Hidden Love

This bout of anger came with an unexpectedly abrupt suddenness.

Sang Zhi hadn't noticed it at first because when he got angry, it really wasn't much different from his usual demeanor.

But she was indeed, a little frightened by him.

During the second semester of her junior year, her classmates around her had started looking for internships one after another. Previously, Sang Zhi had planned to start working right after graduation, but after discussing it with Duan Jiaxu, she decided to take the postgraduate entrance exam for Nanwu University.

So while others were interning, Sang Zhi was preparing for the written exam for graduate school.

As her classes gradually decreased, Sang Zhi spent most of her time either in her dorm room or buried in the library. Sometimes, worried that staying up late to study might disturb her roommates, she would spend a few days at Duan Jiaxu's place.

Half the semester passed just like that.

Sang Zhi had spotted a pair of couple's watches online and planned to give them to Duan Jiaxu as a gift for their second anniversary. Since the price wasn't exactly cheap, she found a part-time job near the campus café.

Because of this, she met a junior named Ren Guang, who was two years below her.

Ren Guang wasn't working there part-time; he had just accompanied a friend to buy a drink.

Sang Zhi, being good-looking, was assigned by the boss to work at the front counter. But she wasn't particularly fond of smiling, and out of professionalism—plus having been told off by the boss a few times—she had to force out a fake smile.

Her dimples were very noticeable; even a slight curl at the corners of her mouth would reveal them. When she smiled, she looked especially adorable.

As if struck by love at first sight, Ren Guang asked Sang Zhi for her WeChat ID on the spot.

Sang Zhi refused him immediately, explaining that she already had a boyfriend.

But perhaps he didn't believe her.

From that day on, Ren Guang came to the café almost every day.

Whenever the number of customers in the shop dwindled, he would go to the front counter to chat with Sang Zhi.

The hourly wage at this café wasn't high, and Sang Zhi didn't have much time to spend there every day, so she hadn't planned to work there for long. Ren Guang's persistent appearances annoyed her so much that she straightforwardly told the boss she was quitting.

But somehow, Ren Guang found out.

He knew which department she was in and her year of study. Later, he even found out her dorm room number.

Every day, he would send her gifts through others or wait for her downstairs at her dorm. He even figured out her daily routine and would occasionally stage "chance encounters."

Sang Zhi had no shortage of admirers, but this was the first time she had encountered someone so clingy. Usually, others would give up once they found out she had a boyfriend.

But this Ren Guang, perhaps because he was young, only grew more determined with each rejection.

It was as if he was dead set on being the "other man."

Duan Jiaxu had been very busy lately, and even their phone calls had become less frequent.

Sang Zhi mentioned the situation to him on WeChat, and when he asked about it, she simply said she had turned the guy down. After all, with the distance between them, she was afraid it might affect his mood and believed she could handle it herself.

This situation dragged on for a few weeks until Sang Zhi finally couldn't take it anymore. She pulled Ren Guang's number out of her blacklist and called him: "Just tell me, what are you thinking?"

The young man's voice was clear and cheerful as he chuckled, "You actually called me."

Just hearing his voice irritated her now, and her tone grew more impatient: "I have a boyfriend. Think about your behavior—go ask your parents and let them discipline you properly."Ren Guang's tone was nonchalant: "Senior, where did you get this boyfriend from? I've seen you so many times this month, and besides me, I haven't spotted a single male creature around you."

"Haven't you heard of long-distance relationships?"

"The breakup rate for long-distance relationships is pretty high," Ren Guang said. "How about giving me a chance?"

Sang Zhi was silent for a few seconds: "Do you want me to be honest?"

Ren Guang: "Go ahead, if there's anything Senior doesn't like about me, I'll change it."

"Setting aside other aspects, just comparing looks with my boyfriend," Sang Zhi's voice was slow and deliberate, her words striking right at his heart, "you're not even worthy of carrying his foot-washing water."

Perhaps truly crushed by this, Sang Zhi didn't see Ren Guang for the entire following week.

Because of this, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

From Sang Zhi's observations of Ren Guang during this period.

She thought this person was quite abnormal.

Clearly, he was a player who thought his moderately decent looks entitled him to flirt with every girl he met. That's why he didn't care whether they had boyfriends or not.

So Sang Zhi felt no guilt whatsoever. Sometimes when she thought about it, she even felt her words might not have been harsh enough. She didn't dwell on this matter too much, gradually putting it out of her mind.

Sang Zhi bought the couple watches she had been eyeing online.

But for this anniversary, it seemed they wouldn't have a chance to meet.

Because both of them were busy throughout the month - one occupied with work matters, the other with exam preparations. Moreover, Yihe and Nanwu were quite far apart, making round trips inconvenient.

Since they had already met during the May Day holiday, Sang Zhi wasn't too bothered about it.

They agreed to make up for it when she returned home for summer vacation.

The day before their anniversary, Zhang Ping, a classmate Sang Zhi knew, was celebrating his birthday. She was invited to his birthday party at a food stall near the school.

When she arrived, Sang Zhi was surprised to find Ren Guang there too.

He was introduced as a friend of one of the girls, but he seemed more like a romantic interest.

Because she had some prior matters to attend to, Sang Zhi arrived quite late, leaving only an empty seat next to Ren Guang. She pressed her lips together, walked over and sat down, handing her gift to Zhang Ping along the way.

Among those present, Sang Zhi knew several people well. They were either classmates from the same department or people she had met during previous competitions, all with whom she had good relationships.

She lowered her head, rinsing the bowl and chopsticks in front of her with tea.

Ren Guang beside her turned and said: "Senior, those have already been washed."

Sang Zhi made an acknowledging sound but continued rinsing them. After a few seconds, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at the caller ID, stood up, and went outside the shop to answer it.

Duan Jiaxu's voice came through: "What are you up to?"

Sang Zhi glanced back, unsure when she would return to the dormitory, and lied quietly: "In the dorm. Planning to take a shower, read for a bit, then go to sleep."

During one of their conversations, Sang Zhi had inadvertently discovered that if she told Duan Jiaxu she would be returning to the dormitory late that day, it would significantly affect his concentration and work performance.

Because he would constantly worry about whether she had returned to the dormitory safely.

Being so far apart, if anything happened, he wouldn't be able to get to her immediately.

Since then, whenever Sang Zhi returned to the dormitory late, she generally wouldn't tell Duan Jiaxu.Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly, his voice exceptionally gentle. "Alright. Don't sleep too early today. I'll head home first and call you again later."

Sang Zhi replied, "Okay."

She put her phone back in her pocket and returned to the food stall.

Most people at the table weren't really eating; they were mostly drinking and playing games. This food stall served barbecue, and several large plates piled with various skewers were spread across the table.

The next table over was playing Truth or Dare.

A guy who had drawn a dare came over to ask Sang Zhi for her WeChat ID but was playfully blocked by the people at their table.

Sang Zhi politely declined, "Sorry."

Their table was playing "Undercover," where the penalty for losing was a dare.

Sang Zhi was particularly unlucky—she drew the undercover role in the first round and wasn't very good at hiding it, getting voted out immediately.

Everyone started brainstorming a dare punishment. Ren Guang, sitting beside her, suggested, "Senior, how about calling your boyfriend and breaking up with him?"

At this, the smile vanished from Sang Zhi's lips as she quietly stared at him.

"Not okay?" Ren Guang put on an innocent expression and poured her a drink. "Then have a drink instead."

The atmosphere instantly turned quiet and awkward.

Zhang Ping frowned and spoke up to ease the tension, "Isn't that dare a bit too harsh? Encouraging a breakup? Sang Zhi, you don't have to drink. Just shout 'I'm an idiot' three times loudly."

Sang Zhi gave a faint smile, picked up the cup in front of her, and downed it in one go. Looking at Zhang Ping, she said calmly, "Consider me a poor sport. I'll just drink. You all keep playing; I'll eat something. My stomach feels uncomfortable empty."

She hadn't eaten much, and after one drink, she felt queasy.

Picking up a skewer, she used her chopsticks to push the meat into her bowl. Her mood was sour, and after just a short while, she already wanted to leave, but she worried it would ruin the gathering's atmosphere.

After eating for a while and emptying her bowl, Sang Zhi only belatedly realized, as she reached for another skewer, that what she had just eaten seemed to be beef skewers.

She paused, thinking a small amount wouldn't hurt, and didn't pay it much mind. Switching direction, she picked up some grilled chicken cartilage instead.

Just then, another round ended.

Ren Guang lost and was urged to share a cross-cup drink with the girl beside him. Though no one said it outright, the implication was clear—they wanted him to drink with his ambiguous crush.

But after taking two cups passed to him, Ren Guang offered one to Sang Zhi and said cheerfully, "Mind?"

The scene fell silent once more.

Sang Zhi saw the girl sitting next to Ren Guang instantly turn cold, her gaze toward Sang Zhi now tinged with hostility.

Maybe it was the alcohol on an empty stomach, or perhaps something else. In that moment, Sang Zhi suddenly felt nauseated. As if she hadn't heard Ren Guang, she stood up and said calmly, "I'm going to the restroom."

The food stall didn't have a restroom, so Sang Zhi had to use a public one nearby.

Once Sang Zhi left, Zhang Ping couldn't hold back, his tone now blunt, "Junior, are you here to ruin the mood today?"

"Not at all," Ren Guang said innocently. "I just noticed this senior hasn't said much all night and wanted to joke with her to help her fit in. Hey, don't be mad—I was just messing around."He coaxed the girl beside him, "Come on, sister, let's drink a cross-cupped wine toast."

Just after finishing the drink, Ren Guang noticed that Sang Zhi's phone, left behind on the table, had its screen lit up. The caller ID displayed the words: "Your boyfriend is looking for you."

Your boyfriend is looking for you.

How sweet.

Yet with him, she was as cold as ice—no matter how he tried, he couldn't warm her up.

He really hadn't encountered someone so difficult to handle.

Ren Guang's gaze lingered, and he sneered inwardly before calmly slipping her phone into his pocket and standing up. "Had too much to drink; I'm going to the restroom."

Once outside the shop, Ren Guang answered the call, "Hello."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a polite inquiry, "Who is this?"

Ren Guang replied calmly, "I'm Sang Zhi's boyfriend. The new one."

Hearing this, the other end fell completely silent. Not long after, Ren Guang heard the man on the line let out what seemed like a light laugh—unclear in emotion, almost as if tinged with absurdity.

"You're saying you're Sang Zhi's new boyfriend?"

"My girlfriend mentioned you've been calling and pestering her?" Ren Guang's tone was unwavering, speaking very seriously. "Whoever you are, please stop harassing my girlfriend. Thank you."

With that, Ren Guang hung up and deleted the call record. After a moment's thought, he muted the phone and, with malicious intent, blocked the number.

The public restroom was in poor condition, with an extremely unpleasant smell.

Sang Zhi fought back the rising acidity in her throat and went in to wash her face. While sitting earlier, she hadn't felt much, but now that she was standing, she began to feel slightly dizzy.

Her skin also felt itchy.

She looked down and noticed small red rashes starting to appear on her arms.

Sang Zhi took a deep breath.

What rotten luck today.

Sang Zhi really didn't want to go back. She grabbed a tissue to dry her face and checked her pockets, intending to message Zhang Ping on WeChat to let him know she was leaving.

But she couldn't find her phone.

Her movements stilled. She opened her bag to check but still couldn't locate her phone.

At that moment, Sang Zhi remembered she had probably left her phone on the table. Her irritation grew more intense. She took a moment to calm herself before turning back to the food stall.

A new game had started at the table.

Sang Zhi spotted her phone on the table immediately and picked it up. She walked over to Zhang Ping, wished him a "Happy Birthday," and mentioned she needed to leave early.

Zhang Ping apologized in a low voice, "I don't really know that guy either; a friend brought him along. I'm really sorry about today. I'll treat you to a meal another time."

Sang Zhi smiled faintly, "It's fine. It's your birthday today—don't let it ruin your mood."

Noticing the commotion, Ren Guang raised his voice, "Senior, leaving already? There's no need for that. I was just joking earlier—didn't mean anything by it."

Sang Zhi pretended not to hear him and said goodbye to the others.

Ren Guang persisted, "Senior, you're making this really awkward for me."

Zhang Ping slapped the table, "Hey, that's enough."

Amid the noise, Sang Zhi left the shop.

She heard footsteps following behind her, then Ren Guang's voice again, "Senior, don't be mad. Look, everyone's blaming me now."

Sang Zhi held back her temper, "Just go back."

"It's late; let me walk you back," Ren Guang said. "Consider it my apology."

"No need."As soon as these words were spoken, Ren Guang suddenly grabbed her arm and said with feigned concern, "Senior, have you had too much to drink? You can't even stand steadily. Let me help you."

Sang Zhi violently shook off his hand.

The movement was so forceful, as if she had touched something filthy. She took a step back, her anger reaching its peak, and enunciated each word clearly, "What do you think you are?"

The curve of Ren Guang's lips remained unchanged.

"Do you know the phrase 'self-awareness'? With your conditions—" Sang Zhi looked him up and down, a hint of mockery in her eyes, "Who gave you the nerve?"

"Don't like my conditions? Then we can try something else." Ren Guang's gaze also turned cold as he pulled her into his embrace and whispered in a low voice, "It's really pleasurable."

Duan Jiaxu had pulled several all-nighters in a row to finish the project he was working on. Exhausted, he left the company and, without even returning home, headed straight for the airport, catching up on sleep during the flight.

Since he hadn't been sure earlier whether he could make it, Duan Jiaxu hadn't told Sang Zhi in advance. He planned to surprise her, so he only called her after landing.

That was when he found out she was already back in her dorm.

As health-conscious as ever, this little one was getting ready for bed at this hour.

The thought of seeing her soon made Duan Jiaxu's mood exceptionally bright. When he reached the entrance of her dormitory, he called her again.

Just as he was about to speak and ask her to come down—

Unexpectedly, a man's voice came from the other end.

The tone was arrogant and somewhat childish, like someone fiercely protective, spouting ridiculous and utterly unconvincing words about Sang Zhi being his girlfriend.

Then the call was hung up.

Duan Jiaxu wasn't angry, just found it amusing and absurd.

But when he tried calling Sang Zhi again and found the line unreachable, he gradually began to feel something else. This girl had just told him over the phone that she was in her dorm, getting ready for bed.

In less than an hour, a man had answered her phone.

So, from the start, her claim of being in the dorm was probably a lie.

But Duan Jiaxu could guess the reason.

It was nothing more than her being afraid he would worry, thinking nothing would happen near the school, and deciding to lie to him so he could feel at ease even while far away in Nanwu.

Duan Jiaxu trusted Sang Zhi completely.

But he didn't trust others.

The man on the other end of the phone made him uneasy and uncomfortable.

Now that Duan Jiaxu couldn't reach Sang Zhi and had no idea where she was, these feelings seemed to multiply.

Duan Jiaxu pressed his lips together, found Ning Wei, Sang Zhi's roommate, in his contacts, and dialed. The other end picked up quickly, seemingly surprised to receive his call, and hesitated, "Hello?"

"Sorry to bother you so late," Duan Jiaxu said. "I can't get in touch with Sang Zhi, and I'm a bit worried. Do you know where she went?"

"Huh? She said it's a friend's birthday," Ning Wei replied. "But she didn't say where."

"Alright, thank you."

"Usually, gatherings are near the school, not too far. Don't worry too much; they're all friends she knows. Nothing will happen. Let me ask around for you."

Duan Jiaxu thanked her again. After hanging up, he ran toward the school gate. Thinking of Ning Wei's words, he began searching shop by shop outside the campus.

Blindly and without composure.Compared to that man's words, Duan Jiaxu was more concerned about Sang Zhi's current state. After all, she wouldn't give her phone to others, nor would she listen to someone say such things to hurt him.

Moreover, it was already quite late.

The number of shops near Yihe University wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. Duan Jiaxu searched for a while, but it felt like looking for a needle in a haystack—there was no trace of her.

His right eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

Just as Duan Jiaxu was about to continue searching, his phone vibrated, and he received a WeChat message.

Ning Wei sent him a location pin.

It was a food stall.

At the same time, Duan Jiaxu spotted Sang Zhi not far away. A man had grabbed her arm, and she shook it off violently. Her lips were moving, and she seemed to have all her defenses up.

The man appeared annoyed, grabbed her arm again, pulling her toward him, and said something.

It was clear she was being harassed.

Duan Jiaxu had just breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing Sang Zhi's situation, a surge of anger instantly overwhelmed him. His usual rationality vanished in an instant. His gaze darkened, as if he was struggling to contain his emotions, and he strode over in large steps.

Those words were no different from sexual harassment.

Sang Zhi broke free from him, raised her hand with all her strength, and slapped him across the face.

Ren Guang's head tilted to the side, and he licked the corner of his lips. His mouth half-opened, and he quickly turned to look at Sang Zhi, his eyes filled with disbelief. Then, he raised his hand as well.

The next second, a man appeared beside Sang Zhi. Tall and striking, his face devoid of any expression, he immediately kicked Ren Guang in the stomach.

Ren Guang hadn't even processed what was happening. Completely unprepared, he grunted in pain, stumbled backward from the force, and fell to the ground.

Then, Duan Jiaxu turned to look at Sang Zhi. He examined her face and every exposed part of her body, asking softly, "Did he hit you?"

She didn't know why he had suddenly appeared here, but Sang Zhi's tension instantly eased, her voice trembling slightly.

"No."

Duan Jiaxu stared at her arm. "What happened to your hand?"

Sang Zhi sniffled. "Allergy."

"Wait outside," Duan Jiaxu said, patting her head reassuringly. "Don't be afraid."

After speaking, he walked over and crouched beside Ren Guang.

Duan Jiaxu had used considerable force earlier, and Ren Guang still hadn't managed to get up, clutching his stomach and gasping for breath. Duan Jiaxu stared at him, the corners of his lips slowly curling into a smile, and he asked nonchalantly, "Buddy, who do you think you're bullying?"

Ren Guang's temper flared, and he tried to kick him. "Fuck, are you insane?"

Anticipating his move, Duan Jiaxu stepped on his leg. He was still smiling, his eyes curved like crescent moons, appearing exceptionally gentle. But his actions were completely at odds with his expression.

Listening to Ren Guang's cries of pain, Duan Jiaxu slowly moved his foot away, then grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the ground, asking again.

"Who do you think you're bullying?"

There were onlookers nearby, mostly students. The shop owner, hearing the commotion, hurried out to intervene, worried it would affect his business.

Zhang Ping also came out. He recognized Duan Jiaxu and, afraid things might escalate to the police station, couldn't help but say, "Bro, just let it go."

But Duan Jiaxu seemed to hear nothing. His appearance was strikingly beautiful, gentle and approachable. Yet his actions were merciless, his eyes filled with a ruthless coldness, devoid of warmth.

Like a god who had just climbed out of hell.Sang Zhi was also afraid that something might happen and anxiously called out to him, "Duan Jiaxu!"

Hearing this, Duan Jiaxu finally stopped his movements. He lowered his eyelids, released the hair he was grabbing from Ren Guang, and chuckled softly, "Forget it, I'm afraid of scaring my girl."

"..."

"Also, let me tell you something. Even if my girl really wanted to cheat, she wouldn’t pick someone like you—" Duan Jiaxu wiped the blood from his hand onto Ren Guang’s clothes, lowering his voice as he spoke with refined elegance, "just to humiliate me."

Ren Guang’s injuries were mostly superficial. He was clearly furious to the extreme, his chest heaving as he forced the words through gritted teeth: "I’m calling the police."

Sang Zhi pulled Duan Jiaxu behind her, completely unafraid of the situation: "Go ahead, I’ll call the police too and report you for sexually harassing me."

Zhang Ping chimed in: "Junior, we all saw it just now—you started the trouble."

Even Ren Guang’s ambiguous romantic interest no longer sided with him. After all, over the course of the evening, it had become clear that Ren Guang was the one persistently bothering Sang Zhi.

Others tried to mediate.

A girl who knew Ren Guang said, "Senior, you should go first. We’ll talk to him."

Duan Jiaxu was truly unafraid; in fact, he seemed intrigued. While everyone else was trying to calm things down, he proactively handed his phone to Ren Guang: "Go ahead, call."

With injuries this minor, there was no chance of a criminal sentence—at most, some compensation might be paid.

But Ren Guang was worried that Sang Zhi would actually report him for sexual harassment. Even if no case was filed, the rumor spreading around campus would be damaging. He stared at Duan Jiaxu, silent, his expression filled with resentment.

He only cursed: "You’re insane."

"If you bother her again, just try it," Duan Jiaxu said with a laugh. "I’m really not afraid of going to jail."

This was the first time Sang Zhi had seen Duan Jiaxu so angry. She used all her strength to pull him away, clearly annoyed by his words as well: "What do you mean, you’re not afraid of going to jail?"

Duan Jiaxu looked at her: "How long has this guy been bothering you?"

"..." Sang Zhi paused, thinking back. "About a month, but he hasn’t been around much recently."

Duan Jiaxu lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Sang Zhi answered honestly: "I was afraid you’d be upset."

"Did he ever bully you before?"

"No." Sang Zhi’s grievances resurfaced, and she muttered, "I’m not that easy to bully."

"Did you drink?"

"I had one glass," Sang Zhi said, "but I drank on an empty stomach, so I’m feeling a bit sick."

"Mm."

Noticing he was heading in the wrong direction, Sang Zhi asked, "Where are we going?"

Duan Jiaxu replied: "The hospital."

The rash on her body was becoming more and more visible, looking alarming.

Sang Zhi shook her head: "We can just buy some medicine. I don’t want to go to the hospital."

Duan Jiaxu made a noncommittal sound but didn’t stop her.

"How did you get here? I thought you said you didn’t have time."

"I made some time."

"Oh." Sang Zhi thought for a moment, then explained, "I didn’t mean to lie to you. I thought I’d be back late tonight and didn’t want you to worry. Besides, I was just outside the campus—it’s not like it was unsafe."

Duan Jiaxu’s tone was detached: "I know."

Seeing him, Sang Zhi truly felt delighted, and her small grievances quickly vanished. She began telling him about recent events, her eyes curving into smiles as her mood gradually lifted.

Duan Jiaxu responded occasionally, but he was noticeably quieter.

The two bought medicine at a nearby pharmacy and then returned to their place.

Sang Zhi sat on the sofa, examining the rash on her body with frustration. "I ate those skewers earlier and only realized afterward that they were beef. I didn’t have much, just a few skewers, so I thought it would be fine."Duan Jiaxu brought two bottles of water from the kitchen and poured them into the electric kettle to boil.

He grabbed Sang Zhi’s hand and reminded her, “Don’t scratch.”

Sang Zhi obediently replied, “Okay.”

In the living room, only the sound of the boiling kettle could be heard. Sang Zhi stared at his face and casually asked, “When are you going back?”

Duan Jiaxu said, “Haven’t decided yet.”

“Then shall we go out and have fun tomorrow?”

“Mm.”

Sang Zhi chatted with him for a while longer before belatedly realizing that he seemed to be in a bad mood. His words felt forced, as if he didn’t really want to talk to her.

Just then, the water finished boiling.

Duan Jiaxu poured some hot water into a cup and added cold water to it. “Take your medicine.”

Sang Zhi swallowed the pills and hesitantly asked, “Are you angry?”

Duan Jiaxu laughed. “Why would I be angry?”

“…” His tone instantly confirmed her suspicion.

She was bewildered. “Why are you angry?”

Duan Jiaxu stood up and headed back to the kitchen. “Go take a bath. I’ll apply the medicine later.”

Sang Zhi instinctively followed him, feeling uneasy. “Are you angry with me?”

“No.”

“I just thought, since we’re so far apart, I should only tell you good things.” Sang Zhi could only guess this was the reason. She tugged at the corner of his shirt, softening her tone. “And nothing really happened…”

Duan Jiaxu asked, “What just happened counts as nothing?”

Sang Zhi exclaimed, “But I didn’t expect him to act like that!”

“What things can you predict? If that’s the case,” Duan Jiaxu averted his gaze and took ingredients from the fridge, his tone devoid of any warmth, “you don’t need to tell me anything from now on.”

His voice remained calm, but it felt sharp, like thorns.

Sang Zhi stared at him intently, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. “I won’t do it again.”

Duan Jiaxu dropped the subject. “Go take a bath.”

The slight grievance she felt earlier multiplied a hundredfold because of his reproach. Sang Zhi’s nose tingled with sadness, and her voice unconsciously carried a sob. “I’m sorry.”

Hearing this, Duan Jiaxu glanced over and said expressionlessly, “Don’t cry.”

His words seemed to provoke her, and tears began to fall, one after another. She lowered her head, wiping them away, and said, forcing back her sobs, “I’ll go take a bath then.”

Duan Jiaxu pinched her chin and lifted her head.

“Still crying?”

This time, Sang Zhi couldn’t hold back. She began to sob, unable to speak.

Duan Jiaxu’s expression finally softened. He sighed softly. “Was I too harsh?”

She stayed silent for a few seconds before shaking her head.

Duan Jiaxu asked, “Then why are you crying?”

“Aren’t you… very busy?” Sang Zhi spoke slowly, her words slurred from sobbing. “I don’t want you to work so hard every day and still have to worry about my problems…”

“Work isn’t as important as you.”

“…”

“It’s precisely because we’re far apart that you need to be honest with me.” Duan Jiaxu wiped her tears away and spoke patiently. “I’d rather worry about you over there than be kept in the dark.”

“…”

“I didn’t mean to get angry with you. I was just—” Duan Jiaxu’s voice grew hoarse. “A little scared.”

He couldn’t reach her and didn’t know where she was. After receiving that kind of phone call, she had blocked his number. He searched for a long time, and when he finally found her, he saw her being harassed by a strange man.Duan Jiaxu felt helpless.

In the end, he still had to find out where she was through her friend.

When she cried, Duan Jiaxu was at a loss. He coaxed her softly, "Don't cry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

Sang Zhi's tears seemed unstoppable as she complained to him, "I had such a bad day today, and you still scolded me. I wasn't feeling well, and you ignored me—you only knew how to criticize me."

Duan Jiaxu kissed her cheek. "Where don't you feel well?"

"My stomach feels uncomfortable, and I want to throw up."

"Alright, I'll make you some sobering soup. If you still don't feel well, take some medicine."

"My body is itchy too, it's so uncomfortable, wuwu..."

"Go take a shower first. I'll apply some medicine for you later."

Sang Zhi wiped her tears on his clothes but couldn't help saying, "You're so scary when you're angry."

Duan Jiaxu chuckled. "Did I scare you?"

"Not really." Sang Zhi sniffled. "But when you yell at me, I just want to cry."

"So you're threatening me now?"

"I'm not."

"From now on, you have to tell me everything honestly, no matter if it's good or bad."

"..."

"Did you hear me?"

"...Mm."

Duan Jiaxu's expression relaxed, and he said playfully, "Then don't give me a reason to yell at you, okay?"

After Sang Zhi returned to her room, Duan Jiaxu busied himself in the kitchen for a while before coming out to the living room. He picked up her phone from the coffee table, opened the contacts, and moved himself out of the blacklist.

Looking at the contact name, the corners of his lips curved up.

Sang Zhi didn't take long in the shower and came out quickly. She sat down at the dining table, finished the sobering soup Duan Jiaxu had just made, and was called over to the sofa.

He had just bought both oral and topical medicine.

Duan Jiaxu held her wrist and began applying the medicine, frowning as he said, "If you eat beef or lamb again, I'm really going to spank you."

Sang Zhi's eyes were still red. She blinked, completely unfazed. "Then go ahead."

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. "You haven't done it again yet."

"You just can't bear to spank me."

"Mm."

Sang Zhi laughed, staring straight at his face. "Duan Jiaxu."

Duan Jiaxu: "What?"

"I bought a couple's watch, but I left it in the dorm." Sang Zhi said as if presenting a treasure. "I'll bring it for you tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Did you buy me a gift?"

"I bought a necklace." Duan Jiaxu said. "I'll put it on you in a bit."

"Mm." After finishing one hand, Sang Zhi switched to the other and said slowly, "I originally thought today was so unlucky. I overslept in the morning and got scolded by the teacher for being late to class. Then I lost my meal card, and when I passed by the playground, I got hit on the head by a basketball. When I went to a friend's birthday party, I ran into someone I dislike, and I had an allergic reaction again."

Duan Jiaxu carefully applied the medicine and went along with her. "That pitiful, huh?"

"But I think I might have judged too early."

"Oh?"

Sang Zhi said softly, "Seeing you makes me feel like today's luck is actually really good."

Even though seeing you only occupied such a small part of today.

It made all the larger parts feel insignificant.

Second semester of senior year.

During a chat with Ning Wei, Sang Zhi heard that her boyfriend had proposed to her.When recalling the incident, Ning Wei couldn't contain her laughter: "You know, he's just too amusing. He's genuinely shy, yet at that bar, he went on stage to sing me a love song, called me up, and suddenly knelt down to propose."

Sang Zhi listened with keen interest.

Ning Wei continued, "The best part is, because he was so nervous, he actually knelt with both knees."

Sang Zhi burst out laughing.

As their conversation wound down, Ning Wei grew curious about her friend's situation: "What about your Duan ge? Has he mentioned anything to you?"

Sang Zhi thought for a moment: "He did say something about getting married after graduation, but I'm not sure if he'll propose. And honestly, I'm a bit worried because he tends to be so flashy."

"Huh?"

"I kind of want to be the one to propose myself."

"..."

Truth be told, it wasn't that Sang Zhi disliked the idea - she just felt embarrassed. Like what Ning Wei described: going on stage and accepting a marriage proposal from her boyfriend in front of everyone.

She found it wonderfully surprising and joyful.

But Sang Zhi felt that if such a thing happened to her, while she'd certainly be happy, she'd probably also feel somewhat uncomfortable.

However, when the moment actually arrived, it turned out completely different from what she had imagined.

Duan Jiaxu proposed to Sang Zhi on her graduation day.

This marked one of the significant milestones in her life. That day, Sang Rong, Li Ping, and Sang Yan all attended. The scene shift felt like traveling back years to when she accompanied her parents to Sang Yan's graduation ceremony.

Only this time, the main character had changed from Sang Yan to her.

Sang Yan brought a camera and lazily took photos of her.

Sang Zhi felt he wasn't taking it seriously, checking each photo and commenting, until they nearly started arguing. Duan Jiaxu had also brought a camera and, after calming her down, took dozens of proper photos for her.

After the graduation photos, Sang Zhi suddenly received a red rose from a stranger. As she walked further, more people emerged, each handing her a single flower.

Among them were many familiar classmates, and even Sang Rong and Li Ping participated.

Sang Zhi suddenly realized what was happening.

Actually, many things can be sensed in advance.

From the moment she woke up that day, Sang Zhi had an incredibly strong premonition. Knowing Duan Jiaxu as she did, she was certain he would choose this day to propose.

And it would be in some flashy, yet clichéd manner.

That showy, old-fashioned man.

Guided by the crowd, Sang Zhi spotted Duan Jiaxu standing in the middle of the pathway. In that instant, she had no attention to spare for anyone around her, completely indifferent to others' gazes.

This scene was one Sang Zhi had imagined countless times.

Perhaps it overlapped with one of her mental images.

Yet it still struck her as a moment she would never forget for the rest of her life.

Duan Jiaxu was dressed particularly formally that day - white shirt, black dress pants, and even a tie. Holding a large bouquet of roses, he slowly walked toward her.

Sang Zhi suddenly felt like laughing.

Duan Jiaxu lowered his chin and smiled back. His tall, slender frame, dark hair and bright eyes, along with his strikingly handsome features, made him appear dazzling and vibrant standing in the light.

A few seconds passed."After you told me your secret before, I never really sat down and properly talked about this with you." Duan Jiaxu gazed into her eyes, his smile fading as his expression turned more serious. "At that time, seeing you cry while speaking made me worry this might be something that caused you great pain."

"That's why I didn't dare bring it up."

The young girl had laid bare all her feelings.

Mustering all her courage, in her own way, she told him—

I admit, between us, it's me who likes you more.

"I also never mentioned that I'm not the type of person who immediately pursues someone once I develop feelings for them." Duan Jiaxu licked his lips, speaking earnestly. "Before showing my affection for you, I had secretly harbored feelings for you for some time."

He too had struggled—because of insecurity, because he felt unworthy of you.

He would retreat because of your reactions, yet feel ecstatic over a single response from you.

"Perhaps you might think, 'Is this Duan Jiaxu just settling for me because someone suddenly appeared beside him, because this person treats him well, and then he discovers this person also likes him?'"

Duan Jiaxu gave a light cough: "Maybe you never thought this way, but fearing you might, I still want to mention it."

Sang Zhi whispered: "I did think that."

But only thought it.

She no longer believed that now.

"You really thought that? You little ingrate." Duan Jiaxu laughed. "I used to think spending a lifetime alone wouldn't really matter. But it wasn't that I truly believed it didn't matter—I just hadn't met that person."

Hadn't met someone who made him want to disregard others' opinions, to climb out from the abyss of insecurity.

No one had ever given him the desire to fight against everything.

So he could never just settle.

Because he never possessed that kind of courage.

Until he met her.

Duan Jiaxu tugged at the corner of his mouth and knelt on one knee: "But you made me suddenly want to give it a try."

Sang Zhi's heart raced wildly. She felt so nervous she could barely breathe. Hearing his calm words, her eyes unconsciously reddened: "Try what?"

"To love someone." Duan Jiaxu spoke each word deliberately. "Regardless of everything."

He lifted his head, murmuring an extremely soft "little one," then solemnly finished his words: "So, will you marry me?"

How could she not be willing?

This was something she had dreamed of for many years.

Sang Zhi accepted the flowers from his hand: "Oh."

Duan Jiaxu was genuinely nervous, and upon receiving such a response, his expression instantly cracked. He lowered his head with a helpless laugh, then quickly added: "That's all? Do you want to see me cry?"

"No. When I say 'oh,' it means," Sang Zhi sniffled, speaking seriously, "'I'm very willing.'"

Seven years later, the day she had imagined had truly arrived.

Wearing her academic gown, under the sunlight, surrounded by everyone's blessings, Sang Zhi accepted Duan Jiaxu's proposal.

Seven years ago, there had also been such a day.

She wore a clean dress, standing beside Duan Jiaxu in his graduation gown. Happy to see him again, yet utterly heartbroken over the impending separation.Clumsily concealing her feelings, not daring to let anyone discover them, no matter how close they were to her. She imagined that one day in the future, she must go to his side.

At that time, Sang Zhi certainly never thought that seven years later, the day she had imagined would truly arrive.

As she had wished.

Sang Zhi had truly become the one by Duan Jiaxu's side.

—Extra Story End—