Secretly, But Unable to Hide It

Chapter 33

The touch was extremely brief, lasting no more than a second.

Sang Zhi’s mind went blank and didn’t have time to react. The next moment, she sensed that Duan Jiaxu had also stiffened. He immediately stood up straight and took a step back.

A not-too-close yet not-too-far distance opened up between them.

They stood behind the bus stop, their backs to the light and the surroundings dim. Sang Zhi instinctively looked up, her expression blank as she meet his slightly dull gaze.

She wasn’t sure what was influencing her but Sang Zhi didn’t dare to maintain eye contact with him. She quickly looked away, inexplicably taking a step back as well, unsure where to put her hands and feet.

She didn’t know what the correct reaction should be.

Reacting too strongly seemed strange, but reacting too lightly might also be inappropriate.

Maybe she should just pretend nothing had happened.

Treat this accident as an insignificant event and then continue talking to him normally, like usual.

But Sang Zhi couldn’t utter a word.

Her mind was in chaos and she thought of touching her forehead. But when she raised her hand, she felt the action was too obvious, so she changed it to scratching her head instead.

Soon, she heard Duan Jiaxu speak. His breathing was heavy, as if suppressing some pain, making his voice low and hoarse, “Sorry.”

Sang Zhi paused and looked at him again.

Only then did she notice how unwell Duan Jiaxu looked. Despite the current temperature, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, wetting his hair at the temples. His lips were pale to the point of turning purple, his jaw clenched, and his whole body tense.

It seemed like he might collapse at any moment.

Sang Zhi was stunned.

She had never encountered such a situation before and suddenly remembered that she might have bumped into him somewhere. Panicking, she stammered, “Brother…… are you in pain? Did I hit you somewhere……?”

“What did you hit?” Duan Jiaxu, regulating his breath, forced a smile. “You just touched me lightly. Are you giving Brother a chance to touch porcelain^[1]scam to blackmail pedestrians by pretending to be injured?”

“I’m sorry.” Sang Zhi inexplicably felt like crying. Her eyes gradually reddened and her voice turned nasal, “Brother, wait here for me, I’ll call for a taxi.”

This time, Duan Jiaxu didn’t say anything more and slowly said, “Go ahead.”

Just as she reached the roadside, an empty taxi drove by. Sang Zhi quickly stopped it and spoke to the driver before running back to Duan Jiaxu’s side.

She helped Duan Jiaxu walk towards the taxi.

His pace was slower than before as if every movement caused him pain. He suddenly chuckled, his tone slightly amused, “This time it really feels like you’re supporting an elderly person.”

Sang Zhi couldn’t laugh.

“Little Sang Zhi, Brother feels like I have a stomach ache.” Duan Jiaxu turned his head to look at her, seemingly thinking before speaking slowly, “But Brother……”

“……”

“Is really hurting a bit.”

After getting into the car, the driver glanced back and noticed Duan Jiaxu’s pale face. “Did he drink too much or what? What’s going on? He’s not going to throw up in the car, is he?”

Perhaps sitting down alleviated his pain somewhat, as Duan Jiaxu’s face didn’t look as bad as before. He chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, Sir, I can hold it in.”

The driver frowned, clarifying first, “If you throw up, it’s a two hundred yuan fine.”

“We’ll pay if he throws up.” Sang Zhi hurriedly said, “Uncle, he didn’t drink, he’s not feeling well. Please drive us to the city hospital, thank you.”

The driver didn’t say anything more and started the car.

After speaking, Sang Zhi instinctively looked in Duan Jiaxu’s direction. He was leaning back in the seat, sitting lazily, with one hand still holding his lower right abdomen.

Sang Zhi didn’t want him to strain himself talking, so she didn’t speak up either.

Instead, it was Duan Jiaxu who spoke first, “Sang Zhi, put on your seatbelt.”

She instinctively responded with an “Oh” and reached for the seatbelt from her right, but then realized he wasn’t wearing his either. Sang Zhi paused, then let go and leaned towards him.

Noticing her movement, Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids flickered. “What’s wrong?”

Sang Zhi reached for the seatbelt beside him, muttering, “I’ll buckle it for you.”

Duan Jiaxu smiled. “Why are you buckling it for me? Brother told you to buckle yours.”

“I’ll buckle yours. Just sit still.” Sang Zhi shook her head, insisting. “Brother, you take a nap. It’ll hurt less when you’re asleep. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

“Alright, sorry for the trouble, little Sang Zhi.” Duan Jiaxu didn’t refuse. Sitting in place, he tilted his head to watch her. “You even have to take care of Brother.”

———pr

Fortunately, the city hospital wasn’t far.

The driver parked at the hospital entrance and Sang Zhi paid him. Then she helped Duan Jiaxu into the hospital and registered him for an emergency appointment.

The doctor ordered an X-ray for Duan Jiaxu, diagnosing acute appendicitis. Sang Zhi stood by and listened, understanding that if his condition had been prolonged and delayed any further, it would have ruptured.

It could have been a serious problem.

She pursed her lips and glanced at Duan Jiaxu.

He didn’t seem too concerned, his eyes curving as he smiled.

Then, the doctor wrote something on the medical record, telling Sang Zhi to settle the bill first and the surgery would be arranged afterward.

Sang Zhi nodded, looking at the paper as she headed out. Before she had taken a few steps, Duan Jiaxu called out to her, “Sang Zhi.”

She turned back. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a card inside, the password is Brother’s birthday.” Duan Jiaxu handed her his wallet, his tone gentle and refined, “Thank you, little Sang Zhi, for your help.”

She stared at him for a few seconds, then took it. “Okay.”

It was just a minor surgery, with low risk and short duration.

When she returned after paying, Duan Jiaxu noticed the time and said, “Little Sang Zhi, it’s nine o’clock. You should head back to school. It’s not safe if it’s too late.”

Sang Zhi didn’t move.

“It’s nothing serious.” Duan Jiaxu continued, “I will be fine after the surgery and a few days of rest. When you have time, just come to see Brother.”

Sang Zhi handed the receipt to the doctor and said, “I’ll wait until you come out before going back.”

“It will take an hour.” Duan Jiaxu’s eyebrows rose, his face still nearly deathly pale. “Won’t you get bored waiting outside by yourself?”

Sang Zhi’s mood wasn’t good and she muttered, “Don’t talk anymore.”

“Alright.” Duan Jiaxu smiled again. “Brother won’t talk.”

Sang Zhi didn’t say anything more, silently standing by his side. She suddenly thought that if she hadn’t agreed to have dinner with him today and called him on the phone, he probably wouldn’t have gone to the hospital.

Her heart inexplicably felt heavy.

After Duan Jiaxu entered the operating room, Sang Zhi sat outside to wait.

To avoid worrying her roommates, she sent a message to their group chat saying she might be back late tonight. Then she searched the web for post-appendectomy care.

After a while, Sang Zhi put her phone away and suddenly thought of the incident at the bus stop. She instinctively touched her forehead. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but at this moment, the spot where his lips had touched seemed to start heating up.

As if burning.

At that moment, his breath seemed to still linger around her.

Such an intimate distance.

Forget it.

Don’t think about it.

Don’t! Think! About it!

She was the one who bumped into him first, and he even apologized.

Analyzing the situation, it seemed she had taken advantage of him. Plus, it was just a touch on the forehead, nothing major.

They’re not kids anymore……

Judging by his reaction, he didn’t seem to take it to heart.

Before Sang Zhi could continue her thoughts, her phone vibrated, showing an incoming call from her mother. Noticing the time at the top of the screen, Sang Zhi quickly answered, “Mom.”

Li Ping’s voice came through the phone, “Zhizhi, are you in the dorm?”

Because Sang Zhi had gone far away to study, Li Ping had asked her to call home every night at ten. If she had something going on, she could send a WeChat message instead.

Sang Zhi didn’t lie, “No.”

“Did you go out with friends?”

“No.” Sang Zhi said, “Mom, I ran into Brother’s friend here, the one who tutored me in middle school, Duan Jiaxu.”

“Oh, Mom remembers him.”

“Because he helped me a lot, I wanted to treat him to a meal.” Sang Zhi explained, “But he’s unwell, so I took him to the hospital. I’m here right now.”

“Unwell? Is it serious?”

“They said it’s acute appendicitis. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“Then take good care of him. There aren’t many people in that kid’s family.” Li Ping sighed. “You take care of yourself too and come back early, okay?”

“……” Sang Zhi was intrigued by her words and mumbled, “What do you mean by ‘not many people in his family’? Mom, how do you know that?”

“Huh?” Li Ping said, “Right, I don’t think I’ve told you before. But don’t mention it in front of him, alright? Your brother’s friend borrowed 30,000 yuan from your brother during their first semester at university.”

“……”

“Your brother was so young then. He didn’t have that amount of money, so he asked your dad for it.” Li Ping said softly, “The boy said it was for his mother’s medical treatment. Later, he paid the money back, but it seemed his mother had already passed away.”

Sang Zhi was speechless for a while and then asked, “What about his father?”

“Mom doesn’t know.” Li Ping added, “But if his father was around, how could he let his child be the one to borrow money?”

———pr

After the surgery, Duan Jiaxu had to stay in the hospital for a week.

He was placed in a two-bed ward. Wearing hospital clothes with his hair falling over his forehead and a pale face, he wasn’t looking very well.

The surgery was under local anesthesia so he was still conscious and was currently receiving an IV drip. Looking at Sang Zhi beside him, Duan Jiaxu smiled and reminded her again, “Little Sang Zhi, you should go back to campus.”

Sang Zhi said softly, “Got it.”

“When you go out, note down the license plate number of the taxi and send it to Brother.” Duan Jiaxu continued, “Then call me when you get to the dorm.”

“Okay.” Sang Zhi clutched the strap of her shoulder bag and hesitantly asked, “Does the surgery hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt.” Duan Jiaxu smiled. “There’s anesthesia, I didn’t feel anything.”

Sang Zhi nodded. “Then I’ll come to see you tomorrow.”

“Come when you don’t have classes.” Duan Jiaxu said, “There’s nothing much for me here, no need for you to come every day.”

“……” Sang Zhi glanced at him. “Goodbye, Brother Jiaxu.”

“Mm, goodbye.”

———pr

After  Sang Zhi left the ward, Duan Jiaxu picked up the phone beside him. Noticing a call from Sang Yan, he raised an eyebrow and leisurely called back.

Listening to the mechanical beeping of the phone, Duan Jiaxu suddenly thought of the incident at the bus station.

And also Sang Zhi’s reaction.

The young lady was caught off guard, seemingly scared and not even daring to look at him. She probably felt a bit embarrassed as she remained silent for a long time.

Could she have minded it a lot?

Before the call was answered, Duan Jiaxu hung up.

Finally, he had the time and energy to think about it.

In a few months, the kid would be nineteen, right? Even without considering her age, his earlier behavior seemed like he was taking advantage of her.

She was even his good friend’s sister and could be considered someone he had watched grow up.

And since she was almost nineteen, he shouldn’t tease her so much. If she got the wrong idea and thought he had indecent intentions, it would be bad.

Maybe young women mind these things more?

Duan Jiaxu rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit…… guilty.

He suddenly remembered Sang Zhi’s previous online crush.

Just then, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was Sang Yan.

Duan Jiaxu answered, considering whether to confess the earlier matter.

Sang Yan’s lazy voice came from the other end, “Buddy, did you get your appendix removed? How does it feel?”

“Not bad.” Duan Jiaxu smirked. “You should try it sometime.”

“Handsome guys don’t suffer things like that, understand?” Sang Yan mentioned, “I heard my sister took you to the hospital?”

“Mm.”

“Why do people need to take you there for such things? Can’t you go by yourself?” Sang Yan casually continued, “Don’t you know how to take care of yourself? When it hurts, just go to the hospital.”

“Is that all you called to say?”

“I just had some free time, heard you were sick, so I called to congratulate you.” Sang Yan said, “Since you’re fine, I’m going back to sleep.”

“Wait.” Duan Jiaxu was silent for a few seconds. “I need to tell you something.”

“Say it.”

Duan Jiaxu pondered how to phrase it.

How should she say it?

I accidentally kissed your little sister on the forehead and she seemed to mind a lot.

I hope you, as her older brother, don’t mind.

Wouldn’t that be absurd?

“Never mind.” Duan Jiaxu said, “It’s nothing.”

“……” Sang Yan was quiet for a moment and then said, “I can’t stand this about you, talking like a girl. Can’t you speak directly?”

“I’m hanging up.”

“Wait a minute.” Sang Yan seemed intrigued. “Bro, I heard you’re going on another blind date? Your boss is quite enthusiastic, introducing so many girls to you.”

“……”

“Any success yet? I don’t think you’re with anyone right now.” Sang Yan continued, “Okay, Bro, let me give you some advice. Don’t talk like you did before.”

Even Duan Jiaxu’s eyelids didn’t move. “How do I talk?”

“It’s your tone. I’ve been too polite to criticize you,” Sang Yan said slowly, “but you know, it’s a bit too outdated.”

“……”

“You don’t seem like the type to date older women either.” Sang Yan said, “Bro, I’m telling you, the post-90s^[2]born between 1990 and 1999 kids don’t like that style.”

Duan Jiaxu’s brow twitched. “Post-90s kids?”

“We post-90s kids are quite trendy, understand?” Sang Yan said lazily, “I know you post-80s^[3]born between 1980 and 1989 people don’t get it, but you need to keep up with the times.”

Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan were a year apart.

One was born in 1989, the other in 1990.

Duan Jiaxu was speechless. “You really have nothing better to do. I’m hanging up.”

He checked the time, estimating the travel time to Yihe University. He was about to call Sang Zhi to check if she had gotten in a taxi when he noticed some movement at the door.

Duan Jiaxu looked up.

He saw the person who had just left come back. She stood unmoving by the door, seemingly afraid of being scolded as she said softly, “Brother Jiaxu, maybe I should stay with you.”

“……”

“I feel like if I were unwell,” Sang Zhi scratched her head, “you wouldn’t leave me all alone either.”

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