After Rebirth, I Stole My Ex-Boyfriend’s White Moonlight CHAPTER 21-22

Chapter 21: Unexpectedly Becoming an Older Brother

When Chi Qiulin arrived at the science building with the teacher and school security, only the boy remained, unconscious in a pool of blood.

Chi Qiulin blamed himself for exacerbating the boy’s injuries with his intervention, yet he didn’t understand why the boy had deliberately gone outside to be beaten.

After much deliberation without any leads, Chi Qiulin decided to focus on explaining the situation to the teacher and school officials.

…

In the hospital room, Zhou Xuan, having just regained consciousness, looked pale and weak as he faced the principal and police, their expressions grave.

When questioned by the police, Zhou Xuan answered calmly, “Xiao An was the one who stabbed me.”

“You mean Xiao An stabbed you on purpose?”

Meeting the principal’s furious gaze, Zhou Xuan calmly nodded.

The principal said sternly, “You’ll be held responsible for your words.”

Looking at the principal’s insincere gaze, Chi Qiulin recalled Xiao An’s words, “Even if I kill you, I won’t be held responsible,” a chill running down his spine. This prompted him to calmly say, “Principal, please understand that the ones injured in this conflict were us.”

The police officer asked Chi Qiulin, “Are you sure Zhou Xuan didn’t deliberately run into him?”

Chi Qiulin looked at Zhou Xuan, then at the officer, and finally shook his head.

The incident concluded as an accidental injury resulting from a conflict between two parties—because of conflicting statements and the lack of surveillance cameras in the science building, it was ruled as a simple fight.

Of course, the wealthy and influential Xiao family paid Zhou Xuan a substantial sum in compensation.

When the crowd dispersed, in the quiet hospital room, Chi Qiulin calmly observed the frail boy in the bed.

The boy’s tone was impolite. “Why aren’t you leaving?”

“I have something to ask you,” Chi Qiulin said, his tone slightly annoyed. “I spoke up for you because I thought they were bullying you, but I’ve changed my mind.”

Chi Qiulin had been puzzled. They could have avoided the fight by staying in the lab. Why had the boy deliberately opened the door and gone out to be beaten? His confusion was resolved after seeing the compensation the Xiao family gave Zhou Xuan.

The boy obviously understood what Chi Qiulin meant. He touched the bandage over his eye, his tone slightly sarcastic. “You think I did it for the money? That this was some kind of scam?”

The initially self-assured Chi Qiulin, questioned so directly, didn’t know what to say.

But the boy calmly continued, “Think whatever you want. I need to rest. You can leave now.”

With that, the boy lay back in bed, pretending to sleep.

Chi Qiulin assumed the boy had implicitly agreed. He stood there for a moment but didn’t leave. Instead, in a sudden impulse, he said, “If you’re having financial difficulties, I can help. Don’t hurt yourself anymore.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the boy slowly opened his eyes, his dark eyes locking onto Chi Qiulin’s face. “What’s your name?”

“…Chi Qiulin.” Chi Qiulin felt embarrassed. He had been presumptuous for so long; the boy hadn’t even known his name.

“Chi Qiulin,” the boy repeated slowly, then suddenly smiled. “So there are other people with the surname Chi. That’s nice.”

Chi Qiulin nodded. “Um… that surname is probably quite rare.”

“Ge.” The boy suddenly said.

“Ah?” Chi Qiulin was taken aback. Why did he suddenly call him “Ge” out of nowhere?

____________

Chapter 22: Hoping He’ll Live Well

The boy’s eyes shone with a mischievous light as he looked at Chi Qiulin. “Is this title unacceptable?”

Chi Qiulin awkwardly scratched his head. “Acceptable, acceptable.”

The boy chuckled softly, then said unhurriedly, “Ge, actually, my dad is very rich.”

Chi Qiulin paused, then realized the boy was explaining—his actions weren’t for money.

Then why had he done it? Chi Qiulin wanted to ask further but was afraid of being annoying.

Unexpectedly, the boy continued on his own. “I just hate Xiao An. I’ll make him pay for everything he’s done.”

Chi Qiulin understood the boy hated Xiao An’s bullying and had resorted to this extreme measure. He sighed helplessly, “Even if you hate him, you shouldn’t hurt yourself like this!”

This didn’t seem to comfort the boy. His voice immediately dropped. “If my death could change everything, I’d die a hundred times.”

Chi Qiulin gasped, not knowing how to respond. He couldn’t understand why someone so young could be so reckless with their life.

Looking at the boy’s frail and battered body, Chi Qiulin felt pity. He decided to guide the boy back to a better path.

Looking at the bright sky outside, Chi Qiulin deliberately lightened his tone, casually inviting, “The weather’s so nice today. How about I take you stargazing tonight?”

“Okay.” The boy readily agreed.

…

That night, the stars were exceptionally bright. Chi Qiulin helped the boy sit on the grass near the hospital, both gazing up at the glittering expanse of stars.

Under the starry sky, the boy’s defenses and aloofness softened, and his starlit eyes shone with the innocence unique to youth.

This seemed to be the boy’s true self, and Chi Qiulin stared at his face, mesmerized.

The boy spoke softly, his tone gentler than ever before, “Ge, the stars seem so close tonight, as if we could reach out and touch them.”

Chi Qiulin saw this gentle and harmless side of the boy for the first time. He quickly nodded. “Yeah, let’s make a wish. Maybe it’ll come true.”

The boy scoffed, “It’s not a shooting star.”

“Who says you need a shooting star to make a wish—” Chi Qiulin began to fabricate, “You find ninety-nine stars you like best, and make a wish on them. It will definitely come true.”

The boy asked, “Um? Why?”

Chi Qiulin continued improvising, “Because ninety-nine stars are definitely more powerful than a shooting star!”

As soon as he finished, Chi Qiulin realized his absurd reasoning was a bit embarrassing. Just when he thought the boy would laugh at him, he saw the boy clasp his hands together, devoutly counting stars.

Chi Qiulin was speechless and pretended to count the stars along with the boy.

Ninety-nine stars were difficult to count. By halfway, Chi Qiulin’s eyes felt sore, but seeing the boy’s serious expression, he had to keep counting.

After counting ninety-nine stars, it was finally time to make a wish. Chi Qiulin suddenly became serious—as if the wish could really come true.

Though this intuition was absurd, Chi Qiulin still earnestly made his wish—he hoped the boy would live well, that no matter what happened, he would bravely live on.