Chapter 102 - The Short-Lived White Moonlight
Jiang Zi’s eyes brightened as she twirled a strand of Tang Yuan’s hair around her fingertip, playing with it absentmindedly. She asked uncertainly, “Do you really want me to go with you?”
“Of course! You don’t want to go with me?” Tang Yuan leaned back slightly. “Aren’t you worried about my safety, going out alone?”
“I do want to go with you.” Jiang Zi responded immediately, her gaze lowered as she murmured, “I just thought… you didn’t need me.”
Tang Yuan had an overly sensitive sister, and it was only growing worse.
“I’ll always need you, sister. You’re always lying on my chest, listening to my heartbeat—haven’t you found the answer you’re looking for? Every time I get close to you, my heart races. Isn’t that proof of my love for you?”
Jiang Zi knew she had a problem, but she couldn’t stop her mind from spiraling into obsessive thoughts. The more she dwelled on them, the more she wanted to lock Tang Yuan away, forcing her to say ‘I love you’ every day.
Only then, perhaps, would she feel at ease.
But she knew she couldn’t do that—afraid Tang Yuan would come to despise her. So instead, she settled for sticking to her side as much as possible, finding any excuse to be close to her, clinging to her every chance she got.
After soothing Jiang Zi, Tang Yuan brought her along as they boarded the flight to Blue City, heading straight to the hotel arranged by the production team.
Since there were many contestants in the show, most were assigned to shared double rooms. But Tang Yuan had booked a private room for herself—and Jiang Zi, of course.
After unpacking, it was nearly dinner time. Tang Yuan pulled Jiang Zi out for a walk, intending to sample the local delicacies.
She returned from an ice cream shop, holding a cup of ice cream, and scooped a small bite off the top, feeding it to Jiang Zi.
“It’s chocolate. What do you think?”
Jiang Zi licked her lips and gave an honest assessment. “Sweet.”
Tang Yuan had already taken a big bite herself. The cold sensation in her mouth was refreshing.
The weather in Blue City was still sweltering, even though night had fully fallen. The heat lingered in the air.
Only after stepping into an air-conditioned mall did they finally feel comfortable.
“I’ll be filming for two weeks, sister. You’ll get bored staying at the hotel. I’ll ask the director to get you a seat in the audience.” As she spoke, Tang Yuan pulled out her phone.
Jiang Zi covered the screen with her hand. “No need. I already secured a judge’s spot.”
She had arranged it the moment she found out Tang Yuan had accepted this variety show.
Tang Yuan gave her a thumbs-up. “Sister, you’re really something.”
Seeing that Tang Yuan wasn’t displeased, Jiang Zi secretly let out a sigh of relief.
They wandered around until late at night before finally returning to the hotel. Since the recording session would run from the afternoon until late evening the next day, they could sleep in that morning.
After showering, they crawled into bed. Tang Yuan reached out to turn off the lights, then immediately pressed Jiang Zi’s hand down.
She issued a serious warning. “I’m filming tomorrow. No messing around tonight.”
Jiang Zi looked at her innocently. She really had no such intentions—she just wanted to hold her while sleeping.
But in Tang Yuan’s eyes, Jiang Zi had zero credibility. No matter what she said, it would be seen as an excuse. So Jiang Zi simply stayed silent.
Since Jiang Zi made no further moves, Tang Yuan released her hand.
She suddenly thought of the show’s theme and asked, “Sister, did your class have a standard school uniform in university?”
Jiang Zi quietly moved closer to her. “No.”
“We didn’t either.” Tang Yuan yawned. “Tomorrow, I’ll have to wear uniforms on stage. Feels like high school all over again. Gotta pretend to be young.”
Jiang Zi pinched her soft cheek, murmuring, “You already are young.”
Tang Yuan made a sleepy sound of agreement, already half-drifting off.
She hadn’t slept well the night before. After rushing to catch the flight and then wandering around in the evening, exhaustion finally caught up with her.
She instinctively nestled into Jiang Zi’s arms, settling in comfortably before completely falling asleep.
Jiang Zi easily gathered her into her embrace, holding her close while quietly watching her sleeping face.
They had only met in university. Before that, their lives had never intersected, so Jiang Zi had never seen what Tang Yuan looked like in a school uniform.
Her gaze faltered. Her heartbeat suddenly skipped.
A blurry image flashed before her eyes—like time reversing.
The scene gradually became clearer in her mind.
Two desks pushed together, a stack of textbooks piled high, and a girl sleeping beside her.
The girl in the crisp white blouse had her head down on the desk, facing her. Her face was unmistakable—it was Tang Yuan.
High school Tang Yuan looked nearly the same as now, just a little more youthful, a little more naive. The white blouse paired with a blue-and-white checkered pleated skirt—a common sight among the faceless girls in class. Even Jiang Zi had worn the same uniform herself.
Then—
Ring, ring, ring—
The school bell rang. Half-asleep, Tang Yuan opened her eyes. The classroom erupted with movement as students rushed out. It was their final lesson before the exams; they were heading to preview the test site that afternoon.
Tang Yuan stretched, rubbing her eyes, before turning to Jiang Zi with a bright smile. “Seatmate, good luck on the exam!”
Then, without warning, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around Jiang Zi, a deep reluctance in her tone. “We won’t be in the same test room. We can only meet after the exams. I wish you good luck!”
Jiang Zi, stiff and awkward, hesitantly returned the hug. “Mmm, you too.”
Tang Yuan grabbed her bag and stood up, her eyes sparkling like the night sky. “See you later~”
Her ponytail swayed as she walked away, her slender figure bathed in the golden hues of a summer afternoon.
Love grew wildly, uncontrollably.
Loving her meant pretending to be nothing more than a friend, while secretly stewing in jealousy over the silliest things.
It meant trying to focus on conversations with others, only to have her gaze constantly drawn toward Tang Yuan.
Jiang Zi had imagined many possibilities.
That her youthful, unspoken love might one day be reciprocated.
Or that it might end in silence, fading away without a trace.
She never imagined that, in the heat of that summer, while still harboring her secret affections—
She would watch Tang Yuan die before her very eyes.
The cake fell to the ground. All sound was drowned out by a piercing ringing in her ears.
The world was painted red.
She couldn’t scream. Her throat felt stuffed with cotton.
Her feet were nailed to the ground.
“Tang Yuan—!!”
A panicked figure rushed forward—a boy wearing the same uniform.
Jiang Zi jolted awake, her hands trembling as she dialed for an ambulance, stumbling as she ran toward the crowd.
Tang Yuan… Tang Yuan…
Her first love, her unreachable White Moonlight,
Had turned into a star in the night sky, forever beyond her reach.
Jiang Zi snapped back to reality, horrified, as she tightened her arms around Tang Yuan’s waist.
She pressed her hand to her chest—her heartbeat was there.
She was alive.
Overwhelmed, Jiang Zi kissed her, unable to stop trembling.
She finally remembered.
It was her and Tang Yuan in another world.
She had brought a cake that day, hoping to confess under the pretense of celebrating their graduation.
But before she could say a word, the honking of a car had stolen her love away.
Tang Yuan stirred in her sleep, sensing the movement beside her. She wriggled closer, grumbling as if telling Jiang Zi to settle down, then shifted position and fell back into slumber.
Jiang Zi stayed awake for the rest of the night.