Where the Moon Sets, My Heart Finds Peace - Chapter 3

Meanwhile, over at the faculty apartments.

Jiang Jingyue woke up from her afternoon nap and sat straight down at her desk to organize her lesson plans. She had always been meticulous about her profession. Even with years of experience under her belt, she still insisted on combing through the curriculum one more time.

Later that evening, she chatted in a group text with Du Qiaoxi and a few others, giving them a quick update on her new surroundings.

After her shower, she pulled out the stack of student information sheets. Her fingers instinctively flipped to He Zi’an’s page. Staring at the long string of digits next to the phone number, she hesitated for a moment before picking up her own phone to create a new contact. She then opened WeChat and searched for the number.

A profile popped up. The avatar was a simple bowl of rice with a pair of chopsticks. The nickname read: The Culinary Artist.

Jiang Jingyue stared at the screen, the corners of her mouth twitching upward into a tiny smile. She typed out a friend request “I am Jiang Jingyue” and hit send.

At that exact moment, He Zi’an and her three roommates were in the middle of a chaotic, loud shower session at the campus bathhouse. Her phone was nowhere near her.

It wasn’t until she finally finished showering, climbed up into her bunk, and turned off the lights that she finally reached for her phone.

When she unlocked it, a friend request was staring right back at her.

The avatar consisted of three capital letters: YUE. The verification message: I am Jiang Jingyue.

The timestamp showed it had been sent two hours ago.

It was already 11:00 PM. He Zi’an’s heart gave a sudden, violent thud. Nervous excitement washing over her, her fingers flew across the screen to accept the request.

He Zi’an: Professor Jiang, I’m so sorry! I was just at the bathhouse and didn’t have my phone with me.

She stared at the screen, holding her breath. Within seconds, the status changed to “Typing…”

Jiang Jingyue: No worries at all. Where should we meet tomorrow morning, and what time are we heading out?

He Zi’an: Whatever works best for you, Professor. I’m completely flexible.

Jiang Jingyue: 8:00 AM at the entrance of the Fifth Canteen? We can grab breakfast there while we’re at it, if that works for you.

He Zi’an: Sounds perfect! See you then.

Jiang Jingyue: Goodnight.

He Zi’an: Goodnight, Professor! Hehe.

Jiang Jingyue looked at those two silly characters at the end of the text. Paired with the nickname The Culinary Artist, her mind instantly conjured up an image of the girl in the cafeteria—flashing a bright, toothy grin with eyes that practically sparkled.

Once again, her lips curled into an uncontrollable smile.

On the other side of campus, He Zi’an was staring at the “hehe” she had just sent, desperately wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it. So stupid, she thought.

But then she reasoned with herself: she had already stumbled over her words and embarrassed herself enough in front of Jiang Jingyue today anyway. One last awkward text wasn’t going to break anything.

She made a quiet vow to herself: Tomorrow, I will be cool, calm, and completely natural. Absolutely no more losing my composure.

The next morning, He Zi’an did something entirely out of character: she got up incredibly early.

Liu Dongwang, who knew He Zi’an usually stayed in bed until noon, stared with wide, bewildered eyes as she energetically got ready.

By 7:50 AM, He Zi’an was already waiting outside the Fifth Canteen. She wore a simple white T-shirt, denim shorts, canvas shoes, and had her hair tied up in a clean, breezy half-bun. A stuffed, heavy backpack hung from her shoulders.

Even though she was just showing a new professor around, she was so nervous she felt like she was going on a date.

Just as she took a deep breath to settle her nerves, she heard soft footsteps approaching from behind.

He Zi’an turned around, and for a split second, the rest of the world seemed to fall completely silent.

Jiang Jingyue was walking toward her. She wore an off-white slip dress paired with a light linen cardigan. Her long hair cascaded down her back like a dark waterfall, and the delicate silver chains at her ears caught the morning light, swaying gently. She looked ethereal aloof yet clean, gentle, and utterly beautiful.

He Zi’an froze, completely captivated.

It wasn’t until Jiang Jingyue stopped right in front of her and spoke softly that she snapped out of it. “Student He? What are you thinking about?”

He Zi’an flushed all the way to her ears. “N-nothing! Professor Jiang, let’s go inside and eat.”

After breakfast, the two walked toward the campus gates together.

He Zi’an reached into her backpack, pulled out a small notebook, and handed it over. “Professor, I did a little research yesterday. We can easily check out the places near campus whenever you don’t have classes, so I thought I’d take you somewhere a bit further today. What do you think?”

Jiang Jingyue took the notebook. The handwriting inside was bold and clean, each stroke neatly formed. The itinerary listed Jingtu Temple for the morning and the City Museum for the afternoon, complete with bus routes and points of interest along the way.

Both locations were perfect for someone like Jiang Jingyue, who preferred quiet spaces.

A wave of warmth touched Jiang Jingyue’s heart. She handed the notebook back and said, “This is incredibly detailed, and I love the choices. Thank you for taking the time to do this.”

“It’s no trouble at all! I haven’t been to these places in ages myself,” He Zi’an replied, scratching her head with a shy smile.

They transferred buses twice before finally reaching the foot of the mountain where Jingtu Temple sat.

The mountain wasn’t exceptionally high, but it still required a bit of a climb. He Zi’an, who exercised regularly, practically glided up the path despite her heavy backpack. Jiang Jingyue, however, rarely worked out, and it didn’t take long before her breathing grew heavy and uneven.

Noticing this, He Zi’an instinctively reached out her hand.

Jiang Jingyue looked down at the clean, warm palm offered to her. After a brief pause, she gently placed her hand in He Zi’an’s.

He Zi’an’s hand was incredibly warm, holding hers with a steady, reassuring grip. Before long, they were standing right outside the temple gates.

Jiang Jingyue’s dress was ankle-length, and with her cardigan, she was perfectly dressed for the occasion.

He Zi’an, on the other hand, fished a long, thin jacket out of her backpack and expertly tied it around her waist, completely covering her exposed legs.

Sensing a gaze, she looked up and caught Jiang Jingyue watching her. Blushing slightly, she explained, “Gotta respect the dress code when entering a temple.”

Looking at her, something shifted slightly in Jiang Jingyue’s heart.

Attentive, considerate, and deeply respectful. This girl, who usually seemed so loud and a bit goofy, carried a surprising depth of gentleness in her bones.

Her fondness for He Zi’an grew just a little bit more.

Jingtu Temple was an ancient sanctuary steeped in a thousand years of history. Built into the side of the mountain, its halls rose in tiers, the upturned eaves showcasing a timeless, rustic elegance. Every brick and tile spoke of ancient craftsmanship.

The moment they stepped through the gates, the scent of curling incense and the faint, rhythmic chanting of sutras filled the air. Jiang Jingyue felt as if all the chaos of the secular world had been instantly stripped away, leaving her mind profoundly tranquil.

A deep mountain hides the ancient shrine, where clouds and mist wrap around the zen chambers.

They walked slowly along the blue flagstone paths, moving deeper into the temple grounds. The courtyards unfolded one after another, free from the noise of shouting crowds, with only a few scattered worshippers moving quietly about.

Neither of them made a point to burn incense or pray; they simply paused in front of the altars now and then, placing their palms together and bowing slightly.

In all of her twenty-seven years, Jiang Jingyue had never experienced this kind of peaceful leisure. A sense of security and contentment she had never known before bloomed softly in her chest.

The early September chrysanthemums were in full bloom, and the ancient trees stood lush and grand. As they stood quietly beneath the branches, a breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying with it a faint, meditative stillness.

He Zi’an stole a glance at Jiang Jingyue’s profile. The morning light fell softly across the bridge of her nose and brow, softening her usual sharp composure.

No noise, no distractions only the cool temple breeze, the rustle of leaves, and the distant, muffled sound of a bronze bell. Suddenly, He Zi’an thought to herself: Tranquility is probably just what lies right before my eyes.

They spent the entire morning at Jingtu Temple, and He Zi’an could tell that Jiang Jingyue truly loved it there.

After a simple vegetarian lunch at the temple, they made their way down the mountain and boarded a bus to the City Museum.

Since it wasn’t a holiday, the museum wasn’t crowded, and they didn’t have to wait in any long lines.

Jiang Jingyue was just about to look for a tour guide after all, looking at artifacts without knowing the history behind them usually ended up being nothing more than a superficial stroll.

As if reading her mind, He Zi’an cleared her throat. “Ahem… Professor Jiang! Your exclusive, one-on-one tour guide, Xiao He, is at your service!” She gave a playful, slight bow.

Seeing the doubt in Jiang Jingyue’s eyes, she quickly added, “Don’t forget, Professor, I’m a local. I’ve been coming to this museum since I was a kid. I even stayed up yesterday afternoon reviewing the exhibits online. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!”

Hearing her confidence, Jiang Jingyue believed her. Given how thoughtful and precise He Zi’an’s arrangements had been all morning, a steady stream of trust was beginning to form between them.

For the rest of the afternoon, He Zi’an proved to be an exceptional guide. Though she wasn’t a professional, her explanations of the artifacts’ origins were clear, structured, and perfectly paced. She skipped the dense, dry academic jargon, using simple, engaging language to breathe life into pieces of forgotten history.

Jiang Jingyue listened quietly, secretly amazed. The casual commentary was actually just as good as a professional tour, hitting all the right details and keeping her completely hooked.

Before they knew it, the tour was coming to an end.

He Zi’an pulled two bottles of water from her bag, handing one to Jiang Jingyue before twisting the cap off her own and gulping down half of it. Having talked straight for hours, her throat was bone-dry, but she had stubbornly pushed through until the very end before taking a sip.

Watching her push herself so hard just to finish the tour, Jiang Jingyue couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Staring at the warm crinkle around Jiang Jingyue’s eyes and the soft curve of her lips, He Zi’an blurted out thoughtlessly, “Professor Jiang, you look so beautiful when you smile. Hehe.”

The direct compliment and the earnest look in the girl’s eyes made Jiang Jingyue’s face flush with heat. Quickly pulling back her smile to regain her composure, she said, “Student He, thank you for today. You did a wonderful job, and I enjoyed it very much. Let me buy you dinner tonight, alright?”

He Zi’an scratched her head. “Really? Awesome! What do you want to eat, Professor?”

Jiang Jingyue replied gently, “Since I’m treating you, it’s your choice. What do you feel like?”

He Zi’an didn’t hesitate. “Let’s get hot pot!”

By the time they finished dinner and made it back to campus, the sky was pitch black. They parted ways at a fork in the road well ahead of the dorm buildings, since the faculty apartments and the student housing lay in opposite directions.

When He Zi’an walked back into her dorm room, she was floating on cloud nine. After spending an entire day alone with Jiang Jingyue, the awkwardness and tension had completely melted away. She felt incredibly comfortable around her now, save for the occasional moment where she would still stutter slightly whenever she was hit by the sheer impact of the professor’s looks.

Bai Zhenzhen looked up at He Zi’an, who was humming a tune as she walked through the door. “Well, well, Xiao An’an. Did you run into some romance today? Look at that massive grin on your face.”

He Zi’an gave a mischievous smirk. “Come to the bathhouse with me and I’ll tell you.”

Bai Zhenzhen scoffed. “Never mind then. Li Xin and I just got back. Go ask if the Boss wants to go.”

He Zi’an thought about it and decided against it. Liu Dongwang never went to the showers until she got back from the library, which would take way too long. Besides, He Zi’an was practically radiating the smell of spicy hot pot broth and couldn’t stand it for another second.

Back at the faculty apartment, the first thing Jiang Jingyue did was head straight for the shower as well. The heavy scent of hot pot clinging to her clothes made her slightly uncomfortable, but then she remembered how happily He Zi’an had eaten. They had practically cleared every plate they ordered. The girl’s eating habits weren’t what anyone would call elegant, but watching her enjoy it so thoroughly had actually sparked Jiang Jingyue’s own appetite, making her eat far more than she usually did.

After washing up, Jiang Jingyue climbed into bed early. Today’s itinerary had pushed her physical limits, and she was exhausted, but her mind felt wonderfully full, safe, and content.

Meanwhile, back in the student dorms, He Zi’an stared blankly at the line outside the bathhouse.

Classes started the day after tomorrow, which meant the vast majority of the students had already returned to campus, alongside all the incoming freshmen. The line for the showers stretched out the door. Even though the female student population wasn’t huge, the bathhouse itself was tiny. She had no choice but to wait.

By the time she finally made it back to her room, an hour and a half had passed.

Tucking herself into bed, He Zi’an opened her chat window with YUE, debating back and forth on whether she should send a “goodnight” text to Jiang Jingyue.

She agonized over it for ages. In the end, before the message could even be sent, exhaustion caught up with her from the long day of walking, and she drifted fast asleep.

Support