Chapter 18 – A Secret Unraveling
The late afternoon sun spilled golden light through the glass windows of Sang Yan's café. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with quiet chatter, but for Sang Zhi, the world outside felt muted. Her heart pounded louder than the clinking cups as she pushed open the door and spotted Duan Jiaxu by the counter.
He looked calm as always—tall, composed, with that gentle smile that hid everything he felt. But Sang Zhi wasn't calm at all. Not after everything that had happened these past few days.
She'd tried so hard to ignore it—the flutter in her chest whenever she heard his voice, the warmth she felt when he looked her way. But now it was becoming unbearable.
"Zhi Zhi, you're here." Duan Jiaxu greeted her softly, tilting his head in that familiar way.
She forced a smile, walking toward him. "My brother said you were helping with the café renovation. I thought I'd stop by."
Sang Yan's voice boomed from the other side of the counter, cutting off any room for secrets. "What do you mean stop by? You came here for free drinks, didn't you?"
Sang Zhi shot him an annoyed look, cheeks burning. "I didn't!"
Duan Jiaxu laughed lightly, but his gaze lingered on her a beat too long. There was something in his eyes today—a mixture of warmth and restraint, as though he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Later, when Sang Yan left to make a delivery, the café quieted down. Only Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi remained, sitting at a small corner table. She traced her finger along the rim of her cup, gathering courage.
"Gege," she said softly, using the childhood name that still slipped out when she spoke to him. "You're… hiding something from me, aren't you?"
Duan Jiaxu looked startled for just a moment, then his expression softened. "What makes you say that?"
"You avoid looking at me sometimes," she murmured. "And you're always helping me, always protecting me… but you never tell me why."
There was silence between them, heavy and unspoken. Duan Jiaxu's fingers curled tightly around his coffee cup. He wanted to tell her—that he liked her, that every small kindness was not just out of habit but out of love. But she was Sang Yan's little sister. He'd sworn to himself he would never cross that line.
Before he could answer, Sang Yan returned, loud as ever, breaking the fragile moment. "Zhi Zhi, stop bothering Jiaxu. Go home, I'll take care of him."
Sang Zhi stood up quickly, hiding her disappointment. But as she walked past Duan Jiaxu, their eyes met again—just long enough for her to see the truth flicker in his gaze.
And that truth terrified and thrilled her all at once.
That night, lying in bed, Sang Zhi stared at her phone, reading his last message over and over: "Get home safe."
It was simple. Ordinary. Yet her heart refused to calm down.
She whispered into the darkness, as if confessing to herself, "Duan Jiaxu… what am I going to do about you?"
End of Chapter 18