White Moonlight

1The little cat, Qiuqiu, who had scampered away earlier to avoid having her claws clipped, trotted back over. She rubbed back and forth against Yu Qingkong’s legs, meowing softly and purring contentedly.

Over time, Qiuqiu had grown quite a bit. Though her appearance had changed, her natural fondness for Yu Qingkong remained exactly the same. Lin Wanzhao felt a sudden twinge of playful jealousy, feeling almost like an outsider between the two of them.

“You,” Yu Qingkong began softly.

The moment Lin Wanzhao heard her voice, her eyes widened slightly. She clenched her hands, trying her best to steady the sudden flutter of emotions in her chest.

“Didn’t you say it was too late to come over tonight?” Lin Wanzhao glanced down at the cat weaving between their feet, then tilted her head slightly and spoke in a quiet voice, “Why the sudden change of heart? Did you really come all this way just because you missed Qiuqiu and wanted to clip her claws?”

As if understanding that they were talking about her, Qiuqiu raised her tail high, pacing back and forth while meowing for attention.

Yu Qingkong glanced down at the cat, then turned her gaze to Lin Wanzhao’s elegant profile. She gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind Lin Wanzhao’s ear, then let her hand fall as her long eyelashes lowered slightly.

“Do you want me to leave right now?”

Lin Wanzhao paused, turning her head to look directly at her. The overhead light caught Lin Wanzhao’s face, highlighting her flawless, striking features. She was undeniable captivating, carrying a distinct charm in every fleeting expression. It was incredibly difficult for Yu Qingkong to look away.

“If you want me to leave, President Lin, I can certainly do that. I won’t say another word.” Having said that, Yu Qingkong turned around and took a step toward the front door.

“Wait a minute,” Lin Wanzhao blurted out. She turned quickly, catching Yu Qingkong by the arm and shaking her head. “Don’t go… I don’t want you to leave.”

“Oh?” Yu Qingkong looked down at the hand gripping her arm, then met her beautiful eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I just think, well, since you’re already here, why not stay a little longer?” Lin Wanzhao leaned forward slightly, a soft smile forming on her lips that brought out two faint dimples. She tilted her head playfully. “Right? Besides, it’s been a while since we’ve spent time together like this…”

Before Lin Wanzhao could finish her sentence, Yu Qingkong cut her off with a slight nod. “You’re right.”

Lin Wanzhao’s lips curled up into a gentle smile, her eyes remaining fixed on her.

“That makes a lot of sense,” Yu Qingkong added after a long silence, her deep gaze locking onto Lin Wanzhao’s eyes.

Lin Wanzhao clasped her hands together nervously, looked down at the white cat on the floor, and took a small step closer. “So you…”

“Hmm?”

“So, you didn’t just miss Qiuqiu. Did you actually miss me too?” Lin Wanzhao looked up from the cat, peering directly into the depths of Yu Qingkong’s eyes as she asked the gentle question.

“What do you think?” Yu Qingkong’s lips curved upward, her voice dropping into a lower tone. “Why else would I be here?” Coming over at such a late hour was clearly for her, not the cat.

Yu Qingkong realized she was thinking about Lin Wanzhao more and more these days. In the past, it was just a passing thought, but now, a single day apart truly felt like three long years.

“I missed you too, truly,” Lin Wanzhao said, staring back at her with a radiant, blooming smile.

Yu Qingkong smiled faintly, keeping her eyes on her. “Why are you looking at me like that, President Lin?”

Lin Wanzhao tilted her head, a hint of playfulness flashing across her face. “What do you think?”

“What should I think?” Yu Qingkong studied her for a moment, then shifted her gaze, a clean, elegant eyebrow arching upward.

Lin Wanzhao’s eyes traced over her features before she took another step forward, a small smile playing on her lips. “Tonight, you need to settle what you owed me from last time.”

“Oh?” Yu Qingkong’s brow raised higher.

“Back in Yancheng, you promised me…” Before Lin Wanzhao could finish, Yu Qingkong cut her off once again.

“I owe you?” Yu Qingkong looked down at her intently.

“Of course you do. I keep a very detailed account of everything you owe me,” Lin Wanzhao said, pursing her lips slightly as she looked up with a small laugh. “So this time, don’t even think about backing out…”

“Backing out?” Yu Qingkong smiled, staring at Lin Wanzhao’s exquisite face before breaking into a low chuckle. “If you’re so confident, then use your own abilities to make me give in.”

“Deal.” In an instant, Lin Wanzhao’s competitive drive sparked like a sudden flame. She turned and headed upstairs, with Yu Qingkong following closely behind her.

The night deepened, and the ticking clock seemed to signal the world to quiet down. Lin Wanzhao closed her eyes, her breathing soft, steady, and peaceful.

Eventually, Lin Wanzhao opened her eyes and turned her head slightly to ask a question. “By the way, were you satisfied with tonight’s late-night snack?” She asked softly, running a hand through her hair.

“Yes,” Yu Qingkong replied, opening her eyes.

“How did it taste?” Lin Wanzhao pressed. Unsurprisingly, she had lost to Yu Qingkong once again.

“I liked it very much,” Yu Qingkong murmured softly.

Lin Wanzhao raised an eyebrow and bit her lip. She loved being held by Yu Qingkong; it always brought her an immense sense of comfort and gave her the distinct feeling of being in a real relationship—even though she often told herself she was probably just overthinking things.

“Well, goodnight then,” Lin Wanzhao whispered.

“Goodnight.”

By 7:10 AM the next morning, the sky outside was still pitch black, as was typical for winter.

Yu Qingkong had slept wonderfully. Checking the time, she tossed the blanket aside and sat up, rubbing her temples before glancing at the other side of the bed.

Lin Wanzhao had pulled the duvet up to her chin, but her arms were completely exposed, leaving her poorly covered. Still, she looked completely peaceful in her deep sleep.

Seeing how early it was, Yu Qingkong decided not to disturb her and quietly slipped out of bed. Walking into the master bathroom, she realized the noise from washing up might wake Lin Wanzhao, so she stepped out into the living room to use the guest bathroom instead.

Having visited before, Yu Qingkong was completely familiar with the layout of the apartment and knew exactly where the spare toothbrushes were kept. Once finished, she walked into the kitchen.

Opening the refrigerator, she surveyed the ingredients and pulled out a loaf of bread, two eggs, a tomato, and some bacon. She set to work making quick, simple sandwiches—nothing fancy, but efficient and filling.

She also fried a few small octopus-shaped sausages and heated up two glasses of milk. After placing the breakfast on the dining table, she walked back into the bedroom.

By now, Lin Wanzhao had completely buried her head beneath the covers, wrapping herself tightly like a cocoon.

Yu Qingkong slid her hands into her pockets, a smile tugging at her lips at the sight. She walked over and gently tapped her through the blanket. “President Lin, time to wake up. Breakfast is ready. Besides, the annual company meeting is today, don’t you need extra time to get ready?”

The blanket shifted, and Lin Wanzhao finally pulled it down to expose her head, taking a deep breath of fresh air. “Oh…”

Seeing that she was awake, Yu Qingkong turned and headed back downstairs. She sat at the dining table and pulled out her phone to pass the time. She had intended to change Lin Wanzhao’s contact name on her messaging app, but accidentally clicked into Lin Wanzhao’s public social media profile instead.

The profile was mostly bare, containing only one journal entry, a single photo album, and a few status updates.

Since she was already there, Yu Qingkong opened the photo album, which was titled “Graduation Celebration.” It was filled with pictures of a group dining and traveling together—likely her university roommates. There were solo shots and group photos, but as Yu Qingkong scrolled through, she noticed there wasn’t a single photo of Lin Wanzhao herself.

However, one girl in the photos caught her attention. The girl wore her hair in twin pigtails and had on a short-sleeved denim shirt. She looked incredibly familiar, as if Yu Qingkong had seen her multiple times before. Had they crossed paths during university?

Yu Qingkong couldn’t quite place the memory and figured she was probably just confusing her with someone else.

After finishing breakfast together, Yu Qingkong left the apartment first.

Winter in Chengcheng had brought no snow this year, yet it remained bitterly cold. The sky was a perpetual, dull gray, and the pale sunlight offered no warmth. The entire city looked like a massive, slumbering steel beast.

When Yu Qingkong pulled up to the company building, it was exactly 8:50 AM. A sizable crowd of employees had already gathered outside, including Zhang Xue. Spotting Yu Qingkong from a distance, Zhang Xue waved her hands enthusiastically. She always seemed full of energy, completely unbothered by worries. Yu Qingkong occasionally found herself envying that carefree personality.

“Did you bring the guitar?” Yu Qingkong asked as she walked over, nodding toward the guitar case slung across Zhang Xue’s back. Because Yu Qingkong was scheduled to perform a song but had left her own instrument behind when rushing over to Lin Wanzhao’s place the previous night, she had asked Zhang Xue to bring hers.

“Yep, here you go,” Zhang Xue said, slipping the case off her shoulders and handing it over.

“Thanks.” Yu Qingkong took it and slung it over her own back.

“Don’t worry about it,” Zhang Xue waved it off. “But just so you know, I’m a complete amateur. I bought it on a whim and never actually learned to play, so I have no idea if it’s in tune. You’ll probably need to adjust the strings yourself later.”

“Will do,” Yu Qingkong nodded.

“Oh look, the boss is here,” Zhang Xue muttered, gesturing with her chin toward the entrance.

Yu Qingkong followed her gaze. Because they had intentionally staggered their arrivals, Lin Wanzhao had left the apartment a few minutes later and was just arriving now.

An elegantly dressed Lin Wanzhao looked exceptionally radiant, making everything around her seem to fade into the background. The moment she appeared, everyone’s attention was instantly drawn to her.

Her hair was swept entirely to the right side, showcasing the graceful curve of her neck on the left. Her makeup was clean, her features sharp, and her long legs appeared striking and elegant. Her natural poise was not something just anyone could replicate.

Zhang Xue couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. “Wow, President Lin is absolutely stunning. That figure is incredible. Whoever ends up with her is going to be incredibly lucky.”

Hearing this, Yu Qingkong glanced at her, her grip tightening slightly on the strap of the guitar case. They weren’t together, but she couldn’t deny the truth of the statement—especially when they were in bed, Lin Wanzhao was incredibly captivating. Though out of everyone here, Yu Qingkong was the only one who truly knew that side of her.

“Is everyone here?” Lin Wanzhao walked over and addressed Yu Tao, the leader of the planning committee, her voice smooth and clear.

“Aside from the few who requested leave, everyone is accounted for,” Yu Tao replied with a polite, deferential smile.

“Good, let’s head out then.” Lin Wanzhao nodded, her eyes subtly shifting toward Yu Qingkong’s direction for a brief moment.

Receiving her glance, Yu Qingkong offered a small, barely perceptible nod, watching as Lin Wanzhao led the way forward.

The annual meeting was split into several distinct segments. The daytime event was an employee sports meet held at Xinyuan Stadium, featuring activities like long-distance running, sprinting, and tug-of-war. Everyone was required to participate in at least one event.

Lunch and the evening banquet were held at the Wanying Restaurant right next to the stadium. The evening itinerary included a segment where employees shared their thoughts on the company’s progress—while the event was meant for fun, it was also used to build morale and unity. The planning team had structured presentations around the past year’s performance, corporate awards, and future goals. Everyone had prepared a short presentation slide deck for this purpose.

Additionally, each department had to perform a group routine alongside a few solo performances, followed by a raffle draw and free time.

While the schedule was packed, most employees were only truly enduring the day for one specific segment: the raffle prizes.

Because Yu Qingkong naturally enjoyed physical activities, she eagerly signed up for multiple events during the day, including the long-distance run, the high jump, tug-of-war, and basketball. While many of the other female employees politely declined to participate, she jumped in with more enthusiasm than anyone.

With her natural athletic coordination, Yu Qingkong quickly became the center of attention on the court. Several colleagues whispered among themselves, surprised that someone with her lean frame could possess so much explosive energy.

Lin Wanzhao did not participate, choosing instead to watch from the sidelines.

When Yu Qingkong executed a perfect shot, celebrated with a quick fist pump, high-fived another female coworker, and wiped the sweat from her brow as she walked to the bench, Lin Wanzhao smiled warmly and nodded. She expected nothing less from the person she cared about; whatever Yu Qingkong did, she always managed to do brilliantly.

Lin Wanzhao cupped her hands near her mouth and called out loudly toward the court, “Keep it up! Good job!”

Because she didn’t call out a specific name, everyone assumed she was cheering for the entire team. No one realized the cheer was meant solely for Yu Qingkong. Yu Qingkong, however, turned her head immediately upon hearing the voice, catching Lin Wanzhao’s eye and offering a bright smile.

As Yu Qingkong turned around, Lin Wanzhao looked at her bright, clean face and found her mind drifting back to their school days. The only difference was that back then, she could only hide in the shadows, watching Yu Qingkong from afar, never daring to step into the light to look her in the eye.

Now, she could stand openly under the sun, cheering for her and exchanging direct glances. Lin Wanzhao suddenly felt that the universe had been incredibly kind to her, granting her the opportunity to get so close to the person she had admired for so long. The thought caused her smile to widen.

However, right as Lin Wanzhao was lost in thought, a stray basketball slipped from a player’s hands on Yu Qingkong’s side. The ball traced a sharp arc through the air, hurtling directly toward Lin Wanzhao!

Seeing this, Yu Qingkong’s heart skipped a beat, her face instantly turning pale. She bolted toward her, screaming at the top of her lungs, “President Lin, watch out! Move!”

By the time Lin Wanzhao snapped out of her thoughts, it was too late to dodge. The ball struck her squarely on the side of the head. A sharp, stinging pain radiated through her skull, causing her to instantly crouch down and hold her head, biting her lip to keep from crying out.

The surrounding staff were completely caught off guard by the sudden accident and froze in shock. The young woman who had accidentally thrown the ball stood trembling, her face completely drained of color, barely able to keep her balance out of sheer panic.

Yu Qingkong rushed to Lin Wanzhao’s side, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “Does it hurt badly? Are you injured? Is your ear ringing? Do you feel any pressure in your head?”

In that moment, Yu Qingkong didn’t even realize how visibly panicked she was. The fear of Lin Wanzhao being seriously hurt had wound her nerves incredibly tight, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Lin Wanzhao bit her lip, letting out a sharp hiss of pain, unable to voice a proper response. The impact had left her completely dazed and unable to speak clearly.

“President Lin, are you alright?” The surrounding employees quickly crowded around them, anxious voices overlapping.

Lin Wanzhao kept her head down, cradling her temples, unable to manage a nod or a shake of her head.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” Yu Qingkong said without a second thought. She dropped into a squat right in front of her, tapped her own shoulders, and turned her head to speak firmly, “Get on my back!”

Hearing the authority in her voice and looking at her broad back, Lin Wanzhao dithered for a split second before leaning forward, wrapping her arms securely around Yu Qingkong’s neck.

“Manager Yu, I’ll leave things here to you for now. I’m taking President Lin to the hospital,” Yu Qingkong said as she hoisted Lin Wanzhao up, securing her grip before turning to Yu Tao.

Yu Tao blinked in surprise and nodded. Before he could offer to take over so she could rest, Yu Qingkong had already broken into a fast, steady stride, rushing out of the stadium.

Resting against Yu Qingkong’s back and watching the stray hairs near her ear shift with each step, Lin Wanzhao felt as though she were floating through a dream.

“How are you feeling right now?” Yu Qingkong asked as she hurried along, turning her head slightly.

“I…” Lin Wanzhao paused, speaking softly, “My head feels a bit fuzzy…”

“We’ll get a proper checkup at the hospital first. Don’t worry too much, it shouldn’t be anything major,” Yu Qingkong reassured her, keeping her eyes focused ahead. She carried Lin Wanzhao completely out of the sports complex, reached the curb, hailed a passing taxi, and helped her inside.

“Driver, please take us to the nearest hospital,” Yu Qingkong instructed immediately after sliding into the seat beside Lin Wanzhao and closing the door.

She let out a long breath and turned to look at Lin Wanzhao. “Are you dizzy?”

Lin Wanzhao met her eyes and nodded slightly. “A little bit.”

Yu Qingkong kept her gaze on her. “Lean over here then.”

“Huh?” Lin Wanzhao blinked.

“Rest your head on my shoulder. It might help you feel a bit more stable,” Yu Qingkong explained.

Hearing those words, Lin Wanzhao’s heart practically soared with joy. She offered a quiet “Okay” and let her head rest against Yu Qingkong’s shoulder, a secret smile creeping onto her lips. She hadn’t expected getting hit by a basketball to come with such a wonderful perk. A highly impractical thought flashed through her mind—she almost wished she could get hit a few more times.

Yu Qingkong looked down at her briefly before turning her attention back to the road ahead.

A few minutes later, the taxi ground to a halt, and the driver let out a heavy sigh. “Traffics backed up again…”

Yu Qingkong frowned. “Is there an alternative route that might be clearer?”

The driver turned around to face them. “It’s the end of the year and right around lunchtime. Every single road in this area is going to be completely gridlocked.”

Yu Qingkong’s frown deepened as she checked the time on her phone. “How far are we from the hospital?”

“Two kilometers,” the driver replied with a shrug, resting his hands loosely on the steering wheel. “I’d love to get you there faster, but there’s simply nowhere to go.” He then muttered a few choice words about the state of Chengcheng’s traffic management.

Yu Qingkong exhaled a heavy breath, pinching the bridge of her nose before turning back to Lin Wanzhao. “How are you holding up, President Lin?”

“I’m fine…” Lin Wanzhao nodded, though she instinctively rubbed her own arms, letting out a small shiver.

“Are you cold?” Yu Qingkong reached out and took Lin Wanzhao’s hand, finding it completely ice-cold to the touch. She immediately called out to the driver, “Sir, could you please turn up the heater?”

Without a word, the driver reached over and adjusted the climate control settings.

As the static scenery outside the window remained unchanged, Yu Qingkong gently rubbed Lin Wanzhao’s cold hands between her own. “It should warm up in here shortly.”

Lin Wanzhao looked up, tracing the sharp line of Yu Qingkong’s jaw before biting her lip and nodding silently. Whether it was due to the vehicle’s heater finally kicking in or the warmth of Yu Qingkong’s hands enveloping hers, Lin Wanzhao felt a comfortable warmth gradually returning to her body.

Eventually, they arrived at the hospital.

After helping Lin Wanzhao register and navigating through the initial paperwork, Yu Qingkong guided her toward the waiting area for her examination. Throughout the entire process, Yu Qingkong remained quiet, though her tense posture betrayed her deep anxiety.

Noticing her stress, Lin Wanzhao sought to ease her mind. “I’m really fine, honestly. My head was just a bit dazed right after it happened. I feel completely energetic now—I could probably do a backflip right here. I still plan on watching you play basketball this afternoon.”

Yu Qingkong glanced up from her phone, her expression entirely serious. “Whether you’re fine or not isn’t up to you to decide. We’ll wait and see what the doctor says.”

“Oh…” Lin Wanzhao nodded quietly, falling back into a peaceful silence.

A moment later, Lin Wanzhao leaned closer to say something else, but stopped when she caught sight of what Yu Qingkong was typing into her phone’s search engine. The search queries left her stuck between wanting to laugh and cry.

Yu Qingkong had typed: “What are the odds of becoming mentally disabled after getting hit by a basketball?”

Seeming to think the phrasing was incorrect, she backspaced and retyped with a furrowed brow: “Can a basketball impact make someone stupid?”

Finally, she cleared the text entirely and typed: “What potential long-term complications arise from a blunt head injury?”

After completing the query, Yu Qingkong cleared her throat quietly and pressed the search button.

Lin Wanzhao watched her with a growing smile, finally looking up from the screen to meet Yu Qingkong’s tense face. “Hey, are you really that worried about me?”

Hearing her voice, Yu Qingkong quickly gripped her phone tightly and turned her head to face her.

“I saw what you were searching…” Lin Wanzhao pointed toward the device, her lips twitching as she spoke softly, “…those questions.”

Yu Qingkong froze for a second, looking down at the active tabs before systematically swiping them all closed. “We’re just sitting here waiting anyway. I figured I’d look up some information since I had nothing else to do.”

“But you wouldn’t be searching that unless you were worried about me, right?” Lin Wanzhao’s smile widened, her entire face brightening.

Yu Qingkong nodded slowly, finally conceding. “I suppose so.”

“Haha…” Lin Wanzhao let out a soft laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly in sheer happiness. She cleared her throat to compose herself. “But really, why do you worry about me so much?”

Yu Qingkong looked at her for a long moment, then turned her gaze straight ahead, her fingers idly tracing the edge of her phone without offering an answer.

“Yu Qingkong,” Lin Wanzhao murmured, pursing her lips before reaching out a single finger to gently poke Yu Qingkong’s shoulder. “Did you actually end up developing feelings for me along the way?”