8. Waiting for me to sleep together?

Qin Zhaoyi felt cooped up at home, fearing that overthinking would make her sick, so she decided to go out for a walk.

She followed the direction where Luo Yue had disappeared at the corner and ended up at Moon Island Elementary School, the most prominent and beautiful building.

Qin Zhaoyi hadn’t been here for long, but she had coincidentally heard Luo Yue’s explanation.

Not friends.

Indeed, they were not friends.

But what were they, then?

In Qin Zhaoyi’s private opinion, their relationship wasn’t exactly unfamiliar. It was because of last night’s kiss, because she had slept at Luo Yue’s house last night, and because she had even ridden on the back of Luo Yue’s electric bike this morning, her hand clutching Luo Yue’s waist.

Qin Zhaoyi had never been this intimate with her friend Zhou Xi, whom she had known for years.

However, at this moment, Luo Yue had effortlessly denied it all.

There was an inexplicable sense of disappointment, coupled with the sadness from earlier, making her feel at a loss. She could only call out Luo Yue’s name softly.

Even Qin Zhaoyi herself didn’t know why she had spoken up at this moment.

It felt like avoidance, a hope that Luo Yue wouldn’t continue to deny it.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward, but it was Cheng Shiyu who broke the silence first. “Hello?”

“Um,” Qin Zhaoyi nodded slightly toward her, feeling like she recognized this person but couldn’t remember where she had seen her, and she didn’t care to think about it.

“You look somewhat familiar,” Cheng Shiyu rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“Huh?” Qin Zhaoyi was puzzled, thinking that they might have actually met somewhere.

“Just now,” Luo Yue interrupted, “Didn’t you see her on my doorstep?”

“Before that,” Cheng Shiyu said, “But I guess I might think all beautiful women look familiar.”

Cheng Shiyu patted Luo Yue’s shoulder. “Luo Yue, I’m leaving. You’re busy.”

“Okay.”

After Cheng Shiyu left, both Qin Zhaoyi and Luo Yue’s gazes naturally returned to each other.

After a while, Luo Yue asked, “Why did you come?”

Qin Zhaoyi hesitated and replied, “Just wandering.”

Her voice was low, with a hint of hoarseness, making it clear that she wasn’t very pleased.

“You happened to wander here?” Luo Yue asked, testing the waters.

Qin Zhaoyi raised an eyebrow. “Otherwise? This is the most prominent building nearby.”

The indifferent expression on her face seemed to say, “Did you really think I came here to find you?”

Luo Yue’s mouth twitched, looking a bit helpless, aloof, and polite. “Then take your time wandering.”

With that, she turned and walked towards the teaching building, ignoring Qin Zhaoyi.

Once again, Qin Zhaoyi watched Luo Yue’s retreating figure.

She stood there, letting the wind blow, closed her eyes with disappointment.

Her heart felt like it was soaked in sour plum juice, sinking into the sea.

---

As Luo Yue returned to her office, she walked slowly. Along the way, she would subconsciously look out the window whenever there was one.

The school had just started, and the windows of the teaching building were bright and clean. With a casual glance, she could see Qin Zhaoyi.

She seemed like a statue grown in this courtyard, unmoving.

Looking at her made Luo Yue feel quite sad.

Luo Yue resisted the urge to go out and comfort her and hurried into the office.

She took a utility knife from her desk, cut open the package, and found a packet of malt sugar, along with several pieces of new clothes that were bright and vivid, completely unlike Luo Yue’s usual style.

Beneath these items was a carefully wrapped gift box.

Inside the gift box was a women’s watch from a niche British brand, priced in the four digits.

After flipping through these things, Luo Yue slumped into her chair, lost in thought.

The sun was gradually setting.

After a while, she took the watch out of the box and put it on. The golden color made her look even paler.

Then she stuffed the box under her desk.

Tomorrow was her birthday, and this kind of package would arrive every year around her birthday, sent from Jiayi. The sender was only marked as “Luo,” and the phone number was hidden, with no specific address.

But this type of package had started arriving since the second year after her dad left Moon Island.

Anyone could guess it was her dad.

Luo Yue didn’t know why her dad had left back then, nor did she know why he hadn’t contacted her since. For that little over half a year, whoever mentioned it would always look at her with pity.

Luo Yue couldn’t ask for the reason.

Even though she had attended Jiayi for college, she had never coincidentally met her dad in that city.

Fate sometimes liked to play jokes on people.

Receiving the package had caused Luo Yue’s mood to plummet, but after calming down for more than ten minutes in her office, she felt much better.

When she went back to the campus, Qin Zhaoyi had already left.

She was probably upset.

That girl seemed to have been pampered since she was young, most likely the type of person who expected the moon and stars from her family.

Talented, proud, and unrestrained.

When Luo Yue praised her, it was genuine but carried a bit of teasing.

Because when she accomplished those things herself, she had never felt it was something worth celebrating and showing off.

But Qin Zhaoyi could naturally exude this kind of pride.

And she wasn’t annoying at all.

It seemed like it was something to be celebrated by everyone.

Spoiled since childhood, she probably hadn’t faced much adversity, so coming to Moon Island was probably quite a hardship for her.

Moreover, she was clearly angry just now.

Luo Yue stood in the same spot where Qin Zhaoyi had been earlier, lost in thought for a while. When a student called her, she shook off her thoughts and went to her duties.

As the class teacher, she was also responsible for the daily after-school service, which in short meant supervising students as they did their homework.

After the “double reduction” policy, teachers rarely assigned too much homework, so the daily after-school service only lasted for half an hour.

It conveniently ended at sunset when school was over.

Luo Yue also walked home in the shadow of the setting sun. Along the way, she replayed Qin Zhaoyi’s words in her mind.

“Luo Yue, control your heart.”

“Luo Yue, don’t indulge.”

After several times, she was still somewhat troubled.

It was strange. They had only met a few times, and they had only shared a passionate kiss.

They had only known each other for a day.

Yet, Luo Yue’s heart couldn’t help but fly towards that person.

Midway through her journey home, Luo Yue turned and headed to a convenience store, buying two cans of beer before going to Cheng Shijing’s clinic.

The clinic wasn’t busy, and Cheng Shijing was sitting in a large office chair, reading a book.

Luo Yue took out the beers and placed them on the desk. “Do you want to have a drink?”

Cheng Shijing used one hand to pull the tab and handed the opened can back to her, casually asking, “Another gift?”

Luo Yue chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. “You call that a gift?”

It was clearly a double-edged remark.

Cheng Shijing pursed his lips and didn’t speak. He clinked his can with Luo Yue’s and took a sip.

Luo Yue sipped her beer with a lowered brow, quickly finishing one can.

Since both she and Cheng Shijing had low alcohol tolerance, they had an unspoken gentleman’s agreement: limit alcohol consumption to two-thirds.

If there is a need to drink, there must always be one person who remains sober.

“I’m heading home,” Luo Yue stood up, “You should go home early too.”

Cheng Shijing accompanied her to the door and asked as they walked, “Did that person leave?”

“I don’t know,” Luo Yue shrugged nonchalantly, “They should have left.”

How could a proud princess who had never faced adversity be wronged in this remote and impoverished place? She probably packed her bags and left a long time ago.

“Aren’t you happy?” Cheng Shijing asked.

Luo Yue glanced at him sideways, “Were you happy when Luo Xing left?”

Luo Xing was Luo Yue’s cousin, three years younger than Cheng Shijing, and she worked in a cosmetics company in Jiayi as a PR specialist.

Luo Xing was different from them; she firmly stayed in Jiayi, struggling like every young person in that city, which was known for its high cost of living.

They were all escapees from the concrete jungle.

Cheng Shijing had protected Luo Xing since childhood, and there was an indescribable sentiment between them.

It was also a matter of chance that Luo Yue discovered his little secret.

So, in exchange, Luo Yue also told him that she liked girls.

Cheng Shijing was initially surprised, but later expressed respect. He never expected that they could now have candid conversations about girls.

“They’re both eagles destined to spread our wings and fly high,” Luo Yue said soberly, “They’re not meant to stay on this tiny Moon Island. What’s different?”

Cheng Shijing, “…”

“Then give up,” Cheng Shijing said.

Luo Yue left in silence.

…

Even if she didn’t want to return, she had to go home eventually.

There were no lights on at Luo Yue’s house, so Qin Zhaoyi must have left.

She only knew the other person’s name and hadn’t exchanged WeChat or phone numbers.

Slightly regretful.

When she got home, instead of entering as usual, she sat on the steps.

The night was cool, and the steps were slightly cold.

She didn’t mind.

The sound of the waves mixed with the wind, and the sea breeze carried a salty and damp scent.

Just as usual.

After an unknown amount of time, when her head felt heavy and dizzy, a familiar yet cold voice came, “Why aren’t you coming in?”

Luo Yue slowly turned her head, squinting her eyes to look, and saw a beautiful face suddenly appear before her.

Luo Yue couldn’t help but move closer to confirm if it was real.

Qin Zhaoyi’s breath, however, seemed to freeze for a moment, and then she furrowed her brows and asked, “Have you been drinking?”

Accompanying that voice was Luo Yue’s slightly excited tone, “So you didn’t leave?”

Qin Zhaoyi unconsciously licked her lips, feeling a bit hot, then pretended to be cool and said, “I was waiting for you.”

Luo Yue sat on the steps, bathed in moonlight, propping up her chin as she looked at Qin Zhaoyi. Her voice was gentle and seductive, “Waiting for me to sleep together?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”