The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 29

The afternoon sun bathed Grape Fragrance Manor in its golden light.

The November breeze, unusually warm, carried the sweet aroma of grapes from the winery, enveloping the vineyards that stretched before it.

At the front of the vineyard stood a three-story Western-style building with a rooftop terrace, a party venue available for rent.

On the terrace, executives from the Tangzhao Group had just opened a bottle of Ace of Spades champagne and poured it into a six-tiered champagne tower.

At the group’s urging, Gu Hewan reached for the top glass.

“Thank you all for gracing me with your presence today and bestowing this honor upon me. Let us work together in the coming year to elevate the Tangzhao Group to new heights!”

After delivering the customary remarks, Gu Hewan didn’t finish her drink. Instead, she handed the top glass to Ruan Tang and drained another glass herself.

The others immediately understood her intention and quickly followed suit.

“If you can’t drink, just take a small sip to show your appreciation,” Gu Hewan whispered to Ruan Tang.

Ruan Tang nodded and complied.

Afterward, Gu Hewan steered Ruan Tang away from the champagne tower, positioning them near the dessert table.

Since Ruan Tang couldn’t drink, she switched to the similarly colored grape juice on the table. With Gu Hewan’s protection, she avoided any awkwardness or embarrassment.

However, just half an hour into the peaceful interlude, a flurry of noisy footsteps echoed from downstairs.

The next moment, Ni Yunshi strode up the stairs, followed by four or five employees.

Ni Yunshi’s first glance landed on Ruan Tang and Gu Hewan standing together. Her second glance fell on the glass of wine beside Ruan Tang.

The red cherry perched on the rim of the glass unmistakably marked the wine’s significance.

Ahhh! I’m going to lose my mind! How dare she drink the top-tier wine! That’s reserved for the newlyweds at the wedding!

“Miss Gu, President Ruan, did you invite anyone else?” another executive asked.

“They weren’t invited,” Gu Hewan replied. “I brought my team for a team-building event since the weather was nice. I didn’t expect to run into the other executives here. I hope you’ll all be understanding.”

Ni Yunshi’s face was plastered with a smile, yet it did nothing to soften her naturally cold features.

Ruan Tang’s grip tightened. If the previous statement had been an explanation, this final line was a clear threat.

She had just finished grooming Ni Yunshi, promoting her within the company. If Ni Yunshi alienated everyone now, wouldn’t she be demoted just as quickly?

Ruan Tang instinctively wanted to defend Ni Yunshi, but the words caught in her throat.

This wasn’t her territory. She herself was barely a clay bodhisattva, and any further intervention would only drag Gu Hewan into the mess.

Before Ruan Tang could formulate a response, Ni Yunshi had already strode up to Gu Hewan.

Her gaze, direct and nakedly provocative, pierced Gu Hewan like a dagger.

The atmosphere plummeted to freezing, and the room fell silent.

“Hewan, Ni Yunshi, she…” Ruan Tang began, trying to smooth things over, but Gu Hewan cut her off with a smile.

“She’s just here with her team to relax and have fun. I understand.”

Gu Hewan patted Ruan Tang’s hand reassuringly, then picked up a slice of strawberry shortcake from the dessert table and offered it to Ni Yunshi.

“Since you’re here, let’s all relax and enjoy ourselves together.”

Ni Yunshi didn’t take the gesture well, frowning instead.

Relax my ass!

I’m here to get my wife back! Give me back my Tangtang!

And who even wants to eat this sickly sweet stuff?!

The sudden silence chilled the air around them.

“Ni Yunshi, you’re not qualified for such a demanding role. This isn’t the office, so let’s not make things more complicated,” someone interjected.

The unspoken message was clear: she should let go of the incident during her promotion.

Ni Yunshi frowned, shooting him a sidelong glance. “I don’t mean anything by it. I just don’t think it’s time to relax yet. After all, Sun Hongwei is still running rampant and hasn’t been caught.”

Opportunistic weasel! Money-grubbing bastard!

I’ve got dirt on all of you!

I can send anyone I want to jail!

Ni Yunshi’s unspoken message rang even louder, instantly silencing the room.

Gu Hewan, meanwhile, remained lost in thought, staring at the dessert in her hand.

“The main issue has been resolved. The rest will sort itself out gradually. You don’t need to be so tense,” Ruan Tang said, taking over the conversation and handing Gu Hewan a glass of wine.

Tangtang is comforting me! Tangtang cares about me! Tangtang still dotes on me!

Ni Yunshi reached out to take the glass, but before her fingers could touch it, the glass suddenly shifted.

Gu Hewan had moved another glass of sparkling white wine forward, gently blocking Ruan Tang’s hand.

“This one should suit your taste better,” Gu Hewan said with a smile.

“Really? Miss Gu, how do you know my preferences so well?” Ni Yunshi raised an eyebrow. “Could it be you have a crush on me?”

Get lost!

I want the glass Tangtang sipped from!

Who wants to drink wine without sugar water? I’d rather have a soda!

Ruan Tang blinked, realizing she had absentmindedly picked up the pyramid-shaped glass she had set down earlier.

“Xiao Tang lived with me abroad for three years. She often mentioned you, so I remembered a few things,” Gu Hewan explained.

Three years?!

Do you even know what I went through during those three years?!

Ni Yunshi’s pupils constricted slightly.

Gu Hewan smiled politely, adding with deliberate emphasis:

“After all, I never forget anything Xiao Tang tells me.”

The subtle jab landed perfectly, both stunning and sobering.

For a full three seconds, Ni Yunshi remained stiff before slowly turning her head to fix her gaze on Ruan Tang.

“Is that so? Then I must thank President Ruan for remembering me so fondly.”

Dark, twisted, crawling—

Pah! I refuse this forced, low-quality dog food!

Waaah, could it be all those tricks she used on me were learned from Gu Hewan…?

“Cough—”

Ruan Tang choked, her eyes meeting Ni Yunshi’s sinister gaze.

“When I stayed at the Gu Family’s residence, my room was indeed next to Hewan’s bedroom.”

With outsiders present, Ruan Tang was at a loss for how to explain. Yet speaking the truth only made it seem like she was trying to cover something up.

Hee hee, so you’re the one who trapped Tangtang, but couldn’t capture her heart.

Even a wall next door ignores you!

Unlike that other person, who sleeps in the basement, a whole floor away, yet Tangtang still takes the initiative to come over and stick close and kiss them!

Ni Yunshi’s expression remained unchanged, but her heart had already begun to speak tea-like words.

If there weren’t so many outsiders watching, she probably would have started to twist with glee.

“No matter what, since you are Xiao Tang’s friend, then you are also my sister.” Gu Hewan once again raised her glass to Ni Yunshi.

Fearing that Ni Yunshi wouldn’t appreciate it and would ruin the atmosphere they had finally built, Ruan Tang also raised her glass.

For Tangtang’s sake, I’ll give you face!

Though cursing inwardly, Ni Yunshi still smiled outwardly and clinked glasses.

The tense atmosphere dissipated.

The other high-ranking individuals merely regarded their previous words as casual chatter between close young women.

But after one glass of wine, just five minutes later, two rosy patches had already appeared on Ruan Tang’s cheeks.