After Dumping the Scumbag, I Ended Up with His "White Moonlight” - Chapter 18

Qiu Yuyi washed the vegetables absentmindedly. He moved mechanically, finishing one bunch only to pick up the next, repeating the motions like a programmed machine.

Lin Xuemeng, having just finished her tasks, made herself a cup of honey pomelo tea and found a stool in the kitchen to rest. She took small sips, observing Qiu Yuyi out of the corner of her eye.

Ever since they returned from the hot springs, she had noticed the atmosphere between Qiu Yuyi and Xia Di’an had turned incredibly strange. Not only were they no longer glued to each other, but they barely even spoke. Xia Di’an had even approached the director’s team to request a move to the second floor.

Thinking of this, Lin Xuemeng stared meaningfully at Qiu Yuyi’s distracted profile before taking another sip of her tea.

Just then, Xia Di’an lifted the kitchen curtain and stepped inside.

Seeing him, Lin Xuemeng set her tea aside and complained jokingly, “Don’t tell me more guests have arrived? My hands are starting to feel rough from all this work.”

At the sound of the movement, Qiu Yuyi snapped back to reality. He turned his head and met Xia Di’an’s eyes. Xia Di’an gave him a brief, indifferent glance before shifting his gaze to Lin Xuemeng.

“Sorry for the hard work, Sister Lin. The new guests have arrived; I just came to let you know.” He didn’t look at Qiu Yuyi again. After delivering the message, he turned and left the kitchen.

Suppressing a surge of bitterness, Qiu Yuyi lowered his eyes and resumed washing the greens. This was his choice, and he had to bear the consequences. His mind involuntarily drifted back to that night.

“I’ve been watching you for a long time, Xiao Yi.”

Xia Di’an’s voice had been gentle, like a cool breeze brushing against his heart in the silence of the night. Qiu Yuyi had looked up in confusion. He was certain he had never met Xia Di’an before.

Xia Di’an had stroked his hair gently. “I don’t want to tell you yet.” He had pulled him closer into an embrace. “If you want to be friends, I won’t force you. It’s late; let’s sleep.”

At the time, Qiu Yuyi hadn’t understood, but exhaustion had won out. He had fallen asleep in Xia Di’an’s arms. But the next morning, Xia Di’an was gone. His belongings had vanished from the room as if he had never been there.

“Brother Xia, where are you going? Why is all your stuff gone?” Qiu Yuyi had asked anxiously when he found Xia Di’an on the first-floor sofa.

Xia Di’an had calmly pulled his arm away. Ignoring the dejection in Qiu Yuyi’s eyes, he offered a polite but distant smile. “I spoke with the director. I’ve moved to the second floor.”

“Why?” Qiu Yuyi’s face had paled as he stammered the question.

Xia Di’an’s gaze swept over him before he laughed lightly. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be friends? Sorry, but I’m not used to sharing a room with anyone else.”

“But before you.” Qiu Yuyi had cut himself off, lowering his head. After a long silence, he whispered, “I understand. I’ll get back to work.” Xia Di’an hadn’t stopped him, merely watching his lonely figure walk away with a cold, unreadable gaze.

Shen Nian had left the previous day. Before departing, he had insisted on adding everyone’s WeChat.

Under the watchful eyes of the group, he had walked up to Qiu Yuyi with a smile. “Add me, okay?” Qiu Yuyi had no choice but to pull Shen Nian out of his blacklist right then and there.

Once he achieved his goal, Shen Nian bid farewell and got into his car. His assistant, Xiao Yang, took the luggage and habitually smiled at Qiu Yuyi. “Brother Yi, we’re heading out then!” He had no idea how much trouble that “Brother Yi” would cause.

Qiu Yuyi felt every eye in the room turn toward him—one gaze, in particular, was exceptionally sharp. He gave a hollow laugh. “I, I’m going to go work.”

The new flying guests were three members of the newly debuted girl group, Summer.

Wang Man: The leader, sporting a tomboyish look with flaxen short hair.

Lin Mengtian: The maknae, wearing a pink puff dress with blonde wavy hair and bangs.

Xiao Zhu: The visual of the group, quiet and elegant in a Mori-style long dress.

Xiao Zhu immediately volunteered for kitchen duty. Wang Man and Lin Mengtian vouched for her, claiming she was a fantastic cook. Lin Xuemeng, finally having a capable assistant after a week of solo labor, beamed as she led Xiao Zhu to the kitchen.

Though quiet, Xiao Zhu was highly efficient. After she prepared a trial dish, Lin Xuemeng tasted it and her eyes widened. “Xiao Zhu! This is amazing! You’re a natural!”

Qiu Yuyi walked in just then. “Xiao Qiu, come taste this,” Lin Xuemeng urged.

“Okay.” He took a bite and was genuinely surprised. “It’s delicious! Sister Xuemeng, did you make this?”

“Xiao Zhu did! She’s taking over the cooking so I can finally catch a break.” Lin Xuemeng laughed and told Qiu Yuyi to look after Xiao Zhu before happily taking the dish out to show the others.

“Wait, you left her alone in the kitchen?” Cao Ziping asked, surprised.

“Xiao Qiu is in there helping her. Try this, Xiao Zhu made it!”

Cao Ziping took a bite, his eyes lighting up. “Wow, it really is better than yours.” Lin Xuemeng swatted at him before calling to Xia Di’an. “Xiao Xia, stop with the accounting for a second and come try this.”

Xia Di’an’s pen paused. He looked up with a smile. “I’m in the middle of a tally. I’ll eat later.” He cast a fleeting, dark look toward the kitchen before lowering his head. Not yet.

With the three girls helping, the workload became much lighter. Over the next few days, following Lin Xuemeng’s instructions, Qiu Yuyi helped Xiao Zhu several times.

He discovered that Xiao Zhu wasn’t cold; she was just slow to warm up. Once they became comfortable, she shared that she entered the industry solely to support her younger sister, who was in poor health. Finding they had similar reasons for entering the entertainment world, they grew closer.

This proximity didn’t go unnoticed. Cao Ziping repeatedly looked at Xia Di’an with a “hesitant to speak” expression. Though Xia Di’an maintained his breezy smile, the warmth didn’t reach his eyes, which grew colder by the day.

During a meal, Lin Xuemeng teased them in front of everyone, saying they looked like a “perfect match” and should try dating after the show. Qiu Yuyi panicked and denied it instantly, insisting they were just friends.

In his haste to deny it, he didn’t notice Xiao Zhu’s pale face flush a faint pink. Xia Di’an silently observed Xiao Zhu’s shy reaction. Suppressing a dark, uncontrollable thought, he placed a piece of sweet and sour pork in Qiu Yuyi’s bowl.

“Eat,” he said simply.

It was the first time in days his attitude toward Qiu Yuyi had softened. Qiu Yuyi hurriedly thanked him and took a bite.

“So sour!” He made a face and looked at Xia Di’an. Xia Di’an looked back indifferently. Feeling the pressure, Qiu Yuyi forced himself to finish the piece.

“Oh dear, my hand slipped today and I poured in half a bottle of vinegar,” Lin Xuemeng apologized. “I told everyone, but you were out walking the dog so you didn’t know.”

Xia Di’an took a slow bite of rice. “Don’t waste food,” he said flatly.

When the members of Summer were leaving, Xiao Zhu looked at Qiu Yuyi several times, looking like she wanted to say something. Seeing Qiu Yuyi’s obliviousness, Lin Xuemeng nudged him with a smile. “Xiao Qiu, give Xiao Zhu your contact info.”

Ever since the “perfect match” joke, Qiu Yuyi had been avoiding Xiao Zhu to prevent further misunderstandings. Hearing the suggestion, his eyelid twitched, and he instinctively glanced at Xia Di’an.

Xia Di’an was chatting with Cao Ziping, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.

“Okay.” Not wanting to embarrass Lin Xuemeng or Xiao Zhu, Qiu Yuyi opened WeChat and added her as a friend. As he put his phone away, he let out a breath and couldn’t help but look at Xia Di’an again.

To his surprise, Xia Di’an had stopped talking. He was staring quietly at him, his face devoid of emotion.

Qiu Yuyi shrunk back guiltily for a second, but then straightened his posture. Xia Di’an was the one who turned cold first. He was the one who moved out. I’m just adding a friend; why should I feel guilty?