Stealing ML’s White Moonlight C23

Chapter 23

You Changqing felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest, completely beyond her control. A layer of pink spread across her face, making her look as fresh and juicy as a ripe peach.

Some people turn completely red when they blush, like a monkey’s backside, which is hardly attractive. But when You Changqing blushed, it was as if a bare face had been carefully made up, instantly enhancing her beauty.

Shen Lihuan, watching her, felt an urge to take a bite—just to see if she really tasted as sweet as a peach.

Feeling the intense gaze, You Changqing shyly bumped her shoulder against Shen Lihuan’s, her voice impossibly soft. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Shen Lihuan was utterly captivated by her delicate Wu Nong accent. She marveled at how such an adorable person could exist in this world. Being friends with Changqing was truly a blessing.

Shen Lihuan was about to say something else when the bell rang for class. Reluctantly, she released the arm she had draped around You Changqing’s shoulder. “Class is starting. We’ll talk later.”

You Changqing touched her warm cheeks and quickly took her seat, trying to calm her pounding heart.

That troublemaker! She always teased her for no reason and yet had no awareness of how flirtatious she was being. How could she not see how obvious she was being… that she liked her? She was so slow-witted!

At that thought, You Changqing decided to blacklist Shen Lihuan and give her the cold shoulder… for one class period!

Shen Lihuan, oblivious to being “blacklisted,” flipped through the test paper that had just been handed out. Her mind remained calm. In her previous life, she had done well academically and was accepted into the country’s top university. But just before she could start school, the apocalypse had struck, cutting her off from that path.

Now, in this new world, while much of the curriculum had changed—especially history, which bore no resemblance to what she had known—her mind remained sharp. The subjects had changed, but as long as she worked hard again, there was nothing to fear.

Besides, she had Changqing as her personal cheat code. With Changqing tutoring her, it would be harder to fail than to succeed.

Shen Lihuan picked up her pen and swiftly wrote down her answers. Her bold, confident strokes made even the supervising teacher, Ye Lan, feel inadequate. Ye Lan stopped beside her desk and observed for a few minutes, nodding approvingly.

Sitting behind Shen Lihuan, Cheng Ziqian was so nervous he started sweating. Meanwhile, Shen Lihuan remained composed, unaffected in the slightest.

After a few minutes, Ye Lan finally moved on. Cheng Ziqian sighed in relief. His trembling hand steadied, and his handwriting no longer looked so shaky.

When the two-and-a-half-hour exam ended, Ye Lan instructed everyone to put down their pens and stop writing. The test papers were passed to the front, and during this time, not a single sound was heard. When Ye Lan finally collected all the papers and left the classroom, the students let out a collective sigh and immediately erupted into chatter.

“What do I do? I think I totally bombed this Chinese exam!”

“Oh my god, the reading comprehension was insane! Those sentences were so difficult—I couldn’t understand a thing!”

“I think I messed up a ton of multiple-choice questions. Every pronunciation seemed correct! How was I supposed to choose? Wuwuwu~”

“Hey, top student! Is this how we were supposed to interpret the essay topic? Mine was about…”

Listening to the wails of despair from her classmates, Shen Lihuan’s peach blossom eyes curved into a smile. It had been a long time since she experienced days like this—days where she could focus on nothing but studying, without any other distractions.

“Lihuan, you’re incredible! A true heroine! When the homeroom teacher stood in front of me just now, my hands were shaking so much. But you kept writing so calmly, as if nothing could faze you.”

Cheng Ziqian mimicked Shen Lihuan’s composed posture from earlier, then dramatically clutched his chest, pretending to cry. His deskmate, Bo Wen’an, shot him a look of disdain. “Coward.”

“Who’s a coward?! Damn you, Wen’an, don’t think I won’t roast you back!” Cheng Ziqian rolled up his sleeves, looking fierce. But at Bo Wen’an’s casual glance, he instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.

The surrounding classmates burst into laughter, egging him on. “Come on, Don’t be scared! If you’re a real man, fight him head-on!”

Cheng Ziqian pointed an accusatory finger at the rowdy crowd, his face full of betrayal. “You guys… are so cruel.” Turning back, he sought comfort from Bo Wen’an. “Wen’an, they’re bullying me!”

Bo Wen’an reached out and patted his head like one would a pet dog, then shot the onlookers a warning glance. The spectators quickly backed down, wisely dispersing.

Shen Lihuan observed their intimate interaction and sent You Changqing a questioning look. You Changqing immediately understood and nodded. Shen Lihuan’s expression turned into one of sudden realization.

After school, Shen Lihuan and You Changqing walked out of the classroom side by side. You Changqing tugged at the strap of her backpack, her eyes darting toward Shen Lihuan’s face every so often. Shen Lihuan noticed and teased her, “What’s wrong? You keep sneaking glances at me…”

You Changqing pouted slightly, her gaze shifting. “Lihuan, what do you think about Cheng Ziqian and Bo Wen’an as a couple?”

Shen Lihuan blinked in confusion. “I think it’s completely normal. Why? Changqing, do you have a problem with it?”

“No! Of course not.” You Changqing quickly clarified. “I just… you weren’t saying anything, so I thought maybe you didn’t approve.”

“I think love is a personal choice, whether it’s between a man and a woman or two people of the same gender. Others have no right to interfere. Our country was one of the first to legalize same-sex marriage—doesn’t that prove the point?”

Shen Lihuan’s warm smile reassured You Changqing. “Then… do you like boys or girls?”

After asking, You Changqing anxiously awaited the answer.

Shen Lihuan thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t like boys. But as for whether I like girls, I’m not sure yet. I’ve never had feelings for anyone before. Besides, I’m determined to become a medical scientist—I probably won’t have time to think about these things.”

The first half of her response made You Changqing happy, but the second half left her disappointed. She lowered her head, pressing her lips together. “Who says medical scientists don’t have time for romance? Even national leaders get married.”

Shen Lihuan tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm~ I’ll think about it.”

Only then did You Changqing relax. As long as Lihuan was willing to consider it, she—being the closest person to her—believed that one day, Lihuan would come to understand her own feelings.

The two-day monthly exams finally ended. In three days, it would be You Changhong’s birthday banquet. As one of the three major families, the You family’s event was bound to be grand, with a long list of attendees.

During the Shen family’s previous banquet, they had not invited the Gu family, and the Gu family had been too proud to attend uninvited. But this time, with the You family hosting, the Gu family would definitely be on the guest list. That meant the Shen family and the Gu family were likely to cross paths.

To “repay” Gu Qingrong for what she had done to her family and to General, Shen Lihuan had prepared a special gift.

After dinner, she locked herself in her room, spending over three hours meticulously preparing the present. Now, all she had to do was wait for the recipient—Gu Qingrong—to receive it.