"Like the Moon in the Sky" - Chapter 24

Zhu Jinyue’s breath hitched slightly, feeling an inexplicable and unwarranted sense of guilt.

However, Shen Qinghuai seemed to have only glanced over casually. He quickly averted his gaze, his long lashes lowering slightly as usual, concealing any subtle emotions that might have been there.

It was only then that Zhu Jinyue snapped back to reality.

Wait, why did she suddenly feel guilty just now?

She and Shen Qinghuai didn’t have any special relationship. At most, she had kissed him that one time, and he himself had said she didn’t need to take responsibility for it.

So, Zhu Jinyue also withdrew her gaze.

Dinner was served buffet-style.

Ye Qian had always been a foodie. After they sat down, Zhu Jinyue tried several dishes on his recommendation. However, her appetite hadn’t been great lately due to worry over her grandfather’s health, so she stopped eating after feeling about seventy to eighty percent full.

It was just that she ate slowly. By the time she finished, everyone else in the seating area had long since finished eating and were relaxing. Only Shen Qinghuai was still looking down at his phone.

He had only glanced up when she entered earlier. Since then, even while eating, he hadn’t taken his eyes off his phone.

She wondered what was so interesting on it.

Ye Qian, unable to sit still, started organizing, “Shall we play cards again?”

Fu Zhiwang turned to her, “Do you want to play?”

Zhu Jinyue had only come to fulfill an obligation and wasn’t interested at all. She shook her head and said, “I don’t feel like playing. You go ahead with them.”

Fu Zhiwang, “Then what would you like to do?”

Zhu Jinyue had been about to say he didn’t need to worry about her—she could just find a spot to play games—but then she remembered what he’d said at the entrance and changed her tone, “I’ll watch you play.”

Fu Zhiwang nodded and asked a server to bring a small mobile table next to her, setting it with some snacks and fruit.

Ye Qian let out a long, teasing “Ooooh,” and heckled, “Hey, hey, hey, isn’t it a bit much to show off like this in public?”

Fu Zhiwang turned his head slightly and shot him a smiling glance, “If you’ve got what it takes, go find someone yourself.”

“Fine, fine, I’ve got no skills, alright?” Ye Qian couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to the other side. “Ah Huai, stop looking at your phone. Come play cards.”

The man named by him was lazily leaning back on the sofa, not even lifting his head. “I’ve got work. You guys start without me.”

Ye Qian was clearly familiar with him and didn’t press further, simply calling two others over to form a card game.

To avoid raising suspicions, Zhu Jinyue forced herself to sit and watch them play cards. But she wasn’t really interested, and after a few rounds, she started feeling drowsy. She had no choice but to reach over to the small table beside her for some snacks and fruit to keep herself awake.

However, when she touched one of the grapes, perhaps it was overripe, it burst open in her hand without her applying much pressure at all, juice splattering all over her fingers.

Zhu Jinyue frowned, pulled a tissue to wipe her hand, but a sticky feeling remained.

“I’m going out for a bit,” she said to Fu Zhiwang.

Fu Zhiwang turned to look at her. “Where to? Should I go with you?”

Zhu Jinyue shook her head. “No need, I’m just going to wash my hands.”

Fu Zhiwang didn’t insist.

As she turned away, Zhu Jinyue unexpectedly noticed that the person who had been constantly on his phone on the adjacent semi-private sofa had vanished at some point, nowhere to be seen.

Her hand was still covered in grape juice, so she didn’t dwell on it.

It wasn’t her first time at this club. Zhu Jinyue found her way to the small door without trouble. As she passed through the narrow corridor, she inexplicably remembered bumping into someone confessing to Shen Qinghuai here last time.

Ten years had passed, and he still had no shortage of admirers.

Entering the restroom, Zhu Jinyue turned on the faucet and washed her hands thoroughly, only turning off the water once the sticky feeling was completely gone. She then dried her hands using the dryer.

As she stepped out, her phone chimed. Zhu Jinyue looked down and took out her phone, finding it was just an advertisement from her mobile carrier.

Annoyed, she stuffed the phone back into her pocket. When she looked up again, she saw the wooden door of the fire exit next to her suddenly open—

The stairwell probably had motion-sensor lights; the lighting was dim, creating a stark contrast with the well-lit corridor outside. A tall man stood with one foot over the threshold; his snow-white sweater sharply divided into light and shadow by the lighting.

Looking up, his handsome, familiar face was half-hidden in the darkness, making the gaze he directed at her seem somewhat inscrutable.

Zhu Jinyue’s eyes met his for a brief moment.

The next second, the man suddenly reached out and grabbed her.

Caught completely off guard, Zhu Jinyue was easily pulled inside the fire door by his strength.

The wooden door slammed shut. At the same time, Zhu Jinyue stumbled headfirst into the man’s chest, her nose filled with his clean, cool scent.

The motion-sensor light above flickered on.

It was all too sudden. Zhu Jinyue, for a moment, forgot to pull away. Lifting her head within this refreshing scent, she looked at the man who had pulled her in, utterly bewildered.

“What are you doing?”

Shen Qinghuai didn’t create distance either. He didn’t release her hand or answer her question. Instead, he lowered his gaze, seeking her eyes, his voice slightly deep.

“Did you get back together with him?”

From the moment their eyes met outside the door, Zhu Jinyue had felt he seemed somewhat different from usual, as if the gentle exterior had finally cracked a little, vaguely revealing a hint of aggressiveness hidden deep within.

She was dazed, not immediately processing his question.

“Get back together with who?”

Shen Qinghuai still didn’t answer her question, his gaze heavy upon her. “But given your personality, it’s probably not possible. Are you worried about your grandfather’s health, and scared about telling him about the breakup, so you’re putting on an act with him, right?”

Zhu Jinyue finally understood what he was asking and began to come back to her senses. Only then did she realize their proximity was excessive; it was almost as if she was leaning against his chest, and her wrist was still gripped in his hand.

She took a step back, instinctively trying to pull her hand away.

She pulled her hand back easily.

It felt more like he had let go the moment he sensed her reluctance.

But she had taken off her coat inside earlier, and now she was only wearing a blue sweater—not very thick. The warmth from the man’s palm seemed to linger on her skin, making her inexplicably uncomfortable.

It also reminded her of that overstepping kiss from last time.

The scene she had worked so hard to forget resurfaced in her mind. The tips of her ears grew warm, and she didn’t feel like answering his question properly anymore.

“What does it have to do with you?”

Shen Qinghuai let out a soft “Hmm.”

The air in the fire escape was stagnant. Even though she had taken a small step back, they were still close. His scent filled her senses, and when she looked up, she could see his thin lips. The memory of their touch was still vivid, and the discomfort in her heart slowly intensified. She didn’t want to be alone with him in there anymore. Hearing his response, she was about to say, “If that’s all, I’ll be going now.”

But then Shen Qinghuai slowly added—

“But I wish it did have something to do with me.”

Zhu Jinyue’s heart gave a heavy, sudden thump. She looked up at him in disbelief.

“What did you say?”

Shen Qinghuai was still looking down at her, his eyes holding a tenderness she had never seen before. It wasn’t like his usual, indiscriminate politeness towards everyone. Like the hint of aggression earlier, this tenderness seemed closer to his true nature, a different kind of gentleness.

“You didn’t deny it just now, so I’ll assume you’re just putting on an act with him. I originally planned to do this more formally, but I don’t want to wait any longer. It seems I can’t wait any longer.”

Zhu Jinyue had a premonition of what was coming. She held her breath instinctively, still unable to believe it.

Until Shen Qinghuai spoke again.

“Jinyue.” Shen Qinghuai called her name.

The man who had been far more composed and straightforward than his peers ten years ago now looked visibly nervous.

“I like you.”

The motion-sensor light seemed to have a timer.

Right after he finished speaking, it suddenly went out.

The fire escape was instantly plunged into darkness. Only slivers of light from under the door faintly and blurrily illuminated the man’s face, which looked as if carefully sketched with a brush.

Hearing those words from him, Zhu Jinyue was still filled with disbelief. She stared at him blankly, unsure how to react.

Shen Qinghuai suddenly raised his hand then, his index finger pressed against his lips, letting out a soft “Shh.”

Zhu Jinyue blinked, then immediately understood why—

Footsteps sounded outside.

They seemed to be coming from the corridor outside, growing closer and clearer. Zhu Jinyue almost wondered if the person was going to enter the fire escape, when suddenly an unfamiliar female voice rang out.

“Fu Zhiwang.”

?

The person outside was actually Fu Zhiwang.

And who was the one who had called out to him?

Zhu Jinyue didn’t recognize the voice and instinctively looked at Shen Qinghuai.

Shen Qinghuai was still gazing intently at her, just like Teacher Li had stared intently at that dress outside the studio that day, though the emotions behind the gaze were entirely different.

Zhu Jinyue felt scalded by his look and instinctively averted her eyes.

But she didn’t need to ask him; she soon found out the answer.

Outside, the sound of high heels slowly approached.

Then came Fu Zhiwang’s slightly surprised voice, “Why are you here?”

The unfamiliar female voice replied, “Don’t worry, I didn’t come looking for you on purpose this time. A friend said there was a gathering and dragged me out to relax. I only found out it was organized by Ye Qian when I got here. I didn’t want to bother you, but I saw you come out just now and thought I should formally thank you again, and apologize again. The lawyer you found contacted me a few days ago. He’s been reviewing all the case files carefully these past few days and says there’s still a possibility my father could be granted bail. Thank you so much, and I’m really sorry. I was beside myself with worry at the time. Since I came back, I’ve been overwhelmed with my father’s situation. I didn’t know you were in a relationship that day. You were right; I really shouldn’t degrade myself. I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”

Fu Zhiwang was silent for a moment. “It’s fine. Consider it making up for my neglect before. Let’s call it even.”

The unfamiliar female voice—Fu Zhiwang’s ex-girlfriend, Lu Jiayin—was also silent for a moment before speaking.

“You actually realized it was neglect… Is it because you’ve really fallen for someone? That Second Miss Zhu?” She paused again, her tone wistful but more noticeably, resigned. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t know that day. I truly won’t bother you again. I wish you both happiness.”

The sound of high heels faded into the distance, as if returning to the main hall via the corridor.

Then came another set of footsteps, which seemed to walk further in before quickly turning back towards the hall, soon disappearing completely.

Silence returned outside.

Zhu Jinyue, having unexpectedly eavesdropped on her ex-boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend’s conversation, was still processing it when Shen Qinghuai’s voice sounded again.

“He’s gone.”

As if reminding her of something.

Zhu Jinyue’s attention was pulled back. Remembering his words earlier, she still found it hard to believe.

She looked up, studying him in the faint light, but it was too dark. She could only see that his gaze was as intense as before.

Zhu Jinyue hesitated but couldn’t resist reaching out to gently touch his forehead.

Shen Qinghuai chuckled, cooperatively lowering his head a little. His voice was no longer as tense as before, “Found anything?”

Zhu Jinyue quickly pulled her hand back.

“You don’t have a fever.”

Shen Qinghuai nodded, “No fever.”

Zhu Jinyue thought of another possibility, “Are you playing a truth or dare game with someone?”

Shen Qinghuai, “I’m not playing truth or dare either.”

Zhu Jinyue wrinkled her nose and sniffed, “Have you been drinking?”

“I haven’t been drinking either. I’m completely sober, Jinyue.” Shen Qinghuai paused, his tone turning serious again. “I wouldn’t joke with you about something like this.”

Zhu Jinyue unconsciously held her breath once more.

No fever, no truth or dare, no alcohol, completely sober…

But how could it be—

She wasn’t foolish, of course she could sense that Shen Qinghuai treated her a little differently, but she had thought that slight difference was due to their friendship from high school.

And during that year in high school, she hadn’t felt any signs between them—or rather, in Shen Qinghuai’s attitude toward her—that went beyond friendship.

“You really—” Zhu Jinyue hesitated before struggling to mumble the next few words, “like me?”

“Really.” Shen Qinghuai nodded earnestly. “But if you have doubts, if you find it hard to believe, then that’s my fault. It means I haven’t made it clear enough. You can wait until you feel it unmistakably before giving me your answer.”