Hearing this, Sang Zhi snapped back to reality and looked up, her gaze meeting his glistening lips. After a moment of silence, she suddenly kicked him, her voice tinged with annoyance: "You're always..."
She trailed off, too embarrassed to finish the sentence.
Duan Jiaxu immediately grabbed her ankle, his fingers rubbing against it with just the right amount of pressure. He lowered his chin and suddenly chuckled: "What's wrong?"
Sang Zhi pushed him away and hopped off the counter: "Get lost, I'm going to cook the tangyuan."
Then, she picked up the package nearby.
Before Sang Zhi could take the next step, Duan Jiaxu had already taken the bag from her hand. He was still laughing, his shoulders trembling slightly with soft, low, and seductive chuckles.
Sang Zhi glanced at him and muttered, "What are you laughing at?"
Duan Jiaxu poured all the tangyuan from the bag into the pot, his tone still amused and gentle: "If you're not willing, I'll bring it up again next time. Don't be angry."
"..."
Shouldn't it be, if you're not willing, then forget it?
What does he mean by "I'll bring it up again next time"?
And saying something like that in such an elegant and refined tone.
Sang Zhi was speechless. But she wasn't really angry, just pursed her tingling lips.
She handed him a ladle and changed the subject: "Do you want some too? You have such an early flight tomorrow, and this isn't easy to digest. I didn't plan to make any for you because I wanted you to sleep early."
"I'll sleep on the plane," Duan Jiaxu said leisurely. "Sleeping now would be a waste of time."
"..."
Sang Zhi didn't know if it was her problem or his. Nowadays, no matter what he said, she could misinterpret it, instinctively twisting his words in a certain direction.
She glanced at him again but didn't say anything.
As the tangyuan fell into the pot, the previously boiling water stopped bubbling. Duan Jiaxu sprinkled some sugar into it and hung the ladle on the side.
He took a tissue to wipe his hands, his eyes fixed on Sang Zhi. Then, he suddenly bent down, placing his hands on either side of her, trapping her between him and the counter.
"We still have to wait," Duan Jiaxu said, kissing her chin again. "Let's kiss a little longer."
After the tangyuan were cooked, Sang Zhi took the bowl Duan Jiaxu handed her and returned to the sofa, watching TV while nibbling on the tangyuan. Soon after, Duan Jiaxu also came out with his bowl.
Sang Zhi casually asked, "Have you packed your luggage yet?"
Duan Jiaxu: "Not yet, I'll do it in a bit."
"Remember to bring more clothes, but not too thick ones. It's not as cold there as it is here," Sang Zhi said. "And remember to stock up on food in the fridge. Don't order takeout every day."
Duan Jiaxu hummed in agreement.
Sang Zhi added, "If I have time, I'll come back to see you."
Duan Jiaxu lifted his eyelids, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips, but he didn't say anything.
"If you're going to stay there for a while," Sang Zhi suddenly remembered something and spoke up, "should we cancel the lease on this apartment? Otherwise, it'd be a waste to pay rent with no one living here."
"Let's not cancel it for now," Duan Jiaxu said lazily. "I'll need a place to stay when I come back. Besides, it's been cold lately, and the heating in your dorm isn't great, right? If it's uncomfortable, you can come stay here."
"..."
"If you're scared to be alone, you can bring your friends to stay with you."
Sang Zhi nodded while chewing on a tangyuan."Make sure to tell me if anything comes up, and don't return to the dorm too late. Remember to stay safe," Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment before adding, "And if you go out, drink less alcohol, and avoid beverages that others have touched. Once you're back in the dorm every day, you have to video call me."
"Okay."
"If someone asks for your contact information," Duan Jiaxu paused for a few seconds before gently suggesting, "you can give them mine."
"..."
"I know young girls these days prefer energetic guys their age," Duan Jiaxu said casually, "but you've already taken my chastity. It wouldn't be right to dump me after that."
"..." Sang Zhi couldn't help retorting, "Can you stop talking nonsense?"
"It's just that I'm getting older and feeling insecure."
"Then when you go to Nanwu, you have to report everything to me too," Sang Zhi muttered. "If you say a word to a girl or even shake hands with a guy, you have to tell me."
"Fine by me."
"And stop flirting with others," Sang Zhi added. "Not even guys."
"..." Duan Jiaxu nearly choked. "When have I ever flirted with a guy?"
"Brother Qian Fei, and my brother too. Back when Junwen was still in Nanwu, you always..." Sang Zhi glanced at him and swallowed her words. "Never mind."
No point digging up old history.
After a moment's thought, Sang Zhi added in a strange tone, "When I told my roommates about these things, they thought you were trying to hit on my brother."
Duan Jiaxu's eyebrow twitched.
Having just finished the last glutinous rice ball, Sang Zhi stood up and took his bowl along with hers. Heading toward the kitchen, she reminded him, "It's ten o'clock. You should go pack and get some sleep."
As if he hadn't heard, Duan Jiaxu followed her into the kitchen.
Sang Zhi turned on the faucet to wash the dishes.
The next moment, Duan Jiaxu moved closer, took the bowl from her hands, and wrapped his arms around her. He washed the dishes slowly, his arms occasionally brushing against her unintentionally.
Pressed against her, even washing dishes felt like flirting.
Sang Zhi licked her lips. "If you're washing them, then I'll go back to my room..."
With only two bowls, Duan Jiaxu finished quickly and set them aside. Turning off the water, he leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin, his tone familiar and dangerously seductive.
"Really don't want to?"
"..."
Sang Zhi wasn't sure how things had escalated to this point.
When she finally regained some clarity, she vaguely realized she had been seduced by this older man again.
This damn man.
How.
Could he.
Have no limits.
The brightly lit kitchen was utterly silent except for the man's ragged breathing. The cool marble counter contrasted sharply with the heat of his body.
A delicate yet undeniable sensation.
He touched her.
At the critical moment, he lifted her and carried her toward the bedroom.
The room filled with intimacy.
As her senses were overwhelmed, Sang Zhi heard Duan Jiaxu murmur softly,
"I don't want to be apart from you."
Her mind went blank, but she instinctively tightened her arms around him.
Then, she heard him add,
"Remember to miss me."
—
Duan Jiaxu's flight was at 7:30 the next morning.
At exactly 5 a.m., he woke up on time. He leaned over to kiss Sang Zhi's forehead, then quietly got up to pack.
Seeing that it was about time.Duan Jiaxu returned to Sang Zhi's room, sat by the bedside, and lowered his head to gaze at her. He reached out to touch her face, murmuring softly, "Little one, your brother has to go now."
Hearing this, Sang Zhi instantly opened her eyes, still looking dazed. She sat up, staring at his neatly dressed appearance, and mumbled, "What time is it?"
"Five-thirty," Duan Jiaxu smiled. "Go back to sleep, I just wanted to let you know. Remember to go out and get something to eat when you wake up. I won't have time to prepare anything for you."
Sang Zhi seemed confused: "Are you leaving now?"
Duan Jiaxu: "Mm."
Sang Zhi tried to get up: "I'll see you off."
"What's there to see off?" Duan Jiaxu said. "It's such a long distance. If you come back alone later, I'll be worried about you on the plane. It's cold outside - sleep a bit longer."
"..." Sang Zhi stared at him, then suddenly buried herself in his arms like a puppy, muttering gloomily, "I don't want you to go."
"I'll definitely come for your birthday," Duan Jiaxu patted her head. "It's not that long - just think of it as you going home for winter break."
Sang Zhi remained silent.
"I really have to go now," Duan Jiaxu began instructing again. "Take care of yourself. Don't get swept away by some little male vixen while I'm gone."
"..."
"Though your brother might be a bit older," his eyebrows lifted as he glanced at the kiss marks on her body, starting his teasing again, "my energy isn't bad, is it?"
"..."
His antics had clearly dissipated most of her melancholy. But she still got up and talked with him extensively, acting like a proper adult.
Duan Jiaxu told her to go back to sleep, then left.
It was already over four hours later when he arrived at Nanwu Airport. He was quite familiar with this city - even after being away for so many years, many things still maintained their original appearance.
Duan Jiaxu exited the airport, hailed a taxi, and gave the driver the address Qian Fei had provided him.
After getting out of the car, Duan Jiaxu entered the residential complex, retrieved the keys Qian Fei had left with the security guard, accurately found the location, entered the house, surveyed the environment, then took several photos with his phone and sent them to Sang Zhi.
After settling in briefly, Duan Jiaxu soon went out again.
His decision to start a studio wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea. Since last year, he had been planning this matter - found several partners and secured an investor.
Some time ago, he had transferred his technical shares, acquiring additional funds.
Following the scheduled time, Duan Jiaxu met with two former university classmates to discuss the studio matters.
Duan Jiaxu wasn't in a hurry to visit Sang Rong and Li Ping.
Over the following period, he was constantly traveling around. He found a suitable location and rented office space. Submitted applications at the industrial and commercial bureau, purchased equipment, and recruited staff.
He lived an extremely busy life, dedicating whatever little free time he had entirely to Sang Zhi.
It felt like returning to those years in Yihe, when he had just joined Jiang Siyun's company. Back then, several people were starting a business and approached him, proposing he contribute technical expertise for shares.
But this time seemed somewhat better than back then.
Back then, they couldn't envision how bright the future might be.
But now, everything he did seemed to bring him closer to the goal he had in mind.After over half a month of early mornings and late nights, Duan Jiaxu finally allowed his tightly wound nerves to relax a little. On Qian Fei’s eight-hundredth invitation, he surprisingly didn’t refuse and went out.
Besides Qian Fei, Sang Yan had also come.
The three of them met at a quiet bar.
Seeing Sang Yan, Duan Jiaxu suddenly remembered Sang Zhi’s words. The two of them sat side by side, staring at him for quite a while before Duan Jiaxu thoughtfully stood up and moved to sit beside Qian Fei.
Sang Yan was baffled: “Are you insane?”
“Afraid my girlfriend might misunderstand,” Duan Jiaxu said gently. “It’s more appropriate if we keep some distance between us.”
“…”
A moment later, Duan Jiaxu remembered something else and brought it up to him: “Bro, send me your dad’s phone number. I’d like to arrange a time with him and your mom to pay a visit.”
Sang Yan: “?”
Duan Jiaxu: “What?”
“You’re in way too much of a hurry.” Sang Yan picked up the drink in front of him and took a sip. “How old is my sister this year? Why are you already trying to meet the parents?”
Duan Jiaxu didn’t elaborate, only smiled and said, “There’s something I need to discuss.”
“When Old Xu dates, he’s always aiming for marriage,” Qian Fei teased with a cheeky grin. “Not like you, stringing that girl along all day, bragging to everyone that she’s the one chasing you.”
Nothing annoyed Sang Yan more than people accusing him of boasting. He lifted his eyelids, scanning Qian Fei’s bulky frame up and down.
Mentally estimating his weight, Sang Yan sneered and enunciated each word: “That’s a load of your 186-jin bullshit.”
Qian Fei: “…”
OpenNovel