After the Divorce, I Ended Up with My Ex-Husband’s "White Moonlight" [Transmigration] - Chapter 42

Ning Qi had rarely witnessed arguments growing up. This wasn’t to say her parents never disagreed—any couple living together will have moments of friction—but because of her health, they always shielded her from their disputes. Consequently, Ning Qi was now completely at a loss.

“Sister Ning,” Xiao Yu’er said, seeing her dazed expression. “Whenever Papa makes Mama angry, he always apologizes first. Even if he didn’t do anything wrong, he still does it.” She nodded sagely, as if testifying to a universal truth.

“You little rascal,” Ning Qi laughed, gently poking the girl’s cheek. “You certainly pay attention to a lot for your age! Just focus on playing, okay?”

Coaxing Qin Shi… she wanted to, but how could she when she didn’t even have the chance? She didn’t even know where Qin Shi lived. She knew Qin Shi had stayed with her family since returning to the country but was looking for her own place.

Maybe I should send a message? Even if the chances of a reply were slim, Ning Qi decided to try.

The Silent Treatment

“Little Shi,” Wu Ma called out as she passed Qin Shi’s room. The phone on the desk was ringing incessantly, but the room was empty. Just as Wu Ma was about to look for her, she ran into Qin Shi returning to the room.

“Little Shi, your phone has been ringing non-stop.” Even as she spoke, the phone chimed again. Qin Shi glanced at it but remained indifferent. “Just some minor matters.”

“You should take a look,” Wu Ma insisted. Having watched Qin Shi grow up, she knew her better than anyone. “What if it’s something urgent? You shouldn’t delay.”

Qin Shi kept her lips pressed tight but said nothing. Seeing this, Wu Ma tactfully left the room and gently closed the door behind her.

After standing still for a moment, Qin Shi slowly walked over. When she turned the screen on, the familiar chat interface jumped out. She had known Ning Qi was messaging her—that was why she had left the room in the first place. But even though she hadn’t replied, Ning Qi hadn’t stopped.

Finally, Ning Qi couldn’t wait any longer and called. Qin Shi hesitated, then answered.

“Qin Shi! You actually picked up!” Ning Qi’s voice was a mix of surprise and relief.

After so many ignored WeChat messages, Ning Qi knew Qin Shi was seeing them but choosing to ignore her. She hadn’t expected the phone call to go through. If she’d known, she would have called sooner.

“My finger slipped,” Qin Shi replied coolly.

“Right, right,” Ning Qi suppressed a laugh. “That just proves you and I are fated. Even heaven wanted you to pick up this call.”

“We aren’t fated,” Qin Shi said.

“Fine, fine,” Ning Qi agreed with everything she said. “But even if we aren’t fated, can’t we create some fate? If we see each other a few more times, the fate will come naturally!”

“You’re quite casual with your ‘fate,'” Qin Shi remarked.

Must you be this petty? Ning Qi’s facial expressions were losing control on her end, but remembering she was the one in the wrong, she stayed patient. “It’s not casual! It’s ‘fated across a thousand miles.’ We’ve met so many times; it’s definitely a match made in heaven!”

And she meant it. She had literally crossed worlds to fall in love with Qin Shi. If that wasn’t fate, what was? She felt that all the suffering she endured in her past twenty years was just the price paid to meet this one woman.

“Think about it,” Ning Qi whispered. “I had such a hard time in the first half of my life. I used up twenty years of luck just to find you. It wasn’t easy.”

She was referring to her previous life, but Qin Shi interpreted it as her difficult life in this world. For a moment, Qin Shi was silent.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Ning Qi muttered.

Qin Shi snapped back to reality. “At least you’re aware of that,” she said, though she immediately felt it sounded too harsh. She just didn’t want to correct herself.

“I am, I am,” Ning Qi said quickly.

“Sister Qin, are you coming back?” Xiao Yu’er, hearing Qin Shi’s voice, ran over. Qin Shi stayed silent.

“Well…” Xiao Yu’er sounded a bit disappointed, but she quickly chirped, “Sister Qin, don’t worry! I’ll be a very good girl at Sister Ning’s house. I won’t cause any trouble at all…”

“Xiao Yu’er…” Ning Qi sighed. These “good girl” promises were only giving Qin Shi more reasons to stay away! She whispered a prompt to the girl: “Don’t you miss your Sister Qin?”

Qin Shi heard the whisper. She wasn’t about to play along. “Xiao Yu’er can play with her toys for hours without needing any distractions,” she said flatly.

Xiao Yu’er looked at Ning Qi, then shouted into the phone sweetly, “Sister Qin! Mama says I shouldn’t interrupt adults when they’re on the phone. I’ll go back to my toys now!” With that, she scurried out of the room before Ning Qi could stop her.

You didn’t seem to mind interrupting a second ago! Ning Qi was speechless. She had to try another way.

The Hunger Games

“Qin Shi, I—”

“I haven’t even asked why you’re calling,” Qin Shi interrupted.

“It’s nothing major,” Ning Qi toyed with her sleeve, pulling the phone a bit further from her ear. “It’s just… just that I miss you.”

“Miss Ning Qi,” Qin Shi’s tone softened considerably, though her eyes stayed on the clock. “If I recall correctly, I only left two hours ago.”

“Really?” Ning Qi acted shocked. “I felt like it had been forever! A really, really long time. You know they say ‘a day apart feels like three autumns’? Our two hours must be at least a few weeks by that logic. It’s been so long—don’t you miss me at all?”

“Fine, even if you don’t miss me, I miss you. Is that okay?”

Qin Shi couldn’t even get a word in edgewise. “So,” Ning Qi whispered tentatively, “are you coming over?”

“It’s too far.”

Far? It’s a thirty-minute drive! Ning Qi knew she was just being stubborn. “Distance isn’t an issue! I can come pick you up! If it’s just the distance—”

“Ning Qi, do you have a car?” Qin Shi asked.

No. “Do you know how to drive?” No.

“That’s fine,” Ning Qi said quickly. “I can rent a car to pick you up. See? Sincerity!”

“I don’t like riding in other people’s cars.”

“Well, there’s no other way,” Ning Qi sighed. “Of course a private car is better, but think of it this way: if I pay for it, the rental is technically ‘mine’ for that time. Wouldn’t you ride in my car?”

“Is that how your teachers taught you ‘equivalent exchange’?”

“Close enough! Who cares about the details?” Ning Qi said dismissively. “Qin Shi, let me tell you something very practical. Something you already know.”

Qin Shi listened.

“You know I can’t cook,” Ning Qi said carefully. “I can suffer through a bad meal alone, but think of Xiao Yu’er! She’s the treasure of the Qin family. If she eats my ‘dark cuisine,’ she might end up in the hospital. I don’t mind the trouble, but I worry about her health! And if she goes home and tells her parents about my terrible cooking, they’ll never let her come back here. If she doesn’t come back, I’ll be lonely, and she’ll be bored—but most importantly, you were the one who recommended me. Her parents might think less of you!”

“You’re certainly very considerate of my reputation,” Qin Shi remarked.

“I try, I try,” Ning Qi said modestly. “I’m just stating the facts.”

“Figure it out yourself,” Qin Shi said, unmoved. “If all else fails, order takeout.” Then, she hung up.

Ning Qi stared at her phone. What a heartless woman! Just yesterday she was making breakfast; today she was hanging up on her.

“Sister Ning,” a small, fluffy head peeked through the door. “Is your cooking really that bad?”

“Terrible!” Ning Qi nodded. She pinched Xiao Yu’er’s cheek as the girl ran over. “I’m telling you, it’s not just bad—it’ll give you a stomach ache.”

“Is it really that dramatic?” Xiao Yu’er looked genuinely worried.

“Absolutely.” Ning Qi felt no shame.

“In that case,” Xiao Yu’er’s face scrunched up, then brightened. “I know what we should have for lunch! Let’s go buy some instant noodles! No cooking, just hot water!”

Her mother never let her have instant noodles. She was so excited she almost jumped for joy.

Ning Qi, however, had no intention of feeding her instant noodles. She had a feeling Qin Shi would show up. That feeling reached its peak the moment she heard the doorbell ring.