After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's "White Moonlight" - Chapter 28.1

Cheng Siyu knew Jiang Shizi still had feelings for Qi Yan, but it was only now she realized that Jiang Shizi had driven all this way just to catch a distant glimpse of her.

“There’s no going back.” Jiang Shizi’s gaze followed the two figures—one tall, one short—until they vanished at the end of the road, before returning her focus to Cheng Siyu.

Cheng Siyu took a sip of her coffee, offering a silent nod of agreement; she felt the same about her own situation.

The two lingered in the cafe for a while longer. Throughout this time, Cheng Siyu’s eyes remained fixed on her phone, unsure if she was feeling anxiety or expectation.

“You should go to all the places you want to visit now. Once you’re famous, there will be reporters following you everywhere,” Jiang Shizi remarked, noticing Cheng Siyu’s pensive state.

“That’s not a given. Fame doesn’t just happen because you want it to,” Cheng Siyu replied. She had searched for Jiang Shizi’s profile earlier and saw that she had debuted at fifteen, starting with commercial performances and TV dramas.

“Many things are hard to predict. Back then, I thought I’d never fall in love with anyone in my entire life.”

“That’s just how the world is.” Cheng Siyu had also once believed she would never soften her heart toward Ji Yun again.

“Alright, I’m full. How about you?” Jiang Shizi used her fork to pop the last small piece of bread into her mouth.

“Let’s go.” Cheng Siyu asked the waiter for a paper bag and packed away the bread she had only taken one bite of.

“It’s a rare day off today. Any plans?” Jiang Shizi initiated conversation as they got into the car.

“I don’t know. Just rest, I guess. Tomorrow I’ll be forced to work again.” Cheng Siyu put on an exhausted expression and sighed. “I thought I’d only be here for a month, but it looks like I’ll be staying until New Year’s Day.”

“Plans change. It’ll be over before you know it.”

Jiang Shizi turned on the car stereo, and a rock song blasted through the speakers. In an instant, Cheng Siyu felt the entire car vibrating with the music.

“What’s your ringtone?” Jiang Shizi asked.

Cheng Siyu realized she was asking about the exclusive ringtone Ji Yun had recorded for her. She replied casually, “Just something I found.”

“It sounds quite nice.” Jiang Shizi didn’t press further and changed the subject. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes,” Cheng Siyu answered simply, assuming Li Yexing, the little broadcaster, had spread the news.

“How long has it been?”

“About a month.” Cheng Siyu couldn’t quite remember how long she had actually been with Ji Yun. In her previous life, she had meticulously recorded every single day, like a student afraid of a teacher’s pop quiz.

“How far have things gone?” Jiang Shizi suddenly blurted out.

“Teacher Jiang, I didn’t know you were such a gossip.” Cheng Siyu hadn’t expected her to be so direct.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Jiang Shizi countered.

“We’ve slept together.” Cheng Siyu didn’t hide it; after all, it was she who had slept with Ji Yun.

“Hmm?” Jiang Shizi clearly hadn’t expected that. She shot Cheng Siyu a surprised look.

“Yes, we did.” Cheng Siyu fell silent. Last night’s experience wasn’t particularly good or bad, but it was the first time she had seen that side of Ji Yun. However, since it ended, her heart had only grown colder.

Jiang Shizi pressed on, “Do you plan on getting married?”

“No,” Cheng Siyu answered without a second thought. She would not allow herself to repeat the same mistakes.

“Young people truly are different. I’m getting old,” Jiang Shizi lamented.

“Being young at heart is what matters.” Cheng Siyu, who was actually thirty-two, patted the twenty-nine-year-old Jiang Shizi on the shoulder to encourage her.

“We’re here. You go ahead and get out,” Jiang Shizi said, pulling up to the hotel entrance.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

“A person who is young at heart is going to go do some ‘young person’ things.”

“Alright.” Cheng Siyu didn’t ask more and closed the car door. She checked the time: ten o’clock. Ji Yun shouldn’t be awake yet.

Even though she tried to tell herself she didn’t care, it was undeniable that she was currently tied to Ji Yun because of resources.

Standing at the room door, Cheng Siyu took a deep breath before opening it.

Inside, Ji Yun was already awake, lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling as if in a daze. Hearing Cheng Siyu enter, she hurriedly sat up.

“Where did you go?” Ji Yun’s words sounded like a confrontation, but her voice carried a hint of a sob. The hangover seemed to have dragged her emotions into a trough, and she woke up feeling as though her body had been invaded.

Fortunately, as she looked around, she saw Cheng Siyu’s belongings everywhere. It didn’t feel like a strange place, and there were no suspicious strangers nearby.

Cheng Siyu closed the door and took a deep breath. “I went out for some air.”

“Okay… I’m just glad you didn’t leave.”

“The crew is off today. You can sleep more if you’re tired.” Cheng Siyu walked over and sat in the armchair.

“I’m not tired. It’s just… my head hurts, and my body hurts.” Ji Yun was somewhat incoherent as she rubbed her temples.

“You drank too much last night.” Cheng Siyu didn’t offer much of an explanation.

“Did you bring me back?”

“Yes.” Cheng Siyu didn’t deny it.

“Then… aside from you, nobody else touched me, right?” Ji Yun looked at Cheng Siyu with a trace of wariness.

“No one.”

“That… that’s good then.” Ji Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

“Don’t drink that much next time.” Cheng Siyu stood up, poured a glass of warm water, and set it on the table.

“I know.” At this moment, Ji Yun was as obedient as a little rabbit. Anyone else seeing her like this would have been unable to resist stroking her hair or giving her a hug.

But Cheng Siyu remained where she stood, making no further move.

“I had a fight with my dad, that’s why I drank so much,” Ji Yun explained, the warm water gradually soothing her stomach.

“How old are you?” Cheng Siyu asked this question again, though the circumstances were completely different from the last time.

“Nineteen.” Ji Yun answered honestly again, but then remembered it was her birthday and added, “Twenty.”

“You need to take responsibility for your own life.” Cheng Siyu didn’t preach too much. She knew Ji Yun wouldn’t listen. In her previous life, she had told Ji Yun not to drink so much because of her weak stomach, yet Ji Yun still drank until she was hospitalized with gastric bleeding.

“Siyu, are you angry?” Ji Yun sensed the change in Cheng Siyu’s tone. It was much colder than before.

“I’m not.” Cheng Siyu instinctively denied it, even though she realized her tone was too stiff. Seeing Ji Yun in this state always triggered a strange sense of irritation in her.

She could only tell herself that last night was the limit. She must not repeat the past.

Just as the two fell into a stalemate, Cheng Siyu’s phone rang, breaking the silence. She walked out to the balcony to answer.

“Siyu! I’m coming to visit you guys!” Shen Moxu’s voice burst through the phone the moment the call connected. “I’ll tell you a secret—I’m together with my goddess now! I’m working as her junior assistant.”

Cheng Siyu was stunned for a moment, recalling their last phone call. “You two are moving quite fast.”

“It’s alright! How are things with you and Little Ji?” Shen Moxu shifted the topic.

“Just average,” Cheng Siyu replied after a few seconds of silence.

“I saw on the trending searches lately that her family is having a lot of trouble. You should comfort her.”

“I didn’t realize you cared about her so much.” Cheng Siyu’s tone was neutral.

“I’m caring on your behalf! Don’t worry, a friend’s wife is off-limits. I have my goddess now.” Shen Moxu’s voice was full of energy.

Cheng Siyu’s brow relaxed slightly. “Mmm. When are you coming?”

“Next Tuesday! I should arrive in the afternoon. We can grab a big meal together that night. I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Before Shen Moxu could finish, the sound of a door opening and a cold female voice came from the other end of the line.

“Who is it?” It was Qin Xiangqing.

“I’m on the phone with Siyu.”

“It’s time to go.”

“Okay! Siyu, I have to go now. I’m heading to the set with my goddess. Let’s talk tonight.”

“Okay.”

The call ended. Cheng Siyu stood on the balcony lost in thought. She always felt that Qin Xiangqing was not as simple as she appeared. In her previous life, Shen Moxu’s changes seemed to have some connection to her, though she couldn’t recall the details now.

When Cheng Siyu returned to the room, Ji Yun was sitting on the bed with her feet on the floor, seemingly lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Siyu asked instinctively.

“My legs hurt. I can’t stand up.” Ji Yun’s voice carried a hint of grievance. Cheng Siyu hadn’t had time to clean up the tissues scattered on the floor, and she understood exactly what had happened.

However, because it had been Cheng Siyu, Ji Yun felt a sliver of happiness alongside her relief.

“I’ll help you.” Cheng Siyu reached out to support Ji Yun. As she did, she noticed the hickeys she had left on Ji Yun’s collarbone and thighs.

The memories of last night flooded back, but Cheng Siyu forced herself not to think about it. Perhaps she had vented ten years of grievances last night, but she knew it wasn’t that simple. She couldn’t let go.

Meanwhile, Ji Yun was enjoying the physical intimacy and took the opportunity to steal a kiss on Cheng Siyu’s neck when she wasn’t looking.

“Shen Moxu said she’s coming to S-City next week and wants us to get together. Are you free?”

In the bathroom, Cheng Siyu stood by the door, waiting quietly without going in.

“I am,” Ji Yun’s voice came from inside. “Siyu-jie, can I use your towel?”

“Go ahead,” Cheng Siyu replied. Just then, she received a call from Ji Wanli’s assistant.

“I’m going to the balcony to take a call,” she told Ji Yun.

“Okay.”

“How is the young lady? She isn’t hurt, is she?” the assistant’s voice asked as soon as she picked up.

“She’s fine. She was just drunk,” Cheng Siyu replied. She wondered what the reaction would be if they knew she had already slept with her.

“Don’t let the young lady suspect anything.” The assistant gave a final instruction before hanging up. Cheng Siyu simply agreed.

Just then, there was a knock at the room door. Cheng Siyu was about to go open it, but Ji Yun, who had just come out of the bathroom, beat her to it.

The visitor was Zhao Xixi holding a takeout bag. She clearly hadn’t expected Ji Yun to open the door, but she quickly thought of an excuse.

“Are you here to borrow the water heater to wash your hair?”

“Yes,” Ji Yun answered awkwardly. Cheng Siyu walked up. “What is it, Xixi jie?”