Hidden Love

The warm yellow light from outside streamed in, casting shifting shadows across Duan Jiaxu's face. The faint shadows beneath his eyes were accentuated by his eyelashes, and his irises were naturally light in color, giving him an innate gentleness.

He let out a light cough, as if suppressing a laugh, and hummed meaningfully.

Sang Zhi stiffly added, "You should hang up."

"Wait a moment." Sang Yan's voice softened, becoming hard to read. "Duan Jiaxu, you're older than me, right?"

Duan Jiaxu replied calmly, "What about it?"

Sang Yan: "My sister's boyfriend is also older than me."

"Mm." Duan Jiaxu turned the steering wheel without even blinking. "Same age as me."

A moment of silence followed.

Sang Yan seemed to laugh in exasperation: "Don't tell me—"

As if guessing what he was about to say, Sang Zhi's scalp prickled, and she completely lost the courage to confess. She quickly interrupted, "No, absolutely not. Brother, what are you thinking!"

Sang Yan said coldly, "I didn't even say anything, and you're already denying it."

Sang Zhi forced herself to calm down and said irritably, "With that tone, who wouldn't guess what you're implying?"

Sang Yan: "Are you two going out to eat together?"

Sang Zhi replied with full confidence: "Yes, it's Brother Jiaxu's birthday, so I asked him to dinner. I can't be like you, acting completely emotionless and having the nerve to say the gift I bought was from you."

Duan Jiaxu quietly listened to the siblings' argument.

Sang Yan mocked, "What's with a grown man celebrating his birthday? So pretentious."

"…"

As if realizing his assumption was a bit far-fetched, Sang Yan didn't bring it up again: "Well, you two go ahead and eat. And, little brat, remember to go back to school early. I'm hanging up."

The car fell silent instantly.

Whether it was Sang Zhi's imagination or not, without Sang Yan's voice, she felt the awkward atmosphere had reached its peak.

Sang Zhi curled up in her seat like a corpse, playing with her phone.

Based on their earlier conversation, it seemed that every time she told Sang Yan something, he would immediately relay it to Duan Jiaxu. This old man pretended to know nothing in front of her.

He was probably laughing at her act in his mind every day.

Annoying! Pest!

Sure enough.

Not long after.

Duan Jiaxu's voice carried a questioning tone as he drawled, "What boyfriend?"

Not wanting to lose her composure, Sang Zhi sat up straight and explained seriously, "What I told my brother was that I might start dating soon, not that I already am."

He chuckled lightly: "A graduate student?"

"…"

Duan Jiaxu: "If I take the exam now, will I make it in time?"

Sang Zhi felt embarrassed and continued playing dead.

"If I don't take the exam, how should we explain it to your brother later?" Duan Jiaxu's tone lifted slightly, sounding playful. "Should we say things didn't work out with that graduate student boyfriend, but they did with me? How about that?"

Sang Zhi struggled for a long time before managing to say, "What do you mean, things worked out with you?"

Duan Jiaxu laughed: "We've already come clean with your brother, and you still won't admit you're interested in me?"

Sang Zhi: "What if I really did take a liking to a graduate student?"

Hearing this, Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow and said leisurely, "I only have a bachelor's degree, you know."

"…"

Every word was a hint.

The person you like—even if the appearance, age, and background you described don't match mine—

That person is still me.

So it must be that your description was wrong.Sang Zhi stared straight at him, suddenly feeling a bit dejected, and murmured, "Did you know all along?"

Duan Jiaxu glanced at her. "Know what?"

Sang Zhi remained silent.

While waiting at a red light, Duan Jiaxu stole a few more glances in her direction.

She had her head lowered, the corners of her lips slightly downturned, her eyelids drooping. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking, but it was clear she was somewhat unhappy.

So obvious.

Yet he had to pretend not to notice.

Duan Jiaxu found it amusing. "Let me ask you something seriously."

Sang Zhi whispered, "What?"

Duan Jiaxu: "Do you really have no feelings for me at all?"

Sang Zhi turned to look at him, her brows and eyes softening slightly. After several seconds of silence, she gazed out the window and finally relented, mumbling vaguely, "A little."

"Alright."

Sang Zhi's tone was odd. "That's your reaction?"

Duan Jiaxu: "Hmm?"

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Sang Zhi felt she was being a bit unreasonable herself and muttered, "Even though I have feelings for you, I still haven't agreed, just waiting for you to chase me every day."

"Didn't you say it was only a little?" Duan Jiaxu didn't seem to mind, offering her an excuse. "I guess it hasn't reached the point where we can be together yet."

Sang Zhi said nothing.

Before they knew it, the car had arrived near a supermarket close to Duan Jiaxu's home. He found a parking spot and teased, "Our Zhizhi is in her first relationship, so she has a lot of concerns. Big brother understands."

Sang Zhi couldn't help but say, "What if I never agree?"

Duan Jiaxu unfastened her seatbelt and raised an eyebrow. "Then you'll just have to wait for big brother to chase you every day."

"..."

Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment, then said with a light smile, "You'll probably only have this one relationship in your entire life."

Sang Zhi didn't deny it, her expression slightly uncomfortable.

Duan Jiaxu's gaze dropped to meet hers, his eyes curving into beautiful crescents. Then he spoke, his voice soft, as if coaxing her: "So, whatever other girls have—"

"..."

"Our Zhizhi must have it too." -

The two entered the supermarket.

Duan Jiaxu had only come to buy some vegetables and meat to cook dinner at home. He headed toward the fresh produce section, but Sang Zhi didn't follow him, instead going to the snack aisle on her own and gathering a pile of food.

Then she returned to him and tossed it into the shopping cart.

She repeated this several times.

By the fourth time Sang Zhi appeared before Duan Jiaxu, the shopping cart was already half full, mostly with items she had picked out. He placed a box of chicken wings he had just taken into the cart and remarked casually, "Are you planning to move into my place?"

Sang Zhi choked. "I'm buying these for you."

Duan Jiaxu took the jelly from her hands. "For me?"

"When you get cravings, you can eat them. If you don't, you can just keep them, and I'll come help you finish them when I have time." Sang Zhi said shamelessly, "I like these too, so they won't go to waste."

Duan Jiaxu chuckled. "Help me finish them?"

"What?" Sang Zhi said, unapologetic despite her lack of justification. "I've never seen you eat snacks, and I don't know what you like, so I can only get what I like."

Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes, scanned the items, and commented, "Stuff for little girls."

Sang Zhi fell silent for a moment, then said reluctantly, "Then I'll put them back."

Duan Jiaxu pushed the cart toward the vegetable section. "Why put them back?"Sang Zhi trailed after him like a little tail, muttering, "Didn't you say this was something little girls eat?"

Duan Jiaxu replied calmly, "Mm, I happen to have one at home."

Sang Zhi froze for a moment, her steps halting abruptly as her ears inexplicably grew warm. She quickly caught up again. She didn't head back to the snack aisle, instead following Duan Jiaxu to pick out vegetables.

Duan Jiaxu lifted his eyelids and asked her, "Not picking snacks anymore?"

Sang Zhi: "Nothing else I want to buy."

"Then let's go check out?"

"Mm."

Sang Zhi looked at the items in the shopping cart and asked, "Brother Jiaxu, do you know how to cook?"

Duan Jiaxu: "A little."

Sang Zhi thought for a moment: "I'll make you longevity noodles later."

"You know how to make those?"

"..." Sang Zhi said innocently, "You just boil water and throw the noodles in, right?"

Duan Jiaxu's brow twitched: "Would that taste good?"

"It's about the ritual, not the flavor." Sang Zhi, convinced she was making perfect sense, turned and walked in another direction. "You go line up first, I'll go buy the longevity noodles."

"..."

After leaving the supermarket, the two returned to Duan Jiaxu's apartment.

Worried the cake might spoil, Sang Zhi quickly changed into her indoor slippers and placed the cake box in the refrigerator. Duan Jiaxu organized the newly purchased items before heading into the kitchen to wash rice and start cooking.

Sang Zhi followed him in to help.

Duan Jiaxu: "Hungry?"

Sang Zhi shook her head: "Not really."

Duan Jiaxu washed a box of cherry tomatoes, popped one into her mouth, then handed her the fruit plate: "Take this and go watch TV outside."

Sang Zhi refused: "I need to make your longevity noodles."

She pulled out her phone to look up a recipe online: "You do your thing, don't mind me."

"..."

Watching her serious expression, Duan Jiaxu didn't stop her. The corners of his lips curved up as he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The two went about their separate tasks. Sang Zhi only used the induction cooktop in the kitchen, occasionally borrowing the cutting board and knife. When Duan Jiaxu tried to help, she would shoo him away with displeasure.

Cooking noodles didn't take long.

But Sang Zhi had never cooked before—growing up, she hadn't even prepared instant noodles. She dawdled for quite a while, cutting vegetables with extreme caution, terrified of drawing blood on this special day.

By the time the rice was cooked and Duan Jiaxu had prepared three dishes and a soup, Sang Zhi had finally—rather messily—completed a bowl of longevity noodles that didn't look particularly appetizing.

Having not tasted it herself, Sang Zhi nervously brought the noodles to Duan Jiaxu.

Duan Jiaxu's eyes crinkled slightly: "I've served your rice, hurry and eat."

Sang Zhi couldn't bear to imagine how the noodles tasted and hesitated: "Don't eat these noodles, just treat it as a ritual. I heard from my classmates that people usually make this for birthdays..."

Duan Jiaxu said gently, "Let me try. If it doesn't taste good, I won't eat it, alright?"

Sang Zhi sat down in her chair and reluctantly agreed: "Alright."

In the small living room, the cool white lighting felt incredibly cozy.

Sang Zhi took a bite of rice, her gaze fixed on Duan Jiaxu as she watched for his reaction after tasting the noodles. She saw him pick up the noodles with his chopsticks, put them in his mouth, and chew gracefully.

His expression didn't change much.

After a moment, Duan Jiaxu smiled: "It's actually pretty good."

Sang Zhi completely disbelieved him, skeptical: "Really?"

Duan Jiaxu made an affirming sound.

Sang Zhi: "Then I'll have a bite too."Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. "An indirect kiss?"

"..." Sang Zhi said with mixed feelings, "I'll use a new pair of chopsticks."

"No," Duan Jiaxu gently refused. "Don't take advantage of your brother."

"..."

After the meal, Sang Zhi brought the cake out from the refrigerator. As she unwrapped the package of candles, she said with a smile, "Brother Ji Xu, take the cake out yourself. There's writing on it."

Duan Jiaxu pulled out the cake and read aloud, "Happy 26th birthday to Duan Jiaxu."

Sang Zhi blinked. "I even specially asked the shop assistant for an extra pack of candles."

"Oh, right." Sang Zhi picked up another plastic bag. "This shop also gives out birthday hats. Put it on."

Duan Jiaxu laughed. "What is this thing?"

Sang Zhi glanced at it and placed it on his head. "This shape looks like a crown. You can be Queen Duan today."

"Hmm?" Duan Jiaxu chuckled, playing along. "Why not Princess Duan?"

Sang Zhi shot him down. "At your age, how could you be a princess?"

Since the cake already had "twenty-six" written on it, Sang Zhi didn't insist on putting twenty-six candles on it. She lit the candles, followed the procedure by singing "Happy Birthday" to him, and then said seriously, "Make a wish."

Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment and said lightly, "I hope it'll be like this next year too."

Then he blew out the candles.

Before Sang Zhi could react, everything went dark. "What do you mean, like this?"

Duan Jiaxu stood up and turned on the light, speaking in a casual tone. "Next year, you come celebrate my birthday with me again."

"What kind of wish is that? It's not like I could pretend not to know it's your birthday." Sang Zhi found his wish somewhat inexplicable and handed him the prepared gift. "Here's your present."

Duan Jiaxu took it, his peach blossom eyes curving upward. "Thank you."

After a few seconds of silence, Sang Zhi paused mid-action and suddenly thought of a possibility. She looked up and said stiffly, "Brother Ji Xu, I want to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

"Suppose, just suppose, we really got together, but if we found we weren't suitable and broke up," Sang Zhi asked softly, "we probably wouldn't stay in contact after that, right?"

Hearing this, Duan Jiaxu's eyelids twitched slightly.

Soon, Sang Zhi realized it wasn't the right occasion for such a question and quickly added, "I was just asking casually."

Duan Jiaxu cut the cake, his voice clear and bright. "Don't trust me?"

"..." Sang Zhi stayed quiet for a moment. "No."

Duan Jiaxu: "Is it because I usually seem too unreliable?"

Sang Zhi didn't respond.

Duan Jiaxu instead laughed. "Seems like it is."

Sang Zhi muttered, "That's not what I meant."

"Sang Zhi, if you think we'll break up in the future, then we're indeed not suitable. If you don't agree, I can't force you." Duan Jiaxu lowered his gaze to meet her eyes. "But if you do agree, and still bring up breaking up—"

"..."

He paused, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned as he smiled like a mischievous spirit. "Have you ever seen your brother lose his temper?"

Sang Zhi gripped the hem of her clothes and looked up at him.

Duan Jiaxu lowered his voice and affectionately pinched her cheek.

"It's really scary."

The topic ended there.

Afterward, Duan Jiaxu never brought it up again, and Sang Zhi acted as if she had never asked. It was like a small interlude that caused no ripples, and no one paid it any mind.Seeing that it was about time, Duan Jiaxu sent Sang Zhi back to school.

After washing up, Sang Zhi returned to her spot and continued with her tasks. Her mind felt somewhat empty, unable to focus, as she mulled over the sudden thought that had surfaced.

She was actually very clear about her concerns.

Sang Zhi wasn’t worried at all that Duan Jiaxu would treat her badly.

She knew what kind of person he was.

But she was worried that, perhaps, he wouldn’t like her for very long.

Even if he stopped liking her, Duan Jiaxu would most likely not bring up breaking up with her, instead treating their relationship as a kind of responsibility.

It would evolve into an outcome that would be painful for both of them.

Was she really being too sensitive?

She had been looking forward to being with him for so long, yet when it was about to happen, she felt anxious and insecure to the extreme.

So insecure that she didn’t even have the courage to accept it.

Sang Zhi tried hard to push these thoughts aside and continued interacting with Duan Jiaxu as before. Many times, she finally made up her mind to be with him, but the words would retreat before leaving her lips.

Duan Jiaxu seemed to sense that something was off with her, and as a result, he came to see her more often than before.

Sang Zhi didn’t know how to tell him what she was thinking.

After all, she didn’t want to tell him that she had liked him since she was thirteen.

She also didn’t know how to stop obsessing over this.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of May.

After Friday classes ended, at seven in the evening, Sang Zhi went out for a meal with her department colleagues. She was walking arm in arm with a female colleague, chatting, when as soon as they left the school gate, she noticed Jiang Ying standing under a tree.

Sang Zhi froze for a moment, staring at her in confusion.

Just then, their eyes met.

Soon after, Sang Zhi looked away, not at all thinking that Jiang Ying was there to see her, and simply found it strange. She continued chatting with her department friends as they headed to a barbecue restaurant off campus.

Given the time and the fact that the next day was the weekend, the restaurant was quite crowded.

Someone from the department had reserved seats in advance, and Sang Zhi went over and sat down. After a while, she noticed a table for two being cleared, and then only one customer sat there.

It was Jiang Ying.

Their eyes met again.

Sang Zhi looked at her hesitantly, only now getting the feeling that Jiang Ying had come specifically to find her.

But why would Jiang Ying come looking for her?

And how did she know she was here?

Sang Zhi couldn’t figure it out and didn’t pay her any more attention, lowering her head to drink from her glass of water.

Jiang Ying seemed to be there just to eat and didn’t actively come to cause trouble. However, her gaze kept drifting over to Sang Zhi from time to time, with a scrutinizing look that felt uncomfortable.

Sang Zhi simply switched seats with the friend across from her and gradually forgot about Jiang Ying’s presence.

After dinner, Sang Zhi got up and went to the restroom. She only intended to wash her hands and touch up her makeup, nothing else.

Before she could reach the sink, she saw Jiang Ying following her in through the mirror. Sang Zhi glanced at her but didn’t say anything, squeezing some hand soap onto her hands.

Jiang Ying took out a lipstick from her bag and finally spoke up: "Are you Duan Jiaxu’s new fling?"

Sang Zhi didn’t respond."True, college students are so easily fooled," Jiang Ying said with a laugh. "Since I happened to run into you here, I'll give you a heads-up—he's been on hundreds of blind dates before. Do you know why none of them worked out?"

Sang Zhi replied expressionlessly, "It's not a coincidence. You sought me out specifically to say these things."

"I just don't want to see a young girl like you go down the wrong path," Jiang Ying said calmly. "Do you know he has a father who's a vegetable, still lying in the hospital?"

Sang Zhi's movements froze.

"Looks like he never mentioned it to you," Jiang Ying noted her reaction, a smirk curling at the corner of her lips. "Let me tell you another secret—his father is also a beast who killed someone in a drunk-driving accident."

"..."

"Spending nearly a hundred thousand a year on medical fees to keep that beast alive," Jiang Ying said. "What kind of girl has that kind of money to endure with him? He doesn't even own a house."

Only then did Sang Zhi look up, completely unaffected by the words, and stated matter-of-factly, "I have money."

"..." Clearly taken aback by her response, Jiang Ying's expression instantly darkened. "His father killed someone. He's a murderer. Didn't you hear me?"

Sang Zhi spoke slowly, "So, am I supposed to marry his father?"

"..."

Sang Zhi no longer wanted to stay near her. Even the mood to touch up her makeup was gone. She grabbed a tissue and headed out.

Jiang Ying could no longer maintain her composure. She violently threw the lipstick in her hand at Sang Zhi. "Can't you understand human language? Are you out of your mind? You don't get it when someone talks to you nicely?"

The lipstick was small, and it didn't hurt when it hit her.

But it instantly ignited Sang Zhi's anger.

Sang Zhi lowered her gaze, staring at the lipstick rolling on the floor, then looked up at Jiang Ying. She let out a cold laugh, pulled the bag off her shoulder, and hurled it forcefully at Jiang Ying's face. She cracked her neck and said in an extremely rude tone, "Who spoiled you into developing such disgusting habits?"

"..."

Jiang Ying took a step back from the impact. After a few seconds of silence, she instead laughed. "Who do you think spoiled me?"

"..."

"Duan Jiaxu."

They stood in a stalemate for a moment.

Sang Zhi's dark eyes fixed straight on her. "Auntie, if you were really spoiled, would you need to come find me today?"

"..."

"Instead of wasting time on something like this," Sang Zhi picked up her bag from the floor, her tone sharp, "you should spend more effort on skincare. Otherwise, when you stand next to Duan Jiaxu, I'd think you're a friend of his mother's."

With that, she walked out of the restroom.

Furious, Jiang Ying immediately followed her out. She grabbed Sang Zhi's arm, her hand trembling with rage.

Just then, Liang Jun happened to be heading to the restroom. Seeing the situation, he froze for a moment, then immediately pulled Sang Zhi's hand, shielding her behind him, and shouted angrily, "What are you doing?!"

"..."

Jiang Ying didn't say a word, glaring fiercely at Sang Zhi before eventually turning and returning to her seat.

Liang Jun asked a few questions, and Sang Zhi vaguely made up some excuses. She also returned to her seat, absentmindedly glanced at her phone, her mind repeatedly echoing Jiang Ying's earlier words.

After the gathering ended, the department decided to go to a nearby bar to play games.

Sang Zhi had no objections and went along. But she couldn't focus, inexplicably recalling the night Duan Jiaxu stayed at her place—the image of him smoking alone on the balcony.She remembered his words: "Little Sang Zhi, when you earn money in the future, you should buy yourself pretty dresses to wear."

She remembered how during his university days, he took on one part-time job after another.

She remembered how he would avoid going to the hospital when he was sick, and spent holidays alone.

She remembered his recent life, which seemed to have brightened up.

She remembered him smiling with curved eyes, speaking to her with indulgent tenderness: "What other girls have, our Zhizhi must have too."

The barrier she had been unable to cross suddenly seemed to clear at this moment. Sang Zhi's mind went hot with impulse, and she abruptly stood up, bidding farewell to the others: "There's something I need to do. I'm leaving first."

When she arrived at the foot of Duan Jiaxu's apartment building, someone happened to be opening the main door.

Sang Zhi followed them inside, her mind completely blank. She entered the elevator, went up to Duan Jiaxu's floor, and then stood still in front of his door. She let out a breath and rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly.

Duan Jiaxu seemed to have just finished showering; water was still dripping from his hair, and he carried a strong scent of mint. His expression was somewhat stunned, as if he hadn't expected her to come at this hour at all.

Staring at her expression, Duan Jiaxu bent down and asked hesitantly, "What brings you here?"

Sang Zhi also stared at him, not answering his question. As if driven by impulse, or as if she had been holding back these words for a long time, she blurted out with unusual directness: "Can you like me forever?"

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

And I was the one who liked you more.

So I want to stay with you forever.

Even if you really stop liking me in the future.

It doesn't seem like I'd be at a loss either.

Duan Jiaxu was still processing this, even feeling as if he had fallen asleep and was dreaming. He lowered his gaze and instinctively voiced his thoughts: "I can."

Sang Zhi sniffled: "Then—"

"Wait a moment," Duan Jiaxu laughed, "what are you doing?"

Before Sang Zhi could say anything more, Duan Jiaxu had already grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the apartment: "Come in first."

"..."

"Tell me," Duan Jiaxu said patiently, "what's wrong?"

"I just felt today was the right time," Sang Zhi said softly. "So I didn't want to wait any longer."

Duan Jiaxu's breath hitched, finally realizing she didn't seem to be joking: "Did you drink?"

Sang Zhi: "No."

Duan Jiaxu: "Agreeing to be with me?"

"Mm."

A few seconds of silence.

Duan Jiaxu suddenly pinched her chin, lifting her face upward. His eyes were deep as he stared into her clear, nervous gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing as he confirmed once more: "Have you thought it through?"

Sang Zhi didn't look away, still staring at him, and gave another "Mm."

Finally receiving her affirmative answer.

The close distance, the escalating intimate atmosphere—it felt like a dream. Duan Jiaxu's eyes darkened as he stared at her lips, suddenly speaking in a hoarse voice: "Open your mouth."

Sang Zhi didn't process it immediately, letting out an "Ah?" as her lips parted accordingly.

The next moment, his words fell.

Along with an intensely passionate, yet warm sensation.

"Let big brother teach you how to kiss."