Hidden Love

His words and this action came entirely without warning.

By the time Sang Zhi snapped back to reality, Duan Jiaxu’s lips had already descended, his tongue slipping between her teeth, carrying the sharp freshness of mint, yet somehow feeling scorching hot.

Like an electric current, it kept heating up.

Sang Zhi’s eyes widened slightly, and she instinctively took a step back, her back hitting the door, only to be instantly pulled back by him. Her head tilted back passively, her wrist caught and pressed firmly against his chest.

In that moment, Sang Zhi could no longer perceive anything else.

All her senses, everything she could see around her, were completely occupied by the man before her.

Sang Zhi had no experience and could only passively endure.

She even forgot to close her eyes, staring blankly at his thick eyebrows, his strikingly clear eyelashes, and his straight nose bridge. Those always aloof yet seemingly affectionate peach blossom eyes now seemed to be genuinely tinged with emotion.

Her mind grew hazy, but her body remained stiff.

Perhaps noticing her bewilderment, Duan Jiaxu seemed to let out a soft laugh, his breath carrying a fragmented, seductive sound. His hand lifted, covering her eyes.

Utterly dominant, yet with the utmost tenderness.

The towel draped over his shoulder fell to the floor with a dull thud. The ends of his hair were still damp, turning cold in the air, dripping onto Sang Zhi’s neck.

Sang Zhi couldn’t help but shiver.

Duan Jiaxu’s movements finally paused, and he kissed her lips once more. Then, tilting his head to the side, his lips pressed against her ear, his voice low and hoarse, filled with lingering affection: “I like you.”

Sang Zhi felt as if her ears had gone numb.

The next moment, he moved his hand downward, revealing her eyes that had been covered. His thumb gently stroked her cheek.

Their gazes met.

Duan Jiaxu’s eyes were lowered, slightly curved, tinged with a faint light. His lips were crimson, glistening with moisture, curving into a soft arc. His gaze seemed unable to look away, fixed intently on her.

Sang Zhi also stared at him blankly, as if drawn in by the light in his eyes, her mind still muddled.

“Let me tell you something seriously,” Duan Jiaxu’s voice was low, without a trace of embarrassment, carrying a hint of a smile. “Actually, I don’t know how to do this either.”

Sang Zhi instinctively asked, “What?”

“But you always say I’m old, so it feels a bit embarrassing to admit it so honestly,” Duan Jiaxu nuzzled the corner of her eye and continued, “It’s a bit humiliating.”

“...”

Duan Jiaxu: “This is my first time being in a relationship too.”

After a few seconds, he lowered his voice and added, “It’s also my first time liking someone this much.”

“...”

Duan Jiaxu bent down to meet her gaze and said seriously, “So, don’t even think about dumping me.”

Sang Zhi looked dazed.

Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly and said, “We’ve already kissed. You have to take responsibility for me for the rest of your life.”

“...”

His words instantly brought back the memory of what had just happened. Sang Zhi’s mind went blank, her face flushing bright red in an instant. Her lips still felt numb, the sensation incredibly vivid.

Pressing the back of her hand to her lips, she stared at him, finally putting on an expression of having been taken advantage of, and stammered, “I—I just agreed, I only… You—you…”"I was just a bit too happy." Duan Jiaxu cleared his throat lightly, his tone polite yet carrying a rogue-like quality. "So I couldn't help myself. Sorry, I'll be more careful next time."

Sang Zhi found this utterly unbelievable. "Who on earth would do it on the first, the first time..."

Duan Jiaxu suppressed a laugh. "I'll pay more attention to the proper steps in the future."

"..."

"Take it step by step," Duan Jiaxu said. "Let's treat this time as a rehearsal, alright?"

This time, Sang Zhi truly couldn't hold back. She leaned in, pinching his perpetually unserious face until it contorted, and exclaimed in flustered anger, "Have you no shame!"

Duan Jiaxu let her pinch him, even cooperatively bending down. Soon, he straightened up and reminded her, "You really shouldn't stand so close to me."

Sang Zhi defiantly retorted, "I'll do as I please."

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow and stated bluntly, "When you're this close, I want to kiss you."

"..."

Sang Zhi's expression froze. Somewhat awkwardly, she withdrew her hand and averted her gaze, muttering, "I've said what I needed to. I'm going back to school."

"Wait," Duan Jiaxu said, as if suddenly remembering something. He leaned in, carefully examining her lips. "Did my teeth bump against your mouth earlier..."

"..."

Sang Zhi stared at him in disbelief.

How! Could! He! Say! Such things! With! A straight face—! Ah—!

Before he could finish, Sang Zhi abruptly covered his mouth with her hand, nearly frantic. "No, they didn't! Nothing happened! Stop talking!"

Duan Jiaxu was momentarily stunned. Watching her flushed face, he burst into laughter. His warm breath tickled her palm. "Alright, I won't say anymore."

Then he glanced at her lips again and murmured, "Seems like there wasn't any."

"..."

While Duan Jiaxu went back to his room to change clothes, Sang Zhi went to the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of orange juice, grabbed a pack of shredded squid from the TV cabinet, and settled on the sofa.

She tore open the packaging, pulled out a strip, and nibbled on it.

She recalled a recent dormitory conversation where her roommate had concluded, "Guys who haven't had sexual experiences by twenty-five turn into perverts!"

Sang Zhi seriously corrected the thought.

He's already twenty-six.

Truly a bit speechless.

In the middle of discussing serious matters, he suddenly kissed her and said he'd teach her.

And his kissing wasn't even that great.

But thinking back to Duan Jiaxu's words earlier, Sang Zhi's slight frustration instantly faded. Unconsciously, the corners of her lips curved upward as she unscrewed the bottle cap and took small sips of the orange juice.

Just then, Duan Jiaxu emerged from his room. His hair was still damp, casually falling across his forehead, giving him a more youthful appearance.

He walked over and sat down beside Sang Zhi.

Watching her nibble on snacks like a hamster, Duan Jiaxu found it inexplicably amusing.

Sang Zhi kept her gaze fixed ahead, seemingly uncomfortable, and suddenly blurted out, "Could you stop staring at me?"

"Sure." Duan Jiaxu obediently averted his eyes, picked up a water glass from the table, took a sip, and returned to the initial question. "Why did you suddenly think today was the right time?"

Sang Zhi pondered for a moment, unsure whether to say.

Duan Jiaxu chuckled. "You also messed up my plans."

Sang Zhi glanced at him. "You had plans?"

"Yeah, I was going to confess to you under your dorm building the night after tomorrow." Duan Jiaxu said calmly. "Light some heart-shaped candles, hold flowers, and I even prepared a speech..."

"Cheesy.""Is this really cheesy?" Duan Jiaxu said. "Isn't this how people confess nowadays?"

Sang Zhi thought about it and realized she had indeed seen it quite often at school. Reluctantly agreeing, she asked softly, "What lines did you prepare?"

Duan Jiaxu suddenly called her name, speaking slowly: "Sang Zhi."

Sang Zhi: "Huh?"

"I like you."

"..."

"Please be with me."

"..." Sang Zhi blinked, hesitating. "So formal?"

"This occasion calls for formality." Duan Jiaxu slumped lazily in his seat, smiling faintly. "I'll make it up to you later, but I won't tell you when."

"No need," Sang Zhi muttered. "We're already together, why confess again?"

He uttered three words: "For the ceremony."

Sang Zhi turned her head: "You care about ceremony?"

"I don't." Duan Jiaxu recalled the bowl of noodles she specially made for his birthday last time and said leisurely, "But my Zhizhi does."

Sang Zhi didn't deny it, her dimples deepening as she continued drinking orange juice. "Brother Jiaxu, is this really your first time dating?"

Duan Jiaxu: "Yeah."

"Oh."

"What?" Hearing her thoughtful tone, Duan Jiaxu turned his head. "Looking down on me?"

"..."

Sang Zhi didn't know how he'd grown up like this without ever dating before—maybe she was judging by appearances. She couldn't help but laugh, this time not holding back, chuckling to herself: "No."

Watching her laugh, Duan Jiaxu didn't get annoyed and smiled along with her.

Noticing the time on the wall, Sang Zhi took a tissue to wipe her hands and pointed at the shredded squid on the table. "I can't finish this, can I take it back?"

"Mm, take whatever you want. Preferably," Duan Jiaxu tightened the cap on her orange juice bottle for her, "take me back too."

"..." Sang Zhi said seriously, "I'm only interested in food."

"Mm." Duan Jiaxu smiled suggestively. "I'm pretty tasty too."

"..."

Sang Zhi packed her things and stood up. "I'm leaving."

Seeing her ready to go, Duan Jiaxu remained seated in his spot, motionless. He suddenly sighed, his eyes lowering slightly as he said quietly, "It just occurred to me that I never really told you about my family situation."

Hearing this, Sang Zhi paused, remembering Jiang Ying's words from earlier that evening.

Then she said softly, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"It's not that I don't want to." Duan Jiaxu's expression carried a hint of nonchalance, his tone calm. "My mother passed away, my father's a vegetable—drunk driving killed someone. No house, have a car, some savings."

Sang Zhi stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Don't feel awkward. I just thought," Duan Jiaxu said casually, "given our relationship, I should let you know."

Sang Zhi shook her head. "I don't feel awkward."

Duan Jiaxu smiled again. "Mm, let's go. I'll walk you back to school."

"Duan Jiaxu," Sang Zhi sensed something off about him and called his name seriously, leaning closer to study his face. "Did bringing this up make you unhappy?"

"Not unhappy." Duan Jiaxu's Adam's apple bobbed, his calm expression crumbling instantly. "Just a bit nervous."

Sang Zhi was stunned. "Nervous about what?"

Duan Jiaxu laughed self-deprecatingly. "Afraid you'd mind."

She stared at him in a daze.At this moment, it suddenly felt somewhat absurd.

Such a man.

A man who, after Sang Zhi met him, made it impossible for her to love anyone else.

Was genuinely feeling inferior because of the sins committed by his own father.

"..." After a few seconds of silence, Sang Zhi confessed in a low voice what had happened today, "I ran into Jiang Ying today. She told me about your father."

Duan Jiaxu's gaze paused: "She came looking for you?"

"Probably." Sang Zhi said, "Don't let her words brainwash you. What she says makes no sense. If you see her again, remember to suggest she go to the hospital to get her head checked."

Duan Jiaxu wanted to say something more.

Sang Zhi opened her round eyes wide, gently patted his head, and earnestly coaxed him: "Actually, I don't think a house is a necessity in life. But if you want one, just wait a few more years for me."

"..."

"Once I graduate and start earning money, I'll buy one for you."-

After seeing Sang Zhi back to her dorm.

Duan Jiaxu returned to his car, thought about her words, and chuckled to himself. He thought for a moment, took out his phone, sent a message to Sang Yan, then called Qian Fei.

After a few rings, Qian Fei answered: "I'm really curious."

"Hmm?"

"Why do you always like calling me late at night."

"It's not that late." Duan Jiaxu said good-naturedly, "I want to tell you something."

"You caught her?"

Duan Jiaxu laughed: "Yeah."

"Way to go, bro." Qian Fei said excitedly, "Right? You owe it all to me. If it weren't for me, could you have caught her? If it weren't for me! You better thank me properly!"

Duan Jiaxu obediently said: "Thanks, bro."

"Don't mention it. You'd better get married before Sang Yan. I've really had enough of him..."

"Bro, there's something I haven't been honest with you about."

"Huh?"

Duan Jiaxu: "This girl, you actually know her."

Qian Fei had a bad feeling: "...Huh? Someone you know in Yihe, how would I know them in Nanwu? Are you crazy?"

Duan Jiaxu: "I didn't meet her in Yihe."

Qian Fei guessed: "Our university classmate? Who went to work in Yihe?"

Duan Jiaxu: "Not work. She came here for university."

Qian Fei: "..."

There was a long silence.

Qian Fei's voice trembled: "Don't tell me it's Sang Zhi."

Duan Jiaxu chuckled and hummed in agreement.

"..." Qian Fei was silent for a few seconds, "I'm hanging up."

Duan Jiaxu repeated his earlier words leisurely: "Really, thanks to you."

"Thanks my ass!" Qian Fei roared, "I didn't! I never helped you! Damn, Duan Jiaxu, you're really a beast. You met that girl when she was just over ten years old, you motherf..."

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you say as long as she's an adult it's fine?"

"..." Qian Fei said, "Did I say something like that?"

"Yeah."

"Have you told Sang Yan about this?"

"Not yet."

"How are you planning to tell him?"

"Haven't figured it out yet."

"Will Sang Yan beat you to death?" Qian Fei didn't find this hard to accept either, and soon said with a cheeky grin, "Sorry, but I'm actually kind of looking forward to his reaction."

"I just told him I have a girlfriend."

"And then?"

"I also told him," Duan Jiaxu said casually, "that you taught me how to chase her."

"..."