Where the Moon Sets, My Heart Finds Peace - Chapter 2

The next morning, the clock struck seven.

Jiang Jingyue woke up right on time. She prepared a simple, orderly breakfast: a warm bowl of millet porridge and a single boiled egg. It was light, clean, and perfectly timed…just like the rest of her life.

Today, she wore blue-and-white denim capris paired with a crisp white tee and classic white sneakers. Her long hair was woven into a loose, casual braid resting over one shoulder. It softened her usual aloof, untouchable aura, adding a touch of effortless, gentle warmth.

Downstairs, she scanned a shared rental bike and pedaled lazily into the morning light.

A soft breeze brushed against her face, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. The university campus was massive and beautifully landscaped. The academic buildings featured clean, sharp lines and soft color palettes, striking a perfect balance between minimalist and grand.

For the first time since escaping her suffocating family home, she felt a genuine sense of peace. She could finally breathe.

As she rode along, she turned heads left and right.

The Polytech University was notoriously short on female students, so someone like Jingyue…with her striking beauty and clean, elegant presence…was bound to draw a crowd wherever she went.

“Wow, she’s gorgeous…” “Is she an upperclassman or a teacher?”

Jingyue kept her eyes forward, completely unfazed. Ever since she was a child, she had been the center of attention. She was used to it.

By the time midday rolled around, her stomach gave a faint rumble.

Reluctant to head back to her apartment to cook, she pulled out her phone, checked the map, and turned her bike toward the nearest campus dining hall: Canteen No. 5.

She had no idea that this routine lunch run would lead her straight to the person she would be entangled with for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, He Zi’an didn’t wake up until eleven in the morning, feeling thoroughly refreshed. She lived by a strict personal philosophy: sleeping in is the ultimate form of self-care.

In the dorm room, only Li Xin was awake, quietly knitting a scarf. The other two roommates were nowhere to be seen. “Where did the other two head off to?” Zi’an asked, stretching.

“Bai Zhenzhen went to the train station to pick up her boyfriend, Wang Lei,” Li Xin replied without looking up. “And Dongwang headed straight to the library first thing this morning.”

Zi’an clicked her tongue playfully. “Ah, young love. Can’t even last a single break without rushing into each other’s arms.”

Wang Lei was in their class, also majoring in architecture. He was one of the thirty-six guys in their cohort and served as the class monitor. Standing at a solid 6’1″, he wasn’t exactly a male model in Zi’an’s eyes, but compared to the other guys in their department, he at least had some charm. Fine, that was as much credit as she was willing to give him.

Grabbing her toiletries, Zi’an began her daily routine of complaining. “Every other university has private en-suite bathrooms. Here, everything is communal. Women in engineering get absolutely no respect.”

Li Xin finally looked up. “Well, when guys outnumber us by that much, the school just treats everyone like one of the boys.”

Sighing at her fate, Zi’an trotted off to the communal washroom.

When she came back, she eyed the scarf in Li Xin’s hands. “Knitting for your older sister again? Man, she is so lucky. She gets a custom scarf from you every single year.”

The tips of Li Xin’s ears flushed a sudden, bright crimson. She mumbled a vague agreement.

Zi’an didn’t notice the blush. She busied herself tying her hair up into a casual half-bun. Noticing it was nearly noon, her eyes lit up. “Let’s hit Canteen No. 5! I am craving their sweet and sour pork so bad I could die!”

Laughing and chatting, the two girls made a beeline for the dining hall.

Following her map, Jiang Jingyue arrived at Canteen No. 5 shortly after.

Since the semester hadn’t officially started, the dining hall was relatively quiet, but the rich aroma of food filled the air. She randomly picked a line; there were only two girls ahead of her.

Suddenly, a delightfully dramatic, confident voice rang out from the front: “Keep your hand steady, Auntie! Don’t let it shake! Dump the whole scoop onto my tray, I can take it!”

The cafeteria server burst out laughing.

Jingyue instinctively looked up.

The girl had just received her food and was turning around, holding her tray with both hands. She had sharp, clean features and a refreshing, sporty half-bun. There was something strangely familiar about her, though Jingyue couldn’t quite place where she had seen her before.

“What a coincidence, Professor Jiang,” a warm voice greeted her from behind.

Jingyue turned to see Zhao Kefan, the academic advisor for the Architecture Department. She had just collected some student files from his office yesterday, and here they were bumping into each other again.

Kefan was around thirty, stood about six feet tall, wore glasses, and possessed a mild, scholarly demeanor. The way he looked at Jingyue made his admiration completely transparent.

Knowing Jingyue had a reputation for being distant and reserved, he didn’t want to push too hard. He simply smiled and offered a recommendation: “The sweet and sour pork at Canteen No. 5 is excellent. You should give it a try.”

After getting his food, Kefan naturally followed Jingyue to look for a place to sit. His eyes scanned the room and landed on two girls by the window. “Professor Jiang, look over there. Those are students from our department. Let’s head over and sit with them…it’s a good chance to get to know them early.”

Jingyue had no graceful way to refuse.

As they approached, she realized that the girl who had just been playfully haggling with the cafeteria server was the exact same student whose file listed her only hobby as: “Eating!”

He Zi’an.

Zi’an was currently buried in her food, a look of pure bliss on her face. Feeling someone approach, she looked up…and froze instantly.

Standing next to their advisor was a woman who looked like she had just stepped out of a painting.

She wore a simple white tee and denim capris, her hair woven into that loose side braid. She was a striking contradiction…aloof yet relaxed, with skin so fair it seemed to glow, and an elegant, untouchable beauty that was almost breathtaking.

Zi’an could do nothing but stare.

Kefan gave a polite cough to break the silence. “Let me introduce you. This is your Engineering Budgeting professor for the semester, Professor Jiang Jingyue.”

“Hello, Professor Jiang!” the two girls chimed in unison.

Jingyue offered a gentle nod. “Hello.”

The table was a standard four-seater, so Jingyue naturally took the empty spot right next to Zi’an. The moment she sat down, a faint, incredibly delicate, soft fragrance wafted over. It made Zi’an’s heart skip a beat.

Zi’an pretended to focus on her food, but her eyes kept drifting sideways completely against her will. She noted the long, curled eyelashes and the clean line of Jingyue’s jaw. Even the way the woman ate was impossibly graceful.

Zi’an’s mind was screaming in capital letters: A GORGEOUS PROFESSOR! This semester’s budget class is going to be amazing! …Wait, that means all those guys in class get to look at her too? Wow, I hate that.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t realize Jingyue had turned to look right at her.

Their eyes locked. Caught red-handed.

Zi’an’s heart did a violent flip. She quickly looked down, shoveling rice into her mouth, but realizing how incredibly awkward that looked, she forced herself to look back up. Bearing through the embarrassment, she offered a bright, earnest introduction: “Professor Jiang, my name is He Zi’an. ‘He’ as in geometry, ‘Zi’ as in homeland, and ‘An’ as in peace.” She finished with a wide, toothy grin that was entirely sweet and radiant.

Anxious not to be left out, Li Xin jumped in. “And I’m Li Xin, Professor! ‘Li’ as in plum, and ‘Xin’ as in dawn!”

Jingyue was momentarily taken aback by how seriously they broke down the characters of their names. Caught up in their rhythm, she instinctively followed suit: “My name is Jiang Jingyue. ‘Jiang’ as in river, ‘Jing’ as in peace, and ‘Yue’ as in bright moon.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she paused. She usually just stated her three-word name coldly, yet today she had let herself get dragged right into their playful energy. A helpless, gentle smile graced her lips.

That smile was so soft and beautiful that even Kefan lost his train of thought for a second.

Once they finished eating, Kefan immediately tried to seize the moment. “Are you free this afternoon, Professor Jiang? I could show you around the local area.”

Jingyue’s brow furrowed so subtly it was almost invisible.

She despised being overly familiar with people she barely knew.

Zi’an, however, caught that tiny flash of discomfort. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Sir, why don’t Li Xin and I show Professor Jiang around instead? I’m a local, I know every nook and cranny of this city, and it’s probably more comfortable for a group of girls anyway!”

Jingyue seized the lifeline instantly, a glimmer of quiet gratitude in her eyes. “That sounds lovely. Thank you, He.”

Left with no choice, Kefan offered a tight smile and took his leave.

The second he walked away, Li Xin suddenly bolted upright. “Zi’an, my sister is calling me on FaceTime…it’s an emergency! I have to get back to the dorm! Goodbye, Professor Jiang!” Before anyone could say a word, she vanished out the door like a streak of lightning.

Zi’an was left sitting there, completely dumbfounded.

She genuinely couldn’t understand it. Every time Li Xin’s “sister” called, Li Xin would either scramble for her headphones or run out of the room. She had been doing this for two years now…so secretive, so strange, but Zi’an could never quite put her finger on why.

Left alone, Zi’an and Jingyue walked out of the dining hall side by side. Both were wearing white sneakers today, with Zi’an standing just a fraction taller than Jingyue. With both of them being exceptionally striking, they turned quite a few heads as they walked.

Zi’an was so nervous her palms were sweating, and she began to stammer. “Um… Professor Jiang, if you don’t need anything else, I’ll… I’ll head back to my room now…”

Jingyue looked at the girl’s crimson-tipped ears and felt a sudden, uncharacteristic urge to tease her. She wasn’t one for playful banter, but looking at Zi’an, she just couldn’t help herself.

“Didn’t Miss He just say she would show me around? The moment our advisor leaves, you’re abandoning me?”

Zi’an froze mid-step, her face flushing completely red as she waved her hands in a panic. “No! No, that’s not what I meant at all! I just thought you only said yes to get rid of Mr. Zhao…”

Jingyue feigned a look of disappointment. “Ah, so it was just empty politeness. In that case, I won’t trouble you any further.”

With that, she turned to walk away.

Zi’an stared for a second before frantically rushing after her, desperate to explain. “I wasn’t being polite! I’ll take you anywhere you want to go! There isn’t a single spot in L City I don’t know!”

Zi’an looked up at Jingyue, her eyes wide, shining, and completely earnest.

Jingyue’s heart gave a strange, soft flutter…like a gentle tap from something warm. The feeling lasted only a second before her usual calm returned.

She softened her tone. “I actually have some errands to run this afternoon. Are you free tomorrow, Miss He?”

“Yes! Yes, absolutely!” Zi’an nodded like a puppy. “I am completely free until classes start!”

“All right then. See you tomorrow.”

Jingyue offered a small smile, turned around, and walked away.

Zi’an stood frozen in place, waving like an idiot, her brain completely scrambled.

It wasn’t until Jingyue was a good distance away that reality hit her like a truck…they hadn’t exchanged WeChat contacts, nor had they exchanged phone numbers!

How on earth were they supposed to meet up tomorrow?!

She made a move to run after her, but forced herself to stop.

No, no, no. That’s way too desperate.

She had been receiving confessions from people her entire life; she couldn’t lose her cool and act like a breathless golden retriever in front of Professor Jiang.

Zi’an slapped her own forehead in sheer frustration.

Today’s performance was an absolute disaster.

A Shared Secret

When Zi’an walked back into the dorm room, she found Li Xin sitting at her desk. Her eyes were red and puffy, a clear sign she had just been crying.

Zi’an softened her footsteps and approached carefully. “Did you get into another fight with your sister?”

Li Xin snapped her head up, a storm of complex emotions in her eyes. “What if… what if it’s not my sister?”

Zi’an blinked, confused. “Did your parents yell at you then?”

“No, neither.” Li Xin bit her lower lip hard, looking as though she was about to leap off a cliff. “Zi’an, I want to tell you something. But you have to promise to keep it a secret, okay?”

She took a shaky breath. “I’m not single. I’ve been in a relationship since my senior year of high school.”

Zi’an was floored. Quiet, obedient, low-profile Li Xin had been harboring a massive secret this whole time.

First she had completely embarrassed herself in front of Jiang Jingyue, and now she was getting hit in the face with a reminder of her own single status. Truly, a tragic day for single dogs everywhere.

“So… did you just have a fight with your partner?” Zi’an asked gently.

Li Xin’s eyes welled up again. “She fell from her top bunk this morning and sprained her ankle. It’s swollen like a balloon. I’m stuck here and can’t be by her side, and it’s driving me crazy.”

Zi’an instinctively tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry too much. Guys in their twenties are tough, he’ll—”

“It’s a she,” Li Xin interrupted softly. “The ‘sister’ I’ve always talked about? Her name is Feng Yuanyuan.”

Zi’an went completely still.

Li Xin lowered her head, her voice trembling with anxiety. “I’ve liked her since middle school…and not as a friend. I get jealous, I want to be close to her, I want to kiss her. I finally confessed to her in senior year, and I never expected that she would feel the exact same way.”

She looked up at Zi’an, her voice cracking. “Do you think I’m weird? Do you think… I’m a freak?”

“Of course not.” Zi’an shook her head vigorously, her voice firm and certain. “Love is love, gender doesn’t matter. Two girls together…it’s beautiful, sweet, and pure. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.”

As the words left her mouth, her mind inexplicably flashed back to the dining hall…specifically, the moment Jiang Jingyue had sat down beside her, bringing with her that faint, soft, intoxicating fragrance.

Her own heart skipped a beat out of nowhere. Shocked, Zi’an mentally scolded herself: Stop daydreaming!

Seeing Zi’an’s genuine reaction, the heavy weight on Li Xin’s chest finally lifted, and she let out a relieved smile. “Thank you, Zi’an.”

“We’re friends for life, remember that,” Zi’an said, nodding firmly.

Just then, the door swung open and Bai Zhenzhen walked in, loudly complaining about how exhausted she was from her trip to the station. The two girls smoothly dropped the topic, exchanging a knowing look.

After teasing Zhenzhen for a bit, Zi’an sat down at her desk. Acting on a strange, inexplicable impulse, she pulled out a notebook and a pen.

Without even realizing it, she began meticulously listing out all the best sights, cafes, and scenic spots in L City…completely forgetting the fact that she still had no way of contacting Jiang Jingyue to figure out when they were actually meeting.

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