When Bright Moon Encounter the Dark Clouds

A few times when I brought Wu Miao out for food, Ruying insisted on tagging along. Wu Miao did not like her and bickered with her a lot. One time Wu Miao even pissed Ruying off, and she left. Then Wu Miao asked me, “Bro, are you not going after her?”

“Why would I go after her? I didn’t want her to come along.”

Hearing this, Wu Miao’s face immediately lit up. “That’s my brother. This type of white-lotus lady is not suitable for you. I sure as hell wouldn’t want her to be my sister-in-law.”

I let out a chuckle and asked, “What type of sister-in-law would you want then?”

“Someone truthful and honest, not a faker. Someone that understands you, takes care of you, and wishes the best for you. Definitely not the kind Miss Cheng is: a brainless white-lotus that cares only about romance.”

……

The nostalgia seemed like the yellowish light shining down on us, giving the room a mellow feeling and immediately enveloping me in it. I raised my face and caught Tan Jiao’s gaze through the yellow hue.

Her facial features seemed particularly delicate under the soft light. I knew she was probably eavesdropping on my conversion, yet this did not affect her eating, as half of the food on her table was already gone. Holding a glass of beer in one hand and a stick of barbequed squid in the other, Tan Jiao kept side-eying me. When I looked in her direction, she would quickly look away.

Even though bitter feelings already filled my heart, a gentle smile appeared on my face as I looked at Tan Jiao while thinking about Wu Miao’s words.

“Professor, how did Ruying change so drastically?”

Professor Chen paused before saying, “She saw her mother, grandmother, and aunt...die in a fire.”

I was shocked.

There was also something else I found out.

I had to bring Wu Miao on the trip, but I was busy with work at that time, so professor Chen introduced me to that cruise we ultimately went on. At a later time, I found out that Chen Ruying and her mother had also signed up for the same trip.

They were also on that ship.

Afterwards, something also happened to their family.

In the past, I would not have given it much thought. But now… Something happened to them too. Could it be related to that ship? I must go and see Chen Ruying.

“Professor, I’ll go see you and Ruying tomorrow.”

After the call, I saw Xiao Hua and the guys looking at me with teasing smiles. “Brother Yu, Ruying is a girl’s name, right? You smiled when you talked about her.”

When did I let out a smile while I was talking about Ruying?

“The lady you said you were thinking about, can’t be her, right?”

I ignored them, as I could only think about that cruise. Suddenly, I heard Tan Jiao coldly yell out, “Waiter! Pack this for take-away! Check, please!”

I looked up immediately and saw a never seen before coldness on her face. Her eyes were looking at the ceiling and totally avoiding me. After getting her food and change, she left without looking back at all.

My gaze was fixed on her as she walked away. Putting down the stick of lamb skewer, I lowered my head and lit a cigarette, not feeling like talking at all. I took several deep draws before hearing Xiao Hua and the guys murmuring. “Why does it look like something is off? Did that lady get pissed off? Or perhaps she became jealous?”

As I stared at the burning end of the cigarette, I felt pretty frustrated.

The next late morning, there were not many customers. It was a sunny and peaceful day. While I was fixing a car, someone gave my shoulder a tap.

I looked up while lying on the floor and saw Xiao Hua’s enigmatic smile. “Brother Yu, someone signed up for the eight hundred Yuan gold membership card! There is one condition—you wash her car. I mean…”

“I’m busy.”

“Busy even if that lady is yesterday’s miss Tan?”

I looked toward the front of the shop and saw Tan Jiao standing there, back against the light, poised and calm. As if something was knocking on my heart, I walked to her slowly without putting down the wrench in my hand.