Moonlight Left Behind chapter 39

Qin Yue secretly tried to figure out how to use the smartphone for the first time. Lin Qinzhou had filled it with various flashy apps, most of which Qin Yue didn’t know how to use or didn’t dare to try. The two apps he used most often were the messaging app to stay in touch with Lin Qinzhou and a reading app. 

Lin Qinzhou, after returning to the city, got a new phone and added the account he’d registered for Qin Yue. Every day after school, he’d catch Qin Yue for a chat, venting about his strict teachers and strange yet amusing classmates, and even secretly complaining about his mother’s favoritism.

Teenagers always have endless worries, and for Lin Qinzhou, his “brother” on the other end, who shared his secrets, was the perfect confidant. Qin Yue never found him annoying, no matter what Lin Qinzhou talked about, and always listened attentively.

However, Qin Yue was still clumsy with the phone. Writing a single sentence would take him a long time, and sometimes, Lin Qinzhou would stare at the “typing” notification for ages without receiving a reply, growing impatient and calling him directly.

As soon as the call connected, Lin Qinzhou would complain, “Ge, why are you so slow? You still haven’t learned how to use the phone?”

Qin Yue never got angry, and patiently agreed, “Yeah.”

The next summer, as soon as Lin Qinzhou’s school holidays began, he hurriedly had the family housekeeper send him back to Coral Island.

Almost a year had passed since they last met, and both boys had grown taller. Before arriving, Lin Qinzhou had been pleased with himself, thinking he’d finally caught up in height with Qin Yue. But to his dismay, Qin Yue had grown even taller, and what used to be a head’s difference had now become a head and a half. Frustrated, Lin Qinzhou drank an extra glass of milk that night.

That summer was particularly hot, with high temperatures in July and August almost doubling from previous years. Lin Qinzhou didn’t dare go out during the day and spent most of his time at the guesthouse playing video games or watching anime, occasionally helping with simple chores. When the sun set, he’d drag Qin Yue to the beach or stay in the courtyard to sing and play guitar.

Lin Qinzhou was the type to tan easily. When he arrived, he was still the “fair-skinned and handsome” young master, but after a few days in the sun, he had turned into a “little black monkey.” Meanwhile, no matter how much sun Qin Yue got, he never seemed to tan. The two of them together were constantly teased by Dou Xiaohua as the “Haier Brothers.”

Lin Qinzhou was frustrated and drank even more milk, hoping to both grow taller and lighten his skin. But neither seemed to work. Every year Lin Qinzhou returned, Qin Yue would always be taller and fairer. Eventually, Lin Qinzhou gave up—he figured he’d always be shorter than his brother in this lifetime.

In the first six months, the two boys were still on edge, worried that Zhou Zhengze might return to stir up trouble. But the scumbag never came back, and gradually, they let their guard down and forgot about him.

The bond between the two grew stronger over time. Both of them, along with Dou Xiaohua, believed that their relationship would last forever, thinking they would always be close.

Until the summer after Lin Qinzhou graduated from his second year of high school.

“Ge, are you ready? Datou and the others are already waiting at the door. Hurry up, or we won’t be able to get a spot in the front!”

Qin Yue was washing the last bowl when Lin Qinzhou leaned against the kitchen door, urging him repeatedly. “Stop washing! When I come back, I’ll help you wash them…”

Annoyed by the commotion, Qin Yue quickly wrung out the cloth, walked over, and threw Lin Qinzhou’s small backpack over his shoulder. “Okay, let’s go.”

That year, Coral Island was livelier than ever, especially recently, with even more tourists visiting. The island was hosting its first Beach Music Festival, inviting dozens of amazing bands and numerous famous singers as guests. That day was the festival’s opening day, featuring a grand ceremony.

The kids had been excited for days, and Lin Qinzhou was no exception. His favorite band, the Kite Band, was performing that day.

He usually only saw them on screen, and this was his first chance to see his favorite band up close. He couldn’t stop talking about it, and by now, Qin Yue was almost used to hearing it non-stop.

Not only that, but he insisted on dragging Qin Yue to listen to the Kite Band’s albums. Despite the band’s artsy name, their music wasn’t fresh and mellow at all; it was mostly energetic and explosive. A rebellious middle school student like Lin Qinzhou might think it was cool, but Qin Yue just found it noisy.

Compared to those well-known bands, he actually preferred the folk songs that Lin Qinzhou sang in the yard.

Of course, he could never say that to the young master. If he did, Lin Qinzhou would explode, questioning Qin Yue’s taste and getting angry that Qin Yue questioned his.

“…Lin Qinzhou! Qin Ge, why are you both so slow? Even Da Mao and Xiao Mao passed me ten minutes ago! Hurry up, let’s go!”

Da Mao and Xiao Mao were the twin grandsons of Grandpa Tea Egg. They were slow at everything except eating. As soon as Lin Qinzhou heard that they had already left, he panicked. “What?! Why didn’t you hurry me?”

Da Tou felt completely wronged. “I’ve been urging you! What do you mean I didn’t hurry you? I’ve been shouting for you two until my throat was almost hoarse, and I haven’t even cheered for my favorite band yet…”

His voice was indeed hoarse and quite unpleasant. Lin Qinzhou gave him a disdainful glance and retorted, “You’ve sounded like that since the first day I arrived on the island.”

Young boys were going through voice changes, and Lin Qinzhou had experienced it too. There was a period when he woke up one morning, and his voice was suddenly low and unpleasant, causing him to be a bit withdrawn and reluctant to speak, even calling Qin Yue less often because he was afraid his brother would think less of him.

“Alright, stop messing around. Let’s hurry, or we’ll really be late,” Qin Yue finally said, holding Lin Qinzhou’s hand to stop their childish banter.

They were indeed running a bit late. The beach was already packed, and it was hard to see the stage amidst the crowd.

“Wow, there are so many people! I didn’t realize so many people came to our island!” Da Tou exclaimed.

Lin Qinzhou was feeling frustrated too. He was the shortest among the three. While Da Tou could jump up and down to see something, Lin Qinzhou could only see a sea of heads in front of him.

To see his idol, Lin Qinzhou had worn his new shoes that day, but within ten minutes, they were stepped on countless times. The original color of the shoes was unrecognizable, and his feet were swollen from being trampled, going from painful to completely numb.

The crowd kept getting thicker, and soon Da Tou got separated from them. Lin Qinzhou felt a little scared and tightly grasped Qin Yue’s hand.

It was hot, and both of their palms were sweaty, making it hard to tell whose sweat was whose. Despite being a bit of a germaphobe, Lin Qinzhou didn’t mind and held on tightly.

“The next band seems to be the one you like,” Qin Yue said. Lin Qinzhou’s expression was dull as he replied, “Yeah.”

This was nothing like what he had imagined. Lin Qinzhou felt deeply disappointed. Qin Yue shook their clasped hands and pointed toward a large rock near the sea. “How about we go there? Standing on that rock should give us a better view.”