Bright as the Moon

She said, “Ah, Yulan, I wish you were a man.”

Zhu Yulan fell silent.

“So it’s no good if I’m a woman?”

“Of course not,” Xu Yuejin said. “Besides, we’re the very best of friends.”

The very best of friends.

Childhood friends who had grown up together, an unbreakable friendship, and a love buried deep in the heart, painful and impossible to attain.

At the school dance, Zhu Yulan was her dance partner, content to play the supporting role.

At Xu Yuejin’s wedding, Zhu Yulan was her bridesmaid, offering the newlyweds her heartfelt blessings.

She cut off her hair and dressed androgynously for Xu Yuejin. She fought for her, took her to court, and would do anything for her.

When Xu Yuejin was at her most broken and had nowhere left to turn, Zhu Yulan could finally pull her into her arms. Call it taking advantage of her vulnerability, or self-deception, if you like:

“As long as you love me, even if only for a moment.”

1. Childhood friends, a lesbian seducing a straight woman, an affair, and a woman becoming the “husband” for love. The female lead has a crush but still dates other people; the other woman has a child and cheats. There are many more potentially triggering elements that I can’t list them all, and I’ll add them whenever I think of them, so please check the tags for yourself.

2. A simp, a simp, a simp. Not pure, not pure, not pure. Soap opera drama, soap opera drama, soap opera drama. I’ll say it three times for emphasis. Don’t read if this isn’t for you.

3. A short, free story written for my own enjoyment. Updates depend on my mood.

Theme: Even if she falls to rock bottom, covered in mud, she is still the flawless moon, forever beyond my reach.