“Moonlight Allure” - Chapter 1

Hurried footsteps echoed through the empty hallway. At the far end, the evening glow was blinding, casting a long, thin shadow across the solid wood floor.

Suddenly, the shadow faltered. She came to a halt.

Framed by the setting sun, Jiang Xueyin’s features were taut with anxiety. She leaned over the railing to look downstairs, and there she saw her—a graceful silhouette.

The woman wore a white silk gown that swayed ever so slightly. Lily of the valley was embroidered in gold thread at her waist, seemingly radiating a faint fragrance, while the hem of the dress was delicately adorned with pearls. Her long, dark hair fell in natural waves, held by a pearl clip that shimmered like a star in the night sky, illuminating the hollow depths of Jiang Xueyin’s heart.

Jiang Xueyin’s heart hammered against her ribs. Grabbing the railing, she saw the beauty’s lips brush the rim of a glass. She screamed down in a panic: “Wait! Don’t drink that!”

The woman froze and turned to look back.

A pair of “peach blossom” eyes met hers, eyes so captivating that they had haunted Jiang Xueyin’s dreams for years. The sight of that familiar face sent a jolt of pure electricity through her.

It really was her, Xiao Nianru.

The “White Moonlight” whom Jiang Xueyin had yearned for, but who had been dead for many years, was standing right there.

Jiang Xueyin bolted down the stairs and sprinted toward her. Her vision blurred as she threw her arms around the other woman, letting out an uncontrollable, broken sob. “I finally found you.”

Only ten minutes ago, Jiang Xueyin had been working overtime at her office. She had nodded off for a split second, only to wake up in this utterly alien place. She had transmigrated into a “Legal Outlaw” character also named Jiang Xueyin from a GL-ABO crime novel she had recently read.

But her gender was different now. In her past life, she was a Beta; here, she was an Alpha. Specifically, a “scumbag Alpha” who had betrayed and manipulated the female lead’s friend: Xiao Nianru.

“You’re here, thank God you’re here.”

At least, in this world, she was still alive. Jiang Xueyin knew it instantly; this was the same Xiao Nianru she had always known.

“What?” Xiao Nianru was stunned by the sudden embrace and the nonsensical words. Then, a flicker of bewilderment crossed her eyes. “Wait, you.”

Xiao Nianru stared at the floating numbers above Jiang Xueyin’s head, her confusion deepening. Having been born into this world, she possessed a unique gift or perhaps a curse: she could see everyone’s Affection Rating toward her.

It made her hyper-aware of the world’s hypocrisy. She saw how her parents viewed her as a cash cow, their affection lower than that of a friendly stranger. She saw the hidden grudges of her colleagues beneath their smiling faces. She had even watched her lover’s affection drop from 60% to 30%, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop the slide.

That was why she had decided to let Jiang Xueyin go.

But the Jiang Xueyin standing before her today was strange. It wasn’t just her behavior; it was the numbers. When she was pouring the water moments ago, the rating was at 30%. How had it jumped to 80% in an instant?

In this world, she had never seen a number that high. Is the system broken? she wondered.

“I’m sorry, I lost my composure.” Jiang Xueyin wiped her tears messily with the back of her hand, her ears flushing a deep crimson.

Xiao Nianru suppressed her doubts and spoke softly. “It’s alright. But what happened just now? What’s wrong with the water?”

“The water,” Jiang Xueyin choked. Looking into Xiao Nianru’s gentle eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Xiao Nianru pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed the tears from the corner of Jiang Xueyin’s eyes. Her voice was eerily calm. “Something was added to it, wasn’t it?”

Bitterness flooded Jiang Xueyin’s heart. Her throat tightened, and a fresh wave of tears fell. She wanted to scream that it wasn’t her, that she would rather die than hurt the woman she loved. But in this body, she was the villain. Any denial would sound like a pathetic lie.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Xueyin whispered, her head bowing instinctively as she lost sight of Xiao Nianru’s expression.

Unlike most Alphas, Jiang Xueyin’s appearance wasn’t aggressive. Her eyes were round with slightly drooping corners, typical “puppy eyes” that made her look innocent and harmless. When she cried, she looked utterly pitiable.

“Why are you crying like this?” Xiao Nianru patted her back with patient grace. “I wasn’t planning on blaming you.”

The warmth of the palm through her thin clothes made Jiang Xueyin sob even harder. She rested her forehead against Xiao Nianru’s shoulder, enveloped by her faint scent.

Xiao Nianru’s gaze fell on Jiang Xueyin’s exposed nape. A sweet, orange fragrance permeated the air. She stiffened slightly. “Where is your scent blocker?”

In polite society, Alphas and Omegas always wore blockers. High-compatibility pairs could trigger uncontrollable instincts without them.

“Sorry, I, I forgot.” Jiang Xueyin stepped back, reflexively touching the gland at the back of her neck. She still wasn’t used to being an Alpha.

Xiao Nianru took a step forward. Her long lashes cast shadows over her eyes, making her expression unreadable. “Did you really forget? Or was it intentional?”

The gentle words carried a hidden edge of coldness. This was a side of Xiao Nianru that Jiang Xueyin had never seen. In her original world, Xiao Nianru came from a scholarly family; her kindness was like a warm spring breeze. Now, Jiang Xueyin saw a glimpse of boundless disappointment and desolation in those eyes.

What has she gone through in this world?

Jiang Xueyin bit her lip, her heart sinking. She didn’t know how to answer. The original “scumbag Alpha” had left it off intentionally; she, however, had truly forgotten.

Fortunately, Xiao Nianru didn’t press the issue. She changed the subject, looking down. “Didn’t you say you were going upstairs to get the divorce papers? Why are your hands empty?”

Jiang Xueyin froze. The “scumbag Alpha” had never intended to divorce in the first place, so naturally, there were no papers.

The so-called “divorce agreement” had been nothing more than a ruse to lure Xiao Nianru back. The original host’s plan was to use drugs to force Xiao Nianru into a state of induced heat, then film the encounter to blackmail her into staying.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I, I’m not ready yet. Can we please not divorce? I really love you, I’ll change, I promise.”

A sliver of dishonest hope rose from the depths of Jiang Xueyin’s heart.

Back when she was a Beta, she felt she had no right to stand by Xiao Nianru’s side. She had settled for staying in the shadows where she couldn’t be seen, supporting and loving her in silence. The Xiao Nianru under the spotlight had likely long forgotten her, but for Jiang Xueyin, remembering was enough.

Now, she was an Alpha. If she hadn’t transmigrated into a villain, she would have finally been “qualified” to stand beside her.

“I’m sorry, Xueyin, but you’ve crossed my bottom line.” Xiao Nianru spoke slowly, her gaze fixed on the Affection Rating floating above Jiang Xueyin’s head.

What on earth is happening? she wondered.

Jiang Xueyin forced a brittle smile. “You don’t need to apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. I, I will follow your wishes. I’ll give you your freedom.”

To force Xiao Nianru to spend more time with her, the original Alpha had used her shady connections to sabotage Xiao Nianru’s career, leaving the starlet with no roles for the past six months. On top of that, the Alpha had been unfaithful, seeking out others to soothe her own “loneliness.”

“Good. I’ve already prepared the papers.” Xiao Nianru adjusted the scent blocker on her nape. Her gaze hardened with a sudden, quiet resolve. She reached into her bag and pulled out two copies of the agreement. “Take a look. If there are issues, we can revise them.”

Jiang Xueyin’s heart was a tangled mess. She was relieved by Xiao Nianru’s determination to cut ties with her past, yet devastated that as the “ex-wife,” she truly had no right to remain by her side.

Lowering her lashes to hide her internal struggle, she picked up the documents and scanned them quickly.

“None of this was your fault, why are you giving me so much?” Jiang Xueyin asked, her voice dimming. “This house, half of your savings, you know I don’t need this.”

Money mattered, but she couldn’t accept Xiao Nianru paying such a steep price to escape a monster.

“You broke ties with your parents for me. You gave up your inheritance and offended investors. I remember all of it,” Xiao Nianru paused, her tone remaining gentle yet firm. “Even if we part ways, I won’t forget. This is my compensation to you.”

“But I was going to do such horrible things to you!” Jiang Xueyin blurted out, her confusion turning to pain.

“You’re only twenty-four. You’re young; it’s normal to make mistakes. Perhaps in your social circles, such things aren’t even considered ‘wrong’ at all.” A flicker of faint irony crossed Xiao Nianru’s eyes, but it was quickly masked by her usual mask of gentleness. “It’s my problem. I wasn’t tolerant enough. I don’t want to hold you back anymore.”

“No, that’s not it! You’re wonderful.” Jiang Xueyin shook her head violently.

Xiao Nianru’s gaze sharpened. “You’ll be better off without me.”

“It’s because of you that I can become better.” Jiang Xueyin gazed at her, memories of a younger Xiao Nianru flashing through her mind, her eyes shimmering.

They had been high school alumni. When Jiang Xueyin was a freshman, Xiao Nianru was already a senior. Even then, Xiao Nianru was radiant, possessing a unique charm that drew people in effortlessly. To Jiang Xueyin, she had always been like dust looking up at an unreachable moon, until the day that “White Moonlight” descended like a miracle.

During her darkest moment of despair, Jiang Xueyin had sat by the edge of the school pond, her shoes soaked, only one step away from falling in. It was Xiao Nianru who had pulled her back and talked to her for hours. Though the specifics of the conversation had faded, she still remembered that breezy night and the gentle voice that had soothed her suppressed soul.

Later, Xiao Nianru entered the film academy, her very first work showing brilliant promise. She had spent years at the top, creating classic characters. From then on, the “White Moonlight” truly became a distant moon, something to be watched through a screen, never to be held.

Until that award ceremony, where a falling light fixture had ended her life.

Coming back to the present, Jiang Xueyin took a deep breath. “Niannian, you really are so, so good.”

Niannian. It was the nickname her fans used.

Xiao Nianru faltered slightly at the name. She naturally misinterpreted Jiang Xueyin’s reluctance as a refusal to let go of the marriage. Her voice remained steady, like a cool spring flowing over stones: “Xueyin, your parents miss you. Go back to them.”

She took Jiang Xueyin by the wrist, leading her to the sofa to sit. “Sign it,” she said softly.

“I can’t sign this.” Jiang Xueyin put the pen down, meeting Xiao Nianru’s clear, gentle eyes.