Secrets Under the Moonlight"

chapter2

"Hey, have a few more bites!"came the stern voice of Lily's mother, Mrs. Taylor, from behind.

“Got your scent!” Lily exclaimed with a smile as she ran towards Daisy, who was waiting for her at the gate.

Wrapping her arm around Daisy's, the two walked to school chatting and laughing.

“Smelled your hair, today Auntie made beef soup again, so fragrant,” Daisy remarked.

“Not fragrant at all, it's too gamey,” Lily replied, rolling her eyes, remembering how many times she had been choked while eating breakfast.

Daisy, her good friend and the second daughter of the prestigious Blackwood family, was by her side.

“I binge-watched an old anime last night, oh-ho, it was so good, you have to watch it when you get home tonight!” Daisy exclaimed excitedly, pulling out her phone and enthusiastically recommending the show.

“Alright, alright…”

Moonlight High School, the top-ranking high school in Moon City, was also a renowned elite school. The teaching and facilities at the school were top-notch, attracting students from wealthy families who typically attended from kindergarten through high school, benefiting from the school's integrated education system.

At exactly nine o'clock, the opening ceremony of Moonlight High School's high school department commenced in the auditorium.

Sitting in her seat in Class One of the first-year student year, Lily fidgeted with the hem of her uniform skirt.

Her round deer-like eyes darted around, taking in everything with a sense of novelty. But knowing that everything was being recorded made her resist the urge to daydream and sit up straight, listening attentively to the student council president's speech.

“In this golden September, our student council sincerely wishes all students...” Ryder, the student council president, stood before the crowd of thousands, composed and confident yet exuding warmth.

“Hey, don't you think the student council president is quite handsome? I was wondering why he looked so familiar. It turns out he's a senior in the twelfth grade,” Daisy whispered to Lily, nudging her excitedly.

…

Lily, with droopy eyelids, stared ahead with dull eyes, resembling an emotionless background listener.

“What's wrong with you?” Daisy whispered in a low voice, looking surprised.

After a few seconds, Lily, with lifeless eyes, slowly spoke up, “Finished watching 'f*******n Love' last night... the bottom died... he still couldn't be with his beloved older brother.”

“Now, whenever I think about it, I feel devastated.”

“I think the author has no heart. How could she write it like that?”

“I'm going to send her razor blades, no, I'll just bite her to death.”

“Lily, don't speak casually during the meeting,” the class teacher reminded them.

“You know, in this world, even my right to mourn has been stripped away, there's no love left...” Lily, the sorrowful maiden, continued to vent.

Daisy massaged her temples, saying helplessly, “Can't you read fewer novels?”

After comforting Lily, Daisy, with her extraordinary vision, looked towards the third year students and suddenly remembered to ask her, “By the way, where's your brother?”

Mentioned by Daisy, Tommy, the school bully of Moonlight High School, couldn't possibly sit quietly in the auditorium and listen to the speeches. After leaving home, he wandered around before finally starting to head towards school.

As he approached a nearby alley, he heard some sounds coming from deep within.

“Who's there? Starting a fight so early in the morning, must you think Moonlight High School is empty?” he thought, smiling indifferently.

Taking a few more steps, he stopped and listened carefully.

His unique werewolf hearing allowed him to clearly hear the sounds of fighting and conversation in the alley. Understanding it was a one-sided robbery, he sighed and casually walked into the alley.

…

“Daring to rob at the doorstep, thinking Moonlight High School has no one around?”

Several thugs lay sprawled on the ground as Tommy snatched the wallet back from the leader's hand. He quickly glanced at it and then tossed it to the side of the beaten student, who was wearing Moonlight High School's uniform with the insignia of the top class in the twelfth grade. Witnessing Tommy's violent confrontation with four assailants, the student was too scared to say anything.

“Consider yourself lucky today, don't come this way next time,” Tommy said casually, dropping the statement as he couldn't stand the sight of the student's pathetic appearance.

As he walked past the student's feet, he noticed a book with exercise problems by his side. He picked it up to take a look.

Inside was, unexpectedly, an inappropriate manga.

Tommy whistled, wearing a smirk that screamed 'you're not fooling anyone,' and said, "Nice book, I'll take it."

With that, he walked off to school while flipping through the book.

Because of the novel's influence last night, Lily didn't get enough rest and managed to fall asleep during the three morning classes.

As lunchtime approached, Lily had just woken up and saw a message from her brother.

[hahatom: come to the rooftop for lunch.]

Thinking that there might be another pile of meat in her lunch box, Lily's good mood from just waking up deteriorated. Nonetheless, she got up.

Daisy, who had just returned to class, saw her leaving. "Where are you going when it's almost time for class?" she asked.

Without even looking back, Lily waved her hand and replied, "Bathroom break."

On the rooftop, she saw her brother holding a lunchbox in one hand and a book… "Mathematics Workbook"??

Lily pointed to the book in his hand and asked, "What's gotten into you?"

Tommy restrained the slightly eccentric smile on his face and said, "I'm still a senior in high school after all. Is it abnormal for me to study hard?"

Lily retorted, "ARE YOU OK?"

Tommy sighed, then patted her shoulder with a solemn tone, closing the book and handing it to her. "You're at that age too, it's time for some education. This classic, I'll reluctantly lend it to you."

After taking a couple of steps, he turned back and reminded her, "Don't leave it at school, remember to take it home."

——————————————————————————————

Inside the top-notch senior class, 'Elite Class'.

"What?" Ryder furrowed his brows and repeated the question.

The student from that morning stood in front of Ryder, looking apologetic. "I had put the invitation letter in the book to bring it to you at school, but this morning I ran into Tommy, and Tommy took the book."

Ryder had received an invitation to the European Youth Technology Forum last week, but unfortunately, he had left school. He had to leave it with a classmate for safekeeping, but he didn't expect so many problems to arise.

Ryder sighed and calmly asked, "Where's Tommy?"

"I think I just saw! On the rooftop, had a lunchbox and a book!" another classmate reminded me.

Ryder nodded in thanks and smiled at him, "Thanks."

Then he left the classroom.

On the rooftop, Lily leaned against the wall, frowning slightly, thoroughly enjoying the "classic" she was reading.

"Oh my... this... oh, the art is perfect..."

When Ryder reached the rooftop, he saw a girl in a school uniform leaning against the wall, holding a book that covered her face.

The book was titled "Mathematics Workbook". Yes, it was hers.

"Wow... so impressive..."

Ryder heard her murmur, and his brows furrowed slightly, showing some confusion.

But he didn't have time to linger with her; he cleared his throat and spoke up, "Tommy, right?"

Lily, interrupted from her appreciation of the classic, moved the book away and finally noticed the boy standing five steps away.

Their eyes inadvertently met, and both of them seemed momentarily stunned.

The thought of 'lacking the scent of her loved ones, yet strangely attracting her' rushed into Lily's mind.

The boy appeared to be around six feet tall, with a perfectly proportioned figure, pale skin, and amber-colored eyes that seemed to be alluring.

Such an alluring appearance, yet his expression was devoid of any charm, exuding only a calm and refined aura that made her feel...

A little disappointed.

With her secret about not being Tommy intact, Lily raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's up?"

Ryder, confused to find that the fearsome school bully described by others was actually a girl, pointed to the book in her hand. "Actually, I don't want to disturb you, sorry, but that book is mine. Can you give it back to me?"

In front of him, Lily visibly wore a strange smile.

She felt her ears getting warm inexplicably and burst out laughing, "This book, it's yours?"