"Like the Moon in the Sky" - Chapter 23
Zhu Yuanshan was staying in the best hospital room available—a large suite with all the necessary facilities.
Zhu Qinghao had hired the finest caregivers, and medical staff were on call 24/7. Logically, there should have been nothing to worry about, but Zhu Jinyue still couldn’t rest easy. She insisted on staying in the hospital room and refused to leave.
Zhu Yuanshan had no choice but to let her stay. He asked the family housekeeper to tidy up the adjacent guest room, replacing the bedding and toiletries with the brands she was accustomed to.
The bedding had even been washed and dried at home before being brought over by the housekeeper. When Zhu Jinyue buried her face in it, she was surrounded by the familiar scent.
Yet, she still struggled to sleep well. For the first two nights, she would startle awake from nightmares in the middle of the night.
Each time she woke, she would slip quietly into Zhu Yuanshan’s room, pull up a chair beside his bed, and sit there in the dark. Listening to her grandfather’s steady breathing, her frantic, racing heart would gradually calm down.
During those two nights, whenever Zhu Yuanshan woke from pain, he would find his granddaughter, who should have been sleeping next door, dozing by his bedside.
Afraid that she might accidentally touch his wounds in her sleep, she only dared to rest her head on the edge of the bed, curled up into a small ball.
After those two days, Zhu Yuanshan, who had been somewhat listless, suddenly began to actively cooperate with his treatment. His appetite also seemed to improve noticeably, as he started asking for various foods to eat.
Although he had just undergone surgery and many foods were off-limits, the family’s housekeepers were all excellent cooks. Within the bounds of the doctor’s orders, they prepared a variety of delicious and carefully tailored meals for him.
With his appetite returning and the attentive care of the medical staff, Zhu Yuanshan’s complexion noticeably improved within just a few days.
Zhu Jinyue continued to stay in the hospital room, refusing to leave. During the day, she kept Zhu Yuanshan company by chatting and watching TV with him. When he grew tired and needed to rest, she would sit quietly nearby and play games. At night, she still slept in the adjacent guest room, but she no longer woke from nightmares.
During this time, Zhu Jingsen and Kong Si rushed back from abroad to visit. However, they hadn’t even stayed a full day before Zhu Yuanshan sent them away, insisting they shouldn’t delay the company’s projects.
A week passed like this, and another Sunday arrived.
That morning, Zhu Jinyue was sitting beside him as usual, head bowed as she played a game on her phone, when she suddenly heard her grandfather speak.
“Just how long do you plan on camping out here with me?”
Zhu Jinyue glanced up from her phone screen. “This hospital isn’t yours. I can stay as long as I want.”
“The hospital may not be mine,” Zhu Yuanshan said, propped against the headboard as he looked at her, “but I heard from your sister that you promised your senior to help her with something. How long has it been? Aren’t you going to take care of it?”
Zhu Jinyue wrinkled her nose. “How old is Zhu Qinghao now? How can she still be tattling?”
Zhu Yuanshan, “Well, how old am I? Do I need you watching over me day and night? Leave us old folks a little privacy.”
Zhu Jinyue refused firmly, “No.”
Zhu Yuanshan looked her up and down, “Out with it. Are you just using me as an excuse to slack off because you can’t handle whatever your senior asked you to do? If you really can’t manage, just talk to your sister and let her help.”
Zhu Jinyue knew he was using reverse psychology.
But the fact that he was in the mood to try it showed his spirits had genuinely improved quite a bit.
So, she played along, “Who needs my sister’s help? I can handle it in a minute, no problem.”
Zhu Yuanshan, “Then show me. Go back to your senior’s place tomorrow and get it done. Once you’ve sorted it out, whatever you want, Grandpa will buy it for you.”
Zhu Jinyue was suddenly reminded of the previous Sunday when he had gotten out of the car mid-journey and stood in line himself to buy her snacks. A pang of sadness struck her heart.
“You don’t need to buy me anything. If anyone’s buying things now, it should be me buying them for you.”
Zhu Yuanshan laughed, “Yes, yes, our Yuebao has grown up now.”
Zhu Jinyue, “…”
Just from his tone, she knew he was humoring her.
In their eyes, it was as if she would never really grow up.
But thinking about it carefully, that was actually a kind of blessing.
As long as they stayed healthy, she could happily remain the “child” in their eyes forever.
Zhu Jinyue, “I grew up a long time ago, you know.”
Zhu Yuanshan nodded, “If you’ve grown up, then do what adults should do. You promised to help someone, so help them properly. Go back to work tomorrow. If you’re really still worried, you can come back in the evenings as before. You don’t need to stay by my side all day long.”
Zhu Jinyue knew his health had indeed improved significantly and didn’t want him worrying about her instead. Besides, Yuanjiang International wasn’t too far from First Hospital; she could come over anytime.
“Alright, I get it. I’ll go to work tomorrow.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Zhu Yuanshan added, as if remembering something. “I think Xiao Fu mentioned yesterday that the Ye family’s boy is hosting a gathering tonight, right? You should go with him. You’ve been cooped up here with me for a week—aren’t you afraid of growing mushrooms?”
Zhu Jinyue hadn’t yet dared to tell Zhu Yuanshan about her breakup with Fu Zhiwang.
Probably out of respect for the friendship between the two families’ grandfathers, Fu Zhiwang had visited Zhu Yuanshan several times over the week, staying for over half an hour each time. Yesterday, being a rest day, he had even chatted with Zhu Yuanshan for half the afternoon. During the conversation, he mentioned Ye Qian’s invitation for tonight and asked if she wanted to go together.
Zhu Jinyue had declined at the time, saying she wanted to stay at the hospital with her grandfather.
She hadn’t expected Zhu Yuanshan to bring it up again today.
Zhu Jinyue didn’t really feel like going.
She wasn’t particularly familiar with Ye Qian, and after all, she had already broken up with Fu Zhiwang. She guessed that, like last time, she probably wouldn’t know many of the other people at the gathering.
It would be so awkward if she and Fu Zhiwang just ended up staring at each other.
But she could hear the underlying worry and concern in Zhu Yuanshan’s words and couldn’t bring herself to refuse outright.
Just then, her phone chimed with a notification.
Zhu Jinyue seized the chance to change the subject, “Hold on a second, I need to reply to a message.”
Zhu Yuanshan, “Go ahead.”
Having been chatting with Zhu Yuanshan, her phone had automatically locked. Zhu Jinyue unlocked it and saw the new message:
Shen Qinghuai: [Ye Qian said he invited you tonight too. Are you coming?]
She hadn’t seen him since they parted at the hospital last Sunday.
But perhaps because he knew she had broken up with Fu Zhiwang and there was no longer any need to avoid suspicion, or maybe because her crying on his shoulder that day had sparked a conscience in him, reminding him that they used to get along quite well—for whatever reason, he had actively messaged her several times over the past week.
Mostly asking about her grandfather’s condition, followed by a bit of casual chat.
The question she hadn’t had time to ask him that day, having missed the right moment and atmosphere, no longer felt appropriate to bring up. Asking would probably just reopen his old wounds.
But she realized she hadn’t properly thanked him that day either.
Zhu Jinyue lowered her head to reply: [Are you going?]
Shen Qinghuai: [I should be going.]
If he was going, then at least she would have a proper acquaintance at the gathering tonight.
Zhu Jinyue: [I should be going too.]
Shen Qinghuai: [See you tonight, then?]
Zhu Jinyue: [See you tonight.]
Just as she locked her phone again, Zhu Jinyue heard Zhu Yuanshan say teasingly, “Who are you chatting with, looking so happy? Is it Xiao Fu?”
Zhu Jinyue, “?”
Was she smiling?
She didn’t think so.
“Not him.”
“Then who?”
If she told Zhu Yuanshan she was chatting with a man, he would definitely press for details. The old man was sharp; the more she said, the more likely she’d slip up.
Worried it might affect his recovery, Zhu Jinyue didn’t dare risk giving anything away, so she decided to use her best friend as a cover.
“Another ‘Xiao Fu’.”
Zhu Yuanshan made an understanding sound, “Oh, Shu Yu? When is she coming back?”
Zhu Jinyue, “Soon. She’ll be back after graduation and will probably work at First Hospital.”
Zhu Yuanshan nodded and steered the conversation back: “Don’t think you can change the subject. What about what I asked you earlier?”
Zhu Jinyue, “…”
She told you the old man was sharp.
She looked up, “I’ll go, I’ll go. I know you’re tired of seeing me around.”
Zhu Yuanshan laughed, “Good that you know it.”
Perhaps he really was “tired of seeing her around.” Just after mid-afternoon, Zhu Jinyue heard Zhu Yuanshan urge her, “Why are you still here? Don’t you have that gathering at the Ye family boy’s place tonight?”
Zhu Jinyue was playing a game again.
With no urgent work—she had temporarily closed her studio to focus on preparing a gift for her grandmother—and with Zhu Yuanshan still recovering, she wasn’t in the mood to design new pieces. She was actually quite idle.
Thankfully, with this management game, a small investment meant she could keep grinding away.
Hearing this, she pulled down the notification bar to check the time, then gave Zhu Yuanshan a look of amused exasperation, “Grandpa, it’s only 4 p.m. Who starts an evening gathering this early?”
Zhu Yuanshan, “4 p.m. isn’t that early. Don’t you need time to get ready, maybe do yourself up a bit?”
Zhu Jinyue continued farming in her game while replying, “It’s just a casual get-together, not a formal banquet. Is it really worth getting all dressed up for?”
Zhu Yuanshan surprisingly nodded in agreement, “That’s true. Your presence alone is an honor for him.”
Zhu Jinyue’s lips curved into a slight smile.
Zhu Yuanshan, seemingly genuinely afraid she might sprout mushrooms if she stayed in the hospital room a few more hours, tried another angle, “Where did you say the gathering was? Don’t you need to leave early to get there?”
When Fu Zhiwang came over yesterday, Zhu Jinyue was also playing games and didn’t listen to him seriously at all, so how could she know where the gathering was?
She switched out of the game and opened WeChat, “I’ll ask.”
Zhu Yuanshan, “While you’re at it, ask Xiao Fu when he plans to pick you up?”
Zhu Jinyue’s fingers had already moved to Shen Qinghuai’s profile picture, but she paused at these words, “No need for him to pick me up, I can just ask Sister Yan to drop me off.”
Although he didn’t show it in front of her, the old man was somewhat domineering by nature. Unhappy with her reply, he said, “He’s the one who asked you out. It’s only proper for him to come pick you up himself.”
Zhu Jinyue had already broken up with Fu Zhiwang and didn’t want to trouble him. Struggling to refuse, she said, “You know how busy he is with work.”
Zhu Yuanshan snorted coldly, “What, he has time to go to other people’s gatherings, but no time to pick you up?”
Zhu Jinyue gave in, “Don’t be angry, I haven’t asked him yet anyway.”
She sighed inwardly, moved her finger away from Shen Qinghuai’s profile picture, scrolled down a bit, and found Fu Zhiwang’s avatar.
Zhu Jinyue: [SOS]
Zhu Jinyue: [Emergency!]
Fu Zhiwang replied quite quickly.
Fu Zhiwang: [What’s wrong?]
Zhu Jinyue: [My grandpa is tired of having me around. Today, he suddenly remembered that you invited me to the gathering at Ye Qian yesterday and insists that I go. Can you swing by the hospital to pick me up on your way there?]
Fu Zhiwang: [Of course.]
Fu Zhiwang: [I was the one who invited you, after all.]
Zhu Jinyue breathed a sigh of relief: [Thanks!]
Zhu Jinyue: [When I have time, I’ll bring some new tea leaves over for your grandpa.]
Fu Zhiwang: [You’re thanking me, but giving the gift to my grandpa—what kind of thanks is that?]
Zhu Jinyue: [It’s just not appropriate for me to give you gifts anymore.]
The other end of the phone fell silent.
The screen showed “Typing…”
After a while, the “Typing…” indicator disappeared again.
A few moments later, Fu Zhiwang sent a new message.
Fu Zhiwang: 【I should be able to get to the hospital by 5 p.m. I’ll come upstairs to pick you up and say hello to your grandpa while I’m at it.】
Zhu Jinyue: 【No need to go to all that trouble, I can come down by myself.】
Fu Zhiwang: 【If we’re putting on an act, we might as well make it convincing.】
That was true.
If he showed up but didn’t come upstairs to greet her grandfather, it would seem impolite.
Zhu Jinyue didn’t refuse again: 【Alright, then sorry for the trouble. 】
Although Fu Zhiwang had stood her up twice, there were understandable reasons both times. Besides, he was usually quite punctual.
At five minutes to five, he appeared in the hospital room. Dressed in his usual casual, young-master style, he politely exchanged a few words with her grandfather before turning to her.
“Shall we head out now?”
Zhu Jinyue nodded and stood up, “Mm, let’s go.”
Then she turned back and waved to her grandfather, “I’m off. Remember to eat properly.”
Zhu Yuanshan waved a hand, “Go on, have fun. Don’t come back too early.”
Zhu Jinyue, “…”
The car Fu Zhiwang drove today was the same yellow-plated Maybach he’d used to take her to the hospital last time. When Zhu Jinyue got in, she’d meant to casually ask where the gathering was, but just then, Ming Chan sent a message asking about Zhu Yuanshan’s health.
Remembering that she hadn’t yet told Ming Chan she’d be returning to work tomorrow, Zhu Jinyue decided not to bother asking Fu Zhiwang and instead lowered her head to chat with Ming Chan.
By the time the Maybach came to a stop, the sky had darkened, leaving only a hint of gray-blue lingering at the horizon.
It was only after getting out of the car that Zhu Jinyue realized the place looked familiar.
She turned to the man beside her, “Wasn’t Ye Qian’s birthday celebration last time also held here?”
Fu Zhiwang nodded, “Yes.”
Zhu Jinyue pointed at the sign in front of them, “Why did they change the name?”
In the half-light, Fu Zhiwang glanced down at her, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like it last time?”
Zhu Jinyue blinked lightly, thought for a moment, and then remembered that was indeed the case.
That day, Zhu Qinghao had cancelled on her at the last minute.
She’d ended up attending Ye Qian’s birthday party with Fu Zhiwang instead. When she saw the sign at the entrance, she’d muttered offhandedly, “What kind of messy name is that?”
At the time, Fu Zhiwang had glanced at her with a smile and said, “Should I have them change it then?”
Zhu Jinyue had thought it was just a casual joke and hadn’t taken it seriously.
Now, looking at the replaced sign, she belatedly reflected on whether she might have spoken too absolutely on the day they broke up, when she said Fu Zhiwang was far from truly liking her.
It was possible that Fu Zhiwang did like her a little.
But at most, just a little.
“Mirror Flower.” Zhu Jinyue read the new name aloud and couldn’t resist to launch a complaint, “They went to the trouble of changing it, but they couldn’t even pick a nicer name.”
Fu Zhiwang chuckled, “What can I say? The owner’s cultural level is just like that.”
Zhu Jinyue nodded and didn’t continue the topic.
What was done was done. There was no point now in figuring out whether Fu Zhiwang had never really liked her or whether he had liked her at least a little.
“Let’s go in.”
Zhu Jinyue had only taken one step forward when her wrist was suddenly grabbed from behind.
Frowning, she turned around, “What is it?”
Earlier, when he learned she was coming, Fu Zhiwang had actually considered asking Ye Qian to change the venue.
After all, this was where he had made her angry and where she had once concluded that his feelings for her amounted to nothing more than mild interest. But he also wanted her to see the sign he’d had changed long ago.
He wanted to know how she would react.
But Zhu Jinyue’s reaction was even more subdued than he had expected.
Fu Zhiwang felt that if he didn’t say something now, once Zhu Yuanshan fully recovered, he would likely have no chance left.
“Yueyue.” Fu Zhiwang looked down at her, his voice low. “I do like you.”
His features were sharp and defined, a type of handsome that carried a hint of aggression. Usually arrogant by nature, yet at this moment, as he looked down at her, there was an unexpected softness in his gaze.
Zhu Jinyue let out a light sigh. “Isn’t it a bit too late to say these things now?”
Fu Zhiwang had already guessed her answer, but seeing how she didn’t hesitate even for a second, he couldn’t help but feel both irritated and amused.
“Little sister, couldn’t you be a bit more tactful?”
Zhu Jinyue, “…?”
Where did he dig up this new, nonsensical way of addressing her?
“Then find yourself a more tactful kind of ‘like,'” she retorted.
Fu Zhiwang didn’t know what was wrong with himself—it seemed he was genuinely drawn to this unyielding edge in her.
“Am I a three-year-old? Liking something one day and switching to something else the next?”
Zhu Jinyue wasn’t particularly patient when it came to handling these kinds of situations. Originally, the responsibility for their breakup lay with Fu Zhiwang.
But regardless of whose fault it was, since she had been the one to initiate the breakup, Fu Zhiwang was under no obligation to keep up the act in front of Zhu Yuanshan.
Moreover, although the two grandfathers weren’t lifelong friends—in fact, they used to dislike each other—for some reason, a few years ago, they suddenly buried the hatchet and became quite close. In any case, they now shared a deep bond.
So, Zhu Jinyue mustered a bit more patience to persuade him, “It’s fine. Workaholics like you truly love their work anyway. Once you dive into a few projects and keep yourself busy for a while, you’ll probably get over it.”
Fu Zhiwang, “…”
A sudden breeze swept through the entrance.
She hadn’t dressed up specially today—not even wearing makeup—just a black coat with a snow-white cashmere scarf around her neck. Her light chestnut, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, simple yet striking.
As the wind blew, she instinctively tucked her petite face deeper into the scarf.
Fu Zhiwang’s heart softened. He took her hand and led her inside. “Forget it, let’s just go in.”
Anyway, there was no one else by her side for now. There was no need to rush things at this moment.
Zhu Jinyue didn’t move. Only her deer-like eyes, visible above the scarf, glanced down slightly. “Have you forgotten to let go of my hand?”
This time, Fu Zhiwang was truly amused by her bluntness.
“Only willing to keep up appearances in front of your grandpa, is that it?” He gestured toward the entrance with his chin. “There are plenty of sharp-eyed people inside. If you’re okay with them figuring out we’ve broken up—and word getting back to your grandpa—then by all means, keep your distance from me.”
Zhu Jinyue, “…”
So troublesome.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have come.
She wrinkled her nose, looked Fu Zhiwang up and down a few times, and finally relented reluctantly. “Fine, I’ll hold your arm then.”
Fu Zhiwang, “…”
He was truly at his wit’s end with her.
“Alright,” he conceded helplessly, releasing her wrist and bending his elbow slightly toward her. “Go ahead, princess.”
Only then did Zhu Jinyue slowly loop her arm through his.
As they entered arm in arm, Zhu Jinyue saw that it was just as lively inside as last time.
Ye Qian had booked out the entire floor again, and most of the guests, like before, were unfamiliar faces.
Zhu Jinyue had never been fond of socializing, and today she was only here to placate Zhu Yuanshan. She had no interest in making small talk with strangers.
So, she simply followed Fu Zhiwan all the way to the semi-private seating area at the back. The host, Ye Qian, was, as usual, seated there.
As soon as he saw them, Ye Qian raised his hand in greeting. “Little Sister Zhu, you made it today! I thought you weren’t coming.”
There was someone else sitting beside Ye Qian.
The man had clean, smooth facial lines and was looking down at his phone. He wore a snow-white sweater and, just like the day they had reunited, exuded an indescribable sense of purity and coolness.
Hearing Ye Qian’s greeting, he slowly lifted his gaze. His eyes rested lightly on her face for a second, then drifted down unhurriedly, finally seeming to pause on her hand, which was tucked into Fu Zhiwang’s arm.