Chapter 41: Moonlight

Feng Miwan acted shamelessly. She refused to take the skewer and instead raised the Little White Bear Doll she had snatched from Xiong Yibai a little higher, declaring righteously:

“No hands! Look, I’m hugging you!”

Xiong Yibai looked at her blatant rogue behavior and then at the little bear being used as an excuse. Finally, she couldn’t hold back her laughter.

She had no choice with Feng Miwan, so she helplessly shook her head and brought the beef skewer to Feng Miwan’s mouth.

Feng Miwan took a big bite, chewing while mumbling praises:

“Mmm! Delicious! As expected, you picked right!”

Her triumphant smile was impossible to hide.

Xiong Yibai watched her happy expression and picked up another skewer to eat herself. The curve at the corner of her mouth lingered for a long time.

After finishing the night snack, the night had deepened, and the people in the market had gradually thinned out.

The two walked slowly back along the same road to the parking lot near the restaurant.

Once inside Feng Miwan’s car, as soon as Xiong Yibai fastened her seatbelt, she turned her head to Feng Miwan, who was about to start the engine, and said:

“Drive slowly.”

Feng Miwan’s hand paused on the gear shift. She turned to look at Xiong Yibai and couldn’t help laughing:

“Hey, Doctor Xiong, do you think I usually treat my car like a race car in the city?”

“There are speed limits on city roads. I’m not an idiot; of course I’ll follow the traffic rules.”

Xiong Yibai glanced faintly at her and added:

“I’m just afraid you’ll get excited or speed when there’s little traffic.”

Feng Miwan chuckled and guaranteed:

“Don’t worry! With you in the car, I’ll drive more steadily than anyone! I’ll get you home safe and sound!”

With that, she started the car and drove out of the parking lot slowly, keeping her speed perfectly controlled.

Outside the car window, the city’s neon lights receded rapidly, while soothing music played inside.

Feng Miwan’s peripheral vision fell on Xiong Yibai, who was gazing at the scenery from the passenger seat.

The speed wasn’t fast, but this time, what sped was her heartbeat.

Before long, the car came to a smooth stop at the entrance of Xiong Yibai’s residential complex.

Xiong Yibai unfastened her seatbelt and was about to say goodbye when she saw Feng Miwan also unbuckle hers and reach for the door.

“What are you getting out for?” Xiong Yibai asked, somewhat puzzled.

“To walk you to the building!”

Feng Miwan replied as if it were the most natural thing. Before Xiong Yibai could say “no need,” she had already hopped out, circled to the passenger side, and opened the door for Xiong Yibai.

Xiong Yibai looked at her standing outside the car, smiling expectantly. The refusal on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back.

She hugged the Little White Bear and got out.

The night was deep and quiet. The streetlights in the complex emitted a dim yellow glow, stretching their shadows long.

They walked side by side along the path. Feng Miwan stretched comfortably, loosening her muscles, then tilted her head back.

In the night sky, a full moon hung quietly, its clear light spilling down and edging the surrounding clouds with a hazy glow.

“Yibai, look.” Feng Miwan raised her hand to point at the sky.

Xiong Yibai followed her gesture and looked up.

Feng Miwan still gazed at the full moon, as if saying it casually:

“The moonlight is so beautiful tonight.”

Xiong Yibai’s gaze shifted from the bright round moon to Feng Miwan’s face beside her.

The moonlight outlined her handsome eyebrows, straight nose bridge, and smiling lips—more captivating than the moon in the sky.

After a few seconds of silence, Xiong Yibai spoke softly:

“Yeah. But I’ve always thought Natsume Soseki was a coward.”

Feng Miwan turned her head abruptly upon hearing this, her gaze crashing straight into Xiong Yibai’s deep eyes.

In that instant, Feng Miwan understood the unspoken meaning in Xiong Yibai’s words.

It was a response more moving than any direct confession.

They gazed at each other, neither speaking again.

The stirring emotions flowed silently in the night.

Unknowingly, they had arrived at the entrance to Xiong Yibai’s building.

“I’ve arrived.” Xiong Yibai stopped and said, her voice much softer than usual. “You should head back too. Be careful on the road.”

Feng Miwan nodded, her smile still bright:

“Got it! I’ll leave after I see you go in.”

Xiong Yibai glanced at her, said nothing more, and turned to swipe open the building door.

Before entering the stairwell, she looked back at Feng Miwan standing in the moonlight.

Feng Miwan waved vigorously at her.

Only after Xiong Yibai’s figure disappeared into the building and the faint “ding” of the elevator arriving echoed did Feng Miwan turn around.

She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and walked lightly toward the complex entrance, stepping through the moonlight on the ground.

She unconsciously hummed the tune that had played in the car, thinking that tonight’s moon was the brightest and most beautiful she had ever seen.

On the other side,

Director Wang, reeking of alcohol, staggered home and collapsed onto the sofa. Before he could catch his breath, his phone rang.

He grumbled impatiently: “Who is it! Can’t a guy get some peace late at night!”

He fumbled out his phone and squinted drunkenly at the caller ID—”Dean Xiong Daichuan.”

Director Wang jolted awake, the alcohol half-sobered from him.

He scrambled to sit up straight, cleared his throat, plastered on his usual fawning smile, and answered with a voice obsequiously humble:

“Oh, Dean Xiong! Hello, hello! What instructions do you have so late?”

His heart raced anxiously; the dean had never called him personally at this hour.

On the other end, Xiong Daichuan berated him head-on: “Wang Jiancheng! You’ve got some nerve! Lawless!”

Director Wang’s heart sank, cold sweat pouring down, but he truly didn’t understand and could only brace himself, his voice trembling as he asked:

“D-Dean… What do you mean by that? I… I’ve been diligent at work lately, no mistakes…”

“No mistakes?”

Xiong Daichuan’s fury was palpable even through the phone.

“I’m asking you, have you been using your position for a long time to harass and threaten female doctors in the departments?”

“Especially Doctor Xiong Yibai! I’ve seen the evidence clear as day! What do you have to quibble about?!”

Director Wang felt like he’d been struck by lightning. He never imagined the matter would reach the dean directly.

By rights, hospital complaints should have been handled by his people first—how did the evidence end up in Xiong Daichuan’s hands!

Terrified out of his wits, he stammered excuses:

“D-Dean! Misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“I just… as a leader, cared about the growth of young comrades. Maybe… my methods were a bit off, but I had no ill intent!”

“Doctor Xiong… she must have misunderstood something…”

“Care? Growth? Wang Jiancheng! Do you think I’m a three-year-old you can fool?!”

Xiong Daichuan practically roared.

“I’m asking you, do you know who Xiong Yibai is?!”