Chapter 1: The Returned White Moonlight (1)

Chapter 1: The Prodigal Moonlight Returns (Part 1)

The capricious summer weather had just been gloriously sunny, but now rain began to fall. The college, already on break, lay deserted. Yun Jinqiu, caught without an umbrella, sought refuge under the eaves, intending to wait out the shower before heading home.

Through the hazy curtain of rain, Yun Jinqiu leaned casually against the wall, a pristine drawing board held in his hand. His figure was tall and slender, his bones delicate. His skin was luminous and fair, his face as refined as polished jade. Dressed in nothing more than a simple white shirt and black trousers, his narrow waist and long legs were accentuated, lending him an air of elegant grace. His soft, fluffy short hair danced gently in the breeze, and beneath his long, thick eyelashes lay eyes as deep and tranquil as an ancient well, yet undeniably captivating.

He lowered his head, listening serenely to the rain, his long, pale fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat on the drawing board.

"Senior Jinqiu? Is that really you!"

A girl, umbrella in hand, ran through the rain, her face alight with surprise as she looked at Yun Jinqiu.

Yun Jinqiu lifted his gaze in astonishment, then offered a faint smile. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"I heard from a friend that you might be in the art studio. I can’t believe I actually ran into you! Maybe it’s fate!" the girl exclaimed excitedly, pulling a pink envelope from her handbag and extending it to Yun Jinqiu.

"Senior Jinqiu, I’ve liked you for a long time."

Yun Jinqiu paused, glancing at the envelope in the girl’s hand. Such envelopes were a familiar sight. So, as he always did, he gently declined.

"I’m sorry, but I’m not looking to date anyone right now."

The girl’s face fell slightly, but a sense of relief quickly replaced her disappointment. "It’s okay. At least I’ve conveyed my feelings." With that, she pressed the envelope into Yun Jinqiu’s hand, waved with a smile, and called out, "Bye-bye!" before dashing back into the rain with her umbrella.

Yun Jinqiu: "..." She was already here; the least she could’ve done was lend him her umbrella. Or let him borrow her phone to make a call.

Not far away, a figure stood quietly in a pavilion, observing the two. To him, Yun Jinqiu’s wistful gaze seemed to morph into one of regret and reluctance. After a moment of silence, he walked over. A faint smile touched his lips, but his eyes remained guarded. Combined with the glare on his glasses, he appeared somewhat unapproachable.

"You forgot your umbrella again. How many times is that this month? You really are a handful."

Yun Jinqiu chuckled softly. He had known Shang Wenyi would come.

"Well, I have you, don’t I?" With a familiar face, Yun Jinqiu’s tone took on a playful edge. The usually cool and dignified beauty suddenly became remarkably animated.

Shang Wenyi couldn’t help but frown, his eyes momentarily dazzled by Yun Jinqiu’s smile.

"Did you smile at that girl like that too?"

"What else was I supposed to do?" Yun Jinqiu looked genuinely puzzled. "She was speaking to me nicely. I couldn’t just be rude to her, could I?"

"What did she say to you?" Shang Wenyi inquired.

"Oh, that’s a secret," Yun Jinqiu winked, his gaze ambiguous.

Shang Wenyi’s eyes darkened. He took a deep breath but ultimately said nothing. Yun Jinqiu was always like this—so carefree and unfettered, as if nothing could truly capture his attention or his heart. And he remained utterly oblivious to the turmoil he stirred in those around him, who were practically tearing their hair out with anxiety.

"You not only forgot your umbrella, but you also didn’t bring your phone. I’ve been looking for you for ages." Shang Wenyi tilted his umbrella towards Yun Jinqiu.

"I forgot," Yun Jinqiu shrugged, unconcerned.

"But seriously, you’ve come to pick me up so many times. Why don’t you ever bring an extra umbrella?" Yun Jinqiu looked up at the sky, a puzzled expression on his face.

Shang Wenyi: "People will think we’re not close if we use separate umbrellas."

"But two grown men sharing one umbrella—don’t you feel squished?" Yun Jinqiu poked Shang Wenyi’s arm.

"..." Shang Wenyi fell silent for a moment. "If you feel cramped, you can move closer."

"Move closer? Wouldn’t that make it even more cramped?" Yun Jinqiu rose slightly on his tiptoes, slinging an arm around Shang Wenyi’s neck. "If it’s this cramped next time, I’ll just climb onto your shoulders."

Shang Wenyi adjusted his glasses. Inhaling Yun Jinqiu’s fresh, clean scent, he nodded absentmindedly. "Fine. If you can manage to get up there."

"Are you underestimating me?" Yun Jinqiu raised an eyebrow.

...

The Yun and Shang families were old friends, their bond so strong that their residences were built side by side. In City A, the two most renowned mountaintop villas belonged to the Shang and Yun families. Standing majestically on the same peak, they resembled twin towers glowing brilliantly against the night sky, a truly spectacular sight.

By the time their car entered the estate, the rain had ceased.

Shang Wenyi hesitated before asking, "Do you want to come to my place for dinner?"

Yun Jinqiu shook his head. "Another time. My parents should be home tonight."

Shang Wenyi didn’t press the issue. "Alright."

"See you tomorrow, then," Yun Jinqiu waved.

"...See you tomorrow." Shang Wenyi watched Yun Jinqiu’s retreating figure, his expression tinged with gloom.

As soon as Yun Jinqiu arrived home, he made a beeline for his bedroom. On his nightstand sat two photo frames: one displaying a picture of him with his parents, the other a childhood photo of him and Shang Wenyi. The two had grown up together, knowing each other since they were toddlers.

As a child, Yun Jinqiu was exquisitely delicate and fair, so adorable that one might want to take a bite out of him. Shang Wenyi, only six months older, was equally charming but always wore a serious expression, like a miniature adult.

Yun Jinqiu calculated—he had been in this world for almost nineteen years. In this world, Shang Wenyi was the male lead. As the protagonist, Shang Wenyi’s attributes were naturally outstanding. As a child, he was a brooding, handsome boy who gradually became more cheerful under Yun Jinqiu’s influence. As an adult, Shang Wenyi was tall, nearly 190 cm, with a physique well-suited for an athlete. Yet his demeanor was remarkably calm and refined, complemented by a pair of standard silver-rimmed glasses. With sharp features, intense eyes, and an aloof expression, he resembled a science prodigy who excelled at sports rather than a typical athlete.

This was the first world Yun Jinqiu had entered after awakening. To appease the grievances of the "White Moonlight" figures, he needed to turn the tables for the White Moonlight in this story—to become a free-spirited traveler who never looked back.

In this narrative, Yun Jinqiu was Shang Wenyi’s White Moonlight. They had grown up together, their bond so close they were practically inseparable. But at some point, their relationship subtly shifted. Perhaps it was the surge of hormones during adolescence—Shang Wenyi began craving physical contact with Yun Jinqiu. By the time he realized something was amiss, he was already deeply entangled, unable to extricate himself.

Day after day, year after year, his burgeoning desire tormented him. He even began having vivid, erotic dreams—beautiful, warm, and intensely arousing. But upon waking, Shang Wenyi was left with an overwhelming emptiness.

He harbored feelings for Yun Jinqiu but dared not confess them to anyone. He feared that speaking his truth would cost him their friendship. So it remained a secret, forever buried deep in his heart. Though he could control his words, he couldn’t control his actions or thoughts. His possessiveness toward Yun Jinqiu grew stronger, and he unconsciously monitored everyone and everything around Yun Jinqiu, neutralizing any potential rivals.

He longed for Yun Jinqiu’s attention and reciprocation but couldn’t bring himself to reveal his true feelings. This internal conflict left him perpetually tormented, pushing him to the brink of madness.

Yun Jinqiu was aware of Shang Wenyi’s feelings—it was, after all, part of the plot. But beyond that, he knew little. Shang Wenyi was deeply guarded. Yun Jinqiu had initially considered trying to change him, but Shang Wenyi’s brief period of cheerfulness soon gave way to his usual gloom. Recalling the story’s setup, if not for Shang Wenyi’s reserved nature and inability to articulate his feelings, his relationship with the male lead's love interest wouldn't have been so fraught with anguish from beginning to end.

In the original plot, Shang Wenyi never confessed his feelings. Later, Yun Jinqiu went abroad for his family’s business and stayed for six or seven years. Over time, Shang Wenyi gradually moved on from this unrequited love and found a new partner—the story’s male lead's love interest.

After overcoming societal pressures, the male lead and his love interest finally got together and planned to marry abroad. But just then, Yun Jinqiu returned.

Everything seemed to freeze. At the airport, Shang Wenyi abandoned his love interest to seek out Yun Jinqiu. Thus, after overcoming countless obstacles and enjoying only a few days of happiness, the couple plunged back into a torturous romance.

After Shang Wenyi came out, his feelings for Yun Jinqiu were no longer a secret. When Yun Jinqiu found out, he felt a wave of revulsion. Coincidentally, his family’s business in China encountered problems. Having been abroad for seven years, Yun Jinqiu’s memory of Shang Wenyi had faded. Knowing Shang Wenyi’s feelings, he decided to exploit them. But as he manipulated the situation, he genuinely developed real feelings for Shang Wenyi and tried to steal him away from the male lead's love interest. However, Shang Wenyi had already come to terms with his own heart. He had loved Yun Jinqiu once, but he had moved on. Especially after Yun Jinqiu repeatedly hurt his lover, he couldn't bear to betray the one he loved now—because if his lover became disillusioned, they would truly leave him.

Seeing that Shang Wenyi no longer loved him, Yun Jinqiu spiraled into madness, step by step ruining his reputation and ultimately meeting a tragic end. The outcome was lamentable.

Meanwhile, Shang Wenyi embarked on an arduous journey to win back his lover. But by then, these events had nothing to do with Yun Jinqiu.

Yun Jinqiu estimated the timeline of the plot. He had been following the story’s predetermined path in this world for nineteen years, and now it was almost time for his character to go abroad. The mission in this world wasn’t complicated. He just needed to manage the family business well overseas and, upon returning, avoid interfering with the male lead and his lover’s happy life. As long as he didn’t invite trouble, everything would resolve itself.

Thinking this, Yun Jinqiu nodded to himself.

Outside, the housekeeper knocked on the door.

"Young Master, dinner is ready. Your father and mother have returned and are waiting for you in the dining room."

Yun Jinqiu stood up upon hearing this. "Alright, I understand."

Author's note:

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New story launch! Hope everyone shows lots of support. Love you!