At the edge of the horizon, the setting sun sank below, and the city's neon lights took over its duty, illuminating the night once again.
The evening drill was short—barely half an hour of standing posture practice. By seven o'clock, everyone was dismissed for free time.
Though the sun had already set, the faint scent of its warmth still lingered in the air. Even the normally stone-faced instructors relaxed, sitting on the grass and listening to the students chatter about youth and dreams.
Naturally, there were also performances.
Students formed a big circle, dragging out "lucky ones" to perform silly acts in the middle. Ji Yu glanced around but didn't spot Yang Wenhong in the group.
Was she upset? She'd only gone to the restroom, and Ji Yu had slipped away without a word.
The thought lingered only for a few seconds before Ji Yu brushed it aside.
"Hey, Ji Yu, aren't you going to perform something?" Tang Li nudged her with his elbow, lowering his voice.
"Uh…"
She had brought her guitar all the way from home, so naturally she had intended to play. But with Yang Wenhong absent, performing alone in the boys' unit… would that seem like she was showing off? Or trying to attract attention? What would the girls on the other side think of her?
Though Tang Li spoke quietly, everyone in the squad was waiting. After all, she was the only girl with a guitar here.
Still, the guys didn't tease her too hard—after all, Tang Li was always by her side. Maybe he was her boyfriend? They didn't want to embarrass her.
"Well… since I brought it, it'd be a waste not to play."
Ji Yu caught herself—why was she suddenly so worried about how the girls viewed her? Wasn't university supposed to be about improving yourself, not tiptoeing around others?
"First-year, Broadcasting Department, Ji Yu. Please excuse my amateur playing."
No matter who you were, once you stepped into the world of what you loved, confidence always bloomed.
The always-gentle Ji Yu plucked the strings with ease, the melody echoing in her mind before flowing smoothly into the crowd.
Perhaps because she was pretty, some guys immediately started asking for her WeChat. A few even slid into Tang Li's seat, pestering him about their relationship.
♪ "Beneath the blue sky, waves of golden wheat swayed… That was the place where you and I once loved…" ♪
The soft strumming of the guitar and her gentle singing were beautiful in just the right way. Tang Li listened, but the chatter around him—guys asking about her—made his chest tighten with irritation.
…
...…
...…
The half-moon hung high in the night sky, stars scattered across its canvas, stretching endlessly to the other side.
With her guitar slung over her back, Ji Yu walked along the roadside, footsteps light beneath the silver glow. She tilted her head up, drinking in the night's beauty—so enchanting, it made her dizzy.
Moonlight poured gently over the city, coating the corners untouched by neon with a quiet silver sheen.
The night was beautiful. And in that noisy world, her slender silhouette stood at the center of a boy's gaze. The black hair that blended with the night now shimmered faintly, draped in a veil of moonlight.
The scene pierced Tang Li's heart. He stopped in his tracks, staring dumbly at the girl whose arms swung in sync with her steps.
(What… what exactly am I feeling right now…?)
The tall boy, nearly six feet, suddenly found himself flustered. With Ji Yu, even silence wasn't boring. Instead, his heart always beat a little faster.
Normally, he'd have teased her for walking out of step like that. But tonight, the moon was too beautiful, and the way she unknowingly mirrored a child's innocence made it feel wrong to ruin the moment.
Unlike Ji Yu, who tilted her head toward the stars, Tang Li lowered his gaze slightly, smiling faintly as he watched her childish stride.
"Hey, Tang Li!"
She turned around, snapping him out of his daze.
"What's up?"
"My neighborhood's right here. Are you heading back to campus, or… wanna come over for a bit?"
Tang Li hesitated for just a moment, then stepped closer. The silver light wrapped around him as he moved.
"I've walked you all this way. At least let me have a glass of water before I leave, yeah?"
He reached out, and out of habit, placed his hand gently on her head.
…
Ji Yu froze, her face tinged pink with surprise.
"You're way too close! Don't you know boys and girls shouldn't touch like that?"
She swatted his hand away, stomping into the gates of her neighborhood. Then, as if worried he didn't get the message, she turned back and shot him a sharp glare.
Ji Yu hadn't brought her keys. But with her mom and sister at home, it wasn't an issue.
To Tang Li, however… this was something else entirely.
People at home.
Meeting the parents?!
No, no… a girl bringing a boy home this late—what did that even mean?!
His thoughts spun wildly until the warm light inside the apartment flicked on, spilling across their faces.
"Oh my, the little princess is finally back—"
…
Inside, Tang Li sat nervously on the spot Ji Yu had arranged for him. His unease came from both his identity and the secret of Ji Yu's.
"Tang Li, right? Tang as in Tang dynasty, and Li as in polite?"
"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, Auntie, I didn't bring anything for our first meeting…" He shot Ji Yu a helpless look.
Her sister, Ji Yu, sat across the table with their mother, holding Ji Yu's hand. Before, she had only suspected her little sister was seeing someone, with a mix of gossip and curiosity. But now, with a boy sitting in their home…
That was an entirely different matter.
"We've heard about you from Ji Yu for a while, but never got the chance to meet." Ji Yu's mother pushed a plate of washed grapes toward him, smiling kindly. "About our Ji Yu…"
"Huh? W-what about Ji Yu?"
He was playing dumb. And he was good at it.
Ji Yu rolled her eyes in exasperation, while Tang Li just gave a sheepish grin.
Of course he wasn't clueless. He understood perfectly what Ji Yu's mother and sister were hinting at. But about Ji Yu once being a boy… that wasn't something outsiders needed to know. As long as family understood, that was enough.
A kind lie.
Still, as the mother and daughter looked at Ji Yu again—at her elegant figure, her soft features, and especially the undeniable curves—it was impossible to mistake her for the boy she once was.
They didn't press further. Maybe they had guessed Tang Li's intentions. Smiling, they let the topic pass.
Later, after walking Tang Li out of the neighborhood, Ji Yu's sister dragged her onto the couch, eyes sharp. Their mother sighed deeply and went to boil water.
"Xiaoyu, let me tell you—this Tang Li is not innocent."
"Huh? What motive could he possibly have? He only lied earlier to protect my secret."
"No, no. I was watching him. While we were chatting, his eyes never left you."
"…Isn't it impolite not to look at the host when visiting someone's house?"
"You silly girl! That's not it. Precisely because he knows your past, it makes it easier for him to get closer. Right now it's like… that stage where friends turn into lovers."
"Jie, have you been reading too many cheesy romance novels? He's tall, rich, handsome—why would he like me?"
"Why not? Do you have any idea how much of a catch you are right now? You could leash a stray dog and people would still ask for its WeChat just because you're holding it!"
Their chatter drifted far from the original topic, laughter bubbling between them. On the floor, two shadows intertwined, while the sound of their playful wrestling filled the room with the warmth of sisterhood.