Always Chasing My White Moonlight Omega - Chapter 53.2

The general manager’s smile wasn’t exactly genuine either. Both maintained a surface calm, neither pointing out the pretense.

Surrounded by the crowd, Xu Zhiyi entered Runying. The general manager led her all the way to the office where the contract was to be signed. Ruan Yang walked at the back and closed the door.

Xu Zhiyi took the main seat, with the general manager sitting beside her. There was another seat even closer, which everyone tacitly reserved for Ruan Yang.

After all, she was the director of this production, and Xu Zhiyi had been invited by her.

Ruan Yang’s expression remained neutral as she sat next to Xu Zhiyi and began to professionally outline the plot of the series.

The Legend of Cuiyan was a historical fantasy drama. It told the story of Cuiyan, the daughter of an ancient demon god, who was severely injured by the immortal lord Ruohua Shangdi. Her last wisp of soul attached itself to an epiphyllum, causing her to lose her memories. Each day, she could only take human form at night to wander the mortal realm.

During her nightly wanderings, Cuiyan met many people, including the heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo. The two became a bickering pair.

At first, the heir didn’t like Cuiyan. He felt that although this woman always smiled, there was a sense of mischief hidden in her heart. But gradually, as they spent more time together, he found himself drawn to her, and eventually, he fell in love with her.

Cuiyan was always clueless about human relationships and social customs, but the heir patiently taught her. However, Cuiyan’s understanding of these matters always seemed to differ from others’, and the heir often had to expend great effort just to make her grasp a fraction of it.

As they spent more time together, the heir gradually realized that Cuiyan only appeared at night. Whenever he asked what she did during the day, Cuiyan would evade the question.

Wanting to see her during the day as well, the heir secretly followed her home after they parted at night. It was then that he discovered Cuiyan was not human.

The heir was shocked. Just as he struggled with whether he should continue his relationship with a non-human, he found himself gradually drawn into supernatural affairs, uncovering a corner of the truth behind the ancient war between gods and demons.

Ruan Yang explained the general plot at a steady pace, while Xu Zhiyi maintained a stern expression, seemingly deep in thought.

Others assumed Xu Zhiyi was listening intently to the plot as she watched Ruan Yang, but only Xu Zhiyi knew she hadn’t absorbed a single word.

Ruan Yang had read the script countless times and knew the story by heart, so she didn’t need to focus much on the narration. Because of this, she could sense Xu Zhiyi’s unwavering gaze fixed on her.

After outlining the general plot, Ruan Yang began introducing the protagonist’s character design. As the daughter of the Demon God, the protagonist did not share the traditional xianxia trope of caring for all living beings. Before losing her memories, she had lived in the Demon Palace, where no one taught her the concepts of good and evil. The Demon God only told her to follow her heart and do whatever she desired.

Her limited exposure to the outside world left Cuiyan with a childlike innocence, which persisted even after her amnesia. Yet beneath this innocence, there seemed to be an indescribable malevolence waiting to break free.

Cuiyan could not distinguish between life and death, had no absolute sense of right and wrong, and did not understand what was good or bad. She was born with an exceptionally innocent face, so much so that even when she snapped someone’s neck, it didn’t feel like an act of killing, it seemed as though she were merely playing with a favorite toy.

It was this very scene that made Ruan Yang think of Xu Zhiyi the moment she first read the script.

She explained everything without any emotional inflection, but as she spoke, Ruan Yang suddenly fell silent.

“What’s wrong, Director Ruan?” Xu Zhiyi leaned against the table, propping her head up with her hand and tilting it slightly. She blinked. “Why did you stop? Did you forget your lines?”

Ruan Yang glanced at her sideways and, under the guise of reaching for her phone in her pocket, slipped her hand beneath the table. She lifted the heavy tablecloth and grasped Xu Zhiyi’s foot, which had been rubbing against her leg.

The tip of Xu Zhiyi’s foot was cool, but Ruan Yang’s palm was warm.

With a hint of punishment, Ruan Yang lightly patted the sole of Xu Zhiyi’s foot.

A soft, almost imperceptible gasp escaped Xu Zhiyi’s throat so faint that only Ruan Yang, sitting closest to her, could hear it.

Ruan Yang’s throat moved slightly as she shot Xu Zhiyi another glance, as if warning her to behave.

Xu Zhiyi raised an eyebrow, glanced around at the others at the conference table, and chuckled. With an innocent expression, as if to reassure her, she said, “It’s okay if you forgot your lines. After all, you’re a new director. I’m in no hurry take your time to think.”

Then, as if unwilling to concede, she tried to free her foot and continue rubbing against Ruan Yang.

It seemed she was certain Ruan Yang wouldn’t do anything to her.

Ruan Yang sighed inwardly. She really couldn’t do anything to Xu Zhiyi.

She could confidently say that Xu Zhiyi was the most suitable candidate for the role of Cuiyan. In today’s entertainment industry, Xu Zhiyi was the only one who could embody that ambiguous quality, teetering between good and evil.

It was a compliment, no one else could make such mischief so endearing.

She sighed silently, moving her hand upward to grip Xu Zhiyi’s ankle.

Xu Zhiyi’s ankle was too slender. Ruan Yang frowned, rubbing the ankle bone firmly with her fingers before parting her legs and trapping Xu Zhiyi’s foot and sole between them.

Completely restrained, Xu Zhiyi shot Ruan Yang an annoyed glare.

Unfazed, Ruan Yang didn’t release her grip. She placed her hands back on the table and continued explaining Cuiyan’s character as if nothing had happened.

Her movements were so natural that no one else in the conference room noticed the subtle struggle between Ruan Yang and Xu Zhiyi. All they could see was Xu Zhiyi seemingly picking on Ruan Yang and glaring at her.

I had thought the two of them had a good relationship, but now it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case. Xu Zhiyi hadn’t spoken a single word to Ruan Yang since arriving at Runying, and even now in the meeting room, her attitude toward Ruan Yang remained the same.

However, everyone present was sharp-witted, and no one showed any sign of surprise. The general manager took note of the situation, planning to relay it to Xu Rongjiang later.

It wasn’t until Ruan Yang finished her presentation and the legal department had thoroughly explained the contract details to Xu Zhiyi that she finally picked up the pen and signed the contract.

She had already reviewed the contract Runying had offered her the best terms and conditions. After all, this was her family’s company; Runying wouldn’t dare to cheat her.

The moment she set down the pen, a round of applause, neither too loud nor too soft, filled the meeting room. The general manager stood up, extended her hand to Xu Zhiyi, and said with a smile, “Then let’s wish us a pleasant collaboration, Miss Zhiyi. Welcome back to Runying!”

“Pleasant collaboration,” Xu Zhiyi replied, closing the contract and letting out a light laugh.

The general manager noticed Xu Zhiyi’s legs shifting slightly under the table, as if she intended to stand up, but for some reason, she remained seated and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Unfazed, the general manager withdrew her hand and asked, “What are your plans now, Miss Zhiyi? Would you like me to accompany you for a tour around Runying? It’s been so long since you’ve been back it might be a good opportunity to reacquaint yourself.”

Xu Zhiyi’s smile remained faint. “No need for a tour. I’ll just rest here for a while before leaving. You may all go now.”

At her words, the others in the room stood up to leave. Just as the general manager turned to go, Xu Zhiyi added, “Director Ruan, could you stay? There are a few things about the script I’m still unclear about. I’d like to ask you some questions.”

Ruan Yang, who had been flipping through the script and hadn’t risen, nodded politely at Xu Zhiyi’s request.

The general manager glanced back at the two of them but said nothing before exiting the room and closing the door.

Only when everyone had left did Xu Zhiyi finally turn her head, her tone now carrying a hint of familiarity that had been absent during their formal exchange.

“How much longer do you plan to keep it there?” she teased, a crimson smile playing on her lips as her gaze lingered on Ruan Yang’s face. “So reluctant to let go?”

There were no surveillance cameras in the meeting room. Ruan Yang sighed and reached under the table.

But as if seeking revenge, the moment Ruan Yang released her legs, Xu Zhiyi kicked her lightly in the side not hard, but enough to send a tingling sensation through her.

A flicker of emotion passed through Ruan Yang’s eyes before she accurately caught Xu Zhiyi’s foot again, holding it as if it were a precious treasure and toying with it in her hands. After being nestled between Ruan Yang’s legs for so long, Xu Zhiyi’s foot was no longer as cold as before.

Ruan Yang lifted her other hand and gently tickled the sole of Xu Zhiyi’s foot.

Only when Xu Zhiyi bit her lower lip and her entire body began to tremble did Ruan Yang lower her head, meeting Xu Zhiyi’s now-moist eyes.

Her voice was low.

“Had enough fun?”

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