When Sang Yan was in university?

It had been years since he graduated so when he mentioned something from so long ago, Sang Zhi couldn’t immediately recall it. Just then, the elevator arrived and she walked in, asking in confusion, “What moving dorms?”

The moment she spoke, before Sang Yan could respond, memories flooded back to Sang Zhi.

When Sang Yan was in university, they moved to the main campus which was closer to her school. Being young at the time, she had a sudden idea to use it as an opportunity to meet Duan Jiaxu again.

Sang Zhi remembered the stuffed toy she had brought back from Duan Jiaxu’s dorm and how she had fallen behind on her homework because of it, which then led to another chance meeting.

Sang Yan followed her into the elevator without saying anything.

Sang Zhi’s expression became somewhat stiff as she silently pressed the close button. She couldn’t help but glance at Sang Yan and muttered quietly, “How old was I then? I don’t remember.”

It seemed like Sang Yan had only mentioned it casually, as he didn’t seem to care much and merely responded with a nonchalant, “Oh.”

Seeing that, Sang Zhi relaxed a bit. She lowered her head and sent a message to Duan Jiaxu, 【My brother and Brother Qian Fei are going out for a late-night snack. Are you coming?】

【Duan Jiaxu: No.】

“……”

Sang Zhi suddenly felt the urge to go back.

【Duan Jiaxu: Are you going?】

Sang Zhi felt like all her efforts were in vain and that Sang Yan might have noticed something he shouldn’t have. Frustrated, she typed heavily, 【Then I’m going back now.】

Just as she was about to mention this to Sang Yan, Duan Jiaxu called.

Sang Zhi glanced down and answered the call.

Duan Jiaxu’s voice came through with his usual hint of amusement, “Why go back?”

As they exited the elevator, Sang Zhi followed behind Sang Yan and whispered, “If you’re not going, why should I?”

There were some rustling noises from the other end as if he was changing clothes. Duan Jiaxu’s tone lifted slightly, good-naturedly saying, “I thought you couldn’t get out?”

Sang Zhi asked, “Then what were you planning to do?”

“Stay at the hotel,” Duan Jiaxu continued, “chat with you for a while, and then sleep.”

“That sounds quite pitiful.” Sang Zhi blinked and smiled. “You’d better come out then.”

They got into Sang Yan’s car.

Sang Zhi sat in the back seat and while fastening her seatbelt, she asked, “Which place are we going?”

Sang Yan started the car. “Somewhere nearby.”

After a brief silence, Sang Zhi lightly coughed and politely suggested, “Then let’s pick up Brother Jiaxu first.”

Sang Yan didn’t say much, but he directed the car towards the hotel.

Afraid he might not know the exact location, Sang Zhi mentioned the name of Duan Jiaxu’s hotel again.

As they neared it, Sang Yan suddenly spoke, “Should I just drop you off at the hotel?”

Sang Zhi, who had been playing on her phone, was momentarily stunned. “Weren’t we going for barbecue?”

As she weighed her options internally, Sang Zhi suddenly felt that Sang Yan’s suggestion might actually be better than her original plan. She pressed her lips together and, trying to appear calm, said, “That works too.”

“That works too?” Sang Yan scoffed. “You wish.”

“……”

Sang Yan, feeling embarrassed for her, added, “Can you at least be a little more reserved?”

Realizing she had been teased, Sang Zhi exhaled and retorted unhappily, “Just because I’m seeing my boyfriend doesn’t mean I’m not reserved!”

Sang Yan abruptly changed the subject, “Did Duan Jiaxu really chase after you?”

Sang Zhi’s eyes widened. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m just asking.” Sang Yan drove the car to the hotel and, seeing Duan Jiaxu’s figure, stopped the car and rolled down the window. “Call Duan Jiaxu over.”

“No, you tell me what you meant first.” Sang Zhi was furious, very concerned about her pride. “Do you think I’m lying? He did chase after me! And how am I not reserved? I just didn’t have time these past few days, okay?! He asked me out hundreds of times, it’s not like he didn’t!”

Duan Jiaxu noticed them and opened the back door.

Hearing Sang Zhi, he chuckled softly, “What’s the argument about?”

“……” Sang Zhi instantly fell silent.

Sang Yan couldn’t be bothered with the two of them and started driving again.

Sang Zhi discreetly glanced at Duan Jiaxu.

He had probably just showered, as he carried the scent of the hotel’s body wash. His hair was still slightly tousled and he was dressed casually, as if he had just thrown something on before coming out. He looked handsome and gentle.

Duan Jiaxu shifted his position, sitting closer to Sang Zhi, and then turned his head to look at her as well.

The car’s interior lights were off and the lighting was dim.

Initially, Sang Zhi couldn’t really see his features, but as the distance between them closed, everything became clearer. His eyelashes were long, and in the low light, his pupils appeared pitch-black, looking deeply affectionate but unaware of it.

He was just looking at her, without any unnecessary actions.

Sang Zhi was about to say something, but Sang Yan spoke first, “Please don’t do anything inappropriate in my car.”

“……”

His words broke the ambiguous atmosphere. Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids twitched slightly and he glanced in Sang Yan’s direction. He didn’t say anything but he extended his hand, placing it in front of Sang Zhi.

Sang Zhi hesitated for a moment before placing her hand on his.

Duan Jiaxu’s lips curled into a smile as he held her hand, habitually squeezing her fingertips. He glanced out the window, his eyebrows raised, and then spoke, “Brother.”

“……”

“Can you drop the two of us off somewhere up ahead?”

Sang Yan pretended not to hear.

It wasn’t until they reached the vicinity of the barbecue place that Sang Yan finally pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. He turned to Duan Jiaxu with a forced smile on his face. “Am I your chauffeur?”

Duan Jiaxu smiled as well. “Didn’t I call you brother?”

Sang Zhi lightly scratched his palm with her finger. “Let’s just have barbecue.”

Duan Jiaxu looked in her direction. “Okay.”

There wasn’t any particular reason.

It was late and there weren’t many places to go. Moreover, Sang Zhi felt that if she really went for a barbecue with Sang Yan, it would make her previous words to Li Ping seem true, as if she hadn’t lied.

When they asked later, she wouldn’t have to feel guilty.

The barbecue place was near Qian Fei’s home and the three of them got out of the car and headed towards it.

Sang Zhi felt a bit embarrassed to engage in any intimate behavior with Duan Jiaxu in front of her brother, even holding hands. But after not seeing Duan Jiaxu for several days, she didn’t want to let go, so she decided to act as if Sang Yan didn’t exist.

Sang Yan didn’t pay much attention to them, busy looking at his phone.

After a while, Sang Yan looked up and noticed their interaction. Raising an eyebrow, he recalled the earlier conversation and lazily remarked, “Duan Jiaxu, let me ask you something.”

“Hmm?”

Sang Yan continued, “Do you remember when we moved dorms during university? My sister—”

“……”

It was clear he was bringing up the previous topic again.

Sang Zhi’s breath hitched and she immediately let go of Duan Jiaxu’s hand. She was obviously flustered, reaching out to tap Sang Yan’s arm, her voice tinged with annoyance, “Brother! Can you shut up?!”

Sang Yan paused, seeming puzzled, “Why are you so worked up?”

Sang Zhi was genuinely annoyed. “If you’re going to talk, just talk. Don’t bring me into it.”

Duan Jiaxu, who had no siblings, didn’t quite understand the emotions between the two and wasn’t clear on what they were discussing, but he found it amusing. “Why are you two arguing again?”

Sang Yan glanced at Sang Zhi but said nothing more.

“It’s nothing.”

Qian Fei had arrived early to secure seats. Besides him, a few other men were already seated. Sang Zhi had seen them before at Qian Fei’s wedding but couldn’t recall their names. She only knew they were Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan’s college friends.

She was the only woman present.

Sang Zhi sat between Sang Yan and Duan Jiaxu, absentmindedly tearing the wrapping off her meal bowl.

Noticing Sang Zhi, one of the men casually asked, “Sang Yan, is this your sister?”

“Yeah.” Sang Yan replied.

“Oh, I remember seeing her at Qian Fei’s wedding. I have some impression of her.” Sang Zhi looked young, and the man waved at her, casually greeting, “Hello, Little Sister.”

Sang Zhi nodded. “Hello.”

The others also greeted her.

Sang Zhi nodded again. Worried that Duan Jiaxu might feel embarrassed, she hesitated and then tried to withdraw her hand, which was still holding his under the table. But in the next second, he pulled her hand back.

Then she heard Duan Jiaxu lazily add, “Why call her little sister? Call her sister-in-law.”

“……”

Sang Zhi almost choked and turned her head to look at him.

Qian Fei quietly explained the situation, “Sang Yan’s sister is also Duan Jiaxu’s, um…… girlfriend.”

The others didn’t think it was a big deal. The table fell silent for a few seconds before a wave of teasing erupted. The men were briefly surprised and then started asking nosy questions.

One of the men was particularly surprised. “Duan Jiaxu, you’re something else! I remember her. Didn’t she come when we took our graduation photos? The three of us even took a picture together. Didn’t you say she was your sister back then?”

Duan Jiaxu chuckled and shamelessly said, “I don’t remember.”

Sang Zhi didn’t participate in their conversation and lowered her head to drink water.

Duan Jiaxu turned his head to look at her, his peach blossom eyes half-lowered as he stared at her slightly pursed lips. Then, he slowly said, “I just remember that now, this girl is my girlfriend.”

With a few unfamiliar faces at the table, Sang Zhi still felt a bit uneasy. Moreover, they weren’t from the same age group. A bunch of older men who had been working for years were discussing topics she couldn’t relate to.

Sang Zhi quietly nibbled on her chicken tenders, hardly speaking.

She felt like she was from a different world from them as she watched them use various silly reasons to toast, forcing each other to drink, and downing glasses of alcohol. Even Sang Yan, who had driven there, couldn’t escape.

Only Duan Jiaxu remained unaffected. No one really pushed him to drink, and those who did were politely turned down.

Amazingly, he didn’t drink a single glass.

Even Sang Zhi had grabbed a can of beer and drank it for fun.

Perhaps noticing her boredom, Duan Jiaxu leaned over after a while and asked her, “Are you full?”

Sang Zhi nodded.

Then Duan Jiaxu stood up and casually gave a reason to leave. With a girl present, the others didn’t want to be too rowdy, so they didn’t hold them back, only bidding Sang Zhi goodbye.

Sang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed her backpack, and reminded Sang Yan, “Brother, don’t drink too much.”

Sang Yan replied absentmindedly, “Mm.”

She and Duan Jiaxu walked to a nearby bus stop.

Sang Zhi hadn’t drunk much, but her face was still flushed. She freed one hand to cover her face and suddenly remembered that Duan Jiaxu hadn’t drunk at all tonight. She also recalled that over the years, she had never seen him drink.

When she asked him before, he had said he was allergic to alcohol.

Suddenly, she remembered him mentioning that his father had caused a fatal accident while driving drunk. Thinking of this, she looked up at him and hesitantly asked, “Are you really allergic to alcohol?”

“Hmm?” Duan Jiaxu smiled. “I’m not sure.”

“……”

Sang Zhi immediately understood and softly responded, “Oh.”

Duan Jiaxu then said, “Wanna test it?”

“Huh?” Sang Zhi asked, “Do you want to drink?”

“Mm, later.”

“……”

Sang Zhi had no idea what he was thinking.

For a moment, she felt like she had misunderstood him.

Sang Zhi’s home wasn’t far, just two bus stops away. After getting off the bus, the two of them chatted idly as they walked into the residential complex.

When they were almost at her building, Duan Jiaxu stopped.

Sang Zhi stopped with him.

Then, Duan Jiaxu pulled her into his arms.

The area was dimly lit, with a few cars parked nearby and no one on the road. A light breeze rustled the leaves, casting shifting shadows on the ground.

He bent down, tilted her chin up, and in a low, husky voice, said, “Let’s see if I’m allergic.”

Before Sang Zhi could react to his words, Duan Jiaxu’s kiss had already landed.

There was still a faint taste of alcohol in her mouth, but it felt like a strong drink, making them both feel a little tipsy. More intense than any previous kiss, his tongue pried open her teeth, entwining with hers and exploring every corner of her mouth.

His movements were gentle yet rough.

Sang Zhi felt her mouth ache and lightly bit his tongue.

Duan Jiaxu paused for a moment, then also bit her lip before quickly letting her go. Under the streetlight, his eyes seemed to sparkle as he drawled, “Seems like I’m not allergic.”

After that, he chuckled and added, “I think I could kiss you a few more times.”

Sang Zhi mumbled, “How could you tell?”

There was a brief silence.

“It doesn’t feel quite right.” Duan Jiaxu stared at her, rubbing her lips with his thumb and applying just enough pressure as if he wanted to be rough but was afraid of hurting her. “I feel like I need to see you every day.”

“……”

“Just one day without seeing you,” Duan Jiaxu, with his lips reddened from their kiss, leaned in again, “and I already miss you terribly.”

Doing this so close to home, Sang Zhi felt a sense of fear of being caught. It was only a few more steps to her building and she couldn’t shake off the anxiety.

Even though she figured it was unlikely that Li Ping or Sang Rong would come out at this hour, she still didn’t let Duan Jiaxu continue walking her home, wanting to say goodbye there.

Her anxious expression amused Duan Jiaxu, but he cooperated, stopping where they were.

Sang Zhi jogged to her building. She turned back and saw that Duan Jiaxu was still standing in the same spot. She waved at him, signaling for him to go back.

Duan Jiaxu waved back and seemed to smile before he turned and left.

Sang Zhi unlocked the entrance door and walked inside.

She entered the elevator, pressed the button for her floor, and looked down at her phone.

Suddenly, she heard the elevator door open again, followed by footsteps. She instinctively looked up and met Li Ping’s eyes. Startled, she asked, “Mom, why are you out so late?”

Li Ping looked at her, smiled, and said lightly, “I just took out the trash.”

Sang Zhi wasn’t sure if her mother had seen Duan Jiaxu and her heart was racing. She didn’t ask further, just nodded guiltily.

Sure enough.

The next moment, Li Ping spoke again, “Was that your brother’s friend who walked you home?”

Sang Zhi scratched her head. “……Mm.”

“Duan Jiaxu?” Li Ping asked, “Isn’t he from Yihe? Did he come back with you for the holiday?”