For convenience, Duan Jiaxu drove straight to the airport.
He had originally planned to drop Sang Zhi off at her school on the way, but since she insisted on seeing him off, he didn’t stop her. On the road, he arranged for a reliable driver, and after arriving at the airport, he waited with her until the driver arrived.
He was unhurried and not the least bit anxious, but Sang Zhi grew restless and tugged him toward the terminal. "Let’s not wait any longer, or you might not make it in time."
Duan Jiaxu let her pull him along, smiling as he said, "There’s still plenty of time."
Sang Zhi replied, "I’ll walk you through security, then come back out. The driver should be here by then."
Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment and didn’t object. "Alright."
"I’ll be home for Labor Day, so you don’t need to come see me," Sang Zhi said slowly as she walked beside him. "Also, I ordered a box of snacks for you online—they should arrive tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Don’t always rely on takeout. Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you should slack off. If you have time, you can come over to my place for a meal. If you feel awkward going alone, bring my brother along."
Duan Jiaxu found this amusing. "Now that you’re old enough to marry, you’re starting to act like you’re taking care of a child?"
"What do you mean, ‘taking care of a child’?" Sang Zhi shot him a look. "I’m looking after the elderly in my family."
At this, Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, seemingly unbothered by her remark. "Oh? Whether I’m old or not doesn’t really matter."
"…"
"As long as I’m part of your family, that’s enough."
After Duan Jiaxu passed through security and Sang Zhi could no longer see his retreating figure, she left the airport. The driver happened to arrive just then, so she greeted him and got into the car.
She opened WeChat and sent a message to Duan Jiaxu. After closing their chat window, she idly scrolled through her messages and noticed that Shi Xiaoyu had sent one about ten minutes earlier.
Shi Xiaoyu: 【Did you see Jiang Ying today?】
Sang Zhi hesitated before replying with an "Mm."
Shi Xiaoyu: 【She just called me crying nonstop but wouldn’t say what happened…】
Shi Xiaoyu: 【Her emotions have been unstable lately. If she did anything inappropriate, I’d like to apologize on her behalf.】
Sang Zhi understood immediately.
Since she couldn’t get any answers from Jiang Ying, Shi Xiaoyu was asking her what had happened.
Sang Zhi replied succinctly: 【We happened to pass by and saw her being slapped and yelled at by a woman. Nothing else happened. She didn’t do anything inappropriate.】
There was a long pause on the other end.
Shi Xiaoyu: 【Okay, I understand. Thank you for telling me.】
Shi Xiaoyu added on Jiang Ying’s behalf: 【This has nothing to do with her—it’s related to her stepfather. Her mother is planning to divorce him.】
Sang Zhi wasn’t particularly interested and simply replied with another "Mm."
Shi Xiaoyu: 【Sigh, I think it’s all so absurd. Although I can understand how that family feels, taking it out on Jiang Ying is going too far… It’s not like she’s close to her stepfather anyway.】
This time, Sang Zhi didn’t respond.
Shi Xiaoyu: 【In the past, Jiang Ying couldn’t let it go. Because of this, she’s had a hard time—she hasn’t been happy for over a decade and has very few friends. Recently, because of this situation, she’s started to come to terms with things. She probably won’t go looking for your boyfriend anymore.】
Shi Xiaoyu: 【But she might still find it hard to forgive.】
"…"
Sang Zhi truly didn’t understand why Shi Xiaoyu was telling her all this. She stared at the screen for a long moment, then laughed in exasperation. 【No need to forgive.】Sang Zhi: "Not necessary."
To impose the sins committed by another onto Duan Jiaxu, then condescendingly declare "won't harass anymore, but can't forgive either" - did they think themselves particularly merciful and magnanimous?
Duan Jiaxu hadn't done anything wrong, so he didn't need forgiveness that should have belonged to someone else.
He never actively sought trouble, only wanting to distance himself from these matters. Even when treated unfairly, he never fought for himself.
He just wanted his life to get back on track.
Sang Zhi: "Don't tell me these things anymore in the future. I'm not familiar with Jiang Ying, nor am I curious about what happened to her."
Sang Zhi: "Also, I know she's a victim."
Sang Zhi: "But she's not the only victim."
After that, Sang Zhi put down her phone and looked out the window.
She remembered the wish she had casually made on her birthday.
—Hope for world peace.
Hope that there would no longer be criminals living in dark corners of the world.
Hope that before committing crimes, they would carefully consider the consequences of their actions and how many families would be hurt. Hope they would consider what kind of life their own families would have to live because of their actions.
If this wish was too big.
Then, Sang Zhi hoped.
That one day, everyone would be able to distinguish between criminals and their relatives—
Sang Zhi had bought a return ticket for May Day in advance, but it ended up being useless. Because on a certain night as April was coming to an end, Duan Zhicheng passed away.
Until his death, he never opened his eyes again.
His life only contained the panic after hitting someone, sins that could never be atoned for in this lifetime, and the debts and regrets towards his family.
Nothing else.
When he received the call, Duan Jiaxu was extremely calm.
Because he had long known this day would come—it was only a matter of time. His mood didn't even fluctuate much. He booked the earliest flight and returned to Yihe.
As soon as he got off the plane, Duan Jiaxu called Sang Zhi.
The two met at the hospital entrance.
Sang Zhi went over and held his hand, her lips moving but unable to say anything. She completely didn't know what to say, finally managing only four words: "I'm here with you."
Duan Jiaxu softly acknowledged.
Entering the morgue, Duan Jiaxu's gaze fixed on one of the bodies covered with a white cloth. Staring at the name "Duan Zhicheng" on the tag, he walked over and slowly pulled down the white cloth.
Revealing Duan Zhicheng's already stiff, bloodless face.
Duan Jiaxu withdrew his hand, his emotions faint: "Congratulations."
Until death, you didn't have to face the crimes you committed.
Duan Jiaxu thought for a moment and said quietly: "If you see mother, don't go looking for her anymore. Don't harm her again, let her live a good life."
After speaking, Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes, staring at Duan Zhicheng's face. Feeling there was nothing more to say to him, he soon pulled the white cloth back up.
Duan Jiaxu turned to look at Sang Zhi: "Let's go, to handle the procedures."
Sang Zhi looked up and nodded, carefully watching his expression, feeling sad for him, yet somewhat at a loss because of his calmness. She moved closer and took his hand again.
"What's with that expression?" Duan Jiaxu said gently, "It's fine, I'm not sad."
After all, he was already past the age of dreaming.She also knew that miracles in this world weren’t so common. She hoped Duan Zhicheng would wake up, yet understood the possibility was so slim it could be ignored.
The two of them walked out of the morgue.
Sang Zhi suddenly stopped and opened her arms to him. “A hug.”
Duan Jiaxu was taken aback but obediently bent down and embraced her. He could feel her hand gently patting his back as she murmured softly, “I can’t tell you it’s okay.”
Because it could never be okay.
“But I can share your sadness. I can be with you through everything,” Sang Zhi said. “You don’t have to bear it all alone.”
I hope this makes it a little more bearable for you.
Hearing her words, the curve at the corner of Duan Jiaxu’s lips gradually faded. As if lost in thought, he lowered his eyelashes and suddenly called out, “Zhizhi.”
“Hmm.”
“Am I really too old?”
Not understanding why he suddenly said this, Sang Zhi still earnestly denied it. “No.”
Duan Jiaxu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as if suppressing some emotion. Only after a long pause did he murmur almost inaudibly, “Then why are both my parents gone?”
“…”
Sang Zhi’s nose stung, and she tightened her embrace. The corners of her eyes reddened as she fought back the choke in her voice, slowly and deliberately saying, “I’ll be with you.”
Everything I have, I’ll give to you.
All the warmth I’ve ever received, I’ll give to you too.
“Let me make you a promise, okay?” Sang Zhi said. “We’ll have a home in the future. I’ll stay with you for a long, long time. My family will become your family too.”
“Mm.” Duan Jiaxu repeated softly, “We will have a home.”
Sang Zhi stroked his head, imitating his previous tone, speaking earnestly and solemnly, “Everything others have, our Jiaxu will have too.”
Duan Jiaxu let out a laugh, his voice slightly hoarse.
“Okay.”
Those inescapable, unforgettable parts of the past—
In this moment, as if following Duan Zhicheng’s departure—
Finally, completely faded away.
In mid-July, Sang Zhi’s summer break arrived.
As soon as her last exam ended, Sang Zhi took a car to the airport and returned to Nanwu. Early the next morning, Duan Jiaxu called her out to look at a house in a newly launched residential area in the city.
The two of them toured the show flat.
Three bedrooms, two living rooms, two bathrooms, plus a small balcony. The space wasn’t too large—just over a hundred square meters—but the layout and surrounding environment were quite good.
Everything was nearly perfect.
Except the price was a bit hard to swallow.
Afraid the agent might overhear, Sang Zhi leaned close to his ear and reminded him, “This is really expensive.”
“The house my Zhizhi plans to use for hiding her beloved,” Duan Jiaxu mimicked her whisper, his tone lazy, “if it’s too cheap, she might be too embarrassed to show it off.”
“…”
“Your brother is still waiting to be hidden away.”
“…” Sang Zhi frowned. “Let’s just get a two-bedroom, around seventy or eighty square meters.”
“Kid, this is a house for marriage,” Duan Jiaxu said. “One room for us, and one room reserved for our future child.”
Sang Zhi replied seriously, “That’s exactly two rooms.”
“Let’s add a study too,” Duan Jiaxu raised his eyebrows, his voice drifting lazily, hinting at something. “Your brother hasn’t tried doing it in a study yet—”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was unmistakably clear.
Sang Zhi gritted her teeth and reached out to pinch his cheek.Duan Jiaxu couldn't help but laugh, his chest vibrating. His eyes curved into beautiful crescents as he stopped joking and asked again, "So, do you like this one?"
Sang Zhi glanced around once more and uttered just one word: "Expensive."
"Mm, then this one it is." Duan Jiaxu had come to see it earlier and found it quite suitable. The only reason he hadn't decided yet was because he wanted to ask Sang Zhi's opinion. "I'll let the agent know. We'll come back another day with the documents to buy it."
Sang Zhi didn't say anything more.
After leaving the sales office, Sang Zhi couldn't resist saying, "How come you..."
Duan Jiaxu: "Hmm?"
Sang Zhi muttered, "Well, you're quite handsome."
Duan Jiaxu laughed: "And then?"
"Your temper is alright too."
"Mm."
"Your education and work abilities are both good."
"What's wrong?"
"And now," Sang Zhi didn't know how to describe her feelings - somewhat unbalanced, feeling like she was completely useless, "you're also quite wealthy."
Duan Jiaxu understood and casually added: "My figure is pretty good too."
"..." Not wanting him to become too arrogant, Sang Zhi couldn't help but retort, "Your figure is just average."
Hearing this, Duan Jiaxu shifted his gaze to her: "Average?"
Duan Jiaxu: "Alright then."
"What?"
"After all, I rely on my looks to get by." Duan Jiaxu reached out and scratched her chin, saying lazily, "Looks like I need to work harder."
"..."
The two got in the car.
Sang Zhi glanced at her phone and said casually, "Just drop me off at Shang'an. There's a high school class reunion today, I promised I'd go."
Duan Jiaxu: "We're having dinner at your place tonight."
"I know, my mom told me." Sang Zhi said, "I'll be back in the afternoon. I'll have lunch with them, chat for a while, and won't stay long."
"Mm."
Duan Jiaxu dropped her off at Shang'an Plaza, then went to the supermarket near Sang Zhi's house. After buying some things, he headed to Sang Zhi's home.
Since it was the weekend, both Sang Rong and Li Ping were home. He sat in the living room chatting with them for a while, then followed Li Ping into the kitchen to assist her.
After quite some time, Li Ping glanced at the cupboard and said, "Hey, Jiaxu, could you go to Zhizhi's room and get a plate for me? She took it to her room for midnight snacks yesterday, and I forgot to collect it."
Duan Jiaxu nodded: "Okay."
He turned on the faucet, washed his hands, and turned to enter Sang Zhi's room.
Many years ago, Duan Jiaxu had been in this room once before. Back then, the young girl had nervously pulled him inside, asking him in an extremely anxious tone if he could pretend to be her brother and meet her teacher for her.
After all these years, the room hadn't changed much.
The space wasn't large - just a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe, with no other large furniture. The decor was small and cozy, with warm tones overall, mostly using light pink for decorations.
The blanket was scattered messily on the bed, with a few pieces of clothing randomly dropped nearby.
Duan Jiaxu instinctively went over to pick up her things for her, while also folding the blanket properly. His eyes lifted, catching sight of several stuffed toys on the bed.
All of them were gifts from him.
Many small trinkets on the desk, along with the makeup bag and schoolbag nearby - all were traces of his presence in her life over so many years.Duan Jiaxu walked over to the desk and was about to pick up the plate when he suddenly noticed the sketchbook nearby. The corner of his lips twitched, and he casually picked it up, flipping through a few pages.
The next second, a piece of paper fell out from within.
Duan Jiaxu’s gaze paused, and he instinctively looked down.
Instantly, he noticed the content written on it—
My Dreams:
Get into Yihe University.
Duan Jiaxu.
The handwriting was extremely childish, and the paper was slightly wrinkled, yellowed with age.
The second dream had been scribbled over with a black pen, the strokes so heavy that the paper had torn slightly in places. Yet, the three characters written there were still clearly visible.
Duan Jiaxu froze in place. Only after a long while did he slowly pick up the paper. He lifted his head, his gaze shifting and settling on the milk bottle on the windowsill.
It was filled to the brim with paper stars.
He walked over and picked up the milk bottle as well, gently rubbing it with his thumb.
When Sang Zhi arrived home, it was just past five.
Only Li Ping was in the living room, sitting on the sofa watching TV. Hearing the noise, she glanced over and casually said, "You're back?"
Sang Zhi nodded and asked, "Has Brother Ji Xu come?"
"Yeah, he helped me in the kitchen all afternoon and just went to your brother's room to rest," Li Ping said. "It's about time—go call him out and get ready for dinner."
Sang Zhi agreed and hurried toward Sang Yan's room. With Duan Jiaxu, she had no reservations. She grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open, immediately spotting the man sitting on the sofa.
He was lounging lazily against the backrest, a cigarette in his hand, his eyes lowered as he looked at his phone. Dressed in a white shirt and suit pants, his disheveled hair fell across his forehead.
The room was dimly lit, making his figure appear hazy and indistinct.
The next moment, Duan Jiaxu lifted his gaze.
His appearance was breathtaking and captivating.
It was an all-too-familiar scene.
As if she had returned to that afternoon many years ago.
Back then, a young Sang Zhi, burdened with restless thoughts, had recklessly and urgently pushed open this very door and encountered the twenty-year-old Duan Jiaxu.
That exceptionally outstanding, perpetually nonchalant young man.
Indifferent to everything, as though nothing in the world mattered. Yet, he remained unfazed by all her absurd actions.
Gentle yet aloof, dazzling and radiant.
A treasure impossible to conceal, even in the dimmest of lights.
Sang Zhi had stumbled into his world.
And this man had occupied her entire adolescence.
He was her deepest yearning back then, yet always just out of reach.
Sang Zhi felt dazed, standing motionless in a trance.
History seemed to be repeating itself. Just like back then, Duan Jiaxu lowered his gaze, extinguished his cigarette, and stood up to open the window. But this time, it was different—because the next moment, he reached out his hand to her.
"Come here."
Sang Zhi said nothing and obediently walked over.
At the same time, Duan Jiaxu grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace. He leaned close to her ear, his voice low and husky: "You are—"
He paused, then continued with earnest clarity.
"My only wish in this lifetime."
Sang Zhi lifted her head, meeting his gaze. She pressed her lips together, her throat tightening.
In that instant, Sang Zhi remembered her younger self.Back then, all the feelings I tried so hard to conceal, the uncontrollable yet cautious approaches, those sweet yet bittersweet secrets I dared not share with anyone.
There were times I cried hysterically alone, locking all memories away in a box, crossing out what I believed were impossible dreams one by one, pretending they never existed.
There were also moments I hypnotized myself with whispered words, choking back sobs as I repeated "I won't like you anymore."
Each syllable, crystal clear.
Yet the moment I encountered him again, all defenses crumbled.
Those profound, lingering unrequited feelings - the kind you wish to bury deep in your heart forever, the thoughts you never want anyone to discover - ultimately became something impossible to conceal.
At this moment, it seems there's no need to hide anymore.
Because the dream she had always cherished...
From a certain point onward, had also made her its only dream.
—End of Main Text—
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