Chapter 15 — Cake, Confessions, and the Promise of Pursuit
Sang Zhi eased the door to her apartment closed and roused a flutter in her chest, the mingled scent of coffee and late afternoon light dissolving the last vestiges of anxiety.
"Are you okay?" Duan Jiaxu asked softly from the living room. He held out a small packet of medicine—his eyes gentle with concern. She peeked from behind her hands, disguising her embarrassment, but then forced a smile. "Yes... and the milk tea was good," she confessed, albeit with a quick warning that she'd never drink it again—mindful of her allergies. He's so careful of me, she thought, her heart tipping toward something tenderer.
As they walked further, she scratched her cheeks from lingering irritation. Without hesitation, Duan Jiaxu caught her hands—playful restraint that made her laugh. "Like walking a dog," she joked, and he teased back that she was the "dog who ate carelessly."
Her happiness deepened as she found the courage to ask: "Why did you introduce me as your friend today? You used to say I was your sister."
He paused, gaze lingering, and finally asked gently, "Did you always think of me as your brother?" The question left unspoken weight between them.
Noting her upcoming birthday, he sighed regretfully. "I'd love to get you a cream cake, but... I can't." She realized then that their birthdays were only days apart—but he'd never celebrated his, finding it pointless to be alone.
That evening in the dorm, her roommates debated romance strategies: should she boldly confess or wait to be wooed? Sang Zhi admitted inwardly that she thought Jiaxu liked her too—but refused to decide yet. "If he doesn't make a move... I will," she whispered defiantly.
At the Birthday Date
On her birthday, Sang Zhi dressed with quiet anticipation—nervous yet excited. On her way, Jiang Ming surprised her with a gift, then disappeared gracefully the moment Duan Jiaxu appeared. Her heart thudded as she knocked softly on Jiaxu's apartment door.
When he leaned in, asking if he resembled the guy she once liked, she panicked, denying firmly and labeling her crush a "central air-conditioning system"—friendly with everyone, but distant. Jiaxu chuckled, amused by her description of her own complicating logic.
They headed to the cinema together. On the bus, Sang Zhi held onto his sleeve for balance. At the concessions, she ordered something cold despite her allergy, and he gently told her to be used to him looking out for her. Blushing, he teased, "You're not my girlfriend yet," a line that made her heart ache—in a good way.
After the movie, Jiaxu surprised her again—this time on his rooftop. String lights twinkled, and two birthday cakes awaited her: one store-bought, one homemade and deliberately cream-free. Sang Zhi's eyes glistened. She chose the handmade one—it felt like a promise.
Then Jiaxu presented another gift—"something that lasts longer than cake." His smile faltered as he eyed Jiang Ming's gift, a flicker of jealousy sharpening his gaze. "What kind of person would pursue you?" he asked earnestly.
Sang Zhi named traits he clearly embodied: gentle, tall enough, morally solid. He pointed out each one she named—and then paused. "Can I…" he began, drawing in a breath. "Can I pursue you?" Her heart stopped.
"Yes," she whispered, but followed with her bravest emotional truth: "I won't know until you do." The words hung like stars between them.
He exhaled a relieved laugh. "Then I'll pursue you for decades. And if you date anyone else..." he teased, "I'll tell your parents." Her laughter bubbled in response.
Before leaving, she asked: he asked to pursue—not yet being in a relationship, and she not yet rejecting. She grabbed both cakes, their playful banter sealing the moment. "You can have both"—he shrugged, amused. "I'll bake for you every day."
Back in the dorm, her roommates gasped at the two cakes and teased her mercilessly. She cradled them, grinning, knowing this isn't just cake—it's a promise.
End of Chapter 15.