Chapter 9: Be My Girlfriend

The Mid-Autumn Festival event was a great success. The publicity department had chosen the rooftop of the teaching building as the venue. With tables and chairs set up, it was the perfect place to enjoy mooncakes and gaze at the moon together. After so many weekly activities, the members of the department had already become close friends.

Sheng Han stood by the railing, chatting on the phone with Xiu Jie.

“Silly girl, did you eat mooncakes yet?”

“I did, I did. The club organized an event today. Right now, everyone’s up on the rooftop, eating mooncakes and moon-gazing.”

“Oh wow, sounds nice! But aren’t you in the middle of the event? Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to be calling me now? Want to talk later?”

“No, it’s fine. Everyone gets along really well. It’s Mid-Autumn after all, they’ll understand. Stepping away for a bit is okay.”

“Xiu Jie, next time we get a break, let’s go on a trip, okay? It’s been months since we last saw each other.”

“Sure! I’ll come find you then.”

“Xiu Jie… I miss you…”

“Yeah, me too. Promise me—take really good care of yourself, okay?”

…

After hanging up, Sheng Han leaned on the railing, letting the evening breeze brush against her face as she gazed up at the bright moon. Her thoughts wandered. All those past moments came flooding back under the moonlight.

After entering senior year of high school, academic pressure had built up more and more. Sheng Han had been in low spirits every day. Watching her become so fragile and exhausted, Xiu Jie had felt nothing but distress. To ease her anxiety and tension, he tried every possible way to make her smile.

One day between classes, Xiu Jie was intensely focused on a book.

“What are you reading so seriously?” his deskmate asked. “You weren’t even this focused during exams!”

Without looking up, Xiu Jie replied, “Three Hundred Jokes.”

“What for?”

“I’ve noticed Sheng Han has been down lately. I want to cheer her up. With all the stress lately, I decided I’ll tell her one joke every day on our way home from school.”

“Tsk tsk tsk… look at you, showing off your affection. You really treat her like she’s made of glass—too precious to break or melt. Planning to devote your whole life to her, huh?”

Xiu Jie just smiled silently, but in his heart, he whispered: If I really could, I would.

On their way home, he would wave his arms and animatedly tell the joke he’d prepared. He’d be laughing at his own punchlines, but Sheng Han never seemed amused. No matter how hard he tried, her frown stayed firmly in place.

At one intersection, Xiu Jie got too caught up in his storytelling and tripped over a step by the roadside. Before Sheng Han could react, he and his bike tumbled into a patch of shrubs.

Worried, she rushed to ask if he was hurt. After confirming he was fine, she helped pull him out of the bushes. Looking at this usually bright and handsome boy now in such a ridiculous state, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing, covering her mouth.

Xiu Jie, brushing dirt off himself and grumbling, stopped mid-rant when he saw Sheng Han laughing. His eyes immediately lit up like stars—and he laughed too.

To Xiu Jie, Sheng Han was his light. As long as she smiled, he’d do anything. For her, he was willing to give it all.

First love… what a beautiful thing.

“Why aren’t you over there chatting with everyone? Just moon-gazing by yourself?” A gentle voice pulled Sheng Han back from her memories. She turned and saw Tian You.

“Look at the moon tonight—it’s beautiful,” she said, closing her eyes and lifting her chin slightly, letting the moonlight fall across her face.

“Yeah… it really is.” Tian You’s eyes, clear and calm like a still lake, watched her quietly.

“Sheng Han, seeing how dedicated you are at every event in the publicity department, I can tell you’re a really serious and thoughtful girl. Have you heard the saying? ‘A serious girl is the most beautiful.’”

Sheng Han laughed. “Haha! Really? I’m just trying to do what I can. But you—you’re amazing. I admire you a lot, you know. I’ll be counting on you from now on!”

Tian You blinked in surprise, then smiled. “Wow, didn’t expect I ranked so high in your eyes!”

After a short pause, he continued, “Sheng Han… have you ever thought about… um… Sheng Han, would you be my girlfriend? I want to protect you, take care of you.”

Now it was Sheng Han’s turn to freeze.

The moonlight poured over the two of them. The breeze seemed to carry a faint scent of osmanthus and the mellow sweetness of osmanthus wine. For the first time, Sheng Han realized just how intoxicating a night under the moon could be.

Her cheeks flushed hot, her heart suddenly racing. She took a deep breath and looked at Tian You with a sincere smile.

“Thank you, Tian You. You’re really wonderful. But… I already have a boyfriend. We’ve been together since high school. We’re really happy together.”

Tian You froze, and after a long silence, he laughed—as if trying to use laughter to cover the awkwardness. “Looks like I met you just a bit too late. Someone else already got there first. Can you tell me about him? That lucky guy—your boyfriend.”

“Of course.” The moment she began talking about Xiu Jie, Sheng Han lit up. Her eyes sparkled like stars. “He’s so kind to me. We used to walk to and from school together every day. He’s really talented—he plays instruments, he’s outgoing… He’s super tall… really handsome… he…”

Tian You listened quietly, nodding as she spoke.

When she finished, he said, “He sounds amazing. Someone that outstanding definitely deserves someone just as amazing. I concede defeat. Sheng Han, I like you—but I never want my feelings to become a burden to you. From now on, we’ll still be friends, right?”

“Of course! Don’t forget—we’re still the best partners in the publicity department!”

“Yeah—let’s keep doing our best.”

“Fighting!”

Love in college is so pure, untainted by even a trace of impurity. Just like the moonlight that night—clean, gentle, and beautiful.

The gathering hadn’t ended yet. After a few rounds of drinks, someone picked up a guitar, and the group began singing together:

“People have sorrows and joys, the moon has its phases; these things are hard to perfect. I hope we’ll live long and share this moonlight, even if miles apart…”