I Am the White Moonlight that the Former Movie Queen Secretly Loves - Chapter 22

At night, snow fell over Ningcheng.

A layer of hazy white frost formed on the car window.

“This year’s snow came a bit early.”

Qin Xiaofang slowed the car down to forty kilometers per hour, sniffing her reddened nose, not daring to let her guard down as she focused intently on the road.

It was the weekend evening rush hour, and the street was packed with a long line of vehicles.

Qi Sijia looked up, pressing her fingertip against the glass. Through a narrow slit in the fogged-up window, she caught glimpses of snowflakes piercing through the neon-lit night, swirling and fluttering as they collided with the boxy car body, teetering precariously before scattering away.

She hummed in acknowledgment, glancing at Qin Xiaofang in the driver’s seat, who had clearly put effort into her appearance.

“Aren’t you cold dressed like that?” Qi Sijia asked.

“Of course I am.” Qin Xiaofang had specially styled her hair today and smiled with satisfaction. “Don’t I look absolutely radiant today?”

Before Qi Sijia could respond, Qin Xiaofang sneezed and then chuckled sheepishly. “But I had to do it. I heard that everyone in the theater group tonight—all the beautiful women and handsome men—are going all out to impress…”

“Is it really necessary?” Qi Sijia yawned.

“Absolutely,” Qin Xiaofang said. “The alumni reunion is secondary. The main goal is networking with people who can offer mutual benefits. Otherwise, do you think someone like Li Ang—a host of his caliber—would take time out of his schedule to organize a reunion for classmates who haven’t seen each other in years?”

“Aren’t you even a little excited? Meng Jiang is coming. Forget her status as an award-winning actress—” Qin Xiaofang turned the steering wheel, overtaking a minivan ahead before continuing, “Even the investors in the Northern City entertainment circle have to bow and scrape in front of her. The media hasn’t reported on Meng Jiang’s background, but she’s clearly been thriving these years. Last year during the Spring Festival Gala, she accidentally mentioned that her home is just a ten-minute drive from Zhongnanhai… Jiajia, do you know what that means?”

“I know,” Qi Sijia replied without hesitation.

Qin Xiaofang raised an eyebrow—You know my ass.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, she confirmed her suspicion: Qi Sijia was playing on her phone.

Qin Xiaofang sighed enviously. “That’s a mansion you and I could never afford in this lifetime. A house next to the capital—priceless and impossible to buy.”

“Oh.”

Not a trace of curiosity flickered across Qi Sijia’s face. She wasn’t being dismissive—she had heard Wei Yunfang mention before that the houses near the capital were reserved for the ultra-wealthy and powerful. Unless they were practically uninhabitable, no one ever sold them.

A few years ago, Wei Yunfang had managed to secure a foreclosed property through connections and transferred it to Qi Sijia’s name.

Not that she ever planned to live there.

Qi Sijia briefly ran through the property prices in Northern City in her head and was about to share the exact price per square meter with Qin Xiaofang when the latter mistook her composed reaction for indifference.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“I am,” Qi Sijia said, lifting her eyelids.

Their eyes met, and Qin Xiaofang gave her a look that said you’re hopeless.

“Fine, fine. At least we’ve played games with Goddess Meng for a few days. Given how famous she is, I don’t need to explain her status to you. But there are a few others you should pay attention to later. For example…”

Qi Sijia repeated absentmindedly, “For example…?”

“For example, Fu Chuchu. I don’t know if you remember her, but she’s now a top-tier pop idol—singing, dancing, the whole package.”

“I remember she didn’t seem to like you much back then.”

Qi Sijia didn’t have many memories of Fu Chuchu. As someone with social anxiety, she had never been good at socializing even in college. Apart from some unresolved issues with Meng Jiang, she barely interacted with others. In fact, the name “Fu Chuchu” only rang a bell when she saw the person in question.

“I don’t remember.”

Qin Xiaofang: …

“Fine.” Qin Xiaofang thought to herself, Why bother arguing with someone who has social anxiety?

“Back then, you were aloof and kept to yourself, always wearing a mask and acting like you looked down on everyone. It’s no wonder people disliked you. But since you never crossed paths with her afterward, there’s really no need to worry about it now.”

At this point, Qin Xiaofang glanced at Qi Sijia through the rearview mirror. “Jiajia, are you still planning to wear your mask when we get to the private club later…?”

After all, this was a class reunion. With so many high-profile attendees going mask-free, it would be awkward if Qi Sijia insisted on keeping hers on.

The road ahead was clear, so Qi Sijia put her phone away.

Her fingers curled into the seat as she thought about the noisy gathering awaiting them. Frowning slightly, she said, “I won’t wear it.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

She had to be, whether she liked it or not.

Truth be told, just hearing the word “reunion” from Qin Xiaofang had already pushed Qi Sijia to her limits.

Her heart pounded violently.

She sincerely wished the road would stay congested a little longer so they could arrive later.

But fate had other plans. Qin Xiaofang’s modest ¥200,000 electric car soon pulled up at their destination.

With a simple “We’re here,” Qi Sijia steadied herself and replied with a nonchalant “Oh.”

Qin Xiaofang circled from the driver’s seat to the back, waiting for Qi Sijia to step out. Side by side, they walked like a mother hen guarding her chick—Qin Xiaofang’s concern was unmistakable.

“Stick close to me later.”

She reached out to take Qi Sijia’s arm, only for Qi Sijia to sidestep the gesture.

Qin Xiaofang: …

“I’m into women.”

Qin Xiaofang: “I know. So what? It’s not like I’d fall for you—and you wouldn’t for me either.”

“Look around. Best friends hold hands all the time on the street. What’s the big deal?”

The private club was located far from the bustling city center, with valets attending to the arriving vehicles.

Qin Xiaofang tossed her car keys to a valet and glanced back at the line of luxury cars behind them. She couldn’t help but feel relieved she hadn’t agreed to drive Qi Sijia’s little yellow duck car.

At least her own ride could pass as mid-range.

Seeing Qin Xiaofang fall silent, Qi Sijia assumed she was still hung up on the hand-holding issue. After a moment’s thought, she explained earnestly, “Heterosexual friends holding hands is fine. But for me, best friends need boundaries.”

Qin Xiaofang was nearly speechless at her rigid attitude. You’re a serial dater who’s cycled through girlfriends nonstop. How is it that after all that, you’ve made zero progress?

With this no-hand-holding, no-flattery, no-initiative, keep-your-distance approach, she’d be single forever.

–

The reunion was booked at the club’s top floor.

Uniformed waiters in suits greeted them the moment they stepped into the lobby, bowing respectfully as they led the way. The service was impeccable.

Outside, the frosty air was near freezing. Though the lobby was well-heated, Qin Xiaofang still shivered, her hands trembling from the cold.

She was dressed lightly, rubbing her hands together as she checked her reflection in the elevator’s mirrored walls. Nervously, she turned to Qi Sijia and asked, “I didn’t know the venue would be this fancy when I came. Does this outfit look too casual? Maybe I should go back and change into something more formal. My workwear feels completely out of place with this luxurious decor.”

Qi Sijia glanced at her. “It’s fine.”

Seeing Qin Xiaofang still tense, Qi Sijia softened her tone. “If you’re worried, just look at me—then you’ll feel right at home.”

Only then did Qin Xiaofang take a proper look at her.

After a moment, she shot her a glare. “Bullshit!”

Compared to Qin Xiaofang’s crop top and bodycon skirt, Qi Sijia had taken warmth to the extreme. Her face was half-buried in the oversized fur collar of her down jacket.

She wore a white knit sweater as a base layer, paired with skinny jeans and ankle boots. A blue-and-white scarf was wrapped three times around her slender neck, and the down jacket’s collar was lined with fluffy fox fur, softening her features.

Qi Sijia was the type of beauty who exuded an icy elegance, but her face wasn’t something you’d find replicated among influencers. Her naturally short face shape, straight nose, and androgynously striking features were balanced by the soft contours of her oval face and the rounded tip of her nose, tempering the sharpness of her other features.

Especially in that white knit sweater and skinny jeans, her long legs looked impossibly slender and straight. With just a coat casually thrown over her shoulders and her gaze peering through gold-rimmed glasses, she radiated an untouchable, almost ascetic allure.

Qin Xiaofang rolled her eyes. “You could wear a sack and still look high-class.”

Qi Sijia ignored her—she hadn’t even bothered with lipstick before leaving the house. Her only goal was to coast through this reunion with minimal effort, preferably from a quiet corner.

–

When they reached the top floor, a waiter bowed and opened the private room door.

The temperature inside was noticeably warmer.

The private club had a distinct, thematic design. Its selling point was comfort, so the decor struck a balance between relaxed luxury and understated opulence.

To the right was a bar counter with a dedicated mixologist serving guests. The left side boasted an entire wall of premium liquor, and further back, a U-shaped arrangement of plush sofas.

Thanks to traffic, Qi Sijia and Qin Xiaofang were nearly half an hour late.

By now, the reunion was in full swing. The overhead lights cast a romantic glow, and amid the clinking of glasses, everyone seemed to be wearing bright, cheerful smiles.

Frankly, Qi Sijia wasn’t comfortable in settings like this. She paused at the entrance.

At the same time, the host of the gathering, Li Ang, quickly stood up from the center of the toast circle.

Normally, Li Ang wouldn’t personally greet every guest, but at this point, only Meng Jiang and two others hadn’t arrived yet.

When the door opened, the lighting was dazzling. At first glance, one of the women at the entrance was tall, fair, and willow-waisted—everyone assumed it was Meng Jiang.

Li Ang extricated himself from the crowd and strode forward.

“Meng Jiang, why are you—” But as he got closer, he realized it wasn’t her.

His voice faltered. “Oh, wow, it’s…”

Even for a smooth talker like him, his brain short-circuited for a second.

Though it wasn’t Meng Jiang, the woman before him was stunning enough to leave anyone momentarily speechless.

The light spilled over Qi Sijia’s face, glinting off her gold-rimmed glasses. Her eyes, like autumn waters, were veiled behind the lenses—narrow and serene, like a slender boat drifting on a quiet river.

The private room was crowded and warm, the heating making it impossible to keep wearing the heavy winter coat. She took it off and draped it over her arm, revealing a loose-fitting shirt tucked halfway into her jeans.

Only when Qi Sijia removed her coat did someone among the classmates finally exclaim, “Qi Sijia?” as her cold gaze swept through the strands of her fallen hair.

Li Ang’s mouth fell open, unable to hide his astonishment. “If Zhang Xiao hadn’t pointed it out, I would have been completely speechless,” he said. “For a moment, I thought a fairy had descended to earth.”

Li Ang was known for his quick wit, and his lighthearted remark eased the earlier awkwardness of mistaking her for someone else.

In truth, Qi Sijia and Meng Jiang were two entirely different types of beauties. If Qi Sijia’s features leaned toward a cool, striking elegance, Meng Jiang was the epitome of a natural-born enchantress—one to be admired from afar, the other a dazzling, peerless nobility.

As Li Ang’s words faded, the room buzzed back to life.

“Long time no see, old classmate.”

“Professor Ding just left—you’re a bit late.”

Qin Xiaofang subtly shielded Qi Sijia from some of the stares, planting a hand on her hip. “What about me? Aren’t I a beauty too? How come no one’s greeting me?”

Laughter erupted at her words.

“You always have to compete over this.”

“After all these years in the drama club, this is the first time I’ve seen Qi Sijia without her mask. Her looks are unreal.”

Qi Sijia remained quiet throughout, just as she always had. She had never been much of a talker.

Usually, she wore a black mask, silent and composed, responding to greetings with a simple “Mm” or “Ah,” giving off an air of aloofness that made her seem unapproachable.

So now, her silence didn’t strike anyone as odd.

Qin Xiaofang handled most of the socializing, shielding her.

The two found a spot in the corner to sit. After exchanging a few words with those nearby, Qin Xiaofang passed Qi Sijia a plate of fruit and asked in a low voice, “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Before entering, Qi Sijia had taken a heart-relief pill, but the noise and crowd still made her uncomfortable. Her gaze reflexively darted toward the door, but at the same time, the image of the cat-loving boy’s smile flashed in her mind.

Suppressing the restless urge inside, she focused on her breathing, slender fingers picking up a toothpick to spear a piece of fruit and bring it to her lips.

The sweet juice eased a fraction of her tension.

The cocktail Qin Xiaofang ordered was ready, and she excused herself to fetch it from the bar.

Left alone, Qi Sijia continued eating the fruit at a leisurely pace, biding her time through this ostentatious reunion.

Years had widened the gap between classmates—some rising high, others left behind. No matter the setting, these gatherings had long become a stage for adults to flaunt their status and connections.

The biggest star among their peers was Meng Jiang, but she hadn’t shown up. In her absence, Li Ang and Fu Chuchu took center stage.

Li Ang held court among the male classmates, while Fu Chuchu sat on a rectangular sofa not far to Qi Sijia’s right, basking in attention.

“Chuchu, could you sign this for my nephew?” A well-dressed male classmate stepped forward, handing her a basketball.

Once he set the precedent, Fu Chuchu signed over a dozen more items before flexing her sore hand with a frown. “No more. It’s exhausting.”

Just then, another classmate—a girl—hesitantly withdrew her unsigned item and changed the subject. “Chuchu, is your girlfriend coming too?”

Fu Chuchu leaned against the sofa, her gaze flicking toward Qi Sijia. Her voice dripped with honeyed pride as she replied, “She comes from an elite family—couldn’t get out of her prior engagement. But she said she’d leave early to pick me up.”

“How enviable. What does she do?”

“Do a bit of everything,” Fu Chuchu said tactfully, but the fact that a top-tier celebrity like her could speak of her girlfriend’s background with such palpable superiority was proof enough of the latter’s extraordinary status.

At present, same-s3x marriage wasn’t some unspoken taboo, but for aristocratic families, marriage between women was still unacceptable—after all, prominent lineages needed heirs.

Celebrities like Fu Chuchu, who openly preferred the same s3x and yet seemed poised to marry into wealth, were practically unheard of.

“I’m so jealous of you,” gushed a few of her hangers-on, one of whom—a girl with a blue bob cut—was practically brimming with envy. “All the top-tier sapphic icons are being snatched up by amazing people like you.”

Fu Chuchu demurred, “Oh, come on, that’s hardly the case.”

“Meng Jiang has also come out about her orientation. She’s single right now, so if any of you want to get off the market, better act fast.”

“Chuchu, even you couldn’t win over a goddess like her. What chance do we have?”

Fu Chuchu’s gaze flickered, as if by chance, toward Qi Sijia. She lifted a delicate finger and pointed subtly in her direction.

“Well, Qi Sijia’s still single too.”

At her words, the two girls nearby perked up with interest.

A faint smirk curled at the corner of Fu Chuchu’s lips.

Having steered the conversation toward Qi Sijia, she watched as one of her companions brightened and approached her.

“Long time no see, Qi Sijia. Still working as a screenwriter?”

Back in the drama club, Qi Sijia had been recruited by Meng Jiang as the screenwriter for the Huadan production.

Now, everyone had gone their separate ways, but most of the 2017 drama club members hadn’t strayed far from the industry—many were now leading figures in various corners of the entertainment world.

Qi Sijia finished her fruit, her long, narrow eyes slowly opening. The light traced the contours of her gaze as she adjusted her glasses with a slender, strikingly long finger. Her deep, velvety contralto voice was unhurried as she replied, “No.”

“So what do you do now?” The girl’s cheeks flushed pink. As someone who moved in sapphic circles, Qi Sijia’s restrained, coldly elegant androgyny was even more captivating to queer women than Meng Jiang’s allure.

Ears perked, she leaned in, eager to learn more.

But just then, the lights dimmed. Qi Sijia lifted her gaze and said, “Janitor.”