The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 17

The threat was delivered in a low voice, but the malice in his tone was unmistakable.

Ni Yunshi remained silent.

Sun Hongwei continued, “Don’t forget what you did after you drove Ruan Tang away.”

What did she do? Ruan Tang wondered, her curiosity piqued. But Sun Hongwei didn’t elaborate. Instead, he stood up and left.

He hadn’t even stated his demands or conditions. Clearly, Sun Hongwei wasn’t trying to use Ni Yunshi to regain his footing. He was ready to burn bridges and fight her to the bitter end.

Ruan Tang paid no attention to Sun Hongwei’s departure. After all, with her ability to hear thoughts, Ni Yunshi couldn’t possibly ignore being mentioned.

Yet, after waiting quietly for another two minutes, Ruan Tang detected no movement from Ni Yunshi next door—not even a flicker of thought.

Has her heart stopped? Why is she so still?

Just as Ruan Tang was mentally criticizing her, she heard movement next door.

Turning her head, she saw Ni Yunshi rising to her feet.

Ruan Tang quickly hid her face behind a magazine, but Ni Yunshi didn’t even notice. Her expression was dazed, and she swayed twice before barely managing to steady herself.

Ruan Tang was stunned. Ni Yunshi’s eyes were vacant, her mind blank, and her movements sluggish.

This was the reaction of someone paralyzed by fear.

What exactly did Ni Yunshi do? Just the mention of it could terrify her like this…

Lost in thought, Ni Yunshi had already left the café, and Ruan Tang quietly followed.

They walked all the way back to the lounge, which was currently being renovated. Ruan Tang knocked on the door, and Ni Yunshi turned around, their eyes meeting.

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting at home?” Ni Yunshi blurted out, as if she hadn’t fully processed the situation.

She hasn’t been to the basement, has she?

I just lost control of my emotions for a moment… She won’t come after me for this, will she?

When did she even arrive?

Beneath her composed facade, the panic in Ni Yunshi’s eyes was fully visible to Ruan Tang.

“I just got here and found my assistant working for you. What exactly are you trying to do?” Ruan Tang concealed the fact that she had been following her.

“Is it against company policy to spend my own money to improve the food if I can’t stomach the cafeteria?” Ni Yunshi retorted, her mind already churning with curses.

Hmph! Tangtang is being mean to me again! All she does is question me!

I’ve gone to such lengths to squeeze in time to cook for her, all while maintaining my cool, aloof persona. And now I have to forgive her for getting married!

Waaah, I’m so pitiful! But I can’t help being a hopeless romantic!

Ruan Tang paused, adjusting her tone. “If you don’t like the cafeteria food, you should report it to management and request a new chef.”

Ni Yunshi shot her a sidelong glance. “Don’t think I’ll create unnecessary trouble and give them leverage against me.”

Ruan Tang personally hired the chef, knowing that if the company’s meals ever went wrong, the blame would inevitably fall on her.

“I wouldn’t harm you,” Ruan Tang protested. “At least, I’ve never wanted you dead.”

She hadn’t in her past life, and though she harbored resentment in this one, she had no murderous intent.

Ni Yunshi’s eyes lit up briefly, then suddenly dimmed.

Waaah, Tangtang doesn’t want my life anymore.

She should hate me out of love, tormenting my body and soul!

Now that she’s getting married, she’s abandoning me. I mean nothing to her anymore!

The corner of Ruan Tang’s eye twitched again. “About the package… I don’t know why it was sent. But I have no plans to marry, so let’s just drop this.”

“Huh? What?” Ni Yunshi’s eyes widened.

Sh-she-she said what?!

She’s explaining herself to me?!

The proud, aloof, and precious peacock is speaking to me! She’s actually talking to me!

The mental voice was a cacophony of shrieks and explosions, overwhelmingly loud.

Ruan Tang’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

What do you mean I’m finally speaking? I’ve never been mute!

It was just that from childhood onward, no one had ever listened to her. The more she spoke, the more mistakes she made, and the more trouble she attracted. Eventually, she simply stopped talking.

Besides, in her past life, Ni Yunshi had always kept her at arm’s length…

As Ruan Tang argued internally, her ears flushed uncontrollably.

A fragrant breeze suddenly brushed past her face.

Ruan Tang snapped out of her daze to find Ni Yunshi standing right in front of her, the distance between them barely half a palm’s width.

“Ruan Tang, I didn’t quite hear you. Say it again,” Ni Yunshi murmured, her bright eyes fixed on Ruan Tang.

Ruan Tang felt that gaze burning into her, making her whole body flush.

She did want to say it again, to make herself clearer, but the turbulent emotions in her chest and the awkwardness of being stared at tightened her throat.

In the end, Ruan Tang pushed Ni Yunshi away and fled hastily.

Her flustered escape was no less panicked than Ni Yunshi’s earlier distress.

It wasn’t until she was safely home that Ruan Tang finally regained her composure.

Despite the unexpected twists, the day’s ordeal had ultimately achieved its purpose.

The fatigue of her recent illness washed over her again. Ruan Tang collapsed onto the living room sofa, drifting into a drowsy haze.

“Miss, you should rest in your room. It’s easy to catch a chill here,” Aunt Yuan cautioned.

“No need, I’ll just doze off for a bit…” Ruan Tang mumbled, shaking her head groggily.

If she were still at the company and Ni Yunshi brought back dinner to find her asleep on the sofa, she might start crying again.

Seeing her stubbornness, Aunt Yuan reluctantly fetched a blanket.

The minute hand circled the clock face three more times.

Three hours passed, and the sky had completely darkened. The housekeeper and cook had finished their shifts and gone home, leaving only Aunt Yuan sitting at the table in the corner of the living room, reviewing the day’s expenses.

Suddenly, the front door clicked open, and Ni Yunshi returned.

Aunt Yuan immediately rose to greet her, gesturing for silence. “Miss Tang is asleep on the sofa. She hasn’t woken up yet.”

“Hmm? When did she fall asleep?” Ni Yunshi lowered her voice.

“Around six o’clock,” Aunt Yuan replied.

Ni Yunshi pondered for a moment, then handed over the takeout she’d brought back. “Put this in the fridge. If she wakes up and wants to eat, she can. If not, I’ll bring fresh food tomorrow.”

Aunt Yuan nodded. Ni Yunshi removed her coat and tiptoed toward the sofa.

Ruan Tang was still sound asleep.

Lying on her side, her hands were folded together and tucked beside her cheek, she purred softly like a contented kitten, utterly devoid of her usual aloofness.

Ni Yunshi’s lips curved into a silent smile as she shed her usual icy demeanor. She reached out and gently tapped the tip of Ruan Tang’s nose.

“Sorry for the wait, my little Tangtang.”

“Mmm…”

In her dream, Ruan Tang murmured, her nose tickling slightly.

The soft hum made Ni Yunshi’s heart flutter.

She pulled the blanket over and carefully shifted to lie on her side next to Ruan Tang.

Though the sofa was wide, it was still much narrower than a bed, instantly closing the distance between them to less than a finger’s width.

In her sleep, Ruan Tang was enveloped by the familiar cool fragrance and felt a sudden warmth beside her. Instinctively, she snuggled closer to the heat source until a layer of warmth coated her entirely, bringing her a sense of security.

Outside of Ruan Tang’s dream, Ni Yunshi watched as the girl pressed herself closer, her arms tightening around her by a fraction.

With each breath, she greedily inhaled the scent that belonged solely to her Tangtang, yet a wistful expression gradually crept across her face.

“Tangtang,” she whispered, “what if… I mean, just hypothetically, what if we couldn’t be together anymore someday? What would we do?”