After Saving the White Moonlight, the Black Moonlight Went Crazy - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Acting Like a Confession

◎”I’m not acting.”◎

“If you want to talk, I’ll listen,” Jian Liyun said, gently patting Yan Sui’s back. “But I can tell right now that you don’t actually want to talk.”

“You don’t have to force yourself in front of me.”

Yan Sui didn’t say anything. After a long while, she said in a muffled voice, “I’m sorry for disturbing your rest. You must have been very tired today.”

Jian Liyun’s voice was incredibly gentle. “I am a little tired, but I’m more worried about you.”

Yan Sui pulled away from Jian Liyun’s embrace. She looked at Jian Liyun with teary eyes. “Liyun.”

With her eyes full of tears, Yan Sui had the fragile beauty of glass.

Jian Liyun’s voice was barely a whisper. “I’m here.”

Yan Sui’s lips curled up, and with that motion, the tears swirling in her eyes fell.

She gave a painfully forced smile. “There are some things I just can’t learn. Liyun, it’s been so many years, and I still can’t learn. What should I do?”

Jian Liyun’s index finger gently wiped away Yan Sui’s warm tears.

“What is it that you can’t learn?”

Yan Sui’s voice trembled. “I can’t learn to accept goodbyes.”

“…It was a very sudden goodbye. It was all my fault. If I hadn’t left, it wouldn’t have died.”

In the past, whenever Yan Sui faced this familiar pain, she would always choose to bear it alone.

She couldn’t blame anyone, so in the end, she could only point the sharp blade at herself, stabbing herself until she was covered in wounds.

In the day-to-day pain, she seemed to have grown accustomed to this long-lasting, sharp, and overwhelming pain.

But it was so strange. After being in pain for so long, Yan Sui could feel an eerie sense of peace from it.

In her original world, Yan Sui quickly realized her situation was not normal. She calmly went to see a doctor alone and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yan Sui did not choose to accept treatment. This was her punishment for herself.

Fortunately, Yan Sui was very smart. She could play Go well and she also knew how to hide her abnormality.

Most of the time, she silently endured the pain, but if she encountered a situation that was very similar to that accident, she would involuntarily fall into a state of shock, and in severe cases, she would even faint.

Yan Sui always thought she could handle it. No one understood her pain, and she had no intention of showing her never-healing, bloody wounds to anyone else.

But then Jian Liyun appeared.

Yan Sui thought she was the one who needed to save Jian Liyun, but Jian Liyun’s tenderness was like a vast, boundless ocean that completely enveloped her 불안한 self.

So this was the first time in so many years that she had voluntarily confided her true feelings to someone other than a psychologist.

Jian Liyun sighed. She stroked Yan Sui’s face. “I’ve noticed that you seem to like taking all the responsibility on yourself.”

Jian Liyun reached out her right hand, pulled a tissue from a box, and handed it to Yan Sui. “Your face is all smudged from crying.”

Yan Sui sniffled. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize for something like this,” Jian Liyun said, looking at her seriously. “Very few people can handle goodbyes well. Goodbyes are usually unexpected. As long as you were good enough to that person when they were here, that’s enough.”

“It wasn’t a…”

Yan Sui stopped halfway through her rebuttal. She looked at Jian Liyun, and there was a timidity in her eyes that Jian Liyun couldn’t understand.

It wasn’t a person, but a little bird.

But what if Jian Liyun found out it was a little bird? Would she also think I was making a big deal out of nothing, that I was crazy?

This thought stopped Yan Sui from continuing. She paused, and her tone became a little stiff. “I was… maybe good to it before, but it definitely wasn’t the best. I owe it so much, but I can never repay it.”

Yan Sui’s life before she was eighteen was full of glory, and also full of loneliness.

That little white bird was the only comfort in her lonely life.

The little bird accompanied her and healed her, but she was the one who killed it.

If it weren’t for that feather, if it weren’t for that gust of wind, Yan Sui would not have lived to see her eighteenth birthday’s second day.

But after that, the little bird never appeared in her dreams, and that gust of wind never caressed her cheek again.

Yan Sui could only live a calm and painful life.

“Life always has regrets,” Jian Liyun held Yan Sui in her arms again. She gently pressed Yan Sui’s head against her chest with her right hand. “But we can’t stay in the past forever.”

“Suisui, will you look forward with me?”

Yan Sui’s throat tightened. “I think it will be very difficult for me to move on in this lifetime.”

Jian Liyun gave a gentle laugh. “Suisui, you’re only in your twenties. This lifetime is very long. You never know what the future holds.”

“Liyun, I’m tired.”

Faced with Yan Sui’s evasion, Jian Liyun chose not to press further. She held Yan Sui and lay down. “Go to sleep.”

Yan Sui knew she should push Jian Liyun away, but her body seemed to have a mind of its own. It even burrowed deeper into Jian Liyun’s arms.

She felt a little guilty and said with a lack of confidence, “You said it. You said I could hold you when we got home. Lying makes you a puppy.”

Jian Liyun laughed out loud. “Yes, yes, yes. I was the one who insisted on holding you.”

Jian Liyun’s embrace seemed to have a special magic. It had been a long time since Yan Sui had slept so soundly.

The system, which had witnessed the entire thing: Although the host is very pitiful, but…

Why is the host sleeping in the same bed with the supporting female lead so naturally again?!

And not only are they sleeping in the same bed, but the supporting female lead is holding its host while she sleeps?!

The system, which didn’t need to breathe, felt like it was about to choke.

…Forget it. My poor host has been through so much today. She should get a good night’s sleep.

…

The next morning.

Stirring a bowl of steaming vegetable congee, Yan Sui held a steamed bun in her left hand and a spoon in her right. “Liyun, what time did you wake up today?”

Jian Liyun took a sip of black coffee. “Seven o’clock. I bought breakfast from a nearby shop. What do you want for lunch?”

Yan Sui hesitated to speak. Jian Liyun picked up an egg and started peeling it. “I know, I won’t just drink black coffee.”

Yan Sui looked satisfied.

The two finished their breakfast happily and leisurely. Jian Liyun was clearing the table and said casually, “I won’t ask what happened between you and Lu Shutian yesterday since you didn’t say. But if that person made you unhappy, then I won’t participate in that variety show she suggested.”

Before Yan Sui could say anything, Jian Liyun had already thought everything through and continued, “I’ll talk to Director Kong. She’ll agree.”

Yan Sui pursed her lips. “Miss Lu… is a bit,” she pondered for a long time, and finally decided to use that word, “dangerous.”

“Don’t meet her in private in the future,” Yan Sui sighed. “But that variety show is a good opportunity. Although you probably don’t have to go now.”

After all, given the tense situation between her and Lu Shutian yesterday, it was impossible for Lu Shutian to help her invite Jin Lan’s ex-girlfriend to the variety show.

Jian Liyun’s expression was serious. “No matter what, don’t force yourself. I’ll…”

I’ll feel bad for you.

She paused and changed her words. “If you’re not happy, I won’t be happy either.”

The clever Yan Sui decided to put her learning to use. She put on a serious face, imitating the words the other had said that day. “If you were acting, that line you just said sounded a lot like a confession.”

Jian Liyun immediately realized that Yan Sui was imitating her from that day, but she didn’t play along. Instead, she turned her head away.

“I wasn’t acting.”

“Huh?”

Yan Sui scratched her head.

Why isn’t this person following the script?

Well, I knew it. Even in a different world, I really don’t have a talent for humor.

But Yan Sui quickly lost her playful mood. She bit her lower lip and cautiously glanced at Jian Liyun.

Jian Liyun wasn’t looking at her. She was rhythmically tapping the table with her index finger.

“Say what you need to say.”

Yan Sui cleared her throat. “After we parted ways yesterday, where did you go?”

Jian Liyun was silent for a few seconds before finally deciding to tell the truth.

“I met with He Chenyu.”

She lowered her eyes and added quickly, “It was an emergency. I had to go. It won’t happen again.”

Yan Sui quickly waved her hands. “No, I didn’t mean to blame you.”

Jian Liyun fell silent.

Yan Sui sighed. “Liyun, don’t be like that. You’re making me look like the bad guy who broke up a loving couple…”

“Who is in a loving couple with him?!” Jian Liyun’s voice suddenly got louder.

Yan Sui was startled and raised both hands. Although she didn’t know why the other person was angry, she quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I won’t say that again.”

Jian Liyun had a lump in her throat. She finally stood up and left the dining room, saying through gritted teeth, “You’re scary.”

Yan Sui followed her, trying to win her over, and hooked her arm around Jian Liyun’s. “Don’t be scared of me, Liyun. I’m not scary at all~”

“Someone who makes up pairings isn’t scary?” Jian Liyun’s voice was as cold as a winter lake.

I’m innocent!

Yan Sui cried out internally, but on the surface, she had to keep soothing her.

She pretended to extend her right hand. “Then who do you want to be paired with? I’m a gold-medal matchmaker now. I’ll tie the red thread for you two.”

If the supporting female lead really didn’t like the male lead anymore, that would be a good thing. If she knew who the new person was, she might actually be able to help.

Jian Liyun turned around. Her dark eyes, which were always full of stories, stared directly at Yan Sui.

Yan Sui felt her scalp tingle for some reason. “You…”

Jian Liyun reached out, hooked her pinky finger with Yan Sui’s right pinky, and led her toward the living room.

“Hey…” Yan Sui was forced to follow her. “You can’t just hook the matchmaker like that.”

Yan Sui was led to the living room by Jian Liyun. After gesturing for Yan Sui to sit down, Jian Liyun finally let go. She slowly and methodically picked up an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table and started peeling it.

Yan Sui felt a little confused. “What are you doing now?”

Jian Liyun’s tone was lazy and casual. “Giving the matchmaker a fruit. Bribing the matchmaker.”

Yan Sui blinked. “What’s our relationship? I’ll do anything you ask. You don’t need to bribe me.”

Jian Liyun’s hand trembled, and the apple peel she was peeling broke.

“Really?”

Yan Sui nodded heavily.

Jian Liyun smiled, finished peeling the apple, and then cut it into pieces and placed them on a plate.

“I’ll remember that.”

Yan Sui took a bite of an apple. The apple was crunchy, sweet, and juicy. She really liked it.

Yan Sui chewed on the apple. “Liyun, I’ll keep my word.”

Jian Liyun took a wet wipe and cleaned her hands. Then she propped her right arm on the back of the sofa, sitting sideways, with one hand supporting her cheek as she watched Yan Sui eat the apple.

With a beautiful woman by her side, Yan Sui was completely focused, her eyes only on the apple.

After happily eating several pieces of apple, Yan Sui realized that the person who peeled it hadn’t eaten a single bite.

She cleared her throat. “Liyun, you eat too.”

Jian Liyun’s red lips parted slightly, but she didn’t make any moves.

Yan Sui understood, and she smiled flatteringly. “Coming right up, coming right up. It’s my honor to feed our future film queen an apple.”

After eating a piece, Jian Liyun finally couldn’t help but laugh. “Smooth talker.”

However, she really liked this side of Yan Sui.

Yan Sui shrugged. “How is the truth ‘smooth talk’? Liyun, I’ve thought about it and I think it’s better to tell you this.”

Jian Liyun turned her body fully toward her. “Suisui, go ahead.”

Yan Sui’s expression turned serious. “I actually knew you went to see He Chenyu yesterday. But don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t investigating you. I respect your private time. It was Miss Lu…”

Yan Sui used concise, emotionless words to describe what happened yesterday.

Even so, she still felt a sense of dread.

So she didn’t even realize that her speech was getting faster and her voice was getting softer. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay. But I was so worried at the time. I was afraid she would really do something crazy.”

Jian Liyun put her long arm around Yan Sui, and Yan Sui fell into an embrace with the faint scent of jasmine.

“So that’s why you were so scared yesterday?” Jian Liyun’s voice was full of concern.

Yan Sui forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I’m pretty useless. Not only was I no help, but I also got scared.”

“Why did you even care about me in that situation?” Jian Liyun was both concerned and angry. “You should have just…”

“How could I not care about you?” Yan Sui interrupted her without thinking. “I have to protect you.”

Thump, thump, thump.

Jian Liyun heard her heart pounding like a drum at a very inopportune moment.

The two of them were very close. Jian Liyun thought that Yan Sui must have heard it too.

After saying that, Yan Sui felt that she might have overstepped and made the other person uncomfortable, so she added an unnecessary sentence.

“After all, you’re my artist. I have to make sure you’re safe.”

“Then you’d better not have any new artists,” Jian Liyun said out of the blue.

Yan Sui thought about it. “I’ll probably only ever have you as my artist.”

After all, in the original novel, Yan Sui only had Jian Liyun as her artist until the very end.

At the time, Jian Liyun had no idea that her casual remark would turn out to be a prophecy, and that one day in the future, she would no longer be Yan Sui’s only artist.

Jian Liyun naturally held Yan Sui and pinched her fingers. “I really did have something to do when I went to see He Chenyu yesterday.”

Yan Sui said, “Oh,” and then, “I believe you. It’s okay. Besides, what you do on your time off is your business.”

Jian Liyun’s expression was solemn as she continued to pinch Yan Sui’s fingers. “I’ll try my best to reduce my contact with him in the future, but there are some times… when I really can’t help it.”

The more Yan Sui listened, the more she felt something was wrong. “Does he have something on you?”

Jian Liyun neither confirmed nor denied it.

Yan Sui felt a headache coming on.

“You and He Chenyu…” Yan Sui hesitated. “Is it convenient to tell me what’s going on?”

Before Jian Liyun could speak, the doorbell rang.

“Did you order takeout?” they both said at the same time.

Then, they both shook their heads.

This is not good. This is really not good.

Yan Sui wanted to stand up, but Jian Liyun’s movements were faster. Jian Liyun almost forcefully held Yan Sui down on the sofa. “Don’t move. I’ll get it.”

The unease in Yan Sui’s heart grew stronger.

“System, why do I suddenly feel like… the person standing outside is the female lead?”

[Host, you’ll find out once the supporting female lead opens the door.]

Before opening the door, Jian Liyun looked through the peephole.

She lowered her eyes, then turned her back to Yan Sui and said in the most natural voice, “Suisui, can you get me my gray wool coat? I’m a little cold—”

“The coat is in the leftmost closet in my bedroom.”

Yan Sui was about to say, Don’t change the subject, but when she saw Jian Liyun rub her arms, she fell silent.

Jian Liyun actually seemed to be cold.

I can’t let Jian Liyun get sick at a time like this!

Yan Sui thought to herself, and then she scurried into Jian Liyun’s bedroom.

After confirming that Yan Sui was no longer in the living room, Jian Liyun opened the door with a blank expression.

Standing at the door was Lu Shutian, wearing a long, light yellow wool dress.

This color of fabric would normally make a person look darker, but Lu Shutian’s skin was as white as snow, which only made it look even whiter.

Lu Shutian showed her signature smile, and her small dimples appeared. “Good morning, Senior Jian.”

Not good at all.

Jian Liyun was expressionless. “Miss Lu, is there something you need?”

Lu Shutian smiled and, as if by magic, pulled a fruit basket from behind her back.

“What a coincidence. I’ve moved here too, so I came to visit my neighbor. And also…”

Lu Shutian stuck out her tongue, seeming a little embarrassed. “Yesterday’s encounter with Jiejie was too… intense, and her glasses fell at my old place. I know she’s at your house, so I came to return them.”

Too… intense?

Jian Liyun was so angry she almost laughed. She blocked the doorway. “I appreciate the thought, but you can keep the fruit basket. I have things to do, so I won’t…”

“Liyun, there are two gray coats in your closet. Which one are you talking about?”

Yan Sui’s voice came from behind her.