"Like the Moon in the Sky" - Chapter 6
Shen Qinghuai did not answer her. His gaze seemed to drift past her, focusing on something behind.
Zhu Jinyue curiously followed his line of sight.
—Fu Zhiwang was striding briskly toward them.
“I’m going out to look at the snow,” Shen Qinghuai’s voice suddenly sounded again.
Zhu Jinyue turned back to face him.
His tone was gentle, the statement soft, but it was clearly an announcement, not an invitation.
After she turned back, the man gave her a slight nod and then walked toward the door.
The moment the glass door was pushed open, a cold wind rushed in.
Zhu Jinyue, who feared the cold, had already taken off her cashmere scarf when she entered. Now, she instinctively wanted to shrink her neck.
But the door only opened for an instant before being thoughtfully closed again.
The cold wind was once again completely shut out.
Suddenly, an arm draped over her shoulder, and Fu Zhiwang’s voice sounded in her ear.
“Why did you come over here?”
Zhu Jinyue tilted her chin toward the floor-to-ceiling window. “Came to check out your backyard.”
“There’s not much to see at night. I’ll bring you here for a proper look during the day next time. By the way, why did Qinghuai go out?” Fu Zhiwang asked again. “I just saw him talking to you.”
Zhu Jinyue, “He said he’s going out to look at the snow.”
Fu Zhiwang chuckled. “He’s been in Pingcheng for at least eight or nine years now. Hasn’t he had enough of snow yet?”
On the night of their reunion, after Zhu Jinyue returned home, she had actually looked up Shen Qinghuai online.
He had always kept a low profile, rarely appearing in the media, but Weizhi was at the peak of its success. As its founder, his background couldn’t remain entirely opaque.
He had attended university in Pingcheng, one of the country’s top institutions.
Zhu Jinyue wasn’t surprised that he had gotten into a prestigious university—what surprised her was how he and Fu Zhiwang had become long-time friends.
Fu Zhiwang had studied in the United States for university, and they weren’t even in the same year.
“How did you two meet?” Zhu Jinyue asked.
Fu Zhiwang, “We met during an international competition in college. You could say we started off on the wrong foot before becoming friends.”
Zhu Jinyue didn’t press for details and changed the subject. “Why did you come over here too?”
“The chef Ye Qian specially recommended just-prepared king crab. It’s best eaten hot,” Fu Zhiwang said. “Want to go try it?”
Zhu Jinyue, “Sure.”
Fu Zhiwang put his arm around her and led her back.
After a few steps, Zhu Jinyue inexplicably glanced back again.
The snow seemed to have grown heavier.
The backyard was still brightly lit. The glass of wine Shen Qinghuai had taken from her seemed almost to blend into the swirling snowflakes.
The man was still wearing that thin, notched-lapel black suit, his back straight.
The young pine from a decade ago now seemed to have grown into a towering tree, supporting a kingdom and world of his own.
Zhu Jinyue had long heard of Weizhi.
She lived abroad and didn’t play games, so for it to break through and reach her awareness, one could imagine how impressive it was.
If she had paid more attention to related news, the name Shen Qinghuai might have long been familiar to her. Or if she hadn’t changed her plans to study abroad, she might have become his university alumni, and perhaps wouldn’t have had to wait until now, a decade later, to meet him again.
It’s just—
The boy who once wore rough, no-name T-shirts had now become a template for success in everyone’s eyes, standing at a height many could only aspire to after a lifetime of struggle.
For some reason, Zhu Jinyue felt that the figure beyond the floor-to-ceiling window seemed far lonelier than he had been in high school.
After all these years, had he still not found someone to accompany him?
The chef specially recommended by Ye Qian was indeed excellent. Zhu Jinyue sampled a few dishes and played some games, and before she knew it, it was nearly midnight.
A cake over a meter tall was wheeled into the main hall.
Zhu Jinyue and Fu Zhiwang stood side by side in front of the cake.
Shen Qinghuai had long since returned from the backyard. The fine snow on his shoulders had either been brushed away or had melted, leaving no trace. He now sat on the sofa diagonally across from her, chatting softly with Ye Qian with a faint smile. The loneliness she had sensed when he stood alone outside seemed like nothing more than her imagination.
As the clock struck midnight, marking the transition between the old and new days, Zhu Jinyue and Fu Zhiwang took turns blowing out their respective birthday candles.
The hall plunged into darkness.
Zhu Jinyue closed her eyes and, as in previous years, wished for health and happiness for her family and friends.
In an instant, the hall was once again brightly lit.
Since her birthday officially began after midnight, the festivities continued boisterously for a while longer, not winding down until nearly 2 a.m.
The other guests left first, leaving only Shen Qinghuai and Ye Qian, who were closest to Fu Zhiwang, to stay behind temporarily and help with clearing up and closing out.
The gifts Zhu Jinyue had received were piled high like a tower on the sofa.
She sat on the sofa, staring at the mountain of gifts with a headache.
How was she supposed to take all of this back?
Just then, the gift bag at the very “peak” of the tower—perhaps not placed securely—suddenly slipped downward. A small gift box inside the bag tumbled into Zhu Jinyue’s lap.
Ye Qian, who was nearby, laughed at the sight. “Hey, isn’t that the gift from our young master Fu? It actually fell right into your lap—you two really are fated.”
As he spoke, he nudged Shen Qinghuai beside him with his elbow. “Don’t you think so, Ah Huai?”
Shen Qinghuai lowered his eyes slightly.
Fu Zhiwang threw a pine nut shell at him. “How much have you had to drink tonight? Why are you talking so much?”
Ye Qian tilted his head to avoid the pine nut shell and ignored him, continuing to speak to Zhu Jinyue. “Little Sister Zhu, hurry up and open it. If the gift is too cheap, you can’t accept it. We can’t have a man who’s too stingy as a boyfriend.”
Zhu Jinyue was quite curious as well.
Since it had already fallen into her lap, she casually opened it.
Inside was a black velvet box. Lifting the lid revealed a red diamond of significant carat weight, dazzlingly beautiful under the glow of the crystal chandelier overhead.
Ye Qian drew a sharp breath and exaggeratedly said, “Young Master Fu, are you still looking for a girlfriend?”
Zhu Jinyue looked up at him with a smile. “Should I make room for you?”
“Never mind, I’m a straight guy—completely straight,” Ye Qian said, giving Fu Zhiwang a once-over. “I have absolutely no interest in him.”
“Zhu Jinyue,” Fu Zhiwang reached out and lightly patted her head. “Do you think I’m dead?”
Zhu Jinyue swatted his hand away. “Don’t pat my head.”
“What?” Fu Zhiwang laughed. “Not even my head? Are you still worried about not growing taller?”
Zhu Jinyue, “You just handled pine nuts. It’s already so late; I don’t want to have to wash my hair too.”
Fu Zhiwang raised an eyebrow slightly. “You’re going back tonight?”
Zhu Jinyue shot him a glance.
Fu Zhiwang had drunk quite a bit tonight. His narrow, peach-blossom eyes shone brighter than usual, the corners slightly upturned. Like his previous remark, they seemed to carry a subtle, suggestive hook.
Zhu Jinyue had only been set up with him two months ago, and they had decided to try dating less than a month ago. Their current progress was still at holding hands, and she had no intention of jumping straight to staying over tonight. She couldn’t be bothered whether he was hinting at something or not.
“Of course.”
Ye Qian cut in, surprised, “Ah, Little Sister Zhu, you’re going back tonight?”
Zhu Jinyue glanced at him. “What else?”
“Nothing else.”
Ye Qian was delighted to see Fu Zhiwang struck a blow. Usually, girls chased after this young master; it was rare to see someone not falling for his charms.
“Of course, you should go back, you must go back. Home is much more comfortable, right, Ah Huai?”
As he spoke, he tried to elbow Shen Qinghuai again.
Shen Qinghuai sidestepped slightly. Ye Qian had indeed drunk too much; his elbow missed, and he stumbled sideways, losing his balance.
Just as he was about to hit the ground, Shen Qinghuai leisurely reached out to steady him.
“Careful.”
Ye Qian, “Thanks, bro.”
But… something felt off.
Fu Zhiwang had guessed she wouldn’t agree and had only asked casually. He didn’t press further. “Alright, but I’ve been drinking, so I can’t drive you. Is your driver still here?”
“Yes, no need for you to drive me.”
Zhu Jinyue looked at the remaining pile of gifts and decided to leave them for now. She pointed at them.
“Leave these here for now. Have someone send them over to me tomorrow.”
****
When Zhu Jinyue arrived home, it was already past 2:30 a.m.
The busybodies in her family were all out, and she had told the live-in housekeepers not to wait up for her before leaving.
The villa was silent, with only a light left on in the living room for her return.
Back in her room on the third floor, Zhu Jinyue placed the red diamond in her cabinet.
Although red diamonds were the rarest among colored gems due to their extremely low yield, her focus over the past few months had been on preparing a birthday gift for her grandmother, so she had no use for them for now.
After closing the cabinet door, Zhu Jinyue was about to go take a shower when Fu Zhiwan suddenly called.
Zhu Jinyue answered.
“Home already?” Fu Zhiwang asked.
Zhu Jinyue, “Yes, already back in my room.”
Fu Zhiwang chatted with her for a bit, then seemed to remember something. “By the way, there’s an auction after the New Year. Are you interested in going?”
“What auction?” Zhu Jinyue asked.
Fu Zhiwang, “A charity auction organized by the Yuan family. Qinghuai mentioned there are some nice pieces of jewelry. They probably didn’t know you were back when they sent the invitations—only your sister received one. If you’re interested, I can accompany you?”
Zhu Jinyue hadn’t heard Zhu Qinghao mention this.
She guessed her workaholic sister hadn’t even noticed the invitation.
“When is it?” Zhu Jinyue asked.
She had to help Ming Chan after the New Year and might not have time.
Fu Zhiwang, “The evening of the eighth day of the New Year.”
Zhu Jinyue wasn’t going to Ming Chan’s until after the tenth.
“Alright,” she agreed. “Let’s go check it out then.”
Fu Zhiwang, “Great. Should I have them send you an invitation?”
“No need,” Zhu Jinyue said. “I’ll just use my sister’s.”
“Okay,” Fu Zhiwang went along with her. “It’s late, get some sleep?”
Zhu Jinyue, “Mm, you too.”
After hanging up, while showering, Zhu Jinyue couldn’t help but wash her hair again.
Damn Fu Zhiwang and his restless hands.
By the time she finished showering, for some reason, Zhu Jinyue was no longer sleepy.
Perhaps the room was too quiet.
After going abroad for university as an adult, though her sister and mother were also overseas on business during the first few years—which was why she had changed her plans to study abroad—those two were ultimately workaholics. They couldn’t come home often, so she had long grown accustomed to being alone at home.
But tonight, having just returned from a lively party, her tolerance for quiet had diminished slightly.
Since she couldn’t sleep anyway.
Zhu Jinyue opened WeChat.
At midnight, Fu Shuyu had sent her a Birthday message right on time. There were too many people then, and she hadn’t been able to chat properly with Fu Shuyu.
Her fingertip hovered over Fu Shuyu’s chat window, about to tap to call her, when her phone suddenly vibrated.
A profile picture that had been buried deep below instantly jumped to the top.
A profile picture Zhu Jinyue had never expected to see.
—Shen Qinghuai’s profile picture.
Ever since he added her to this account, which looked very much like a work account, he had only sent her those few messages that day. After that, it had lain dormant in her friends’ list like a corpse.
Why had it suddenly come back to life tonight?