Stealing Moonlight (Lily ABO) - Chapter 8

At these words, the three or four dozen people in the main hall and courtyard instantly fell silent. Even the two who had been wailing on the ground quieted down promptly, and all eyes turned to the village chief, Ruan Zhigao.

Ruan Zhigao had been the production team leader a few years prior. After the production team disbanded and households were assigned output quotas, he became the village chief of Ruan Family Village.

Ruan Family Village didn’t have many people, only about 100 households in total. Those surnamed Ruan accounted for at least eighty percent, mostly relatives. The remaining few households with different surnames were either migrants or educated youths who had settled there.

“In matters like this, it takes two to tango. If you ask me, both sides are responsible.”

Ruan Zhigao sat in the only armchair in the main hall, puffing on his dry pipe. He was naturally an Alpha, his pheromones smelling of dry tobacco. It was said that in his youth, he could suppress others just with his pheromones, which explained his high prestige.

“Ling’er, tell me, what do you want? Money or goods, anything’s fine. Name a price, and I’ll settle it for you, Uncle will take care of it.”

Ruan Zhigao’s words clearly favored Ruan Jing, intending to use money to get rid of Li Ling’er. The onlookers weren’t surprised by this; Li Ling’er was an outsider, and although she was an Omega, she was nothing compared to Ruan Jing, a college student.

“I don’t want money, I want to marry Ruan Jing.”

But Li Ling’er’s answer caused an uproar. Even Ruan Zhigao choked on his smoke, coughing for a long while.

“You shameless b1tch, I wouldn’t even let you carry my daughter’s shoes, I’d say you’re too dirty!” Liang Fengying grabbed the broom by her side and threw it at Li Ling’er. But Li Ling’er didn’t dodge. Liang Fengying was so enraged by her brazenness that her vision went black. She wanted to teach Li Ling’er another good lesson, but Ruan Jing stopped her.

Liang Fengying’s face was filled with shock, and the onlookers had various expressions. The air in the house immediately became bizarrely chaotic, yet Li Ling’er’s faint, clear scent remained exceptionally distinct within it.

Ruan Zhigao naturally smelled it too. He tapped the table with his pipe, and the surroundings finally quieted down.

“Ling’er, that’s enough. Logically speaking, you’re an Omega, and pretty too, so finding an Alpha should be fine, not too high a climb. But don’t forget your promiscuous nature; even the dogs in our village know about it.”

Several people in the crowd couldn’t help but snort with laughter, then quickly covered their mouths.

“Your parents were muddle-headed and short-sighted. They thought you were a Beta, and at 16, they married you off to Zhao Shazi from the neighboring village for 20 yuan. You had a bitter fate; Zhao Shazi drowned in the cove two days later, and your in-laws, thinking you were bad luck, chased you back. Did I say anything wrong?”

Ruan Zhigao paused, then glanced at Li Ling’er. She had her head down, eyes lowered. The dim light fell on her face, making her look like a broken clay Bodhisattva, ready to be stepped on by anyone.

Any fool knew what an Omega labeled as “trash” would face in the village. But Ruan Zhigao didn’t care, and most people in the village were even happy to see it happen.

To not take advantage of a bargain, wouldn’t that be a total bastard move!

“Actually, you’re not the only young widow in our village. But who’s like you? Tell me yourself, in these past four or five years, especially after you differentiated the year before last, how many men’s beds in our village have you climbed into? I’m not saying names to save your face! And you still want to marry Ruan Jing? Li Ling’er, your family’s ancestral grave hasn’t put out that kind of luck.”

Ruan Zhigao’s words were both a reprimand and a blow, aiming to completely extinguish Li Ling’er’s delusion.

“What a daydream, huh? I’d love to be the governor’s wife too!” A woman shouted from the crowd, immediately drawing a burst of laughter.

“If you don’t want me, then I’ll just die.”

Li Ling’er completely ignored the village chief and the crowd’s mockery. She looked straight at Ruan Jing, who had been standing quietly aside the entire time, and said calmly.

“Then go die.” Ruan Jing spoke coldly. She was now fully convinced that Li Ling’er had played her, and she was fuming!

The women in the village loved to use the trick of threatening suicide. Every time, they’d either put dull scissors to their neck that couldn’t even cut paper, or grab pesticide bottles filled with well water to scare people.

Ruan Jing had seen it many times; few dared to be serious. Moreover, Li Ling’er’s pheromones smelled unusually calm, without any emotional fluctuations.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Li Ling’er smiled at Ruan Jing, her upturned fox-like eyes showing a hint of deep affection. But the next second, without any hesitation, she crashed her head against the doorframe in front of her.

Ruan Jing tried to stop her again, but it was too late.

In a panic, she only managed to grab a corner of Li Ling’er’s clothes, while Li Ling’er’s head had already slammed hard against the doorframe. The sound was as loud as a clap of thunder in the sky. Dust from the rafters fell like frightened snowflakes, and the light bulb swayed, distorting the shadows into grotesque figures.

Ruan Jing barely managed to catch Li Ling’er, who was almost collapsing to the ground like mud. She saw a large gash on Li Ling’er’s forehead, bl00d gushing out, half her face smeared with it.

Amidst someone’s scream of “Someone’s dead!”, Ruan Jing’s hands trembled as she pressed on the wound. Warm bl00d surged through her fingers. Only at this moment did she realize what a difficult person she had provoked.