Chapter 23: Taking Advantage?

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Qi Ze rode up on his motorcycle and pulled over by the roadside.

He swung one long leg over and got off the motorcycle, then took the helmet hanging from the handlebar and walked toward Jiang Mingyue.

“Try it on.” Qi Ze said, handing her the helmet.

The helmet was primarily white, with black patterns on both sides, giving it a cool look.

Jiang Mingyue put it on to test the fit. “Not bad, pretty light.” she said.

“Then let’s go.”

Qi Ze guided her over to the motorcycle, helped her get on and settle into her seat, and then got on himself.

“Hold on tight.”

Jiang Mingyue clutched the side of his jacket at the waist. “Holding on. Let’s go.”

“By the way, do you know where my house is?”

Qi Ze’s voice sounded muffled through the helmet. “I know.”

The motorcycle engine roared loudly, so Jiang Mingyue raised her voice. “Then where do you live?”

“Over by Nanshan Road.”

“Then it’s right on the way.” Jiang Mingyue said happily.

In summer, the days were long and the nights short. It was still bright outside, and the glow of the setting sun, like orange dye, painted the earth in a warm yellow hue.

Qi Ze rode steadily, and even the wind that passed them by felt gentle.

He drove her all the way to the front of her house.

He got off first and helped her down.

Jiang Mingyue removed the helmet and handed it to him. He hung it back on the handlebar.

Qi Ze said: “You hop in on your own.”

Jiang Mingyue tugged on his arm. “Come in and sit for a bit. Just in time to see Xixi and Haha.”

Qi Ze hesitated, his gaze lowered as he looked at her.

“They really missed you. Don’t you miss them?” Jiang Mingyue tilted her head and asked him.

“…Then I’ll just take a look from the doorway.” Qi Ze compromised.

“Mm-hmm, that’s fine.”

Jiang Mingyue opened the door, and Xixi and Haha rushed over at the sound.

Usually, Xixi and Haha would pounce on Jiang Mingyue, and she was already prepared to receive them.

But midway, they spotted Qi Ze standing beside her and instantly changed direction, diving toward him instead.

“You damn traitors, found an uncle and forgot your mother.” Jiang Mingyue exclaimed in anguish.

Qi Ze crouched down, stroking their heads and scratching their necks. The dogs happily rubbed against his hands again and again.

Jiang Mingyue carefully crouched down too, then grabbed Xixi and Haha’s heads and gave them a good rub, messing up their fur entirely.

“Now that you’ve got him, you don’t recognize me anymore, huh?”

Qi Ze pressed his lips into a smile, then gathered the dogs in his hands and smoothed their fur back down.

From Jiang Mingyue’s angle, she could just make out the curve of Qi Ze’s lips.

His lips were very attractive—slightly thin, full and flushed, with distinct lip lines that made them look exceptionally soft.

Jiang Mingyue was entranced as she stared, only to be snapped back to reality by a jolt of pain in her knee.

Xixi was rubbing against her nearby, its backside bumping into her knee.

Jiang Mingyue seized the opportunity to manhandle it again, this time ruffling the fur on its backside into a wild mess.

Xixi wriggled free from her grasp and shoved its rear toward Qi Ze, the intention perfectly clear.

Jiang Mingyue chuckled and tapped its head. “How are you this smart? You even know to ask him to help groom you.”

Watching Qi Ze quietly help smooth the dog’s fur again, she found herself wanting to push her luck a little further.

“Qi Ze.” Jiang Mingyue’s fingers gently trailed along Xixi’s back as she spoke softly.

“What is it?” Qi Ze didn’t look up, answering casually.

“Will you be taking me to and from school these next few days?”

Qi Ze paused his movements, looked up at her, raised an eyebrow, and his eyes rippled like water in a still pond.

He let out a low chuckle. “You…”

“I’m pushing my luck again, aren’t I?” Jiang Mingyue preempted him. “Use a different phrase, will you?”

Qi Ze replied: “…Taking advantage.”

“…That sounds a bit cold. Let’s stick with ‘pushing my luck.’”

“…”

Jiang Mingyue ignored his speechless expression and continued to ramble nonsense. “Besides, you already bought the helmet. If it’s only used once, what a waste, don’t you think?”

Qi Ze: “…”

“Yueyue, why are you still at the door? And who’s this?”  

Aunt Du had been preparing dinner in the kitchen. When she heard the door, she expected someone to come in, but no one did. Curious, she came out to take a look.

“This is my classmate. He gave me a ride home today.” Jiang Mingyue said, bracing herself against the doorframe as she stood up.

Qi Ze stood up as well. “Hello, Auntie.”

Aunt Du greeted him warmly. “Hello, hello! Come in, what are you two doing standing at the door?”

“No need, Auntie. I should be heading home.” Qi Ze said. After that, he turned and walked away.

Seeing he was about to leave, Xixi and Haha circled around his feet, wagging their tails.

Qi Ze bent down and patted their heads again. “Go back now. I’m leaving.”

Jiang Mingyue called out: “Then be careful. See you tomorrow.”

“Mm.”

Watching him ride off into the distance, Jiang Mingyue and the dogs finally looked away.

“Come on, let’s go inside.”

Only then did Aunt Du notice something unusual about her leg. “Yueyue, what’s wrong with your leg?”

“I twisted my ankle at school today by accident. It’s nothing serious.”

“Was it bad? Did you see a doctor?” Aunt Du looked at her with worry and stepped forward to help.

“I did see a doctor. It’s not serious. It’ll heal soon. Don’t worry.”

“How can I not worry about you? Come, sit down first.” Aunt Du said, guiding her to the sofa. “Let me take a look.”

“Go ahead, see? It’s really not serious.”

Jiang Mingyue took off her shoe to show her.

Her ankle was wrapped securely. Though there was still a bit of swelling, it didn’t look too concerning.

Aunt Du finally felt reassured. “Good thing it’s nothing serious.”

“What about school tomorrow? Your Uncle Gao happens to be sick these past couple of days.” Aunt Du said, frowning.

“I’ll take a cab, or ride the bus.” Jiang Mingyue replied, not seeing it as a problem.

“But I don’t feel comfortable letting you ride alone in your condition. I’ll take you to and from school tomorrow.” Aunt Du said firmly.

Jiang Mingyue looked a little helpless. “There’s really no need…”

Aunt Du cut her off. “It’s settled.”

“Alright then.” Jiang Mingyue agreed, not wanting to make others worry.

“Now go wash your hands and eat.”

Glancing at the time, she figured Qi Ze had been gone for nearly half an hour already. He should be home by now.

She put down her chopsticks and sent a message to Qi Ze.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: Beep beep beep, I’m coming.JPG

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: Are you home yet?

After a short while, Qi Ze finally replied.

Ze: Home.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: Okay.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: Beep beep beep, I’m leaving.JPG

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

After showering, Qi Ze sat on his bed and took out his homework.

He looked over the questions carefully.

That’s right—he was only looking at them, not doing them.

He read through each homework problem attentively, working out the answers in his head.

In under twenty minutes, he had gone through every problem and found none he couldn’t solve.

He then put the homework neatly back into his bag and set it on the desk.

He caught a glimpse of the white helmet on his desk.

And once again, he thought of the way Jiang Mingyue had looked at him—eyes sparkling, a little hopeful.

Irritated, he ran a hand through his hair.

In the end, after a moment of hesitation, he still pulled out his phone.

Jiang Mingyue was lying on her desk doing homework, scratching her head over a math problem.

Ding dong—

A WeChat notification sounded.

Jiang Mingyue immediately dropped her pen and picked up her phone, tapping open the app.

Ze: Wait for me at the gate at 7:10 tomorrow.

He agreed to take her to and from school?!!

“Yes yes yes—ah—”

Her joy turned into pain.

In her excitement, she flailed her arms and legs and ended up hitting her shin against the desk leg.

Grimacing through the pain, Jiang Mingyue sent Qi Ze a reply.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: okkkkkkkk

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: I’ll be on time, promise.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: 🫰

Ze: .

Jiang Mingyue stared at the chat screen and muttered under her breath: “What’s with the period? Trying to act all aloof?”

“Too bad I’ve already seen through your cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside act.”