White moonlight.
The term alone conjured an image of something pure, flawless, and unattainable.
Since he already had someone he liked, what did his words and actions toward her mean?
Just a pastime when he was bored?
"Did... he admit it himself?" Without proof, and given that they had only known each other for a few days yet had shared honest conversations, Cheng Buxi remained somewhat skeptical.
It was rare for Fang Xinyi to see her so invested, her cat-like eyes dark, her pink lips slightly parted. She couldn't help but tease: "Then why do you think he's never been in a relationship? Hmm?"
A single sentence left her speechless: "..."
Seeing that she might be on the verge of a broken heart, Fang Xinyi quickly added: "But rumors like that are always half-true, half-false, babe. You're many people's white moonlight too. I'm more inclined to believe he's a top dog rather than having some white moonlight."
Getting excited, she continued: "You haven't seen the group of underlings behind him, all calling him 'big brother' in that fawning way that even makes me blush and weak in the knees!"
"..." It would have been better if she hadn't said anything. Cheng Buxi's brows darkened, and she turned her head away, sitting up straight, showing she didn't want to hear more.
It felt like a lump of cotton was stuck in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She had to meet him and subtly probe whether this was true or false.
Fang Xinyi had never seen her like this. Could it be... she had a crush? She suppressed her curiosity for now.
As a friend, it was her duty to offer a kind reminder: don't fall too deep only to find that obstacle of a 'white moonlight' standing in the way. Regret would be too late then.
...
After class, Fang Xinyi suddenly remembered something. She pulled two tickets from her bag and handed them to Cheng Buxi.
"Hmm... what's this?" Cheng Buxi had been in a foul mood the whole class because of that 'white moonlight' comment.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have two tickets here. UFC, said to be held in Macau at the end of the month. Something called 'Fight Night'..."
She looked uninterested. "Lin Ge's good buddy gave them to him, but something came up and he couldn't go, so he dumped them on me. I'm not into boxing anyway. Front-row V seats, you want them?" Lin Ge was her boyfriend.
Macau.
Cheng Buxi's eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly—another city with a long story and a flood of memories.
After a brief moment, she shook her head and declined, saying she also didn't have time.
But Fang Xinyi, being a stickler for simplicity, found the tickets a burden she couldn't get rid of. "Then find someone to give them to for me. They're useless sitting with me. Or you can list them online for me."
Without waiting for Cheng Buxi's agreement, she shoved them into her hand. "Ah, I gotta go. I have fitness class. I'm gonna be late!"
Cheng Buxi looked at the two tickets that had suddenly materialized in her hand. Each was worth four figures—a decent sum. Those who wanted them couldn't get them, but to someone who didn't care, they were just like a blank piece of paper casually tossed away.
The venue on the ticket read: Galaxy Arena, Macau. Date: 11/23.
She recalled the erotic comic her brother had caught her with last time, similar circumstances... but in every case, nothing good had come of it.
...
She had arranged to meet Ning Ci in the afternoon, so she got ready early. For the first time in ages, she put effort into her outfit and even wore a full face of makeup.
Whether it was that 'white moonlight' comment secretly gnawing at her, she finally chose a white outfit.
Pearl earrings, a white double-breasted wool coat, and brown knee-high boots. She looked fresh, youthful, and high-class.
Just as she fastened the last earring—a snow-white Akoya pearl that her second sister had brought her from a show in Japan—Feng Yuan walked in and made a sour remark.
"Oh, dressed up all seductive today."
"Going out to pick up some guys?"
She turned her head, both hands still at her left ear, silently gazing at her. Feng Yuan, intimidated by her stunningly composed face, sat down and shut up.
Soon, Hu Die also dropped by. The two sat on a bench whispering, then noisily left together.
Cheng Buxi was happy to be alone.
Just as she was almost done, her adoptive mother suddenly called: "Koukou, Auntie has sent someone to pick you up. Same place as before?"
"..." She stopped everything, confusion in her eyes.
Madam Bai continued: "Today we're going to Yiguan to accompany your brother for a suit fitting. The Second Young Master of the Yang family will also be there. Did you forget?"
Her voice was warm like a spring breeze, but to Cheng Buxi's ears, it was like a thunderbolt out of a clear blue sky.
Crap. She had a feeling she was forgetting something, something crucial. It was the suit fitting for her brother. She had agreed to it quite readily at the family banquet. If she backed out now, there was no excuse.
Frustrated, she accidentally knocked her phone stand off the table with a clatter.
She took too long to respond. "Koukou?"
She bent down to pick it up, her voice slightly strained: "I'm... I'm here." In doing so, she caught a glimpse of the jacket Ning Ci had left last time—already dry-cleaned. She had originally planned to return it today, and now she felt even more guilty.
"I'll have Uncle Liang come get you."
"..."
If it were anyone else, she might have been able to stall. But when Uncle Liang came—Liang was the most senior butler of the Lu family, strict and impartial, second only to the master—she had to be on time, even early.
Resigned, she steeled herself and said okay.
But in her heart, she felt terrible. On one hand, she had to uphold her commitment to her family; on the other, there was Ning Ci. She would have to stand him up again. She could only hope he would understand...
Throughout Cheng Buxi's life, the aunt who raised her and loved her came first and second in her priorities.