Chapter 8 — Honey Water, Misunderstandings, and New Beginnings
Dormitory hallways were quiet as Sang Zhi stepped through the door, her heart still full of conflicted memories from the night before. Her body craved warmth more than sleep, so she made herself a cup of honey water—gentle nectar that recalled Duan Jiaxu's care in every sip. (turn0search8)
That night at the KTV, laughter and confessions had turned sour. A fallen cigarette had become the spark—Jiaxu confronted her, frustrated that she hadn't replied to his messages after military training. He called her a "kiddo with no conscience," but she snapped back: she had grown up. Their silence had stretched thin. When she muttered "old thing" at him, he surprisingly waited outside the exit—offering to drive her back and demanding she "settle the score." In the intimate quiet of the car, he feared for her safety, urged caution around strangers, and gently reminded her that, despite her grown-up protestations, he still saw her as his kid. (turn0search0, turn0search8)
Standing now in the stillness of her dorm, Sang Zhi reflected on how far she'd come—and how easily distance could shift the delicate balance of their closeness.
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Morning & New Faces
Sunlight greeted her with soft persistence the next morning. Voices drifted from neighboring rooms—roommates chatting about university life, campus life reemerging from winter quiet.
Her studies were interrupted by a polite knock—and a message notification from Jiang Ming, a runner from the sports department. He offered to walk her back if she stayed out late again. She thought of Jiaxu's concern just hours before—and quietly chose to reply instead to Duan Jiaxu's previously unread messages. His presence lingered through words she'd let pile up. (turn0search8)
Later, her roommates tossed around gossip about crushes. Emboldened, Sang Zhi took it on herself to share a "friend's" story: a shy high school girl, lonely, obsessed with her brother's roommate—24, game-developer, charismatic. The details—his humility, gentleness, the way he'd once tutored her in unwritten words—rang true in her voice. She hesitated when asked if he had a girlfriend. "I—I don't think so," she replied softly. Her roommates teased: someone that great sure "must" have a partner already. The sting of doubt pricked her—could she still mean anything to him?
(turn0search8)
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Quiet Renewal
That night, Sang Zhi curled under her covers with honey water warming her chest. She reread Jiaxu's messages, each word a tether to the bond they once shared. Their relationship was far from over—it merely needed understanding, presence, and time to grow again
End of Chapter 8