The Suspended Moon - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Well, isn’t that inconvenient.” Sela sighed, then turned to look at me. “Looks like I won’t be able to keep you company today.”

As he spoke, the incubus’s dark violet eyes gazed into the distance, and his lips curved in a faint smile. “Oh? Your little lover’s here to catch you cheating.”

My heart lurched. I turned and saw a figure standing at the far end of the long alley.

Under the dark red moonlight, the black-haired young man braced his right hand tightly against the wall. Only when our eyes met did he show me a sorrowful smile, mouthing, “It’s okay. I won’t come over.”

A cold wind blew. He swayed, his body looking as if it might collapse at any moment.

I hurriedly said, “I’ll come another time, then. I have to go.”

With that, I ran toward Qiewen.

Behind me came Sela’s ambiguous click of the tongue, half amused and half mocking.

I rushed to Qiewen’s side and supported him, feeling rather helpless. “Why did you come out?”

The young man’s eyes shimmered, and he seemed a little aggrieved. He pouted before finally saying, “I was worried about you…”

As he spoke, he tilted his head and reached out to pull me into his arms. His heavy coat covered me from head to toe.

Qiewen also stuffed the stone he had been holding into my hands. A gentle warmth, hot but not scorching, brought feeling back to my fingertips. It was a Warm Stone.

He reminded me softly, “I was afraid you’d catch a cold. Take this inside with you. I’ll go home and wait for you.”

The black-haired beauty lowered his lashes, the long, thick fringe like raven feathers hiding the murky emotions in his eyes. In a quiet voice, he said, “It’s okay. As long as I’m Baby’s home, that’s enough.”

My heart tightened despite myself. I explained, “It’s fine. I originally only came here to pawn something, but their boss seems pretty busy, so I’ll talk about it another time.”

Only telling half the truth was still telling the truth, wasn’t it?

“Pawn something?”

He blinked, looking a little confused.

I said, “I don’t exactly look like I have much money… so I figured I’d pawn this first, just to get by until I find a job.”

Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I quickly took the bracelet out of my pocket.

Maybe it was my imagination, but I felt Qiewen’s eyes darken a little. A hint of chill seeped into those usually gentle features, sharper than even the cold wind around us.

Yet that expression vanished in an instant, so quickly I started to doubt whether I had imagined it.

“As it happens, I know another owner. His prices are fair too. If Baby trusts me, give it to me and I’ll help you sell it, all right?” Qiewen said.

In this situation, if I refused, he might think I suspected him.

And if he misunderstood me, certain things would become difficult to handle.

Although I didn’t think he was a bad person, he was definitely hiding something.

I nodded, then placed the bracelet in his hand.

The young man’s expression softened even further. His red lips lifted, and he closed his hand around it before asking slowly, “Then shall we go home together?”

When he said “go home together,” his voice was slow and intimate. His other hand also took mine.

I nodded.

Suddenly, he glanced behind him, then immediately draped the large coat back over my head.

“Mmph?” I said.

“Baby, don’t move.”

Qiewen ducked under it as well, bending down and looking at me with smiling eyes.

His scent filled the tiny space. He held me tighter and whispered, “Today, you didn’t go in. You chose me instead. I’m so happy…”

“Hey, what are you doing? Going to disturb those lovebirds, young master?” The incubus’s voice drifted over from the distance, tinged with teasing. “Getting so hungry you’ll eat anything, huh~”

“…No.”

The other voice was cold and deep, like icicles hanging from a frozen cavern, clear, sharp, and unpleasant to hear.

Another moment passed before Qiewen finally wrapped the coat properly around me.

I raised my hands to undo it, then stood on tiptoe and draped it over him instead. “I’m in good health. I don’t need this. Wear it properly, or I’ll get mad.”

“…Okay.”

Qiewen looked at me, and only when he realized I was serious did he agree in a soft voice.

“Let’s go. We’re going home.”

I held his hand and walked forward, looking back once as we left.

The place was still lit in dazzling red and green. A few drunken burly men stumbled out the entrance, but the two people who had been talking were gone.

Beneath the dome, that blood-red eye of a moon slowly turned, as if gazing down at the tavern.