Stealing My Ex's White Moonlight - Chapter 23

Lin Huanhuan stood before Shi Mi, looking down at her sprawled carelessly in Cousin Wanqing’s rocking chair, completely oblivious to her subordinate status. Her face was filled with displeasure.

She stepped on Shi Mi’s foot, which was resting on the footrest. “Do you think you have the right to sit in Cousin Wanqing’s chair? Don’t you know any manners?”

Shi Mi looked up.

Her eyes, bright and sharp beneath the brim of her hat, seemed to pierce through Lin Huanhuan, pinning her against the wall as if cold sweat were streaming down her back.

Instinctively, Lin Huanhuan wanted to release her foot, but she quickly realized she was overreacting. Raising her voice to mask her momentary fear, she demanded, “Didn’t you hear what I said?!”

“You’re blocking my view.”

What?! She was blocking her view?! Hadn’t she been staring at Cousin Wanqing the whole time?

Lin Huanhuan sneered, “Do you really think you have a chance with Cousin Wanqing? Look at yourself—what status do you even have?!”

Shi Mi straightened up and moved closer to Lin Huanhuan.

At such close range, Lin Huanhuan felt the weight of Shi Mi’s gaze pressing down on her, suffocating her. Before she could react, Shi Mi grabbed her arm.

Shi Mi’s hand looked delicate and boneless, and her grip seemed light as a feather.

Yet Lin Huanhuan felt as if her entire body was being pulled downward. She stumbled, losing her balance, and crashed heavily to the ground.

The ground on set was cold, hard, and littered with sharp pebbles. Lin Huanhuan’s costume had been torn, and her palms were scraped raw and bleeding.

Their commotion drew attention, and Lin Huanhuan felt the curious gazes of onlookers like thorns in her back.

She glared at the instigator, who had already settled back into her rocking chair. The chair swayed gently, as if none of this concerned her.

From the moment filming began, Lin Wanqing had noticed Shi Mi’s intense gaze fixed on her, and she poured her heart into her performance.

She drew even the minor actors into the scene, immersing everyone in the story. Several shots were completed in a single take.

When she first heard the commotion near Shi Mi, she swiftly snapped out of character.

The Director called for a pause in filming.

Lin Wanqing lifted her skirt and strode over, the jade hairpin in her hair clinking crisply with each step.

She glanced at Lin Huanhuan before fixing her gaze on Shi Mi. “What’s going on here?”

Hearing the accusatory tone, Lin Huanhuan shot Shi Mi a triumphant look and scrambled to her feet.

“Cousin Wanqing, she was lying in your chair. I asked her to get up, but she refused and pushed me!”

Lin Huanhuan’s first few words were stiff and unnatural, but when she added, “and pushed me!” her voice softened into a pitiful whine. She rolled up her wide sleeves to reveal her injured hands.

“Look,” she said, holding out her palm.

Her palm was crisscrossed with bl00d vessels and still gritty with sand, making it look somewhat gruesome.

The crew members gathered around, not attempting to intervene but rather watching with detached curiosity.

Perhaps because they were cousins, Lin Wanqing and Lin Huanhuan shared some similarities in temperament, yet their differences were stark.

Lin Wanqing possessed a cold aloofness that seemed to transcend earthly concerns, as if she belonged to a higher realm far above Yunyang. Lin Huanhuan, on the other hand, cultivated a deliberately icy demeanor, laced with disdain, contempt, and condescension.

Everyone knew that Lin Huanhuan was fiercely protective of Lin Wanqing, seeing no one else as worthy of her attention.

If Lin Wanqing was a goddess enshrined on a pedestal, Lin Huanhuan was her devoted disciple, prostrating herself at her feet.

Once, two web drama actresses gossiped behind Lin Wanqing’s back, remarking on her aloof public image and lack of scandals, speculating about her private life. Lin Huanhuan summoned them for a “discussion,” which resulted in them losing their roles.

Sometimes, the crew’s negligence toward Lin Wanqing’s needs—such as failing to provide ice packs to cool her down or letting her meals grow cold—would draw Lin Huanhuan’s ire.

In short, Lin Huanhuan was even more difficult to deal with than her manager, Feng Zhimei.

They understood that Lin Huanhuan meant no harm and that her criticisms were often valid, but her relentless nitpicking made everyone uncomfortable.

Such incidents weren’t uncommon, yet Lin Wanqing had never intervened before. Why was she stepping in now?

Their gazes shifted to Shi Mi, who was still lounging lazily in the rocking chair despite the tense atmosphere.

No wonder Lin Huanhuan had criticized her.

The boss was filming in heavy costumes under the scorching sun, having paid to hire you as a personal assistant, yet here you were, acting like a pampered lord, reclining in a rocking chair, enjoying the breeze from a fan, and sipping coffee.

Anyone would be furious.

Liu Zhi, however, sensed that Lin Wanqing’s sharp “What’s going on?” wasn’t directed at the person in the rocking chair, but at Lin Huanhuan.

She was right.

Without even glancing at Lin Huanhuan, Lin Wanqing stared fixedly at a spot on the ground before turning back to her. “Did you step on it?”

Lin Huanhuan, sensing the rare anger in Wanqing’s voice, froze, confused. Why was Cousin Wanqing so angry? Was it because she hadn’t done her job properly?

“She wouldn’t get up, so I…”

Lin Wanqing cut her off, her voice sharp with uncharacteristic fury. “Clean it up!”

Now, not just Lin Huanhuan, but the entire crew was taken aback, feeling Lin Wanqing was overreacting. They rushed to intervene.

“Wanqing, it’s not a big deal. We all work together, friction is inevitable. Just talk it out.”

“Yeah, yeah, if Huanhuan did wrong, she can just apologize.”

Lin Huanhuan heard the word “apology” and felt a surge of anger. Why should I apologize?!

Lin Wanqing ignored the others, focusing solely on Lin Huanhuan. “Lin Huanhuan!”

Lin Huanhuan moved her lips. “Cousin Wanqing…”

Lin Wanqing’s temperament was cold and aloof, rarely showing any emotion. Lin Huanhuan knew perfectly well that this was because such trivial matters and people weren’t worthy of her cousin’s attention.

In the past, when Lin Huanhuan interfered in Wanqing’s affairs, her cousin had never shown any reaction. But now, she could clearly sense Wanqing’s anger.

All because she had stepped on her foot? All because she had asked her to get off the lounge chair?

Could there be anything more absurd in the world?

Lin Huanhuan stubbornly refused to lower her head.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Liu Zhi quickly stepped in to mediate. “It’s just a little dirt, right? I’ll wipe it off, I’ll wipe it off. Once it’s clean, it’s no big deal.”

As Liu Zhi bent down to wipe the dirt, Lin Wanqing sharply ordered her to stop. Caught between the two, Liu Zhi retreated to the side. This is a matter between you cousins. I won’t interfere.

Lin Huanhuan bit her lip. “She’s just a lowly assistant. What right does she have? She’s not even worthy of carrying your shoes…”

Before Lin Huanhuan could finish her sentence, Lin Wanqing slapped her across the face, the veins throbbing at her temples. “I’ve only tolerated you out of respect for Grandma,” she snapped. “Who do you think you are?”

Lin Huanhuan’s cheek burned with pain, and tears streamed down her face. “Cousin Wanqing…” she whispered in disbelief.

The crew members watching the scene were equally stunned.

Lin Wanqing appeared cold and aloof, but she was known for her even temper. She usually brushed off gossip and petty actions with an air of indifference—not out of weakness or meekness, but from a deep-seated detachment that made her dismiss such matters as trivial.

Why had she suddenly lost her composure over a mere assistant? And why make such a public spectacle of it?

All eyes turned to the assistant, scrutinizing her with curiosity. The two cousins were at each other’s throats over her, yet she remained utterly composed, as if none of it concerned her.

Someone tried to mediate. “The slap’s been delivered, the words have been said. Let’s just drop it.”

“Huanhuan didn’t mean it…”

“Exactly! It’s not a big deal…”

As they spoke, they realized Lin Wanqing wasn’t listening at all. Her gaze remained fixed on the figure reclining in the rocking chair.

Everyone present was shrewd enough to understand: Lin Wanqing’s entire outburst had been staged for the assistant’s benefit.

At that moment, Shi Mi, who had been nestled in the rocking chair, lifted her head, revealing a pair of bright, sharp eyes that fixed on Lin Huanhuan.

There seemed to be a magnetic force emanating from her.

Everyone fell silent.

Though her eyes held a smile, they were also icy cold. The chilling aura was so intense that the surrounding crowd instinctively parted, creating a path for her.

Shi Mi rose gracefully and walked out.

Lin Wanqing, lifting her skirt, hurried after her.

Lin Huanhuan, biting her lip, continued to sob. The onlookers watched the spectacle, unsure how to comfort her.

Could it be… could it be that Lin Huanhuan is a bit too self-righteous?

Lin Wanqing hadn’t even said anything, yet she had taken it upon herself to lecture and gesticulate wildly.

As the crowd dispersed, Chang Bing silently handed Lin Huanhuan an ice pack to soothe her swollen eyes.

Lin Huanhuan refused it, asking instead, “Do you think I was wrong too?”

Chang Bing shook her head. “Sister Huanhuan did nothing wrong.”

Lin Huanhuan scoffed, then remembered the stinging slap. Her face and heart throbbed in unison.

Could this little follower be Cousin Wanqing’s lover? Why else would Cousin Wanqing defend her so fiercely?

But even if she were just a lover, why such a violent outburst?

Could Cousin Wanqing be…?

The thought struck her like a thunderbolt. Lin Huanhuan grabbed her phone and called her brother, Lin Yuan.

After hearing her out, Lin Yuan snapped, “Lin Huanhuan, you’re digging your own grave! Don’t drag me into this!”