Chapter 16: The Moon Never Closes Its Eyes, Part 4

Chapter 16: The Moon Never Closes Its Eyes (Part 4)

Just a wall apart, the air outside the building clung to the heat unique to summer; every breath felt dry and stifling.

Bai Li returned indoors, the cold air dispersing the warmth that had settled in her hair.

She found a corner to set down the kitten’s carrier when the soft sound of flowing water reached her ears.

Looking up, she was stunned.

In the kitchen.

Fang Ye was washing dishes, his sleeves rolled up. Due to his tall stature, he had to bend slightly to reach the countertop.

Beside him were several takeout boxes of various dishes already prepared.

Bai Li thought she must be mistaken; since she was the one hosting, the person busy in the kitchen today should have been her.

She hurried to the kitchen doorway and, through the closed sliding glass door, saw Fang Ye’s hands submerged in water more clearly.

His hands were strikingly handsome, yet for some reason, there were several faint scars on the backs, paler than the mark behind his ear.

His movements were efficient; he could clean a dish in just over ten seconds, casually placing it on the drying rack afterward.

Water droplets fell through the gaps into the sink below.

Hearing Bai Li knock, he turned his head to glance over.

She quickly spoke, “Brother, didn’t I say I would cook?”

No answer.

She added, “I should be the one who bought the ingredients, too.”

Still no response.

Feeling a bit ignored and frustrated, Bai Li tapped lightly on the door, pondering what to do next.

Fang Ye’s finely shaped eyebrows lifted slightly.

Through the soundproof glass, her voice was faint and barely audible, but she spoke earnestly, unaware of how little he could hear.

Her mouth moved silently, as if she was scolding herself for being anxious, even reaching out to tap the door again.

Like a shy, restrained little rabbit holding back frustration.

He raised his hand, showing the foam on it, signaling with his eyes for Bai Li to open the door before speaking.

Bai Li paused, confusion flickering in her eyes.

It seemed she hadn’t caught his hint.

Fang Ye turned his head away and chuckled softly. He placed his hands under the faucet and slowly rinsed off the soap before coming to the door and pulling it open.

He deliberately bent down, as if to hear her better, the smile on his face unwavering.

In a soft voice, he asked, “What were you just saying? I didn’t catch it.”

The distance between them suddenly shrank.

Their faces were only a few inches apart.

Bai Li’s words caught in her throat, and the hair tie she intended to use slipped from her fingers to the floor unnoticed.

She didn’t reach down to pick it up, instead staring blankly at his suddenly enlarged, half-smiling, mesmerizing eyes.

Her breath stalled.

All sounds faded away except the occasional drip of water falling to the floor.

Fang Ye’s face was overwhelmingly beautiful.

His features matched the universal standards of beauty, yet carried a rare, noble air.

No wonder he could appear effortlessly in comics and be so adored, bringing her enough income to travel.

A simple gaze like this quickened the heartbeat and rooted her eyes, unable to look away.

Seeing the girl dazed and silent, he frowned slightly, studying her for a few seconds.

He lifted his right hand, still glistening with water droplets, and lightly tapped her forehead as if to remind her.

“Bai Li, what are you doing? Speak.”

The sensitive skin on her forehead felt the cool touch of his fingertips, and her fingers trembled.

She sensed a missed heartbeat.

Unsure of herself, she hurriedly repeated what she had said before.

“I said, since I offered to host, I should handle these things.”

She pointed at the dishes on the counter. “Also, Brother, how much did those ingredients cost? I’ll pay you back.”

Tsk, here it comes again.

Fang Ye straightened up slightly, casually glancing at the money in her palm and smiled.

“Do you think your brother can’t make a living?”

Before Bai Li could reply, he reached out and ruffled her hair, firm yet gentle.

“Stop stuffing money into my hands all the time, alright? You’re my sister. Living at home, there’s no reason for you to have money. Take that money and buy some snacks, some clothes you like. Don’t always think about giving it to me.”

Bai Li pursed her lips, thinking Fang Ye was being unreasonable, so she said a golden rule.

“Brother, true siblings keep clear accounts.”

Fang Ye had already turned back into the kitchen, taking a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge and taking a sip.

Hearing that, he paused for a few seconds, then smiled.

“Is that so? Too bad we’re not actually siblings.”

His voice was unusually gentle, like the brightest moonlight on a summer night.

Bai Li was speechless.

She wanted to say that if they weren’t siblings, they should keep clear accounts all the more, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it, fearing it would widen the fragile closeness between them.

Yet she didn’t want to compromise either, so she stood there, gazing at him expectantly.

Someone once told her she was overthinking, sensitive, and suspicious, making her seem scheming even in a simple school environment, which was why many disliked her.

Bai Li acknowledged this.

But she couldn’t change; she needed to remain highly alert to ensure she wouldn’t make mistakes or attract avoidable hostility.

Like now, she was regretting suggesting to host last night. If Fang Ye refused to accept money, she’d feel shameless.

She wasn’t a fool; she should have known Fang Ye wouldn’t take the money, yet she still came up with such a poor plan, like deliberately taking advantage.

Fang Ye was still standing in the kitchen.

Perhaps unprepared for her stubbornness, he shifted from his gentle tone, lazily pulling out his phone to type a few messages.

Then he took the money from her hand and slipped it into his pocket.

“Enough, I’ve accepted it, alright?”

Bai Li’s eyes lit up with bright clarity, the self-imposed chains in her heart instantly falling away.

Then Fang Ye extended his hand toward her.

“Here, lend me your phone to send a message.”

Thinking he might have run out of credit, she quickly unlocked her phone and handed it over without hesitation.

After tapping on the screen a few times, he returned it to her.

She wasn’t sure what he had done.

Once the phone was returned, Fang Ye handed her a cool slice of watermelon.

“Alright, go play with the kitten. Don’t just stand here.”

Bai Li held the watermelon, shaking her head.

“Brother, I’ll help you.”

At that moment, the boy’s low, hoarse voice came from above.

“Bai Li.”

It was clear his patience was running thin.

Before she could respond, Fang Ye raised his hand again, ruffling her hair with a serious yet lazy expression and spoke slowly, pausing between each word.

“You don’t need to help me. Don’t you like cats? Go play. No one will blame you.”

(End of chapter)