After Dumping the Scumbag, I Ended Up with His "White Moonlight” - Chapter 21

It was already 8:00 PM by the time they returned to B City.

Qiu Yuyi dropped his bags and collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion. Su Yichen knelt down, opened the suitcase, and began methodically unpacking for him—putting things away and stuffing the laundry into the washing machine.

Watching Su Yichen bustle about, Qiu Yuyi said sweetly, “Yichen, you’re so good to me.”

Su Yichen stiffened and stopped mid-motion. He stood up and began observing Qiu Yuyi with an intense, scrutinizing gaze.

“What are you looking at?” Qiu Yuyi asked, feeling a bit creeped out.

“Tsk, tsk,” Su Yichen rubbed his chin. “I was too busy today to notice, but I assumed you’d come back from that variety show looking scrawny and haggard.” He looked at Qiu Yuyi’s fair, tender face thoughtfully. “Why do you look like you’re in better health than before you left? Did you and Shen Nian get back together?”

It wasn’t that Su Yichen was being cynical; it was simply that Qiu Yuyi didn’t look anything like the “half-dead, heartbroken” mess he was before the show. Given how much Qiu Yuyi had cared for Shen Nian over the last two years, Su

Yichen found it impossible to believe he could move on so quickly.

“What are you saying? That’s impossible,” Qiu Yuyi shook his head. He couldn’t fathom why Su Yichen would even think such a thing.

“Then does he want to get back together?” Su Yichen immediately dismissed his own thought. “No, wait. That scumbag Shen Nian likes Xia Di’an, doesn’t he? He even chased Xia Di’an all the way to Leisure Time. Are they together now?”

Heaven knows how shocked Su Yichen was when he saw Xia Di’an and Shen Nian on the same live stream. He had wanted to fly to Z City immediately to drag Qiu Yuyi home. It was only Qiu Yuyi’s reassurance over the phone—that he was getting along fine with Xia Di’an and that Shen Nian wasn’t bothering him—that kept Su Yichen from booking a flight.

At the sudden mention of Xia Di’an’s name, Qiu Yuyi’s heart skipped a beat. Before he could think, he blurted out an unhappy rebuttal: “They aren’t going to be together! Xia Di’an doesn’t like Shen Nian at all.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he bit his lip in regret and shot a guilty look at Su Yichen.

Predictably, Su Yichen exploded. He looked like a prosecutor ready to cross-examine a witness. Qiu Yuyi opened his mouth, prepared to confess everything that had happened with Xia Di’an, but Su Yichen beat him to it.

The manager flopped onto the sofa and said in a huff, “Qiu Yuyi, you really do still love Shen Nian! I mean, what is so great about that scumbag that you’re still so defensive of his love life?”

Qiu Yuyi’s eyelid twitched as he realized the misunderstanding. He took a deep breath. “I really don’t like Shen Nian anymore. I don’t feel a single thing for him.”

Seeing his certainty, Su Yichen let out a breath of relief and decided to believe him—for now. But he still felt as though Qiu Yuyi was hiding something. He kept a suspicious eye on him. “Are you sure you aren’t keeping something from me?”

“No, no! How could I have secrets from you?” Qiu Yuyi quickly changed the subject. “Oh, Yichen, I’m so hungry. Let’s go out and get something to eat.”

“Fine. What do you want?” Su Yichen dropped the interrogation the moment he heard Qiu Yuyi was hungry. “It’s late; let’s just go grab some porridge.”

“Sounds good.” Qiu Yuyi pulled out his phone. Since Xia Di’an left the show yesterday, he hadn’t sent a single message aside from a quick “I’ve landed” text. Qiu Yuyi hesitated, then put the phone back in his pocket with a slight pout.

They found a small porridge shop nearby and ordered one seafood porridge and one vegetable porridge.

“Xiao Yi, I think you’ve changed,” Su Yichen noted, watching Qiu Yuyi pull his phone out the moment the order was placed.

“Huh? How so?” Disappointed yet again, Qiu Yuyi put the phone away and looked up in confusion.

“Before, I mean, when you were with Shen Nian, you were always so cautious. You rarely laughed. Honestly, you seemed miserable.” Su Yichen leaned his chin on his hands. “But seeing you now, you’re much more cheerful. You even make jokes. And most importantly,” He paused, looking at Qiu Yuyi’s glowing face. “I can’t help but feel like you’re acting like a boy in love. Since I picked you up this morning, you’ve checked your phone every five minutes. Xiao Yi, do you have a crush on someone?”

Qiu Yuyi’s heart hammered. He hadn’t expected Su Yichen’s intuition to be so sharp. He forced a smile. “I’m really not in a relationship. I just finally realized that Shen Nian isn’t worth my tears.”

Su Yichen didn’t push. “Fine. Tell me when you’re ready. Just rest up at home for the next few days and study your script. Do you need me to find a housekeeper for you?”

Qiu Yuyi gave him a grateful smile. He didn’t want to lie, but he and Xia Di’an weren’t officially “together” yet. Explaining the situation would take hours. He figured it would be better to tell Su Yichen once things were settled.

“No need, Yichen. I can cook for myself. I did just run a guesthouse, you know! I learned several new dishes. I’ll cook for you sometime.”

“Well, look at you!” Su Yichen laughed. “Seems that variety show was good for something after all.”

Just then, the steaming bowls were served. Qiu Yuyi ladled out a bowl for both of them.

“By the way,” Su Yichen said between sips. “I can’t believe you brought that rabbit back from the show. You’re about to start filming; it’ll be such a hassle to find a place to board it.”

“If I didn’t take her, she would have been sent back to the farm. It would have been so sad.” As for the filming schedule, Qiu Yuyi wasn’t worried. Xia Di’an had promised to look after the rabbit. He’d mentioned that since he was focusing on music, he’d be staying in B City and wouldn’t be traveling as much as before.

Su Yichen sighed, knowing Qiu Yuyi’s soft spot for animals. “Fine. As long as you don’t mind. Also, did you talk to Shen Nian at all while you were there?”

“I did.” Regarding Shen Nian, Qiu Yuyi felt there was no need to hide anything. He said casually, “He asked me to get back together with him.”

Pfft! Su Yichen sprayed a mouthful of porridge and scrambled for a napkin. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?” He looked incredulous, yet satisfied. “He actually regrets it? Serves him right.”

“I didn’t think it was worth mentioning. It’s not important,” Qiu Yuyi said innocently.

“Hahaha! I never thought I’d see the day Shen Nian grovels. Good for you for saying no. A scumbag like him deserves to die alone.”

At that moment, the phone on the table vibrated. Qiu Yuyi’s eyes lit up instantly. He set his spoon down and grabbed the phone. It was a voice call from Xia Di’an.

He shot a glance at Su Yichen and said hurriedly, “I have to take this call outside,” before sprinting out the door.

That kid and he says he’s not in love. Su Yichen watched him go, noting the spark in his eyes. He decided not to press further. It had been so long since he’d seen Qiu Yuyi look that alive. For the last two years with Shen Nian, Qiu Yuyi’s eyes had been like stagnant water—hollow and devoid of life.

“Hello?” Qiu Yuyi answered breathlessly, afraid Xia Di’an would hang up.

“Xiao Yi,” came the gentle voice from the other end.

The day-long longing was soothed in an instant. Qiu Yuyi’s eyes grew hot, and he said vulnerably, “You didn’t contact me all day.”

A soft chuckle came through the line. “Did you miss me?”

“Mm,” Qiu Yuyi whispered.

“I went straight to the recording studio from the airport and I’ve been busy until now. I’ll make sure to let you know next time, okay? Be good,” Xia Di’an explained tenderly.

Hearing that he had been working all day, Qiu Yuyi’s worry took over. “Does that mean you haven’t eaten yet?”

“Not yet.” There was a brief pause before he added, “Why?”

“I, I’ll bring you something to eat,” Qiu Yuyi said softly.

Qiu Yuyi ordered a seafood porridge to go, hailed a taxi, and gave the driver the address Xia Di’an had sent on WeChat.

After hanging up, he had run back into the shop and told Su Yichen: “Yichen, I have a friend who hasn’t eaten all day. I need to go drop off some food, so I’m heading out!”

“Oh? A ‘friend’?” Su Yichen had said meaningfully. “Get him some porridge; it’s easy on the stomach. You should eat a bit more while you wait, you barely had anything.”

Now, he sat in the taxi clutching the warm container, staring nervously out the window. He couldn’t believe that just after returning to B City, he was already on his way to Xia Di’an’s home.

When he arrived, he hopped out and saw a round-faced young man waiting at the gates of the residential complex. Seeing Qiu Yuyi, the man’s eyes lit up and he ran over. “You must be Brother Yi! I’m Brother Xia’s assistant, Xiao Miao.

He’s already upstairs, he asked me to meet you here.”

“Hello,” Qiu Yuyi offered a polite smile.

“Let’s go. I’ll carry the porridge for you.” Xiao Miao led the way, stealing curious glances at Qiu Yuyi.

So, this is the person Brother Xia was staring at on his phone every day abroad? He’s gorgeous! A hundred times better than on TV. No wonder Brother Xia has been secretly in love with him for all these years.