The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 13

The roar of her inner voice was deafening.

Though it was a scolding, Ruan Tang felt all the fatigue from the past two days of work instantly vanish. Even the lingering negative emotions from her past life, which had resurfaced before she left the office, dissipated like smoke.

“The company’s been really busy,” Ruan Tang explained.

“Oh.”

I’m not happy.

“Hongxin Company went bankrupt, and I’ve been trying to secure the two remaining projects,” Ruan Tang added.

“Hmm.”

I’m extremely unhappy!

“The process went smoothly, and the project contracts have been signed.”

“Hmph.”

I’m going to fucking kill you!

Ni Yunshi remained indifferent, propping her head with one hand as she leaned sideways on the sofa, her gaze drifting elsewhere.

But Ruan Tang clearly saw the fist supporting her chin clench tighter and tighter, as if she wanted to crush her own skull.

Work, work, all you care about is work! You might as well just marry your job!

Waaah, I can’t eat or sleep properly…

All these years of devotion, wasted on you!

Her inner ranting continued endlessly, causing Ruan Tang to frown.

Just then, Aunt Yuan came over with a slice of cake. “Dinner won’t be ready for another half hour, Miss. You must be hungry. Have some dessert to tide you over.”

“What have we been eating these past few days?” Ruan Tang asked, seizing the opportunity.

Though she didn’t say it outright, Aunt Yuan knew exactly what Ruan Tang was concerned about.

“Yesterday’s breakfast was the same as yours. For lunch, we had braised pork knuckle with rice, and for dinner, lean meat and ham congee. Today…”

“Ahem!”

Before Aunt Yuan could finish, Ni Yunshi choked on her cough and glared fiercely at her.

Gossipmonger! Shut up!

My ethereal, above-worldly persona is about to crumble!

So what if I didn’t leave you a single bite of that three-pound pork knuckle?!

Aunt Yuan didn’t stop. Instead, she pointed to the dessert plate. “This cake was originally eight inches in diameter.”

The cake’s edges were neatly cut, but the portion was small, not like a normal serving.

“And now?” Ruan Tang pressed.

Aunt Yuan didn’t answer, but instead pointed to Ni Yunshi’s stomach with her other hand.

Ruan Tang’s brow furrowed deeply.

Ni Yunshi pursed her lips, her expression turning slightly stern.

Late Autumn! Tangtang is going to think I’m too difficult to care for!

Ruan Tang frowned. “You’re not eating even a single blade of grass?”

“I am,” Ni Yunshi said, averting her gaze to hide her guilt.

Good Tangtang! Don’t throw me out!

I’ll never cause trouble again!

I just haven’t had a full meal in six months, sob…

The endless clamoring had transformed into boundless whimpering, softening Ruan Tang’s iron heart.

Come to think of it, her lack of food is partly my fault for not being more considerate back then…

“I haven’t been eating much these past few days either,” Ruan Tang said coldly, a veiled compromise. “Add a hearty dish for dinner.”

“And prepare another box of digestive tablets. My stomach’s been acting up.”

The contradictory words went unnoticed by the guilt-ridden Ni Yunshi, but Aunt Yuan understood the message perfectly and nodded to comply.

Ruan Tang rose to go upstairs for a rest.

But as she took a step, her wrist was gripped tightly.

Ni Yunshi tugged her back. “Ruan Tang, what exactly have you been up to these past few days? You haven’t come up with another scheme to get rid of me, have you?”

Sun Hongwei, you irredeemable trash! Can’t even manage a simple project!

Poor Tangtang, if only she had come back half a year later.

Back then, Tangtang could have lived carefree, spending her days eating, drinking, and playing.

So it was her after all!

Expected, yet still unbelievable.

Ruan Tang didn’t respond directly, only smiled. “Come upstairs with me. I’ll tell you there.”

Ni Yunshi rose without hesitation.

But when they returned to the bedroom, Ruan Tang remained silent, retrieving a delicate solid gold key.

“What’s this for?” Ni Yunshi asked, puzzled.

Ruan Tang reached out, tugging Ni Yunshi closer by the gold chain.

The key clicked into the collar’s lock with a crisp sound.

The golden collar was removed.

This device had been designed to confine her.

Now that she would return of her own volition, the collar had lost its purpose.

Ruan Tang tossed aside the collar and key, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief.

But as the weight lifted from Ni Yunshi’s neck, a flicker of panic flashed unconsciously in her eyes.

Late Autumn!

I’m doomed!

I’m going to disappear!

Her gaze remained fixed on the discarded collar, her eyes rimmed with red as her icy composure threatened to crumble.

Tangtang really does think I eat too much! She’s going to throw me out!

I’m going from a loyal dog to a stray!

Ignoring the cacophony of voices, Ruan Tang spoke again:

“Ni Yunshi, there are some things I want to ask you.”

“Wh-what… Tangtang!”

Ruan Tang watched as Ni Yunshi’s expression shifted from suspicion to shock, then to deathly pallor.

As if she had seen something utterly terrifying, Ni Yunshi lunged toward her with a desperate cry.

Before Ruan Tang could question her, a wave of dizziness struck. She suddenly lost control of her body and collapsed stiffly to the ground.

In her dazed state, a chaotic mix of voices and vibrations swirled around her.

“We need to run bl00d tests—no exceptions!”

“No one’s stopping me today!”

“Damn it, I’ll kill him with my own hands!”

In her fading consciousness, Ruan Tang struggled to make out Ni Yunshi’s frantic shouts.

Then, she slipped into complete unconsciousness.

She remained submerged in darkness for what felt like an eternity before her senses gradually returned.

Ruan Tang opened her eyes to see the hospital ceiling. She turned her head to look out the window, where the bright sunlight revealed it was no longer the evening she had returned home.

The door creaked open.

Ruan Tang turned to see Ni Yunshi pushing the door open.

“Awake?”

“Mm…” Ruan Tang replied softly, her voice hoarse.

Ni Yunshi fed Ruan Tang some water before tossing a lab report onto the bed, looking down at her condescendingly.

“I thought you were so capable. How could someone act right in front of you without you noticing?” Ni Yunshi sneered.

Ruan Tang reached for the lab report.

She didn’t understand the numerical results, but she could read the final diagnosis:

Ingestion-induced metabolic acidosis.

Ruan Tang frowned.

She had eaten only the company cafeteria food during her two days at Hongxin Company and hadn’t even had time to drink water after returning home. Where could the poison have come from?

Just as she was puzzling over this, the report was suddenly snatched from her hand.

Ni Yunshi pulled it away. “So, have you remembered what you ate?”

Ruan Tang shook her head, but her movement froze halfway through.

“What’s wrong?” Ni Yunshi asked, her senses immediately on alert.

“The coffee,” Ruan Tang said with certainty. “The coffee in my office.”

Apart from the cafeteria food, it was the only thing she had consumed.

Moreover, she had no fondness for bitter flavors and never savored her drinks. She only drank instant coffee powder, making it the easiest thing for someone to tamper with.

Ni Yunshi, well aware of Ruan Tang’s habits, rose immediately, her expression shifting slightly. “Aunt Yuan will come to take care of you shortly.”

“Where are you going?” Ruan Tang asked, frowning.

Ni Yunshi chuckled softly and waved her hand dismissively.

Only then did Ruan Tang notice the Tangzhao Group ID card in her hand.

It was one of the documents confiscated when Ruan Tang had placed her under house arrest.

When the items were returned that night, the ID card had naturally been returned to Ni Yunshi as well.