Chapter 7 Under the Autumn Moon
Leaving now wouldn’t look good.
I walked along the corridor and sat across from him. “Long time no see.”
He studied me in the moonlight. After a long pause, he asked out of nowhere,
“Just classmates?”
I froze for a second before realizing he meant my answer that afternoon when Gu Yan asked about us.
“I thought after three years together, even after the breakup, I’d at least count as an ex-boyfriend.”
I pressed my lips together. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want people knowing about us.”
“I wouldn’t.” He lowered his eyes to mine, my reflection clear in his pupils.
I expected some small talk about the past after so long apart.
But there was none.
Pei Yuchuan said nothing. He just looked at me, emotions I couldn’t read swirling in his gaze.
Late autumn air was cold. A gust of wind hit, and I shivered.
He took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
His scent wrapped around me completely—familiar enough to sting my nose.
Memories flooded back from more than three years ago, in that tiny rental apartment.
No heating in winter. So cold we could only warm each other.
He used to rub his hands together, then carefully warm my freezing feet.
He’d smile and tell me little stories about his day. I’d fall asleep to his low, gentle voice.
The past and the man in front of me overlapped.
I looked at him. “Gu Yan said you have your own place now, living outside with Xi Xi.”
“Yeah. We don’t usually stay here, but Xi Xi wanted to sleep over tonight, so I let her.”
I thought of the soft, sweet little girl from the afternoon. After hesitating, I asked,
“Is Xi Xi… doing okay? She must recognize people by now. Does she cling to you?”
Pei Yuchuan didn’t answer right away. After a moment, he sighed.
“You only ask about her. Not curious how I’ve been these three years?”
I wanted to ask. But I had no right.
And I could piece together parts of it from the few things Gu Yan had mentioned.
Silence fell in the garden, broken only by the faint rustle of falling Osmanthus blossoms.
He didn’t push. Instead, he told me about Pei Xi.
“She’s doing great. Her personality is like yours—lively, cheerful. She started recognizing people early. Now she’s pretty attached to me.”
“But she has one small worry.” He looked at me softly. “Xi Xi misses her mommy. She’s always wanted to meet her.”
“Today, after seeing you, she was really happy.”
His voice was calm, but it made my heart ache in a dull, heavy way.
I had missed her for years too.
Every time I saw a little girl her age on the street, I thought of her.
When I spotted pretty dresses while shopping, I’d buy them, imagining how cute she’d look.
My closet was full, but I’d never been able to give them to her.
Last year when Gu Yan dragged me to the temple to pray for money, I secretly got a safety talisman for her.
I didn’t ask for her to be perfect—just safe and healthy as she grew.
I looked at Pei Yuchuan. “I have some things I want to give Xi Xi. Could you pass them to her?”
“If you’re giving them to her, she’d be happier if you did it yourself.”
The evening breeze messed up my bangs. He leaned in suddenly.
My whole body tensed. I even held my breath.
He reached out and tucked the strands behind my ear—just like he used to.
His fingertips were the same warmth, brushing from my cheek to my ear.
My heart started pounding so hard my ribs hurt.
I heard him ask, “Gu Yan won’t be back for a while. Want me to take you to dinner?”
My phone buzzed right then.
A message from Gu Yan.
“Wen You, I ran into my brother’s fiancée on the way to the company.”
“She’s gorgeous. She was picking out a tie for him at the mall.”
“I heard they’re really happy. They’ve been in an Engagement for two years now—sounds like the wedding’s soon.”
Gu Yan’s words about his fiancée cut through the haze in my head.
Pei Yuchuan had a fiancée. The distance between us was wider than ever. We were supposed to stay out of each other’s lives.
I calmly handed his jacket back. “No thanks. I’m not hungry.”
“Then how about I show you around the estate?”
I shook my head.
After three years, the maturity and quiet intensity about him drew me even more than before.
And in a dark, empty place like this, buried feelings could grow too easily.
I was scared of losing control.
So I made an excuse and hurried back to my room.
I stayed inside, afraid of running into him again.
I’d planned to wait for Gu Yan, but she never came. I fell asleep in a haze.
I didn’t sleep well. I kept dreaming—of Pei Yuchuan, then Pei Xi.
When I woke, my pillow was damp.
Gu Yan still wasn’t back. She texted that she had a sudden work trip and would return tomorrow.
I packed simply, ready to leave.
At least the trip hadn’t been wasted.
I’d seen Pei Xi.
The gifts I’d saved for her wouldn’t gather dust anymore. I could give them through Gu Yan.
I only regretted that yesterday had been too rushed. I hadn’t gotten a proper look at her.
Just then, I noticed a delicate little girl standing at the door.
In a pretty dress, she looked up at me with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Mommy, today is my third birthday. Can you spend the day with me?”