The Moon Upon My Heart - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Grievance

Her lips brushed against that patch of skin.

It was unclear what Ji Fengyue had instructed her cousin to tell Li Ming, but by the time Shen Wangshu finished her shower, Li Ming had already changed her tune. She announced with satisfaction, “Xiaoyue, I’m taking the day off tomorrow to go to the provincial capital with Xiao Ji’s cousin to see the apartment. You can grab lunch out tomorrow.”

Remembering Ji Fengyue’s tone earlier, Shen Wangshu didn’t just agree with her mother’s plan. “Mom, I want to go with you. That’s where I’ll be living for the next three years; I want to see it with my own eyes.”

Li Ming was surprised, but after a moment of thought, she nodded. “You should see it. If you like it, we can sign the contract on the spot and move your things in gradually. If not, I’ll find another place. There are still two weeks of summer break left, which is plenty of time.”

Shen Wangshu gave a soft “Mm” and returned to her room to continue messaging Ji Fengyue.

Wangshu: Her attitude has softened a lot. It seems your cousin is very persuasive.

Wangshu: But you really are impatient. Looking at the place tomorrow—do you plan on urging me to move in the day after?

Lanyue: Of course!

Lanyue: I don’t want to be apart from you for a single second!!!

Shen Wangshu’s eyes crinkled. Her heart felt soft and warm; being so cherished by the person she loved made her truly happy.

Wangshu: You’re exaggerating.

Wangshu: I’ll be there tomorrow too. Wait for me at home, and make sure you get some good rest tonight.

Receiving a response from her beloved, Ji Fengyue’s face flushed with excitement. she only regretted that Shen Wangshu wasn’t there in person, otherwise, she would definitely be clinging to her.

Ji Fengyue stared at her phone, unable to stop grinning like a fool.

No joke—she felt like her journey to winning over her “wife” was already more than half finished!

…

Because it was a workday, Li Ming drove out early. Shen Wangshu sat in the back seat, staring blankly at the road flying by. Although her sleep the night before was still poor, she surprisingly didn’t feel carsick this time.

Li Ming drove straight to the destination. The residential complex was beautifully landscaped with lush greenery, and the security was strict; outside vehicles had to register the resident they were visiting to enter.

This alone put Li Ming’s mind mostly at ease. Best of all, the back gate of the complex was directly opposite the teacher’s apartments for the provincial school. You could step out the door and be in the school.

Li Ming secretly decided that even if the interior of the cousin’s apartment wasn’t perfect, she would definitely find a rental for Shen Wangshu in this specific complex. It was just too perfect!

Shen Wangshu hadn’t expected Ji Fengyue to buy a place so close. The area around a top provincial middle school was prime real estate. Even if housing prices hadn’t skyrocketed yet, it was still expensive. It seemed she had really earned a lot for her family over these past three years.

Suddenly, Shen Wangshu felt an urge to play the stock market to make some money, but unfortunately, she had no one to help her open an account, leaving her wealth of knowledge with nowhere to be applied.

“Xiaoyue, don’t daze off. We’re going up; it’s on the third floor.” Li Ming pressed the electronic doorbell outside the unit, and the door opened immediately.

Shen Wangshu took in her surroundings. Reaching the third floor, she noticed the door to 301 was open. Ji Fengyue was inside waving at her: “Xiaoyue, Auntie, good morning.”

“Xiao Ji, you’re here too?”

“Yes, since it’s my cousin’s place, I can stay here whenever I want. It’s just that she’s worried about me being alone and wants me to have a companion.”

Li Ming nodded. “True, you kids shouldn’t live alone outside. Even though the security here is good, if something happens or you get a fever, it would be terrible.”

Ji Fengyue agreed and pulled Shen Wangshu toward the bedroom. “Auntie, you and my cousin chat. Xiaoyue and I are going to play inside.”

“Oh, you kids go play. I won’t disturb you.”

The moment they entered the bedroom, Ji Fengyue closed the door and pulled Shen Wangshu to sit on the edge of the bed.

Because the built-in wardrobe blocked the view from the door, she immediately dropped her guard. She clung to her beloved with an expression of pure dependence. Shen Wangshu amusedly poked her cheek: “Is talking to my mother that exhausting?”

“Hmph, who told her to snatch you away? I didn’t want you to go home; it would be so much better if you stayed with me forever.”

Shen Wangshu laughed helplessly. “You want me to stay that badly? Then find a way to ‘snatch’ me back home legitimately. I won’t resist.”

Ji Fengyue’s eyes lit up. “Then you have to cooperate with me later, Xiaoyue.”

“You really don’t want me to go back? But I didn’t bring anything: no textbooks, no homework, no change of clothes, and no bedsheets.”

“We’ll go get them together tomorrow.”

“You don’t think it’s a hassle?”

“I haven’t brought mine either. I’m only worried you won’t be willing. Xiaoyue, please agree~”

Shen Wangshu’s heart softened. She didn’t reject her outright. “How do you plan to convince her? I don’t think she’ll agree to let me stay.”

“Heh heh. I’ll have Lin Xuxi drive us to go camping in the mountains. It’s a rare opportunity. As long as you want to go too, she won’t be able to refuse.”

Shen Wangshu blinked as she saw this person lower her head, childishly fiddling with her fingers and muttering: “The camping gear is in the garage. I already told Lin Xuxi to prepare it. We can buy the BBQ ingredients later. You can wear my windbreaker. The weather has been great; we’ll definitely see the sunrise…”

“Xiaoyue, even though it’s a few days earlier than the original plan, it’s just right. After watching the sunrise, we’ll go to your house to move your things, and then we can start our new life!”

When Shen Wangshu didn’t respond immediately, Ji Fengyue’s head dropped even lower. She leaned against her shoulder, her voice sounding piteous and aggrieved.

“Xiaoyue, are you unwilling?”

“What was your original plan?”

“I originally planned to wait until you finished moving, but seeing you, I couldn’t help myself. Xiaoyue, I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“Even if I go back tomorrow, it’s impossible for me to move in immediately. My mother won’t agree. Fengyue, let’s stick to your original plan.” Shen Wangshu looked down, soothingly stroking her head.

“I’m not going to disappear. Don’t worry, okay?”

Ji Fengyue was silent for a while, then hugged her even tighter. “Then when will you move in?”

“Maybe the weekend. My mom will definitely need to prepare a lot of things since I’ll be living here long-term.”

“Then I’ll go back with you, and we can move everything together then.”

Shen Wangshu sighed. “Won’t it be exhausting?”

“No.”

“But your dark circles are very heavy. Are you sure you aren’t tired?” They really were heavy enough to make Shen Wangshu’s heart ache.

“Without you, I can’t sleep at all.”

“The night before last… did you really sleep well?”

“…”

“And last night?”

Ji Fengyue remained silent. She slowly pulled away from Shen Wangshu, but she didn’t dare to make eye contact.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

Because you’re angry. But Ji Fengyue didn’t speak. A surge of genuine grievance rose up within her, and she didn’t want to talk anymore.

It wasn’t an act; she was truly hurt. Shen Wangshu cupped Ji Fengyue’s cheeks. Those beautiful eyes were already brimming with unshed tears. She looked so pitiful.

Shen Wangshu took off her glasses and gently stroked the area around her eyes, wiping away the single tear that escaped. “Your eyes are very beautiful. I like them very much. But these dark circles make you look so drained. It’s such a waste.”

“But I can’t sleep. And I don’t want to.”

“Because you’re worried this is a dream? That everything will disappear once you sleep?”

Ji Fengyue only shook her head. She gripped her beloved’s hand, leaning her face into the palm and nuzzling it gently.

“You’ve been under so much pressure these years. You’ve worked hard, Fengyue.”

“Do you want a hug?”

“Yes.” Ji Fengyue’s voice was very soft, but it hit Shen Wangshu’s heart like a heavy hammer.

Shen Wangshu gave a helpless smile, one tinged with a bitterness she hadn’t even noticed herself. She opened her arms and pulled this pitiable, aggrieved, and childish kid who had finally let down her guard into her embrace.

The person in her arms was stiff at first, like a taut piece of wood. Shen Wangshu patiently and tenderly stroked her back, as if soothing an anxious large dog. Finally, Ji Fengyue went limp, fully leaning into the embrace of the girl who was much shorter than her.

Shen Wangshu could clearly feel Ji Fengyue’s hot, hurried breath against her neck. Her lips brushed against that patch of skin soft, a stark contrast to the bony ridges of her thin back.

At that moment, Shen Wangshu suddenly realized how thin Ji Fengyue really was. It made sense; she had never taken good care of herself over the past few years.

Could a hug like this really relieve Ji Fengyue’s pressure? Shen Wangshu didn’t know, but it was the only thing she could do.

In the end, after the four of them finished lunch, Shen Wangshu still went back with her mother.

In front of Li Ming, Ji Fengyue didn’t show much reluctance. She didn’t actually leave with Shen Wangshu, either; she just waved from the doorway, watching the car drive away.

“I thought you’d find a way to convince her to stay with you. You’re just letting her go like that?”

“She doesn’t want to stay; I won’t force her,” Ji Fengyue said with a desolate expression, almost talking to herself. “She didn’t take what I said last night seriously.”

“But… why doesn’t she believe me?”

Lin Xuxi really wanted to ask what on earth she had said to Shen Wangshu, but clearly, Ji Fengyue wasn’t going to talk. Lin Xuxi hesitated, should she ask the other person involved?

But to be honest, Lin Xuxi was a bit intimidated by Shen Wangshu and didn’t dare to message her.

“Lin Xuxi, I want to go to the hospital. Ophthalmology. Right now.”

“Huh?” Wait, you were just heartbroken a second ago, and now you’re going to the hospital? To the eye doctor?

“Xiaoyue said she likes my eyes. I can’t wear these glasses anymore. I’m going to get a dilation exam and then get LASIK.”

Lin Xuxi’s eyes widened. “What???”

“I’ll contact my mom once the results are out. Take me there first. A dilation exam requires an adult to accompany you. My vision will be temporarily blurred afterward, and I’ll need sunglasses. I can’t do it alone.”

Lin Xuxi felt like she was going to faint. Sister, you’re something else. She says one thing and you’re already thinking about surgery? Are you really that much of a ‘Love Brain’?!

“Why are you still standing there? Get ready to go. We need to register; time is tight.”

“Oh… okay…”

Under Ji Fengyue’s gaze, any words of refusal Lin Xuxi had died in her throat. She could only agree.

While driving, she was even required to memorize what to say to the doctor, something about tropicamide, something about rapid dilation, checking the prescription first, then checking the fundus… Lin Xuxi felt bitter inside but memorized it all anyway, not forgetting to buy sunglasses before entering the hospital.

After queuing, a long wait, and various messy examinations, the results were finally out.

“The child’s eyes are very healthy. It’s just pseudo-myopia caused by fatigue and insomnia. Let her rest well, look into the distance every day, and do more vision recovery exercises. It will recover quickly. Eye drops can speed it up if you’d like. Do you need them?”

“Okay, thank you, doctor. No need. Cousin, let’s go.”

Hearing the doctor say it was just pseudo-myopia, Lin Xuxi breathed a massive sigh of relief. She wasn’t as bold as Ji Fengyue; eye surgery involved knives on the eyes; you couldn’t just do it on a whim. It was terrifying.

“Cousin, aren’t we leaving? What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about whether to register for psychiatry and get a week’s worth of sleeping pills to help me sleep.”

Lin Xuxi’s eyes widened again. “Huh?!”

Ji Fengyue put on her sunglasses and grabbed her arm. “Stop overreacting. Going to psychiatry doesn’t mean I’m crazy. Besides, mental illnesses come in many forms… forget it, why am I telling you this? Let’s just go register.”

“Xiaoyue is moving in this weekend. She absolutely cannot see any sleeping pills. Lin Xuxi, you are not allowed to tell her, or you’re dead.”

Lin Xuxi’s eyes went dead. “As you command, Boss. I promise not to say a word.”

You “Love Brain,” you’re really beyond saving!