Stealing Moonlight (Lily ABO) - Chapter 10

“Alright, college student, you said it yourself, so you better remember it.”

With her true goal achieved, Li Ling’er naturally stopped clinging, but Ruan Jing didn’t expect her to be so eager. “You have to take me tomorrow.”

“No, at the earliest, after we’ve harvested the corn and paid the grain tax.”

“You’re truly filial. Afraid of tiring your mother? Don’t worry, with how hard your mother hit me, she won’t die anytime soon.”

Li Ling’er scoffed. She struggled out of bed, walked barefoot toward Ruan Jing, and without warning, swung her arm in a wide arc, aiming for Ruan Jing’s face.

Ruan Jing was prepared but only just managed to grab Li Ling’er’s wrist. If Li Ling’er hadn’t still been so weak, that slap would have landed squarely on her face.

“A mother’s debt is paid by her daughter. That slap your mother gave me, I’m counting it against you. Consider it owed for now!”

Li Ling’er forcefully pulled her hand away. The intense, spicy anger assaulted Ruan Jing’s taste buds and sense of smell. She no longer tangled with Ruan Jing, weakly leaning against the wall as she walked out.

As soon as the door opened, Ruan Jing heard Li Ling’er’s mother yelling, complaining that Li Ling’er didn’t take care of herself, losing so much bl00d that she needed to be hospitalized and recover properly.

“At the very least, she needs some nutrient injections or something. Otherwise, if her body is depleted, how will she propagate our family for Jingjing in the future?”

Liang Fengying was clearly enraged by her again, the spicy scent so strong it was like swallowing a handful of chili peppers. Ruan Jing didn’t know what Li Ling’er had told her parents, but the family of three left without another word, though her mother’s triumphant gaze made no attempt to hide itself.

With Li Ling’er gone, Ruan Jing had no choice but to stop hiding in the consultation room.

She steeled herself and walked out.

Ruan Jing knew how many high hopes Liang Fengying had placed on her. Yet, she hadn’t controlled her p3nis and had gotten entangled with a “slut” notorious throughout the ten-mile radius, bringing immense shame upon their family. It didn’t matter for Ruan Jing, who was studying away, but her mother’s future life would likely be completely rooted in the gossip of others.

“You haven’t eaten much today, are you hungry? There’s still some millet porridge at home. I’ll warm it up for you when we get back; it’s good for your stomach.”

Liang Fengying showed no anger towards her and even patted Ruan Jing’s hand reassuringly.

“It’s okay, Jingjing. What’s this? Your mother has weathered bigger storms than this over the years, and this time, there’s absolutely no way I’ll let you capsize in this ditch!”

••••

Early in the morning, the day before End of Heat, just as the rooster crowed, Li Ling’er, dressed in a half-worn floral print dress, bounced her way from home toward the village entrance, clutching a large gray cloth bundle.

“Ling’er, where are you going? Are you accompanying Jingjing to Beijing for school?” Aunt Qi, who always woke early and was sweeping her courtyard, asked loudly when she saw her.

Ever since Li Ling’er and Ruan Jing became engaged, the villagers’ attitudes had noticeably improved. Before, everyone treated her like a rat in the street, especially the female Betas. If she passed by their door, they’d want to shovel up the ground she’d walked on with an iron spade.

“…Hmm, she’s going to school, and I’m going to find work and take care of her.”

Li Ling’er said shyly. Aunt Qi noticed that she had applied blush to her face, her small lips were stained bright red, and even her original braid was undone. Her waist-length hair flowed down her back, and she had even curled it like city women, looking prettier than a TV celebrity.

“Aunt, I’m leaving now. When Jingjing has winter break, I’ll come back with her.”

“Has this toad really eaten swan meat?” Ruan Yili, an unmarried aunt from the family, came out to empty a potty and happened to overhear this. She looked enviously at Li Ling’er’s retreating figure. “Ruan Jing isn’t just a college student, she’s an Alpha! Ling’er might actually become an official’s wife in a couple of years!”

“Are you silly, girl? Even if Jingjing were truly bewitched and insisted on her, Aunt Fengying wouldn’t agree. I’m telling you, don’t go spouting nonsense.” Aunt Qi looked around guiltily. Ruan Yili shoved her disdainfully. “There’s not a ghost in sight, what are you looking at!”

“That day, Aunt Fengying accidentally let it slip when she was chatting with me. She plans to have Jingjing get off the train at any station and leave Ling’er there. If she can find her way back, she’s lucky. If she can’t… that’s her fate.”