X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerShen Meng felt a little embarrassed under Leng Ningxue’s knowing gaze.
She was afraid Xue’er might blurt out something earth-shattering.
Thinking quickly, she unwrapped a red mint candy and stuffed it into Leng Ningxue’s mouth.
“I’ll treat you to some candy.”
The cool mint flavor melted across Leng Ningxue’s tongue, and her eyes instantly curved into crescents.
She shot Shen Meng a look that clearly said, I’ll let you off this time.
After all, it was hard to criticize someone while enjoying their candy.
Leng Ningxue stood up and walked toward the sunshade where Zhuang Yan was sitting.
Before leaving, she threw Shen Meng an encouraging look.
Good luck.
She had no intention of becoming a third wheel.
Zhuang Yan’s sunshade had been set up very close to Shi Yubai’s.
Xu Sui’an looked at Leng Ningxue.
The two girls exchanged a knowing glance before simultaneously looking toward Shen Meng.
“Our Mengmeng is making progress.”
Leng Ningxue grinned.
“I saw her give He Nanzhou a green mint candy.”
Xu Sui’an lowered her voice.
“She’s been secretly in love with him for seven years.”
“No one understands Brother Nanzhou better than she does.”
The two girls happily whispered among themselves.
Zhuang Yan was lazily playing a game on his phone when he caught sight of Ruan Qingyang.
Beside him were Ruan Qingqing…
…and Zhao Yuejiao.
His eyebrows twitched.
What a coincidence.
“Brother Shi.”
“Look who’s here.”
Shi Yubai looked up just as Ruan Qingyang’s delighted gaze met his.
“Brother Shi!”
“You and A’Yan aren’t very loyal.”
“You came hiking without inviting me?”
Ruan Qingyang walked over and plopped down between Shi Yubai and Zhuang Yan.
“We came to spend time with our girlfriends.”
Zhuang Yan put away his phone with a grin.
“Were we supposed to invite you here to be a third wheel?”
Ruan Qingyang wasn’t offended.
Instead, he turned toward his sister.
“Qingqing, wait here for a bit.”
“I’ll go buy another sunshade.”
Ruan Qingqing’s eyes instinctively drifted toward Shi Yubai.
Her heart fluttered.
But the moment her gaze landed on Xu Sui’an…
A flash of jealousy flickered through her eyes.
“Brother Shi…”
“May I sit here?”
Xu Sui’an was lounging lazily beneath the umbrella.
The only empty space happened to be beside Shi Yubai.
Resting her chin on one hand, she looked at Shi Yubai with an amused smile.
Her index finger lightly poked the sensitive spot at his waist…
Again.
And again.
Feeling the ticklish sensation, Shi Yubai’s smile deepened.
“I’m sorry.”
“Our umbrella’s a little too small.”
Turning to Zhuang Yan, he said meaningfully,
“A’Yan.”
“Let’s go help Qingyang set up his umbrella.”
“His umbrella’s much bigger.”
Their umbrellas were couples’ umbrellas.
There was no room for an extra person.
“Coming!”
Zhuang Yan immediately stood and followed him.
Long eyelashes lowered, hiding the disappointment in Ruan Qingqing’s eyes.
Her jealousy toward the carefree Xu Sui’an only deepened.
Zhao Yuejiao narrowed her eyes.
Just as Shi Yubai and Zhuang Yan walked past…
She deliberately pretended her legs had gone weak.
“Ah!”
She stumbled dramatically toward them.
It didn’t matter which man’s arms she fell into.
Either way, she’d come out ahead.
Bang!
Her plan was beautiful.
Reality…
…was not.
She had overlooked a third possibility.
She missed both of them completely…
…and performed a perfect faceplant onto the ground.
“Jiaojiao!”
Ruan Qingqing hurried over to help Zhao Yuejiao up.
Zhao Yuejiao looked at Shi Yubai and Zhuang Yan with a face full of grievance.
“How could you just stand there and watch?”
“You didn’t even try to help!”
“Where’s your compassion?”
“Where’s your classmate spirit?”
Shi Yubai didn’t even spare her a glance.
Without slowing his steps, he replied flatly,
“Your free-fall performance…”
“…was quite spectacular.”
Zhuang Yan twitched helplessly.
“You screamed so loudly.”
“What was there for anyone to rescue?”
Zhao Yuejiao’s eyes widened in anger.
Her palms stung from the fall.
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
She had used this trick countless times before.
She might fake a stumble…
But she’d never actually hit the ground.
There had always been plenty of men eager to catch her.
For the first time…
Her tried-and-tested little trick had been wasted on two blocks of wood.
“I meant exactly what I said.”
Zhuang Yan walked around her and headed toward Ruan Qingyang.
Ruan Qingqing carefully supported Zhao Yuejiao.
“Jiaojiao, be careful.”
She had no idea the fall had been intentional.
“I’m fine.”
Zhao Yuejiao’s eyes flickered.
Looking up, she found Xu Sui’an and Leng Ningxue watching her.
The smiles in both girls’ eyes were impossible to miss.
A silent mockery.
As though she were nothing more than a joke.
Zhuang Yan casually patted Ruan Qingyang on the shoulder.
“You’d better keep an eye on the people you brought.”
“I don’t want to spend the day worrying about someone crashing into me.”
“My queen is a germaphobe.”
“You know she’s my whole world.”
Ruan Qingyang looked a little awkward.
“It was just an accident.”
Shi Yubai looked directly into his eyes.
His voice turned cold.
“I don’t want to see that kind of ‘accident’ happen a second time.”
“Who you choose as friends is your business.”
“But don’t let them bother me.”
“They’re annoying.”
“Brother Shi.”
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t disturb you again.”
Ruan Qingyang’s heart sank.
Shi Yubai’s dissatisfaction was no longer aimed solely at Zhao Yuejiao.
It now included him as well.
Without another word, Shi Yubai turned and returned to Xu Sui’an’s side.
Ruan Qingyang looked at Zhao Yuejiao with a complicated expression.
“Yuejiao.”
“Shi Yubai isn’t someone you can toy with.”
“Don’t do anything foolish.”
“If you cross him…”
“…no one will be able to protect you.”
“I know.”
“He isn’t my target.”
“It was just a coincidence.”
Zhao Yuejiao dismissed the warning.
The person she was actually interested in…
Was Zhuang Yan.
Why?
Because…
His eyes looked far too much like that bastard’s.
Before he’d broken things off with her…
That man had possessed the same clear, honest eyes.
The same burning passion.
Seeing eyes like that irritated her for no reason.
She wanted…
To destroy that clarity.
To extinguish that fire.
Zhuang Yan frowned.
At that exact moment, he caught the malice flashing through Zhao Yuejiao’s eyes.
It disappeared in an instant.
As though it had never existed.
“A’Yan?”
Leng Ningxue waved a hand in front of his face.
Concern filled her eyes.
“Xue’er.”
“I just saw the look Zhao Yuejiao gave me.”
“It was full of hostility.”
“She’s definitely up to no good.”
“That fall earlier was intentional.”
“If Brother Shi and I hadn’t dodged in time…”
“…she would’ve crashed straight into one of us.”
Leng Ningxue gently smoothed the crease between his brows.
“A’Yan…”
“Stay as far away from her as possible.”
“She’s infamous at Nanda.”
“She changes boyfriends as often as people change napkins.”
“The moment she’s done with them, she throws them away.”
“No one knows how many couples she’s broken up.”
“Every guy she targets has one thing in common.”
“They’re devoted to their girlfriends…”
“…and they have clear, honest eyes.”
“She’ll win them over…”
“…then dump them in less than a month.”
“Not once has there been an exception.”
“I’ll be careful.”
A trace of disgust flashed through Zhuang Yan’s eyes.
He silently decided to stay far away from Zhao Yuejiao.
She was like a virus.
The farther away, the better.
Xu Sui’an accepted the apple Shi Yubai had just peeled.
The long strip of apple peel remained perfectly intact—
Almost a work of art.
“Xiaobai…”
“Your hands are amazing.”
Shi Yubai deliberately raised one hand and waved it in front of her.
“My hands can do far more than peel apples.”
“I can use them to do a lot more things for you.”
His hands were long and elegant.
Perfectly proportioned.
Beautiful fingers.
“Haven’t I ever told you…”
“…that your hands are incredibly handsome?”
Xu Sui’an admired them sincerely.
As the novel’s male lead, Shi Yubai truly had everything.
Broad shoulders.
A narrow waist.
Long legs.
A face flawless from every angle.
Top-tier intelligence.
Top-tier wealth.
Top-tier physique.
She took out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned each of his fingers with painstaking attention.
How could anyone resist such a perfect boyfriend?
“No.”
Shi Yubai closed his eyes.
His voice carried the faintest hint of grievance.
“Then I must’ve forgotten.”
“Xiaobai…”
“Your hands are absolutely gorgeous.”
Xu Sui’an praised him wholeheartedly, happiness bubbling inside her.
The man belongs to me.
Which means those beautiful hands belong to me too.
Xu Sui’an, you’re definitely life’s biggest winner.
Shi Yubai’s eyes overflowed with affection as he caught her gaze.
“They’re still nowhere near as beautiful…”
“…as my Suisui.”
Your next favorite story awaits! Don't miss out on The Moon Reflected In The Water – click to dive in!
Read : The Moon Reflected In The Water
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂