When Bright Moon Encounter the Dark Clouds

His response did not upset me; rather, it stirred up memories of the expression he had when we talked about the same subject last night, causing a slight ache in my heart.

Changing to a more casual tone, I said, “Fine, let’s not talk about that. We’ve met each other twice now, and I know your current and previous occupation. But, do you know what I do?”

Finally, he let out a smile and said, “Can’t tell.”

I felt a flare of joy in my heart. “I’m a web novel author. Have you ever heard of a job like this? I won’t tell you my pen name though, since we’re not that close.”

As the sun went down, the light reflecting from the sky softened. I felt a sense of tranquility in my heart after our little chat. Unwittingly, I looked toward him, fixing my gaze on his composed expression while he said calmly, “I’ll wait for the day when you tell me.”

I placed my hand behind my head and said nothing while feeling at ease with the silence between us.

Soon, we came close enough for me to see the row of houses around Xiaohao’s place, which looked like small wooden model houses from this distance.

Then, out of nowhere, Wu Yu said, “There are around ten birds on that roof.”

Shocked by his words, I replied, “You can see that far away? I don’t see the birds?”

“You’ll spot them when we get closer.”

Sure enough, I saw the birds like little black dots on an electric pole after we got closer. There were around twenty of them densely packed together. “Damn, you have amazing vision.”

He let out a chuckle. “It’s just better.” After pausing slightly, he continued, “I’ll explain it to you in the future.”

After he parked the car, we knocked on the door. Zhuang Yu, who had already arrived, greeted us. When she saw Wu Yu, her gaze immediately turned somewhat cold; she greeted him with courtesy while remaining somewhat aloof. “Nice to meet you. I’m Tan Jiao’s friend, Zhuang Yu.”

“I’m Wu Yu,” he replied with a nod.

“I knew that when I saw you,” Zhuang Yu said softly, giving me a shock. Quickly, I intervened, planning to ask her where Xiaohao was.

Before I finished my question, Xiaohao came running out from his room, screaming, “Sister Tan! What brings you here? Is that guy your boyfriend?”

Before Wu Yu and I had uttered a word, Zhuang Yu said casually, “What are you shouting about? Do you think sister Tan will go out with just anyone? In fact, she has many admirers, so who knows how things will go.”

“... Zhuang Yu, thank you. That’s enough.”

I glanced at Wu Yu and saw him looking deeply at me, causing my heart to race slightly.

Xiaohao reluctantly returned to his room while his grandparents came out from the kitchen to greet us before going back in. I asked, “How did you explain it to them?”

“How else could I’ve told them? I told them that a psychopath has been going around our area abducting children and got them to be more careful. Old people usually get that. Don’t worry, they will take good care of Xiaohao.”

Her answer comforted me.

“I want to take a look around,” Wu Yu said.

“Sure. Do we need to get some weapons ready? I have a variety of…” Zhuang Yu said before I quickly shut her up, covering her mouth with my hand.

Xiaohao’s place was a self-built three-story old building with clear-cut square dimensions. Fortunately, the balcony where the three of us stood had bars installed to prevent thieves; this was the case for the windows in the rooms as well. Zhuang Yu raised her hand and claimed, “Don’t worry. I’ll look after Xiaohao for these few days, making sure he doesn’t go out to play.”

The three of us stood on the balcony and looked out the window at the birds. Some were on an electric pole, while some were circling in the air. Perhaps Wu Yu’s words had stirred up something in me, as when I looked at the eyes of those birds, it suddenly made me feel as though they were looking at me, looking at us.

Perhaps these birds do have some secret.

At this moment, Wu Yu told me he needed my car afterward, so I asked, “What do you want to do?”

“I failed last time when I tried to follow them on foot. I want to see where they go tonight when they return with nothing to show for.”

Both Zhuang Yu and I became dumbstruck after hearing that before Zhuang Yu asked, “Follow the birds? Will you be able to keep up with them? They fly off very quickly.”

“I won’t know if I don’t try.”

“Fine, go then. Be careful though,” I said.

Wu Yu said that he would before glancing at me. “You be careful too.”

Zhuang Yu, who stood beside me, nudged me with her elbow while putting on a strange expression. Immediately, I gave her a meaningful look; she responded promptly with a look of enlightenment before lowering her head to hide her wry smile.

Right then, a police car drove up to the building, and I saw the person in the driver’s seat at a glance. At the same time, I let out an involuntary cry. “Shen Shiyan? Why is he here?”

After parking the police car, Shen Shiyan looked up and saw us standing on the balcony. Zhuang Yu was as shocked as I was and muttered, “That’s the dull rock you talked about? He doesn’t seem like a dull person?”

I let out a sigh and told her, “Everything about him is dull. Go have a try if you don’t believe me.”

She let out a casual ‘Oh’ before heading down.

“He’s also one of the admirers?” Wu Yu asked out of nowhere.

“Don’t listen to Zhuang Yu’s nonsense. He and I… are just ordinary friends.”

At this moment, the flock of birds abruptly took to the air. They were either alarmed, or they had spotted something, flying away in the direction of the leading bird. My heart pounded in shock. I noticed that Wu Yu, who was by my side, had already run down.

“I’ll be going,” he said before leaving.

I shouted that I would go with him, but he did not respond to me. When I finally got downstairs, I only saw Zhuang Yu and Shen Shiyan standing there stunned with the gate wide open and the roars of an engine that promptly faded into the distance.

I stood at the door feeling somewhat dejected, thinking that I could only wait for him.

However, the next time I saw Wu Yu, he would be lying on the ground with a bloody head injury.