After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's "White Moonlight" - Chapter 25.1

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell what Si Fei was thinking, but due to her background, no one dared to say anything. Instead, they watched quietly as the screenwriter explained things to her over and over again.

However, in Si Fei’s eyes, as the person with the most seniority and the most acting experience on set, the plot should follow her own imagination.

Finally, the usually mild-mannered screenwriter lost patience and said, “Go find the director. If she agrees, then it’s fine.” Si Fei immediately turned around and began searching the set for the director.

Watching her arrogant demeanor, Cheng Siyu stroked the script in her hands as a plan began to take shape in her mind.

Later, the director returned from a phone call and, after much persuasion, managed to talk Si Fei out of changing the script, promising her a few extra shots in exchange.

“Action.”

The delayed second scene didn’t begin filming until nearly noon. Before they started, Cheng Siyu specifically asked Li Yexing to touch up her makeup and requested the prop master to arrange the props exactly as they were before.

This scene depicted Duan Xiaohe’s first meeting with the Lan family. Mr. and Mrs. Lan felt no affection for this daughter who had appeared out of nowhere; they merely said that since she had come to the Lan family, they didn’t lack for one more person’s meal. Lan Zixuan was extremely resistant, and only Lan Yulin showed her a slight bit of warmth.

“Hmm, she looks decent enough, but her clothes are too cheap. If you want to be a member of the Lan family, you have to change this outfit first. I’ll have an assistant take you to the mall to buy a few pieces later,” Mrs. Lan said as she sized up the timid Duan Xiaohe. She felt no affection for this daughter; instead, she was still immersed in the frustration that Lan Yulin, whom she had painstakingly raised for over twenty years, was not her biological daughter.

“Mom, I think the outfit Miss Duan is wearing suits her temperament quite well.” The one speaking was Lan Zixuan. She held her sister Duan Xiaohe in contempt and couldn’t even bring herself to call her “Sister.”

Hearing this, the already introverted Duan Xiaohe felt her face flush deep red. She fought to control her tears, preventing them from spilling over. The feeling of being completely out of place made her want to flee.

“It’s okay, Mom. I think she looks a lot like you, especially those eyes—they look like they were carved from the same mold. Both are very beautiful.” Lan Yulin seemed to sense Duan Xiaohe’s embarrassment and spoke up to help her out of the situation.

Only then did Mrs. Lan’s furrowed brows slowly relax. She comforted Lan Yulin, saying, “Don’t worry, you will always be my daughter.”

“Me too,” Lan Zixuan added, leaning closer to Mrs. Lan. Duan Xiaohe was the only one left excluded. Her head was bowed low, staring at the exquisite marble floor, her toes shifting uneasily.

“Mom, let me take Sister to see her room first. It’s getting late; it wouldn’t be good to delay your bedtime.”

As Lan Yulin finished speaking and reached out to take Duan Xiaohe’s hand, a floor lamp behind Cheng Siyu suddenly wobbled. Cheng Siyu instinctively took a step back, and the lamp post crashed directly onto the shoulder of Ji Yun, who was standing beside her.

Clatter. Bang. After two sounds, Ji Yun was knocked unconscious and collapsed to the floor. Several shattered shards flew into Cheng Siyu’s arm, and blood began to flow down her beige clothing and onto the ground. She seemed paralyzed with fear, standing dazed in place, reaching out as if to pull the fallen Ji Yun up.

Only then did the staff rush forward to treat their wounds and call for an ambulance.

After getting into the ambulance, Cheng Siyu looked through the window and saw a faint, imperceptible smile on Si Fei’s lips. The ignorant woman thought she could replace the lead this way, but she didn’t know that this was actually the first step toward being banned and blacklisted.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Cheng Siyu underwent surgery to have stitches in her arm, while Ji Yun was sent into the operating room due to her neck and shoulder injuries.

A short while later in the hospital room, Cheng Siyu saw Ji Wanli’s assistant. He was talking to the director and the crew, subsequently pulling out Si Fei’s file to flip through it a few times.

Due to excessive blood loss, Cheng Siyu felt dizzy and closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

When she woke up again, Zhao Xixi was sitting by her bed. She told her that the actress playing Lan Zixuan had been replaced. Because the crew’s footage had been reviewed, it was discovered that Si Fei was the one responsible for the accident, and she had been taken away by the police for investigation.

“Filming has to be suspended for now, but the production said that hospital expenses and hotel delay fees can still be reimbursed,” Zhao Xixi added, looking at Cheng Siyu’s gauze-wrapped arm with heartache.

In her eyes, Cheng Siyu was still an innocent child who had suffered this calamity because of Si Fei.

“How is Ji Yun?” Cheng Siyu asked, feigning ignorance.

“She’s fine. The medicine and the doctors she’s using are top-tier. She should be able to resume filming within a week.”

“Mhm.” Cheng Siyu opened Weibo. #SiFeiPerpetrator, #RealOrFakeAccident, #SiFeiPolice, #XijiEntertainment—four related topics had reached the top trending spots.

Cheng Siyu knew that Ji Wanli was enraged because of his daughter. This time, even Si Fei’s backer, Xiji Entertainment, was being dragged down.

“That’s all for now. I’ll come see you again tomorrow. The doctor said you can be discharged in two or three days after observation.” Zhao Xixi gave Cheng Siyu a forced smile before standing up to leave. This incident had happened so fast that she still had many things to handle.

“Goodbye, Sister Xixi.” Cheng Siyu struggled to lift her heavily bandaged hand to wave.

Almost as soon as Zhao Xixi left, a man in a black suit who looked like a bodyguard pushed a wheelchair into the room. He looked at Cheng Siyu expressionlessly and said, “The young lady wants to see you.”

It took Cheng Siyu a moment to realize he meant Ji Yun, and she obediently sat in the wheelchair.

Once outside, Cheng Siyu realized this was a private hospital for high society. She was likely only here thanks to Ji Yun.

The bodyguard pushed her into the elevator and brought her to a VIP suite.

As soon as she entered, she saw Ji Yun in a hospital gown, watching television.

“Siyu.”

The moment she saw her, Ji Yun’s tense expression finally softened. She gestured for the bodyguard to leave before speaking freely with Cheng Siyu.

“Sister, are you okay?” Ji Yun looked at Cheng Siyu’s bandaged hand with concern, then asked caringly, “I didn’t delay the filming, did I?”

“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt,” Cheng Siyu comforted Ji Yun, then repeated what Zhao Xixi had told her.

“I see. Si Fei got what she deserved. I knew she wasn’t a good person.”

Ji Yun sighed after hearing Cheng Siyu’s words. Then, Cheng Siyu looked at her wound and asked with a hint of guilt, “Does it still hurt?”

“It hurts.” In front of Cheng Siyu, Ji Yun didn’t put up a front and acted spoiled. “If it weren’t for the pain pump, I’d feel like I had been split open by an axe.”

“Pfft.” Cheng Siyu reached out with her uninjured hand and stroked Ji Yun’s head.

“Sister Siyu, you’re so good.” Ji Yun was like a puppy, enjoying her touch. She said aggrievedly, “I don’t want to see the people my father sent. I only want to see you.”

“Aren’t you seeing me now?” Cheng Siyu responded. She noticed a camera with a red light in the room, filming the scene from every angle.

“Sister Siyu, can you stay a bit longer before going back?” “Okay.”

Afterward, Cheng Siyu read the day’s trending headlines and news to Ji Yun, whose arms couldn’t move.

Her voice was like a clear stream flowing through mountain rocks, her tone incredibly gentle. As Ji Yun listened, her eyelids gradually closed, and she fell asleep.

Hearing the sound of Ji Yun’s steady breathing, Cheng Siyu put down her phone. After gazing at her with a complex expression for a moment, she turned her own wheelchair and left.

“Miss Cheng, the boss ordered me to take you back.”

As soon as she stepped out of the room, the bodyguard nearby took the handles of the wheelchair. Cheng Siyu didn’t resist; she just looked at her phone, replying to messages.

Not long after she returned to her room, Shen Moxu’s call came through.

“Siyu! Are you okay?!”

As soon as the call connected, Shen Moxu’s exaggerated voice rang out.

“I’m fine. If something were wrong, would I be able to answer the phone?” Cheng Siyu replied unhurriedly.

“True.” The other end went quiet for a few seconds, then Shen Moxu’s voice returned. “How about Little Ji?”

“She’s alright. Her shoulder is injured, so she can’t use her phone.” Cheng Siyu explained calmly.

“Oh, okay, that’s good.” The call fell into silence again for a few seconds before Shen Moxu’s tentative voice came through. “I’ll tell you something privately. Don’t tell anyone else—not even Little Ji.”

“Hmm? Okay.” Cheng Siyu felt a drum beating in her heart. Usually, when Shen Moxu spoke like this, it wasn’t anything good.

“I had a drunken one-night stand.” Shen Moxu’s voice sounded like she was awaiting judgment.

“Shen Moxu? With whom? When? How?”

Cheng Siyu was frozen for three seconds before she reacted, throwing out a string of questions.

“Sigh, alcohol causes trouble. With…”

“Qin Xiangqing?”

“How did you know?”

Cheng Siyu stood like a statue for a long time before slowly asking, “Aren’t you straight?”

“I… didn’t I say alcohol causes trouble?” Shen Moxu defended herself in a small voice.

“It’s fine, you’re an adult.” Cheng Siyu didn’t say much else, but after a few seconds of silence, she asked a very philosophical question: “Were you the top or the bottom?”

“I was the top once.” Shen Moxu chose to defend her identity as a “mighty top,” even though Qin Xiangqing had let her win that one time—but it still counted, right?

“Hmm, once. Impressive.” Cheng Siyu responded. However, her intuition told her that Qin Xiangqing wasn’t that simple. She cautioned, “Be careful. Don’t let someone play with your feelings.”

“I know what kind of person my goddess is.”

“Okay, I’m a bit tired. Hanging up now.” Perhaps because of the medication, Cheng Siyu felt her eyelids getting heavy. She hung up and fell asleep.

When she woke up again, the sun was high in the sky. The nurse had come to change her bandages and apply ointment.

Cheng Siyu watched the news reporting that Si Fei had been bailed out by Xi Mu. Although she didn’t go to jail or get a criminal record, Cheng Siyu knew she could no longer stay in the industry.

Her Weibo was filled with insults calling her a murderer and an arrogant diva. Several fan clubs had disbanded because of it. The persona she had maintained and the resources she had gathered collapsed overnight. All her films and shows were being taken down; she had returned to square one overnight, but with a reputation in tatters.

Cheng Siyu watched quietly, having anticipated all of this, though she hadn’t expected Ji Wanli to act so quickly.

“Miss Cheng, the young lady invites you to have lunch with her.”

After Cheng Siyu finished her medication, the same bodyguard from yesterday pushed the wheelchair in. This time, Cheng Siyu chose not to sit in the chair and walked instead.

But when she reached Ji Yun’s room just like the day before, she heard laughter from inside. She peeked through the door and saw a figure she least wanted to see: Ji Yan.

The two were chatting and laughing. Cheng Siyu’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Although she believed she was immune to this by now, a sense of nausea still rose from her heart. It was as if Ji Yan’s presence served as a constant reminder that in Ji Yun’s eyes, she was just a substitute—a stand-in to mask her true feelings.

She stood at the door for a long time, ultimately deciding not to enter. The bodyguard didn’t rush her; his task was simply to bring her there.

A few minutes later, Ji Yan walked out. Seeing Cheng Siyu, she teased, “Are you her little girlfriend? Go on in, she’s been waiting for you for a long time.”

Cheng Siyu looked away, unwilling to meet her eyes. She didn’t know in what capacity she should face Ji Yan, so she chose to remain silent.

By the time Cheng Siyu snapped out of it, Ji Yan had already walked away, leaving behind a back view that looked so similar to her own. As the figure disappeared from sight, Cheng Siyu curled her lips into a fake smile and pushed the door open.

“Sister Siyu, you’re here.” Now, Ji Yun could barely hold a phone and was no longer limited to watching TV. “That was my cousin just now, my aunt’s daughter. She’s quite familiar with everyone.”

“Mhm, I saw.” Cheng Siyu’s tone was neither cold nor warm. Ji Yun felt something was off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“I’m being discharged tomorrow. I have to go back to the set to film.”

The caregiver brought in lunch for the two of them. Cheng Siyu arranged the food on the table one by one.

“Huh?” Ji Yun’s tone immediately became aggrieved. “Then what about me?”

“Don’t you have your cousin?” Cheng Siyu’s tone turned sharp for a moment before softening again. “Rest and recover well.”

“You wouldn’t be jealous of my cousin and me, would you?” Ji Yun swung her feet and peeked at Cheng Siyu a few times, finally catching a hint of jealousy in her indifferent eyes.

“I have no relationship with her whatsoever! I swear! I only like you.” Ji Yun suddenly forgot her injuries and lunged into Cheng Siyu’s arms.

Then, because the movement was too big, she pulled her wound and let out a pained cry. “Ow, ow, ow! It hurts!”

Cheng Siyu stood still. Hearing those words, her body froze, and she murmured the phrase “I only like you” several times in her mind.

Then, the gossip news of Ji Yun with various bed partners and photos of her entering bars and hotels flashed before her eyes again.

You like me, but you sleep with others. Cheng Siyu smiled faintly, but her heart felt a sharp sting. She didn’t show it on the surface, instead comforting Ji Yun. “I’m not jealous.”

“Really?” Ji Yun looked up at Cheng Siyu, then muttered, “Actually, I quite like seeing you jealous.”

“Eat.” Cheng Siyu didn’t continue the topic of jealousy. She pulled up a chair with one hand and began eating from the lunch box.

Ji Yun, on the other hand, had no appetite. She stirred her food with her chopsticks and said gloomily, “This reminds me of a painting.”

“What painting?”

“The Last Supper.”

“It’s not your last meal. Focus on recovering.” Cheng Siyu used Ji Yun’s chopsticks to pick up a piece of broccoli and stuffed it into her mouth to shut her up.

Ji Yun chewed and said, “It doesn’t taste good.”

The next day, Cheng Siyu had her bandages removed and was discharged. Zhao Xixi came to pick her up.

“Siyu, rest well today. You have to go back to the set tomorrow.” Zhao Xixi briefed her while driving. “Also, the new actress for Lan Zixuan has been decided. It’s Jiang Shizi.”

“Jiang Shizi.” Cheng Siyu repeated the name. It sounded familiar; she seemed to have seen it in a magazine before.

“The director was forced to invite her because there was no one else in the company,” Zhao Xixi said, a complex expression flashing across her face.

“Is something wrong?” Cheng Siyu caught the expression and asked.

“Nothing. She’s been in retirement for a long time. The last time I saw her was three years ago.”

Zhao Xixi answered after a moment of recollection.

“I see.”

After returning to the hotel and taking a nap, it was already dark by the time Cheng Siyu woke up. Having grown tired of staying in closed rooms during her hospital stay, she changed into a simple outfit and went downstairs.

Passing a convenience store, she went in to buy a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit one while sitting on a roadside bench. As the smoke slowly clouded her vision, she felt as if she were coming back to life.

Once the cigarette was out, she stood up and found a small restaurant for dinner.

In her spare time, she looked at Weibo. The success of her last movie had gained her a significant number of followers—not as many as Ji Yun, but not a small number either.

Since the leaked photos of her and Ji Yun for Real or Fake had come out, most of the original fans seemed to find it acceptable. They hadn’t posted any aggressive comments on her Weibo; instead, they told her to act well and not disappoint them.