"……"
These words struck Sang Zhi's ears like a sudden clap of thunder.
Causing her hand to slip, she lost control of her strength, and the jelly in her hand flew out, landing on the floor.
Sang Zhi slowly picked it up, pulled out a tissue, and wiped the packaging. Her gaze shifted to his fingers resting on the buttons, pausing for several seconds before she asked with subtle sarcasm, "Don't you have hands of your own?"
Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly, replying in a playful tone, "Little one, do you know what 'fun' means?"
"……" Sang Zhi pretended not to hear and picked up the remote to lower the air conditioning by a few degrees. "Should I set it to twenty-three?"
"You'll catch a cold."
Sang Zhi fell silent for a few seconds, noticing his hair was still damp, and reluctantly turned the temperature back up. She continued to tear at the packaging, but it seemed as if it were glued shut with super glue—no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't open.
In the end, she ended up tearing the opening.
Duan Jiaxu reached out, took it from her, tore it open from the other side, and handed it back.
Sang Zhi silently took it back and began eating it with a plastic spoon. She couldn't shake the feeling that the situation was taking a strange turn, wondering if suddenly mentioning going back to her room would seem abrupt.
A man and a woman alone in a room.
The TV was off, neither of them spoke, and the room was silent. Out of the corner of her eye, she could sense Duan Jiaxu's gaze—unabashed and blatantly fixed on her.
The living room was dimly lit; the main light was off, only the floor lamp beside the sofa was on. Its warm, sunlight-like hue cast a cozy and slightly seductive atmosphere, tinged with a hint of ambiguity.
The light seemed to carry its own warmth, and Sang Zhi inexplicably felt a little hot.
But since Duan Jiaxu remained silent, Sang Zhi gradually relaxed. After finishing the jelly, she stood up and tossed the empty container into the trash. "Well, I'm going back—"
Before she could finish, Duan Jiaxu suddenly moved. He straightened up, reached out, and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him.
The force wasn't strong, but Sang Zhi hadn't expected it and lost her balance. Her breath hitched, and she instinctively leaned into him.
Their summer clothes were thin—both only wearing short sleeves and shorts.
Sang Zhi could clearly feel his firm skin, noticeably warmer than hers, and his suddenly close presence, both familiar and intense.
Her body stiffened, afraid to move, and she whispered, "What are you doing…"
Duan Jiaxu's thumb brushed against her wrist, guiding her hand to his clothes. His eyes, slightly narrowed and glistening with moisture, were low and husky as he asked, "Finished eating?"
"……"
"Then it's time to help."
Meeting his mesmerizing gaze, Sang Zhi's mind went blank, as if hypnotized. After only a few seconds of hesitation, her fingers moved, inexplicably obeying him as she slowly unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.
The shirt fell open.
Revealing deep, well-defined collarbones—utterly sensual.
Her gaze drifted upward, noticing his Adam's apple move slightly, its lines strikingly handsome.
At that moment, Sang Zhi snapped back to reality. Her cheeks flushed crimson at her own actions, and she stammered, "Th-That's enough, right? I'm going back to my room."
Duan Jiaxu pressed her hand down. "Being this perfunctory, huh?"Sang Zhi was too nervous to speak, feeling everything was moving too fast yet unsure how to refuse. She could only stare at him, her eyes brimming with bewilderment.
Noticing her unease, Duan Jiaxu leaned up to kiss her chin. "Don't be afraid."
"..."
"I won't touch you. I'd never let my Zhizhi suffer any disadvantage." Duan Jiaxu spoke slowly as he undid his buttons single-handedly. "But... would you like to inspect the goods first?"
Sang Zhi felt her heart was about to leap out of her throat.
After a long moment, Duan Jiaxu paused his movements, having only undone half the buttons. His fingers slid upward, coming to rest at his collarbone. The gesture carried a subtle sensuality as his peach blossom eyes curved slightly, resembling a fox spirit come to steal hearts.
The world fell silent.
After what felt like an eternity, Sang Zhi heard him speak.
"Want a kiss?"
Sang Zhi returned to the bathroom to brush her teeth. As she squeezed toothpaste onto her brush, she could faintly hear Duan Jiaxu making the bed outside. She dragged out the process, lingering even after finishing brushing without opening the door to leave.
Soon, Duan Jiaxu's voice came from outside: "Sleep early."
Sang Zhi mumbled a response.
Duan Jiaxu: "Let me know if you need anything."
Sang Zhi responded again.
Then came the sound of a door opening and closing.
Sang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief before finally emerging from the bathroom. She approached the bedroom door, wrestling with herself for a long while before hesitantly, carefully pressing the lock.
The spring made a distinct "click" that echoed loudly.
Her movements froze.
The next second, Duan Jiaxu's lazy voice came from outside: "Guarding against me like that?"
"..." Separated by the door, Sang Zhi simply pretended not to hear. She turned off the bedroom light and returned to the bed.
A small bedside lamp on the nightstand had been turned on, casting a warm yellow glow.
The single bed was one and a half meters wide with light pink sheets, accompanied by a half-meter tall teddy bear. The furniture in the room came with the apartment - there was a small desk covered with various small items Sang Zhi had left here.
Sang Zhi glanced around and noticed a photo frame on the nightstand.
It was a recent photo of her with Duan Jiaxu.
Sang Zhi flopped onto the bed, rolled herself up in the blanket, then buried her entire face in it. She could clearly smell the fresh scent of the new blanket, carrying the fragrance of sunlight.
Remembering what had just happened, Sang Zhi felt suffocated and emerged from the blankets, completely devoid of sleepiness. Staring at the plain white ceiling, she grabbed the nearby stuffed animal and hugged it tightly, venting her emotions.
She wanted to scream but feared the old man next door might hear.
The soundproofing in this apartment was average - Sang Zhi could still hear Duan Jiaxu moving around outside. She forced herself to calm down, picked up her phone, and opened a comic to read.
But her mind was completely elsewhere.
Was this somewhat embarrassing?
Sang Zhi had never experienced anything like this before, nor had she heard any friends mention similar situations.
She had actually been... seduced... by a man.
The crucial point was.
She! Actually! Couldn't! Resist!
So humiliating.
Really! So! Humiliating!
Sang Zhi closed her eyes, threw her phone aside, and burrowed back under the covers. In that confined space, the sounds of her breathing and heartbeat amplified as she touched her lips.
What surfaced in her mind instead was the kiss she had just placed on Duan Jiaxu's throat;
His hand that had been stroking her lower back before letting go.And then, breathing slightly heavily, he flirtatiously said, "I can't control this hand—maybe you should tie it up?"
Because she tossed and turned for a long time without falling asleep.
The next day, Sang Zhi woke up very late. When she groggily checked her phone, she found it was already ten o'clock. She lounged in bed for a while before getting up to wash up and then went out to the living room.
But she didn't see Duan Jiaxu anywhere.
Puzzled, Sang Zhi opened WeChat and took a look.
Around seven in the morning, Duan Jiaxu had sent her a few messages: ["I have something to do, going out for a bit."]
Duan Jiaxu: ["There's congee in the microwave, just heat it up to eat."]
Duan Jiaxu: ["Let me know when you're up."]
Sang Zhi replied: ["I'm up. What are you doing?"]
After that, Sang Zhi went into the kitchen, heated up the congee, and brought it out. She took a small bowl, scooped some out, and sat down at the dining table.
When she checked her phone again, Duan Jiaxu had already replied: ["I'm back."]
Duan Jiaxu: ["Is there anything you want to eat? I'll bring it for you."]
Sang Zhi thought for a moment: ["Chicken cutlet."]
Duan Jiaxu: ["Okay."]
Before Sang Zhi had finished her congee, Duan Jiaxu returned. He changed his shoes, placed the plastic bag in his hand in front of her, and casually asked, "Why did you wake up so late today?"
"It's the weekend, so I slept in a bit longer," Sang Zhi made up an excuse offhand, swallowing the congee in her mouth before asking, "What did you go out for? Leaving so early in the morning."
Duan Jiaxu sat down opposite her and answered honestly, "It's my mom's death anniversary. I went to visit her grave."
"..." Sang Zhi paused her movements, looked up at him, and mumbled an "Ah."
Seeing her reaction, Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. "Why that reaction?"
Sang Zhi let go of her spoon and said quietly, "Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone with you."
Duan Jiaxu didn't seem to take the matter too seriously, smiling faintly as he said, "That place can really affect your mood. I was afraid you'd come back feeling down. And since it's the weekend, I wanted to let you sleep in a bit longer."
"..." Sang Zhi was silent for a few seconds. "Mm."
Duan Jiaxu opened the bag, pulled out the paper bag inside, and inserted a skewer. The corners of his lips curved upward as he reminded her, "Don't eat too much; we'll have lunch soon."
Sang Zhi continued drinking her congee and gave another "Mm."
Duan Jiaxu glanced at her face a few times and asked, "Did you stay up late last night? Dark circles are showing."
Sang Zhi nodded and lied, "Watching a drama."
Duan Jiaxu: "Then why don't you go back to sleep for a bit later?"
"No need." Sang Zhi finished the remaining congee and suddenly looked up at him. "Duan Jiaxu."
"Hmm?"
"It's just," Sang Zhi pursed her lips, pausing for a long moment. For some reason, she felt a bit defeated, and after a while, she said in a low voice, "I can be unhappy with you."
"..."
The two looked at each other for a few seconds.
Sang Zhi averted her gaze and stood up, muttering to herself, "I'm going to wash this bowl."
At the same time, Duan Jiaxu also spoke: "Come here."
Hearing this, Sang Zhi looked up. Without asking why, she obediently walked around the table and stood in front of him.
She met his eyes again.
The next moment, she saw the curve of Duan Jiaxu's lips flatten, his expression turning serious as negative energy seemed to burst out in an instant. Then, he leaned his head against her lower abdomen, raised his arms to hug her, and didn't say a word, not making a single sound.Sang Zhi paused, then raised her hand and gently patted his head. After a moment's thought, she softened her voice and clumsily yet earnestly comforted him: "It's okay if you want to cry."
"..."
"I can treat you like a child too," Sang Zhi emphasized, "and I won't call you a crybaby."
Duan Jiaxu let out a soft laugh.
Not being particularly skilled at comforting others, Sang Zhi scratched her head in frustration. "I mean it."
"Mm." Duan Jiaxu's mood seemed to lighten slightly as he murmured, "Then hold your child a little longer."
Because of this incident, Sang Zhi spent the entire afternoon with Duan Jiaxu. She didn't bring up his family matters on her own initiative, afraid that saying too much might make things worse, and simply stayed by his side.
Wherever he went, she followed, like a little tail that had suddenly grown from him.
No matter how bad Duan Jiaxu's mood was, it dissipated because of her behavior. Soon enough, he was back to his usual self, teasing her playfully without any restraint.
Sang Zhi quietly memorized this date.
She thought to herself that when this day came in the future, she would definitely not sleep in.
The two stayed in the house all day, completely forgetting about fixing the air conditioner in Sang Zhi's dorm. She returned to her dorm to get a change of clothes and ended up spending another night at Duan Jiaxu's place.
After staying two consecutive nights, Sang Zhi surprisingly found herself quite content with the arrangement.
The commute to work from here was convenient, unlike the long walk from her dormitory building to the campus gate. Moreover, staying alone in the dorm sometimes did feel quite lonely.
The next noon, Duan Jiaxu helped Sang Zhi contact an air conditioner repair technician. After completing the registration, the three of them entered the dorm room together, with the technician carrying a ladder and climbing up to make the repairs.
Duan Jiaxu stood by Sang Zhi's desk, glancing at the other three empty beds.
"Why don't you just stay at my place?"
Sang Zhi was tidying her desk. Hearing this, she looked up at him.
Duan Jiaxu added, "You can move back here when the semester starts."
She remained silent and continued organizing her things.
Duan Jiaxu didn't press further, leaning against the desk and playing with a small trinket on her table.
After a while, the technician finished repairing the air conditioner and asked Sang Zhi to test it. After the technician left, Duan Jiaxu checked the time and suggested, "How about we go out for a meal first, then I'll bring you back?"
Sang Zhi hesitated for a moment before saying uncertainly, "Could you wait on the balcony for a bit?"
"Hmm?"
"I need to get some clothes..." Sang Zhi muttered, "Two sets for half a month isn't enough to wear."
And so, Sang Zhi began what could be called "cohabitation" with Duan Jiaxu.
Though compared to that term, she felt "sharing a rental" was more appropriate. Most of the time, she stayed in her room, only coming out when she needed to eat.
However, she didn't dare tell her family about this arrangement.
When Li Ping video called her, Sang Zhi had to rush outside, pretending she had just gotten off work, and call back. Occasionally, when she couldn't be bothered to go out, she would make up an excuse about being at a classmate's house.
The holiday period passed almost unnoticed.
Sang Zhi's internship lasted for a month and a half.
On her last day, Sang Zhi bought small gifts for several colleagues who had taken care of her. Thinking of Shi Xiaoyu, whose attitude toward her had recently improved, Sang Zhi decided not to dwell on past issues and gave her a gift as well.
Upon receiving the small present, Shi Xiaoyu glanced at her and said somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you."Sang Zhi nodded. Before she could return to her seat, Shi Xiaoyu spoke again, her tone hesitant: "Sang Zhi, can I ask you about your relationship with Jiang Ying?"
Sang Zhi was baffled: "I have no relationship with her."
Shi Xiaoyu let out a breath, her voice tinged with apology: "I did listen to her before and held some prejudice against you, I'm sorry. But recently when I met with her, I felt she wasn't quite herself either. She wouldn't tell me the truth, so I wanted to ask you."
Sang Zhi carefully chose her words and said slowly: "For certain reasons, she's been persistently bothering my boyfriend, and she believes he must constantly compensate her, serving her hand and foot. You probably witnessed some of this before."
"...Yeah."
"If something like this happens again, I will definitely call the police. So, if you have her best interests at heart," Sang Zhi said without any targeted malice, honestly stating, "you could suggest she see a psychologist."
Sang Zhi packed her things and moved back to the dormitory from Duan Jiaxu's place a day early.
The next day, the other two dorm mates arrived from their homes, and Ning Wei also returned on the final day of registration. Sang Zhi resumed her routine of shuttling between classroom, cafeteria, and dormitory.
Because of the previous competition, Sang Zhi had developed a good relationship with her supervising professor. Following the teacher's suggestion, she signed up for the city-organized game competition.
This competition carried more prestige than the campus one, with representatives from many major companies attending the awards ceremony. Unlike the last competition, this one required individual completion of works instead of team projects.
Starting her sophomore year, Sang Zhi withdrew from the student council department she had previously joined.
She was participating in game art design, spending her time either in class or holed up in the dormitory drawing. On occasions with fewer classes or during weekends, Sang Zhi would take her computer and stay overnight at Duan Jiaxu's place.
Before they knew it, the National Day holiday arrived.
Duan Jiaxu booked her flight for the evening of the 30th in advance. With the holiday totaling about a week and having nothing particular to do, he decided to return to Nanwu with her.
When they arrived at Nanwu Airport, it was already past midnight.
Right after getting off the plane, Sang Zhi took out her phone to help him find a hotel: "Should we look for one near my home? I originally thought about having you stay at my brother's place, but I suddenly remembered he's sharing the rent with someone else—a sister. Though I don't know why he's sharing... And since Brother Qian Fei is married now, you'll have to stay at a hotel."
Duan Jiaxu hummed in agreement.
Neither had brought much luggage, so they hadn't checked any bags and followed the signs to exit.
To Sang Zhi's surprise, it wasn't Sang Yan who came to pick them up, but Qian Fei.
Sang Zhi blinked, feeling too embarrassed to hold Duan Jiaxu's hand in front of him. She quickly pulled her hand back and greeted him obediently: "Brother Qian Fei."
Having clearly seen what happened, Qian Fei was silent for a few seconds before returning her greeting. Then he looked at Duan Jiaxu and silently gave him a thumbs-up.
Duan Jiaxu took Sang Zhi's hand again, raising an eyebrow: "If you have something to say, say it."
Qian Fei couldn't hold back anymore, cursing angrily: "Beast!"
Sang Zhi: "..."
Duan Jiaxu turned to look at Sang Zhi, his tone sounding like tattling: "He called me a beast."
"..." Sang Zhi said hesitantly, "It's not that serious."
Qian Fei was clearly still furious about being tricked by Duan Jiaxu before. He pointed at Sang Zhi and spat out two words: "Fresh flower."Then he pointed at Duan Jiaxu again, deliberately emphasizing a certain word: "Stuck into old cow dung."
"……"
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