If the person standing in front of her right now had been Sang Yan, he wouldn’t have gotten a single word out of Sang Zhi about what she didn’t want to tell him. In fact, she would have dared to cling to him shamelessly for a long time without revealing anything.

But now, the person before her was someone Sang Zhi had met for the first time.

From the moment he spoke his first word, Duan Jiaxu had been particularly gentle as if he wouldn’t lose his temper no matter what he heard. She couldn’t see through him, and because of this unfamiliar and distant relationship, she didn’t dare to be too presumptuous.

As soon as there was even a slight change in his tone, Sang Zhi completely lost the courage to continue hiding the truth.

Sang Zhi remained silent for a few seconds before reluctantly confessing, “I didn’t pay attention in class.”

“Mm.”

“The teacher called on me to answer a question, and I got it right.” Sang Zhi paused, slowly organizing her words. “Then he asked me if I wanted to take his place as the homeroom teacher of our class. I thought that was definitely not possible, so I refused.”

“……”

Duan Jiaxu: “?”

Sang Zhi carefully glanced at him, as if trying to gauge his reaction, then quickly withdrew her gaze. She obediently stood in place, looking very honest and naive. “Then he said he wanted to call my parents.”

After she finished the last word, Sang Zhi felt like the whole world had gone silent.

She had concealed some details, making her feel quite guilty, and seeing that he still hadn’t spoken, she couldn’t help but say, “You don’t believe me?”

Upon hearing her question, Duan Jiaxu finally spoke, his words tinged with amusement. “I really don’t believe you.”

He seemed to genuinely find this matter funny. His shoulders trembled slightly, his chest rising and falling, and a faint laugh escaped his throat, mixed with shallow breaths. He was already very handsome, but his smile made him even more dazzling and radiant.

They were standing close to each other and Sang Zhi could smell the lingering scent of smoke on him, which made her feel even more uneasy.

She forced out a sentence, “I’m telling the truth.”

Duan Jiaxu asked, “Hmm? You’re not lying to me?”

Sang Zhi nodded vigorously, looking extremely sincere. “No, it’s true. If you don’t believe me, you’ll see tomorrow. Even if I lie to you now, the teacher will tell you the truth.”

“Is that so……”

As soon as his words fell, the door was opened again.

Sang Yan didn’t look at them as he walked towards the closet, saying straightforwardly, “Little Brat, get out.”

Although Sang Zhi felt a bit guilty about falsely accusing him, she still wasn’t willing to leave just like that. She muttered, “Can’t I stay here?”

Sang Yan turned around, his smile not reaching his eyes. “I need to change clothes.”

“Then this brother……” As she said so, Sang Zhi tugged at the hem of Duan Jiaxu’s shirt. “This brother should also leave, right? I don’t think he wants to watch you change either.”

Sang Yan pretended not to hear. “Close the door when you leave.”

Sang Zhi took it as his consent and pulled Duan Jiaxu towards the door. “Alright, we’ll close it.”

“……”

Sang Yan watched them for a moment before waving his hand dismissively, too lazy to bother anymore.

Because this topic couldn’t be overheard by a third person, Sang Zhi immediately dragged Duan Jiaxu into her room, shut the door cautiously, and urgently asked, “Brother, are you coming tomorrow or not? I’ve already told you the truth……”

Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes and lazily replied, “Why don’t you go find your brother?”

“How could I?!” Sang Zhi widened her eyes. “I just wrongly accused him like that…… If I told him, he would immediately tell my mom.”

Duan Jiaxu was still smiling. “Your brother isn’t that kind of person.”

“……”

It was hard to tell if he was being serious or joking from his tone.

Even though Sang Zhi had threatened him earlier, it was all just bluster, and now she was completely out of ideas.

With no way out, she recalled the previous incident and grudgingly reminded him, “Brother, if you hadn’t said those things to my brother earlier, I wouldn’t have argued with him.”

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

At that moment, the door opened.

Sang Yan stood outside and looked at Duan Jiaxu. “Let’s go.”

As if he hadn’t heard Sang Zhi’s earlier words, Duan Jiaxu nodded. “Kid, see you next time.”

Sang Zhi couldn’t believe it.

How could it end with ‘see you next time’?

They hadn’t reached an agreement yet!

Realizing that Duan Jiaxu was really about to leave, Sang Zhi immediately grabbed his arm. “Are you guys leaving so soon? It’s so late already, why not stay for dinner before you go?”

Duan Jiaxu politely declined, “Next time.”

Sang Zhi stared at him, showing no intention of letting go.

What next time?!

Did you forget what we were talking about just now?! Are you already getting forgetful because of your age?!

But she didn’t dare say these things out loud. Instead, she could only ask pitifully, “When is next time……?”

Duan Jiaxu curved his lips into a smile but said nothing.

Watching their dramatic interaction, Sang Yan raised an eyebrow. “What are you two doing? Fell for each other at first sight? Duan Jiaxu, take it easy. My sister is only 12.”

Sang Zhi instinctively corrected, “13.”

Hearing that, Duan Jiaxu was a bit surprised. His gaze shifted back to Sang Zhi.

“13?”

His tone made it sound like he couldn’t believe it.

As if the fact that she was already13 was some kind of outlandish tale.

This reaction struck a nerve for Sang Zhi. She instantly forgot that she needed a favor and, feeling very unhappy, said, “Are you trying to say I’m short and don’t look like I’m 13 at all?”

Sang Yan, leaning against the door with his arms crossed, fanned the flames, “That’s exactly what he means.”

Duan Jiaxu scratched the skin under his eye and shook his head. “No.”

But his words lacked sincerity.

Sang Zhi glared at the two of them for a few seconds before losing her temper. “Forget it, I’m not talking to you anymore.” She didn’t argue back with Sang Yan as she did before. Instead, as if truly hurt, she said in a low voice, “Anyway, I’m still growing.”

Seeing this, Sang Yan felt a rare pang of guilt and tried to comfort her, “Isn’t being short a good thing? When you’re 30, people might still think you’re only 18.”

This only seemed to rub salt into her wound.

Sang Zhi kept a stern face. “So is it because you’re tall that people think you’re my dad?”

“……”

Sang Yan’s brief moment of guilt vanished instantly.

The young girl’s eyes were still red, looking like she had been bullied, yet she remained defiant.

It seemed like both times she got upset was because of him. Duan Jiaxu sighed, his attitude starting to soften, and he asked, “13, second year of middle school?”

Sang Zhi didn’t look at him and replied stiffly, “First year.”

“Which school?”

“Xuri Middle School.” Sang Zhi hesitated, unsure if her sudden thought was right, but still added weakly, “Class one of the first year.”

Duan Jiaxu dragged his words as he repeated, “Xuri Middle School, first year, class one……”

Then, he bent down to meet her eyes.

“Kid, what’s your name?”

Sang Zhi pursed her lips slightly and whispered, “My name is Sang Zhi.”

“Sang Zhi?”

“Mm.” Sang Zhi couldn’t help but avoid his gaze. “Zhi as in ‘childlike’.”

Duan Jiaxu affectionately pinched her cheek. “Well then, Little Sang Zhi.”

“……”

He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret with her that no one else should hear.

“Do you know when ‘next time’ is now?”

———pr


After bidding farewell to Li Ping, the two of them left the Sang family’s house.

The sun had completely set and the evening glow stained the entire sky, adding a touch of coolness to the air.

Duan Jiaxu suddenly said, “Your sister seems to be quite well-behaved.”

“Well-behaved?” Sang Yan scoffed, having somehow found a lollipop and was now biting it. “That little brat is in her rebellious phase, hard to manage.”

Rebellious phase.

Hard to manage.

It didn’t seem too bad.

Duan Jiaxu considered the matter for a moment. She was still a kid with an immature mind after all, and he wasn’t sure if anything serious had happened, so he decided to bring it up with Sang Yan, “Your sister has been told to bring her parents to school and she just asked me if I could go see the teacher for her. You should figure out how to handle it.”

Sang Yan clicked his tongue. “No wonder she kept insisting you stay for dinner. I knew that little brat was up to no good.”

Duan Jiaxu smiled but didn’t say anything.

“It probably isn’t a big deal. Our parents have been called several times and it’s always for the same reason.” Sang Yan said as he looked down, replying to messages absentmindedly. “Are you free tomorrow? If you are, could you help me go there? I have something to do tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, huh……”

“Yeah. If you’re not available, that’s fine. I’ll let my mom know.”

Duan Jiaxu had just agreed to help her but he immediately turned to tell her parents?

The kid will probably cry again.

“Even if I’m not free, I have to be available.” Duan Jiaxu said, his eyes lowered and his tone casual, “I can’t just lie to a kid.”

———pr


Hearing the sound of the entrance door closing, Sang Zhi peeked out and then ran barefoot to Li Ping. “Mom, why did Brother come back?”

Li Ping replied, “He said he was playing basketball nearby, so he just came by to take a shower.”

“Since it’s so late, why didn’t you invite them to stay for dinner?”

“Your brother’s friend had something to do.” Li Ping wasn’t too concerned about the matter and asked, “Zhizhi, did your brother really hit you?”

“……” Sang Zhi instantly felt guilty and didn’t dare to ask further. She turned and ran to her room. “I’m going to do my homework!”

Back in her room, she locked the door.

Sang Zhi kicked off her slippers, jumped onto the bed, and pulled a stuffed toy into her arms. Her mood was still poor, but her thoughts seemed to empty out as her mind replayed Duan Jiaxu’s last words.

——”Do you know when ‘next time’ is now?”

That response should have been to her question, ‘When is next time?’

It meant he would come, right?

Sang Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned over, and started swinging her legs alternately, humming a cheerful tune. As she looked out at the darkening sky outside, she continued to think about what had just happened.

Then, recalled that earlier……

Duan Jiaxu had raised his hand and pinched her cheek.

“……”

“?”

Sang Zhi immediately sat up.

Did that person pinched her cheek just now?

He did, right?

How could he pinch her cheek?

They had just met for the first time!!! How could he pinch her cheek like that?!

Not only did he pinch her, but he also got so close!

And…… and he even called her Little Sang Zhi……!

Forget it.

Sang Zhi tried to calm herself down, putting on an indifferent facade and repeating, “Forget it.”

Since he would do her a favor, she decided to let it slide begrudgingly.

Her gaze swept across the room and landed on the mirror on the desk.

Meeting her own eyes in the mirror, she noticed her flushed face.

Sang Zhi’s calmness instantly crumbled.

“?”

Why do you look like you’re the one who took advantage of him?!!!

In her 13 years of life, this was the first time she had experienced such emotion.

Sang Zhi collapsed back onto her bed and wrapped herself up in the blanket in a state of bewilderment, feeling the air inside grow thinner.

Then, she listened to the sound of her heart pounding louder and louder.

———pr


Early the next morning.

After Sang Zhi finished washing up and walked into the living room, she found Sang Rong and Li Ping already seated at the dining table, having breakfast. Since she had found someone to help meet the teacher, she acted as if nothing was wrong and didn’t mention anything about it.

She sat down at the dining table.

Li Ping served Sang Zhi a bowl of lean meat porridge.

Still half-asleep, she had no desire to talk.

The house was quiet and peaceful.

Sang Zhi slowly sipped her porridge, suddenly recalling Duan Jiaxu’s reaction from yesterday. She exhaled and asked quietly, “Dad, am I a bit short?”

Sang Rong looked at her and asked, “Did someone tell you that?”

Sang Zhi nodded and immediately shifted the blame to Sang Yan. “Brother did.”

Li Ping said, “Don’t listen to your brother.”

Sang Zhi poked the bottom of her bowl with her spoon. “But my classmates are all 12 but taller than me. Yin Zhenru is already 160 cm.”

Sang Rong comforted her, “You’re still young. You’ll grow taller.”

“But you all are so tall and I can’t seem to grow. When I ride the bus, people even offer me their seats, thinking I’m a primary school student.” Sang Zhi’s mood was particularly low as she asked gloomily, “Is Brother 150 cm tall when he was 13?”

Li Ping hesitated before replying, “Your brother is a boy, so……”

Sang Rong suddenly interrupted her, answering Sang Zhi’s question, “No.”

“……”

“He wasn’t that tall.” Sang Rong said calmly, “Dad doesn’t remember exactly, but I have a vague impression. Your brother was probably still under 140 cm at that time.”

“……”