Always Chasing My White Moonlight Omega - Chapter 21.2

Once inside, Xu Zhiyi swept a glance around the room. The air conditioning was on, and the space was sparsely furnished, every item neatly arranged.

Just like Ruan Yang herself cold and unapproachable.

She turned back just in time to see Ruan Yang closing the door and looking at her.

Before Ruan Yang could speak, Xu Zhiyi took a seat on the sofa.

“I came to ask on behalf of the director, how your hand is doing.”

Ruan Yang listened silently, then walked to the fridge and pulled out two cans of sugar-free soda, placing one on the coffee table in front of Xu Zhiyi.

“It’s almost healed. No need to worry.”

Xu Zhiyi almost retorted that she’d just seen Ruan Yang drop a glass that afternoon due to a trembling hand, but the words felt too much like an admission of concern. So, she let it go.

“If there’s anything you need to tell me,” she said, pausing briefly before adding, “After all, you got hurt because of me.”

“Mm. I will.” Ruan Yang popped open her own soda, tilting her head back to drink while keeping her eyes fixed on Xu Zhiyi’s every microexpression.

The conversation seemed like it should end there, but for some reason, Xu Zhiyi wasn’t ready to leave yet.

Suddenly, she remembered how Ruan Yang had shielded her from Xu Rongjiang’s slap the last time they were at home.

“Next time something like this happens, I don’t need your help.” Xu Zhiyi reached for the soda in front of her. Fresh from the fridge, the can was slick with condensation, chilling her fingertips the moment she touched it.

She picked it up, flicked the tab with her index finger, then set it back down without opening it.

“Ruan Yang, I don’t know why you suddenly appeared here, and I can’t be bothered to figure out what ulterior motives you might have. But if you think pleasing me will help your mother marry into our family, let me make this clear, don’t even dream of it.”

Xu Zhiyi had spent two days trying to understand why Ruan Yang had stepped in front of her.

Twice.

Dismissing the absurd possibility that Ruan Yang liked her, this was the only explanation she could come up with.

Upon hearing Xu Zhiyi’s words, Ruan Yang lightly tapped her fingers against the can.

“I came here because the director was genuinely short-staffed, and he happens to be on good terms with my advisor. That’s the only reason I’m here. I don’t have any other intentions.”

She lied, “It wasn’t just you. If it had been anyone else, I would’ve stepped in the same way.”

At this, Xu Zhiyi frowned.

She usually didn’t pay attention to Ruan Yang’s academic life, but she had often heard Ruan Qingyu, intentionally or not, boast about how outstanding her daughter’s grades were.

Could it really be that she had overthought things?

“Enough,” Xu Zhiyi stood up. “I only came to ask on behalf of the director. I don’t care why you’re here. Just know this, I will never allow your mother to marry into this family.”

As she spoke, she walked to the door, her hand pausing on the doorknob. Then, as if remembering something, she turned back.

“And one more thing about our relationship. I don’t want a third person in this crew to know.”

With a soft clink, Ruan Yang set the soda can down on the coffee table.

Through the small opening at the top of the can, she could see countless tiny, transparent bubbles frantically rushing upward.

Yet her heart sank as if falling into a bottomless abyss.

“Mm,” Ruan Yang heard herself reply.

Xu Zhiyi finally left. Ruan Yang’s gaze shifted from the can in front of her to the drink Xu Zhiyi had just set down.

She walked over, decisively pulled the tab to open it, and then tilted her head back, downing the entire drink in one go.

But even after finishing it, she still felt a restless fire burning inside her.

She tossed the empty can into the trash and turned off the light before lying down on the bed.

She fell asleep quickly and slipped into the same dream she’d been having for years.

In the dream, seventeen-year-old Ruan Yang followed her mother to the Xu family home. She would always remember that it had been a beautiful, sunny day she had just finished her monthly exams and was picked up right after school by her mother.

When they arrived at the Xu residence, the house was far larger than any she had ever lived in before, with many servants waiting at the door to greet them.

But she didn’t like it there. She felt as though every breath she took had a price tag, waiting to be repaid someday.

Her mother, Ruan Qingyu, was led inside by Xu Rongjiang. Following behind them, Ruan Yang looked up and saw Xu Zhiyi sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

Three years ago, Xu Zhiyi wasn’t the kind of person who could captivate with every gesture. Back then, she was still somewhat unpolished, wearing a beautiful floral dress, as radiant as a rose.

When she took a bite of a strawberry, its pink juice trickled down the corner of her lips. For some reason, Ruan Yang felt inexplicably parched watching her.

Who is this?

That was the only thought left in Ruan Yang’s mind. She unconsciously took a few steps forward, but Xu Zhiyi didn’t even glance her way.

It was Xu Rongjiang who noticed her hesitation. He turned and took Ruan Yang by the arm, leading her to stand before Xu Zhiyi.

“Yangyang,” Xu Rongjiang had been quite amiable when they first met, forcing a kindly smile as he pointed to the girl on the sofa. “This is your sister, Zhiyi.”

Zhiyi… sister.

And so Ruan Yang understood this girl was the daughter of the first wife.

While she was the daughter of the mistress.

From the very moment her mother became involved with Xu Rongjiang, she and Xu Zhiyi were destined to be mortal enemies.

They were the two people in this world least likely to coexist peacefully.

They were born to be rivals, to compete, to fight to the death, to never rest until one prevailed.

Yet, Ruan Yang couldn’t help but yearn for the one thing she should never have hoped for.

“Xu Zhiyi!” Seeing that Xu Zhiyi hadn’t responded for a while, Xu Rongjiang, feeling humiliated, shouted at her in front of everyone. “This is your sister, Ruan Yang. From now on, she’ll be living with us. You’d better treat her well, understand?!”

“Sister?” Xu Zhiyi scoffed and finally turned her head.

Her gaze landed on Ruan Yang.

That second was the longest second Ruan Yang had ever experienced in her life.

In that second, the sycamore tree outside rustled in the wind, the blazing sun cast shadows, and a young pine sapling peeked out timidly beside a rose bush.

Xu Zhiyi didn’t seem to regard her as worthy of attention, coldly averting her eyes again.

“Not just anyone is fit to be my sister.”

Because of those words, Xu Rongjiang launched into another one-sided argument with Xu Zhiyi.

Xu Zhiyi sat there like a beautiful doll, quietly watching TV, unmoved even as Xu Rongjiang’s face flushed red with anger.

Time crawled unbearably slow that afternoon, so much so that whenever Ruan Yang recalled this moment in her dreams, she could still remember how Xu Zhiyi had casually worn a braid draped over her chest that day, the sunshine charm on her hair tie swaying gently.

A drop of bright red strawberry juice trickled from the corner of Xu Zhiyi’s lips.

It was the first time in Ruan Yang’s life.

The first time she had ever craved strawberries so badly.

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