Chapter 9: Only the Moon Passes By

Chapter 9: Only the Moon Passes By

Fang Ye paid, took the roses, and glanced at the dirty flowers in her hand, raising an eyebrow. "Remember to wash your hands when you get back."

Bai Li hadn't expected him to be up so early, let alone to run into him here. She asked tentatively, "Why did you come out?"

He didn't answer. His gaze landed on her, and he seemed slightly vexed. "It's barely dawn; why aren't you sleeping? Did you just leave the door open and run out to buy these?"

"I came out to get breakfast and saw them by chance."

Bai Li was startled, suddenly realizing she hadn't asked for his permission. "I'm sorry. Is it alright to plant them at home?"

The morning sun was not yet blinding, carrying the orange-hued vitality of a new day.

Fang Ye strode ahead, saying lazily, "Go ahead. As long as you don't tear the house down, do whatever you want."

Bai Li couldn't quite keep up with his pace. She took a few quick steps to catch up and smiled, promising, "I won't tear the house down."

...

Back home, Fang Ye went upstairs after breakfast.

Having slept enough, Bai Li looked at the plants waiting to be put in the ground. She pulled all her hair up into a small bun and hurried to the backyard.

The backyard was only a small plot, but it was more than enough for her.

Unable to find a shovel, she picked up a wooden stick and began digging into the earth with great effort. The soil must not have been turned or watered for a long time; it had grown hard and stubborn.

After finally managing to dig three holes, her stick hit a rock and snapped easily under pressure.

She frowned.

Suddenly, a low chuckle came from nearby.

She turned to look. Fang Ye was standing in the doorway, holding a shovel. He stared at the broken piece of wood in her hand, his expression one of utter disbelief.

"Take your broken stick and move aside," he said.

He shooed her away, deepened the holes with a few quick movements, planted the sprigs, and watered them.

It took all of five minutes.

It made her thirty minutes of busy labor seem particularly... comical. No wonder Fang Ye had laughed.

Heat surged to Bai Li's face. Before she could speak, Fang Ye turned to her and said, "Come out to dinner with me tonight."

Out again?

Before Bai Li could nod, Fang Ye had already turned and left, leaving her no room to refuse.

Looking at the empty yard, she found Fang Ye a difficult person to decipher. She also began to worry about his wallet. By her calculations, her brother should be eighteen this year. The uncle who was a soldier and her brother's mother had both passed away early. What did he live on?

She didn't think Fang Ye was the type to ask Grandma Yun for money.

After pondering for a long time without result, Bai Li went back to her room, washed the clothes she had worn yesterday, and hung them on the balcony.

The weather in Lingjiang was always shifting between sunny and overcast. She had arrived in a hurry and hadn't brought many clothes; she only hoped they would dry in two days. Otherwise, she would have nothing to wear.

That evening, Fang Ye knocked on her door to take her out.

They navigated the familiar, dim alleys, heading toward the same wine house. This time, however, there seemed to be more people. Two large tables had been pushed together. Besides Chengzi, Xiaobai, and Xiaoying, whom she had met yesterday, there were several others who radiated a similarly dangerous aura.

Bai Li wasn't as afraid this time. Seeing Fang Ye, they all called out in unison, "Brother Ye!"

Chengzi looked at Bai Li trailing behind him, his eyes filled with astonishment. He quickly stepped forward and whispered in Fang Ye's ear, "Brother Ye, why did you bring her again today? It's too dangerous."

Fang Ye pulled out a chair, pointed to the empty seat to signal Bai Li to sit, and then looked at him slowly. "Bringing her for a bite to eat, then taking her back."

Chengzi had nothing more to say. What could he add? The girl was well-behaved; she shouldn't go hungry. He turned back with a grin, fetched a set of tableware for her, and said enthusiastically, "Little sister, eat up! If there's anything you like, just tell Brother Chengzi. No matter what it is, I'll treat you next time."

Bai Li took the tableware and smiled. "Thank you, Brother Chengzi."

They were having grilled fish today. The fragrance filled the air, the spicy and fresh aroma stimulating her taste buds. But unlike the relaxed atmosphere of yesterday, Bai Li noticed that the people around her didn't seem to have their hearts in the meal. They chatted with grave expressions; their words sounded like idle talk, yet they were laced with a hidden tension.

She was the only one using her chopsticks; the others were merely keeping her company. As time passed, the situation became more obvious. She lost her appetite.

Just as she looked up, she saw Fang Ye tapping his fingers on the table, his eyes closed as if waiting for something.

Being a sensitive person had its perks—she could easily perceive the moods of those around her. Without much effort, Bai Li realized they probably had something to do later.

She sensibly set down her chopsticks, pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, and said to Fang Ye, "I'm finished."

Fang Ye lazily opened his eyes, checked the time on his phone, and glanced at her bowl, which was stained with red oil. His expression remained flat, and he didn't protest. He simply called the waiter to pack up the entire plate of grilled fish and didn't forget to order her a glass of pear juice.

While waiting for the food to be packed, he took a phone call. He didn't say much, mostly just listening to the person on the other end. After hanging up, he seemed to remember something. He swiped his screen to open WeChat, pushed the phone toward Bai Li, and said softly, "Bai Li, add me on WeChat."

"Oh, okay." Bai Li blinked and quickly pulled out her own phone.

It was funny, really. She had been here for a whole day and hadn't even added Fang Ye on WeChat. She tapped to scan the QR code, sent a friend request, and handed the phone back.

Fang Ye took it, tapped "Accept" without looking, and tossed the phone into his pocket. He picked up the packed fish and the pear juice, turned, and urged, "Bai Li, let's go. I'll take you home."

Bai Li nodded. She turned to say goodbye to Chengzi and the others before chasing after Fang Ye.

When they reached the entrance, the sky was completely dark. She hadn't forgotten the strange atmosphere from earlier; it seemed as if they were all waiting for Fang Ye. She thought for a moment and couldn't help but say, "Can I go back by myself today? I want to wander around a bit and pick up some daily necessities."

Fang Ye stopped and looked down at her beautiful, round eyes. They were bright, yet held a hint of guilt. It was easy to tell she was lying. The girl didn't want to buy anything; she just didn't want to delay him.

Bai Li couldn't distinguish Fang Ye's mood, but she was insistent. "Fang Ye, you should go back. I see Brother Chengzi and the others are waiting for you."

They stared at each other for a moment. Fang Ye hung the takeout bag on her wrist, walked to the roadside to hail a taxi, and ushered her and the box inside. After giving the driver the address and paying the fare, he instructed, "Don't run around at night."

Bai Li pursed her lips. "I know. You stay safe, too."

Fang Ye rested his hand on the car door, his gaze level with hers, a wild, unrestrained smile on his lips. He reached out and flicked her forehead.

"Go on. Remember to call me 'Brother' next time."