After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's "White Moonlight" - Chapter 53

Cheng Siyu used the word “partner” in her speech; she understood the different weight carried by various forms of address. And she was the person least qualified to hold that identity.

“I envy your future partner, too,” Xi You said, picking up the goblet beside her and clinking it against Cheng Siyu’s with a crisp ding.

“What is there to envy?”

Cheng Siyu forced a relaxed smile, but her eyes filled with tears in an instant. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt like crying—perhaps it was because of the falling out with her family, or perhaps because the wounds on her body were still throbbing with a dull pain.

Regardless, she stopped dwelling on it. She could only comfort herself by thinking that too much had happened in the past two days and her body simply couldn’t process it all.

“Why the sudden sadness? Is it because the noodles are too delicious?” Xi You noticed the change in her expression and handed her a tissue from the side.

“They’re delicious, thank you.” Cheng Siyu took the tissue, wiped her face haphazardly, and said, “Thank you for your hard work.”

“It was my honor.”

Hearing her words, Cheng Siyu smiled and drained the wine in her glass.

That night, perhaps due to the numbing effect of the alcohol, Cheng Siyu fell into a groggy sleep on the sofa shortly after eating.

In her dream, she felt her body lighten, followed by a fall into a soft place. It seemed someone was helping her change her clothes; fingertips brushed against the location of her wounds, bringing a surge of stinging pain.

“Such heavy injuries… doesn’t it hurt?”

A low female voice reached her ears, but she did not respond.

The next day, Cheng Siyu was awakened by her phone ringing. Subconsciously reaching for the nightstand to find her phone, she touched the texture of silk fabric instead. She opened her eyes to see Xi You’s sleeping profile. After a moment of thought, she decided to get out of bed first to pick up the phone.

“Siyu, I—I’m sorry. I was wrong. I can’t leave you.” Ji Yun’s voice came from the other end of the line, sounding as if she were drunk, her words laced with post-alcohol murmurs.

Cheng Siyu paused and checked the caller ID again to confirm it was indeed Ji Yun.

How could she ever be wrong? Cheng Siyu gave a mocking smile, merely replying, “It’s fine.”

“Then can we meet for lunch?”

“Sure. Where is the address?” Cheng Siyu said coolly.

“The restaurant below the hotel where you’re staying. I’ll go find you in a bit.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Cheng Siyu turned around to see Xi You’s weary yet elegant face. She had woken up at some point and was leaning against the pillow, propping up her head and watching Cheng Siyu with interest.

“Forgiven her?” she asked.

“Yes. She’s still useful to keep around,” Cheng Siyu answered, sitting back down on the bed as she spoke. It was only then that she realized she wasn’t wearing the sweatshirt she had worn out yesterday, but had been changed into a silk pajama set—and upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a matching couple’s set with the one Xi You was wearing.

“Why is it that I’m the one who comforts you and drinks with you, yet she’s the one you forgive?” Xi You leaned against Cheng Siyu’s shoulder, her voice carrying a hint of coquettish grievance.

Cheng Siyu froze for a few seconds, unable to think of a response. But before she could open her mouth to speak, a moist kiss landed on her lips.

“If you don’t know what to say, just kiss me. I like this method very much.”

Cheng Siyu’s face finally flushed red. She didn’t say anything more, but picked up her clothes—which Xi You had folded neatly and placed on a chair—and fled into the bathroom.

As she was changing and about to swap her pants, she felt an unusual furry sensation against her leg. Looking down, she saw a chubby British Shorthair cat rubbing against her trousers, seemingly having mistaken her for Xi You.

Cheng Siyu tried to shoo it away gently a few times, but the cat didn’t react. She had no choice but to awkwardly pick it up and place it on the bathroom vanity. After finishing changing, she scooped it back up to take it out.

“It peeked at me while I was changing,” Cheng Siyu muttered accusingly as she walked out, tossing the cat in front of Xi You, who was lying on the bed busy with her phone.

“Pfft. There’s no helping it—like owner, like cat. It can’t be changed.” Xi You’s voice was languid and helpless. Then she reached out and said, “Zero, come here.”

Breakfast consisted of fried eggs and bacon prepared by Xi You, accompanied by a glass of milk.

“Are you going back soon?” Xi You watched Cheng Siyu, who was biting a hair tie while tying up her hair, her tone laced with reluctance.

“Yes.” Cheng Siyu finished tying her hair and, feeling it was somewhat inappropriate to leave just like that, added, “Sorry for the trouble. I’ll treat you next time.”

“Alright. Please trouble me a few more times.”

It was nearly noon by the time Cheng Siyu took Xi You’s car back to the hotel.

“Goodbye.”

Before she got out, Xi You leaned back in her seat and watched her walk away. That scorching gaze made Cheng Siyu feel somewhat uneasy, and she hurried away quickly after exiting the car.

Once she took the elevator upstairs, she saw a figure standing at her door. It was Ji Yun.

“Siyu!” Upon seeing her, Ji Yun’s dull eyes instantly lit up, and she walked over quickly to hug her.

“You went to work, didn’t you?” Ji Yun no longer questioned her whereabouts suspiciously; instead, she found an excuse for her. However, with her keen sense of smell, she detected a unique fragrance on Cheng Siyu.

“What is that scent on you? It’s so fragrant.”

Cheng Siyu froze, then lied, “I got some on me while filming a commercial.”

“Mm.” Ji Yun didn’t press further and pulled Cheng Siyu back into her room.

The conflict between the two seemed to have passed just like that. But not long after, Cheng Siyu noticed that gossip rumors about Xi You entering and leaving nightclubs with different women began to circulate mysteriously online. Although she wasn’t strictly part of the industry, these rumors still affected the Xi Group’s business to some extent.

While Cheng Siyu was wondering who had nothing better to do, she discovered that the primary source of all the gossip was the Ji Corporation. In that moment, Cheng Siyu realized instantly that it was Ji Yun taking revenge out of jealousy.

“Xi You has so much gossip; it’s clear she isn’t sincere toward you,” Ji Yun suddenly remarked during a scheduled dinner three days later.

“You did this?” Cheng Siyu frowned, her eyes fixed on the person across from her. Ji Yun’s eyes showed a few seconds of guilt, but she then spoke up righteously.

“I did it. So what? I want you to see her clearly—she’s not a good person at all.”

Hearing this, Cheng Siyu countered, “I told you we are just friends, and I have business collaborations with her later. Aren’t you afraid she’ll target me?”

Cheng Siyu’s words made Ji Yun fall into a brief silence, but she quickly retorted, “She doesn’t know I did it. Besides, this information was originally collected by my father’s company; I just found the right time to release it.”

Ji Yun’s words left Cheng Siyu in silence. She seemed to have forgotten that Ji Yun had always been a childish and narrow-minded person.

“Besides, if she targets you, just let the company get justice for you. If it really doesn’t work out, don’t collaborate with her. And if even that fails, you can quit the industry and I’ll support you.”

“Ji Yun.” Cheng Siyu called her name seriously once again. Ji Yun, who was talking incessantly, paused and gave a soft “Mm.”

“Don’t be so childish, okay?”

A strange resentment rose in Cheng Siyu’s heart. She didn’t understand where her anger was coming from, but looking at Ji Yun—who casually smeared others like this—she was inexplicably furious.

Whether in her previous life or this one, Ji Yun seemed to find satisfaction in controlling people’s fates. Looking at Ji Yun’s expression now, she felt as if she were seeing her past life again, when Ji Yun had presumptuously deleted an interview email, she had written, claiming she didn’t want her to be overworked. She had even blackmailed the people in Cheng Siyu’s phone contacts without asking for her consent, simply because she was jealous.

In reality, she was just afraid that if Cheng Siyu had a job and a life, she wouldn’t be able to constantly play the role of the perfect substitute lover in her heart.

“This matter has nothing to do with Xi You. If someone has to be at fault, it’s me.” Cheng Siyu calmed down and spoke, her gaze fixed on Ji Yun, a hint of decisiveness hidden in her eyes. “We aren’t a good fit. Let’s break up.”

In fact, she had her own reasons for saying this. Ji Wanli seemed to have realized that her popularity was overshadowing Ji Yun’s and had begun to intentionally suppress her. Furthermore, since she had already broken ties with her family, Ji Wanli no longer held any leverage over her.

Most importantly, she no longer loved Ji Yun.

Just before they started this meal, Cheng Siyu had listened to Ji Yun and Ji Yan laughing and joking over the phone. She suddenly felt that everything was meaningless.

“What?” A flash of disbelief crossed Ji Yun’s eyes. “Just because I targeted Xi You?”

“No. You’re too childish, and I’m tired.” Cheng Siyu closed her eyes and drained the wine beside her, then pulled out the bracelet Ji Yun had given her from her bag and placed it in front of her.

Then, out of a slight sense of revenge, she said to Ji Yun, “Go back and tell your father that my agreement with him is over.”

“What agreement?” At this moment, Ji Yun still hadn’t reacted. She grabbed Cheng Siyu’s hand, regardless of the unhealed wounds on it.

“Go back and ask him. He’ll be very happy to tell you the story.” Cheng Siyu pulled Ji Yun’s hand off her wrist.

Ji Wanli had wanted to break them up all along; now that there was such a perfect opportunity to drive a wedge between them, he wouldn’t miss the chance to speak.

“Ji Yun, it’s time you grew up.”

Leaving that final sentence, Cheng Siyu walked quickly out of the restaurant and hopped onto a random bus.

Was it sudden? Not really. Because today was her birthday, and also the anniversary of that little Golden Retriever’s death. She had simply remembered that day and the resolute look in Ji Yun’s eyes after seeing the calendar.

Just then, her phone rang. It was a message from Xi You: “Happy birthday. Would I have the honor of having dinner with you tonight?”

“Of course,” Cheng Siyu typed back. Then she added, “Sorry for getting you involved. Tonight’s treat is on me.”

Xi You’s message came back: “It’s nothing,” followed by an emoji. “The honor is mine.”

As night fell, Cheng Siyu arrived at the private room in the restaurant they had agreed upon. As soon as she entered, the cake glowing with candlelight on the table caught her attention.

“Happy birthday.”

Xi You emerged from the darkness, holding a jewelry box. She opened it to reveal a necklace decorated with a moon and stars.

The dim candlelight reflected off the jewelry was somewhat piercing, and Cheng Siyu’s eyes filled with crystalline tears. It had been a long, long time since she had celebrated a birthday. Whether it was before she was ten when she lived with her mother, or after she turned ten and moved in with her father—no one had ever mentioned her birthday, and no one had ever cared.

“Thank you.” After Xi You fastened the necklace around her neck, Cheng Siyu reached out and hugged her.

“No need.”

In response to her proactive hug, Xi You simply patted her back gently. She once thought Cheng Siyu was like a hard diamond, but now this diamond was melting in her arms.

After about two or three seconds, Cheng Siyu pulled away from the embrace. She knew in her heart that Xi You and Ji Yun were the same type of person—she was just a pet receiving temporary favor. Once the novelty wore off, she would be discarded again.

“Another year older,” Cheng Siyu remarked, looking at the flickering candlelight on the cake. She then clasped her hands, made a wish, and blew out the candles.

“How could you be old? You’re still so beautiful.” After turning on the lights, Xi You looked at Cheng Siyu and, as if playing a prank, used her finger to dab a bit of cream onto Cheng Siyu’s slightly flushed cheek.

Cheng Siyu froze, then indignantly reached out to strike back, but her hand was pinned by Xi You. Xi You reached out her tongue and licked the cream off Cheng Siyu’s face.

At that moment, Cheng Siyu finally broke free. She cupped Xi You’s face with both hands and gave her a gentle, lingering kiss.

Just as Xi You was about to take the initiative and deepen the kiss, Cheng Siyu’s phone rang at an inopportune moment. Xi You gentlemanly let go of her, signaling that they could continue later. She noticed that Cheng Siyu’s usually composed face was now flushed deep red.

“Hello?”

The caller ID showed Shen Moxi.

“Siyu, I broke up.”