Extra 4


This outburst of anger came suddenly, catching Sang Zhi completely off guard.

She didn’t even notice it at first because when he got angry, there wasn’t much difference from his usual demeanor.

But it’s true that she was a little scared by it.

In the second semester of her junior year, her classmates had all begun to look for internships one after another. Sang Zhi had originally planned to start working right after graduation, but after discussing it with Duan Jiaxu, she decided to pursue a graduate degree at Nanwu University instead.

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

With fewer courses, most of Sang Zhi’s time was spent either in the dormitory or at the library. Sometimes, afraid that her late-night studying would disturb her roommates, she would stay at Duan Jiaxu’s place for a few days.

Half the semester passed that way.

Sang Zhi saw a pair of couples watch online and planned to give one to Duan Jiaxu as a gift for their second anniversary. Since the watches weren’t cheap, she took on a part-time job at a café near the school.

It was through this job that she met a fellow student named Ren Guang, who was two years younger than her.

Ren Guang wasn’t working part-time there, just accompanying a friend to buy drinks.

Sang Zhi, with her good looks, was placed at the front desk by the boss. Though she wasn’t very fond of smiling, professionalism and a few reminders from her boss forced her to plaster on a fake smile.

Her dimples were prominent and even a slight tug at the corners of her mouth would make them appear, making her look especially cute.

It was like love at first sight. Ren Guang immediately asked Sang Zhi for her WeChat contact.

She turned him down on the spot, saying she already had a boyfriend.

But perhaps the other party didn’t believe her.

From that day on, Ren Guang started coming to the café almost daily.

Whenever there were fewer customers, he would come to the front desk and chat with Sang Zhi.

The pay at the café wasn’t great and Sang Zhi didn’t plan to stay long, as she didn’t have much free time to spare. Ren Guang’s persistent appearance annoyed her, so she straightforwardly handed in her resignation to the boss.

But somehow, Ren Guang found out what department and what year she was in. He even knew her dormitory number.

Every day, he would send her things through others or wait for her outside the dorm. He figured out the places she frequented and occasionally pretended to run into her by chance.

Sang Zhi had plenty of suitors, but this was the first time she had encountered someone so persistent. Usually, once people knew she had a boyfriend, they would give up.

But this Ren Guang, perhaps because of his youth, seemed to be spurred on by setbacks.

It was like he was eager to become a third party.

Duan Jiaxu had been very busy lately, so they had fewer phone calls.

Sang Zhi had briefly mentioned Ren Guang to him on WeChat. When Duan Jiaxu asked about it, she just said she had turned him down. After all, she didn’t want to worry him since they were so far apart and she believed she could handle it herself.

This situation went on for weeks until Sang Zhi couldn’t take it anymore. She unblocked Ren Guang’s number and called him, “What exactly is in your head?”

The young man’s voice was cheerful, “You actually called me.”

The sound of his voice irritated Sang Zhi and she spoke with a hint of impatience, “I have a boyfriend. What you’re doing now, go home and ask your parents what they think about it.”

Ren Guang was nonchalant. “Senior Sister, where’s your boyfriend? I’ve seen you so many times this month, and besides me, I haven’t seen a single other guy around you.”

“Ever heard of a long-distance relationship?”

“Long-distance relationships have a high breakup rate.” Ren Guang said. “Why not give me a chance?”

Sang Zhi was silent for a few seconds. “Do you want me to be honest?”

“Go ahead. I can change anything you don’t like.”

“Not talking about anything else but just in terms of appearance,” Sang Zhi’s tone was slow and steady, but her words stabbed like a knife, “compared to my boyfriend, you’re not even worthy to carry the washbasin for his footbath.”

Perhaps she really struck a nerve, because after that, Sang Zhi didn’t see Ren Guang for a week.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

From what Sang Zhi had observed, she thought the other party was very abnormal.

It was obvious. He was a scumbag who thought he had a decent face and used it to flirt with girls everywhere, not caring if they already had boyfriends.

So Sang Zhi felt no guilt at all. Sometimes, when she thought about it, she even felt she hadn’t been harsh enough. She didn’t dwell on the matter much and gradually forgot about it.

Sang Zhi bought the couples watch online that she had previously been eyeing.

But it seemed there wasn’t a chance for them to meet on their anniversary.

They both had no time this month. One was busy with work while the other was busy with exams. Plus, the distance between Yihe and Nanwu was far, making it a hassle to travel back and forth.

But they had met up during the May 1^st holiday so Sang Zhi didn’t mind too much.

They agreed to celebrate when she went home during summer break.

The day before their anniversary, it was Zhang Ping’s birthday, a classmate Sang Zhi knew. She was invited to his birthday party at a nearby open-air restaurant.

When she arrived, she unexpectedly discovered that Ren Guang was also there.

He came as a friend of one of the girls, but it seemed more like they were romantically involved.

Sang Zhi was a bit late because she had something to do, so the only empty seat left was next to Ren Guang. She pursed her lips, walked over to sit down, and handed her gift to Zhang Ping.

Several people at the table were familiar with Sang Zhi. They were either students from the same department or people she had met during competitions, all of whom she had good relationships with.

She lowered her head and used tea to rinse the bowls and chopsticks in front of her.

Ren Guang, sitting next to her, turned his head and said, “Senior Sister, these have already been washed.”

Sang Zhi made a sound of acknowledgment but continued to wash them. A few seconds later, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at the caller ID, got up, and went outside to answer it.

Duan Jiaxu’s voice came through, “What are you doing?”

Sang Zhi glanced back. Unsure when she would be able to return to the dorm, she lied, “I’m in the dorm. I’m about to take a shower, read a bit, and then go to sleep.”

Once, while chatting with Duan Jiaxu, Sang Zhi accidentally discovered that if she told him she might return to the dorm late, it would significantly distract him and affect his work.

He would keep worrying about whether she got back to the dorm safely.

Being so far away, he couldn’t come to her rescue if anything happened.

After that, Sang Zhi would rarely mention it to Duan Jiaxu if she was going to be returning late.

Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly, his voice particularly gentle, “Alright. Don’t go to sleep too early tonight. I’m heading home now and will call you later.”

Sang Zhi replied, “Okay.”

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

Most of the people at the table weren’t eating much but were drinking and playing games instead. The place served barbecue and the table was piled high with various skewers.

At the table next to them, people were playing Truth or Dare.

A guy was chosen for a dare and came over to ask for Sang Zhi’s WeChat, only to be jokingly stopped by the people at Sang Zhi’s table.

Sang Zhi politely declined, “Sorry.”

At their table, the others were playing ‘Who’s the Spy’, and the punishment for losing was a dare.

Sang Zhi was particularly unlucky. She drew the spy card in the first round, and not being good at hiding it, she was voted out right away.

Everyone began to think about her dare. Ren Guang, sitting beside her, suggested, “Senior Sister, how about you call your boyfriend and break up with him?”

Upon hearing his words, Sang Zhi’s smile vanished as she quietly looked at him.

“Not up for it?” Ren Guang asked innocently, pouring her a drink. “Then how about just drinking instead?”

The atmosphere immediately turned awkward.

Zhang Ping frowned and spoke up to ease the tension, “Isn’t that dare a bit too harsh? Breaking up over a game? Sang Zhi, no need to drink. Just shout ‘I’m a fool’ three times and that’s it.”

Sang Zhi forced a smile, picked up the glass in front of her, and drank it all in one go. Looking at Zhang Ping, she said calmly, “I’d rather drink than be a bad sport. You guys continue, I’ll just eat right here. I’m feeling a bit queasy on an empty stomach.”

She hadn’t eaten much and the drink made her feel uncomfortable.

She picked up a skewer and pushed the meat onto her plate with chopsticks. She was in a bad mood and wanted to leave after just a short while, but she didn’t want to spoil the fun.

After eating for a while, she suddenly realized that she had been eating beef skewers.

Sang Zhi paused for a moment. But she thought that eating a small amount wouldn’t be a problem so she didn’t pay it much attention. She went and picked up the chicken feet nearby.

At this time, one round of the game happened to end.

Ren Guang lost and was egged on by others to drink a cross-cup with the girl beside him. Although no one said it explicitly, the intention was clear—— they wanted him to have a drink with the girl he was flirting with.

But after taking the two cups of alcohol handed to him by others, Ren Guang passed one to Sang Zhi, saying cheerfully, “Mind if I offer you this?”

The scene fell silent again.

Sang Zhi noticed that the expression of the girl sitting next to Ren Guang suddenly turned cold and there was more hostility in her eyes as she looked at Sang Zhi.

Maybe it was because she drank on an empty stomach, or perhaps for some other reason, but in that instant, Sang Zhi suddenly felt nauseous. As if she hadn’t heard Ren Guang’s words, she stood up calmly and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”

There wasn’t a restroom at the open-air restaurant, so Sang Zhi had to go to a public one nearby.

As soon as Sang Zhi left the table, Zhang Ping couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke with a noticeably less friendly tone, “Junior Brother, are you here to cause trouble tonight?”

“No way.” Ren Guang replied innocently, “I just noticed Senior Sister has been quiet all evening, so I wanted to joke around and help her join in. Don’t be mad, I was just joking around.”

He then coaxed the girl beside him, “Come on, Sister, let’s drink this cross-cup.”

Just as Ren Guang finished the drink, he noticed Sang Zhi’s phone that was left on the table. The screen lit up, showing an incoming call with the words, ‘Your boyfriend is calling’.

Your boyfriend is calling?

It was pretty sweet.

Sang Zhi treated him like ice, so cold that he couldn’t warm her up no matter what.

He had never encountered someone as difficult before.

Ren Guang’s gaze paused and he sneered inwardly. Then, without a change in expression, he slipped Sang Zhi’s phone into his pocket and stood up, saying, “I’ve had too much to drink. I’m going to the restroom.”

Outside the restaurant, Ren Guang answered the call, “Hello.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a polite question, “Who is this?”

Ren Guang calmly replied, “I’m Sang Zhi’s boyfriend, her new one.”

Hearing his words, the person on the other end fell completely silent. Not long after, Ren Guang heard the man give a soft laugh, a sound that was light, unclear and tinged with a hint of absurdity.

“You’re saying you’re Sang Zhi’s new boyfriend?”

“I heard from my girlfriend that you keep pestering her with calls?” Ren Guang’s tone was unwavering and serious, “I don’t know who you are, but please stop harassing my girlfriend. Thanks.”

With that, Ren Guang hung up the call and deleted the record. After some thought, he put the phone on silent and maliciously added the number to the blacklist.

———pr


The environment at the public restroom was bad, with an extremely unpleasant smell.

Sang Zhi held back the acidic taste rising in her throat and went in to wash her face. She hadn’t felt much while sitting earlier, but now that she was standing, she felt a bit dizzy.

Her body also felt itchy.

She looked down and noticed that small red rashes had appeared on her arms.

Sang Zhi took a deep breath.

What kind of lousy luck did she have today?

Sang Zhi didn’t want to go back to the gathering. She grabbed a tissue to dry her face and reached into her pocket, planning to message Zhang Ping on WeChat.

However, her phone wasn’t there.

She paused and opened her bag, but still couldn’t find it.

At that moment, Sang Zhi remembered she might have left her phone on the table. The irritation in her heart grew stronger. After calming herself, she turned around and headed back to the open-air restaurant.

A new game had already started at the table.

Sang Zhi immediately spotted her phone on the table and picked it up. She walked over to Zhang Ping, wished him a happy birthday, and mentioned that she was leaving first.

Zhang Ping felt apologetic and lowered his voice, saying, “I don’t know that guy, he was just brought by a friend. I’m really sorry about tonight. Let me treat you to dinner another day.”

Sang Zhi smiled slightly. “It’s fine, it’s your birthday today so don’t let this ruin your mood.”

Noticing the movements on their side, Ren Guang raised his voice, “Senior Sister, you’re leaving? No need for that, I was just joking earlier. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

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

But Ren Guang wasn’t done, “Senior Sister, aren’t you making things awkward for me?”

Zhang Ping slapped the table. “Hey, that’s enough.”

Amid the noise, Sang Zhi left the restaurant.

She heard footsteps following her and then Ren Guang’s voice, “Senior Sister, don’t be angry. Look, everyone’s blaming me.”

Sang Zhi held back her temper. “Go back.”

“It’s already so late, let me walk you home.” Ren Guang suggested, “Think of it as an apology.”

“No need.”

As soon as she said that, Ren Guang suddenly grabbed her arm, pretending to be concerned, “Senior Sister, have you had too much to drink? You’re unsteady. Let me help you.”

Sang Zhi yanked her arm away.

Her movement was sharp, as if she had touched something filthy. Sang Zhi stepped back, her anger reaching its peak as she spat out each word, “Who do you think you are?”

Ren Guang’s smile didn’t falter.

“Have you ever heard of the word ‘self-awareness’? With your qualifications……” Sang Zhi gave him a once-over, her eyes full of mockery, “who gave you the audacity?”

“Not impressed by my qualifications? Then let’s try something else.” Ren Guang’s gaze turned cold as he pulled her toward him, speaking in a low, menacing voice, “You might enjoy it.”

———pr


Duan Jiaxu had pulled several all-nighters in a row to finish the project in hand. Exhausted, he left the company but headed straight to the airport without even stopping home, catching up on sleep on the plane.

Since he hadn’t been sure earlier if he could make it, Duan Jiaxu hadn’t told Sang Zhi in advance. He planned to surprise her and called her after the plane landed.

He learned that she was already at her dormitory.

She still takes care of herself as always, getting ready for bed at this hour.

The thought of seeing her soon lifted Duan Jiaxu’s spirits. Once he reached her dormitory building, he called her again.

He was just about to ask her to come downstairs.

But to his surprise, a man’s voice answered.

The tone was arrogant, almost childish, as if protecting something precious, claiming that Sang Zhi was his girlfriend— a ridiculous and unbelievable statement.

Then the call ended.

Duan Jiaxu didn’t get angry. He just found it absurd and funny.

But when he tried calling Sang Zhi again and found the line unreachable, his mood began to shift. She had just told him she was in her dorm, getting ready to sleep.

Less than an hour later, a man was answering her phone.

So, her earlier claim of being in the dorm was likely false.

But Duan Jiaxu could guess the reason.

She probably didn’t want him to worry and assumed nothing would happen near the school, so she lied to reassure him.

Duan Jiaxu trusted Sang Zhi deeply.

But he didn’t trust others.

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

Now, unable to reach Sang Zhi and not knowing where she was, those emotions worsen.

Duan Jiaxu pressed his lips together and found Sang Zhi’s roommate, Ning Wei, in his contacts. He dialed her number and the other party answered quickly, sounding surprised, “Hello?”

“Sorry to bother you so late.” Duan Jiaxu said. “I can’t reach Sang Zhi and I’m a bit worried. Do you know where she went?”

“Ah? She said she’s attending a friend’s birthday.” Ning Wei replied. “But she didn’t mention where.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Students usually hang out near the school and won’t go far. Don’t worry, they’re all friends so nothing will happen. But I can ask around if you want.”

Duan Jiaxu thanked the other party again. After hanging up, he ran towards the school gate. Recalling Ning Wei’s words, he started searching the nearby shops one by one—— blindly and lacking calmness.

He was more concerned about Sang Zhi’s current state than the man’s words. After all, she wouldn’t give her phone to someone else, nor would she let someone say such things to hurt him.

And it was getting late.

There weren’t too many establishments near Yihe University, but not too few either. Duan Jiaxu searched for a while, like finding a needle in a haystack, with no signs.

His right eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

Just as he was about to continue searching, his phone vibrated. He had received a message on WeChat.

Ning Wei had sent him a location.

It was an open-air restaurant.

At the same time, Duan Jiaxu also spotted Sang Zhi not far away. A man had grabbed her arm and she violently flung the other party’s hold right away. Her mouth opened and closed, her entire body bristling with tension.

The man seemed to be enraged. He grabbed her arm again and pulled her into his embrace, then said something.

It was clear she was being harassed.

Duan Jiaxu had just breathed a sigh of relief, but upon seeing Sang Zhi’s situation, his anger instantly surged. His usual composure vanished and his gaze darkened as if he was trying to suppress his emotions as he strode toward them.

———pr


What the man said was no different from sexual harassment.

Sang Zhi struggled to break free from him and, using all her strength, raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

Ren Guang’s head tilted to the side and he licked the corner of his mouth. His lips parted slightly as he quickly looked back at Sang Zhi with a mix of disbelief in his eyes. Then, he raised his hand as well.

The next second, a man appeared beside Sang Zhi. He was tall and striking, with not a hint of expression on his face. He kicked Ren Guang in the stomach as soon as he arrived.

Ren Guang didn’t even have time to react. He was completely unprepared and grunted as he was forced back several steps, stumbling to the ground.

Then, Duan Jiaxu turned to look at Sang Zhi. He studied her face and every part of her exposed to the air, and softly asked, “Did he hit you?”

Sang Zhi didn’t know how he suddenly appeared there, but her tension immediately eased and she answered with a trembling voice, “No.”

Duan Jiaxu’s gaze landed on her arm. “What happened to your arms?”

Sang Zhi sniffled. “Allergic reaction.”

“Wait in the distance.” Duan Jiaxu said, patting her head gently to comfort her. “Don’t be scared.”

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

Duan Jiaxu hadn’t held back earlier and Ren Guang was still on the ground, clutching his stomach and gasping for air. Duan Jiaxu stared at him, his lips slowly curved into a smile as he casually asked, “Who do you think you’re harassing?”

Ren Guang’s temper flared and he also tried to kick Duan Jiaxu. “F*ck! Are you f*cking sick?!”

Anticipating the other party’s move, Duan Jiaxu directly stepped on his leg. He was still smiling, his eyes curving like crescent moons, appearing especially gentle. However, his actions were in complete contrast to his expression.

As he listened to Ren Guang’s pained cries, Duan Jiaxu slowly moved his feet aside, then grabbed Ren Guang by the hair and slammed his head into the ground. He asked again, “Who do you think you’re harassing?”

A crowd had gathered, most of them students. The store owner, hearing the commotion, rushed out to break up the fight, afraid it would affect his business.

Zhang Ping had also come out. He recognized Duan Jiaxu and, worried the situation might escalate to the police station, couldn’t help but say, “Brother, let it go.”

But Duan Jiaxu seemed deaf to everything around him. His appearance was exceedingly handsome, gentle, and approachable, yet his actions were ruthless, with a viciousness in his eyes, devoid of any warmth.

He seemed like an immortal who had just crawled up from the depths of hell.

Sang Zhi, afraid something might go wrong, anxiously called out to him, “Duan Jiaxu!”

Upon hearing her voice, Duan Jiaxu finally stopped. He lowered his gaze, released his grip on Ren Guang’s hair, and chuckled softly. “Forget it. I don’t want to scare my girl.”

“……”

“And one more thing,” Duan Jiaxu leaned closer, his voice low and cultured as he wiped the blood on his hand onto Ren Guang’s clothes, “even if my girl wanted to cheat, she wouldn’t choose someone like you to humiliate me.”

Ren Guang’s injuries were mostly superficial but he was clearly furious. His chest heaved and he spat out his words through gritted teeth, “I’m calling the police.”

Sang Zhi pulled Duan Jiaxu behind her, completely unafraid. “Go ahead, I’ll call them too and report you for sexual harassment.”

Zhang Ping chimed in, “Junior Brother, we all saw it just now, you’re the one who caused trouble first.”

Even the girl who had an ambiguous relationship with Ren Guang didn’t side with him. After all, anyone could see that it was Ren Guang who had been pestering Sang Zhi the entire night.

Others tried to intervene and break up the fight.

A girl who knew Ren Guang said, “Senior Sister, you should leave first. We’ll talk to him.”

Duan Jiaxu wasn’t afraid at all. In fact, he even seemed interested. While everyone else was trying to calm things down, he took the initiative to hand his phone to Ren Guang. “Go ahead, call them.”

These minor injuries wouldn’t lead to a conviction, at most some compensation.

However, Ren Guang was worried that Sang Zhi might really accuse him of sexual harassment. Even if it didn’t lead to a case, the rumors would be damaging if they spread at school. He stared at Duan Jiaxu silently with a look of reluctance on his face.

He only managed to curse, “You’re nuts.”

“Try bothering her again and see what happens.” Duan Jiaxu smiled. “I’m not afraid of going to jail.”

Sang Zhi had never seen Duan Jiaxu this angry before. She tugged at him to pull him away, clearly annoyed by what he had said. “What do you mean you’re not afraid of going to jail?”

Duan Jiaxu looked at her. “How long has that guy been pestering you?”

“……” Sang Zhi paused and tried to recall. “About a month, but he hasn’t shown up much lately.”

Duan Jiaxu lowered his eyes, his face devoid of emotion. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sang Zhi replied honestly, “I didn’t want to upset you.”

“Has he harassed you before?”

“No.” Sang Zhi’s feelings of grievance resurfaced and she muttered, “I’m not that easy to pick on.”

“Did you drink?”

“I had a glass,” Sang Zhi said, “but I drank on an empty stomach, so I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable.”

“Hmm.”

Seeing that he was walking in the wrong direction, Sang Zhi asked, “Where are you going?”

“The hospital.”

The rash on her skin was becoming more pronounced, making it look particularly alarming.

Sang Zhi shook her head. “Let’s just buy some medicine. I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

Duan Jiaxu hummed in response and didn’t insist.

“How come you’re here? Didn’t you say you didn’t have time?”

“I made some time.”

“Oh.” Sang Zhi thought for a moment and then explained to him, “I wasn’t trying to deceive you. I thought I’d be back late tonight and didn’t want you to worry. I’m just outside the school so I thought it was safe.”

Duan Jiaxu’s tone was very light, “I know.”

Seeing him, Sang Zhi indeed felt pleasantly surprised, and the small grievance she had felt quickly dissipated. She started telling him about recent events, her eyes crinkling with joy as her mood gradually improved.

Duan Jiaxu responded occasionally, but he was clearly speaking less.

The two of them went to a nearby pharmacy to buy medicine and then returned to the apartment.

Sang Zhi sat on the sofa and looking at the rash on her skin, she felt a bit frustrated. “I only had a few skewers but it didn’t occur to me until after I’d eaten that it was beef. Since I didn’t eat much, I thought it would be fine.”

Duan Jiaxu poured water into the kettle to boil.

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

Sang Zhi obediently responded.

In the living room, the only sound that could be heard was the water boiling. Sang Zhi watched his face and casually asked, “When are you going back?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Then let’s go out and have some fun tomorrow?”

“Mm.”

Sang Zhi talked with him for a while, only to gradually realize that his mood seemed quite poor. It was as if he was forcing himself to respond, like squeezing toothpaste. It felt like 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 then added cold water to cool it down. “Take your medicine.”

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

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

“…..” His tone instantly confirmed Sang Zhi’s suspicion.

She was puzzled. “Why are you angry?”

Duan Jiaxu stood up and headed toward the kitchen again. “Go take a shower. I’ll help you apply the ointment afterward.”

Sang Zhi instinctively followed him, feeling uneasy. “Are you mad at me?”

“No.”

“I was just thinking that since we’re so far apart, I should only tell you good things.” Sang Zhi could only guess that this was the reason. She tugged at his shirt, softening her tone, “And nothing serious—”

“You call what just happened ‘nothing serious’?”

Sang Zhi let out a sound of surprise. “I didn’t expect him to act that way.”

“What can you anticipate in advance? Since that’s the case,” Duan Jiaxu averted his gaze, taking out ingredients from the fridge. His voice was devoid of any warmth as he said, “you don’t need to tell me anything in the future.”

Though his tone remained calm, it was sharp, like a thorn.

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

Duan Jiaxu no longer mentioned the matter. “Go take a shower.”

The small grievance Sang Zhi felt earlier multiplied by a hundredfold under the weight of his reproach. Her nose tingled and her voice involuntarily carried a sob, “I’m sorry.”

Hearing her, Duan Jiaxu looked over, expressionless. “Don’t cry.”

But the moment he said that, Sang Zhi’s tears seemed to defy him, falling even more rapidly. She lowered her head and wiped them away, struggling to suppress her sobs. “Then I’ll go take a shower.”

Duan Jiaxu pinched her chin and lifted her head.

“Still crying?”

This time, Sang Zhi couldn’t hold back any longer and began sobbing uncontrollably, unable to speak.

Duan Jiaxu’s stern expression softened and he sighed lightly. “Was I too harsh?”

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

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

“Aren’t you really busy?” Sang Zhi spoke slowly, her words muffled by her sobs, “I don’t want you to think about my problems after working so long every day……”

“Work isn’t more important than you.”

“……”

“Since we’re far apart you should be honest with me about everything, good or bad.” Duan Jiaxu wiped her tears away and patiently said, “It’s better for me to worry over there than not knowing anything at all.”

“……”

“I wasn’t trying to be mad at you. I was just……” Duan Jiaxu’s voice turned hoarse, “a bit scared.”

He hadn’t been able to reach her and didn’t know where she was. After receiving a call like that, his number was blocked. He had searched for a long time, and when he finally found her, she was being harassed by a stranger.

Duan Jiaxu felt powerless.

In the end, he had to rely on her friend to find out where she was.

As soon as Sang Zhi started crying, Duan Jiaxu felt helpless and could only coax her softly, “Don’t cry. I shouldn’t have been so harsh.”

Sang Zhi’s tears wouldn’t stop and she complained, “I had such a terrible day but you still scolded me. I felt awful but you didn’t comfort me. You just kept being tough on me.”

Duan Jiaxu kissed her cheek. “Where do you feel unwell?”

“My stomach hurts and I feel like throwing up.”

“Alright, I’ll make you some soup to sober up. If you still feel unwell, you can take some medicine.”

“My skin’s itchy too, it’s so uncomfortable, wuuwuuwuu……”

“Take a shower first, then I’ll apply the ointment for you.”

Sang Zhi wiped her tears on his clothes and couldn’t help but say, “You’re really scary when you’re mad.”

Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “Did I scare you?”

“Not really.” Sang Zhi sniffled. “But when you’re being tough on me, I just want to cry.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m not.”

“In the future, 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 teased, “Don’t give me a reason to be tough on you, alright?”

After Sang Zhi returned to her room, Duan Jiaxu stayed in the kitchen for a while before heading to the living room. He picked up her phone from the coffee table, opened the contacts, and removed himself from the blacklist.

Seeing the note next to his name, a smile tugged at his lips.

Sang Zhi didn’t spend long in the shower and quickly returned. She sat at the dining table, finished the soup Duan Jiaxu had made, and was called over to the sofa by him.

He bought both internal and external medication.

Duan Jiaxu took her wrist and began applying the ointment, frowning as he did. “If you eat beef or lamb again, I really will have to punish you.”

Sang Zhi’s eyes were still red. She blinked and wasn’t the least bit frightened. “Then go ahead.”

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. “Don’t think there’ll be a next time.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Mm.”

Sang Zhi smiled and stared directly at his face. “Duan Jiaxu.”

“What?”

“I bought a pair of matching watches, but I left them at the dorm.” Sang Zhi said proudly, “I’ll bring them to you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Did you buy me a gift?”

“I bought you a necklace.” Duan Jiaxu said, “I’ll put it on you later.”

“Mm.” With one arm treated, Sang Zhi switched it to the other, speaking slowly, “I thought today was so unlucky. I overslept this morning, was late for class, and got scolded by the teacher. Then I lost my meal card, got hit on the head by a basketball on the way past the sports field, and at a friend’s birthday party, I ran into someone I dislike and ended up having an allergic reaction.”

Duan Jiaxu carefully applied the ointment and said, “So pitiful?”

“But I think I might have been wrong.”

“Mm?”

Sang Zhi whispered, “When I saw you, I felt like today was a lucky day.”

Even if seeing you only accounts for a small part of the day, it made everything else seem insignificant.

———pr


In the second semester of her senior year, during a conversation with Ning Wei, Sang Zhi heard Ning Wei say that her boyfriend had proposed to her.

Ning Wei couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she recounted the story, “You wouldn’t believe how cool he was. He’s usually very shy, but at that bar, he went up on stage, sang a love song to me, called me up, and suddenly got down on one knee to propose.”

Sang Zhi listened with great interest.

Ning Wei continued, “The funniest part is, he was so nervous that he knelt down on both knees.”

Sang Zhi burst into laughter.

At the end of their chat, Ning Wei grew curious about Sang Zhi’s situation. “What about your Brother Duan? Has he mentioned anything?”

Sang Zhi thought for a moment. “He once talked about getting married after graduation but I don’t know if he’ll propose. I also think he’s quite showy, so I’m a little worried.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I’ve kind of thought about proposing myself.”

“……”

Actually, it wasn’t that Sang Zhi didn’t like the idea, but she felt a bit shy. For instance, as Ning Wei said, she went up on stage in front of everyone to accept her boyfriend’s proposal, feeling both surprised and happy.

But Sang Zhi felt that if something like that happened to her, she would definitely be happy, but also a bit awkward.

However, when the moment truly arrived, it turned out to be nothing like what she had imagined.

Duan Jiaxu proposed to Sang Zhi on the day of her graduation ceremony.

It was one of the more significant moments in her life. That day, Sang Rong, Li Ping, and Sang Yan were all present. The scene shifted as if it were years ago when she accompanied her parents to Sang Yan’s graduation ceremony.

Only this time, the focus had shifted from Sang Yan to her.

Sang Yan had brought a camera, lazily taking pictures of her. Sang Zhi felt he wasn’t taking good shots, so after each one, she would go over to him and say a few words, which eventually led to them almost arguing. Duan Jiaxu had also brought a camera, gently calming her down and taking dozens of pictures for her.

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

Among them were several schoolmates she recognized, even Sang Rong and Li Ping joined in.

Sang Zhi suddenly realized what was happening.

Some things, after all, one could just sense.

From the moment she woke up that day, Sang Zhi had a very strong feeling that Duan Jiaxu would propose to her.

And it would be in a very showy, clichéd way by a flamboyant man.

Guided by the crowd, Sang Zhi saw Duan Jiaxu standing in the middle of the pavement. At that moment, she had no energy to pay attention to anyone else, nor did she care about the gazes of others.

This was a scene Sang Zhi had imagined a thousand times and had overlapped with something she had pictured before.

Yet it still felt like it was a moment Sang Zhi would never forget for the rest of her life.

Duan Jiaxu was dressed very formally that day, wearing a white shirt, black suit pants, and even a tie. He was holding a large bouquet of roses as he slowly walked up to her.

Sang Zhi suddenly felt like laughing.

Duan Jiaxu lowered his chin and smiled as well. He was tall and slender, with dark hair, bright eyes, and striking features that stood out in the light.

After a few seconds, he said, “After you told me your secret, I never really had a serious conversation with you about it.” Duan Jiaxu looked into her eyes and put away his smile. His expression turned serious. “Back then, when you started crying while talking, I was worried that it might be something that made you very sad.

So I didn’t dare bring it up.”

She had laid bare all her secrets.

She had used all her courage, in her own way, to tell him.

——”I admit, between us, I’m the one who loves you more.”

“I’ve never mentioned this to you, but I’m not the type of person who immediately pursues someone once I like them.” Duan Jiaxu said seriously, licking his lips. “Before I showed my affection for you, I’ve been secretly in love with you for a while.”

He had struggled because he felt inferior and believed he wasn’t good enough for her.

He would retreat because of her reactions and feel overjoyed because of a single response from her.

“You might think I’m only with you because there’s someone nice that showed up in my life and that I decided to settle down with you because I found out you like me.”

Duan Jiaxu cleared his throat. “Maybe you haven’t thought that, but just in case, I wanted to let you know.”

Sang Zhi whispered, “I did think that.”

But only for a moment.

She hadn’t felt that way for a long time now.

“You really thought that? You little heartless thing.” Duan Jiaxu smiled. “I used to think that spending my life alone wouldn’t be a big deal. But the truth is, it’s not the case at all. I just hadn’t met the right person.”

He hadn’t met someone who made him want to ignore everyone else’s opinions and climb out of the abyss of self-doubt.

No one had given him a reason to fight.

So, settling down wasn’t an option.

Because he simply didn’t have the courage.

Until he met her.

Duan Jiaxu smiled faintly, then knelt down on one knee. “But you made me suddenly want to give it a try.”

Sang Zhi’s heart was pounding. She was so nervous she could hardly breathe. Listening to his words, her eyes unknowingly welled up with tears. “Try what?”

“Try loving someone,” Duan Jiaxu said, word by word, “without caring about anything else.”

He looked up and with a soft call slipping from his lips, he solemnly finished his proposal, “Will you marry me?”

How could she not want to?

It was something she had dreamed about for years.

Sang Zhi accepted the flowers and answered with an, “Oh.”

Duan Jiaxu was genuinely nervous and hearing that response, a crack appeared in his expression. He lowered his head with a laugh and quickly said, “That’s all? Do you want to see me cry?”

“No. What I mean by ‘oh’ is,” Sang Zhi sniffed, then sincerely added, “’I’m very willing.’”

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

Dressed in her graduation gown, under the bright sunlight and with everyone’s blessings, Sang Zhi accepted Duan Jiaxu’s proposal.

Seven years ago, there was also a day like this.

She had worn a clean dress, standing next to Duan Jiaxu in his graduation gown. She was happy to see him again but also deeply saddened by the impending separation.

Clumsily hiding her feelings, she didn’t dare let anyone, even those closest to her, know. Imagining that one day in the future, she would definitely be by his side.

Back then, Sang Zhi never would have thought that seven years later, the day she had imagined would truly come.

Just as she wished.

Sang Zhi really became the one by Duan Jiaxu’s side.