A Young Woman's Heart

"Ok?"

Yu Shu seemed more active while lying in bed than during the day.

Perhaps because it was pitch black all around and people weren't deliberately looking at each other's faces, she relaxed a lot.

Do you remember when we used to tell stories under the moon?

"Ah...you mean that time we went camping halfway up the mountain? We ran there at night, used cardboard boxes as tents, dug a hole, lay inside, and watched the moon..."

"Mmm!" Yu Shu smiled a little shyly, cupping her cheeks in her hands. "My parents found me and took me back home."

"Yeah, and then my dad insisted that it was my idea, and he gave me a really good beating. My butt hurt for days!"

Li Wanyan tilted her head slightly, as if listening intently to the two of them recount their past stories.

There aren't really any special stories to tell about her childhood; if you really want to talk about it, most of it is about pain and sorrow.

Mo Xueyao clenched her fists again and again, as if she wanted to hold that ball of moonlight in her palm.

The light and shadow on the ceiling sometimes change, which means a car has driven past on the path below.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a car; it could be a motorcycle—or a pedestrian walking by with a large flashlight.

More than a decade ago, the same moon shone, just as it does now, but the starry sky was not as dazzling as it once was.

At least in the city, it is indeed much dimmer.

Perhaps in another ten years or so, there won't be many stars left in the night sky—that's what Mo Xueyao thought.

Several cotton-like clouds drifted across the sky, standing behind the waxing crescent moon. Although the stars beside it were obscured, the white clouds highlighted the halo around it, making the cotton-like clouds even more conspicuous.

"Xiaoyao... um..."

"what happened?"

"If you all graduate... what will happen to the Snow Music Band?"

"Well, you're still here, so I'm leaving the team leader position to you. Then you can recruit some more people."

"Huh? Me? I can't do it, can I..."

"Hmm... then let's disband it." Mo Xueyao shrugged.

"No—Xiaoyao, why are you so cold?"

"What do you mean by indifference? I'm just stating the facts. Besides, you'll be a senior in high school by then, so you probably won't have the energy to work on the band, right?"

"So you're going to be seniors this year, and... you won't be going to the band room much anymore?"

"Well, we'll see! School hasn't even started yet, who knows how busy we'll be then?" Mo Xueyao moved her pillow a little to the left, giving Yu Shu a bit more. "School hasn't even started yet, graduation is even further away, let's talk about it later."

"Time flies," Li Wanyan said casually, sharing some of her pillow with Yu Shu.

Yu Shu looked up to let the two of them tuck the pillow in a little, whispered a thank you, and then continued, "Yes, time flies."

"There are 365 days in a year."

"To be precise, there aren't 365 days in two semesters, even if you include the winter break," Li Wanyan retorted.

Yu Shu puffed out her cheeks and nodded vigorously.

"Ah, speaking of which, Yu Shu, have you ever heard a story?" Mo Xueyao lifted her leg and placed it on the slightly protruding window frame.

"What……?"

"It's said that people living on high floors shouldn't look out the window at night. If they see someone peering out, they must immediately close their eyes, otherwise the person will stare into their eyes and control them, then involuntarily jump out the window—"

"Ugh!!" Yu Shu was so startled that she quickly shrank further under the covers, leaving only her eyes sticking out. The air conditioning, which was set too low, made her spine feel cold. "I suddenly feel cold..."

"Who set it to 18 degrees?" Li Wanyan picked up the remote control on top of the wardrobe, glanced at the fluorescent screen, and asked helplessly.

"Cough!"

"Beep, beep." Li Wanyan adjusted the temperature before putting the remote back in its place.

"Haha, Yu Shu, don't be so scared. You're completely burrowed under the covers!" Mo Xueyao couldn't help but laugh. "There's no such thing as a ghost!"

"I know... but... but I just can't help being scared..." She didn't dare look out the window even once.

Mo Xueyao chuckled twice: "It's alright, it's alright, look how beautiful the night view is outside the window..."

"Snapped."

Suddenly, something hit the window.

By the dim light of the streetlights outside the window and the bright moonlight, I could make out some blurry outlines.

It was a smiling face, revealing white teeth, which looked particularly eerie on such a night.

Human face...

Mo Xueyao slid directly into the blanket: "Yes, yes, yes... there's a face..."

Although Yu Shu was scared, she was still driven by curiosity to take a look, and immediately hugged Mo Xueyao tightly in fright: "Eee-ah!"

Li Wanyan stared calmly out the window, even leaning closer to take a few more glances—mainly because she was nearsighted and couldn't see clearly from a distance.

Then she said in a calm, even tone, "...it's an advertising flyer."

"Really?" Mo Xueyao immediately looked up. She was the closest and could see the clearest view. "Ah, it really is! Haha, Yu Shu, are you really scared? Pfft, there are no ghosts in this world!"

"Xiao Yao was scared too!" Yu Shu's body trembled slightly as she grabbed Mo Xueyao's body and got up. Just as she looked over, the advertisement was blown away by the strong wind again, looking like a human face flying in the sky.

However, the sense of dread disappeared as soon as the wind rolled up the advertising paper.

The moonlight still shone brightly, only its position had changed slightly.

The light that was shining on Mo Xueyao's chest has now fallen on her lower abdomen.

Yu Shu curled up slightly, and the ten toes with crescent-shaped, crystal-clear nails on her chubby little feet also curled up, just like a kitten clenching its paws.

"I'm not scared! I made up this story myself! Why would I be scared?" Mo Xueyao argued vehemently. "Besides, those kinds of ghost stories only happen in very tall buildings. Actually, our sixth floor isn't that tall. It would have to be a ten or twenty-story building like Yin Yin's house, where the wind is strong and it's easy for ghosts' heads to float around."

"No, no, stop talking..." Yu Shu felt afraid even looking at the shadows of the trees outside the window. They looked menacing and seemed about to pounce on her and swallow her whole.

"Well, okay, then let Wanyan tell you a heartwarming fairy tale so you won't be scared."

"Hmm!" Yu Shu looked at Li Wanyan with anticipation. Under the moonlight, her cheeks appeared very fair, which also made her long hair look exceptionally black.

Li Wanyan pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. She leaned down and turned her body slightly towards Mo Xueyao and the others.

"A long, long time ago..."

The moment she uttered those words, Mo Xueyao had the illusion of traveling back to her childhood.

It's as if you're lying in a rocking chair with a lush old locust tree overhead.

Grandfather fanned himself with a fan and told her ancient legends.

She even felt like going to sleep right then and there.

"In a small mountain village, there was a peculiar custom: on nights when the crescent moon hung high in the sky, no one was allowed to go out, especially those whose names consisted of only two characters. They weren't even allowed to leave their rooms. So they went to sleep early and waited until dawn to go out. One young man didn't believe in this custom. He deliberately opened his door on such a night and went into the hall. Then, under the moonlight, his shadow stood up and grabbed his neck with both hands. He struggled desperately and fled back to his bed..."

Li Wanyan's voice grew softer and softer, and when Mo Xueyao wanted to ask her what happened next, she realized that she had fallen asleep on her side.

Her even breathing indicated that she was sleeping soundly, and a serene smile lingered on her face.

"Never mind, let's go to sleep." Mo Xueyao turned over and pulled her feet, which had been chilled by the air conditioner, back into the blankets.

The night was quiet and long; even the air seemed still.

Perhaps half a minute has passed, or perhaps three minutes, or perhaps ten minutes, or even half an hour...

Yu Shu suddenly opened her eyes wide, her voice trembling slightly as she said in a tearful tone, "I...I want to...go to the toilet..."

Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Snow Music Band! Reunited!

Outside the clean, transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, there is a clear blue sky, with sheep-like clouds drifting leisurely, or like small boats sailing in the sky.

On the sign at the entrance, the large letter 'Y' is illuminated by a dazzling array of lights.

YN Burger & Fried Chicken.

It was 2 p.m., and the shop was empty with hardly any customers.

Mo Xiaoxiao was helping out in the shop, while Duanmu Ji was idly leaning on the counter, occasionally looking up to steal a glance at the girls sitting in the corner.

Seven people were sitting at this four-person dining table; the other two chairs were brought in extra.

Hua Yinyin and Mo Xueyao squeezed together, so they only occupied one chair.

"Ugh—Hua Yinyin—could you squeeze a little closer to Wanyan?" Mo Xueyao pushed her body forcefully.

"Hmm, there's a gap in the middle, it's uncomfortable to sit on~" Hua Yinyin leaned against Mo Xueyao coyly, blinking her eyes hard. This was no longer just flirting.

"It's so hot..."

"Xiao Ji—" Hua Yinyin immediately stretched her neck like a goose, "Turn the air conditioning down a bit! Xiao Yaoyao says it's hot!"

"Oh," Duanmu Ji replied casually, walked to the large cabinet air conditioner by the wall, turned the fan to the highest setting, and lowered the temperature a bit.

Seeing that Hua Yinyin insisted on squeezing in with her, Mo Xueyao had no choice but to give up.

All the band members are here today; it was Hua Yinyin who called and gathered everyone together.

They said it was a get-together before the start of the semester.

Even though we can see each other every day after school starts, they still have to put on this show, as if we're about to graduate.

Wang Jiale was playing with a Rubik's Cube, which she had taken from the counter, but after turning it for a long time, she still couldn't solve it.

"Did Yinyin just call us out for fried chicken?" Wang Jiale suddenly slumped onto the table in despair, throwing the Rubik's Cube away. "Ugh... so hard..."

"Summer vacation is almost over." Hua Yinyin squeezed closer to Mo Xueyao, pressing her little face against the glass.

"Hey—" Mo Xueyao stared at her with droopy eyelids.

"Hehe."

"Hey, what are you talking about!" Mo Xueyao grabbed her arms on both sides in an annoyed manner, then pressed her down onto the crossbar between the two seats. "You're such a pain! Just sit here!"

"Waaah, Yaoyao doesn't care about me at all..."

"Then I'll switch with you."