Chapter Fifty-Four

Twenty minutes later, Rain Star Moon changed clothes and waited outside the villa. She went to find the garage herself and discovered a Kawasaki motorcycle—a vehicle she adored dearly. She could only fantasize about owning one by gazing at pictures, dreaming of a bike truly her own. Lin Ling’s motorcycle was exactly the type Rain Star Moon yearned for.

After a long while, Sun Ying finally emerged. Seeing her dressed just as before, Sun Ying blushed and murmured, “Big brother... am I dressed... strangely? Why... do you keep looking at me?” Her tone reverted to its shy, hesitant cadence.

“You look beautiful today. You must be the brightest star,” Rain Star Moon replied with a gentle smile.

Sun Ying’s cheeks, already tinged with faint blush, bloomed deeper at Rain Star Moon's compliment. “Really... thank... thank you.”

Rain Star Moon carefully placed a helmet on Sun Ying’s head, donned her own, and prepared to ride. Safety was paramount—for herself and her passenger. She lifted Sun Ying onto the motorcycle, as she was still too short to climb on by herself, then mounted the bike. Sun Ying nestled against Rain Star Moon’s sturdy frame, feeling the warmth of his body.

With the engine revved, Rain Star Moon eased out of the villa, then accelerated once they reached a wide, empty stretch. The wind pressed fiercely against Sun Ying, who sat at the front, but thankfully Rain Star Moon had given her a helmet; otherwise, her makeup would have been ruined by the gusts.

On the road, Rain Star Moon encountered little trouble. When stopped by traffic police, he cooperated readily; possessing a license, he had no issues and was allowed to pass.

Five minutes later, Rain Star Moon delivered Sun Ying to her tutoring class. He dismounted, lifted Sun Ying down, and removed her helmet, noticing her face flushed red with embarrassment. Rain Star Moon asked with concern, “Little one, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Sun Ying replied, “No... it’s just... the helmet was... too stuffy.” But that was not the truth. Unbeknownst to herself, Sun Ying had grown interested in boys, thanks to Rain Star Moon. She realized boys weren’t as terrible as she once imagined. In her eyes, those who coveted her looks and body were vile men, but Rain Star Moon was different—upright and honest, the most principled person she’d ever met. Even Sun Yao acknowledged Rain Star Moon’s character. She herself was unsure if her feelings for him were admiration or genuine affection.

Once Rain Star Moon confirmed nothing was amiss, he relaxed; his greatest fear was that something might happen to Sun Ying, who seemed as fragile as porcelain. He rode carefully, never too fast, at a moderate pace.

Before entering, Sun Ying turned to Rain Star Moon and said, “Big brother... could you... stay with me?”

“What? You want me to accompany you? Will the teacher allow it?” Rain Star Moon hesitated, considering if he should refuse. Sun Ying pleaded, “I’ll talk to the teacher. Grandpa Luo used to stay with me, so I wasn’t afraid.”

“You mean the housekeeper, Mr. Luo, used to accompany you during tutoring?” Rain Star Moon asked, curious.

Seeing Rain Star Moon’s reluctance, Sun Ying pouted, “Mm, I’m not used to being alone.”

Unable to refuse, Rain Star Moon felt compelled by some irresistible force to stay with Sun Ying—her charm was undeniable. How could he turn down such a sweet girl?

“Well, I guess I have no choice. I’ll agree, just this once,” Rain Star Moon said.

Sun Ying gleefully hugged him, then pulled him into the formal tutoring classroom. After finding the teacher, she spoke briefly, and the tutor glanced at Rain Star Moon before saying, “You may stay, but as her father, do not disturb the child’s studies, understood?”

Father? Father! When did Rain Star Moon become Sun Ying’s father? The tutor had mistaken him for her dad, and mused, “So young, already a father to such a beautiful girl—how fortunate.”

Rain Star Moon wanted to explain, but the tutor was already gone. Sun Ying tugged at his sleeve and said, “Teacher Wang… has a poor memory… don’t mind it.”

Rain Star Moon shook his head and sighed, “Looks like I’m getting old—am I at the age to be a father?” He touched his face, doubting his own identity.

Sun Ying giggled, “Big brother… if you really… were my father… wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Hey! Don’t say such things. If your father heard, who knows what he’d think of me,” Rain Star Moon replied helplessly.

“Don’t be like that, big brother. I won’t joke anymore, okay?” Sun Ying’s face was full of grievance.

“That’s not what I meant,” Rain Star Moon smiled. “I was just wondering, if I ever become a father, what name should I give my child?”

“It’s far too early for that. You haven’t found someone who truly loves you yet,” Sun Ying answered logically.

Rain Star Moon said, “Sun Ying, what’s going on with you today? Why are you speaking so fluently? Did you take the wrong medicine?” He touched her forehead.

Sun Ying realized she’d slipped and confessed, “Big brother, I didn’t think you’d notice so quickly. I was pretending to be less articulate.”

“So when you’re at home, you’re your true self?” Rain Star Moon asked.

Sun Ying nodded. “I do it for myself; to avoid attention, I pretend to be shy so people will dislike me.”

“I don’t think you’re wrong, but you may lose opportunities for real friends,” Rain Star Moon said seriously. “Have you thought about how you feel?”

Sun Ying shook her head, “Pretending to be introverted every day is exhausting. I trust you, that’s why I shared my secret. You won’t tell anyone, right?”

Rain Star Moon resumed his calm demeanor, “You little one, let’s pretend none of this happened. You’re still my little one, and I’m still your big brother.”

Sun Ying immediately reverted to her shy state, “Big brother… then… I’ll go to class now.” With that, she walked into a room where the tutor’s voice could be heard explaining the topics.

He’d promised to stay with Sun Ying until class ended, but couldn’t enter. Rain Star Moon sat on the bench outside and played on his phone. Seeing everyone’s QQ avatars greyed out, he found no one online and resorted to playing the game “Two Hundred Fifty Battle.”

With Rain Star Moon’s story quiet for now, the perspective shifted to Lin Ling.

Since Lin Ling and Wu Guanzhong’s parents agreed to let them live together, Wu Guanzhong was overjoyed, but also anxious—would they truly get along as before?

Wu Guanzhong locked himself in his room, rarely leaving except for the bathroom; otherwise, he stayed inside. Lin Ling knew Wu Guanzhong was a hacker and understood him well. His skills had caught the attention of the police, and he helped them solve numerous cases—all thanks to Wu Guanzhong’s expertise.

Lin Ling walked straight into Wu Guanzhong’s room. He’d grown accustomed to her frequent visits, so he didn’t object—just asked not to disturb his work.

When Lin Ling entered, she massaged his shoulders and said, “Guanguan, are you tired? Why not rest on the bed and let me massage you?”

Wu Guanzhong paused his work and in an instant pulled Lin Ling into his embrace, his former shyness gone. He smiled, “I’m not tired, darling. It’s you who’s been worrying over me these days.”

Lin Ling pouted playfully, “What do you mean ‘worrying’? I care about you. You sound just like Guoguo.”

“You mean your junior disciple. He’s similar to me in temperament, but he has something I lack,” Wu Guanzhong mused.

“In my eyes, you’re much more handsome than Guoguo. He’s a total ironclad straight man, that’s what I say, and others will accept it too.”

Meanwhile...

“Achoo!” Rain Star Moon sneezed loudly, rubbing his nose. “Who’s thinking of me? Could it be Mom?”

Wu Guanzhong said, “Don’t underestimate your junior. Everyone has a secret weapon, everyone.”

“So what’s your secret weapon?” Lin Ling asked, curious.

Wu Guanzhong smiled, “My secret weapon is a girlfriend who’s skilled in both literature and martial arts, who can handle both the drawing room and the kitchen. Who wouldn’t envy me for such a treasure?”

Lin Ling blushed, lightly punching his chest, and said coyly, “You’re so bad!”