Always Chasing My White Moonlight Omega - Chapter 34.1

As soon as these words were spoken, Ruan Yang’s voice carried a barely concealed panic. “I have something to attend to, I’ll hang up now.”

After ending the call, Ruan Yang looked at Qu Shanshan with a complicated expression.

Qu Shanshan felt a chill run down her spine under that gaze. For a moment, she felt as if Ruan Yang was contemplating how to make her disappear from this world without leaving a trace.

A sudden fear gripped her, and she couldn’t help but take a step back.

But then, remembering she hadn’t received a definite answer from Ruan Yang, Qu Shanshan widened her eyes, puffed out her chest, and put on a fierce expression. “What?! Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not wrong. I’ve lost seven pounds for your film! I’ve gone to such lengths for your production, so what’s the big deal about giving me one day off for Mid-Autumn Festival?!”

After she finished, Ruan Yang gave her a once-over.

Qu Shanshan was about the same height as Xu Zhiyi, and their figures were strikingly similar.

Suddenly recalling how Xu Zhiyi had fainted last time, perhaps due to poor health from not eating properly, Ruan Yang frowned.

“Eat it back,” she said.

“Huh?” Qu Shanshan wondered if she had misheard. “What did you say?”

“You’re too thin,” Ruan Yang repeated with unexpected patience. “Being too thin isn’t good for your health. Eat it back.”

Eat it back?

Qu Shanshan’s mind was filled with question marks. Usually, directors of short films demanded their actors lose weight, so why was Ruan Yang telling her to gain it back?

She patted her arm, about to tell Ruan Yang that she was actually in good health, but Ruan Yang had already turned to leave.

Qu Shanshan wasn’t willing to give up. She hurried after her, pleading, “Director, please just give us a day off for Mid-Autumn Festival so we can spend time with our families. You could go see your family too. I haven’t seen my sister in so long, I really want to visit her. Please, I’m begging you!”

Ruan Yang suddenly stopped.

She seemed to lower her head in thought for a moment before looking up at Qu Shanshan and curling her lips into an emotionless smile. “You really want to see your sister?”

That smile sent another chill down Qu Shanshan’s spine.

“Taking a day off isn’t impossible,” Ruan Yang said abruptly, “but I have one condition.”

“Really?” Qu Shanshan brightened immediately. “As long as we get the day off, I’ll agree to any condition!”

But then she quickly realized she shouldn’t be so hasty and added, “But nothing illegal or against my conscience!”

A glint flashed in Ruan Yang’s amber eyes.

Her voice suddenly dropped a few tones, becoming distant and mysterious.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a small, simple request.”

“I have something to attend to, I’ll hang up now.”

Ruan Yang’s voice on the phone stopped there, and the next second, the call was disconnected.

Xu Zhiyi took a long time to process what had just happened.

Ruan Yang had hung up on her?

Even more absurdly, Ruan Yang hadn’t even answered her question before turning to chat with the woman beside her.

She looked at Jiang Jiang with disbelief. “Tell me, what could make a girl suddenly lose seven pounds?”

Jiang Jiang, who had been listening nearby, widened her eyes slightly and shook her head vigorously.

How was she supposed to know that Assistant Ruan had become so wild after leaving the crew?

Xu Zhiyi seemed to be talking to herself rather than expecting an actual answer from Jiang Jiang.

She put down her phone, staring blankly at the screen, lost in thought.

A few more days passed quickly, and the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived in the blink of an eye.

Xu Zhiyi sat in the car, heading to Capital University early for rehearsal.

On the way, Jiang Jiang handed Xu Zhiyi the evening’s event schedule.

“Zhiyi, this is the order of tonight’s performances. You’re scheduled for the later part, so your rehearsal will also be later.”

As she spoke, Jiang Jiang glanced at Xu Zhiyi, who was looking out the window. With just one look, she could tell Xu Zhiyi was zoning out and hadn’t heard a word she said.

In fact, Zhiyi had been spacing out inexplicably like this quite often over the past few days.

Jiang Jiang felt she could probably guess the reason.

Seeing that Xu Zhiyi wasn’t in the mood to discuss work matters, Jiang Jiang quietly withdrew the schedule.

The car had already entered Capital University and was heading toward the venue. The campus was bustling with energetic college students. Since it was Mid-Autumn Festival, S University’s entrance plaza was hosting activities, allowing students who couldn’t go home to still experience the festive atmosphere on campus.

Additionally, because a large-scale evening gala would be held at the school’s theater that night and there might be celebrities attending, the plaza was especially crowded.

“Wow,” Jiang Jiang exclaimed, visiting for the first time. “So this is the nation’s top university? No wonder it’s S University. The campus environment is truly enviable.”

Xu Zhiyi had also graduated from S University’s Film School but hadn’t returned since.

Now, back at her alma mater, she watched the students coming and going outside the car window and couldn’t help but reminisce about the past.

Since there was no rush for rehearsal, Xu Zhiyi asked the driver to park the car near the plaza.

Rather than dealing with people she disliked, she preferred to soak in the youthful, vibrant atmosphere here.

Jiang Jiang didn’t dare disturb Xu Zhiyi and quietly reviewed the schedule herself, planning to remind Zhiyi when the time came.

But shortly after the car stopped, Xu Zhiyi’s phone rang.

Jiang Jiang glanced over it was an unknown number.

Just as she wondered if it might be another spam call, she noticed her boss furrow her brows, her eyes filled with disgust.

Xu Zhiyi waited a full minute before answering the call.

As soon as she picked up, a roar came from the other end: “Xu Zhiyi! Are you so busy that you take this long to answer your own father’s call? You’re just an actress, how could you be busier than me, the chairman of a corporation?”

Xu Zhiyi expressionlessly turned the volume down to the lowest setting and waited a few more minutes before putting the phone back to her ear. “Finished yelling? Spit it out.”

Her tone was utterly impatient.

Xu Rongjiang had just finished shouting, his voice still low and gruff. He grumbled, “I overheard my employees discussing you they said you’re performing at S University tonight, right?”

Xu Zhiyi replied flatly, “Mm.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Xu Rongjiang demanded. “Your sister hasn’t been home in a long time. Your Aunt Qingyu hasn’t seen Yangyang in ages and misses her terribly. It’s Mid-Autumn Festival today, I’ve reserved dinner at Heyinxuan. Once you’re done, bring Yangyang along. She’s never been there before, and I’m worried she might get lost.”

Xu Zhiyi listened quietly, remaining silent for a long while before suddenly speaking up. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her. Didn’t Ruan Yang return when the semester started?”

“She didn’t. Why are you asking so many questions? All you need to do is bring her back today. No matter how much Aunt Qingyu tries, she just won’t come back.”

Xu Zhiyi, lost in thought, abruptly interrupted Xu Rongjiang. “Mm-hmm.”

Mm-hmm?

On the other end of the line, Xu Rongjiang had already started to scold Xu Zhiyi for not caring about sisterly bonds and refusing to bring her sister along for a meal even when it was convenient. Hearing Xu Zhiyi agree so suddenly left him stunned, unsure whether to continue his tirade or swallow his words.

He paused, the phone still in his hand. What was wrong with Xu Zhiyi today?

Normally, she’d respond sarcastically if he even asked her to exchange a few words with Ruan Yang. Why was she so compliant today?

Over the years, Xu Rongjiang had grown accustomed to Xu Zhiyi’s rebelliousness. This sudden obedience left him at a loss for words.

But speaking kindly to Xu Zhiyi was out of the question. Xu Rongjiang sneered into the phone. “What kind of trick are you playing now? Let me remind you, Xu Zhiyi, I am your father, and that’s a fact you can’t change. You’d better bring Yangyang back quietly tonight and not cause any trouble!”

Xu Zhiyi leaned back in her chair, eyes closed. It was unclear whether she was actually listening or not, but no matter what Xu Rongjiang said, she responded with a faint “Mm-hmm.”

Furious, Xu Rongjiang hung up.

Jiang Jiang sat beside her, not daring to move a muscle.

Although she hadn’t caught every word Xu Rongjiang said, she could tell from his tone that he was far from pleased. And while her sister, Zhiyi, showed no expression, the atmosphere around her grew increasingly heavy.

The already cramped interior of the car suddenly felt suffocating.

Jiang Jiang held her breath, her eyes darting around as she racked her brain for a way to comfort her sister. Just then, a familiar figure caught her eye.

She quickly looked out the window. Not far away, Ruan Yang was standing in front of a handmade goods stall!

Assistant Ruan!

Jiang Jiang felt as if she had found a lifeline. She slapped her thigh abruptly and sat up straight, pressing her face against the window.

“Isn’t that Assistant Ruan?”

There was a faint rustling beside her, likely her sister opening her eyes.

Just as Jiang Jiang was about to roll down the window to greet Ruan Yang, another figure suddenly bounded over and stopped beside Ruan Yang.

Oh no.

Jiang Jiang’s first instinct was to cover the window with her arms.

But the gesture was futile. From inside the car, they could still see the girl outside smiling brightly as she spoke to Ruan Yang, who was listening intently, head bowed.

Jiang Jiang suddenly regretted calling out.

She turned her head.

Sure enough, she saw her sister looking out the window, her eyes cold and devoid of warmth.

On Mid-Autumn Festival, Ruan Yang had given the entire crew a day off.

Qu Shanshan, overjoyed, changed her clothes and prepared to return to school. On the way, she spotted Ruan Yang also hailing a taxi.

She walked over and glanced at Ruan Yang’s phone screen, only to discover that Ruan Yang’s destination was the same as hers.

“Ruan Yang!”

After nearly two months of interaction, Qu Shanshan had gradually grown bolder. Coupled with her naturally lively and outgoing personality, and relying on her status as Ruan Yang’s junior, she had become the only person in the entire crew who dared to call the director by her full name directly.

Ruan Yang didn’t particularly care how others addressed her, so she naturally said nothing about it.

At that moment, she glanced at Qu Shanshan, whose cheeks were puffed up as if she were fuming.

Qu Shanshan placed one hand on her hip and pointed at Ruan Yang’s phone with the other. “How could you do this? Why are you going back to the university too? Did you plan to take today off all along?”

Ruan Yang withdrew her gaze and continued waiting for the car without saying a word.

News of the university’s evening event had already spread, and she knew it just as Ruan Yang surely did as well.

The more Qu Shanshan thought about Ruan Yang’s reaction, the more something felt off, and she grew even more convinced of her suspicion.

Ruan Yang had suddenly accelerated the filming schedule over the past few days. Now that she thought about it, it was all to free up today.

“And to think I begged you so desperately, only to end up with such an intense workload these past few days!” Qu Shanshan fumed. “Why didn’t you just say so earlier?”

That day, when she had pleaded with Ruan Yang, Ruan Yang had agreed. But in the days that followed, under the guise of ensuring Qu Shanshan wouldn’t fall behind after taking time off, Ruan Yang had crammed almost all of her remaining scenes into those few days!

Now, all that was left was to check if any reshoots were needed. If not, her part would be wrapped up.

Qu Shanshan had been utterly exhausted these past few days.

Now, realizing that Ruan Yang had intended to take the day off all along, and that she had needlessly added to her own workload, she was filled with resentment.

Pouting, she shot Ruan Yang a resentful look. “Is this your way of getting back at me?”

Retaliation for that remark she had made while Ruan Yang was on the phone that day.

Ruan Yang kept her eyes fixed ahead. Just as Qu Shanshan thought she wouldn’t respond, Ruan Yang turned her head, looked at her, and nodded calmly. “Yes.”

This person, really!!!

Qu Shanshan grew even angrier.

She pursed her lips and asked, “Who was that on the phone with you? Someone so petty, afraid of being misunderstood could it be your significant other or something?”

Given Ruan Yang’s usual work ethic, she might not even check her phone more than a few times a day. She hardly seemed like someone who would be in a relationship.

As soon as she finished asking, Qu Shanshan noticed a flicker of emotion in Ruan Yang’s eyes.

Just as Ruan Yang was about to say something, a car appeared at the end of the road the one Ruan Yang had called.

Ruan Yang closed her mouth.

Seeing this, Qu Shanshan quickly canceled her own ride booking and seized the opportunity to slip into the car as well.

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