The White Moonlight of Three Male Leads - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Feng Chengling

“They know nothing about us. We live different lives,” Feng Chengling said, gazing at him as though looking at a younger student still trapped by the opinions of others. His fingers twitched, and it was like some instinctive DNA in his body stirred.

He wanted to pat Song Yuyan’s head—but Feng Chengling knew they weren’t that close yet.

So, he maintained his distance. Held back. The last time he’d tried to tug on Song Yuyan’s hand, even with good reason, he’d still been rejected.

Feng Chengling pushed the urge down, a storm churning deeper in his eyes. “You don’t need to care what they think. Just because they talk about us doesn’t mean they actually care.”

Song Yuyan nodded.

That kind of answer—so Feng Chengling.

If Feng Chengling cared about others’ opinions, he wouldn’t have spent his college vacations delivering food and packages, working multiple part-time jobs.

After he finished speaking, Song Yuyan didn’t respond right away. Feng Chengling pressed his lips together and asked, “Do you find me annoying?”

Young people often hate being lectured. And Song Yuyan was no exception. Maybe Feng Chengling had said too much just now.

But Song Yuyan suddenly felt like he’d seen a bit deeper into Feng Chengling. He asked, “Back when I messaged you, you rarely replied. Even if you did, it was just an ‘Mmm’ or ‘Ah’ or that weird ‘bounce back’ thing. Was that because you were afraid of seeming annoying?”

System: “Correction: that was I messaging him, and he replying ‘Mmm’ and ‘Ah.’ When you message him, he’s not nearly that dismissive. Boohoo.”

System: “I’m even sadder now. I wanna cry. I wanna ship them~”

Song Yuyan ignored it. The system ships him with every male lead. It had shipped him with Yi Xiangsui, too, and look where that ended up.

Shipping means nothing. Better to enjoy life and cherish the present.

He cracked a mental joke at his own expense, rolling his eyes as he kept staring at Feng Chengling.

Song Yuyan: “I’ll just blink at him and let him act.”

Song Yuyan: “What other reason could there be? Obviously he didn’t care.”

He knew full well: he was the exception. That’s the only reason he didn’t mind.

After all, he wasn’t the one constantly chasing, spamming messages. He was just occasionally teasing a handsome guy.

And thinking about how Feng Chengling had basically been chatting with the system the whole time, he nearly burst out laughing.

Song Yuyan blinked, moving his lips and twitching his nose to keep his face from twisting in amusement.

He’d mentally prepped himself in every way—only to be completely undone by one line from Feng Chengling.

“I never said ‘bounce back,’” Feng Chengling declared.

He had said “Mmm” and “Ah,” sure. But if he hadn’t said something, he’d never admit to it. No need to give himself more faults!

He regretted it deeply now. If he’d known back then that Song Yuyan was his ideal type, he would never have acted so aloof.

This time, Song Yuyan completely lost it.

He doubled over, laughing so hard he nearly cried.

A few tissues were handed his way. He wiped his eyes and looked up—only to see Feng Chengling’s utterly exasperated expression.

“Is it that funny?” Feng Chengling asked.

Song Yuyan nodded. “I’ve got a low laugh threshold. And I cry easily, too.”

He straightened up and, seeing Feng Chengling’s puzzled look, explained, “When I said ‘bounce back,’ I didn’t mean you literally typed that. It just meant your replies felt like bots. Like you were just deflecting everything I said.”

“Like I was chatting with an AI or something.”

Which… technically he was. The ‘person’ replying was Feng Chengling, but the ‘bot’ part was the system.

He used to feel bad for the system. But now he kinda felt sorry for Feng Chengling too.

Right at that moment, their thoughts aligned unexpectedly.

Feng Chengling felt that same sympathy for Song Yuyan—but also guilt. If only he had known…

Feng Chengling had always believed guilt was a useless emotion. But with Song Yuyan, he couldn’t help but make an exception.

He looked at Song Yuyan. His hand hovered midair, then slowly, tentatively, rested lightly on his head.

“I won’t be like that anymore,” Feng Chengling said. “I’ll reply properly to every message you send.”

“So if I ever made you feel bad before… forget about that, okay?” He withdrew his hand.

At that moment, he noticed Song Yuyan was still frozen, staring up at him blankly.

Feng Chengling couldn’t help but chuckle. “What, no one’s ever patted your head before?”

“You think that’s why I’m stunned?” Song Yuyan shot back. “Can’t I just be struck by conscience?”

Yep, it was a mistake to get too close to a born winner like Feng Chengling. He had that magnetic aura—like a blooming flower that lured in every curious butterfly.

And Song Yuyan? Just another butterfly, unable to resist. It was only natural to stop and rest on such a stunning flower.

He was just a passerby. But that was fine. Mutual enjoyment mattered more than some forever-after.

Besides, he hadn’t even reeled him in yet. What’s the point in overthinking?

Just then, Feng Chengling said with a laugh in his voice, “Let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh,” Song Yuyan replied, remembering the time. As they walked toward the dorms, he felt like he was forgetting something.

Until Feng Chengling said, “Once you’re free in a few days, come find me. We can study together. But tonight, just go get some rest.”

And that’s when Song Yuyan remembered what he’d forgotten—

He patted the strap of his backpack. Right. That meant he’d be seeing more of Feng Chengling.

His eyes curved happily. And when he smiled, it was beautiful. Feng Chengling’s gaze lingered on his eyes, unable to look away.

No one knew what Feng Chengling was thinking. When they reached the dorm, Song Yuyan waved and was about to enter when he suddenly turned back.

“Next time, it’s my treat.”

Feng Chengling nodded. “Let’s keep in touch.”

Only after watching Song Yuyan disappear into the building did he finally turn and leave.

…

Time passed.

At 8 a.m., classes resumed as usual. Song Yuyan, still groggy, flipped through his books.

He wanted to ask Feng Chengling a question. But now that the time had come… he realized he’d actually planned his university life way too well.

When it was time to play, he played. When it was time to study, he studied.

He was more mature now, not like some students who went wild after gaining freedom.

He studied seriously—but right now, he hated how responsible he’d been.

He had no real questions. Which meant… no excuse to meet Feng Chengling.

Then a thought hit him. His eyes lit up.

Song Yuyan: “Ling-ge Ling-ge, you there?”

Feng Chengling, working with his small team, pulled out his phone. That usually expressionless face broke into a slight smile.

They were used to this.

The team exchanged knowing glances. Sure enough, the next second, Feng Chengling walked out of the room.

They all wore mysterious smiles.

“That guy we all know about…”

“I think Feng-ge is in love.”

“No way, really?”

“Then how else do you explain how weird he’s been acting lately?”

“He’s totally in love…”

From suspicion to certainty, by the time Feng Chengling came back in, they all looked perfectly composed, like nothing had happened.

But inside, they were dying of curiosity. Feng Chengling was tight-lipped—no one had even caught a glimpse of the mysterious person behind that smile.

That day, Feng Chengling was in a great mood.

After a full day of work, he threw on his dark overcoat and got ready to leave.

The team’s social butterfly, Li He, got pushed forward by the others. Grinning, he asked, “Feng-ge, off to a date?”

Feng Chengling glanced at him and answered, “Mm.”

Li He pushed a bit further. “Tell us something about your girlfriend?”

Feng Chengling’s lips pressed together. He stared at Li He so intently that it made him nervous. Sure, he was well-liked, but Feng-ge’s stare was scary.

What if he was mad? Would he get stuck doing data analysis? Would he be pulling all-nighters every day?

No, no, don’t cry… Feng-ge can’t be that petty, right?

Luckily, Feng Chengling didn’t let him stew for long.

“I’m meeting with a junior,” he said coolly, putting on his coat. “He’s just a junior right now. Don’t overthink it.”

Once he left, Li He bounced back immediately.

See? Feng-ge wasn’t petty! He’d just overthought it!

“‘Just a junior’? And told us not to overthink it?” Li He adjusted his glasses. “That’s basically asking us to overthink it.”

Wait—wasn’t that word… junior?

Going by Feng-ge’s attitude… could the ‘girlfriend’ actually be a boy?

They all picked up on it. Staring at one another, they eventually just shrugged.

These days, people were more open-minded. Sexual orientation was a private matter, and unless you were directly involved, it wasn’t polite to comment.

In fact, the distance that modern social etiquette creates can be comforting in some ways.

Out in the wind, Feng Chengling felt that same comfort.

Wearing his coat, he moved through the crowd with his usual reserved air, like someone walking out of an old film.

The world around him blurred, but he felt vividly real.

And now, there was someone else just as real—a young man waving excitedly at him from a restaurant.

He was very real, too.

Or maybe, to Feng Chengling, he was someone extra special. Maybe because he stood out in a crowd. Maybe because Feng Chengling had been looking for him.

So in that very first glance, he saw Song Yuyan.

He quickened his pace.

Song Yuyan smiled.

They really were different types.

Feng Chengling always moved fast, like he was short on time. Song Yuyan preferred to take things slow and admire the scenery.

But sometimes, he really liked how fast Feng Chengling moved.

Like right now.

Feng Chengling walked quickly toward him. Then, once he reached him, he slowed, and politely asked, “I’m not late, am I?”