Chapter 12: Crimson Moon
A stifling atmosphere silently spread through the classroom, the oppressive urgency accumulating along the walls of the cramped space like a sardine can, making it hard to breathe.
Su Yu gazed out at the silent night. The old streetlights along the track had gone out at some point, the darkness stretching along the track to the edge of his vision. It seemed as though monsters were lurking in the night, licking their fangs, their bloodshot eyes reflecting Su Yu’s image.
“Hey, wanna grab some snacks?”
Suddenly, someone patted Su Yu’s shoulder. He turned around and saw Chen Kai behind him.
“The school store is closed.”
“Then let’s go out and buy some.”
“Alright, a walk would be nice.”
Su Yu didn’t think much of it and agreed. Their class didn’t have a teacher supervising them on Wednesday evenings. Sneaking out of the classroom for some fresh air was something he and Chen Kai had done many times before. The atmosphere was too suffocating; they needed an outlet.
“Xia Qian Ge, want us to bring you anything?” Chen Kai called out to Xia Qian Ge, who was sitting in front of them.
“Hmm?” Xia Qian Ge put down her pen and slowly turned around, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed. “Are you… going out again?”
“It’s too stuffy. Su Yu and I are going out for some air.”
Xia Qian Ge’s clear, black and white eyes flickered with complex emotions. She was looking at both of them, but Su Yu felt like she was staring at him. He could even see the reflections in her dark pupils.
“Can… can I go with you?”
“Huh?”
Chen Kai was stunned, and so was Su Yu. This had never happened in his previous life.
“I guess… it’s okay, right?” Chen Kai looked at Su Yu, a mischievous smile on his face. “Su Yu, what do you think?”
…
Besides the main gate and the side gate, there was only one other little-known exit from the school. Chen Kai and Su Yu had discovered it before; it was a leftover from the school’s renovations. To get out, they had to go through a small wooded area.
Su Yu and Xia Qian Ge walked together, while Chen Kai, wanting to give them some alone time, walked ahead briskly.
“I didn’t expect you to come out with us.”
“Are you surprised?”
“Yeah.” Su Yu nodded. “You don’t seem like someone who likes to join in on this kind of thing.”
“Is that so?” Xia Qian Ge stopped walking and brushed aside the hair covering her eyes. She stared at Su Yu. “Then what do you think I’m like?”
“Huh?”
Lost in thought, Su Yu hadn’t even noticed that Xia Qian Ge had stopped. He accidentally stepped on a crooked branch, the sharp crack echoing through the quiet woods. He snapped back to reality and realized Xia Qian Ge was behind him.
“I…”
Xia Qian Ge stood in the darkness. The moon was full and bright tonight, but its light couldn’t penetrate the dense summer canopy. Indistinct shadows covered half her face, obscuring her expression.
“Are you mad? I didn’t mean anything by it.” Su Yu paused and explained, thinking Xia Qian Ge was upset that he hadn’t wanted her to come along.
But Xia Qian Ge still didn’t answer. She just stood there. A night owl perched in the corner of the woods, its baby-like cries mixing with the rustling leaves in the night breeze.
Su Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He suddenly felt wary. These past few days, he had been lulled by pleasantries. This current peace was only because he had been reborn.
The ability to change the past made Su Yu feel a bit detached. He didn’t have to worry about the pressure of senior year, could easily correct past mistakes, and could even pave a smooth path for his future. Rebirth had brought him many benefits, but it had also relaxed his vigilance for too long.
Perhaps a monster was lurking in the darkness, its crimson eyes fixed on him, watching him silently.
Su Yu instinctively looked up at the sky. The normally white moon was now blood red, its crimson light bathing him, making him feel as if he was covered in blood.
Blood, viscous… crimson.
Su Yu was startled. He stumbled back, unable to believe his eyes.
“Pfft…”
A soft laugh cut through the strange sounds around him. Su Yu, fighting back his fear, looked up. Xia Qian Ge was walking towards him, the shadows receding from her face. This time, Su Yu finally saw her expression. She was smiling. He looked up at the sky again. There was no blood moon, only a clear, white crescent moon.
“I didn’t know you were so easily scared, Su Yu. I was just joking.”
Xia Qian Ge chuckled and walked up to Su Yu, her pretty eyes curving into crescents, looking incredibly cute.
“Haha, you really scared me.” Su Yu clutched his chest, playing along. “I’m actually quite afraid of the dark.”
“Afraid of the dark…” Xia Qian Ge murmured softly, a smile playing on her lips.
“Here, hold my hand, if you’re scared…”
Xia Qian Ge extended her hand towards Su Yu.
“Huh?”
Su Yu looked at Xia Qian Ge’s slender wrist for a moment, his sweaty palms rubbing against the fabric of his pants. He seemed hesitant, unsure of the reason for her sudden warmth.
Had Xia Qian Ge noticed his deliberate distancing, or was he just being too sensitive?
“Hey, you two, hurry up! Can you save the flirting for later?” Chen Kai, who was walking ahead, called out impatiently.
“Let’s go.”
Su Yu, still shaken, walked straight ahead, not even looking at Xia Qian Ge.
Her slender, white wrist remained suspended in mid-air, the charming smile still on her face, but her delicate fingers slowly curled into a fist, the veins on her hand becoming visible from the force.
The dry air quickly dried the sweat on his clothes, and Su Yu’s breathing gradually steadied. He suddenly remembered Xia Qian Ge behind him. He was about to turn around when the scent of gardenias brushed against his nose.
“Why did you stop?”
Su Yu realized Xia Qian Ge had caught up, walking just a step behind him. The girl’s smile was the same as always, but her cheeks were flushed an unnatural crimson.
“Did… did you hear what Chen Kai just said?” Xia Qian Ge continued to follow Su Yu, her lips pursed, asking cautiously.
“Chen Kai?” Su Yu frowned, instinctively repeating the words from his memory. “Chen Kai just said, let’s hurry up… and we can flirt outside…”
Su Yu abruptly stopped speaking because Xia Qian Ge’s face turned even redder.
“You heard it after all. Chen Kai is so annoying.”
Xia Qian Ge muttered, lightly stamping on Su Yu’s foot in mock anger. “Just forget it. I shouldn’t have come out with you two.”
The thoughts of an adolescent girl were on full display, the shyness born of innocence, pure and beautiful.
The girl hadn’t changed. His unfounded wariness seemed unnecessary after all. It was all an illusion, he thought.
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