After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's "White Moonlight" - Chapter 26.1

Cheng Siyu keenly sensed there was more to her words than met the ear, but she simply hummed in response.

“Let’s go.”

It was only then that Cheng Siyu noticed Jiang Shizi had also changed into a formal gown. It appeared to be a matching set with her own, except Jiang Shizi’s was black.

Upon boarding the car, Jiang Shizi did not drive this time; instead, a chauffeur sat in the front seat.

On the road, after a period of silence that was by no means short, Jiang Shizi spoke up. “Just act as if we are very close, just like you did yesterday.”

“In front of Qi Yan?” Cheng Siyu asked tentatively. Jiang Shizi froze for a moment, then, as if realizing something, replied, “Yes.”

As they drew closer to their destination, Jiang Shizi took a flyer out of her bag and handed it to her. Cheng Siyu discovered that tonight was a charity birthday banquet for the child of a major conglomerate. Many people were attending, most of them there to donate money.

The Qi Group, where Qi Yan belonged, was one of the organizers. To Siyu’s surprise, the Ji Group was also listed.

However, reflecting on it, Ji Yun had not yet recovered from surgery, so Ji Wanli likely wouldn’t attend in person.

After a cursory glance, Cheng Siyu set the flyer down.

Upon arriving at the destination, Jiang Shizi—reappearing in the public eye after three years—naturally became a focal point. Standing beside her, Cheng Siyu shared in the limelight, surrounded by flashes of cameras the moment she stepped out of the car.

But most of the attention remained fixed on Jiang Shizi.

Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere exuded sheer luxury.

Cheng Siyu followed Jiang Shizi for a while, encountering several prominent figures. After nodding and smiling politely, she was about to find a corner to sit in when Jiang Shizi caught her hand.

“Wait until we’ve seen Qi Yan before you leave.”

Just as she finished speaking, Qi Yan appeared before them, leading a little girl who was still walking somewhat unsteadily by the hand.

This must be the daughter she shares with the second young master of the He family, He Jinnian, Cheng Siyu thought.

“Mrs. He, what a coincidence.”

Jiang Shizi was the first to break the awkward silence. Hearing this title, Qi Yan froze visibly before responding, “Yes, quite a coincidence.”

Though only two sentences had been exchanged, Cheng Siyu could clearly sense the invisible tension between the two.

At this moment, to avoid intruding, Cheng Siyu focused her gaze on the little “bean sprout” on the floor.

The little girl wore white overalls over a bright red shirt, her hair tied in two sheep-horn braids. She was cautiously nibbling on a piece of apple, looking quite adorable.

“Siyu, say hello. This is the wife of the He family’s second son, and this must be her daughter.”

“Mrs. He, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Hearing her name, Cheng Siyu feigned a calm composure as she greeted Qi Yan.

“Hello.” Qi Yan turned her gaze toward Cheng Siyu, scanning her for a few moments. For some reason, Cheng Siyu felt the same murderous aura she had sensed yesterday.

Fortunately, perhaps because of the crowd or the presence of Cheng Siyu and the child, the two only exchanged brief greetings before parting ways.

After Qi Yan left, Cheng Siyu saw a trace of dejection in Jiang Shizi’s eyes. However, Jiang Shizi let go of her hand and said with a smile, “Mission accomplished. Go have some fun.”

Cheng Siyu hesitated, but turning around, she saw Jiang Shizi already chatting with several others. She had no choice but to brace herself and wander around the venue.

Fifteen minutes later, Cheng Siyu realized that no one else was there simply to “see the world” or complete a task like she was. Everyone was busy socializing and networking; even when meeting strangers, they had to nod and greet each other politely.

Less than twenty minutes in, her face already felt stiff from smiling. She planned to head to the corridor for some fresh air, but just as she stepped out, she saw Jiang Shizi and Qi Yan again. They seemed to be engaged in another barbed conversation in the hallway.

Consequently, Cheng Siyu abandoned the idea of getting air. However, upon returning to the main hall, she spotted a familiar figure: Ji Yun. After not seeing her for several days, Ji Yun was wearing a slim-fitting, ruby-red gown today. She looked elegant and grand, like a rose in full bloom.

The little girl Qi Yan had been leading was now staring blankly at Ji Yun.

“Xiao You, tell Godmother, where is your mother?”

Before Cheng Siyu could react, Ji Yun spotted her first and walked toward her, leading the child.

“Siyu, why are you here?”

For some reason, facing Ji Yun still brought a sense of guilt and dread. After a long silence, Siyu replied, “Would you believe me if I said you have the wrong person?”

“No,” Ji Yun replied honestly.

“My manager wanted me to gain some exposure.” Cheng Siyu did not mention Jiang Shizi; her intuition told her it wouldn’t be a good thing for Ji Yun to know.

“Godmother, who is she?”

The child’s voice broke the stalemate.

“She is Godmother’s friend,” Ji Yun said without hesitation. Watching her, Cheng Siyu felt that after surviving her recent ordeal, Ji Yun seemed to have matured considerably.

“Why are you here? Weren’t you just discharged?” Cheng Siyu asked in return.

“The people at today’s banquet know my mother. I came to show my respects.”

“How is your wound healing?” Even though she looked fine, Cheng Siyu tested the waters.

“It’s alright.”

Just as Cheng Siyu was looking for an excuse to distance herself, she saw Qi Yan enter from the corridor.

The moment their eyes met, Qi Yan’s gaze turned cold. Cheng Siyu felt that familiar murderous intent.

“You two know each other?”

“Yes, she is my senior from school.” Ji Yun didn’t notice the friction between them, still remembering Cheng Siyu’s request not to reveal their relationship to anyone outside their circle of friends.

Cheng Siyu breathed a sigh of relief. If Qi Yan knew of her connection to Ji Yun, the whole situation would likely become even more complicated—though it was complicated enough already.

“Oh, your senior certainly has wide connections,” Qi Yan sneered, mocking Siyu’s social climbing by associating with Jiang Shizi.

Cheng Siyu had encountered such cynicism countless times and didn’t take it to heart. She took advantage of the moment Ji Yun and Qi Yan began talking to slip away.

In the corridor, Jiang Shizi was staring out the window, lost in thought. A slap mark was visible on her face. Upon seeing Cheng Siyu, she simply said, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Shizi’s purpose for coming was to make Qi Yan give up. Although she looked a bit disheveled now, her goal had been achieved.

Ten minutes later, Cheng Siyu had changed her clothes and was back in the car. Even now, she didn’t fully understand the relationship between Jiang Shizi and Qi Yan.

However, as soon as she settled into her seat, Ji Yun’s phone call came through. The ringtone—a song personally recorded by Ji Yun—sounded jarring in the car.

“Boyfriend?” Jiang Shizi asked, her thoughts interrupted. Cheng Siyu nodded reluctantly.

“Answer it.”

Once the call connected, Cheng Siyu heard Ji Yun’s voice.

“How did you end up with Jiang Shizi?”

That impatient, questioning tone was one that anyone else would have countered with a rude remark or a hang-up. But Cheng Siyu was used to it. She felt that the stranger-like Ji Yun from the beginning of her rebirth was fading, and the familiar, impatient, and volatile Ji Yun was slowly returning.

“We’re filming together. She happened to be coming, so we came together.”

Cheng Siyu explained casually. After a moment of silence on the other end, Ji Yun said, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m just… worried about you.”

Hearing this, Cheng Siyu let out a light laugh. In her previous life, Ji Yun had “cared” for her like this too, eventually caring her way into another woman’s bed.

Still, she said calmly, “It’s fine, I know.”

“Jiang Shizi… she’s not a good person,” Ji Yun’s voice followed immediately.

“We are in the same crew. Are you telling me not to see her?” Cheng Siyu asked pointedly.

“I’ll explain everything to you slowly after I get back to the hotel tonight.” Ji Yun sounded agitated and then hung up.

After the call ended, Cheng Siyu exhaled. She realized Jiang Shizi was watching her. The look in her eyes wasn’t one of romantic interest, but rather the scrutinizing gaze of an elder toward a junior.

The two remained silent until they got out of the car. As they headed upstairs, Jiang Shizi told her to let her know whenever she decided on her request.

When Cheng Siyu returned to her room, she lay on the bed feeling as though a lifetime had passed. The version of Ji Yun she was seeing now was overlapping more and more with the Ji Yun of her previous life.

Cheng Siyu recalled that in her past life, Ji Yun seemed to change into a different person after her mother passed away. At first, she thought Ji Yun was just traumatized, but later she realized that this was her true nature—it had just been hidden so well that Siyu hadn’t noticed for years.

Just as she was drifting off into a groggy sleep, a knock at the door startled her. she got up and opened it to find a travel-worn Ji Yun.

She had come in a hurry, still wearing that ruby-red gown.

“I… I came to explain.”