Chapter 12: Down Below

After Qi Moyang finished looking at the photo, he revealed a “just as expected” expression. Holding the camera, he asked her: “Then what’s this?”

Jiang Mingyue and Chen Xiangyi exchanged a confused glance and looked at the photo.

In the photo, Chen Xiangyi was leaning against the railing, her elbows resting on it, looking ahead with a slight smile.

Chen Xiangyi was even more puzzled. “This is me. Can’t you see that clearly?”

Her implied meaning was: “Are you blind?”

Wait, this was indeed Chen Xiangyi, but there were also two people in the background.

Qi Moyang, with a dark expression, and Wu Chengxuan, wearing a sinister smile.

Jiang Mingyue felt a little helpless but still thought it was necessary to explain.

“Look closely. The main subject of the photo is clearly her. You two just accidentally got into the frame.”

Wu Chengxuan shot her a sideways glance. “Of course, if you’re secretly taking pictures, it wouldn’t be obvious. Whether we accidentally entered the frame or you deliberately took a shot of Moyang, you know that yourself.”

He seemed overly confident.

It was only then that Chen Xiangyi noticed the two of them in the background of the photo. She was instantly speechless. “Who would secretly take a photo and make us the background?”

“Forget it, no need to argue with them. Just delete it. Anyway, with them in the background, the photo is ruined.”

Jiang Mingyue didn’t want to waste time on unnecessary matters. She took the camera and deleted the photo right in front of them. “Is that okay now?”

“Better keep your despicable tricks to yourself.” Qi Moyang said this before leaving.

He left behind a confused Jiang Mingyue. “What did he mean by that?”

“I don’t know.” Chen Xiangyi replied, also bewildered. “But it’s a good thing you don’t like him. He’s a bit too full of himself.”

Not just a bit, he was practically out of line.

“Let’s keep taking pictures. I’ll take a few more for you.” Jiang Mingyue didn’t like to waste time on things she didn’t care about.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

That night, when she got home, she exported the photos, edited them, and sent them to Chen Xiangyi and Liu Wenqi.

Today, she had also secretly taken a few photos of Qi Ze. Wearing his school uniform, Qi Ze appeared youthful and bright, like the sun rising in winter.

She couldn’t help but think about sending it to Qi Ze again, but the moment she opened WeChat, she stopped herself. If she kept doing this, she might be seen as a creepy stalker.

The WeChat notification sound went off. Someone had sent a message.

It was actually Lin Shuangshuang.

Lin Shuangshuang: “Mingyue, I haven’t seen you much these past few days.”

Lin Shuangshuang: “Miss you.jpg”

It was clearly an attempt to ingratiate herself. Jiang Mingyue was curious about what Lin Shuangshuang was up to.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “I’ve been busy these past few days. What’s up?”

Lin Shuangshuang: “You haven’t been looking for Moyang lately. These days, he’s getting closer to Qiang Wei. I heard Moyang is planning to hold a formal confession ceremony for Qiang Wei. Sigh”

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Oh, really? That has nothing to do with me. I’ve said I won’t bother him anymore. I don’t like him anymore.”

Lin Shuangshuang: “Don’t say that out of anger. You’ve been chasing Moyang for over a year. How can you give up so easily?”

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “I’m not saying it out of anger.”

Lin Shuangshuang: “What a pity… Actually, I’ve always thought you and Moyang are a perfect match—handsome guy and beautiful girl, well-matched in every way. Moyang is just temporarily confused by Qiang Wei. If you hang in there, Moyang will definitely see how great you are.”

Lin Shuangshuang: “If you back down now, you’re really letting Qiang Wei win.”

It was clear that Lin Shuangshuang was trying to persuade her into being her pawn to break up the main couple’s relationship.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Actually, I think you’re more suited for Qi Moyang than I am. You two would be a perfect match. You should go after him.”

Lin Shuangshuang: “What are you talking about? Moyang and I are just childhood friends. I don’t like him.”

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Oh, really? Well, I don’t like him either. Don’t involve me in his matters anymore.”

She had no interest in getting involved in the love and hate of the main couple, nor did she want to have any more contact with Lin Shuangshuang.

She didn’t want to waste any more time.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

“Idiot, completely unreliable.” Lin Shuangshuang threw her phone onto the bed, her fingers desperately tugging at her hair in frustration.

These past few days, Qi Moyang and Qiang Wei had been inseparable, their relationship growing more ambiguous. If she didn’t stop them soon, they were really going to get together.

She was so jealous she was almost losing her mind, yet there was nothing she could do. If she did anything, she might lose her friendship with Qi Moyang forever.

And at this moment, Jiang Mingyue, that idiot, was no longer of any use. How could she just say she no longer liked him and be done with it?

Lin Shuangshuang never saw Jiang Mingyue as a rival; with how well Qi Moyang knew him, he would never like Jiang Mingyue.

But Qiang Wei was different. Qi Moyang liked her, and he was even planning to confess to her.

That was absolutely not allowed.

There was a ruthless determination hidden in Lin Shuangshuang’s dark eyes.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Recently, Jiang Mingyue had been fixated on bringing all kinds of delicious food to Qi Ze, and if she thought something was tasty, she made sure to bring a portion for him.

The bread Aunt Du made was so delicious, so she brought it to Qi Ze.

The ribs Aunt Du made were so delicious, so she brought them to Qi Ze for an extra lunch snack.

This milk tea was so good, so she bought a cup for Qi Ze to try.

This beef jerky was so good, so she brought a portion to Qi Ze.

She had gradually gotten into the habit of bringing him something no matter what she bought, even snacks from the School Convenience Store during breaks.

However, Qi Ze had always refused to eat them, and in the end, all the food she bought ended up in Jiang Mingyue’s stomach.

118 even started to suspect her: 【Are you sure you’re doing this for Qi Ze, and not just using him as an excuse to eat more?】

Jiang Mingyue sipped her milk tea, holding another cup of it in her hand.

“Of course it’s for Qi Ze. I want him to experience the joy of good food. I’m bearing the weight of eating more than I should at my age.”

【Yes, you’re bearing the weight you shouldn’t be at your age—you’ve gotten fat!】

118’s voice floated into her mind, like a bolt of lightning striking Jiang Mingyue.

Fat? How could this happen?

Jiang Mingyue sadly took out her phone, opened the camera, and checked herself. It did seem like she had gained weight—her face looked fuller than when she first arrived.

Wuwuwu, I can’t get fat.

With a heavy heart, Jiang Mingyue took a big sip of her milk tea, only to end up with a mouthful of taro paste.

She placed the cup in front of Qi Ze. “This is taro milk tea today. You must try it.”

Qi Ze pushed the cup back toward her. “I don’t want any.”

Jiang Mingyue felt even sadder. It seemed that her food strategy wasn’t going to work after all.

She took another big gulp of the milk tea, but the cup was almost empty, and it made a hollow slurping sound.

She looked at the cup on the table and took another sip.

If this were before, she would have already grabbed the cup and started drinking. But now, thinking about how she had gained weight, she could only control herself.

Determined, she pushed the milk tea back toward him, making one last attempt. “Just trust me this one time, try it. It’s really good.”

Then she sighed.

“If you really don’t want to drink it, I won’t bring you anything again. Everything I’ve brought you recently has ended up being eaten by me, and I’ve gotten fat.”

She finished speaking and took another sip of the empty milk tea, the lingering sweetness barely easing her sadness.

Qi Ze watched her bite the straw and when he heard her say she wouldn’t bring him anything anymore. He froze for a moment.

He originally wanted to say that it was better if she didn’t bring him anything, but what came out instead was: “You haven’t gained weight.”

“I have! My face has gotten fuller.” Jiang Mingyue said as she pinched her own cheek.

Qi Ze looked at her cheek, and it did seem a little plump from where she was pinching it, but she didn’t look fat.

He didn’t know how to respond.

Jiang Mingyue picked up the cup of milk tea on the table.

“If you’re not going to drink it, I’ll give it to someone else. I can’t drink any more myself. I need to control myself.”