The White Moonlight I Chased, the Divorce I Never Expected (GL) - Chapter 22.3

Even though she had spent a sleepless night because of it, and waited at Chi Yi’s house the next morning fearing she might be late, now — hearing just this small acknowledgment from Chi Yi — Wen Ranqing already felt a little content.

Chi Yi’s willingness to get close, at least, meant she didn’t utterly hate her.

Wen Ranqing bit her lower lip, her face buried in her hood where her expression couldn’t be seen.
After catching her breath, she responded softly, “Okay.”

“Mhm.”
Chi Yi responded and turned to leave.

Just then, a faint fragrance brushed close — Wen Ranqing stepped onto the curb, reaching out to straighten Chi Yi’s cap.

The fabric of her sweatshirt outlined the delicate curve of her waist.
The setting sun reflected in her peach blossom eyes, a single blink sending ripples through the golden light.

Summer evenings weren’t cool.
The muggy, humid air from the artificial lake hung thick between them.

Chi Yi didn’t thank her. Her lips pressed tightly together.

When she spoke, her voice was cold: “Is there anything else, President Wen?”

She stared coldly at Wen Ranqing, searching for some shred of true emotion — but found nothing but frustration.

Under the spotlight, her lightly made-up face appeared flawless.
Only up close could one notice the faint shadows beneath her eyes — the kind that concealer hadn’t quite covered.
Anyone could see how tired Wen Ranqing looked.

Yet she didn’t seem even slightly upset by Chi Yi’s cold demeanor.
Holding the bag with both hands, she stood there obediently, her expression a mix of unease and a trace of embarrassment.

After a long pause, she softly asked,
“May I take a photo of you, Yi?”

Wen Ranqing had wanted to take a photo of Chi Yi in her graduation gown to preserve the memory.
On the way here, she had seen people everywhere taking pictures — the desire grew stronger.
But she didn’t ask to take a photo together, afraid even that would be too much for Chi Yi to accept.

Chi Yi’s gaze shifted away, avoiding hers, landing somewhere in the distance.
She couldn’t bear to look at Wen Ranqing like this — the powerful, commanding CEO in public, now standing in front of her soft and harmless, taking every hit without complaint.
Once again, Chi Yi’s heartstrings were plucked, a tremor echoing in her chest. Her expression, however, remained unreadable.

“No need to trouble yourself, President Wen. I’m not one for photos.”
She removed her graduation cap and held it in her hand.

Everyone close to Chi Yi knew she didn’t like taking pictures.
She had very few photos to her name.
The one Wen Ranqing kept on her — yellowed now with time — had been secretly taken when Chi Yi was fooling around as a child.
That photo, too, should be properly preserved.

“…Alright.”
Rejected again, Wen Ranqing’s ears turned a little warm.
Still holding the brooch she had prepared for Chi Yi, she smiled faintly.
“It’s getting late. I have a meeting tonight — I should head back.”

Wen Ranqing had always been the one to avoid things.
In reality, she hadn’t spent much time around Chi Yi at all.
Most of their memories dated back to when Chi Yi was a child — back when she’d smile with her mouth wide open at anything Wen Ranqing said, so innocent she didn’t even realize when she’d been tricked.

Now, all Wen Ranqing could think to do was to indulge her, to go along with whatever this little lioness wanted.
Truth be told, she didn’t mind it at all.
Her little princess hadn’t done anything wrong — why shouldn’t she spoil her?

Chi Yi turned her gaze away from that somewhat doting smile.
Her heart beat a little faster.
She lowered her head and kicked at a loose pebble.
“…Mm.”

Song Yan:
Where are you?
I’m waiting at the north gate. Let’s grab food — the parking meter’s about to run out. Hurry up.
On my way.

There was only one long cobblestone path along the artificial lake.
Chi Yi, texting back, walked ahead with someone following behind her.
Meanwhile, her homeroom teacher, having learned Chi Yi declined the principal’s invitation, began bombarding her with WeChat messages.

By the time she reached the edge of the track field, someone tapped her on the back — breaking her out of her half-distracted state.

“Senior Chi Yi!”
Xia Xiaoxi shoved a bouquet into her hands.
“Congratulations on graduating!”

The bouquet was a mix of many different flowers, most of which Chi Yi didn’t recognize.
The strong fragrance triggered a faint, unpleasant memory — she held her breath slightly.

It reminded her of the time a student club had staged a misguided public confession.
That day, a girl had tried to give her a Band-Aid.
Thanks to Tan Jin’s explanation afterward, Chi Yi now remembered the girl’s name.

And that girl’s feelings for her were no secret — everyone who knew them was aware.

“Thanks, Xia.”
Chi Yi’s tone was neutral.
“It’s just that I don’t like… this sort of thing.”

“You remember me!”
Xia Xiaoxi couldn’t help stepping a little closer.
She clearly came from a well-off family — there was a natural confidence and charm about her.
Standing beside Chi Yi, the two looked well-matched in appearance, enough to catch the attention of a few students passing by.

“I…”

“I had class this morning,” Xia Xiaoxi continued quickly.
“I wanted to find you at the auditorium. Senior, you really looked amazing today…”

Not far off, Wen Ranqing had stopped near the edge of the basketball court.
Cheng Yuan jogged over with what seemed to be urgent company business.

During their conversation, Cheng Yuan glanced briefly at Chi Yi — his expression still strictly professional — though his gaze lingered for an extra couple of seconds before he turned to make a phone call.

It was nearing dinner time.
Students from the court were packing up to head for the cafeteria.
A few guys were still hyped up from the game, bouncing the basketball between them while walking off, sometimes even showing off a bit.

Chi Yi frowned and withdrew her indifferent gaze, continuing to listen to Xia Xiaoxi.

Sensing Chi Yi’s restlessness, Xia Xiaoxi’s voice softened a little, growing slightly bashful toward the end:

“…Senior, would you have dinner with me tonight?”

“I already have plans.”

Chi Yi rejected her.
Though she had once hesitated out of guilt over Xia Xiaoxi’s persistence, she didn’t want to give her false hope.

“Classmate, I can’t develop feelings for anyone else. Don’t waste your time on someone who’s impossible for you.”

“Sorry—here, please hold this for a moment.”

The lead boy in the group was walking backward as if no one else was around, passing the basketball with a bit too much force.
Voices of discontent were already rising from nearby.

Meanwhile, Wen Ranqing suddenly remembered the box of inhibitors she hadn’t yet given to Chi Yi.
She told Cheng Yuan to contact the driver and have her car brought over from the company parking lot.

At the same time, she was on a call, trying to coordinate the board meeting schedule.

Behind her, a flurry of messy footsteps sounded.
Wen Ranqing didn’t pay much attention and instinctively stepped to the side.

Just then, their paths nearly intersected—Chi Yi quickly reached out and pulled Wen Ranqing aside.

Chi Yi frowned and was just about to scold her for being careless: “You—”

“Yi, lower your head.”

A slender hand came down on top of her head.
Before Chi Yi could react, a gentle force nudged her downward.
A basketball slammed into the tree right in front of them with a loud thud.

Chi Yi had a soft, milky scent from her body wash.
The two of them were suddenly very close — her upper body brushing against Wen Ranqing’s shoulder.
Wen Ranqing’s heart immediately lost its rhythm, and she instinctively shrank back, subtly hiding her hand behind her.

Chi Yi didn’t comment on the movement.
She still had hold of Wen Ranqing’s wrist, her whole demeanor cold, brows furrowed as she stared down the approaching group of boys.

“S-sorry, seniors! We didn’t mean it. Really sorry.”

The leading boy quickly apologized. He didn’t know Chi Yi, but he could sense a kind of oppressive aura from her.

They were freshmen from the Sports Academy — used to being casual and carefree — which had only made them more careless.

Few people ever called them out in public. After retrieving the ball from afar, they finally realized they’d been reckless. After apologizing to the surrounding students, they approached Chi Yi directly.

Chi Yi glanced down at Wen Ranqing, who gently shook her head.
She was half-hidden in her hoodie, only her peach blossom-shaped eyes visible, curved into a soft expression to show she was alright.

Chi Yi quickly looked away and gave the group a slight nod.

“Just be more careful next time.”

“Got it, senior.”

One of the boys pulled a small bottle from his bag.

“Is your hand, okay? You should take this. It’s best to rub it out a little — it won’t hurt as much tomorrow.”

His gaze was frank and direct, lingering on Wen Ranqing.
She pulled her hand into her sleeve, bit her lip, then looped both arms lightly around Chi Yi’s arm like she was pleading, giving it a small shake.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, not wanting Chi Yi to cause trouble on her behalf.

The soft rubbing of her sweater fabric against Chi Yi’s arm made Chi Yi forget to breathe for a second.
Her arm went rigid, until Wen Ranqing gently reached forward, accepted the bottle, and said with warmth:

“Thank you.”

“No, no — really, it was our fault.”

The boy’s eyes lingered unconsciously on Wen Ranqing again.

Awkward but hopeful, he asked, “Um… may I ask which department you’re in, Senior? Could I add you on WeChat?”

Chi Yi’s hand froze instantly.

She pulled her arm out from Wen Ranqing’s hold, lips pressed into a tight line. She didn’t say a word.

“Sorry, classmate. That wouldn’t be appropriate.”

The boy who had spoken earlier quickly pulled his friend back.
“No problem, no problem. See you, seniors—we’re heading to eat.”

Because Chi Yi was standing nearby, Wen Ranqing didn’t know why she suddenly froze in front of the younger students.

By the time she came back to her senses, Chi Yi had already been stopped by another girl with a sweet appearance.
That pale hand hovered just a dozen centimeters from her own.

Wen Ranqing bit her lower lip and turned to speak a few words with Cheng Yuan, who had been waiting nearby the entire time.