is it okay?”
Sangji came back to his senses and immediately refused, “No.”
Duan Jia Xu ahs regretfully and retreats, “Then hold a small hand?”
A bit beckoned, Sang-chi took a step back and said very seriously, “Doing such things without being together, you’re just being a hooligan.”
Duanjia Xu said smoothly, “Then together?”
Sang Zhi felt shaky inside, feeling that as long as he said one more word, she wouldn’t be able to hold her ground and agree straight away. She pursed her lips, struggled for half a day, and finally just said stiffly, “You’re not even chasing me much here.”
A few seconds of silence.
Duanjia Xu muttered, “That’s true.”
“So,” his eyes tailed off, his tone slightly flirtatious, and the words came out as if he were asking for her opinion with great respect, “can I be a rogue?”
Chapter 51
。。。。。
When talking to her, Duan Jia Xu always habitually lowered his head and bent down slightly, leveling his eyes with her.
The two were within striking distance of each other.
The warm breath from his mouth, Sang Chi seems to be able to feel, also with his customary light tobacco flavor. His eyebrows and eyes were lowered, containing broken light and compulsion.
Kuwabara’s eyelashes twitched, and she took an uncomfortable step back, saying with some subtlety, “How could you have the nerve to say such a thing?”
Duan Jiaxu slowly stood up straight and calmly said, “It’s not, trying to be a polite hooligan.”
“……”
“If you don’t like it.” Duan Jiaxu curved his lips, re-bending down, moving in her direction, “Then I’ll just–“
Sanji tensed his face and grabbed the hem of his shirt nervously, “Directly what.”
Only a few centimeters away, Duan Jia Xu suddenly stopped moving, his eyes sliding upwards to meet hers.
The little girl’s eyes were big and round, clear and bright, filled with him. Perhaps she had never experienced such a thing before, her expression was a bit stiff, even her breathing seemed to be forgotten.
And yet, he still pretended that he wasn’t impressed.
Duan Jia Xu straightened up and laughed softly, “Forget it.”
Kuwabara was instantly relieved and inexplicably a little bit lost.
“It’s better to be polite.” Duan Jiaxu raised his hand and lightly rubbed the corner of her eye, his voice was low, ambiguous and loving, “I’m afraid you’ll cry.”
–
At this time has more than ten o’clock, because it is a collective life, Sang Chi does not want to affect the work and rest of the housemates, intends to go back early to wash up.
Duan Jiaxu sent her down to the dormitory floor.
San Zhi turned around and was about to say goodbye to him when she suddenly realized that his gaze was looking away and fixed for a few seconds. She looked along and realized that it was a couple that was hugging and kissing reluctantly.
“……”
At this hour, there are a bunch of couples downstairs in the girls’ dormitory who just came back from a date.
The night was dimly lit and it was basically impossible to see their faces, so they were generally intimate as if no one else was around.
Sanji had seen it many times, and had long since gotten over it.
But at this moment, Duan Jia Xu was beside her, still looking that way thoughtfully, making her break through and start feeling awkward again.
“I’ll go back then.” Sang Chi coughed softly, pulling his attention back in a raw manner, “Brother Jia Xu, it’s so late, you drive with care.”
Duan Jiaxu retracted his gaze and suddenly asked, “After three days of chasing, you really can’t hold hands?”
“……” Sanji looked at him expressionlessly and couldn’t help but say, “How is that chasing?”
“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes, “Doesn’t that count?”
“I’m just reminding you that you don’t usually catch up with people when you chase them like that.”
Duan Jiaxu ahs, “What then?”
“Why are you still asking me?” Sang Chi was not giving him face and frowned, “Do you want me to teach you how to chase me by hand?”
Duan Jiaxu paused and said shamelessly, “No?”
“……”
“If I just reminded you of what I just said, I’ve even given you a backdoor, so don’t get carried away.” Sang Chi said in a serious manner, “You can look it up online or ask someone.”
Duan Jiaxu said in amusement, “Where did I go wrong?”
“These three days are just, the usual WeChat chatting a few times and an occasional phone call.” Sang Zhi hinted, “In my case, a suitor who hasn’t met for three days is equivalent to no chance.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Aren’t you not available?”
Sanji: “So what’s the difference between you and a netizen.”
“……”
Sang-chi continued to add, “You’re so old, do you still want to learn from other people’s online dating?”
Hearing these words, Duan Jia Xu’s eyebrows twitched, remembering what she used to do. He looked at her and said with a smirk, “Who do you think I’m learning from?”
“……”
Sang Chi also remembered that he made up the “online dating object”, she was suddenly weak, immediately waved her hand with him, back toward the direction of the dormitory building: “Anyway, I’ll stop here, you love to hear it or not.”
–
Duan Jia Xu returned to his car, not rushing to drive. He pondered over Sang Zhi’s words, picked up his cell phone, and sent her a WeChat: [Free tomorrow?]
Only Only: [No.
It’s such a sharp two-letter word every time.
Duan Jia Xu laughed softly and added: [I now suspect that you’re lying to me.]
Duanjash: [Show me your class schedule.]
The head sent over a picture in seconds, which was densely packed with lessons. As if very dissatisfied with what he said, Sang Chi added a text: [I am just full of lessons.]
Duan Jiaxu swept his eyes: [It’s really full of classes.]
Sanji doesn’t return.
Duan Jiaxu laughed: [Wrongly accused us of only just.
Sanji still hasn’t returned.
He tossed his cell phone aside and started the car.
There are fewer people at night, and fewer cars on the road. Duan Jiaxu lowered the car window by half, thinking of Sang Zhi, who was having trouble with him in the dormitory at the moment, the arc of his mouth rose a little more.
Duan Jia Xu’s thoughts grew empty, and he thought back to the Jiang Ying he had seen tonight.
Occasionally, he even wondered if he had a mental problem. Maybe this person, Jiang Ying, was just a hallucination that he had occasionally gotten overly tired and was hallucinating.
How else could a man, capable of such.
Ten years of haunting another human being.
From time to time, he appeared before his eyes, saying similar and paranoid things. The emotions were not half washed away by the years, but rather intensified.
Taking out all that hate on him that he shouldn’t have to bear.
After being pushed down the stairs by Jiang Ying, a few of his classmates had come to comfort him and told him to try to avoid her a little. It didn’t take long for this matter, including what the homeroom teacher said, to reach the ears of the school leaders.
Later, the classroom teacher was disciplined.
Considering Jiang Ying’s relationship with Duan Jia Xu, the school transferred him to another class.
Then later on, there were actually a lot of people who told Duan Jia Xu that he shouldn’t pay attention to what the homeroom teacher said, and shouldn’t pay too much attention to what Jiang Ying did.
But actually, more than the class teacher’s words, what made Duan Jia Xu feel embarrassed was that fellow classmate’s off-the-cuff remark.
- “How can he be so kind as to ask Jiang Ying to apologize to him ……”
That was the first time that Duan Jia Xu felt that his dignity had been trampled to the bottom of the mud.
Even if Jiang Ying had used her words to sarcasm and attack him many times in front of the class, he never cared and just listened.
Because Duan Jia Xu thought that everyone else should be too, holding the same idea as him.
Both thought that this matter, in fact, had nothing to do with him at all.
However, Jiang Ying had just lost her father and felt pain, so she was verbally paranoid and mouthy, using him as a target for her anger. Therefore, he could only try to understand and accommodate as much as possible.
But after that classmate’s words came out.
Duanjia Xu realized that it wasn’t like that.
Turns out in the dark.
Others all felt that he should have to pay for the sins his father had committed.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a majority or a minority.
But that sentence did give Duan Jia Xu a great influence. It made him go against Jiang Ying’s various difficulties for some time afterwards.
He wanted to make himself numb to this, to this.
He didn’t want to let others get in the way.
Duan Jia Xu could only force himself to understand that Jiang Ying seeing herself was tantamount to having her scars uncovered again. So he also tried to stay out of her presence as much as possible.
But Jiang Ying’s thoughts were completely different from his.
She felt miserable and made sure to make his life miserable as well.
After the transfer, Duan Jia Xu’s class was on the fifth floor. The original class was on the third floor, a good distance away, but Jiang Ying still came over to pick on him from time to time.
At that time, it was already close to the midterm. When Xu Ruoshu heard about this, she asked for his opinion and then applied to the school to let him go home to study on his own.
Then later, Duan Jiaxu was admitted to Yiho First High School.
Jiang Ying’s grades were poor and she didn’t get into the same school as him. It was only gradually that his life, began to be able to catch its breath.
……
Unbeknownst to me, the car drove back into the neighborhood.
Duan Jia Xu turned off the engine, picked up his cell phone and looked at it, realizing that Sang Zhi had returned a sentence just two minutes ago: [I’m sleeping, Bai Bai].
He also replied back, [I’m home.]
The person on the other end immediately replied back with, [Oh.
Duan Jia Xu inexplicably smiled. And then, he took out the piece of candy she had just given him from his pocket and stuffed one into his mouth.
–
Sang Zhi felt that the words he hinted to Duan Jia Xu were like stones dropped into the sea without any half response. For the next few days, he was no different from earlier.
It’s only on weekends that the two of them come out for dinner and a movie.
Then it changed back to its original condition.
She felt that if they were in a relationship, they would probably live like they were in a long-distance relationship as well.
It was logical that Sang Wiz said she wasn’t available, but she couldn’t skip dinner. He wouldn’t be able to come over and ask her out for dinner while it was still meal time.
Other people chase people all, deliberately creating chance encounters.
He’s the one who’s chasing people high and low and on the shelf.
Maybe the last thing she said.
— “Anyway, I’ll just point it out, if you like.”
He then replied silently in his mind, “I’m not listening.”
The more Sanji thought about it, the hotter he got.
She spat out the foam in her mouth and washed her face with face wash. When she exited the bathroom and saw that Yu Xin hadn’t gotten up yet, Sang Chi knocked on her bed and asked, “Aren’t you going to class?”
After a few seconds, Yu Xin vaguely said, “I stayed up late reading novels yesterday, and now I’m sleepy. You can order an arrival for me, I’m not going.”
Sang Chi nodded her head. She was actually sleepy and a bit too lazy to put on her makeup, but finally endured her laziness to put on an eyebrow and a layer of lipstick. She cleaned up a bit and was soon out the door.
This class is a large public class and the classroom is a large classroom.
Sang Chi came early, and most of the seats were still empty. She was moderately in the column by the window and found a seat in the fourth row.
Looking at her cell phone, Sang Chi yawned and was about to plop down to refresh herself for a while when she suddenly noticed with her afterglow that someone was sitting down next to her. She subconsciously raised her eyes, and her gaze instantly stopped, her expression froze in a silly manner.
The person in front of him was wearing a simple white shirt and black pants, his temperament was clear and clean. He looked at her with a sideways glance, lifting his eyelids, the corners of his lips hooked as always, “What a coincidence.”
“……”
“You’re taking this class too, huh?”
“……” Sang Chi was still a bit unresponsive, her breathing slowed down a bit, “Don’t you have to go to work?”
“Transfer.”
Sanji scratched his head, “So how did you know I was here for class?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Didn’t I ask you for a class schedule?”
“Oh.” Sanji withdrew his eyes and whispered, “Are you going to be in class with me?”
Duan Jiaxu was succinct: “A chance encounter.”
“……”
Not to mention the fact that you didn’t even go to college in Yiho, where the hell did you get the face to say those two words when you graduated almost four years ago.
There are ten minutes left until class starts.
Sanji muttered, “And dressed like a college student.”
Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, “Young?”
Sanji: “It’s okay.”
Duan Jiaxu: “Okay, then I’ll wear this from now on.”
“……”
Sanji was still having a bit of trouble keeping his composure because of his sudden appearance.
She took out her book and plopped down on the table, deciding to follow the plan she had made before he arrived, and incidentally calmed down, “I’m so sleepy, I need to sleep for ten minutes. Otherwise, if I fall asleep in class later, this teacher will order me to get up and answer questions.”
Duan Jia Xu stared at her for two seconds and laughed in exasperation, “You’re sleepy as soon as I come, aren’t you?”
Sanji defended, “I would have been sleepy.”
Duan Jiaxu: “OK, you sleep.”
Sang Zhi closed her eyes, and again, because of his strong presence, the sleepiness had long disappeared without a trace. Perhaps it was her illusion, she always felt that Duan Jia Xu was staring at her at this moment.
Half-heartedly, she hesitated to lie down in a different direction.
And I’m afraid it might seem contrived.
Sanji suddenly remembered that she hadn’t even put on much makeup today.
LOL.
How come you didn’t say anything in advance.
Then she won’t be lazy.
Duan Jia Xu supported his side face and stared straight at her exposed side. Her features were small, her skin was smooth and delicate, and her lips were buried in the crook of her arm.
After a few seconds, her eyelashes fluttered lightly.
Duan Jiaxu paused for a few seconds, his peach blossom eyes curving up.
Pretending to be a sleeping child.
Duan Jia Xu’s eyes brought a few hints of playfulness, and he suddenly straightened up, then slowly came closer to her. And then, touching her cheeks with his fingertips, his lips closed in at the same time and kissed the back of his hand.
It made a shallow sound.
The next moment, he saw Sanji open his eyes and look up.
Staring at his face, which was not yet far away, her lips moved in disbelief. Sanji fumed for a few seconds, as if recalling what had just happened.
Duan Jia Xu teased, “Why are you awake?”
When Sang Chi came back to her senses, her cheeks, including the base of her ears, were burning, and her mind was dominated by the words “stealing a kiss”. She shouted angrily, “Duan Jiaxu!”
The first time he heard her call out to himself like that, Duan Jia Xu froze and burst out laughing, asking incredulously, “Call out to me for what?”
“……”
Duan Jia Xu reminded in a proper manner, “Sang Zhi, pay attention to your manners.”
“……”
“We’re in this relationship now, and you call me that,” Duan Jiaxu said slowly, “It’s not appropriate, is it?”
Chapter 52
。。。。。
Sang Zhi felt suffocated, and did not act like him, shamelessly as if nothing had happened. She rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand, and asked with a stern face, “What did you just do?”
Duan Jiaxu looked like he didn’t understand, “What’s wrong?”
Sangji stared at him, forced himself to calm down, and implied euphemistically, “I’m not asleep, I know what you’re doing.”
Duan Jia Xu smiled prodigally, “So what did I do?”
Looking at his ever-improper and calm appearance, Sang Chi really wanted to tear his mouth apart. At this time, she suddenly remembered the advice that both of her housemates had given her.
–If he flirts with you, you flirt back.
The heat rising up her face seemed to wash over her.
Sang Chi had an extremely impulsive idea, she raised her eyes and said in a pale voice, “Come here.”
She looked so aggressive, like she was going to slap him the next second. Duan Jiaxu didn’t put up any resistance and obediently moved over, “What?”
Sanji: “Come a little closer.”
Duanjia Xu: “Want to whisper to me?”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
It’s about ten centimeters away.
Sang Chi tilted her head violently and, brokenly, quickly kissed the side of his face, withdrawing it in less than a second. Afterwards, she stared at his face, which instantly became a bit stiff because he was totally not expecting it, and said expressionlessly, “That’s what you just did.”
“……”
Just as the bell rang, the teacher was already standing at the podium, and a few students who had just run in sat down at the empty seats next to Sangji.
Sanji withdrew his eyes.
The heartbeat was so fast that it felt like it was going to jump out of the body. After sanity returned, more than regret, it was the painful | feeling of finally wrenching back a game.
With the rest of her eyes, she could feel that Duan Jia Xu’s gaze was still on her.
Sangji pretentiously picked up his water cup and took a sip, putting on an airy face that didn’t even take what had just happened to heart.
After a while.
Duan Jia Xu laughed and spoke with a shallow breath, seemingly in an extremely good mood and feeling disbelief, saying to himself, “There’s such a good thing.”
“……”
That was said as if she was putting on some kind of attitude, and Sanji snapped back, saying very deliberately, “Just because I made that act just now doesn’t mean I mean that to you.”
“This still doesn’t mean?” Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows, “Then aren’t you being a hooligan?”
Sanji justified, “You were first.”
“Then it will be like this from now on?” Seeing that she was really fooled, Duan Jia Xu didn’t explain, dragging out his voice, “If I’m a hooligan, you’re also a hooligan?”
Sang Chi paused and looked at him for several seconds. Not wanting him to realize that she was actually feeling taken advantage of, she thought for a moment and said very coldly, “If you dare to do that again, I’ll tell my brother.”
Duan Jia Xu: “Call your brother to beat me up?”
Sanji: “Uh-huh.”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t care much and said, “Fine, you call him.”
Sanji: “?”
Duan Jiaxu laughed, “Sooner or later, we’ll have to go public.”
Sanji: “……”
Duan Jiaxu: “Might as well be early then.”
Sanji couldn’t help but say, “It’s not like I’m with you.”
“I know.” Duan Jia Xu said leisurely, “Am I not brainwashing you?”
“……”
Sangji ignored him for a while, pretending to listen attentively to this water class that she basically never listened to seriously. Her cheeks and lips were burning and she was tempted to grab a small mirror from her bag to see how she looked at the moment, but with him around, she felt a little humiliated making such a move.
It wasn’t long before Duan Jia Xu took the initiative to speak again, “Let’s talk about what you just called me by my full name.”
“If you won’t let me shout, then don’t shout my name either.” Sang Chi’s neck was stiff, not vain at all, and he said word for word, “I don’t think it’s appropriate either.”
Duan Jiaxu: “OK.”
Sanji grunted lowly.
Duan Jia Xu leaned back into his chair and laughed lightly, “The fact that you don’t call me brother anymore means that our relationship is one step closer, so I’ll take it that you’re flirting with me.”
Sanji froze, feeling ridiculous, “I’m flirting with you by calling you a name?”
“Hmm.” Duanjia Xu said, “I prefer to make a fool of myself.”
“……”
After this class was over, Sang Chi used her cell phone to look at the class schedule and took Duan Jia Xu to another classroom. This is a specialized class, and most of the people sitting in it at this time are Sang Zhi’s classmates.
Ning Wei and Wang Ruolan had both arrived and were currently sitting in the second row of seats, giving both her and Yu Xin a seat.
Seeing Duan Jia Xu following Sang Zhi, they instantly realized and gave Sang Zhi a few glances.
Sang Chi ignored it. There were only two seats left, so she couldn’t bring Duan Jia Xu over to sit there, so she simply sat in another row.
Not long after, in the seat next to Duan Jia Xu, a boy from the class sat down, and his relationship with Sang Zhi was quite good. Seeing Duan Jia Xu, the boy casually said, “Sang Zhi, your boyfriend accompanied you to class?”
Sang Chi glanced at Duan Jia Xu without explaining or denying.
The boy, when the two acquiesced, asked familiarly, “What department are you in?”
Duan Jiaxu: “Software Department.”
Boy: “Freshman year too?”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Sanji: “……”
He’s so addicted to pretending to be young.
The boy didn’t half suspect it, and turned his head to talk to the others afterward.
Duan Jia Xu twisted his head to look at Sang Zhi, hooked his lips and said, “We’re on the same level.”
Sanji: “You have to have a face.”
Duan Jia Xu seemed a little sleepy. Afterward, he folded his hands on the table and rested his head on it, “I’ll sleep for a while, you listen to the class well. Don’t desert in the specialized classes.”
Kuwabara oh-so-quietly.
“You can steal a kiss if you want,” Duanjash added, stifling a laugh, “if you want.”
“……”
Sang Chi didn’t hold back and took a book and covered his face, “You’re thinking beautifully.”
The two of them were sitting in a more forward position, and besides, it was still a small classroom. So Duan Jia Xu’s move of lying down to sleep next to Sang Zhi was particularly conspicuous in the teacher’s eyes.
It didn’t take long for the class to start, and Duan Jia Xu became a thorn in the teacher’s side.
The teacher, not too old, smiled kindly, “That sleeping student over there get up and answer the question.”
Duanjash didn’t move.
Sanji also pretended not to recognize the man.
The teacher added, “The student next to you helped call it.”
Sanji couldn’t pretend he was fine anymore, so he could only nudge him, “Brother Kashi.”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes, “Huh?”
Sang-chi stiffened, “The teacher asked you to answer the question.”
Duan Jia Xu wrinkled his bleary eyes and stood up, not half flustered. Listening to the teacher’s questions, he pondered for a moment and quickly answered a point or two calmly as well.
Sanji felt magical. When he sat down, he couldn’t help but ask, “How did you know how to answer?”
Duan Jiaxu pointed to her book, “Casually read a few lines from it.”
“……”
Sanji looked halfway through the book and couldn’t find the answer to what he had just said.
The boy who was in the same class as Sang Zhi also came over at this moment and asked in a low voice, “Classmate, aren’t you here to accompany your girlfriend to class? How do you know the answer, I don’t even know.”
“Learned a bit.” Duan Jia Xu faintly said, “I can help my girlfriend make up for it later.”
The boys gave him a thumbs up.
Sanji also came over and whispered, “Did you really learn?”
“Neither.” Duan Jia Xu laughed softly and hung back, “I didn’t fall asleep, I just had a lecture.”
“……”
–
After this class ended, it was time for lunch. In order to give him another real experience of campus life, the two of them didn’t go outside the school and went directly to the student dining hall.
The dining hall of Yiho University is not open to the public, so if Duan Jia Xu wants to order food, he can only use Sang Zhi’s meal card. Both of them were not too picky about what they ate, and casually ordered a set meal.
Find a seat.
Duan Jiaxu picked up his chopsticks and said naturally, “It’s my turn to treat you some other day.”
“……”
It’s only a couple bucks.
Sanji: “No need.”
Duan Jiaxu raised his eyes, “Free?”
Sang Chi was invited by him to eat a lot of things, can not be this point with him to count, “Well, please.”
“Okay.” Duan Jiaxu sat upright and said in a civilized and polite manner, “Then I’ll come back next time.”
“……”
–
With the excuse of accompanying her to class, Duan Jiaxu came to her quite a bit more often after that. But he had to work during the day, and generally came over to her in the evening.
When Sangji had something to do, he would subconsciously tell him in advance.
In addition to classes, Sang Chi is still busy with the competition. Because of this matter, Sang Chi also often look for the guidance of their teacher Liu Miao communication, one to two will be familiar with it.
In the blink of an eye, the May Day holiday is upon us.
Sang Chi participated in the activities of the department, and when she returned to the dormitory in the evening, she happened to overhear the girls discussing whether or not to go back for the summer vacation.
“I shouldn’t go back, I want to find an internship.” Ning Wei said, “I’m sure I won’t be looking for one on the home side, it’s better to be idle than to find something for myself to do.”
Yu Xin: “Huh? You interned your freshman year?”
Sanji was also a bit surprised.
“That’s what I plan to do.” Ning Wei laughed, “My minister also got an internship for the summer of my freshman year, and when I heard him say that, I didn’t want to be idle either. And my boyfriend isn’t coming home either.”
Sanji was a little heartened by what she said.
But she felt that if she mentioned this to Sang Rong and Liping, she would definitely be opposed by them. Maybe they would even send Sang Yan over to tie her back up.
Sang Chil sent a tentative tweet to Sang Yeon: [Brother.]
Brother: [?
Sanji: [I don’t want to go home for summer vacation qwq]
Brother: [?
Sang Zhi deliberated for half a day, stumbled, and very officially typed out a large paragraph: [I’m going to get an internship over here to fulfill my college life. I don’t want to waste my youth, and I want to try my hardest to do everything while I’m young. So, can you help me talk to mom and dad about this? During the New Year, if mom is still urging you to get married, I’ll also help you speak up.]
Sang Yeon didn’t have the patience to type and sent a direct voice over, his tone clearly not believing a single word she said, “That grad student boyfriend of yours isn’t coming home either?”
Sanji: “……”
Sang Yeon sneered, “Get your ass home from vacation and talk shit.”
“……”
Sang Yeon: “I’m blushing for you even through the screen.”
“……”
Chapter 53
。。。。。
Sang Yeon’s words, coupled with his nonchalant tone, clearly indicated that this path would not work for him.
Sang Chi was a little upset by what he said, she wanted to ignore him directly, but she didn’t resist the urge to argue with him. Feeling that through text and voice is not much momentum, she turned out the address book, directly to him to call a phone.
Rings a bell.
Sang Zhi mood a bit suffocated, raging in the inner brewing a few thousand words of a small essay, was about to open his mouth.
The other end hung up straight away.
Sanji: “……”
The next moment, Sang Yeon sent another voice over, “Don’t call me if there’s nothing wrong.”
Sang Chi endured, also began to send voice: “I said is the internship, where I said to fall in love. Besides, I’m looking for a relationship with someone older than you, I’m not looking for someone older than my father.”
Her ten-second voice had just been sent a second ago.
Sang Yeon immediately replied, “Something to type.”
“……”
Obviously the point didn’t even click on.
Sanji was offended, still sending voice, “Don’t you send voice too?”
After waiting for a while, Sang Yeon didn’t reply.
Sang-chi: “You can’t be unbalanced and jealous of me just because you didn’t have a relationship in college, and just because you still don’t have a girlfriend.”
Still no return.
Sang Chi’s heart was harboring anger, but she didn’t want to just abort the conversation, making no sense to her at all. She pursed her lips, and could only swallow her anger and send it out in text.
This time Sang Yeon replied quickly, “I took the time out of my busy schedule to reply to you, and you still want me to type for you, what kind of dream.”
“……”
Sang Yeon’s tone was flirty: “And, your brother, I have a girlfriend.”
Sanji: [?
Sang Yeon: “There’s no way, the human girl has been chasing me for too long, if she doesn’t agree, she’ll have to ……”
Not wanting to listen to his narcissistic-to-be-beaten words at all, Sang-chi tapped the voice bar again, forcefully interrupting his words, [Bai Bai].
Sanjan sent another one.
It’s short, just a second.
Sanji stared for two seconds and hesitantly clicked it open.
Sangyan snorted, “Little brat.”
Sanji blew up.
Before she could say anything back, Sang Yan added, “I’ll mention it to you one last time. You don’t fall in love as if you have no brain, and I’ll take your high school moments of going to Yiho to look for netizens as you being young and rebellious.”
This matter Sangji was not justified, immediately withdrew the fire.
Sang Yan’s tone was light: ”This time, I’m too lazy to talk to you about anything else. Love, you need to talk about it. This matter of not going home for summer vacation, you try it, I’ll fly directly to Yiho to break your legs.”
“……”
–
Sanjay decides not to start from Sanjayan’s side anymore.
Counting up, since childhood, the person who controlled her the most was actually Sang Yan. Sang Zhi thought about it carefully and couldn’t recall when Sang Yan would help her say a few words in front of her parents.
Besides bullying her is educating her.
She felt like she was looking in the wrong direction to begin with.
Anyway, there were still two months to go before the summer vacation, so Sanji was in no hurry.
Not long after the May Day vacation, it was Duan Jiaxu’s twenty-sixth birthday.
The two people’s birthdays are not far apart, just half a month’s difference. So it wasn’t long after Sang Chi’s birthday that she had already prepared the gift she wanted to give to Duan Jia Xu.
After class, Sang Chi didn’t go back to the dormitory. She calculated the time, at this point Duan Jia Xu should not have gotten off work yet. But she still had to pick up the cake, and with this traveling time, it was about time.
Sang Chi hadn’t even left the school gates when she suddenly received a message from Liang Jun, looking for her to come out and talk about the short movie.
This competition, although Liang Jun is the leader of the group, but overall Sang Zhi more on the heart, spend more time, so the group has a question, in addition to asking in the group, privately are to find Sang Zhi communication.
Looking at the time, Sang Chi returned, [I have something to do today, so if you have any questions, say them on WeChat].
Sanji: [Or tomorrow?
Liang Jun: [It’s okay, say it on WeChat.]
Sanji got on the subway while talking to him.
The cake store she chose was recommended by reading the internet, and it was not near Yiho University, nor was it near Duan Jia Xu’s home or company. Sang Chi had previously made an appointment online and had to make a special trip at this point.
That cake store is in a big mall.
Sang Zhi didn’t quite recognize the way and followed the signs for half a day before she found the location and walked in. The clerk took out the cake she had ordered and showed it to her.
On the sign was a line she had specifically asked the clerk to write.
–Happy Birthday to twenty-six year old Duan Jia Xu.
The corners of Sanji’s mouth quirked up, the corners of her eyes curving up with a few hints of childish vengeance in them. She hugged the cake box and exited the store, contemplating whether or not she wanted to go shopping again.
Or maybe I’ll go shopping with Duan Jiaxu in a while.
When I went to his house last time, I found his fridge all empty, nothing but drinks.
But it’s not good for her to buy when she’s holding so many things.
Sanji didn’t dwell on it for long and quickly decided to call it quits. Seeing that it was still fairly early, she went into a nearby boutique to do some shopping. When she was about to leave, she vaguely heard someone arguing outside.
A few customers in the store, too, went out to look curiously because of this.
Sang Zhi is not too interested in getting together, carrying the things he just bought out of the store. The sound of the quarrel outside is getting louder and louder, and the content sounds like a mother and daughter, and the young voice sounds somewhat familiar.
One was cursing and the other was whimpering.
The older woman’s voice was sharp and fiery, “Try mentioning this to me one more time? Are you out of your mind, going crazy all day long! You want to ask that animal’s son for money, you go and trouble him, it’s all up to you. You want to marry him? Are you trying to piss me off? Can you stand up to your father?”
“I just want to torture him for the rest of his life!” The young woman’s words were tinged with sobs, “What’s wrong!”
Both of them had a fierce tone, and Sang-chi felt a bit intimidated and didn’t look at that end, walking in the direction of the escalator in silence.
The older woman is still cursing, “Are you trying to disgust me? Is there no other man in the world? If you really want to marry that Duan something, fine, I’ll consider you dead from now on!”
The young woman shouted hysterically, “Then let Duan Jia Xu pretend that nothing happened? He wants to have a good time with someone else, no way!”
When she heard these words, Sang Zhi just happened to be on the escalator, her breathing stopped and she subconsciously looked in the direction of the voice. Immediately, she saw that young woman, the same Jiang Ying that she had seen at the hot pot restaurant earlier.
At this exact moment, perhaps sensing her gaze, Jiang Ying’s eyes suddenly looked over.
Up against Sanji.
Her eyes were reddened by tears, the aggression in her eyes dispersed, and her gaze moved down slightly, settling on the cake box in Sang Chi’s hand.
The escalator moves downward.
Kuwabara didn’t have a good feeling about this woman and actively looked away from her. She descended to the second floor and continued down. Listening to the shrill argument fade away until it was no more.
The good mood dispersed for the most part in a flash.
Sanji thought back to what Jiang Ying’s mother had said.
–“Son of a beast.”
And then associating it with what Duan Jia Xu had said before, Jiang Ying’s identity.
–“My father’s debtor.”
Sanji vaguely guessed something.
Presumably, Duan Jia Xu’s dad did something that harmed Jiang Ying’s dad, and then they took it out on Duan Jia Xu?
But what does that have to do with him.
Sangji couldn’t help but spit out “there’s something wrong”, his heart instantly clogging up.
Father pays son. The law doesn’t even say that.
Thinking of the cup of water that Jiang Ying had splashed onto Duan Jia Xu earlier at the hotpot, she pursed her lips and exhaled sullenly.
Forget it.
Splash it back anyway.
I just don’t know if she ever went back to Duan Jia Xu.
Asked once before and he said no.
I guess that means no, then.
However, Sang Zhi also felt that according to Duan Jia Xu’s nature, even if Jiang Ying went to find trouble with him again, he probably wouldn’t even mention it to her. Solving this trouble by himself.
I just don’t know if he’ll put up with it.
However, it didn’t feel like he was treating Jiang Ying too well.
Shouldn’t hold back.
Sang Zhi didn’t dare to ask Duan Jia Xu too private things, afraid that it would make him feel unhappy. She didn’t think about it anymore, got on the subway, and went to the downstairs of Duan Jia Xu’s company according to her impression.
Seeing as it’s about time.
Sang Chi fumbled for his cell phone and asked him, [Are you off work yet?
SUITOR: [Ready, what’s up?]
Sanji: [Oh.
Sanji: [Nothing.
Sang Zhi waited outside the office building for a few minutes, then saw Duan Jia Xu walked out from the inside. He was dressed casually, a simple shirt and suit pants, standing there thin, tall and conspicuous, and at this moment was absently looking at his cell phone.
He didn’t notice Sanji, heading in the direction of the parking lot.
Sanji blinked and followed him. After a long while, the cell phone in his hand vibrated again.
Suitor: [You don’t seem to have class tonight.]
Sanji: [But I’ve got other things on my mind.]
QUESTIONER: [What is it?
Sanji thought for a moment: [Pick up someone.]
And add: [And then take him to his birthday.]
In the next second, Duan Jia Xu, who was in front of Sang Zhi, suddenly stopped in his tracks, as if he was recalling something. Afterward, he raised his eyes and turned back, his gaze fixed on her body, his eyes tailing.
“Come to pick me up, huh?”
Sanji walked up next to him and muttered, “I’ve been following you for half a day.”
“How come you walk without any sound at all?” Duan Jia Xu glanced at the cake box in her hand and took it for her, smiling lowly, “I forgot about the birthday thing.”
Sanji understood, “Older people don’t like birthdays.”
Duan Jiaxu said diffidently, “It’s not small.”
For the first time, she heard him respond directly, and Kuwabara looked at him sideways.
“I hope you’ll let me get married before,” Duane Cash said slowly, recalling his age, “twenty-seven.”
“……,” Sanji couldn’t help but say, “I didn’t even graduate from college until you were twenty-seven.”
“Okay.” Duan Jiaxu unlocked the car with the car key and said in a faint voice, “You didn’t refuse.”
“……”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Sang Chi got into the passenger seat and felt stifled, “You have to be shameless.”
“Chasing after a little girl,” Duan Jiaxu looked calm and started the car, talking as he did so, “or a twisted little girl, how can this be shameful.”
Sang Chi couldn’t say anything to him and stopped talking to him about this topic. She took out her cell phone and casually asked, “Didn’t my brother, and Qian Fei’s brother and the others, say happy birthday to you?”
“Those few people don’t even remember their own birthdays, and they still remember other people’s ah?” Duan Jia Xu laughed, “But there are a few of my coworkers who remember, and I forgot after I got busy today.”
Sang Chi ohs and goes on WeChat to find Sang Yan: [Do you know what day today is?
It just so happened that Liang Jun came to her again to talk about the short movie, and Sang Zhi returned it in passing.
Noticing that her cell phone had been ringing, Duan Jiaxu swept his eyes, his tone seemingly not too concerned, “Talking to who?”
Sanji said honestly, “A senior in my department.”
“……”
After a few seconds, Duanjia Xu asked again, “Looking for you for what?”
Sanji: “Say something about the contest.”
Duan Jia Xu idly spat out three words, “Handsome?”
“……”
“Trippy?”
“……”
“A head taller than you?”
Sang-chi twisted her head to look at him, “He has a girlfriend.”
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze didn’t move, and his voice was also wave-less, “I’m just asking.”
Sanji lowered his eyes and continued to reply.
“I told you before, didn’t I,” Duan Jiaxu’s tone was smooth, sounding like he was expounding on a very serious matter, “Don’t fall in love early.”
“……” said Sanjay, puzzled, “I’m an early adult.”
“You can fall in love as an adult? Where does this come from.” Duan Jia Xu said, “What I mean by this early love is that two people whose ages don’t add up to forty-five are in early love.”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu dragged out his breath and made a sound, pretending to be surprised, “The two of us together are exactly forty-five.”
Sanji was silent for a few seconds, “I’ll wait a few more years then.”
“Hmm?”
“In three and a half years, I’ll be able to find someone my own age.” Sang-chi rightfully said, “Why do I have to find someone so much older than me, it’s not like I’m in a hurry to fall in love.”
“……”
The next moment, Duan Jia Xu’s cell phone rang.
Sanji looked at it for him and said, “My brother’s phone.”
Duan Jiaxu hmmmed, “Pick it up for me and play it straight out.”
Sanji did as he was told, “Oh.”
Sang Yan’s voice rang out in the small car, “Suddenly remembered, your birthday today? Congratulations ah brother, are almost thirty have no girlfriend, tell you something, I have–“
Sanji: “……”
Obviously she was the one who reminded her of it and said something about it suddenly coming to mind.
Sanji was so speechless that he wanted to pretend he didn’t know this person, not even bothering to utter a word.
Duan Jiaxu lazily said, “Hanging up.”
Sang Yan added, “Let me ask you something, my sister sent you a gift, right?”
Duanjash: “Uh-huh.”
Sanjayan: “That one was from me.”
Sanji: “……”
“Nothing else, just came to greet you, I’m hanging up.” Sang Yeon paused and suddenly brought up another matter “Right, have you seen my sister’s boyfriend?”
Sanji’s vision lurched.
With his afterglow, he could detect Sang Chi’s movement, and the corner of Duan Jia Xu’s mouth pulled up as he deliberately said, “Boyfriend?”
Sang Yeon tsked, “Didn’t I tell you? It seems to be a graduate student.”
Duan Jiaxu pretended to have just remembered and laughed, “I think I’ve seen it before.”
“How is the person?” Sang Yan coolly said, “This brat is quite infatuated, for such a person today he even tried to call and argue with me, insisting on staying in Yiho for the summer vacation–“
Seeing that he looked like he had no end in sight to tell everything.
Sanji snapped out to interrupt him, “Brother!”
Chill for two seconds.
Both this end and that end were momentarily silent.
Sanji slowly looked over at Duanjash, embarrassed to the point where he just wanted to go over to the phone and beat the crap out of Sangyan.
Next moment.
“Did I hear my sister’s voice?” Sang Yeon paused, as if he thought of something, his words carried a few moments of thought, “You two were together?”
Chapter 54
。。。。。
The warm yellow light from outside poured in, coloring Duan Jiaxu’s face with light and dark light. The bottom of his eyes were lightly shaded by his eyelashes, and the color of his pupils was light, inherently gentle.
He coughed softly, as if to stifle a laugh, and hmmm’d thoughtfully.
Sanji added stiffly, “You should hang up.”
“Later.” Sang Yeon’s voice was lighter, sounding inscrutable, “Duan Jia Xu, you’re older than me, right?”
Duan Jiaxie calmly said, “What?”
Sanjayan: “My sister’s boyfriend is older than me too.”
“Uh-huh.” Duan Jiaxu turned the steering wheel without moving his eyelids, “As big as me.”
A moment of silence.
Sang Yeon seemed to laugh in exasperation, “Don’t you tell me-“
As if guessing what he would say next, Sang Chi’s scalp tingled, and for a moment she had absolutely no courage to confess. She quickly interrupted: “No, absolutely not. Brother, what are you thinking!”
Sang Yeon said in a cold voice, “You said no to what I said.”
Sang-chil barely calmed down and said irritably, “If you say that, who can’t guess what you’re going to say?”
Sang Yeon: “You two go out to eat together?”
Sang Zhi was full of energy: “Yes, on Jia Xu’s birthday, I went to have dinner with him. Can’t be like you, with no feelings at all, and still have the nerve to say that the gift I bought was from you.”
Duan Jia Xu quietly listened to the two siblings quarrel from the side.
Sang Yeon mocked, “What kind of birthday is it for a big old man, it’s pretentious.”
“……”
Seemingly also feeling that his guess was a bit outrageous, Sang Yan didn’t mention what just happened again: ”Then you two go eat. Also, brat, remember to go back to school early. I’m hanging up.”
The car was instantly quiet.
I don’t know if it was Sang Chi’s mental effect. Without Sang Yeon’s voice, for a while, she felt like the awkward atmosphere had risen to a peak.
Sang-chi pretended to be dead like he was nestled in his seat, cradling his cell phone as he played.
According to what the two of them had just said, it should be that every time she said something to Sang Yan, he then told Duan Jia Xu as soon as he turned his head. This old man was still pretending to know nothing in front of her.
Probably laughs in her mind every day at her posturing.
Boring! People! Fine!
Sure enough.
It didn’t take long.
Duan Jia Xu’s words were tinged with doubt as he said slowly, “What boyfriend?”
Not wanting to run out of steam, Sanji sat up straight and explained seriously, “What I told my brother was that I might be getting into a relationship, I didn’t say that I was already in one.”
He laughed softly, “Graduate school?”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu: “Is it too late for me to take the test?”
Sanji felt ashamed and continued to play dead.
“If you don’t take the exam, what will you say to your brother in the future?” Duan Jiaxu’s tail voice rose slightly, his tone was not too serious, “Say that you didn’t make it with that graduate student boyfriend, but you made it with me, okay?”
Sang Chi held his tongue for half a day before stifling a sentence, “Where did I become with you.”
Duan Jia Xu laughed, “You’ve shown your cards with your brother’s side, and you still don’t admit that you have that kind of interest in me?”
Sanjay: “Can’t I just really look at a grad student?”
Upon hearing this, Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows lifted as he leisurely said, “I really only have a bachelor’s degree.”
“……”
Every word hints at it.
The person you’re looking at, even if the looks, age, and background you describe don’t match mine.
That person is still me.
So it can only be that you are describing it incorrectly.
Sang-chi stared straight at him, suddenly a little bereft, and whispered, “Did you already know?”
Duan Jiaxu glanced at her, “Know what.”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
Taking advantage of waiting for the red light, Duan Jia Xu glanced in her direction a few more times.
Her head was bowed, the corners of her lips pulled down slightly, and her eyelids drooped; it was impossible to tell what she was thinking, but it was clear to sense that there was some unhappiness.
It’s so obvious to show.
And he had to pretend he didn’t notice.
Duan Jiaxu found it funny, “Seriously, I’ll ask you something.”
Sanji whispered, “What.”
Duan Jiaxu: “You really don’t mean anything to me?”
Kuwabara craned her head to look at him, her eyebrows stretching slightly. After several seconds of silence, she looked out the window, finally relieved this time, and said vaguely, “A little.”
“OK.”
Sanji sounded odd, “That’s your reaction.”
Duanjia Xu: “Huh?”
“Why don’t you say something about me,” cooed Sanji, also feeling a bit pretentious, “clearly interested in you and not agreeing to it, just waiting for you to come after me every day.”
“Didn’t you say it’s only a little?” Duan Jia Xu didn’t care too much and thought of a reason for her, “That’s probably because it’s not yet to the point where they can be together.”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
The car unconsciously arrived at a supermarket near Duan Jiaxu’s home, he found a place to park, incidentally flirting, “We only only the first time to fall in love, more worries, brother understand.”
Sanji couldn’t help but say, “And what if I keep disagreeing?”
Duan Jiaxu unbuckled her seatbelt for her and said with a raised eyebrow, “Then you’ll wait for your brother to chase you every day.”
“……”
Duan Jiaxu pondered and said with a faint smile, “This is probably the only relationship you’ll have in your entire life.”
Sanji didn’t deny it, his expression a little uncomfortable.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze slid down to meet hers, his eyes curving into a beautiful crescent moon. And then, he opened his mouth, his voice soft, as if he was coaxing her, “So, what other little girls have-“
“……”
“We just only have to have it too.”
–
The two went into the supermarket.
Duan Jiaxu’s intention was just to buy some vegetables and meat, so he could make dinner at home. He went in the direction of the fresh food area, but Sang Zhi didn’t follow him, and went to the snack area and hugged a bunch of food.
Then on back to his side to throw it in the cart.
A couple times back and forth.
When Sang Zhi appeared in front of Duan Jia Xu for the fourth time, the shopping cart was already filled with most of the stuff, and it was still basically all the stuff she had picked out. He put the box of chicken wings he had just picked up into the cart and casually said, “You’re staying at my place?”
Sanji choked, “I bought it for you here.”
Duan Jia Xu took the jelly in her hand, “Bought it for me?”
“You can usually bring it to eat when you have a craving. If you don’t eat it, you can also put it away, and I’ll come and help you eat it sometime.” Sang Chi cheekily said, “I like to eat this too, so it won’t go to waste.”
Duan Jiaxie laughed out loud, “too?”
“Why?” Sang Zhi Zhi not straight and strong said, “I have not seen you eat snacks, also do not know what you like to eat, then I can only take my favorite food well.”
Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes, swept around, and commented, “Something for a little girl to eat.”
Sanji was quiet for two seconds and said reluctantly, “I’ll put it back then.”
Duan Jia Xu pushed the cart and walked in the direction of the vegetable area, “Put it back for what.”
Sang-chi followed him like a little tail, muttering, “I thought you said this was something for little girls to eat?”
Duan Jia Xu calmly said, “Well, my family just happens to have one.”
Sang Zhi froze, her footsteps instantly stopped, her ears inexplicably burning, and she quickly followed again. She didn’t run to the snack area again, and followed Duan Jia Xu to pick vegetables piece by piece.
Duan Jiaxu lifted his eyelids and asked her, “No more picky snacks?”
Sanji: “There’s nothing left to buy.”
“Off to the checkout then?”
“Uh-huh.”
Sang-chi looked at the contents of the shopping cart and asked, “Brother Kash, do you know how to cook?”
Duan Jiaxu: “A little bit.”
Sang Chi thought for a moment, “I’ll cook you a long life noodle later.”
“You can still cook this, huh?”
“……” said Sanji innocently, “Wouldn’t you just boil the water and throw the noodles down?”
Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows jumped, “That can be delicious?”
“It’s not just a ritual, where is the taste.” Sang Chi thought to himself that it made sense and turned in the other direction, “You go ahead and stand in line, I’ll go buy the longevity noodles.”
“……”
After leaving the supermarket, the two of them returned to Duan Jia Xu’s residence.
Afraid that the cake would spoil, after Sang Zhi changed into indoor slippers, she hurriedly put the cake box into the refrigerator. Duan Jiaxu organized the things he just bought back, and then went into the kitchen to wash the rice and cook it.
Sanji followed him in to help.
Duanjia Xu: “Are you hungry?”
Sanji shook his head, “It’s okay.”
Duan Jia Xu washed the box of saint’s fruits and stuffed one into her mouth, then gave her the fruit plate in his hand, “Hold this and go out to watch some TV outside by yourself for a while.”
Sanji refused, “I’m coming to make you long life noodles.”
She pulled out her cell phone and googled recipes, “You do your thing, don’t mind me.”
“……”
Staring at her serious appearance, Duan Jia Xu didn’t stop anymore, curved his lips and couldn’t help but laugh a few times.
The two of them did their own things, and Sang Zhi only occupied the induction cooker in the kitchen, occasionally using the cutting board and knife. When Duan Jia Xu wanted to come over to help, he would still be chased away by her with great displeasure.
It doesn’t take long to cook a pasta.
But Sang-chi had never cooked before, not even a packet of instant noodles since she was a child. She dawdled for half a day and chopped vegetables carefully, lest she see blood on this fine day.
Only after the rice was cooked and Duan Jia Xu’s three dishes and one soup were ready did Sang Zhi finish a bowl of longevity noodles that didn’t look like it tasted too good in an extremely lousy manner.
Sang Zhi hadn’t tasted the flavor herself and was anxious to bring the noodles to Duan Jia Xu.
The corner of Duan Jiaxu’s eyes curved slightly, “The rice is packed for you, eat quickly.”
Sang Zhi didn’t dare to imagine the flavor of this noodle and hesitated, “Don’t eat this noodle, just consider it a ritual. Just, I heard from my classmates that you all seem to make this for food on birthdays here ……”
Duan Jiaxu said gently, “I’ll try it, and if it doesn’t taste good, I won’t eat it, okay?”
Sanji sat back in his chair and reluctantly agreed, “Okay.”
The small living room, with its cool white lighting, looked cozy as hell.
Sang Chi took a bite of her rice and kept her gaze on Duan Jia Xu, wanting to see his expression after he ate this noodle. She watched as he picked up the noodle and took it into his mouth, chewing it in a graceful manner.
The expression didn’t change much.
A moment later, Duan Jiaxu laughed, “It’s quite tasty.”
Completely unconvinced, Sangchih said suspiciously, “Really?”
Duanjia Xu hmmmed.
Sanji: “Then I’ll have a bite too.”
Duan Jia Xu raised his eyebrows, “Indirect kissing, huh?”
“……,” Sang-chi said in a single word, “I’ll get a new pair of chopsticks to eat with.”
“No,” Duan Jia Xu gently refused, “don’t take advantage of your brother.”
“……”
–
After the meal, Sang Chi carried the cake out of the refrigerator. She unwrapped the bag containing the candles and said with a smile, “Brother Kash, take the cake out yourself, there’s writing on it.”
Duanjash ripped out the cake and read it as it was, “Happy Birthday to twenty-six year old Duanjash.”
Sanji winked, “I even asked the clerk for an extra pack of candles.”
“Oh, right.” Sanji picked up another plastic bag, “This store also gives birthday hats, so put it on.”
Duan Jiaxu said in amusement, “What the hell?”
Sang Chi took a look at it and put it on his head, “This is shaped like a crown, you’ll be a Duan Queen today.”
“Hmm?” Duan Jia Xu laughed out loud and said smoothly, “Why not Princess Duan.”
Sang-chi hit him, “How are you going to be a princess at your age.”
The word “twenty-six” was already written on the cake, and Sang Chi didn’t insist on inserting twenty-six candles. She lit the candles, sang him a birthday song according to the procedure, and then said seriously, “Make a wish.”
Duan Jiaxu thought about it and said in a faint voice, “Just do the same next year.”
He then blew out the candle.
Before Kuwabara could react, she was plunged into blackness, “What also like this?”
Duan Jiaxu got up and turned the lights on, dangling, “Next year, you come over and pick me up for my birthday too.”
“What kind of wish is that, then I can’t pretend I don’t know your birthday.” Sangji felt that his wish was a bit inexplicable and handed him the prepared gift, “A gift for you.”
Duan Jiaxu took it, his peach blossom eyes raised, “Thank you.”
Quiet for a few seconds, Sang Chi’s movements paused, suddenly thinking of a possibility. She raised her head and said dryly, “Brother Jia Xu, let me ask you something.”
“Hmm?”
“What if, I mean what if, we do get together, and if it doesn’t feel right, then we break up.” Kuwabara asked softly, “I don’t think we’ll be in touch after that either.”
Hearing this, Duan Jia Xu’s eyelids twitched.
Soon, Sang Chi reacted, feeling that it wasn’t appropriate to say such things on this occasion, and hastily added, “I’m just asking casually.”
Duan Jiaxu sliced the cake, his voice was clear and rumbling, “Can’t trust me?”
“……” Sanjay was quiet, “No.”
Duanjia Xu: “Is it because I usually look too immodest?”
Sanji didn’t say anything.
Duanjia Xu smiled back, “It seems so.”
Sang-chi mumbled, “I didn’t mean that.”
“Sanji, if you think that we will be separated in the future, then it really isn’t appropriate. What if you don’t agree, there’s nothing I can do to force you.” Duan Jia Xu lowered his eyes, leveling with her, “But if you promise, if you still bring up the matter of breaking up-“
“……”
His voice stopped, his eyes slightly hooked at the end, and he smiled like a demon again, “Ever seen your brother lose his temper?”
Kuwabara gripped the corner of her coat in her palms and raised her eyes to look at him.
Duan Jia Xu lowered his voice and pinched her face affectionately.
“It’s scary.”
–
That’s where this thread ends.
After that, Duan Jia Xu didn’t mention it again, and Sang Zhi also pretended that he hadn’t asked about it. It was like a small episode that couldn’t make any splash, and no one cared about it.
Seeing that it was almost time, Duan Jia Xu sent Sang Zhi back to school.
Sanji shuffled back to her spot and continued to do her business. Her mind was a little empty, unable to concentrate, recalling the thought that had suddenly surfaced in her mind.
She actually knew exactly what her concerns were.
Sang Chi wasn’t worried at all that Duan Jia Xu would treat her badly.
She knew what he was like.
But she would worry that he might, not like her for very long.
Even if they don’t like it anymore, Duan Jia Xu will, on a high probability, not mention breaking up with her, and will only treat the relationship between the two of them, as a responsibility.
It can devolve into, well, a painful outcome for both parties.
Isn’t it true that she’s so pretentious.
This thing with him, Sang Chi obviously has been looking forward to for a long time, but really want to happen when, on the contrary, but also feel afflicted, uneasy to the extreme.
Unsettled to the point of not even having the courage to accept it.
–
Sang Zhi tried hard to put aside these thoughts of hers, still getting along with Duan Jia Xu in the same way as before. Many times, she finally made up her mind that she was going to be with him, but the words came to her lips and then she put them back.
Duan Jia Xu seemed to have sensed that something was wrong with her, and came to her a lot more often than before as a result.
Sanjay didn’t know what to tell him about his thoughts.
After all, she didn’t want to tell him that she had liked him since she was thirteen.
She didn’t know what it would take for her to stop going into this bull’s-eye.
Before you know it, May is at the end of the month.
At the end of Friday, at seven o’clock in the evening, Sang Chi had a date with someone from her department to go out for a get-together. She was talking to one of the girls in her department arm in arm, and as soon as she left the school gate, she noticed Jiang Ying standing under a tree.
Sanji froze, staring at her suspiciously.
It happened to meet her gaze.
Quickly, Sanji withdrew her eyes, completely missing that idea that she had come over to see her,