Moonlight Allure - Chapter 18

Jiang Xueyin held a small gift box in her hand. Glancing at her phone, she didn’t walk directly into the police station; instead, she headed for a nearby jewelry store.

Inside, Ruan Mingyue was dressed in a black T-shirt and casual pants, chatting with a shop assistant. “My Alpha might not like this gold chain. Do you have anything else?”

The clerk patiently brought out another piece. “How about this one, then?”

Ruan Mingyue caught sight of Jiang Xueyin walking in but quickly averted her eyes. Jiang Xueyin naturally stepped up beside her and looked at the clerk. “I’m looking for an engagement ring for my Omega.”

The clerk, who had been losing patience with Ruan Mingyue’s “window shopping,” immediately brightened up at Jiang Xueyin’s arrival, enthusiastically offering recommendations. While Jiang Xueyin played along, she successfully completed the hand-off with Ruan Mingyue under the counter.

Ruan Mingyue casually strolled out of the store, and Jiang Xueyin found an excuse to slip away shortly after.

Once back in the car, Jiang Xueyin winked at Xiao Nianru. “All set!”

Xiao Nianru smiled. “Then let’s go.”

“Right.” Jiang Xueyin looked down at her phone to read the instructions Ruan Mingyue had sent.

“The items I gave you are a miniature wiretap and a pinhole camera. Hide them as discreetly as possible. You don’t need to take action on the ship; your main goal is to gather evidence. No matter what happens, prioritize your own safety. We have people stationed on the shore, so don’t worry.”

Jiang Xueyin replied: Understood.

She felt confident in the “Female Lead’s aura.” Besides, she remembered this specific cruise plotline from the novel fairly well.

Ruan Mingyue then sent her a photo of a female Omega. “If you run into any trouble, look for Qiao Wanyi.”

Qiao Wanyi was the other female lead—a forensic pathologist. She was also a descendant of nobility from Country W with a prominent family background. After her parents divorced, she returned to China with her mother and met Ruan Mingyue in the capital. It was a classic “power couple” pairing. For someone like Qiao Wanyi, securing an invitation and bringing a female companion was easy, but since Ruan Mingyue was a police officer, it wasn’t convenient for her to go in personally.

“Alright.” After leaving the station’s vicinity, Jiang Xueyin sent the pier’s location to Xiao Nianru. She then lowered the car’s privacy partition to change her clothes.

She emerged in a starlight-colored gown, its hem accented with white feathers. On her chest was a diamond-encrusted brooch, the pinhole camera hidden within its intricate gaps. The wiretaps were concealed in her ring and a pearl hair clip.

Xiao Nianru wore a simple yet elegant black dress. Though it lacked excessive ornamentation, it couldn’t hide her graceful aura.

“Since we’re playing the part of a couple, should we hold hands? Or maybe link arms?” After stepping out of the car, Jiang Xueyin reached out toward Xiao Nianru, her eyes reflecting a hint of cautious testing.

“Let’s hold hands,” Xiao Nianru said softly. “Since you’re working for the police, I certainly shouldn’t hold you back.”

The moment their palms met, Jiang Xueyin felt her ears begin to burn. She turned her head away unnaturally, pretending to admire the coastal scenery. Seeing Jiang Xueyin’s crimson cheeks, Xiao Nianru couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Come on, it’s time to board.”

“Right.” Jiang Xueyin raised her other hand and lightly patted her own cheek. Get a grip! It’s just holding hands!

They walked to the boarding area and presented the invitation and the ruby ring. The Beta ticket inspector glanced at Xiao Nianru and asked, “Is this your companion?”

“Yes,” Jiang Xueyin nodded, her hand instinctively tightening around Xiao Nianru’s. Xiao Nianru gently patted the back of her hand to soothe her.

“Very well. One moment, please wear these.” The staff member handed them emerald rings.

Jiang Xueyin’s heart skipped a beat as she personally slipped the emerald ring onto Xiao Nianru’s finger. As she leaned down, Xiao Nianru caught a glimpse of the scent-blocking patch Jiang Xueyin was wearing today, there was a faint, pleasant scent of lavender.

“There, a perfect fit!” Jiang Xueyin said, suppressing her inner excitement with a smile.

“Thank you.” Xiao Nianru lightly brushed the ring, her gaze flickering as faded memories flashed through her mind.

“It’s nothing, no need to be so polite.” Jiang Xueyin leaned in to admire the emerald ring as well. Since coming to this world, she had seen many things she would never have dared to touch in her past life.

They both looked up at the same time. Their foreheads brushed against each other, and their eyelashes seemed to interlace. A faint lavender scent lingered in the air; though it wasn’t a pheromone, it was intoxicating and magnetic.

“Ahem.” The staff member cleared their throat.

The two snapped out of the atmosphere. Jiang Xueyin’s face was even redder than before, the tips of her ears burning. Xiao Nianru turned away, a suspicious pale pink flush creeping onto her cheek. She didn’t know what had just happened, perhaps it was the drive of their high compatibility? After all, she still hadn’t had the permanent mark removed.

Jiang Xueyin quietly observed Xiao Nianru. Today, she wore light makeup and a black silk scarf around her neck, hiding her scent gland and adding a touch of mystery to her gentle look. Jiang Xueyin involuntarily swallowed hard.

“This way, ladies.” A waiter respectfully led them inside.

Pretending nothing had happened, they continued onto the ship hand-in-hand.

The cruise was a two-day, one-night journey across five decks. The first deck held the gym and sports facilities; the second had the buffet and cafes; the third housed the bars, ballroom, and theater; the fourth was home to an auction house; and the top deck featured an open-air pool and bar.

Their cabins were “sunlight rooms” located right next to each other on the second deck. Once they arrived, the staff departed.

Aside from locals, the ship was filled with foreign socialites, all looking elegant as they sipped wine and admired the view.

“Would you like to get something to eat?” Xiao Nianru asked softly.

“I’m not hungry yet. Let’s go to the top deck and look at the view!” Jiang Xueyin’s eyes sparkled. It was her first time in a place like this, and even with a mission, she wanted to enjoy the moment.

“Alright,” Xiao Nianru agreed with a smile.

As autumn approached, the sunlight had turned gentle, dancing over the waves like a sea of stars. The breeze carried a salty tang not exactly a pleasant smell, but Jiang Xueyin, having grown up by the sea, found it familiar.

Even though Xiao Nianru’s attire was understated, she still drew plenty of attention. Before long, a blonde, blue-eyed male Alpha approached with a glass of red wine, speaking to Xiao Nianru in a language Jiang Xueyin didn’t understand.

Jiang Xueyin watched them blankly, a surge of jealousy rising in her chest. She felt a vague familiarity with the language, but she couldn’t piece the sounds into a coherent sentence.

Xiao Nianru said something with a smile, and the Alpha left looking disappointed.

Jiang Xueyin asked, trying to sound casual, “Do you know him?”

“No,” Xiao Nianru laughed softly. “He’s French. He asked if I’d like to have dinner with him.”

In truth, the Frenchman had asked another question: he had asked if the person beside her was her Alpha.

“And how did you answer?” Jiang Xueyin’s throat felt tight. Logically, they had already signed the divorce papers, and she had no right to care about Xiao Nianru’s future love life, yet she couldn’t stop herself from asking.