"Like the Moon in the Sky" - Chapter 5

On Wednesday, January 11th, Zhu Jinyue received a phone call from Fu Wangzhi.

“I have to go on a business trip on the 15th, during the day,” Fu Zhiwang said over the phone. “Can we schedule the birthday party for the evening of the 14th? Celebrate with me first, then keep the party going after midnight to celebrate your birthday too?”

Zhu Jinyue asked him, “Will you be able to get up the next morning?”

“Don’t you worry about that,” Fu Zhiwang said. “Just focus on enjoying your birthday.”

Zhu Jinyue had no objections, “Sure, that works.”

“Are there any people you would like to invite?” Fu Zhiwang asked.

Zhu Jinyue had gone abroad for university and had long since grown distant from her former classmates.

Among those still in the country, the only one she was particularly close to was Ming Chan, but Ming Chan had been overwhelmingly busy lately.

“No,” she said.

Fu Wangzhi, “Then I’ll handle all the arrangements?”

Zhu Jinyue agreed: “Okay.”

***

Over the next few days, Zhu Jinyue didn’t go out again, staying holed up at home working on the draft for her grandmother’s birthday gift.

But for some reason, everything she drew ended up in the trash.

Not a single piece satisfied her.

Zhu Qinghao came back to keep her company for one evening, after which her grandfather and mother returned home briefly as well. None of them stayed more than half a day before flying off abroad for work again.

The morning before her birthday, as soon as Zhu Jinyue woke up, she received several notifications for money transfers. The family group chat was also buzzing incessantly.

She opened the group chat and saw her parents arguing.

To be precise, her mom was scolding her dad.

Kong Si: 【How could you fly to London? Yueyue’s birthday is tomorrow?!】

Zhu Jingsen: 【Isn’t it Dad’s turn to celebrate Yueyue’s birthday this year?】

Zhu Yuanshan: 【I’m next year】

Zhu Jingsen: 【Then it must be Qinghao】

Zhu Qinghao: 【Thanks, I did last year】

Zhu Jingsen: 【Then why didn’t you remind me earlier? Now I can’t make it back in time @KongSi】

Kong Si: 【You need me to remind you about your own daughter’s birthday? Are you even her real father?】

Zhu Jingsen: 【I’ll transfer Yueyue some extra money】

Kong Si: 【My precious daughter already earns plenty on her own now. Her work is even collected in museums—you think she needs your money?】

Zhu Jingsen was removed from the group chat.

Zhu Jingsen joined the group chat.

Zhu Jinyue chuckled.

After Grandma passed away, the busy adults in their family had made an agreement: every year on her birthday, at least one of them had to be with her.

A whole decade had passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Jinyue rolled over in bed, nestled into her pillow, and typed.

Zhu Jinyue: 【It’s fine】

Zhu Jinyue: 【I’m spending it with Fu Zhiwang this year】

Zhu Jingsen: 【Yueyue’s awake】

Zhu Jingsen: 【Looks like your grandfather was farsighted after all. With Fu Zhiwang keeping you company, me coming back would just make me the annoying third wheel. I’ll bring you back some extra gifts later】

Zhu Yuanshan: 【Fu Zhiwang is Fu Zhiwang, you are you】

Zhu Jingsen: 【I’ll book a flight back now】

Zhu Jinyue: 【Really, don’t】

Zhu Jinyue: 【I’m an adult now. I don’t need someone with me every single year for my birthday】

Zhu Qinghao: 【I have a meeting this afternoon, but I can free up some time in the evening. Probably not enough to come home, but if you have time to come to the company, I’d love to have dinner with you. We can celebrate the Little New Year together too @ZhuJinyue】

Zhu Jinyue buried her chin in her pillow and sent her sister a little “ok” emoji.

After getting up, Zhu Jinyue continued working on the draft for her grandmother’s birthday gift.

But until she set out to pick up the custom cufflinks for Fu Zhiwang, she still hadn’t managed to produce a satisfactory piece.

Another day of failed attempts at drawing.

After collecting the cufflinks, Zhu Jinyue went to her sister’s company to have a meal with her, and then headed to the location of the birthday party.

The birthday party was held at a manor under Fu Zhiwang’s name.

The chandeliers in the main hall were dazzling, bright as day.

It had likely been redecorated for the birthday banquet—glassware, wine cups, and fresh flowers were arranged to perfection.

Any more would have been tacky, any less would have lacked festivity.

Having been delayed by dinner with her sister, Zhu Jinyue arrived to find the hall already filled with quite a few guests.

Zhu Jinyue wasn’t surprised by the lavish scale of the birthday party. Fu Zhiwang had a somewhat flamboyant personality. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, yet possessing the ability to carve out his own world, he certainly had no shortage of capital to be ostentatious.

It was just that Shen Qinghuai seemed to be absent. Hearing Ye Qian say that he was still busy with work and would arrive later, Zhu Jinyue didn’t pay it much mind.

The banquet truly began only with her arrival.

Disliking social niceties, Zhu Jinyue followed Fu Zhiwang to greet a few of his closest friends before directly taking a seat on the sofa in the rest area.

Perhaps it was because such banquets offered little novelty—though, of course, Fu Zhiwang wouldn’t do anything too outrageous, and she didn’t like that either—but after playing a few rounds of small games, Zhu Jinyue lost interest.

Fu Zhiwang had just been pulled aside by a friend to discuss a project.

It was probably a genuinely interesting project; for this young master to be dragged into business talks on his birthday and yet seem unusually unbothered, leaning back lazily in his chair and listening with some attentiveness, was rare.

Zhu Jinyue couldn’t be bothered to call him over and got up, planning to explore on her own.

She hadn’t been to this manor before. If nothing else, Fu Zhiwang’s taste was impeccable.

As she wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling window, Zhu Jinyue saw fine, white flakes drifting down from the sky outside.

It was snowing again.

A server hired for the occasion happened to pass by with a tray holding several mixed cocktails. One of them, snow-white in color, perfectly matched the sudden heavy snow outside.

Zhu Jinyue remembered Fu Zhiwang mentioning earlier that he had hired a skilled mixologist for the evening. She stopped the server and took that snow-colored drink.

The server then left with the tray.

Zhu Jinyue raised the glass, about to taste it, when a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached before her eyes.

It steadily took the glass from her hand.

Zhu Jinyue frowned, raised her eyes, and her gaze collided with a pair of eyes deep like mysterious pools.

The man was dressed in a black notch lapel suit, but he had undone a few buttons of the white shirt inside, adding an unseen tension to his otherwise refined and reserved appearance.

It was Shen Qinghuai.

Zhu Jinyue’s furrowed brows relaxed. She looked at him inexplicably: “If you want a drink, get it yourself. Why take mine?”

“The drink contains milk,” Shen Qinghuai said gently. “Didn’t you tell him you’re allergic to milk protein?”

Zhu Jinyue was stunned.

Her milk allergy was something the help at home and her usual shops knew well. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to those around her meticulously and automatically eliminating this risk for her. So, when she saw this snow-colored drink just now, it hadn’t even crossed her mind.

She and Fu Zhiwang hadn’t been seeing each other for long; it seemed she really hadn’t had a chance to mention this to him yet.

But…

Zhu Jinyue stared blankly at the man before her.

She had only told him once, hadn’t she?

It must have been not long after school started in their second year of high school.

*******

The second week of the new semester in her second year of high school began, and Zhu Jinyue continued to drift through her days in a daze. However, thanks to Qu Wei’s deliberate introduction, she finally recognized one more person in her class.

A tall, lanky boy sat in the last row of her column and seemed to be the class representative for mathematics.

Sometimes, he would collect homework from their column, starting from the back and moving forward. As he passed each person, he would lightly tap their desk with his knuckles.

When he reached her, he did the same—tapping her desk and lowering his voice to avoid disturbing others. “Today’s math homework,” he said.

Zhu Jinyue didn’t even pay attention in class, let alone complete her assignments. She was about to shake her head and say she hadn’t done it when Qu Wei, sitting beside her, urgently tugged at her sleeve.

She remembered then that Qu Wei had copied the homework for her.

Zhu Jinyue rummaged through her desk, found the assignment, and handed it to him. The boy took it and continued forward, tapping the desk of the student in front of her.

Occasionally, during breaks, Zhu Jinyue would inadvertently yawn and glance back. Almost every time, she would see him with his head down, reading or doing homework. Unlike other classmates who joked and laughed with each other, he never seemed to engage in idle chatter.

The time she wasted and squandered seemed, in his hands, to be precious down to every last second.

Their first real interaction likely took place on a school day during the third week of the semester.

That day, Zhu Qinghao flew from Pingcheng to visit her.

It was also the happiest day Zhu Jinyue had experienced since transferring to Xingnan.

She took the day off, showing her older sister around a small local attraction in the morning and treating her to a meal at a Xingnan specialty restaurant at noon.

The restaurant’s specialty was simple: spice.

Aside from the greens, every dish had to be rinsed in water before Zhu Qinghao could eat it. Zhu Jinyue, on the other hand, savored each bite with relish.

Zhu Qinghao was six years older than her and had already started working at the family company. Even her weekends were packed, and she had carved out just half a day to visit. After lunch, she had to leave immediately.

Worried that her sister’s afternoon studies would be affected, Zhu Qinghao insisted that she not accompany her to the airport.

Zhu Jinyue reluctantly returned to school with the driver.

After getting out of the car, she didn’t want to go inside right away.

It felt too stifling in there.

With her backpack slung over her shoulders, Zhu Jinyue trudged aimlessly along the street outside the school.

But after walking for a while, she began to regret not returning to campus.

—Xingnan was simply too hot.

Even though it was already late September, the afternoon temperature still soared to nearly 40 degrees Celsius. After just a short walk, Zhu Jinyue felt as though all the moisture in her body had been baked dry by the sun.

Just as she was about to turn back, her gaze inadvertently fell upon a tall, slender figure through a glass wall.

The boy seemed to be washing something behind the counter, his back straight as a rod, like a young pine tree on a cliff, standing tall despite wind and rain.

Zhu Jinyue looked up and saw the shop’s sign: “A Cup of Milk Tea.”

It was the same shop Qu Wei had brought her to last time.

The thought of returning under the scorching sun vanished from her mind. Zhu Jinyue stepped into the shop.

Hearing the noise, the boy who had been washing cups stopped what he was doing, walked over to the counter, and asked gently, “Hello, what would you like to order?”

Zhu Jinyue leaned listlessly against the counter, looking down at the menu.

At the time, the now-ubiquitous chain milk tea shops were still in their early stages. The names of the drinks were fresh and appealing, but it was hard to tell what they actually contained.

She had only been there once with Qu Wei, and she didn’t feel like ordering the same drink she’d had last time.

“Which ones don’t have milk?” Zhu Jinyue asked. “I’m allergic to it.”

A pair of slender, well-defined fingers pointed to a few items on the menu in front of her.

“This small section here is pure tea, this side is fruit tea, and over here are drinks made with soy milk.”

Zhu Jinyue picked one with a pleasant-sounding name from the fruit tea options.

“Large size, please.”

That year, WeChat Pay had just been launched, and QR code payments were far from as widespread as they are now. Zhu Jinyue fumbled through her backpack for her coin purse and paid him in cash.

The boy took the money, gave her change, then turned around to wash his hands before starting to prepare her drink.

His movements looked practiced and efficient.

It was almost time for afternoon classes, and the milk tea shop, which primarily served students, was much quieter than during her last visit. She was the only customer.

Zhu Jinyue hadn’t wanted to return to school in the first place, so after getting her drink, she didn’t leave. Instead, she found an empty table and sat down.

She inserted the straw and took a long, satisfying gulp, the refreshingly sweet taste of watermelon filling her mouth. Only then did she feel somewhat revived.

Zhu Jinyue glanced up.

The boy behind the counter had finished cleaning and was now bowing his head, seemingly working on some homework.

She watched him for a while, noticing that he didn’t lose focus for even a second, then boredly lowered her head again.

The cool breeze from the air conditioner drifted gently through the shop.

Zhu Jinyue’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier until, without realizing it, she slumped onto the table and fell asleep.

She woke up because of a sharp, rolling pain in her abdomen. Zhu Jinyue pressed her hand tightly against the tabletop, her eyes welling up with tears almost immediately.

Time seemed to fracture and stretch under the weight of the pain, each second feeling infinitely long.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when the light in front of her dimmed slightly—a figure had stepped up to her table.

Zhu Jinyue’s vision was blurry, and the tall, slender figure appeared equally indistinct. Only the voice that sounded beside her ear was clear and gentle.

“Zhu Jinyue, what’s wrong?”

Zhu Jinyue sniffled. “My stomach hurts so bad.”

Shen Qinghuai asked her, “Should I take you to the hospital?”

Zhu Jinyue nodded, bracing herself against the table. As soon as she tried to stand, tears of pain welled up again.

“Can we wait for an ambulance?”

Waiting for an ambulance was out of the question—Zhu Jinyue felt like she might die right there in his shop at any second. She shook her head frantically.

“There’s a hospital nearby,” Shen Qinghuai said, seeking her opinion. “Shall I take you there?”

Zhu Jinyue, still slumped over the table, nodded weakly.

“Can you walk?”

“Should I carry you?”

Zhu Jinyue wasn’t sure how she responded.

A few seconds later, she heard a very soft “Sorry.”

Then, she was lifted into the air.

The boy’s shoulders were broader than they looked, and he was strong, his arms holding her steadily.

Zhu Jinyue was in too much pain to hold her head up, so she leaned against his shoulder, her cheek pressed against his T-shirt. The fabric felt slightly rough, but it smelled clean and fresh.

The hospital was indeed very close.

After a chaotic flurry of examinations, Zhu Jinyue was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis and needed an IV.

Hearing that she needed an injection, Zhu Jinyue felt a headache coming on, too.

The boy, who had been busy helping her all along, silently stood up as if to leave.

Zhu Jinyue remembered that it was probably time for class.

She had just lost her closest family member and had only recently arrived in Xingnan. The city was entirely unfamiliar to her, and this was her first time at this hospital.

Looking around, everything and everyone was strange—only Shen Qinghuai felt vaguely familiar.

At that moment, Zhu Jinyue’s rationality had been crushed by the pain. Unable to think clearly, she reached out and grabbed his hand without a second thought.

“You’re not allowed to leave.”

Shen Qinghuai turned around.

Perhaps sensing her bluster hid fear, his gaze fell on her hand. He didn’t pull away, and his voice seemed to soften slightly.

“I’m not leaving. I’m going to pay your fees.”

*****

“Jinyue.” Shen Qinghuai called her name.

For a moment, the voice from ten years ago and the voice from now, both belonging to him, seemed to overlap in her mind.

Zhu Jinyue snapped out of her memories and saw Shen Qinghuai offering her another glass of wine.

She reached out to take it, then remembered she hadn’t answered his question yet.

“No,” Zhu Jinyue said, staring dazedly at the man in front of her. An indescribable feeling stirred in her heart, though she could faintly distinguish one component of it as surprise. “Do all you top students… have such good memories?”

Something that happened so many years ago, and had nothing to do with him—how could he still remember?

“Not exactly exceptional,” Shen Qinghuai replied with a light laugh.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Zhu Jinyue protested, dissatisfied. If this wasn’t exceptional, then what was? “Don’t push it with the false modesty.”