When Bright Moon Encounter the Dark Clouds

I never thought Cheng Ruying calling me Ah Yu would bother Tan Jiao.

Previously at school, my male friends would usually call me Ah Yu, so I did not think much of it when Cheng Ruying called me like that.

However, after I returned to my room and lay in my bed, the image of Tan Jiao lying on the bed came to mind. I recalled her slender legs hanging off the bed, perfectly defined by her jeans. Also, I thought of how gentle she called me “Ah Yu.”

Though many had called me Ah Yu, only she made it feel special.

She was right; I did not want anyone else but her to call me that anymore.

Just now, when I looked at her face and was so close to her, I suddenly had the urge to call her Jiaojiao. I had wanted to leave, but she had opened her eyes to look at me.

Those beautiful and innocent eyes that looked at me and the way she asked, “Do you have anything more you want to say?” caused a burning passion and urge to burst out. And so, those words came out.

Jiaojiao. What I had wanted to call her.

Your friend calls you Dazhu, while your readers call you by all sorts of names. But I did not think those names were good.

The bright moon wanders the night alone while her glow brightens the night sky.

[TL note: Jiao in Chinese means bright, and it is usually used to describe the moon.]

I immediately felt somewhat embarrassed after calling her that, so I avoided her eyes and left her room.

……

Thinking about what had happened just now, I felt as though there was now something more between Tan Jiao and I. Something that was attracting me. I felt like smiling again, and my heart was filled with a warm fuzzy feeling.

Knocking sounds came from the door.

“Come in.”

Seeing that it was Cheng Ruying, I immediately got up. She had obviously just showered, as her wet hair was draped across her shoulders. I had never seen her in a black dress, but it made her already fair skin even more perfect and her face even more slender. She greeted me with a smile while holding a tray of food. “Ah Yu, I brought you milk and some cookies my mom made. I was afraid you’ll be hungry at night.”

I sat there without moving and said, “It’s fine, I’m not hungry.”

She smiled and left the tray on the table, looking somewhat unnatural. “Ah Yu, I haven’t seen you in such a long time. Ever since that cruise…”

I looked at her upon hearing that and asked, “I have something to ask you. Do you remember anything that happened on that ship?”

She shook her head and said, “No, I forgot about the things that happened already. My mom too. I recall waking up at a hotel that the cruise company and the local government had arranged. They said the ship had some problems, so they turned back and refunded us. We also didn’t look into the matter since a lot of the other guests had left already.”

Her experience was similar to mine. After getting off the ship, I was in a daze. I could not recall much nor could I think straight. At that time, there were some urgent matters at school and my mother was worried about Wu Miao and I, so I left soon after.

“Then… did you notice anything strange after that?”

Cheng Ruying was taken aback and said, “N-no… Ah Yu, what do you mean?”

She did not seem like she knew anything, so I figured it would be pointless to continue asking. “Never mind. Also, don’t call me Ah Yu anymore. Call me by my name.”

“Why?” I noticed a minute change in her expression.

“Nothing. I just think it’s inappropriate.”

My words probably made her feel worse. However, I really did not like to get entangled with women, so I turned my head and lit a cigarette. Then I heard a saddened and soft voice, “Is it… because of sister Tan? She doesn’t like it, so she wants me to stop?”

I glanced at her and saw that her eyes were already watering. I felt somewhat awkward, but I did not like the way she talked about Tan Jiao. “This has nothing to do with her. This is just what I feel.”

“What you feel? What feeling is that? I’ve always called you that. But now she can and I cannot? It’s not like… It’s not like she’s your…”

I raised my face and looked at her without saying anything.

Cheng Ruying was not stupid. She was actually rather sensitive to these things.

Soon, sadness filled her eyes as gradually realized what I meant. “It’s… It’s already late. You should rest early. I’ll go now.” She got up and left.