The Moonlight
The Moonlight Chapter 12

“It’s time, let’s go,” 

Keeping a distance of one meter behind him, Xu Qingyan followed as Liang Jiankong stood at the side of the intersection, turning to wait for her. A glance was exchanged between Ah Bao and Mark, both recognizing that Boss Liang was in a remarkably good mood today.

Li Huai took out four tickets and handed one to Xu Qingyan. “This ticket is for the A section, it has a better view. Brother, since you won’t understand much…”

“Even more reason to listen carefully in the A section,” Liang Jiankong interrupted, snatching the ticket from Li Huai’s hand.

Li Huai held the remaining ticket for the C section, staring at his second brother, speechless.

Inside the theater, many audiences had already taken their seats. Xu Qingyan and Liang Jiankong had a VIP box, a cozy two-person seating arrangement, with Ah bao and Mark positioned in front and behind them respectively.

Liang Jiankong had settled comfortably, leaning back on the sofa chair. Before the show began, he picked up a promotional booklet and started browsing through it. Xu Qingyan looked around, appearing somewhat uncertain.

Liang Jiankong looked up and noticed her hesitance. He asked, “What’s the matter?”

In the dimly lit theater, she couldn’t see his expression clearly, but his tone sounded unaffected. Xu Qingyan decided to create some distance and sat down.

After a while, Liang Jiankong stroked his chin, seemingly struck by a thought, and chuckled softly.

Xu Qingyan couldn’t help but look at him.

Liang Jiankong kept his gaze forward and spoke in a cool tone, “If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave first.”

A surge of alarm bells rang within Xu Qingyan. His words left her wary and deterred from acting impulsively. 

He tilted his head slightly, his pitch-black pupils gleaming with a cold light. He curved his lips into a faint smile and spoke slowly, “I have an old friend who is fascinated by the piano. He always talks about how listening to classical music can cultivate one’s sentiments, and I find some truth in that. Our eldest sibling is obsessed with counting money, and as for our third sister, as the fourth sibling puts it, she only knows how to dress up and snatch boyfriends. Only the fourth sibling is a serious university student, studying music, bringing honor to our family. As for me, I dabble in refined and elegant pursuits. If Dr. Xu finds me vulgar and uncouth and doesn’t want to sit with me, I can understand.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Xu Qingyan furrowed her brow.

Liang Jiankong remained silent, waiting for her to finish speaking.

After careful consideration, Xu Qingyan decided it was necessary to clarify her point. “I believe that you and I shouldn’t be overly involved with each other, as you mentioned, not appearing in each other’s presence anymore.”

As more and more audience members entered the vicinity, Li Huai, peering around, spotted them and greeted them before returning to his friends. This momentary interruption caused Liang Jiankong to refrain from immediately responding. Xu Qingyan felt a sense of nervousness, knowing that once the words were spoken, there would be no turning back.

Moments later, Liang Jiankong replied nonchalantly, “I share the same sentiment.”

Xu Qingyan wondered if she had misheard, her astonishment evident, as she quickly glanced at Liang Jiankong. However, he remained composed, his gaze displaying no discernible emotions.

But then, Liang Jiankong added in a detached tone, “However, there are certain matters beyond our control, no matter how much we may desire otherwise.”

The statement left Xu Qingyan perplexed, as she found it difficult to comprehend. She believed that they could simply avoid each other, living their lives separately without any interaction. Taking a step back, they could even pretend not to know each other.

Caught in a dilemma, Xu Qingyan was unsure how to proceed. Just as she struggled to find the right words, Liang Jiankong suddenly turned his head and gestured for silence. “It’s about to begin,” he whispered.

Throughout the entire performance, it seemed as though the two of them were completely immersed in the enchanting melodies, without any exchange of words. Liang Jiankong appeared genuinely engaged, with a relaxed expression on his face. On the other hand, Xu Qingyan didn’t seem as comfortable. In fact, if this had been ten years ago, she would have willingly spent her monthly allowance to attend such a concert without hesitation.

However, now as she listened, her heart surged with emotions, but she no longer regarded it as the essence of life. Her facial expression remained empty, sometimes attentive and at other times lost in thought, her mind wandering elsewhere.

Liang Jiankong, not as engrossed as he appeared, keenly observed every subtle change in Xu Qingyan’s expression.

She carried herself with an effortless grace, her features delicate and serene. Her expression remained subdued, but a keen observer could detect the subtle fluctuations within her. Her eyes, mostly cast downward, would occasionally rise to the center stage, only to dim with an instant sense of unease. Her fingers instinctively massaged her forehead, a silent testament to the thoughts running through her mind.

Ah Bao sat slightly behind them, often stealing glances in their direction. At first, he had worried about Dr. Xu’s straightforward nature potentially causing trouble with Boss Liang. However, as the concert progressed, it became apparent that these two individuals coexisted peacefully without exchanging a single word. Ah Bao couldn’t help but feel a mix of confusion and unease. 

The concert, originally intended as a message from Second Young Master to Fourth Young Master about his inability to attend, took an unexpected turn. This afternoon, they received sudden information that Cheng Ran had extended an invitation to Dr. Xu. How and when did they become acquainted? Ah Bao’s mind filled with unsettling thoughts. When his boss learned of this, his remained expressionless on the surface, but he promptly issued orders to reschedule their plans and hurriedly made his way to the concert hall. 

At first, Ah Bao failed to grasp the situation, assuming some significant event had transpired. Yet, upon returning, he was informed that they were there solely to listen to a piano performance. It was enough to make him want to tear his soaked shirt in frustration and let out a thunderous roar!

As the lights flooded the entire venue, a standing ovation erupted, filling the air with applause that seemed to linger indefinitely. Dr. Xu joined in the applause perfunctorily. The vibrant display of flowers, the dazzling lights, and the piano, still resonating with a lingering heat, all felt too glaring for her.

With a gesture to the left, Lian Jiankong led the way out, but instead of heading towards the exit, he made a sudden turn and walked towards the backstage area. Dr. Xu hesitated, unsure of what to do. The people behind her grew impatient and urged her to move aside.

“Sorry,” she quickly apologized, turning back and hurrying to catch up.

Lian Jiankong had stopped ahead, clearly waiting for her. When he saw that she had finally caught up, he intended to continue walking.

“Bo…Mr. Liang,” she called out, trying to stop him. “I have something to attend to. I’ll leave first.”

“Don’t you want to go backstage and see? Li Huai is waiting for us there,” he replied.

Xu Qingyan couldn’t comprehend why Liang Jiankong repeatedly tried to hold her back. She had just made it clear that she wanted to avoid any further entanglement with him, and he had even suggested that she should never appear before him again. How did their interaction reach this point where they seemed somewhat acquainted? 

“Thank you, but I really have something to attend to,” Xu Qingyan persisted.

Liang Jiankong glanced at her, his gaze holding an inexplicable meaning. Xu Qingyan was anxious, fearing that he might suddenly change his mind. However, he didn’t push the issue any further. “Alright,” he simply responded.

This time, she refrained from saying goodbye. Goodbye was a farewell reserved for friends or amicable acquaintances. With Liang Jiankong, she didn’t see the need for such a gesture.

Ah Bao couldn’t hold back his growing curiosity and finally asked, “Er Ye, we’ve been watching over Dr. Xu for a while now. Do you have a specific intention in mind?”

Liang Jiankong nonchalantly replied, “Hmm.”

Hmm? Just hmm? Ah Bao felt his frustration mounting.

While Xu Qingyan was on her way home, she received a call from Ling Qiao asking, “Where are you?”

“On my way home,” 

Hearing the low tone in her voice, Ling Qiao asked with concern, “Are you okay?”

Rubbing her temples, Xu Qingyan wearily responded, “Qiaoqiao, I appreciate your intentions, but please don’t invite me to such events in the future.”

Ling Qiao was momentarily at a loss for words and expressed her regret, “I’m sorry, I just wanted to make you happy and not always feel like it’s some kind of taboo. You still play the piano at home occasionally, don’t you?”

“It’s not a taboo for me anymore, but it’s also not my source of happiness. Let’s not talk about it now. How about we meet up for a meal in a couple of days and talk then?”

Ling Qiao, usually quick-witted with her words, could only reply with a hesitant agreement.

After ending the call, Xu Qingyan finally found herself in a moment of tranquility. The day had been a whirlwind, and now she realized a chill running down her spine. She, who rarely broke a sweat, had been drenched with perspiration throughout the day, navigating through unease and apprehension in the presence of Liang Jiankong.

If one were to describe him as terrifying, it wouldn’t be based on his outward appearance. Liang Jiankong presented himself with a gentle and amiable demeanor, in stark contrast to the rough and fierce black-clad bodyguards. Yet, he concealed an edge, a sharpness that he kept well-hidden. It was the combination of his commanding presence due to his status and the occasional pensive gaze he directed at her that created an impenetrable mist, leaving her unsettled and unable to find peace of mind.

Xu Qingyan was not one to harbor complex thoughts, which made it even more challenging for her to decipher Liang Jiankong’s intricate web of intentions and calculations.

After freshening up, Xu Qingyan, in a rare moment of laziness, decided to take a break from reviewing medical cases and simply rest. However, her night’s sleep was anything but peaceful. The image of Shen Yuechu’s face filled her mind throughout the night. He was so close to her, yet whenever she tried to approach, he would suddenly hide behind her, reminiscent of the time he hid her test paper as a cheat sheet. He skilfully evaded her, leaving her seething with frustration and a sense of helplessness.

As the alarm clock rang in the morning, she desperately wished that it wouldn’t wake her up.

These past few days, Xu Qingyan has been feeling a bit off, and just before the end of her workday, she received a phone call from Ling Qiao: “Do you have some free time today?”

She had made plans to have dinner with Ling Qiao two weeks ago, but she had been busy with work ever since. Xu Qingyan checked her schedule and realized she didn’t have any other commitments for the day. Since her mood wasn’t great either, she thought it would be a good idea to have a meal with her good friend to lift her spirits.

“Did Cao Jin take you to that Japanese restaurant last time?”

“Yes, it was pretty good.”

“That jerk! He went for delicious food without inviting me? No way, I’m going to try it too. We’ll make him treat us when he comes back.”

Ling Qiao’s unwavering obsession with food made Xu Qingyan secretly worry for Cao Jin. She couldn’t help but laugh and jokingly said, “He’s become your scapegoat, but remember, he’s also planning to get married. If you keep eating like this, he won’t be able to save any money for his future wife.”

They exchanged a few more playful remarks over the phone, finally settling on a meeting time before hanging up.

Around 6 o’clock, Xu Qingyan left the hospital. The Japanese restaurant they planned to meet at was located in a remote area. She hailed a ride, but the driver seemed unfamiliar with the area, so they spent a good amount of time searching before finally finding the small restaurant an hour later. Unfortunately, Ling Qiao still hadn’t secured a table.

“Wow, this place is incredibly popular! It’s so remote and small, yet it’s packed with people,” Xu Qingyan remarked.

Ling Qiao had arrived half an hour earlier but found the restaurant already overcrowded. The entrance was swarming with people, and some were left waiting on the outdoor rattan chairs. Finding a place to settle down was a stroke of luck for Xu Qingyan.

Glancing around, she commented, “Cao Jin mentioned that the owner of this restaurant is Japanese, so the food here is incredibly authentic. It’s attracting a lot of visitors.”

Ling Qiao’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, “I performed in Japan earlier this year. I can be the judge of that!”

Engaging in casual conversation, Xu Qingyan and Ling Qiao chatted aimlessly. Suddenly, Xu Qingyan noticed a luxurious car emerging from the back of the restaurant. The location was secluded, situated on a slope, and there was a sign at the entrance indicating no parking. Typically, people either took a taxi or parked their cars elsewhere and walked up.

As the car drove by the front, it naturally attracted a lot of attention. Ling Qiao couldn’t help but exclaim, “Who’s the rich and powerful person who parked their car up here?”

“Maybe it’s the owner of the restaurant,” Xu Qingyan suggested.

Ling Qiao rolled her eyes at her friend. “Come on, the owner of such a small restaurant driving a Bentley?”

Feeling a sense of familiarity with the car, Xu Qingyan pondered for a moment. Suddenly, a realization struck her—this was the same car that Cheng Ran had used to take her away.

Could it really be just a coincidence? 

The car slowly drove away, and after gossiping with Ling Qiao for a while, Xu Qingyan shifted the topic. Just then, her phone rang, and to her surprise, it was Cheng Ran calling.

Ling Qiao glanced at the caller ID but didn’t pay much attention. “Go ahead and answer it,” she said casually.

Xu Qingyan felt a sense of curiosity as to why Cheng Ran would suddenly call her.

With a slight hesitation, she answered the phone, “Hello, Mr. Cheng.”

“Dr. Xu, it sounds like you’re not too thrilled to receive my call,” Cheng Ran remarked.

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