After the Divorce, I Ended Up with My Ex-Husband’s "White Moonlight" [Transmigration] - Chapter 27

Whatever happened in the apartment across the hall was beyond Ning Qi’s knowledge. To her slight surprise, she didn’t run into Yun Shu at all the next day—or for several days following.

“She’s gone?” Ning Qi double-checked until she was certain that Yun Shu had moved out for unknown reasons.

That evening, Ning Qi shared the good news with Qin Shi.

“Are you that happy about it?” the reply came back quickly.

“Of course! Now that she’s gone, I can finally have some peace and quiet.” Just thinking about bumping into Yun Shu every day and hearing those long-winded, twisted justifications was enough to make her ears explode.

“Have you ever thought about moving out of that place yourself?”

“Moving out?” Ning Qi was stunned by Qin Shi’s message. “Why would I move out?”

“You’ve never thought about it? Not even a little?” the messages flashed across the screen in rapid succession.

“No!” After sending the reply, Ning Qi realized what Qin Shi meant. Qin Shi was likely suggesting that if Yun Shu hadn’t left, Ning Qi should have changed her living situation.

“Mainly because this place is actually quite nice,” Ning Qi explained. “Look, the location is great, and the greenery and environment are excellent. The apartment is a bit small, but it’s just me! If I moved to a bigger place, it would feel so empty and lonely every day.” Better to be snuggled up in my own little nest.

“Mm.” Qin Shi didn’t say anything more after hearing the explanation. Ning Qi added one more thing: “Besides, it wouldn’t be very cost-effective to move just because of one Yun Shu!”

If Yun Shu could be so self-righteous in front of her, why should Ning Qi be the one to hide?

“That’s not what I meant,” the reply came back urgently. “I just—”

“I understand,” Ning Qi said. “Qin Shi, you’re just doing it for my own good.” The other side went quiet again. Seeing that Qin Shi had stopped typing, Ning Qi put down her phone and began practicing the piano. She had already looked up the dates for the piano grading exams online and needed to prepare thoroughly.

The phone screen flashed, but Ning Qi was immersed in her music and didn’t see it. When she finally checked her phone again, she found several new messages.

“Sure!” Ning Qi typed two words and happily agreed to the plan Qin Shi had proposed.

“Qin Shi,” Ning Qi opened the door with a weary face. She was wearing sky-blue slippers, her hair was a bit of a mess, and she covered her mouth as she let out a yawn. “Why are you here so early?” It was only a little past two in the afternoon; wasn’t the banquet supposed to start at seven?

Qin Shi clearly hadn’t expected her to still be napping. Usually, Ning Qi started her nap around one and was awake by two.

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” Ning Qi yawned again and sat down on the sofa listlessly. Her eyes were fighting to stay closed, and her whole body felt heavy.

“Go back to sleep for a bit. It’s early, there’s no rush,” Qin Shi said. “I had nothing to do, so I came over ahead of time.”

Hearing that she still had time for a nap, Ning Qi closed her eyes with a clear conscience and lay back on the sofa. She didn’t forget to add: “Qin Shi, you probably didn’t nap either. Why don’t you sleep for a while too?”

“I rested at noon. You go ahead and sleep.”

“Oh…” Ning Qi’s voice was soft and lacked energy; she wasn’t even fully conscious of what she was saying. “Then you can watch TV, or flip through a book…”

Her voice trailed off, becoming incoherent until it disappeared entirely. She had fallen fast asleep.

Qin Shi shook her head with a faint smile. If I turned on the TV, could she even sleep?

“Ning Qi,” Qin Shi walked over, realizing she had fallen asleep right there on the sofa. “Wake up, go sleep in your room.”

There was, predictably, no response. Ning Qi was sleeping soundly, her small head resting haphazardly on a throw pillow. She was curled into a tiny ball on her side, without a blanket to cover her.

Lately, C-City had been hit by intermittent rain, which had washed away much of the summer heat. Qin Shi looked around but couldn’t find anything to use as a cover. After a moment’s thought, she stepped into Ning Qi’s bedroom.

The bedroom door was open, and the air conditioner was still humming. Qin Shi turned it off, pulled the door shut softly, and emerged with a thin, light quilt in her hands.

When Ning Qi woke up again, it was already four in the afternoon. She glanced at the alarm clock and jumped in fright. “It’s this late! I’m late, I’m late!” She scrambled up in a panic, not even noticing the little quilt sliding off her body.

“Late for what?” Qin Shi was sitting opposite the sofa. Seeing her frantic state, she was startled and asked.

“Qin Shi?” Ning Qi’s memory finally returned. She scratched her head, suddenly realizing that Qin Shi had been waiting for her for over an hour.

“You’ve been sitting here the whole time?” Ning Qi felt quite embarrassed. Just how exhausted was I? I actually fell asleep right in front of her!

“Yes,” Qin Shi nodded with a smile.

“But that must have been so boring!” Sitting there for so long without moving—Qin Shi was far too patient.

“It wasn’t boring,” Qin Shi said. “I could sit here all day.”

“Well,” Ning Qi scratched her head again, “let’s hope it doesn’t come to that!” Sitting for a whole day… Qin Shi, you could give a meditating monk a run for his money!

“It’s fine.” Qin Shi was clearly used to it. “I often sit for an entire day.”

“You really have a calm temperament,” Ning Qi said. “I get restless and want to run outside all the time.” She just never knew where to go for fun.

In this city, she didn’t know anyone except Qin Shi and hadn’t looked for a job yet, so she had nowhere to go.

“Oh, right,” remembering the task at hand, Ning Qi said, “Is it getting late now?”

“It’s not late.” Qin Shi walked over. Ning Qi, still in a bit of a post-nap daze, instinctively took a step back, only to see Qin Shi leaning over.

Only then did Ning Qi notice the quilt on the floor. She hurriedly squatted down, but just as her hand brushed the corner of the fabric, Qin Shi had already gathered it up. She patted off the dust and handed it back to her.

“Thank you!” Ning Qi took it quickly. “I’ll put this back in my room.”

Looking in the bedroom mirror, Ning Qi finally saw her current state. Her hair was a mess—it could have rivaled a bird’s nest.

Her face was flushed, her eyes looked half-closed, and she looked completely drained. She was still in her pajamas. That wasn’t the main issue, though; the main issue was the adorable bunny pattern on her pajamas. Great. Now Qin Shi definitely thinks I’m childish. Is she going to stop wanting to play with me?

Feeling too embarrassed to show her face, Ning Qi quickly changed her clothes and splashed her face with cold water. Her mind cleared instantly, but she sighed inwardly at the sight she had just presented to Qin Shi. She peeked into the living room, then looked at herself; she truly understood the meaning of “the difference between clouds and mud.”

“What’s wrong?” Qin Shi turned around and asked, almost as if she had X-ray vision.

“Nothing,” Ning Qi replied vaguely while fussing with her hair. “I was just wondering what dress I should wear.”

“It’s just a banquet,” Qin Shi said. “Don’t worry too much about it.”

“How can I not?” Ning Qi disagreed immediately. “This is my first time attending one, and I’m going as your friend. I can’t be careless.”

Even if she didn’t care about her own reputation, she couldn’t let Qin Shi lose face! She was being introduced by Qin Shi; if she just showed up haphazardly, what would people think? Absolutely not!

“Is that how you see it?”

“How else?” Ning Qi asked curiously. How else was she supposed to think?

“It’s nothing,” Qin Shi walked over and said with a smile. “I’ll help you choose.”

“Alright!”

On the way there, Ning Qi learned from Qin Shi that the event was a “Full Moon” celebration for the young master of the Jiang family.

“The Jiang family?” Ning Qi had already researched the prominent entrepreneurs of C-City. She knew that the Jiang family had formed an alliance through marriage with the Huo family a year ago, but she hadn’t expected them to have a child so soon.

Wait… C-City was small. All these families were interconnected by blood or marriage. Take the “Miss Huo” who had married into the Jiangs; she was the cousin of the second male lead, Huo Yan. The second male lead would definitely be there… which meant Lu Mingze would likely be there too, right?

“Mm.” Unaware of Ning Qi’s thoughts, Qin Shi spoke warmly about the Jiang family’s affairs.

The first banquet she was attending in C-City was already such a major event. But then again, Qin Shi was the one bringing her—could it possibly be some minor gathering?

“So many people… and you told me to just wear whatever, Qin Shi.” Ning Qi looked at her friend piteously.

“It’s fine.” Qin Shi couldn’t help but laugh as she patted Ning Qi’s head. “You are definitely the most beautiful one there!”

Ning Qi refused to accept the comfort. The most beautiful person was clearly right beside her; she was bound to be the plainest one at the party! She felt like wailing.

“I’m right here with you,” Qin Shi said.