The White Moonlight of Three Male Leads - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Yi Xiangsui

Yi Xiangsui’s gaze followed the eraser he had lent to Song Yuyan, rising and falling with its every movement. It wasn’t that he was petty over an eraser—it wasn’t about the eraser at all. He just had a feeling that Song Yuyan was about to play it to death.

Unbeknownst to himself, a faint smile crept into Yi Xiangsui’s eyes.

As a protagonist in a danmei (boys’ love) novel, Yi Xiangsui naturally leaned toward being interested in boys. Because of this awareness, he had always avoided close contact with other guys. None of them had ever caught his eye—until now.

This time, though, he found Song Yuyan kind of…interesting.

He hadn’t paid much attention to Song Yuyan before, but now his image of him was becoming clearer. Fair-skinned, slim, a little delicate-looking—but once he smiled, all that weakness vanished. The sickly image was just a misleading illusion.

The eraser was now being quietly tossed into the air and caught in Song Yuyan’s palm again and again. It was like a divination device for him, deciding on answers based on which side landed up. He’d already assigned each side to A, B, C, and D—it was all up to luck now.

After working on the test for an entire class period, Song Yuyan was the first to hand in his paper. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and, as he returned to his seat, glanced casually at Yi Xiangsui’s test.

Yi’s paper was way cleaner than his!

Song Yuyan chuckled with a sly smile, his brows arching delightfully. “Yi Xiangsui, I thought you were… turns out you’re also…”

Yi Xiangsui’s dark eyes locked onto him. His voice was low and hesitant. “Also what?”

“You’re also academically hopeless!” Song Yuyan raised an eyebrow, his black-and-white eyes examining Yi Xiangsui. He added teasingly, “What? What did you think I was gonna say?”

“…Nothing.” Yi Xiangsui pursed his lips. His voice was cool and smooth like shattered jade.

Song Yuyan placed the eraser back in Yi Xiangsui’s palm. He had already wiped off the small marks he’d made on it.

“Thanks. I hope your eraser blesses me with good luck. Amen.” Before Yi Xiangsui could reply, Song Yuyan tilted his head and negated himself, “Forget it. Luck’s too unreliable. Better to rely on studying.”

He said it with a smile, standing in the light and shadows. Then he left the classroom.

Yi Xiangsui remained still, his heart thumping wildly in confusion.

It gave him the illusion of being moved—an unsettling, chaotic feeling that was dangerously enticing.

But he knew this was just a reaction to almost having his carefully guarded secret exposed. That was all.

Song Yuyan had a hunch that Yi Xiangsui was watching him. He pressed his lips together, his grin growing more mischievous.

Song Yuyan: “This is fun!”

Teasing a teenage boy in the middle of puberty was just too entertaining. Plus, he was technically a teenage boy again too. He liked the school atmosphere—the energy of all these passionate students gathering together made him feel younger too.

At that moment, his heart truly felt alive again.

He was young. He could be vibrant, charming, radiant again.

The placement test was over.

Results hadn’t come out yet, which gave Song Yuyan some time for self-delusion. Sure, he did badly now, but that didn’t mean he’d always be bad.

As the literal embodiment of the “White Moonlight” character, he and the main character were bound by fate. They weren’t just in the same class—they were still seated one in front of the other.

“We meet again, my fellow academic failure, as front-and-back deskmates at the rear of the classroom!”

Song Yuyan said it jokingly, but Yi Xiangsui suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Song Yuyan just smiled too much—always those curved brows and eyes, always shining. He was the complete opposite of Yi Xiangsui.

Yi made a soft sound in response, the corners of his lips curving up slightly into a rare smile.

System: “Host, he wants to get closer to you! The cold campus male lead is starting to melt!”

Song Yuyan: “Do you actually believe that?”

Even though they were just freshmen in high school, the evening self-study periods had already begun.

Earlier that day, everything was fresh and exciting for Song Yuyan. Especially Yi Xiangsui’s face—he could definitely become an early-stage fan of that face. He never got tired of looking at it.

But as the day wore on, Song Yuyan’s energy drained. After each class, he would collapse onto his desk, half-dead.

He wasn’t alone—his seatmate, Huo Enlin, was also sprawled out. There was a shine in Huo’s eyes like he’d found his long-lost kindred spirit.

In the morning classes, Song Yuyan had looked so serious and determined—like he was joining a political party or something. Huo Enlin, sitting next to him, had felt a lot of pressure.

Huo didn’t have that sense of distance Yi Xiangsui carried. They were the same age and could chat about anything. It felt like meeting a soulmate.

They chatted a bit until the bell rang and Song Yuyan once again turned serious, ready to listen intently.

Huo Enlin stared at him in a daze before reluctantly following his example and focusing on the lesson.

After class, mentally drained and with barely any brain cells left, Song Yuyan heard Huo sigh beside him: “Having you as a seatmate is the biggest blessing of my life.”

Song Yuyan patted his shoulder and smiled. “Joy is meant to be shared.”

Behind him, Yi Xiangsui felt a flicker of threat. While the two in front chatted, Yi tapped Song Yuyan’s back with the unsharpened end of his pencil.

“Wanna play basketball after school?”

Song Yuyan’s eyes lit up. “Sure!”

Of course, the main character must’ve forgotten—high school had morning and evening classes. Playing basketball after school? In his dreams, maybe?

Still, Yi Xiangsui looked satisfied. He turned to glance out the window. Outside, birds chirped noisily, and he found himself wanting to silence them with his hands.

He couldn’t silence the birds, but he could cover his own ears.

Song Yuyan casually glanced over at him and saw Yi Xiangsui leaning over his desk with his headphones in, eyes closed.

With his eyes shut, all his cold aloofness was hidden away. He looked so pure, so innocent.

A few strands of dark hair curled around his ear, sunlight filtering through like golden thread on porcelain. He looked like a manga boy come to life.

Even up close, Yi Xiangsui’s face was flawless.

There might never be another person more beautiful than him—and even if there were, they’d never have his unique aura.

After all, this was the male lead!

Out of this entire world, there were only three male leads!

Song: “Is Yi the best-looking of the three male leads?”

System: “How’d you know?”

System: “Of course he is! Yi will eventually dominate the entertainment industry! He’s pure perfection, beautiful from every angle!”

Song Yuyan forced himself not to overthink it—not to feel regret. After all, he hadn’t even gotten the guy yet. It was too early for feelings like that.

He still had time. Time to understand Yi Xiangsui better, and at the very least, get close to him. Become his friend first.

The system had no idea what its host was plotting. All it saw was that Song Yuyan had been seriously studying all day!

What kind of school romance started like this?!

System: “Host, you only have about three years, you know.”

The timeline was tight. High school was for building affection with Yi. College would be for the other two: Feng and Zhong.

It wanted to shove a “Time Management” guide into his hands, but the host was reading “Three-Year Simulated Exams” instead!

But Song Yuyan didn’t catch on to the system’s worries. Instead, he calmly explained, “Relax, I’ve got a plan!”

He could tell that Yi Xiangsui already had an impression of him. With timing, location, and people on his side, how could he not succeed?

Time always felt abstract.

Song Yuyan thought the day flew by. His deskmate and the boy behind him, however, looked like they were enduring torture.

His seatmate kept squirming like there were nails in the chair.

Out of courtesy, Song Yuyan maintained a neutral expression and even withdrew the smile from his cheeks.

Every so often, Yi Xiangsui would shuffle his chair—only to glance back and pretend nothing happened when Song Yuyan looked.

His expression practically asked, Why aren’t you paying attention in class? Why are you looking at me?

Song Yuyan pursed his lips. Even if it started hailing behind him, he wasn’t going to look back again.

Yi shifted again. He frowned, then glanced at the sky. Outside, brilliant clouds bloomed across the horizon—but he felt like those noisy birds out there.

So annoying.

When was class over?

Yi waited a while longer. The sun set. There were still evening classes ahead.

Song Yuyan noticed the pout on Yi’s stunning face. His sharp features were drawn into a sulk, so lovely that it made you want to reach out and smooth it away.

He didn’t dare look too long. He hadn’t exaggerated—this male lead was special. His very existence drew attention and affection.

No wonder the plot had Yi becoming a tearful film emperor and singing idol. If he disappeared, maybe Yi wouldn’t have cried so beautifully—and the whole storyline might collapse.

Song Yuyan cleared his throat. “Yi Xiangsui, want to go eat in the cafeteria together?”

This was it—his official meal invitation!

Song Yuyan: “One small step from me, one giant leap for our future friendship!”

Who said friendship couldn’t evolve? Even if it didn’t, he’d spoon-feed it until it fermented—and in two or three years, if it still hadn’t changed? He’d accept defeat.

Yi’s sulky expression vanished almost instantly.

Then Song Yuyan called out cheerfully, “Let’s go eat!”

His face glowed with enthusiasm. The students nearby gave face too, forming a mighty procession out of the classroom.

Yi was stuck in the middle, frowning slightly—somehow, he suddenly didn’t feel so excited anymore.

Everyone charged toward the cafeteria. Being new to school, they had high hopes for the food.

Turns out, some expectations are best left unmet.

They queued up for food. Yi and Song, standing together, made quite the pair—two exquisite teens side-by-side had more than double the effect.

Even the cafeteria staff gave them extra servings.

They sat down at an empty table, grinning. But after one bite, both froze, deadpan.

That extra serving was generous, sure—but it only made their suffering worse when they realized they’d picked the wrong dishes.

After dinner and evening classes, the school day was finally over.

Yi walked out of the school gates. Song and Huo Enlin walked side by side behind him, chatting and laughing like old friends.

Even with the crowd between them, Yi somehow still stood out. He was always the first to be recognized.

As for calling out to him? They weren’t that close yet.

People needed boundaries.

Though Song loved to laugh, he preferred friendships that developed slowly. His romantic tastes were the same—he liked relationships that blossomed over time.

Just then, he saw Yi standing ahead under the streetlamp. The light hit his face, highlighting every perfect angle like a dream.

“He’s so handsome!”

“Seriously too handsome!”

The whispers came from boys and girls alike—excitement barely contained in their supposedly “low” voices. But Song heard everything clearly.

He glanced at them.

Huo Enlin couldn’t help but mutter, “Is he really that handsome? Even if he is, isn’t everyone overreacting a little?”

Song smiled and nodded.

Then he answered, voice light and calm, “First of all, yes, he is. Second, good looks make people scream. Doesn’t matter if it’s over the top or not.”

Huo gave him a thumbs up. “First of all, you’re a perfect candidate for science major.”

He struggled to come up with a “second,” and Song almost burst out laughing.

Chatting with Huo, Song didn’t realize—just like he could hear others clearly even when they thought they were whispering, his voice had carried too.

Not far away, Yi lifted a hand to his mouth, fist gently hiding a smile.

But he couldn’t help the joy bubbling inside.

He thinks I’m handsome!

Could this be what it feels like when the little boat of friendship begins to gently rock in the middle of the lake?