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"Sang Zhi, the younger sister of Sang Yan," Duan Jiaxu briefly introduced, his gaze instinctively drifting toward Sang Zhi.
Sang Zhi stood at the door, watching the scene unfold before her, feeling a mix of emotions. The girl's confident beauty and Duan Jiaxu's affectionate gestures felt like tiny needles piercing her heart.
"Hello, I'm Zhou Ting," the girl said, extending her hand toward Sang Zhi with poise.
"Hello," Sang Zhi replied politely but did not reach out to shake her hand; instead, she lowered her eyes to hide her complex feelings.
Zhou Ting seemed to notice Sang Zhi's coldness but didn't mind it. She turned to Duan Jiaxu and playfully said, "Jiaxu, I'm in S City for a business trip today. I want to have dinner with you tonight. You wouldn't refuse me, would you?"
Before Duan Jiaxu could respond, Zhou Ting continued, "I know you love that private restaurant. I've already made a reservation; let's go together."
Duan Jiaxu opened his mouth as if to explain something, but Zhou Ting didn't give him a chance to speak and directly pulled him toward the exit.
"Jiaxu, let's go. We shouldn't keep them waiting too long," Zhou Ting said, casting a deliberately provocative glance at Sang Zhi.
Sang Zhi stood frozen in place, watching Duan Jiaxu and Zhou Ting leave. Her heart felt like it had been turned upside down, overwhelmed by a mix of sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and saltiness.
As Duan Jiaxu followed Zhou Ting to the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Sang Zhi, hesitating as if he wanted to say something.
Seeing the look in Duan Jiaxu's eyes ignited a flicker of hope in Sang Zhi's heart; she hoped he would offer her an explanation.
"Um..." Duan Jiaxu began to speak but was interrupted when Zhou Ting turned around and looked at him curiously. "What's wrong?"
Seeing the questioning look in Zhou Ting's eyes made Duan Jiaxu swallow his words again. He ultimately just shook his head and said, "It's nothing; let's go."
With that, he followed Zhou Ting out of the house.
Sang Zhi watched their departing figures with slightly reddened eyes. She didn't understand why she felt so sad. Clearly, Duan Jiaxu had never said he liked her; they had no relationship at all. Yet she couldn't control her emotions.
Perhaps this was the taste of unrequited love—sour and bitter yet unwilling to let go.
Sang Zhi leaned weakly against the door frame, replaying the earlier scenes in her mind: Zhou Ting's confident smile, their intimate actions, and Duan Jiaxu's evasive gaze—all deeply piercing her heart.
She suddenly felt like an outsider, helplessly watching the person she liked grow close to another girl while she could do nothing about it. This sense of powerlessness left her breathless.
Sang Zhi took a deep breath and forced back her tears. She didn't want to remain trapped in this sorrowful emotion; she needed to calm down and think about what to do next.
Turning around, she picked up the keys from the table and left the house.
On an early summer night, the sea breeze gently blew away the day's heat, bringing a touch of coolness. Sang Zhi wandered aimlessly along the riverbank, gazing at the shimmering water surface while lost in thought.
She couldn't understand why Duan Jiaxu knew she liked him yet still chose to be so close with another girl. Did he really have no feelings for her at all?
Sang Zhi felt increasingly sad, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. She crouched down, burying her head between her knees, letting the tears flow freely.
"What's wrong?"
A gentle voice sounded from above. Sang Zhi looked up to see a tall figure standing in front of her. It was Duan Jiaxu.
Sang Zhi hurriedly wiped her tears and stood up, pretending to be calm as she said, "It's nothing, I just came out for a walk."
Duan Jiaxu looked at her swollen eyes, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't call her out on it. Instead, he asked, "By yourself?"
"Yeah." Sang Zhi nodded.
"Let me walk with you," Duan Jiaxu said as he walked over to her side and walked alongside her.
Sang Zhi didn't refuse, and the two walked quietly together without saying a word. As night deepened, there were fewer people by the river.
Suddenly, Sang Zhi slipped and fell toward the river.
"Ah!" Sang Zhi exclaimed, instinctively closing her eyes.
"Watch out!" Duan Jiaxu reacted quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her back.
Sang Zhi was still in shock and hadn't fully processed what happened when Duan Jiaxu tightly embraced her.
"Are you okay?" Duan Jiaxu's voice trembled slightly, filled with concern and worry.
Sang Zhi's mind went blank; all she could feel was his warm embrace and the strong beat of his heart.
"I..." Sang Zhi wanted to speak but found that her voice was stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Duan Jiaxu seemed to realize that his actions were a bit excessive. He released Sang Zhi awkwardly and explained, "It was too dangerous just now; I'm glad you're okay."
Sang Zhi nodded, not daring to look up at him.
Not far away, Zhou Ting witnessed this scene and instantly turned pale. She had always thought that Duan Jiaxu's concern for Sang Zhi was merely that of an older brother for his younger sister, but she never expected him to be so reckless for her sake.
Zhou Ting bit her lip, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Duan Jiaxu didn't notice Zhou Ting; he looked at Sang Zhi with a hint of guilt in his tone: "I'm sorry for making you feel wronged today."
Sang Zhi raised her head and looked at him in confusion: "What?"
"I will explain the matter regarding Zhou Ting to her later," Duan Jiaxu said.
Sang Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then realized he was explaining his relationship with Zhou Ting to her. A warm feeling surged in her heart; it turned out he cared about her feelings.
"Okay," Sang Zhi replied softly, a smile unconsciously spreading across her lips.
Seeing her smile, Duan Jiaxu's previously tense expression relaxed.
The night was serene, with moonlight cascading down, elongating their shadows. They walked side by side along the riverbank, neither of them speaking, yet the distance between them seemed to have closed significantly.
The atmosphere became somewhat delicate; Sang Zhi lowered her head, kicking at the stones by the roadside, her heart racing like a little rabbit. Duan Jiaxu's earlier words echoed in her mind; she could sense the sincerity in his tone, making her heart feel sweet as if filled with honey.
Duan Jiaxu glanced at Sang Zhi beside him. In the moonlight, her fair face had a faint blush, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly like a startled fawn, endearing and lovely.
"Sang Zhi..." Duan Jiaxu stopped and turned to look at her.
"Ah?" Sang Zhi also halted, looking up at him with a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Duan Jiaxu took a deep breath as if he had made up his mind. He spoke earnestly, "Actually, my relationship with Zhou Ting is not what you think."
Sang Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Could it be...
"I've known her since we were kids; you could say we grew up together," Duan Jiaxu paused before continuing, "Her family went through some changes, and I promised her parents I would take care of her, so..."
"So you got so close to her?" Sang Zhi couldn't help but interrupt him, a hint of bitterness in her tone.
Duan Jiaxu looked at her with a trace of helplessness in his eyes. "I only see her as a sister. For her, I feel only responsibility, not love."
Sang Zhi was momentarily stunned but then realized he was explaining his relationship with Zhou Ting to her. A warm current flowed through her; he truly cared about how she felt.
"Then you..." Sang Zhi bit her lip and mustered the courage to ask, "Why are you telling me all this?"
Duan Jiaxu looked at her with deep eyes and a serious tone. "Because the person I like is you."
With a loud thud in her chest, Sang Zhi felt as if her head might explode; her cheeks instantly flushed hot. Did he just say what she thought he said? He likes her?
Seeing Sang Zhi's shocked expression, Duan Jiaxu's lips curled into a gentle smile. "I know this might seem abrupt, but I don't want to hide my feelings anymore."
He took a step closer to Sang Zhi, narrowing the distance between them and gazing intently at her. "Sang Zhi, I've liked you for a long time."
Sang Zhi's heart raced faster and faster, almost jumping out of her throat. She felt her cheeks burning, and her breathing became rapid.
Duan Jiaxu noticed her silence and thought she was shy, so he gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his tone so soft it could almost drip with water. "I know you're still young and might not fully understand what love is, but..."
"Who says I don't understand!" Sang Zhi suddenly lifted her head, interrupting him.
Duan Jiaxu was taken aback for a moment, looking at her with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Sang Zhi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Then she looked into Duan Jiaxu's eyes and said clearly, "Duan Jiaxu, I know better than anyone that I like you."
After saying that, Sang Zhi turned and ran away.
Duan Jiaxu watched her flustered figure, the smile on his lips deepening. He knew she was embarrassed.
Under the night sky, his smile was as gentle and dazzling as the stars above.
Duan Jiaxu looked at Sang Zhi's retreating figure, the smile spreading from his lips to his eyes. He took long strides and quickly caught up with her, grabbing her wrist.
"Why are you running?" Duan Jiaxu's voice carried a hint of amusement, the night breeze tousling his hair while the moonlight illuminated his profile, making him look even more handsome.
Sang Zhi was startled by his sudden action and didn't know how to react for a moment; she just stared at him blankly, her heart pounding like a drum.
Seeing her dazed expression, Duan Jiaxu couldn't help but chuckle softly. He softened his tone and asked, "So, what's your answer?"
Sang Zhi finally snapped back to reality; her cheeks flushed instantly. She lowered her head slightly, unable to meet Duan Jiaxu's gaze, stammering, "What... what answer?"
Duan Jiaxu looked at her shy demeanor with a soft heart. He gently lifted her chin to force her to meet his gaze. "Sang Zhi, look at me."
Sang Zhi was compelled to raise her head and met Duan Jiaxu's deep eyes, causing her heart to race even more.
"I like you; what about you?" Duan Jiaxu's gaze was gentle yet firm, his tone serious and sincere without a trace of jest.
Sang Zhi felt as if something had struck her heart; her mind went blank except for the words "I like you" echoing repeatedly.
Looking at the man she had secretly admired for years and seeing the affection in his eyes, Sang Zhi could no longer suppress her feelings. She took a deep breath and gathered her courage to say, "I also... like you."
As soon as she finished speaking, a radiant smile blossomed on Duan Jiaxu's face. He pulled Sang Zhi into his arms tightly as if he wanted to merge her into himself.
"That's great, Sang Zhi." His voice carried an uncontrollable excitement and joy.
Sang Zhi hugged him back tightly, burying her head in his chest. Listening to his strong heartbeat and feeling his warm embrace filled her with an unprecedented sense of happiness.
The streetlights around them emitted a soft glow, stretching their silhouettes into tall figures. The night was tranquil, the sea breeze gently blowing; everything felt so beautiful.
The next day, when Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu appeared hand in hand in front of their friends, everyone was stunned.
"Did I see that wrong? You two..." Jiang Ying widened her eyes, pointing at the hands intertwined between the two, her face filled with disbelief.
Qian Fei also stared at them in shock, and after a moment, he reacted with a teasing smile, saying, "Nice job, Old Duan, quietly taking our little Sang Zhi!"
In contrast, Sang Yan's reaction was much calmer. He merely glanced at the two of them and then said, "Got it," before turning to leave.
Although Sang Yan appeared indifferent on the surface, he felt a mix of emotions inside. After all, Duan Jiaxu was his good friend since childhood, and Sang Zhi was his beloved younger sister. Now that they were together, he was naturally happy for them but couldn't help feeling a bit worried as well.
However, seeing the happy smile on Sang Zhi's face, Sang Yan ultimately chose to bless them. After all, nothing was more important than his sister's happiness.
In the days that followed, Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi began their sweet romantic journey. They ate together, shopped together, and watched movies together; every moment was filled with joy and happiness.
However, life is not always smooth sailing. One day, Duan Jiaxu suddenly received a phone call, and his expression turned serious.
"What's wrong?" Sang Zhi noticed his unusual demeanor and asked with concern.
Duan Jiaxu took a deep breath and said, "The company is facing some trouble."
Sang Zhi's heart sank. Although she didn't understand much about business matters, she knew that Duan Jiaxu's company was currently working on an important project; if something went wrong, the consequences could be dire.
"Is it serious?" Sang Zhi asked with a hint of worry in her voice.
Duan Jiaxu nodded and replied heavily, "Yes, there are some issues with the cash flow."
Sang Zhi knew she couldn't help much but didn't want Duan Jiaxu to face this pressure alone. She held his hand firmly and said resolutely, "Don't worry; we'll figure it out together."
Duan Jiaxu grasped her hand in return, his eyes filled with gratitude and emotion. "Yes, we'll face it together."
In the following days, Duan Jiaxu worked tirelessly to resolve the company's issues. Although Sang Zhi felt heartbroken for him, she understood that she couldn't add to his stress at this time; she could only support him silently and take care of his daily needs.
To help Duan Jiaxu raise funds, Sang Zhi even secretly took out her savings that she had been saving for a long time.
When Duan Jiaxu learned about this, he was deeply moved. He hugged Sang Zhi tightly and said with a choked voice, "Sang Zhi, thank you for everything you've done for me."
Sang Zhi gently patted his back and comforted him softly, "Silly boy, we're lovers; your matters are my matters. It's only right for me to do this for you."
Duan Jiaxu lifted his head and looked at her affectionately; his eyes were filled with love and gratitude as he leaned down to kiss her lips.
Outside the window, the night was deepening, but their love shone like the brightest stars in the night sky, forever radiating dazzling light.
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