Chapter 22: Tonight’s Moon
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The moon tonight was unusually bright.
It’s ironic, the human world gets worse day by day, yet the beauty of nature seems to be growing. No smog, no polluted water and fumes, every day was filled with blue skies, white clouds, and a bright moon.
Bai Youwei closed her eyes and then opened them again, but sleep evaded her as the events of the day replayed in her mind.
“Aren’t you going to sleep?” she asked Shen MO softly.
“I will sleep once you’re asleep,” Shen MO replied nonchalantly.
He wasn’t sleepy yet, and it was awkward for the two to lie side by side because, after all, they have only met today.
Bai Youwei said, “By the time I fall asleep, it might be too late.”
Shen MO replied lightly, “During training, I only needed four hours of sleep a day. That’s enough.”
Bai Youwei had to admit, this man’s physical ability was impressive, carrying her for three rounds in the game and barely even breaking a sweat.
She closed her eyes again, still unable to sleep. Sitting up after a while, she said, “Let’s look at the map together.”
Shen MO divided the map in half.
Suddenly, something soft leaned against his right arm, causing him to pause.
“How do you read this?” Bai Youwei asked peering at the map.
Her lower body was frail, and she needed support when sitting. It was very hard for her to sit upright.
Shen Mo’s momentarily tense arm relaxed, and he showed her how to read the map.
Since the advent of satellite maps on phones, few people studied paper maps, usually only buying them as souvenirs during trips.
“This road is the Hushan Expressway, we’re approximately here… Starting from this position, the latter part of the journey has traps, so we have to switch to the Hurong Expressway tomorrow. The scouting team that went out today will lead the way from Zhenjiang, detouring to Yangzhou…” Shen MO began explaining.
Bai Youwei looked at the dense paths and the miniscule city names, starting to feel dazed.
Despite her best efforts to pay attention, her mind started to wander.
Her gaze landed unknowingly on the man’s hand.
Shen MO had very beautiful hands.
His fingers were slender and the joints were distinct. From his solid forearm to his fingertips, the entire hand was streamlined and full of strength. She coveted hands like these.
Following his arm up with her gaze, she saw his collarbone, his Adam’s apple… The black hair on his forehead cast a shadow over his brows and eyes, leaving only the high nose bridge clearly visible. His soft voice named unfamiliar places. The low tone reminded Bai Youwei of a cello from her father’s collection.
The ‘cello’ looked at her and asked in a deep voice, “All right?”
“Sleepy,” she replied, laid back down, grabbed her rabbit plushy as a pillow, and tried to sleep.
After a moment of silence, he folded the map and asked, “Are you cold?” Bai Youwei seemed to have already fallen asleep and didn’t respond.
Shen MO watched her silently for a while, then stood up and walked away.
When he left, Bai Youwei opened her eyes.
Being alone with a man in the middle of the night didn’t bother her. But one can’t prevent their mind from wandering. The more the mind runs wild, the messier the heart becomes until it spirals out of control.
Bai Youwei had her fair share of daydreams about heroes saving princesses before her legs were paralyzed.
After her paralysis, living a dignified life became her top priority- much more important than love.
Plus, this wasn’t even love. It was just a coincidence that she found herself in danger, with a man by her side, who happened to be somewhat decent to her.
They say that men and women who share life-threatening experiences easily attract each other, regardless of whether it’s true or not, it didn’t matter… Everything would end once they reach Yangzhou.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to fall asleep.
Slow and uncoordinated footsteps came from the direction of the door; it wasn’t just one person.
Turning her head, Bai Youwei saw three rogue-like young men approaching her.
It was the scouting team that had gone out earlier..