Chapter 2 His Beloved White Moonlight Appears

Luo Xing hadn't said anything yet when Yun Cai tugged her arm, directing her gaze elsewhere. “Look over there—is that a car accident? There are so many people gathered.”

Luo Xing looked in that direction. Through the gaps in the crowd, she could make out a red and black modified motorcycle toppled on the ground.

The heroine had made her appearance.

Luo Xing’s grip on Yun Cai's hand tightened.

Su Mo, the daughter of Su Wan—Gu Shi Yan’s stepmother—and her ex-husband.

To take revenge on Su Wan, Su Mo deliberately entangled herself with Li Zhao, Gu Shi Yan’s close friend. After this accident, she would cross paths with Gu Shi Yan more and more frequently.

Wherever Gu Shi Yan frequented—a cyber café, a billiards hall, an arcade—she would be there, too.

In less than a month, Gu Shi Yan would grow weary of her clinginess and propose a breakup.

“Xingxing? Did you say you want to break up with Gu Shi Yan?” Yun Cai, previously distracted by the commotion, now caught onto what Luo Xing had said earlier.

But Luo Xing was lost in the world of her novel.

Gu Shi Yan—everyone thought it was Luo Xing who had pursued him for a year.

Only she knew she had secretly liked him for three.

Those four years had stitched themselves through the fabric of her youth.

“It’s not that I want to break up with Gu Shi Yan; it’s that he wants to break up with me.” Luo Xing had just lifted her head when she saw the tall boy in a black T-shirt swing his long legs out of the car.

As if sensing something, Gu Shi Yan’s eyes lifted, looking across the street.

Beneath the plane trees, under the dim glow of the streetlamp, stood a girl.

Gu Shi Yan frowned, glancing at the girl with short hair in jeans. She looked familiar, but her name eluded him—maybe a friend of his?

His gaze suddenly fixed on the shadow on the ground.

A long, dark silhouette.

She had put her hair up in a bun today.

“Yan!” Li Zhao came running to drag Gu Shi Yan over.

Yun Cai peered at the cautious figure behind the tree. “Sis, what on earth are you doing?”

Luo Xing poked her head out for a look. Amid the crowd, Gu Shi Yan’s tall figure stood out.

“I told you, there’s nothing between us anymore. I’m just avoiding any awkwardness.”

She tightened her hold on Yun Cai’s hand. “Come on, let’s go back.”

But Yun Cai tugged her back. “Here, see for yourself.”

Luo Xing looked down, startled to find two shadows on the ground.

Had Gu Shi Yan noticed her?

Her phone chimed. Luo Xing glanced at the screen.

Surprisingly, the contact saved as “Yan Baby” had sent her a message.

“Well, well, aren’t you two breaking up? Why’s he still ‘Yan Baby’?” Yun Cai teased.

Luo Xing nudged her. “I just haven’t changed it yet…”

Looking back now, she realized how shameless she'd been. Just recently, she’d even snatched Gu Shi Yan’s phone to change his contact name for herself.

She unlocked the phone. The message from Yan was just two words:

[Wait for me.]

“Wow, not even officially broken up, and he’s telling you to wait?” Yun Cai joked.

Luo Xing rolled her eyes. “It’s not official yet, but it might as well be.”

Stifling a sense of grievance, she tapped out a quick reply and sent it.

Then she exited the chat, taking the opportunity to change the contact name—from Yan Baby to Gu Shi Yan. She even moved him out of her “Special Attention” group into “Classmates.”

“Oh wow, you really mean it.” Yun Cai cupped Luo Xing’s cheeks. “You…”

In the end, she said nothing. Instead, she drew Luo Xing into a gentle hug, patting her back. “It’s okay. There are plenty of guys out there—not just hundreds, but at least a whole class’s worth who’d chase after you. The next one will be even better.”

…

At the hospital, Gu Shi Yan and Li Zhao waited outside.

Li Zhao’s parents were both overseas, leaving only his grandmother at home. Neither wanted to worry the old lady, so they hadn’t called home.

Fortunately, the person who’d been hit came out soon after, and the doctor assured them it was nothing serious.

She’d just need to stay in the hospital for a month.

Su Mo lifted her eyes to look at Gu Shi Yan, standing vigil by the bedside. They were the same age, but he exuded an inexplicable sense of steadiness.

“So, you’re a student too?” Li Zhao eyed her plain clothes apologetically. “I’m really sorry. Don’t worry—the medical expenses are all my responsibility. Is there anything else you need?”

Su Mo withdrew her gaze from Gu Shi Yan, speaking softly, “So I have to stay in the hospital for a month?”

Li Zhao nodded guiltily. “Yes, but don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”

Su Mo glanced at Gu Shi Yan out of the corner of her eye. Since entering, he hadn’t looked at her once—just kept his eyes glued to his phone. Who knew what he was looking at.

Li Zhao took out his phone. “How about I call your family? I can talk to your parents. After all, I’m a student too, and I still have to go to school. Money’s all I can offer—I’ll compensate you as best I can.”

“No need. You can go.” Su Mo lowered her head.

Li Zhao watched her huddled figure on the hospital bed; under the lights, she appeared almost translucent. Her dark eyes were half-lowered, making her look all the more pitiable—and he felt even more remorseful.

“I should still call your parents. Or maybe you can?”

“My father’s dead. My mother ran off with someone else.” The girl’s voice was steady and low, recounting it as a mere fact, devoid of emotion.

Li Zhao’s lips moved wordlessly.

With his parents abroad, he knew too well the loneliness of their absence—let alone circumstances like hers.

He put his phone away, at a loss for words.

For the first time since entering the room, Gu Shi Yan looked at the patient on the bed.

Before he could memorize her face, his phone chimed. His lashes fluttered as he hurriedly looked down.

Star Baby: [It’s too late, I’m heading back.]

Gu Shi Yan opened the message, fingers hesitating over the keyboard, unsure of what to say.

“Do you have any other relatives?” Li Zhao asked helplessly.

“My grandmother,” Su Mo replied coolly.

“It’s so late, and it wouldn’t do to worry her…” Li Zhao was growing more and more anxious. Today was really a stroke of bad luck.

“She can’t take care of me; she’s bedridden, just upstairs.”

Li Zhao was taken aback again.

Gu Shi Yan glanced at her for the second time that night.

Su Mo looked up. “So, I don’t want any other compensation. Just look after me for a month.”

Li Zhao waved his hands. “No, I hit you—it’s my responsibility. What do you mean by ‘you’? He’s got nothing to do with this.”

Even if his first thought had been to call Gu Shi Yan, Li Zhao would never pin the blame on him.

“Just get some rest. It’s late. Don’t worry—I’ll make sure you’re taken care of while you’re in the hospital.”

With that, Li Zhao pulled Gu Shi Yan out of the room.

“Yan, sorry for roping you into this. As you know, it’s just me and my grandma at home. I can’t let her know I hit someone—she called earlier and I told her I was just out playing with you. But this… a whole month. If I have to hire a nurse, that’s tens of thousands…”

Li Zhao had just sent his motorcycle off for repairs and was short on cash.

Gu Shi Yan nodded. “I’ll cover the money. You do my homework for a month.”

Li Zhao stared. “No way! Even if you never do your homework, no one dares say a thing. You can’t use this as an excuse to help me.”

“Then you stay here and look after her for a month,” Gu Shi Yan said, unconcerned.

Li Zhao forced a laugh. “Bro, you know my grandma would blow up my phone if I’m not home at night. You don’t go home much anyway. How about this—you take nights, I’ll take days?”