Chapter 8: Immoral Part 2

“You don’t need to worry about my parents. I’ll handle it. It won’t affect our families’ relationship.”

He Zizhou’s words completely caught Miao Zhu off guard. She’d even braced herself for another round of humiliation.

From the start, her interactions with He Zizhou had been purposeful, yet He Zizhou had never once suspected her motives.

The name He Zizhou had once been just an insignificant label to Miao Zhu, no different from those suitors whose faces she couldn’t remember. Now, it made her feel like a real, warm, three-dimensional person.

Miao Zhu felt a mix of emotions. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t need to apologize to anyone. If anything, it’s me… I’m not as good as you think. You wouldn’t regret giving up on me at all.”

“No! You’re great. It’s I who misunderstood.” He Zizhou knew it was time to end it here. “By the way, operational vehicles can’t come here. If you don’t want to stay, we can leave now.”

“No need to trouble you.” Miao Zhu turned her head. Mu Shanyi looked down from above, and their eyes met across the distance.

Night deepened. On the way there, He Zizhou had taken a shortcut from Moon Reflection Villa to the mansion hosting the exhibition party, arriving in just half an hour. On the return, perhaps because Mu Shanyi was unfamiliar with Cloud City’s roads and didn’t use navigation, she twisted and turned into the old district, going farther and farther astray.

Miao Zhu didn’t remind her. Away from the towering buildings, as the car drove along the river, her field of vision opened up, and the piled-up negative emotions seemed to ease with it.

The river surface was covered in pristine, serene moonlight. Miao Zhu lowered half the car window, letting the cool river breeze hit her face.

The car passed a temporary parking area, and Mu Shanyi pulled over. She said to Miao Zhu, “Wait for me a few minutes.”

Miao Zhu’s gaze followed Mu Shanyi as she got out and crossed the empty road. A few scattered shops stood there, and Mu Shanyi entered one that was open 24 hours—a pharmacy.

Miao Zhu got out too and walked a few steps toward the riverbank to get some air.

When Mu Shanyi emerged from the pharmacy, she saw Miao Zhu hugging her arms, head down, wandering aimlessly along the riverbank.

Mu Shanyi stood under the dim streetlight outside the pharmacy, took out a cigarette, and lit it. The rising wisp of blue smoke turned the Miao Zhu in her view into a hazy silhouette.

Time rewound to that day when she’d gone, on Ni Xiaoying’s behalf, to deliver gloves to Miao Zhu and Xingran.

Xingran hadn’t shown up that day. When she arrived at the meeting spot, Miao Zhu had been in that same posture. It was already deep autumn, on a cloudy riverbank. Miao Zhu kicked at pebbles with her head down, her cheeks and earlobes reddened by the cold wind.

Mu Shanyi had booked a local restaurant highly rated by international students in advance. The food was good, but Miao Zhu barely ate. Mu Shanyi didn’t know what had upset her and Xingran—it didn’t matter. They’d make up eventually.

A car sped by in the middle of the road, honking continuously. Miao Zhu instinctively turned her head to look across.

The river wind tousled Mu Shanyi’s long hair. She held the cigarette between her fingers, smoking idly.

Miao Zhu had never seen Mu Shanyi smoke in any setting before.

During the time it took to smoke that one cigarette, the two stood on opposite sides of the road, their gazes occasionally meeting before lightly parting.

Mu Shanyi finished the cigarette and returned to the car. Miao Zhu opened the door and got in too.

The car filled with a faint tobacco scent, overlaid by an intense woody fragrance that couldn’t be masked.

He Zizhou had a similar scent tonight, but when this fragrance mingled with Mu Shanyi’s body heat, it gave Miao Zhu a completely different feeling. It reminded her of that night when Mu Shanyi’s “elder” aura had shattered.

That short walk alongside Mu Shanyi to fetch the car—the evening breeze, the play of light and shadow, the fragrance… even every wrinkle on Mu Shanyi’s shirt—felt like a film playing in slow motion.

Mu Shanyi handed the pharmacy bag in her hand to Miao Zhu. Miao Zhu took it, puzzled. “For me?”

A call interrupted them. The phone on the center console lit up. Mu Shanyi glanced at the dashboard—it was Mu Huiren calling.

“Yes.” Mu Shanyi gave a simple answer to Miao Zhu’s question. “I’ll take this call first.”

Miao Zhu opened the medicine bag. Inside were ice patches and ointment.

Because she played the cello, Miao Zhu was always careful with her wrists to avoid injury. Sheng Xingran had yanked her in anger, but Mu Shanyi had noticed so attentively?

“Xiao Hui.” Mu Shanyi buckled her seatbelt and started the car back on the road.

“I’ve been waiting forever. Why aren’t you home yet? Not coming over tonight?” Mu Huiren’s clear, sweet voice came through the car speakers into Mu Shanyi’s ears—and word-for-word to Miao Zhu.

“…” Miao Zhu closed the medicine bag and turned to look out the window.

Xiao Hui—the drunk girl from Moon last time, whom Mu Shanyi had held around the waist.

Mu Shanyi’s tone was gentle and patient. “It’s too late. Not tonight.”

“Aww~~” Mu Huiren whined coquettishly. “Didn’t I tell you during the day about the instruments and supplies needed for the new lab prep? I wanted to wait for you to get back and chat more about it~~”

Mu Huiren was studying medicine, a graduate student at Cloud City University.

“It’s all arranged.” Amusement colored Mu Shanyi’s voice. “The company will contact your advisor tomorrow.”

“! Oh my god, I love you so much~~” Mu Huiren hung up happily.

“These might come in handy for you.” Mu Shanyi gripped the steering wheel, continuing their earlier topic.

Her tone carried over the gentleness from the call. Miao Zhu’s gaze shifted from the window back to her face.

Lit only by passing streetlights, Mu Shanyi’s profile alternated between sharp clarity and shadow.

She had a captivating face. It was only natural for her to have a partner.

Miao Zhu’s thoughts stirred. “Are you girlfriends now?”

This was the second time Miao Zhu had asked something like this. For a while after, Mu Shanyi said nothing.

Just as Miao Zhu thought she’d overstepped and Mu Shanyi wouldn’t answer—

“I’m not sure what answer you want to hear.” Mu Shanyi spoke.

“…” How could a simple yes or no involve what she wanted?

Miao Zhu was baffled. “Does the answer have to do with me?”

Mu Shanyi glanced at her, lips parting to give an even more boundary-crossing response: “It can.”

—

Author’s Note:

I just fought with my ambiguous interest, and her sister sends me a lover’s invitation. I:

□ Accept □ Reject