The White Moonlight I Chased, the Divorce I Never Expected (GL) - Chapter 4

The sheets and bedding were far from clean. Exhausted, Chi Yi dragged herself up to replace them with fresh ones.
Yet in this entire house, she couldn’t find any extra clothes belonging to Wen Ranqing.

She wrapped Wen Ranqing carefully in a towel and carried her back to bed — it was already two in the morning.

Chi Yi wasn’t the least bit sleepy.
She leaned against the headboard, scrolling through her phone.

As expected, after tonight’s press conference, discussions surrounding Wen Corporation had surged yet again.
Some smaller outlets even mentioned her by name, spinning tales — calling her a “canary in a gilded cage” or “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Chi Yi chuckled softly, even as her friends bombarded her with teasing messages.

Song Yan: [You’ve finally figured it out, little birdie~]
[Clearing my schedule — your ace lawyer is ready for battle.]

Song Yan worked at her family’s law firm. She was two years older than Chi Yi and also an Alpha — they had grown up together.

Both from privileged backgrounds, the Song and Chi families had once been close allies in political and legal circles.
After the Chi family’s decline, most old friends chose neutrality, but among their generation, only Song Yan had remained steadfastly by Chi Yi’s side.

Song Yan was sharp-tongued, free-spirited, and never one to sugarcoat.
She had been the first to oppose Chi Yi’s decision years ago when Chi Yi proposed marrying Wen Ranqing.

But Chi Yi hadn’t listened.
Over the years, they had rarely had peaceful conversations.

During the time Chi Yi was trapped in Wen Ranqing’s orbit, Song Yan had transformed — no longer the unruly, bottom-ranking rich kid, but a formidable lawyer whose every case was textbook-worthy.

Their bond had endured.
For Chi Yi, Song Yan’s willingness to still offer help felt like a lifesaving warmth in a frozen world.

Smiling faintly, Chi Yi moved to call her —
but just then, a soft voice interrupted her.

“Xiao Yi…”

Even though she moved with utmost care, Wen Ranqing stirred.
Still groggy, she caught sight of Chi Yi trying to leave, and reached out to clutch at the smooth fabric of her sleeve.

The effect of the medication and her complete exhaustion soon overwhelmed her again, and she drifted back into sleep.

Wen Ranqing’s pale face was still tinted with the lingering flush of earlier passion.
Her slightly rounded cheeks rose and fell with each gentle breath, making her look — heartbreakingly — like a rose stripped of its thorns, fragile enough to cradle in one’s palms.

The soft, boneless fingers clutching Chi Yi’s sleeve mirrored their relationship — tenuous and weightless.

Maybe it was better to call Song Yan in the morning.

After a brief hesitation, Chi Yi set her phone down and climbed back into bed, though she didn’t lie down properly.

The room was shrouded in darkness.
The glow of the moon and even the bedside lamp refused to bless them tonight.

Chi Yi gazed deeply at the woman who unconsciously curled closer to her in sleep.

In her dreams, Wen Ranqing seemed restless, almost frightened —
as if terrified Chi Yi would vanish if she let go.

Warm, slightly sweaty hands groped around until they found Chi Yi’s, covering it gently.

Why was Wen Ranqing like this?
What was she so afraid of?

Chi Yi pinched her brow wearily.
She suddenly realized — the Wen Ranqing she had spent years trying to reach… tonight, she felt like a stranger.

Their marriage was a contract.
Wen Ranqing provided Chi Yi with food, shelter, clothing —
and Chi Yi, as an Alpha, helped Wen Ranqing secure her position at the top.

For Chi Yi, who had harbored feelings for Wen Ranqing for years, the deal seemed almost too generous.

Public gossip varied — some said they were a match made in heaven, others whispered Chi Yi was merely Wen Ranqing’s plaything.
But Wen Ranqing’s attitude had never wavered.

Always distant.
Always uninterested.

Wen Corporation was colossal — a behemoth that demanded Wen Ranqing’s every ounce of strength.
Especially since, as an Omega, she had started with natural disadvantages.

Work always came first for Wen Ranqing.
Chi Yi had understood that stark reality just days into their marriage.
There would never be an “us” between them.

Once certain that Wen Ranqing had fallen into a deep sleep, Chi Yi let herself stare.

They hadn’t always been like this.
Once, in the dark of night, it had been Wen Ranqing who comforted her.

Chi Yi had first met Wen Ranqing when she was eight years old.

Her father, Chi Zhong, had partnered with Wen Ting on a major engineering project.
The two men became fast friends, and at Wen Ting’s suggestion, Chi Zhong had placed young Chi Yi under the Wen family’s care while he traveled frequently for work.

She hadn’t even been ten years old yet — energetic, mischievous, and full of life.

Holding her father’s hand tightly, little Chi Yi had reached out with her other small hand, offering Wen Ranqing a piece of candy that barely fit her tiny palm.

“Hello, Sister Wen!” she chirped sweetly, her voice soft and milky. “Here! Candy!”

Outwardly, she looked the perfect, obedient child.
But Wen Ranqing, even then, had seen the hidden sharpness behind her innocent facade.

“Hello,” Wen Ranqing had replied politely — before retreating upstairs to her study.

Little Chi Yi was left standing there alone, clutching the piece of candy, pouting furiously at Wen Ranqing’s retreating back.
Among all the children she had ever met, none had been so cold to her!

“You’ll be living with Sister Wen from now on,” Chi Zhong chuckled, ruffling her hair before turning to discuss business with Wen Ting.

The eight-year-old stomped up the stairs, determined to be quiet as she pushed open the study door — only to stop in awe.

Inside, Wen Ranqing was wiping down the strings of a violin.

The soft sunlight spilled over her long, jet-black hair.
Her elegant swan-like neck gleamed with a noble grace.
The simple white dress hinted at the graceful curves just beginning to bloom.
Even just her silhouette looked like a figure out of a painting.

Chi Yi hadn’t even made a sound yet before a gentle force quietly closed the door again and scooped her up.

Madam Wen smiled lovingly at the tiny child, lowering her voice as she said, “Let’s not disturb Sister Wen while she’s studying, okay? Once she’s finished, you can play with her. For now, how about a little cake?”

The sweet-toothed Chi Yi’s eyes sparkled instantly.
Hearing “cake” made her forget all about the frosty Sister Wen.
She promptly flashed another sugary smile and called her “Auntie.”

Though mischievous at heart, Chi Yi had a silver tongue even at that young age.
With cream smeared all over her face, she had Madam Wen laughing in delight.

After eating her fill, however, her gaze inevitably drifted back toward the upstairs study.

Madam Wen noticed and sighed softly, unable to hide the trace of sorrow in her eyes.

It was then that Chi Yi learned — Wen Ranqing was a quiet child, burdened with heavy study tasks.
Besides academics, she had to practice violin daily and attend equestrian lessons three times a week.
The only free time she had was half an hour after lunch and after ten o’clock at night.

There were things Madam Wen hadn’t said aloud:
Wen Ranqing hadn’t differentiated into an Alpha as Wen Ting had hoped.
Her secondary gender had just awakened — the process painful and her health left fragile.

Yet even so, Wen Ranqing never once faltered in completing every task set before her — stubborn beyond reason.

Hearing just this much was enough to make Chi Yi uncharacteristically quiet for the whole afternoon, deep in thought.

Shortly after ten that night, someone knocked lightly on Wen Ranqing’s door.
Thinking it was the housekeeper delivering medicine, Wen Ranqing didn’t even look up from her book.

“Come in,” she said.

There was a long pause before a soft, sticky little voice called out, “Sister Wen.”

Thinking it strange — the mischievous brat her father had so often mentioned acting so obediently — Wen Ranqing rose to open the door.

Standing there was tiny Chi Yi, barely reaching Wen Ranqing’s chest, carefully balancing a steaming bowl of medicine with both hands.
Despite struggling to keep her balance, she looked up and gave Wen Ranqing the sweetest smile.

Wen Ranqing blinked, startled, but didn’t step aside.

“Sister Wen, I helped Auntie bring your medicine.”

The child’s eyes were large and clear, dark like polished obsidian.
That pure, bright smile — as if the medicine were some delicious treat.

In truth, it was horridly bitter.
The smell alone was enough to make one gag.

Expressionless, Wen Ranqing stood at the door and drained the bowl in one gulp.

“Alright, you can go back now…” she started to say —

But before she could finish, a small hand pushed a candy into her mouth.

The sweetness, rich with milk flavor, slowly spread across her tongue, pushing away the bitterness.

“Sweet, right?” the little one chirped, her sparkling eyes blinking up at her.

Frowning slightly, Wen Ranqing wondered if the child had other tricks up her sleeve.
If she wanted her to play, she had no time.

“If there’s nothing else, you should leave,” she said, cool as ever.

Chi Yi, though repeatedly rebuffed, was undeterred.
She nodded earnestly like a little adult and then solemnly advised:

“Goodnight, Sister Wen. Don’t forget to brush your teeth!”

With that, she trotted away on short legs, the hem of her pale pink dress disappearing around the corner.

That was Chi Yi’s first night living at the Wen household.

To the adults, Wen Ranqing’s attitude toward her never changed — distant, cool, and aloof.

But little Chi Yi knew better.
Sister Wen could be gentle — very gentle.

Wen Ranqing would silently hand her a small hair tie when her hair got messy;
She didn’t push her away when, terrified of thunderstorms, Chi Yi crawled into her bed for the first time;
She would bring her little drawings after art class — adorable animals inked with childish skill;
And on countless nights when Chi Yi missed her mother, Wen Ranqing would pull her into her arms and gently rock her to sleep.

Once, Chi Yi had even secretly watched Wen Ranqing practicing horseback riding — Perched atop a tall white horse, Wen Ranqing’s cold beauty was bathed in sunlight, softened into something ethereal.
Her peach blossom eyes crinkled into a smile — a smile she reserved only for Chi Yi.

It was the first time Chi Yi had ever seen her smile.
She didn’t understand much then — only that Wen Ranqing was very beautiful, just like how her father once described her late mother, whose face she could no longer remember.

“You have to become an Alpha,”
“Only then can you marry Sister Wen.”

The room was silent, save for a soft whimper that tugged Chi Yi back from her memories.

Wen Ranqing looked restless even in sleep.

Chi Yi let out a bitter smile.

She had fallen — willingly — into the dream that Wen Ranqing had woven for her, only to find that, when the dream ended, she was the only one left awake.

A used Alpha had no right to speak of love.

Tonight, Wen Ranqing had been strange.
For the first time, the woman who was usually so cold and detached had drawn near — too near.
During their intimacy, there had even been a moment — fleeting, but unmistakable — where she seemed to offer her scent glands for marking.

Did she even realize how dangerous that was for an Omega?

A flicker of anger and jealousy surged within Chi Yi.
Did Wen Ranqing also lie beneath other Alphas like this, offering herself so sweetly…?

Time passed.
Long enough for the heavy blackness of night to be slowly peeled away by the golden fingers of dawn,
for the distant horizon to emerge from the lingering shadows.

Morning had arrived.

The woman beside her stirred, murmuring softly as if about to wake.

Chi Yi turned her gaze away, refusing to look at her any longer.