The Moon Shines on Me (GL) - Chapter 18

Yun Jin Courtyard.

Gu Shiwei’s footsteps paused abruptly as she entered. She stared at Shen Yuan’s wrist for a few moments, a little puzzled as to why the wristwatch was so quiet today.

When they were kissing just now, Shen Yuan’s breathing was clearly rapid and her gasps had no rhythm; it was obvious without a second thought that her heart rate was definitely irregular.

Gu Shiwei thoughtfully closed the door and walked in. Before Shen Yuan could enter the room, Gu Shiwei grabbed her wrist.

“Shen Yuan, come here for a moment.”

Shen Yuan was pulled by her wrist by Gu Shiwei and sat down on the sofa in the living room. She looked at Gu Shiwei in confusion: “What is it?”

Gu Shiwei said while inspecting the watch: “How did the alarm parameters on the watch get set so high?”

Shen Yuan froze.

She looked at the serious-faced Gu Shiwei and was silent for a long time.

When she actively took Gu Shiwei’s hand in the bar, Shen Yuan noticed her heart was about to explode, so she secretly adjusted all the alarm parameters to the maximum, planning to adjust them back after getting home. She didn’t expect Gu Shiwei to find out so quickly.

Shen Yuan: “Listen to me explain…”

“Shen Yuan, this concerns your safety. No matter what, you absolutely cannot…” Gu Shiwei looked up and saw Shen Yuan’s pale face. Her heart softened, and her tone instantly became gentler: “…no matter what, you absolutely cannot adjust these values again, understand?”

“Mhm!” Shen Yuan nodded, indicating she understood.

After adjusting the parameters, Gu Shiwei held Shen Yuan’s slender wrist, reluctant to let go. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the rough, uneven scars.

Shen Yuan seemed to have gradually lowered her guard against her, not jerking her hand away as agitatedly as before.

Realizing this, Gu Shiwei’s heart suddenly trembled violently, like a small pebble tossed into a calm lake, spreading ripples.

Her mood suddenly brightened, and she asked with a smile: “Shen Yuan, do you have anything you want to ask me?”

Shen Yuan looked up, her expression showing confusion.

“What do you want me to ask?”

Gu Shiwei: “Anything at all.”

Shen Yuan rummaged through her mind and then suddenly asked: “Did you… experiment like this with other people before?”

Gu Shiwei was stunned, not expecting Shen Yuan to ask this question.

“No, I’ve only kissed you.”

Doubt and confusion flickered in Shen Yuan’s eyes: “Then how did you know…?”

Gu Shiwei suddenly leaned over, pinched Shen Yuan’s cheek, and said with a raised corner of her mouth: “Maybe because I’m a little smarter than you, I don’t need to verify.”

Shen Yuan conceded.

Gu Shiwei was indeed smarter than her, to the point where she was miles ahead in friendship, love, studies, and career.

Shen Yuan said seriously: “Maybe more than a little smarter.”

Hearing Shen Yuan’s compliment, Gu Shiwei’s eyes suddenly became bright, and when she looked at Shen Yuan, her pupils seemed to hold two small flames, very similar to how she looked when they were kissing outside the bar.

A chill ran down Shen Yuan’s spine, and she instantly stood up from the sofa.

Shen Yuan: “I’m going to take a shower first.”

Gu Shiwei chuckled softly, watching the figure flee in panic.

After Shen Yuan left, Gu Shiwei’s phone rang.

Gu Shiwei clicked on it and found that Lin Qinghuan had shared a song with her, named Guest.

Immediately, a call came in. Gu Shiwei’s fingertip paused, and a few seconds later, she pressed answer.

“Hahahaha Gu Shiwei, I suddenly heard a song that I feel really suits your current situation, so I shared it with you.”

“Let me tell you, falling in love with a straight woman is no big deal. You’re the all-capable Gu Shiwei! With your external qualities, maybe you can bend Shen Yuan, and I don’t think she’s very straight to begin with. The last time I told her I was a fierce butch, the look she gave me, tch… was full of envy. Maybe she’s a butch too, and the way she pushes people away is exactly the same as you were back then, hahahaha. When you first realized you were a lesbian, you wouldn’t let Ji Xiao get too close either…”

“Hello? Gu Shiwei?”

“Hello? Are you listening to me? Are you attending Shen Yuan’s wedding, you’re so silent??”

Hearing the name Ji Xiao, Gu Shiwei finally spoke. She asked Lin Qinghuan: “What did Ji Xiao tell you tonight?”

“Sigh, it was about that Truth or Dare game. Ji Xiao suggested playing it. I know she has a crush on you, but I thought, this is both an opportunity and a challenge! Maybe you and Shen Yuan would get together tonight because of the game? So I agreed. But who knew Shen Yuan would say she was straight? Is she genuinely straight or just pretending?”

Gu Shiwei scoffed coldly: “Very well, Lin Qinghuan, you never learn.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I was helping you! I saw through Ji Xiao’s scheme early on. I agreed to her idea to help boost your and Shen Yuan’s relationship. I was willingly used! Not only do you not thank me, you mock me! Believe it or not, I’ll go tell on you to Shen Yuan!”

Listening to Lin Qinghuan’s barrage of accusations, Gu Shiwei held the phone further away from her ear.

Gu Shiwei: “She’s not straight.”

Gu Shiwei: “We kissed, just now.”

Lin Qinghuan, who had been rambling, instantly choked: “Huh???”

Lin Qinghuan was silent for a full minute, then said gloomily: “Gu Shiwei, you didn’t force Shen Yuan, did you? Her body is weak; she can’t handle your roughhousing.”

Gu Shiwei added lightly: “She was willing.”

Lin Qinghuan: “…”

Gu Shiwei ignored the silent Lin Qinghuan and continued: “We also hugged. Shen Yuan’s hands were hooked around my neck—”

Lin Qinghuan grew increasingly uneasy the more she heard.

After thinking for two seconds, she finally snapped, unable to bear it any longer: “No, who asked you?”

“…beep beep beep…”

Gu Shiwei looked at the suddenly hung-up call, the corner of her mouth unconsciously curving up.

Who would want to listen to Guest? Gu Shiwei played a wedding-specific song on repeat.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan went straight into the bathroom after returning to her room. She unbuttoned her white shirt one by one and tossed it into the laundry basket. Passing the mirror as she stood up, Shen Yuan paused.

She frowned at the several deep red finger marks on her lower back, her mind blank for a few seconds.

Shen Yuan’s skin was naturally fair, and that area rarely saw the light of day, making the finger marks appear exceptionally prominent.

Shen Yuan stared at them for a while, her face suddenly turning red, and she instantly walked away from the mirror.

No wonder her lower back felt a little sore—Gu Shiwei’s hand, which was holding her lower back during the kiss just now, must have pressed too hard.

When lying in bed after showering, Shen Yuan suddenly recalled that Gu Shiwei said in the bar that she had someone she liked, and that person was present. But apart from Ji Xiao and Lin Qinghuan, everyone else seemed unfamiliar to her.

Did she say that on purpose to make Ji Xiao give up?

The more Shen Yuan thought about it, the more likely it seemed. She yawned, narrowing her eyes, and drifted into a groggy sleep.

Shen Yuan had a dream. In the dream, her soul returned to her birthday eight years ago.

Shen Yuan floated in mid-air. She saw her parents order a birthday cake for ‘Shen Mingyue’ and invite many relatives and friends to celebrate her birthday.

“Mingyue, happy twentieth birthday.”

Someone lightly patted Shen Mingyue’s shoulder. She turned around, and what came into view was a girl about the same age as her, with a long braid reaching her waist.

The girl’s eyes slightly turned up at the corners, and her face was fair and flawless. There was a shallow dimple on her right cheek, and her whole face brightened when she smiled.

“Tingxin, why are you here?” Mingyue’s face blossomed with a joyful smile. Her clear, black-and-white eyes curved into crescent moons. Looking closely, she also had a less noticeable dimple on her cheek.

“My mother is sick, so I came to help out in her place.” Xie Tingxin was wearing the faded maid uniform of Aunt Jiang, the Shen family’s nanny. The uniform was too large and ill-fitting.

Mingyue pulled Xie Tingxin’s hand and walked to the corner. Then, she retrieved a small box from somewhere and happily handed it to her.

“Happy birthday, Tingxin. This is a birthday gift I specially prepared for you.”

Shen Mingyue and Xie Tingxin shared the same birthday, but one was the eldest daughter of the Shen family, and the other was the nanny’s daughter. Their status was vastly different. Xie Tingxin had never celebrated her birthday because it was always overshadowed by Mingyue’s.

Jiang, the Shen family’s nanny, was busy helping with Mingyue’s birthday banquet every year and had no time to spare for Xie Tingxin.

Every year, only Mingyue remembered her birthday and gave her a gift.

“Thank you, Mingyue. I have a gift for you too.”

Busy with the birthday banquet, Xie Tingxin had forgotten to bring the gift with her. She was about to go back and fetch it, but Mingyue held her wrist, telling her to sit and rest here, and offered to go herself.

Before Xie Tingxin could say anything, Mingyue had already lifted her skirt and ran out.

Xie Tingxin’s gaze flickered, slowly moving from Mingyue’s soft hair to the skirt shimmering with crushed diamonds. That dress was custom-ordered from abroad by Mingyue’s parents specifically for her birthday. Such an expensive dress was something Xie Tingxin could never afford in her lifetime.

Xie Tingxin and Mingyue were people from two different worlds. Mingyue attended a top art academy. She was proficient in eight languages, skilled in playing the violin and piano, etc. Mingyue had parents who deeply loved her, a wealthy family background, and excellent grades. In Xie Tingxin’s eyes, Mingyue was an unattainable favorite of heaven.

Mingyue also had a wonderful personality. Even though Xie Tingxin was just a nanny’s daughter, Mingyue still became good friends with her.

Xie Tingxin’s father passed away very early. Her mother, Jiang, worked as a nanny for the Shen family. Xie Tingxin and Jiang lived together in the Shen family’s basement for over ten years.

When Mingyue was little, she often secretly came to the basement to play with Xie Tingxin, but when they were discovered, everyone blamed Xie Tingxin.

Jiang told her to recognize her place: Mingyue was the young lady, and they were servants. Mingyue only saw her as a playmate, not a true friend. Only those who were also young ladies were worthy of being Mingyue’s friends.

But Xie Tingxin didn’t think so. Mingyue treated her very well, never acting like a pampered young lady, and often brought her food. When it rained, she would ask the driver to take her to school. Every time she bought practice books, she bought two copies—one for herself and one she saved and secretly gave to Xie Tingxin.

There were many such instances, too many to count.

Jiang said: “That’s just the Young Lady being kind. She’s only pitying you, giving you charity. Don’t wish for things that don’t belong to you. A Young Lady is a Young Lady; it’s impossible for her to stand beside someone like you for a lifetime.”

Hearing this, Xie Tingxin stubbornly raised her head and retorted to Jiang: “No, Mingyue and I are good friends! Even if she is pitying me, I still want to stand beside her. As long as you quit working for the Shen family, I won’t be the nanny’s daughter, and Mingyue won’t be my young lady. I can openly—”

“Slap—”

A heavy slap landed on Xie Tingxin’s fair cheek. Jiang’s raised hand had not yet been lowered, as if the slap would fall again if Xie Tingxin dared to utter another word of nonsense.

Xie Tingxin covered her swollen cheek, glared at Jiang, and spoke again: “You don’t understand Mingyue at all. You also don’t know what the real reason is that I can’t stand beside her.”

Jiang said: “Mingyue is the young lady and you are the servant. It’s impossible for you to have a genuine friendship. Do you think I don’t know what’s on your mind? Mingyue is simple and can’t see through you, but I can. You are jealous of her every night. Her kindness to you is her goodness, but your kindness to her? Isn’t it just wanting to get more things you desire from her?”

“Now you’re starting to despise my status as a nanny, thinking having a mother like me is shameful? Breaking your beautiful dream of becoming a princess? But do you know? If you didn’t have a nanny mother like me, you wouldn’t even have the qualification to see Mingyue, let alone be friends with her.”

Xie Tingxin didn’t cry even after being slapped, but hearing what Jiang said, her tears suddenly burst out. She was indeed jealous of Mingyue, but it was only jealousy.

Mingyue never noticed her hidden thoughts and had been sincere with Xie Tingxin for over ten years, treating her as her best friend.

Xie Tingxin ran out crying. She unknowingly arrived at Mingyue’s room. Servants weren’t supposed to come up to the second floor, but Xie Tingxin couldn’t care less at that moment. She knocked on Mingyue’s door.

The moment the door opened, her heart pounded fast.

What would Mingyue do when she saw her? Would she chase her downstairs?

“Tingxin? What happened to your face? Come in quickly.”

Mingyue poked her head out. Seeing Xie Tingxin’s red and swollen cheek and tear-stained face, she was shocked and led her into the room by the hand.

“Did you argue with Aunt Jiang again? Who hit your face?”

Mingyue brought Xie Tingxin to the bedside, then frantically rummaged for a first-aid kit.

Xie Tingxin sat on Mingyue’s bed, looking up at her busy figure without saying a word.

Mingyue’s eyes were red with anxiety. She walked into the bathroom and took out a wet towel, placing it on the side of Xie Tingxin’s face that had been hit.

“Hold this yourself for a moment. I’ll get the medicine for you.”

Mingyue grabbed Xie Tingxin’s hand and pressed it onto the towel, then turned and carried all the bottles and jars from the first-aid kit onto the bed.

Xie Tingxin’s eyes followed Mingyue’s figure, then moved to the crisp white bedsheet. Mingyue leaned over the edge of the bed, unscrewed a bottle of medicine, and applied some to her hand.

She sniffed it and said: “This is for swelling. You’ll get better quickly if you apply it.”

The towel on Xie Tingxin’s face was removed, immediately followed by a glob of cool medicine. Mingyue clumsily used her palm to slowly rub the ointment in, then used the towel to wipe away the strands of hair that got medicine on them.

Xie Tingxin’s lips moved, and she finally spoke her first words: “Thank you, Young Lady.”

“There’s no one else here, why call me Young Lady?” Mingyue looked at her in surprise.

Xie Tingxin suddenly grabbed Mingyue’s hand holding the towel and urgently asked: “Mingyue, are we good friends?”

Mingyue was pulled forward by Xie Tingxin’s motion, her knee bumping against hers: “Of course we are! What’s wrong?”