Summer of Shattered Lies

The long, tedious days of high summer stretched on, the moonlight so faint it tasted like plain water. Yun Huizhi lazed around town, acting as a self-appointed ambassador through her photography and articles. One day, she paired a landscape shot with an unhinged caption: "Amateur tour guide here. If you're thinking of traveling and want a short-term girlfriend on the side, consider me. Price negotiable (pretty women only)."Someone slid into her DMs to ask what her standard for "pretty" was. Yun Huizhi decided to be difficult: "Send a bare-faced selfie." She thought that would kill the conversation. To her surprise, the person actually sent one.Yun Huizhi's dignity evaporated on the spot. "From now on, my sole reason for living is waiting for you to get here."—When she finally picked up the client, Yun Huizhi thought, What the hell—the woman was even more stunning in person. No way she was short on travel buddies. "Why me?""Just got divorced. Came to heal. Your photos are decent." The woman turned the question around. "Why do you do this?"Yun Huizhi answered, "Family's poor. Earning tuition."She played the part of the perfect guide. By day, she showed her client the sights—drinking, eating, biking after the sunset. By night, the town's moonlight swayed, burning hotter than the sun as they toyed with each other, with the wind, with the moon.Half a month of absurd bliss. Then the other woman left without a word, leaving money behind. Yun Huizhi stayed on in town, killing time.—At the pre-semester training, the new teacher introduced herself as Yun. Her partner homeroom teacher, dressed conservatively and buttoned-up, acted as if she had amnesia, addressing her formally as "Ms. Yun."Yun Huizhi walked back with her to the faculty apartment like they were old friends. "I just found out—Ms. Chu has always been single."Chu Ruoyou gave a cold laugh. "Someone who pretended to be a broke student to make money has the right to ask?"Yun Huizhi's attitude was impeccable. "You paid too well. I had no choice but to chase after you and keep working for you."The lie shattered. The town's moonlight fell into the late summer night, and the deliberately buried memories came flooding back."You're such a bastard.""But you said you wouldn't leave a bastard. I believed that part."