The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 32

Ni Yunshi, irritated by the question, retorted, “I don’t like it. Why are you so concerned with my preferences? Don’t tell me you actually have ulterior motives toward me?”

Her eyebrows arched, and an arrogant, domineering expression took over her usually aloof features.

Gone was the passive, submissive demeanor she displayed around Ruan Tang. Instead, she resembled a hedgehog with all its quills bristling.

But before Ni Yunshi could escalate her arrogance further, Gu Hewan suddenly spoke again:

“If you don’t like any of that, then who are you really?”

Ni Yunshi froze.

After a full half-minute, she frowned in confusion. “What are you asking?”

“Your preferences are completely different from what Xiao Tang described,” Gu Hewan said, her gaze fixed intently on the woman across from her. “Are you really Ni Yunshi? Who are you really?”

“Are you out of your mind? Who determines someone’s identity based on another person’s account?” Ni Yunshi scoffed, her face twisting with disdain.

But even after her mocking retort, Gu Hewan continued to stare at her, her expression darkening.

Just three seconds later, Ni Yunshi pressed her lips together and added, “Ruan Tang and I have never gotten along. What I showed her was obviously fake. And what she told you was obviously fake too!”

“I was just asking casually. Why are you so flustered?” Gu Hewan suddenly chuckled.

But in the next instant, her lips straightened again, her gaze turning even colder.

“Besides, how could you and Xiao Tang possibly dislike each other? Aren’t you lovers?”

“Who said she and I are…”

“I saw you both at the winery retreat, in the lounge.”

Ni Yunshi tried to argue, but Gu Hewan cut her off.

At this point, any explanation would sound weak and futile.

Ni Yunshi clenched her fists, the unease she had long suppressed finally beginning to surface.

“What’s for dinner tonight?” Ruan Tang’s voice broke the silence from downstairs.

She had changed into a high-necked sweater, concealing the lingering crimson marks on her neck.

“I ordered takeout. Shi Shi and I just finished setting up,” Gu Hewan replied, her smile as natural as ever.

Shi Shi? Had their relationship become so close so quickly?

Ruan Tang glanced at the table, puzzled.

Seeing the table laden with dishes Ni Yunshi favored, she felt a momentary pang of jealousy, quickly followed by relief.

If they were getting along better, she could finally clarify her relationship with Gu Hewan sooner.

Thinking this, Ruan Tang glanced at Ni Yunshi, only to find her expression strained and stiff, her inner thoughts utterly silent.

“What’s wrong? You look terrible,” Ruan Tang asked, puzzled.

But her concerned inquiry struck Ni Yunshi like a blade, jolting her.

Their eyes met, and Ruan Tang caught a fleeting flicker of guilt on Ni Yunshi’s face.

“N-nothing. I’m just not feeling well. I’ll go rest…”

Before Ruan Tang could press further, Ni Yunshi had already risen and hurried upstairs.

“She probably got carsick from the crowded car on the way back,” Gu Hewan offered, trying to excuse her.

Ruan Tang nodded, but her heart remained unconvinced.

After all, Ni Yunshi’s restless hands during the journey hardly suggested carsickness.

Still, she couldn’t leave Gu Hewan alone downstairs, so Ruan Tang sat down with her.

“Xiao Tang, the Ni Yunshi you described seems a bit different from the one I saw today,” Gu Hewan remarked, picking at her food as she probed.

“There have been some misunderstandings between us, and I don’t really know her well,” Ruan Tang explained, without giving it much thought.

Gu Hewan frowned. “You two were practically best friends, growing up together. Her unintentional preferences couldn’t possibly be wrong, right?”

Ruan Tang nodded.

In her past life, she had known every detail of Ni Yunshi’s likes and habits. She was absolutely certain she hadn’t misremembered anything.

“But she didn’t like today’s dishes. Ruan Tang, is she really Ni Yunshi? Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?” Gu Hewan pressed, guiding the conversation.

Ruan Tang grew even more puzzled, her concern turning to Gu Hewan. “How could she not be? Why are you suddenly asking such absurd questions?”

Even after three years apart, adults don’t change that drastically.

Considering Ni Yunshi’s recent behavior toward her and the thoughts she had heard in her mind, Ruan Tang was certain she couldn’t have mistaken her identity. It was impossible for someone else to have impersonated her through plastic surgery.

Before Gu Hewan could respond, Ruan Tang asked, “Hewan, should I make you some hangover soup?”

“No need,” Gu Hewan replied casually. “I was just curious how someone could change so much in just three years.” She feigned a sigh of wonder.

“You’ve never met him before either,” Ruan Tang murmured, “and maybe I never truly saw her clearly before either.”

Even Ruan Tang herself, after hearing Ni Yunshi’s inner thoughts, felt that she was a completely different person from the one in her memories.

During the meal, neither of them could taste the food.

“Oh, if you’re not feeling dizzy, I’ll show you the resort development plan I’ve prepared later,” Gu Hewan suggested.

Since the investment was originally conceived for Ruan Tang’s sake, she naturally nodded in agreement.

The two went upstairs to their rooms together. Ruan Tang immediately noticed that the opposite door was slightly ajar, with Ni Yunshi’s resentful gaze peering through the crack.

A bat with chicken feathers! What kind of bird do you think you are?!

Holding my wife’s hand and sleeping in my bed!

Heartless Tangtang, abandoning me!

The curses were quite vulgar.

Ruan Tang glanced over, but the door silently slammed shut.

She’s really furious.

The resort development investment plan didn’t take long to review.

Between the travel fatigue and the alcohol, even Gu Hewan, preoccupied as she was, couldn’t suppress her exhaustion any longer and retreated to her room to rest.

After Gu Hewan left, Ruan Tang went downstairs to fetch some food and carried it to the opposite room.

She intended to knock, but as she raised her hand, she realized the door was only slightly ajar, the latch not engaged at all.

Silently pushing the door open, Ruan Tang quietly slipped inside.

The room was spacious, with the same layout as Ruan Tang’s own bedroom.

As Ruan Tang skirted the desk near the door, she heard a mournful inner voice drifting from the bed:

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven—the brick concubine is none other than myself.

Tears fall beneath the Changmen Palace lamp, for I am unworthy.

At this very moment, Gu Hewan must be gracefully receiving the emperor’s favor…

Ni Yunshi tugged resentfully at the pull chain of the bedside lamp, her gaze fixed on the floor tiles, her red lips pursed into a pout.

“Ahem—”

The feigned cough abruptly cut through her brooding thoughts.

Ni Yunshi looked up and met Ruan Tang’s gaze from across the room. She instantly straightened her posture, sitting up stiffly.

“What do you want? Aren’t you supposed to be catching up with Gu Hewan, discussing your ‘bestie’ bond?”

“Your tongue remains as sharp and bitter as ever,” Ruan Tang remarked dryly, earning a silent retort:

And you’re no different! Smiling and gentle with everyone else, but always wearing that poker face with me.

Ruan Tang paused, momentarily taken aback. It was true.

It seemed both she and Ni Yunshi were trapped in a vicious cycle when it came to each other.

Feeling guilty, Ruan Tang softened her tone. “You didn’t eat dinner. Have something to tide you over.”

Ni Yunshi remained unmoved, shrinking further into the bed with a stubborn, defiant air. Yet her stomach rumbled loudly.

Coax me! Coax me now!

I’m going to throw a tantrum! I’ll starve myself to death!

Then you’ll lose your one and only me!