The White Moonlight Who Went Mad in Silence [Rebirth] - Chapter 6

Ming Lan had no intention of staying at the party any longer. She took Cheng Yurong with her and got into the car.

Cheng Yurong stood beside the door, glancing carefully at her. “Miss Ming, you’ve already helped me so much tonight. I should head back on my own. I really don’t want to trouble you any further.”

“You know who I am?” Ming Lan adjusted her coat, thinking at least now she wouldn’t need to explain herself.

“This dinner was held for you. I heard about it.”

Cheng Yurong lowered her head and bit her lip. She had only recently started working part-time here, and by coincidence, ran into Bai Tingqiu. It was then that she learned the welcome dinner was for the Ming family’s daughter. Bai Tingqiu had personally taken care of everything, clearly treating it very seriously. But after seeing the real Miss Ming, she realized the rumors were not quite accurate.

Still, when Ming Lan walked in, no one else could compare. She didn’t even need to speak. Just standing there was enough to earn respect.

A gust of wind blew by, and Ming Lan pulled her coat tighter. “Get in the car. I don’t want to keep standing in the cold.”

There was no room for refusal. Cheng Yurong had no choice but to climb in. Thankfully, the car was spacious. She sat close to the door, her head lowered, and stayed quiet.

“Tell the driver your address. I’ll have you dropped off first,” Ming Lan said as she rubbed her temples.

“Oh? That’s not necessary. I live on the outskirts with a friend. It’s really far from here. Just drop me off near a bus stop. I don’t want to trouble you,” Cheng Yurong said quickly, waving her hands nervously.

“Give him the address,” Ming Lan said again with her eyes closed.

Then she realized something. Cheng Yurong had said she lived with a friend.

If she remembered correctly, in the book, Cheng Yurong only ever had one roommate. That person was Yi An.

Did that mean Yi An hadn’t been found by the Ye family yet?

Ming Lan’s eyes flew open.

That explained everything. Even if the Ye family was discreet, recovering a lost heir was a major event. There was no way not a single rumor would leak. She hadn’t heard a word about it. It must be that they hadn’t found Yi An yet, or they hadn’t confirmed her identity.

In both the book and her past life, she never knew the exact time Yi An was brought back. She only vaguely remembered it happening this year. Since most of the year had already passed, she assumed it had already happened. She had not considered that it might happen near the end of the year.

While Ming Lan was lost in thought, Cheng Yurong gave the driver the address. It turned out not to be a complete suburb, but rather a rundown urban village. Ming Lan remembered the area. It had later been demolished by Li Jue, and she had even helped him get the demolition permits.

The memory irritated her. She would definitely find a way to give him trouble for that.

Returning her focus, Ming Lan casually started a conversation. “So you rent? You and your friend aren’t locals?”

Cheng Yurong glanced at Ming Lan, who clearly had never struggled in life. She assumed the question came from someone unfamiliar with renting, so she took a breath and began explaining.

“We’re both not from here. We moved here after graduating to find work. Finding that place was actually very lucky. The neighborhood isn’t great, and the apartment is small, but at least the transportation is convenient. There’s a bus stop and a subway nearby. That’s really important when looking for a place…”

Ming Lan had only been trying to confirm if her friend was Yi An. She watched Cheng Yurong talk endlessly and couldn’t help thinking the book’s description of her was accurate. The girl had a vivid imagination and couldn’t stay focused during conversation. A normal person would have answered by saying what province or city they were from.

When Cheng Yurong finally finished, Ming Lan looked at her and said, “You really talk a lot.”

Cheng Yurong blushed deeply. “My friend says that too.”

The mention of her friend reignited Ming Lan’s interest. “Your friend sounds very patient.”

“She is,” Cheng Yurong replied, and then stopped.

Ming Lan waited a few seconds and frowned. “Why are you saying so little now?”

Cheng Yurong blinked. Just now, this woman had told her she was too talkative. Now she was saying she was too quiet. She didn’t dare argue. After all, she was still in this woman’s car, and Miss Ming didn’t seem particularly easy to please.

“My friend is very patient. We’ve known each other for over ten years. She’s always looked out for me. When I lost my job recently, she helped me through it. She’s very neat and clean, keeps the place spotless, and her cooking is really good too.”

Cheng Yurong wasn’t sure what else to say. She kept an eye on Ming Lan’s expression and spoke cautiously. But the more she said, the more Ming Lan frowned. Her voice grew quieter until she finally stopped talking. Maybe Miss Ming wasn’t interested in these small, ordinary things.

Trying hard to think of something more interesting, she suddenly remembered a story and sat up a little straighter.

“Oh, and she’s really brave. One time, a rat ran into our room…”

“Your room?” Ming Lan interrupted with a frown. “You share a room?”

Cheng Yurong didn’t see what was wrong. She nodded nervously. “Yes. We could only afford one room.”

“Things are that difficult for you?” Ming Lan crossed her arms. She remembered Yi An as smart and talented, a graduate from a top university. She had entered the Ye Group as a software engineer. Her salary should have been more than enough. How could she be living like this?

Cheng Yurong fell silent. She figured Miss Ming just couldn’t understand how hard life was for ordinary people. The contrast stung. She lowered her head and forced a bitter smile. People really did live in different worlds. Ming Lan would never know how expensive housing was in City A for someone like her.

“What does your friend do?” Ming Lan asked. She was beginning to wonder if she had guessed wrong. Maybe this friend wasn’t Yi An after all.

“She’s a programmer.”

Ming Lan continued, “Which company?”

The question made Cheng Yurong tense up. Someone had asked her that before, and not long after, she had lost her job. Now she worked part-time jobs just to get by. The question made her nervous again. But Ming Lan didn’t seem like someone who would use that information against her.

“Miss Ming, why do you ask?”

“Just curious. What else can we talk about?”

Ming Lan looked at the girl beside her, curled up like a frightened bird, and figured she wouldn’t get much more information tonight. She would have to see for herself.

Seeing that Ming Lan didn’t push further, Cheng Yurong finally relaxed a little. She sat quietly in her seat, but her gaze occasionally drifted toward Ming Lan. Watching her rest with her eyes closed, she couldn’t help but wonder.

So this was the person Li Jue and Bai Tingqiu cared so much about. Her background and looks were beyond exceptional. Everything she wanted came easily. The things others desperately chased after meant nothing to her.

The car suddenly bumped over something. Ming Lan hit her head lightly against the window, making a small noise.

“Sorry, Miss. I didn’t see the roadblock.”

The driver immediately apologized.

“It’s fine. Are we there?”

“The alley is too narrow for the car. I also don’t know the exact address.”

Cheng Yurong had only given the general location. With so many illegally built homes, it was impossible for an outsider to know which place was which.

“This is fine. I’ll get out here. Thank you, Miss Ming.”

Cheng Yurong already felt bad about Ming Lan hitting her head. She didn’t want to trouble her further. She tried to open the door, but couldn’t figure it out.

“It’s too dark. How are you going to get home alone? I’ll walk with you.”

Ming Lan was still determined to confirm if the roommate was Yi An. She stepped out of the car, with the driver using his phone as a flashlight.

“It’s really okay…”

The car door finally opened. Cheng Yurong looked at the driver standing beside Ming Lan, lighting the way. She wanted to decline, but it was clear she had no choice.

She led the way with hesitation. The uneven stone path was covered in puddles, slippery in some places, and poorly maintained. Some households had water faucets hanging outside their walls.

“Ah!”

Ming Lan cried out behind her. Cheng Yurong turned around and saw her stepping on one of the slippery stones. The driver had caught her just in time. But in those high heels, Ming Lan had twisted her ankle.

First a bump on the head, now a sprain. Ming Lan couldn’t believe how hard it was just to see Yi An. Her eyes watered from the pain. She looked at Cheng Yurong and said, “Call your friend. Tell her we’re waiting here.”

Now more than ever, she had to meet her.

Cheng Yurong shrank back. “It’s okay. I can walk the rest of the way. My friend’s still not off work…”

It was already completely dark, well past normal working hours. But no programmer ever left work on time.

Ming Lan almost choked with frustration. She should have asked that first.

Just as she was mentally scolding herself, footsteps came from behind. Someone stopped near them.

“Yurong? I thought you said you’d be home late tonight.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Ming Lan turned around in surprise.

The person wore a black hoodie with the hood up, obscuring her face. But Ming Lan knew immediately. It was Yi An.

Cheng Yurong looked relieved and rushed over, grabbing Yi An’s sleeve as she quickly explained, “You’re finally back. It’s a long story. I ran into some trouble, but Miss Ming helped me. She even brought me home, but she twisted her ankle just now. It looks serious. What should we do?”

As she spoke, Yi An raised her flashlight and looked at the woman standing in the shadows.

Ming Lan stared at her without blinking. Her eyes filled with tears, and one slipped out unexpectedly.

Yi An froze. Her heart trembled as she saw the tear fall.

Even when she cried, this Miss Ming looked beautiful.

The cool touch on her face brought Ming Lan back to her senses. Embarrassed, she reached up and wiped away her tears, then straightened up and extended her hand toward Yi An.

“Sorry for the scene. Hello, I’m Ming Lan.”

As soon as she said her name, Yi An felt a shock ripple through her chest. She stared in disbelief at the person standing in front of her.

“Ming… Lan?”

Ming Lan knew Yi An probably wouldn’t recognize her appearance just yet, but she was sure the name would still be familiar. Still, she maintained a look of confusion and deliberately asked, “Yes. Is something wrong?”

The surge of emotion in Yi An’s heart lasted only a moment before she forced herself to calm down. She didn’t know if Ming Lan still remembered her, so she stepped forward and held her hand naturally.

“Nothing. Hello, I’m Yi An.”

Though she tried hard to stay composed, Yi An couldn’t stop herself from closely watching Ming Lan’s expression as she introduced herself. Deep inside, she couldn’t help hoping for something.

Finally hearing the name spoken aloud, Ming Lan showed just the right amount of surprise. She held Yi An’s hand tighter.

“Yi An? From N City?”

“You still remember me?”

Yi An’s voice trembled with emotion. She never expected Ming Lan to recall so clearly even the city she came from. That simple recognition made her feel joy erupt like a volcano inside her chest, though outwardly she only let her hand tremble slightly.

“Of course I remember you.”

Ming Lan smiled and nodded. Her already-reddened eyes brimmed with tears again. In her past life, Yi An had endured countless hardships to find her, but Ming Lan hadn’t remembered until the very end. In this life, she was the one who found Yi An first.

“Take off your hood. Let me get a good look at you.”

The lighting was too dim, and Yi An’s hood obscured her face. Ming Lan could barely see her clearly.

One of Yi An’s hands was still in Ming Lan’s, and the other held a flashlight. She lowered her head, silently inviting Ming Lan to do it for her. Ming Lan understood and raised her hand to reach out, but forgot her sprained ankle. The moment she put pressure on it, a sharp pain shot through her.

Yi An reacted faster than she could think. With one hand already holding Ming Lan’s, she caught her completely in her arms before she could fall, steady and firm.

“I forgot you hurt your foot,” Yi An said with guilt as she looked down and saw Ming Lan’s swollen ankle. “That car at the alley entrance—does it belong to you?”

“Yes.”

Ming Lan’s brow furrowed from the pain.

“I’ll carry you over. There’s a hospital nearby. We should check if there’s any damage to the bone.”

Yi An handed the flashlight to the driver and gently picked up Ming Lan in her arms.

With her arm around Yi An’s shoulders, Ming Lan rested against her without worry. Instead, she felt an unexpected sense of calm. In her past life, Yi An had carried her just like this, out of that cold, dark basement.

Yi An’s steps were steady. Ming Lan looked up at her sharp jawline and gently removed the hood from her head.

With the driver holding the flashlight nearby, Yi An looked down at her. Ming Lan finally saw her clearly. Her refined features had always been hidden under the hood. Her skin was pale but healthy, her nose high, and her lips a faint shade of pink. Her expression was composed, almost stern.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Yi An grew a little uneasy under the gaze, blinking and turning her focus back to the road ahead.

“I almost didn’t recognize you. But your eyes are still as beautiful as ever.”

Ming Lan could feel that this Yi An was different from the one she had known before. Her features were not yet worn by sorrow, and her eyes were still clear. Though she hadn’t returned to the Ye family and life wasn’t easy, she had not yet faced the cruelty to come.

Thinking of Yi An from her past life, Ming Lan’s heart ached. They had finally reunited in this life, but in the last one, Yi An had given everything for her and never even heard her response.

Because of her words, Yi An’s ears began to warm. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away, thankful that her long hair hid the blush on her face.

At the car, the driver opened the door. Yi An carefully placed Ming Lan inside, finally getting a good look at her swollen ankle. Her brows furrowed in concern.

“Come with me to the hospital.”

Seeing Yi An hesitating to get in, Ming Lan tugged on her sleeve playfully.

Yi An was worried and agreed, sitting next to her.

“What about me?”

Cheng Yurong, who had become completely invisible during all this, couldn’t help but point to herself.

“You can go home now. Take the flashlight.”

Yi An took the flashlight from the driver and handed it to Cheng Yurong.

“Lock the door when you get back. I brought my keys.”

Cheng Yurong took the light and nodded. She stood there watching as the car door closed in front of her and the vehicle turned around and drove away.

Inside the car, Ming Lan leaned back as Yi An gently removed her high heels and examined her ankle.

“Your friend told me you two share a room?”

Yi An nodded. She wasn’t surprised Cheng Yurong had mentioned it.

“Yes.”

Ming Lan pulled her foot away and looked out the window.

“I have a few apartments under my name. Where’s your company? Pick one nearby. You can stay there for now.”

Yi An’s fingers tightened. A strange feeling rose in her chest. She didn’t want anything from Ming Lan.

“No need. You and the Ming family have already helped me more than enough. I could never repay all your kindness in this lifetime. I can’t trouble you any further.”

That one sentence seemed to create distance between them. Ming Lan turned to look at her, head slightly bowed. She didn’t know why things suddenly felt different.

“You don’t need to be so formal with me. Just call me Ming Lan.”

“The hospital should be right ahead. Turn right at the next corner.”

Yi An changed the subject, as if she hadn’t heard what Ming Lan said.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, uncertain.

“Miss, should we go to this hospital?”

“Go to Qinglan Hospital.”

Ming Lan’s eyes stayed on Yi An as she gave the instruction.

The driver nodded, then explained to Yi An.

“Miss Ming has a special medical history. If there’s damage to the tendons or bones, her old medical records are needed for proper treatment to avoid complications.”

Yi An nodded, then turned to look at Ming Lan again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine.”

Ming Lan turned her gaze back to the window. But for some reason, her heart still felt a little heavy.