The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 24

Aunt Yuan’s gesture carried no special meaning.

“She just wanted to pat my head,” Ruan Tang murmured, tears welling uncontrollably in her eyes.

But the iron bars prevented her from reaching out, leaving her to only stroke the air lightly.

Maa—! Black people crying!

My heart is breaking!

I want to kiss away Tangtang’s tears! But I have to hold back!

Beside her, Ni Yunshi impatiently handed her a tissue. “What’s the point of crying? You’d be better off finding a good lawyer.”

Aunt Yuan wasn’t the mastermind, so her crime wasn’t the most severe. At just over forty, she’d likely serve a maximum of twenty-five years, meaning she wouldn’t die in prison. After her release, Ruan Tang could still care for her in her old age.

Ruan Tang understood these facts, yet her heart sank into an icy abyss.

Reflecting on her childhood, she realized Aunt Yuan had always protected her from her father’s resentment and schemes.

Even after Ruan Tang moved abroad, Aunt Yuan maintained contact, sending her updates.

Upon returning home, Ruan Tang’s volatile temperament and unpredictable moods never drew harsh words from Aunt Yuan, only gentle guidance and reminders.

“Miss Ni, having been pampered since childhood, you wouldn’t understand the value of genuine affection,” Ruan Tang said, her tone half-mocking, half-bitter. “After Aunt Yuan, no one will ever spoil me like that again…”

Me! Me! When have I ever failed to spoil you?!

“Working tirelessly without complaint, showering me with gifts and affection, always at my beck and call, ready to be both dominant and submissive…”

“No! I can’t take it anymore! I need some compensation right now!”

As her inner monologue grew more agitated and aggrieved, Ni Yunshi’s brow furrowed deeply.

Noticing the change in her expression and recalling Aunt Yuan’s earlier warning, Ruan Tang suddenly realized she had spoken out of turn.

She was about to say something to ease the tension when Ni Yunshi suddenly leaned in and wrapped her arms around Ruan Tang’s shoulders and waist, pulling her into a sincere and unreserved embrace.

The sudden closeness brought their bodies together, their warmth and heartbeats mingling.

Ruan Tang was startled, yet a warmth spread through her chest. Ni Yunshi, who usually maintained a reserved demeanor, was offering her genuine comfort in an uncharacteristic way.

“Hah…”

Just as Ruan Tang was moved, she heard a deep inhale near her ear and felt an irresistible tickle on her neck.

Ni Yunshi lowered her head and buried her face in the crook of Ruan Tang’s neck, taking a deep breath.

“Ah, perfect!”

How dare she! I’m feeling down, and she’s taking advantage of the situation?!

The warmth vanished, replaced by a surge of anger.

Then, she heard a soft voice whisper in her ear, “From now on, I’ll spoil you.”

“Finally, our thoughts align.”

In a daze, Ruan Tang murmured, “Okay…”

Driving home, Ni Yunshi urged Ruan Tang to rest.

Overwhelmed by fatigue, Ruan Tang didn’t refuse. But nightmares plagued her sleep, and she woke up startled after only half an hour.

The fragrant aroma of cooked food drifted up from downstairs. Ruan Tang rose and went downstairs, only to find Ni Yunshi bustling about in the kitchen.

“The hired cook will prepare all three meals. You don’t need to do this yourself,” Ruan Tang said, leaning against the wall with a frown.

Last night’s sudden crisis and this morning’s frantic activity had taken their toll. Ni Yunshi, who had been by her side the entire time, needed rest just as much as she did.

“I’ve dismissed the cook and the cleaning lady,” Ni Yunshi explained as she carried dishes to the table. “From now on, I’ll handle the cooking. For housework, we’ll hire temporary help when we’re too busy.”

“With Sun Hongwei still at large, having outsiders in the house could attract trouble at any moment.”

“You’ve really thought this through,” Ruan Tang remarked, taking a seat at the table.

Excited monkey noises! Tangtang praised me!

My smile is wider than an AK-47!

“It’s not for you,” Ni Yunshi retorted, pressing her lips together. “I live here too, so I’m just considering my own safety.”

Ruan Tang could see Ni Yunshi was struggling to suppress her laughter, her face twitching from the effort.

Finally, Ruan Tang snapped, “Aunt Yuan isn’t here anymore. Who are you putting on this act for?”

The question caught Ni Yunshi off guard.

Hmph, fickle women are worse than scum!

She said she liked cool, aloof beauties, but now she’s complaining about my coldness!

To maintain my perfect image, I have to suppress myself every single day!

Ni Yunshi lowered her gaze, her expression crestfallen, and remained silent.

Ruan Tang frowned, racking her brain to recall the moment. After a moment of intense effort, she finally remembered saying those words.

Back then, they were still in middle school. The typical topics of conversation among students revolved around academic achievements and romantic gossip.

Ni Yunshi’s striking beauty made her the constant center of gossip. Ruan Tang couldn’t resist probing her, and Ni Yunshi proudly boasted about the numerous admirers who openly and secretly adored her before asking, “Ruan Tang, what kind of person do you like?”

At that time, they weren’t in the same class, and the Ni Family hadn’t yet fallen from grace.

Ruan Tang responded with a calculated answer: “I like someone aloof and distant, like the moon in the sky.”

This way, Ni Yunshi would continue to treat her coldly, allowing Ruan Tang to delude herself into believing that Ni Yunshi had indirectly accepted her confession.

If Ni Yunshi had changed her attitude toward her, Ruan Tang might have at least gained some fleeting attention and false tenderness.

The memories ended there. Ruan Tang looked across at Ni Yunshi.

Ni Yunshi was pretending to look elsewhere, but her reddened eyes and tearful inner voice were all silently accusing Ruan Tang of starting something and then abandoning her.

“What I mean is, you could just talk properly,” Ruan Tang explained, but the words came out wrong, and she quickly tried to correct herself.

“Lower your guard.”

“Stop putting on airs for me…”

With each sentence, Ni Yunshi’s lips curved further downward.

Damn it, my mouth is broken.

Ruan Tang pressed her thumb against her philtrum, outwardly propping her elbow against half her face in a show of disdain, but inwardly she was panicking.

How can I be so eloquent and commanding in public, yet unable to say a single kind word to this nemesis at home?

The world is so beautiful. I must not lose my temper.

Let her retort. I’ll just keep praising her!

The higher I raise her, the less anyone else will want her. Then I can have her all to myself!

Such venomous thoughts.

Ruan Tang’s eye twitched. After a long pause, she finally said, “From now on, you can completely relax at home. Of course, if you don’t consider this place home, then forget I said anything.”

With that, she buried her head in her food, refusing to acknowledge Ni Yunshi across the table.

But then she heard a rustling sound from the other side.

Puzzled, she looked up to see Ni Yunshi moving her chair closer.

“What are you doing?” Ruan Tang instinctively recoiled, her guard up.

“I’m at home. I can do whatever I want,” Ni Yunshi retorted.

With a thump, she placed her chair next to Ruan Tang’s and sat down.

Excellent! Flawless!

Slowly dismantling her defenses and figuring out the persona Tangtang likes.

Then I’ll do whatever I want to her!

Ruan Tang’s eye twitched again as her mind filled with lewd thoughts.

Clang!

Ruan Tang abruptly slammed down her chopsticks, coldly interrupting Ni Yunshi’s fantasies. “Recently, besides the old case, there’s something even more important. You should prepare yourself properly.”