Secretly, But Unable to Hide It

Chapter 55

His words and actions came completely out of the blue.

By the time Sang Zhi realized what was happening, Duan Jiaxu’s lips had already covered hers. His tongue slipped past her teeth, carrying the sharp scent of mint, yet strangely warm.

It was like an electric current, steadily rising in temperature.

Sang Zhi’s eyes widened slightly and she instinctively took a step back, her back pressing against the door, only to be pulled back by him instantly. Her head tilted back as he grasped her wrist, holding it firmly against his chest.

At this moment, Sang Zhi could no longer perceive anything else.

All her senses and everything around her were entirely consumed by the man before her.

Sang Zhi, inexperienced, could only passively endure.

She even forgot to close her eyes, staring blankly at his thick eyebrows, his clearly defined eyelashes, and his straight nose. The pair of peach blossom eyes, usually distant yet affectionate, now seemed truly imbued with emotion.

Her mind became a bit foggy, though her body remained stiff.

Perhaps noticing her confusion, Duan Jiaxu seemed to chuckle, his breath light and sensual. His hand moved up to cover her eyes.

His touch was both forceful and incredibly gentle.

The towel resting on his shoulder fell to the floor with a muffled thud. His hair, still damp, cooled in the air, with droplets landing on Sang Zhi’s neck.

Sang Zhi couldn’t help but shiver slightly.

Duan Jiaxu finally paused his actions after landing a gentle kiss on her lips one more time. Then, turning his head, he pressed his lips close to her ear, his voice deep and hoarse, tinged with affection, “I like you.”

Sang Zhi felt as if her ears had gone numb too.

The next moment, he lowered his hand, uncovering her eyes. His fingertips softly caressed her cheek.

Their eyes met.

Duan Jiaxu’s gaze was lowered, his eyes slightly curved, glimmering with a faint light. His lips were rosy and moist, curving into a subtle smile, and his gaze seemed fixed on her, unable to move away.

Sang Zhi stared at him in a daze, as if her foggy mind was drawn in by the light in his eyes.

“I need to tell you something serious.” Duan Jiaxu’s voice was deep, without a trace of embarrassment, almost playful, “Actually, I’m not very experienced either.”

Sang Zhi instinctively asked, “What?”

“You always say I’m old, but I thought I should be honest.” Duan Jiaxu brushed the corner of her eye, continuing, “Though it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“……”

“This is my first time in a relationship too.”

After a few seconds, he lowered his voice and added, “It’s also the first time I’ve liked someone this much.”

“……”

Duan Jiaxu bent down to meet her gaze, speaking seriously, “So, don’t even think about leaving me.”

Sang Zhi looked at him blankly.

Duan Jiaxu chuckled softly and said, “You’ve already kissed me, so you’re responsible for me for the rest of your life.”

“……”

His words brought Sang Zhi back to the earlier moment. Her face instantly flushed and her lips tingled, the sensation all too real.

Sang Zhi pressed the back of her hand against her lips and glared at him, appearing wronged as she stammered, “I-I just agreed…… I’m…… Y-you……”

“I was a bit too happy.” Duan Jiaxu coughed lightly, his tone refined, though he sounded like a rascal, “That’s why I couldn’t hold back. Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.”

Sang Zhi found it unbelievable. “How is this your first time? The first time……”

Duan Jiaxu held back a laugh. “I’ll pay more attention to the process next time.”

“……”

“Step by step.” Duan Jiaxu said, “This time let’s consider it a practice run, okay?”

This time Sang Zhi couldn’t hold back. Leaning in to pinch his always unserious face, she angrily said, “Don’t you have any shame?”

Duan Jiaxu let her pinch him, even bending down to accommodate her. Soon after, he straightened up, reminding her, “You might not want to stay this close to me.”

Sang Zhi was displeased. “I want to stay close.”

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow, speaking bluntly, “If you stay this close, I’ll want to kiss you again.”

“……”

Sang Zhi paused, then awkwardly withdrew her hand, looking away as she mumbled, “I’m done talking. I’m going back to school.”

“Wait.” As if remembering something, Duan Jiaxu suddenly leaned in, carefully studying her lips. “Did I accidentally bump your lips with my teeth……?”

“……”

Sang Zhi stared at him in disbelief.

How could he say something like that so calmly without any expression?!!!

Before he could finish speaking, Sang Zhi quickly covered his mouth with her hand, almost collapsing. “You didn’t bump it, you didn’t! No! Just stop talking!”

Duan Jiaxu was stunned for a moment, then he looked at her flushed face and laughed. His warm breath tickled her palm, making it itchy. “Okay, I’ll stop.”

After that, he glanced at Sang Zhi’s lips a few more times and murmured, “Seems like I didn’t.”

“……”

While Duan Jiaxu went back to his room to change, Sang Zhi went to the refrigerator to pull out a bottle of orange juice and grabbed a pack of squid strips from the TV cabinet, before sitting down on the sofa.

She tore open the packaging and bit into a piece.

She remembered her previous conversation with her roommates when they concluded that a man who’s 25 and hadn’t had any sexual experience was odd.

Sang Zhi corrected it seriously in her mind.

He’s already 26.

She found it a bit absurd.

They were talking about a serious matter but he suddenly kissed her and even said he would teach her how to.

Her kissing was clearly not very good.

But recalling Duan Jiaxu’s earlier words, Sang Zhi’s little frustration instantly dissipated, her lips inexplicably curving into a smile as she sipped her orange juice.

Duan Jiaxu came out of his room at that moment. His hair was still half-wet. It casually falls over his forehead, making him look a bit younger.

He sat down next to Sang Zhi.

Watching her nibble on snacks like a hamster, Duan Jiaxu couldn’t help but want to laugh.

Sang Zhi didn’t look at him, but feeling uncomfortable, she suddenly blurted, “Can you stop staring at me?”

“Okay.” Duan Jiaxu obediently looked away, taking a sip from the water cup on the table, before asking the question he had in mind, “Why did you suddenly feel today was the right time?”

Sang Zhi thought for a moment, unsure if she should say.

Duan Jiaxu smiled. “You messed up my plan, you know.”

Sang Zhi glanced at him. “You had a plan?”

“Yeah, I was planning to confess under your dorm building the night after tomorrow.” Duan Jiaxu continued, “Light some heart-shaped candles, hold some flowers, and I even prepared a line……”

“Corny.”

“You think it’s corny?” Duan Jiaxu said, “But that’s how everyone confesses these days, right?”

Sang Zhi thought about it and realized she had indeed seen it happen quite a few times at school. She reluctantly agreed, then softly asked, “What line did you prepare?”

Duan Jiaxu suddenly called her name, speaking slowly, “Sang Zhi.”

“Huh?”

“I like you.”

“……”

“Please be with me.”

“……” Sang Zhi blinked, hesitating, “That serious?”

“On that occasion, it has to be serious.” Duan Jiaxu lazily slumped back in his seat, smiling lightly. “I’ll make it up to you, but I won’t tell you when.”

“No need.” Sang Zhi mumbled, “We’re already together, why do it again?”

He answered, “A sense of ceremony.”

Sang Zhi turned her head. “You still care about that?”

“I don’t.” Duan Jiaxu recalled the bowl of noodles she made for his birthday last time and leisurely said, “But my Zhizhi does.”

Sang Zhi didn’t deny it, her dimples deepening as she continued drinking her orange juice. “Brother Jiaxu, is this really your first time being in a relationship?”

Duan Jiaxu replied, “Mm.”

“Oh.”

“What’s the matter?” Hearing the hint of contemplation in her voice, Duan Jiaxu turned his head. “Are you looking down on me?”

“……”

Sang Zhi didn’t understand how he had grown up to be like this without ever being in a relationship. Maybe she had judged him by his appearance. She couldn’t help but want to laugh, and this time she didn’t hold back. She laughed to herself. “No.”

Watching her laugh, Duan Jiaxu wasn’t annoyed and joined in with a smile.

Noticing the time on the wall, Sang Zhi grabbed a tissue to wipe her hands and pointed to the squid strips on the table. “I can’t finish this. Can I take it back with me?”

“Sure, take whatever you want. And,” Duan Jiaxu retwisted the cap of the orange juice bottle, “take me with you too.”

“……” Sang Zhi said seriously, “I’m only interested in food.”

“Hmm.” Duan Jiaxu smiled ambiguously, “But I’m pretty tasty too.”

“……”

Sang Zhi gathered her things and stood up. “I’m leaving now.”

As he watched her get ready to leave, Duan Jiaxu stayed seated, motionless. Then he suddenly sighed, his eyes lowering slightly as he quietly said, “I just realized, I haven’t told you about my family situation.”

Hearing that, Sang Zhi paused, recalling what Jiang Ying had said earlier that evening.

She softly said, “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to.” Duan Jiaxu’s expression carried a hint of detachment, his tone very calm, “My mother had already passed away. My father is in a vegetative state and had killed someone while drunk driving. I have no house in my name, only a car and a bit of savings.”

Sang Zhi stared at him, unsure of what to say for a moment.

“Don’t feel burdened. I just think,” Duan Jiaxu continued, “now that we’re together, I should explain it to you.”

Sang Zhi shook her head. “I’m not feeling burdened.”

Duan Jiaxu smiled again. “Mm, alright. Let’s go. I’ll take you back to school.”

“Duan Jiaxu.” Sang Zhi felt that something was off about him and called his name seriously, moving closer to him to study his face. “Are you unhappy about bringing up this matter?”

“I’m not unhappy.” Duan Jiaxu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his calm expression suddenly cracked. “I’m just a bit nervous.”

Sang Zhi was startled. “Nervous about what?”

Duan Jiaxu gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m afraid you’ll mind.”

She stared at him, feeling that the situation was a bit absurd.

This man, the man who, after she met him, made it impossible for her to love anyone else, was truly feeling inferior because of the sin his father committed.

“……” Sang Zhi was silent for a few seconds before quietly confessing, “I ran into Jiang Ying today. She told me about your father’s situation.”

Duan Jiaxu’s gaze froze. “She came to find you?”

“Seems like it.” Sang Zhi said, “Don’t let her brainwash you. What she says makes no sense. Next time you see her, suggest she visit a hospital to get her brain checked.”

Duan Jiaxu wanted to say something else.

Sang Zhi blinked her round eyes and gently patted his head, comforting him seriously, “Actually, I don’t think a house is a necessity in life, but if you really want one, wait for a few more years.”

“……”

“When I graduate and start earning money, I’ll buy you one.”

———pr

After dropping Sang Zhi off at her dormitory, Duan Jiaxu returned to his car. Thinking about what she had said earlier, he couldn’t help but laugh. After a moment, he took out his phone, sent a message to Sang Yan, and then called Qian Fei.

After a few rings, Qian Fei picked up. “I’m really curious.”

“Hmm?”

“Why do you always like to call me late at night?”

“It’s not that late, is it?” Duan Jiaxu said good-naturedly. “I just wanted to tell you something.”

“You succeeded?”

Duan Jiaxu smiled. “Mm.”

“Nice, Bro.” Qian Fei said excitedly, “See, it was all thanks to me. If it weren’t for me, would you have succeeded? It’s all thanks to me! You should really thank me!”

Duan Jiaxu complied, “Thanks, Bro.”

“You’re welcome. Just make sure you get married before Sang Yan does. I’m really sick of him—”

“Bro, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“What?”

“This girl, you know her.”

Qian Fei had a bad feeling. “……Huh? How could I know someone from Yihe when I’m in Nanwu? Are you out of your mind?”

“You didn’t meet her in Yihe.”

Qian Fei guessed, “A college classmate? Someone who went to work in Yihe?”

“No, she came here for university.”

Qian Fei: “……”

After a long pause, Qian Fei’s voice trembled, “Don’t tell me it’s Sang Zhi.”

Duan Jiaxu’s tone carried a smile as he replied, “Yeah.”

“……” Qian Fei turned silent for another few seconds. “I’m hanging up.”

Duan Jiaxu echoed Qian Fei’s earlier words, leisurely saying, “It was really all thanks to you.”

“Thanks my ass!” Qian Fei shouted in anger, “I never helped you! Damn it, Duan Jiaxu, you’re such a beast. You’ve known that girl since she was a teenager. What the hell……?”

Duan Jiaxu raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say it’s fine as long as she’s an adult?”

“……” Qian Fei blurted, “Did I say that?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you told Sang Yan about this?”

“Not yet.”

“How are you planning to tell him?”

“I haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Won’t you be beaten to death by Sang Yan?” Qian Fei quickly got over the shock and started joking again, “Honestly, I’m kind of looking forward to his reaction.”

“I just told him that I have a girlfriend.”

“And?”

“I also told him,” Duan Jiaxu said casually, “that you taught me how to win her over.”

“……”