After Rebirth, I Became My Ex's "White Moonlight" - Chapter 8

Cheng Siyu’s words left both people present stunned. Shen Moxu and Ji Yun were equally surprised, their eyes filled with confusion.

Initially, Cheng Siyu had intended to remain calm and silent. However, in her past life, Ji Yun had frequently used her claustrophobia as an excuse to reject Cheng Siyu, even leaving her alone in a movie theater several times midway through a film.

Can claustrophobia really vary depending on the person?

At this thought, the scars in Cheng Siyu’s heart felt as if they were being torn open. Tears quickly filled her eyes once more. She could only choke out an “I’m sorry” before turning and running toward the restroom without looking back.

She desperately tried to convince herself that the Ji Yun of this life might not be the same person as the one from her past life. Yet, when the habits and the appearance were identical, she couldn’t deceive herself. She hoped this person was Ji Yun, yet she also hoped she wasn’t.

She simply didn’t want to be with her, that was all.

Outside, Shen Moxu and Ji Yun remained frozen in place, baffled by Cheng Siyu’s sudden emotional outburst.

“Xiao Ji, do you really have claustrophobia?”

“I do… but I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone,” Ji Yun replied, feeling the suddenness of the situation. What surprised her even more was the way Cheng Siyu had looked at her just now—it was the same look from the day at the KTV when Cheng Siyu had forcefully kissed her. The gaze was complex, filled with interrogation, doubt, and resentment.

But as Ji Yun searched through the memories of her teenage years, she couldn’t find a single trace of Cheng Siyu.

“Do you think… it’s because she hates me?” Ji Yun asked cautiously. However, that passionate kiss from the day before made her feel that Cheng Siyu didn’t entirely reject her.

“No, don’t worry about that. From the time I’ve known her until now, I’ve never seen her hate anyone,” Shen Moxu said, patting her chest confidently. In her words, Cheng Siyu was like a ball of cotton; no matter how much force hit her, she would only absorb the impact, never push back.

Just then, the restroom door opened. Cheng Siyu walked out, her face likely splashed with cold water, leaving faint traces of moisture behind.

“I’m sorry, I lost my composure just now. I have a dinner appointment that day, so I won’t be able to go with you guys,” Cheng Siyu’s voice had become cold and stiff, though a faint tremor could still be heard if one listened closely.

“How can you not go! Who are you meeting? Is it Wen Zhiluo? Wow, look at you, off with the new love and forgetting the old. Cheng, I’ve followed you for so many years…”

Shen Moxu always had the ability to make Cheng Siyu break character in a second. She finally couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “No, I really have something else. My younger sister is coming that day, and my dad wants me to pick her up.”

While Cheng Siyu truly did not want to go with Ji Yun, this excuse was actually true. Earlier that afternoon, she had received a call from her father, Cheng Wuxing, saying that Cheng Hanyi would be visiting next week during her break. The hotel was already booked and the money was settled; Cheng Siyu only needed to take her around.

“Cheng Siyu, you have a sister?” Shen Moxu looked at her with an expression that said ‘You really are deep and mysterious.’

“Did I never mention it?” Cheng Siyu thought back; it seemed she really hadn’t. “Well, you know now.”

“Fine then.” Since the explanation was given, Shen Moxu didn’t see the need to press further. The earlier drama seemed to have passed, and the three of them walked back toward the dormitory together.

Once Ji Yun had said her goodbyes and headed back to the new campus, Shen Moxu couldn’t help but ask:

“Do you have some kind of grudge against Ji Yun?”

“What kind of grudge could I possibly have against her?” Cheng Siyu feigned indifference, but then, feeling that her denial wasn’t quite convincing, she told a white lie: “She just looks like an enemy of mine.”

“Oh? You actually have enemies?”

“Of course I do. For example, you, Shen.”

“Cheng! Have you no conscience!”

“I don’t!”

The day of Cheng Hanyi’s arrival soon came. Cheng Siyu woke up early and waited at the station.

“Sis!” As soon as Cheng Hanyi got off the train, she gave Cheng Siyu a hug so forceful that Cheng Siyu nearly tumbled to the ground. “Sis, did you lose weight?”

Cheng Hanyi stabilized herself and looked at Cheng Siyu, feeling that she indeed looked thinner. The baby fat on her face had diminished, and her waist was noticeably slender.

“No way, I actually feel like I’ve gained weight.” Cheng Siyu took the opportunity to poke the ticklish spot on Hanyi’s waist. “You’ve put on some weight too.”

“Hey, I’m just building up my winter fat!”

“It’s the middle of summer, what winter fat are you talking about?”

Amidst their bickering and laughter, they arrived at the hotel.

“I have to go to the film set this afternoon to shoot a scene. Do you want to rest at the hotel or go explore?” Cheng Siyu asked after getting everything settled.

“Can I come to the set with you?” Cheng Hanyi put on her most well-behaved expression.

“Hmm… I’ll go ask.”

About five minutes later, Cheng Siyu returned. “Okay, but you have to sit quietly and not run around.”

Today was Cheng Siyu’s final scene. It involved the character Chi Xia finally finding Chi Li and talking things through. Although their relationship couldn’t be fully reconciled, it had softened significantly. However, that very night, she would leap from a tall building, leaving a “pregnancy diagnosis” on her bed.

“Cheng Siyu, is she really your sister?”

After arriving at the set, Cheng Hanyi’s extroverted nature kicked in. When she met the social butterfly Shen Moxu, it was like a meeting of kindred spirits. By the time Cheng Siyu was in the makeup chair, the two were already chatting away.

However, as Shen Moxu observed the personalities of the two sisters, she felt a genuine sense of doubt. Cheng Siyu had a cold, elegant look that gave off a fragile vibe, while Cheng Hanyi had bright eyes and a sunny, cheerful appearance.

Cheng Siyu knew why, of course. She resembled her late mother, while Cheng Hanyi took after their father, Cheng Wuxing. Cheng Wuxing often said that Hanyi took after him and would have a bright future.

“Of course, she’s the real deal!” Cheng Hanyi and Shen Moxu began a playful staring contest.

At that moment, Ji Yun and Wen Zhiluo finished their scene and walked into the lounge. The moment she turned and saw Ji Yun, Cheng Hanyi’s eyes lit up. “Bi… big… big star? Can I have your autograph? I’ll trade you my sister for it!”

“Cheng Hanyi!” Cheng Siyu flicked Hanyi’s head.

“Ow!”

“Of course you can.” Watching this scene, Ji Yun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she signed the notebook Hanyi handed over.

Cheng Siyu gave a brief introduction: “This is my sister, she’s here for a visit.”

Since that day, she and Ji Yun had maintained a relationship where they would greet each other upon meeting, but nothing more followed. During this time, Ji Yun had already half-stepped into the entertainment industry thanks to her beautiful singing voice and leaked behind-the-scenes footage.

Cheng Siyu remained indifferent to it all. She knew Ji Yun’s acting and singing were excellent; her only flaw was her playfulness. Ji Yun had been with all sorts of women, but she rarely gave her heart to any of them. Cheng Siyu once thought she would be the exception, but in the end, she had been no different from the rest.

“Chi Xia and Chi Li, come over here.” The director’s voice called out. Cheng Siyu told Hanyi to be good and then walked toward the set with Wen Zhiluo.

After a series of instructions, Cheng Siyu and Wen Zhiluo began their performance.

“Xiao Li.”

On the street, Chi Xia called out to Chi Li. Chi Li initially wanted to turn and walk away, but she stopped her.

“Xiao Li, I’m sorry.” Chi Xia’s voice grew lower and lower, as if she were sinking to the very bottom of an abyss.

“Don’t call me that, and you don’t need to say sorry. You don’t owe me anything.” Although Chi Li appeared disdainful on the surface, seeing Chi Xia in this state touched a soft spot in his heart, and his attitude softened slightly.

“I’m leaving. Going somewhere very far away. I left some money for you under the covers at home…” Having said this, Chi Xia took a deep breath, trying her best to keep her tears from falling. She knew this was the last time she would see Chi Li; she didn’t want to say more, only to memorize his face.

“I don’t want your money. Just go back.” Chi Li ultimately couldn’t remain heartless, but he gently brushed Chi Xia’s hand away.

“Okay… okay…” With that, Chi Xia turned and walked away, step by step.

Under the setting sun, Chi Li watched her figure gradually disappear. Memories of them playing together as children flashed through his mind. He kicked a stone at his feet but continued to watch until Chi Xia was gone.

“Cut!”

The director’s voice rang out.

Cheng Siyu didn’t return to the lounge. Instead, she found a nearby chair and sat down. Her mind suddenly drifted back to the way her mother looked before she passed away. She remembered the dark green medicine bottle in her mother’s hand. The last words she had said to her were, “Xiaoyu, live a good life.”

Even as the medicine took effect, her mother had reached out with a hand wrinkled by illness and gently stroked her head. At the time, she thought her mother had just fallen asleep, so she had carefully tucked her in, tiptoed out of the room, and closed the door.

That scene was permanently etched into the depths of her memory.

The feeling of Chi Xia saying goodbye to Chi Li was probably the same feeling her mother had when saying goodbye to her.

What she didn’t notice was a figure watching her silently from a distance.

“What are you looking at?” Shen Moxu came over to join the fun, but she didn’t see Cheng Siyu sitting by the wall; she only saw the birds in the trees.

“Nothing. The weather is so hot, do you guys want milk tea? My treat.” Ji Yun withdrew her gaze and asked.

“Yes!” “Hooray!” “Sure.”

After taking everyone’s orders, Ji Yun finally found an opportunity to slip out of the lounge and find Cheng Siyu sitting by the wall.

“Siyu-jie, do you want some milk tea? My treat.”

Hearing Ji Yun’s voice, a startled Cheng Siyu hurriedly wiped away the traces of tears from the corners of her eyes and declined, “No thanks.”

“Siyu-jie, do you hate me?” Ji Yun squatted down, looking at Cheng Siyu with wide eyes that seemed almost pitiful.

“No.” Cheng Siyu paused, then spoke again: “You just… look like someone I know.”

“Who?”