The Moon Shines on Me (GL) - Chapter 19

Xie Tingxin took a deep breath and mustered the courage to say, “Mingyue, I want to move out.”

“Why? Is the environment in the basement too bad?”

A flash of guilt crossed Mingyue’s face, and her voice lowered. “Tingxin, I can ask Mom to arrange a new room for you, but can you please not leave?”

Xie Tingxin’s brow relaxed slightly upon hearing this, but she still mumbled, “…It’s not because of living in the basement.”

“Then why is it?” Mingyue shifted her knee, retreating half a step to create a little distance between them. Looking down at Xie Tingxin, she asked in confusion, “Is it because you had a fight with Aunt Jiang?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Mingyue, after the college entrance exam, I want to go out and work a summer job. I want to earn money.” Xie Tingxin wanted her mother to quit her job and stop being a housekeeper for the Shen family.

“I have money, how much do you need?” Mingyue quickly wiped the ointment clean from her palm and took out her phone, ready to transfer money to Xie Tingxin.

Xie Tingxin grasped Mingyue’s hand, pulled her down to sit beside her, and awkwardly refused, “I don’t want your money. I can earn it myself by working.”

Mingyue froze at the words, her pale cheeks showing an expression of disbelief. “You look down on my money?”

Xie Tingxin kept her lips sealed, saying nothing.

Mingyue stopped the transfer with a complicated feeling. Frowning her delicate eyebrows, she asked cautiously, “Tingxin, are you encountering some difficulty? Can you tell me? I can help you solve it. Aren’t we best friends?”

Xie Tingxin’s identity reminded her every day that she was unworthy of standing with Mingyue. She didn’t want to be friends with Mingyue as a housekeeper’s daughter; she wanted to stand by Mingyue’s side as an equal.

But she couldn’t say these words to Mingyue. If Mingyue knew, it would definitely cause her distress.

“We are lifelong best friends. I just want to earn money with my own hands,” Xie Tingxin said firmly. “Mingyue, I will never abandon you. I’ll come back to find you once I’ve earned enough money.”

Mingyue looked at her reluctantly. “Do you really have to go?”

Xie Tingxin nodded firmly. “Yes.”

“Alright then.”

That night, they lay side-by-side on the bed and talked a lot. The next day, when Mingyue woke up, Xie Tingxin was already gone. Her used towel was neatly folded into a square, placed on the stool in front of the bed.

After that day, Mingyue rarely saw Xie Tingxin. After the college entrance examination, one of them applied to a university in the north, and the other chose a local school.

Xie Tingxin worked two months of summer jobs outside. Just before the start of the new semester, she came back to see Mingyue. At the time, Mingyue was fiercely battling with her apprentice in the game $Ask Sword. When she heard the knock on the door, she took off her headphones and tiptoed out. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Xie Tingxin’s travel-worn face.

“Mingyue, I’m back.”

Xie Tingxin’s face showed undeniable fatigue. Her beautiful eyes had become very calm, and the hand that held Mingyue’s felt much rougher.

“Did you rush back overnight? Why does your complexion look so bad?” Mingyue led Xie Tingxin into the room, then scrambled to fetch her a cup of warm water.

Xie Tingxin had taken a long-distance bus to return. Her complexion was so poor because she was carsick. After getting off the bus, she didn’t even have time to eat before rushing to see Mingyue.

Mingyue placed the warm water into Xie Tingxin’s hands, then sat across from her, carefully examining her.

They had only been apart for two months, but Xie Tingxin seemed to have transformed into a different person. Her originally naive face was now much more mature, her demeanor gentle, and even her voice had softened.

It was as if she had instantly grown up.

Xie Tingxin took a sip of water, then cupped the mug with both hands as she replied to Mingyue, “I took the morning class today. I wanted to see you as soon as I got back. I brought you a gift, I hope you like it.”

Xie Tingxin took out an exquisitely wrapped box from her cloth bag and handed it to Mingyue. Inside the box was a MONET art book with the words ‘The Great Stalker of Light’ printed on it.

Mingyue’s eyes lit up when she saw it. “How did you think of giving me this?”

Xie Tingxin smiled genuinely. “To celebrate your admission to the Jinghai Academy of Fine Arts.”

Mingyue was momentarily stunned, then joined in the smile. The dimples on her cheeks were shallow, mesmerizing anyone who looked. “Thank you. I have received the best gift.”

A hint of bitterness faintly arose in Xie Tingxin’s heart. This art book was insignificant compared to the gifts others gave Mingyue, yet she clutched it like a treasure, happily saying it was the best gift she had ever received.

Xie Tingxin gazed at Mingyue, whose eyes were downcast, her gaze traveling from her smooth forehead down to her slightly flushed nose from excitement. Though it had been a full two months since they last met, Mingyue was still the same as before. Perhaps because life had been so smooth, Mingyue’s face was always beaming, like the sun—just looking at her made one feel warm.

At this moment, Xie Tingxin felt like a sewer rat, desperately pushing open the manhole cover to glimpse a sliver of light, only to have her eyes burned by that light in the end.

Mingyue cherished the art book, holding it tightly. She noticed Xie Tingxin’s pensive gaze fixed on her and asked with some confusion, “Have you been well these two months?”

“It’s been alright. I’ve seen a lot of the world.”

This was the first time Xie Tingxin had left the Shen family on her own since she was a child. She walked toward the outside world with a burst of passion. Two months allowed her to more fully recognize the gap between herself and Mingyue. The money she earned from her summer job couldn’t even buy one of Mingyue’s pieces of clothing.

Those ridiculous and preposterous notions of asking Aunt Jiang to quit her job at the Shen family were harshly shattered by reality. After going out, Xie Tingxin finally realized that having a small basement to live in this highly expensive area was already a luxury others desperately wished for.

There was an insurmountable chasm between her and Mingyue. Xie Tingxin had once naively thought she could cross this gap, but in the end, not only did she fail to cross it, but she fell and was utterly broken, unable even to crawl back up.

Mingyue curiously asked, “Can you tell me what you experienced these two months?”

“But I don’t want you to know.”

Xie Tingxin rarely refused Mingyue, but her experiences over the past two months were too terrible. Mingyue was a pampered young lady, a princess adored by everyone. Those dirty, miserable, and unsightly experiences shouldn’t enter her ears or mind.

Mingyue’s breathing hitched; she didn’t seem to have expected Xie Tingxin to refuse her. She looked up at Xie Tingxin, frowning slightly. “Are you tired?”

Xie Tingxin took the opportunity to yawn. “A little.”

“Then you should quickly go rest.” Mingyue personally escorted Xie Tingxin downstairs, only returning to her room after promising to see her tomorrow.

Inside, the computer screen on the desk was still glowing blue. Mingyue clicked on the message list and, sure enough, saw [Mumu] spamming the chat.

Mumu: “Where are you? Mingyue?” Mumu: “Did this person [Zhaozhao] scare you off?” Zhaozhao: “?” Zhaozhao: “I’m going to sue you for defamation.” Mingyue: “Sorry, I had something to take care of just now. I stepped away for a bit.” Mumu: “It’s fine, it’s fine. We didn’t wait long.” Zhaozhao: “Still playing?” Mingyue: “You guys keep playing. I’m logging off for now.” Mumu: “Okk.” Zhaozhao: “Good night, Mingyue.”

After sending the message, Mingyue closed the game. She flipped through the art book Xie Tingxin gave her from cover to cover, then contentedly placed it on the most conspicuous spot on her bookshelf.

On the other side, in the Shen family’s old residence basement, Xie Tingxin walked into the cramped storage room after taking a shower. The room was less than ten square meters, only holding a single bed less than one and a half meters wide. The remaining space was piled high with random items, leaving no room for even a desk.

Just as Xie Tingxin curled up to lie down, the door was suddenly pushed open with a ‘bang.’ Aunt Jiang stood at the doorway, immediately unleashing a torrent of abuse at Xie Tingxin.

“So you remember to come home! You’ve grown wings and a hard head, you don’t even listen to your mother, you run away from home—how dare you do such a thing! I think you’re trying to drive your mother to her grave …”

Two months ago, Xie Tingxin had left the Shen family quietly, leaving only a letter. Though Aunt Jiang was frantic, she dared not make a big fuss, afraid of inadvertently exposing Xie Tingxin’s identity as the genuine daughter.

As the Shen family’s housekeeper, Aunt Jiang couldn’t leave her post without reason. So she could only secretly pray that Xie Tingxin wouldn’t have any accidents and would return safely.

The moment Xie Tingxin, who had vanished for two months, returned, Aunt Jiang wanted to harshly discipline her. However, Xie Tingxin, in a shocking act, secretly slipped up to the second floor, evading the sight of the maid right in front of Aunt Jiang. Aunt Jiang knew exactly who Xie Tingxin had gone to see.

Mingyue was both her biological daughter and the eldest daughter of the Shen family. Aunt Jiang had always strongly tried to keep Xie Tingxin away from Mingyue. Yet, for some unknown reason, they were as intimate as twins who had been accidentally separated in childhood and reunited as adults, despite the huge difference in their backgrounds.

Aunt Jiang had worked tirelessly to become the housekeeper at the Shen family. Her original intention was just to watch Mingyue grow up, not to truly swap their identities back. But over the past decade, Xie Tingxin and Mingyue’s relationship had grown closer and closer. Aunt Jiang feared that if this continued, their identities would be exposed. Thus, she could only suppress Xie Tingxin every now and then, trying to make her less close to Mingyue.

Xie Tingxin lay quietly on the bed, silently listening to Aunt Jiang’s offensive words. She remained quiet the entire time, until the outside door grew silent. Only then did Xie Tingxin finally get out of bed barefoot, rummage for a stool, and jam it against the rickety door.

Hadn’t she gotten used to this long ago?

“Wh-y… are… you… cr-y-ing.”

“Xie… Ting… xin.”

“Xie Tingxin!”

A flurry of hurried footsteps approached, and someone urgently patted Xie Tingxin’s shoulder.

Xie Tingxin abruptly snapped out of her memory. She subconsciously wanted to clench her hand, but her movement paused. Xie Tingxin’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked down.

An exquisitely packaged box rested quietly on her pale hand.

This was the 20th birthday gift Mingyue had given her.

The banquet was about to begin, and many young ladies were gradually entering. They were dressed in luxurious gowns, their necklaces glittering in the setting sun. Just by looking at their clothes and accessories, Xie Tingxin knew that the attendees today were all wealthy and noble.

Strange, why hadn’t Mingyue returned yet at this hour?

Xie Tingxin put away the gift and finally looked at the person who had come. “What is it?”

“You must hurry back. Miss said… she wants… to see you… Aunt Jiang… she… she’s gone…”

Xie Tingxin widened her eyes at the words, staring at the person in disbelief for a few moments. After confirming what the person had said, she quickly ran toward the basement.