Chapter 27 Blame the Beautiful Moon Tonight

Evelyn walked hand in hand with William on the late-night streets. Step by step, they moved together, neither hurried nor slow. The moon hung in the sky, and there were still vendors with warm lights along the street.
Everything felt so real, walking like this, toward a destination.
William was about to take off his coat to give it to Evelyn, but she slyly smiled and simply nestled into his embrace. "This feels so good."
Evelyn didn't understand his sudden sentimentality. "What? What feels good?"
"It's good to have you."
"I feel the same!" Evelyn suddenly raised her voice. William knew she was intoxicated; she wouldn't be this obedient and well-behaved when sober.
"I haven't been home for a long time, no, that's not right. I haven't had a home for a long time."
William listened to her words, her voice trembling softly at the end, and didn't interrupt her, wanting to hear more.
"When I didn't have a mother, I didn't have a home. Sometimes, I really envy Vivian. She has her mother, who cares about her and can accompany her. I also want... I want a mother."
William had checked Evelyn's past experiences and knew that she had lost her mother when she was 12. Perhaps no matter how detailed the descriptions in those files were, words were ultimately cold and detached. Only someone who had experienced it would know the pain and tears behind them.
"At one point, I hated my mother. I thought she was selfish, choosing to die when she didn't want to live anymore, but I couldn't do the same. Even if that person constantly pushed me, I still wished he could be by my side, because I wanted to have a home." After saying this, Evelyn fell silent, and tears silently streamed down her face.
William knew she was crying. He didn't even look down at her, but he just knew she was shedding tears. "There will be one in the future. And thank you, thank you for not giving up on yourself at that time."
This sentence from William, it really...
Warmth reached Evelyn. Thank you, thank you for becoming who I am now, and for standing in front of me, making me fall in love with you.
Vivian strolled around the streets, not coming back for a long time. The changes here were significant, and this was a good opportunity to take a closer look at the city.
There were hardly any people on the street. The downtown business district was quiet at night. Just as Vivian turned her head, she saw Charles. She didn't realize she was so lucky.
She stopped in front of him and rolled down the car window. "Oh, you are so handsome! It's dangerous to wander outside at night!"
Charles held a folder, arms crossed, looking at the person in the car. How could he encounter her while he was here to deliver a document for his father?
"What are you staring at me for? Get in, I'll give you a ride back. I'm just so kind-hearted! Can't help it."
Charles didn't bother to be polite with her anymore and got into the car. "It's just on the way. We live in the same community."
"You're not being polite at all. I won't go home now, let me drop you off first."
"Don't think that you look like this, so it's safe to be outside at night." Vivian knew he was using her previous words against her. She didn't mind and leaned closer. "Come on, tell me, what do I look like?"
Charles pinched her chin and brought her back to her original position. "Do you want me to die with you?"
"You're petty and afraid of death." Vivian shrunk back and murmured softly.
As the car entered the residential area, two people by the roadside caught Charles's attention. He recognized Evelyn and wanted to roll down the window and take a closer look, but Vivian stopped him. "What are you doing? Don't disturb them!" Watching her being so serious and persistent for the first time, he felt curious.
"What's your relationship with Evelyn?"
"That's none of your business." The car stopped downstairs, and Vivian said directly, "Get off."
Charles didn't say anything, but smiled at Vivian with narrowed peach blossom eyes. Vivian couldn't help but stare at him.
Charles took out his phone. "You can leave work now. I'm already home."
On the other end of the phone, someone was still furious. How did you return? Couldn't you have told me beforehand?
Vivian looked at the folder left in the car, sighed in silence, and chased after him, but he had already entered the elevator and she couldn't catch up. Well, she knew where he lived anyway, and she was familiar with driving around.
Charles came to open the door as if he knew she would come up. Leaning against the doorframe, he looked at her, and she felt her scalp tingling. "Your stuff." She handed it to him directly and turned to leave.
Charles didn't know why, but he pulled her arm. Vivian widened her eyes. "What are you doing?!"
"Since you can't go back, I'll let you stay for a while."
"You're thinking too much! I... I'm actually a very conservative person, so don't misunderstand!" Charles let go of her arm, turned around, and entered the house. "Whatever, do as you wish. Go out and wander around. Close the door on your way out."
Vivian felt like she was about to shut the door with her hand, but then she realized that it was actually the person who had been teasing her all along.
"What a missed opportunity? I can just go in, being downstairs is so boring," Charles took off his coat and turned into the bedroom. "Watch TV by yourself."
Vivian knew she had indeed overthought things. She sat down and turned on the TV. Wait, why am I so hungry? I still have some instant noodles from last time, she thought. Should I have another pack? Without thinking, she was already standing in front of the refrigerator. Opening it revealed a sight similar to last time - a few bottles of alcohol and the rest filled with water, all of the same brand.
There was ice cream and the instant noodles were still there. She quickly boiled some hot water, paired the instant noodles with the ice cream, and felt happy just thinking about it.
When Charles came out of the shower, he saw her taking over his kitchen and busy with something. His tone was not pleasant as he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Making food, you go to sleep. I'll be here for a while, and I'll close the door when I leave," she replied without turning her head. Charles walked over himself, and it was instant noodles again!
Because of the last incident, he had already replaced the curtains and sofa. But now she was cooking instant noodles again. He stormed into the kitchen and grabbed Vivian's hand just as she was about to add seasoning. "Clean up this place thoroughly before you throw this thing in!"
Vivian looked at the Evelyn look-alike before her and thought to herself. How can you throw it away once it's cooked? She suddenly burst into acting, "I'm hungry, can't I have something to eat? I dragged you up from downstairs earlier, and today I brought you back. I just want to cook a bowl of noodles to fill my stomach, is that not allowed?" Vivian even pinched herself to produce some tears.
At this moment, Charles was very close to her, and he could clearly see the pores on her face. Her skin was good and tender, and she had a watery complexion. Her large eyes were crescent-shaped. He was still holding her hand.
Vivian went all out with her plan. With a teardrop falling, she said, "Yes, instant noodles have a strong flavor, but I will clean up. I'm really hungry."
In the end, Vivian succeeded, of course. Charles sat alone on the sofa with a black face, no sign of the pitiful look he had a while ago. She happily ate instant noodles, feeling a fire burning inside her. It was simply crocodile tears.
Vivian dragged him to the dining table and presented the instant noodles and the fried eggs in front of him. "Are you going to eat or not? It's especially delicious!"
Charles looked at the food in front of him, unmoved.
"You've never had instant noodles before? Such a delicious and convenient food, and you've never tried it? Unacceptable," she said.
He indeed had never tried instant noodles. These few packs were left here by his manager. Seeing her highly recommending it, he actually picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.
In the end, the two of them finished three packs of instant noodles and two fried eggs. After brushing his teeth and coming out, Charles was shocked to see Vivian still sitting on the sofa, hugging the ice cream and watching TV.
He sat down next to her. Vivian smiled brightly, "Delicious, right? I've realized you're just like Evelyn. She disagrees with everything I do, but if I coax her, there's no problem. That time at the hospital, you went to see her, didn't you? Do you like her?"
Before he could answer, she continued speaking.
"Evelyn now has someone she likes, but it's okay. If you really like her, you'll be willing to wait. As long as you treat her well, I can introduce you to each other. If Evelyn doesn't like you, then there's nothing I can do," Vivian kept on chattering.
Not receiving a response, Vivian turned her gaze away from the TV and saw Charles leaning against the sofa, tilting his head, looking at her with peach blossom eyes and a half-smile.
Vivian didn't know what he was thinking. She hastily took a few bites of ice cream, anxiously checked her phone for the time—it was past midnight. She didn't know if William had left yet. If things continued like this, she would have to find a new place.
Placing the ice cream on the coffee table, she hurried to the door to bid Charles goodbye. "Um, thanks for the instant noodles and the ice cream. Bye." She closed the door behind her.
Checking the time again, Charles still felt uneasy. He grabbed his coat, changed his shoes, and chased after her in the elevator. "I'll drive you home."
Vivian felt that Charles's silent presence had the impact of a nuclear bomb. Curling up in the corner, all she could think was that he must want to go back with her and see Evelyn. There was a slight sense of disappointment, but he liked Evelyn, and that's what mattered.
William and Evelyn walked back together. William had never felt so close to Evelyn as he did now. Evelyn told him about her vulnerability, her insecurity, and her cowardice.
"Will you change? If not, I'd be perfectly happy if we can continue like this," Evelyn said.
"Who knows what the future holds, but I can assure you that my feelings for you won't change," William found it difficult to believe that he would say something so cliché. In those days when he had just returned from France, he was lost and pessimistic.
And yet, what he truly wanted at this moment was so vivid.
Evelyn chuckled softly, "I just don't want to be afraid anymore, don't want to care about the future, as Vivian said, let's be reckless for once. Whether it's love or a mistake, I don't want to calculate it anymore." With that, she tiptoed and kissed William's lips.
On the quiet road in the depths of the night, Evelyn did the bravest and most reckless thing she had ever done in her twenty-plus years. At that moment, it felt like she knew that meeting someone like William was the most audacious act of her life.
Under the pitch-black night sky, there were drunken wanderers and homeless souls on the roadside, singing tunes that no one appreciated, or gracefully transitioning into another dream under the headlights of passing cars. The taste of alcohol, the taste of dreams, at this moment, the taste in the hearts of the two embracing souls.
William escorted Evelyn back home, making sure she was settled before leaving. He no longer cared about the things Vivian said at the hospital. It's good that Evelyn has a friend like her.