Moonlight Allure - Chapter 24

Fourth-Floor Auction House

Xiao Nianru and Qiao Wanyi sat in a secluded corner as the first “treasure” was being auctioned on stage. Suddenly, the distant roar of a commotion drifted through the air.

Qiao Wanyi glanced at her watch, her eyebrows arching slightly. “They should be here soon.” A GPS tracker was embedded in her watch; even if something had gone wrong on Jiang Xueyin’s end, she could still ensure Ruan Mingyue’s team reached the ship.

“I wonder if she’s safe.” Xiao Nianru hadn’t noticed her companion’s movements. Her brow was knitted with worry, her eyes clouded with anxiety.

“She’s a member of the Jiang family. No matter what happens, they won’t take her life,” Qiao Wanyi said tonelessly. “Unless she commits murder herself, the other families won’t touch her. You, on the other hand.” Qiao Wanyi paused, her gaze lingering on Xiao Nianru. “Once we’re off this ship, you should hire more bodyguards.”

Xiao Nianru nodded absentmindedly, her mind still fixated on Jiang Xueyin. She barely processed a word Qiao Wanyi said.

The Private Booth

“Why don’t we all sit down and talk?” Li Jiannan asked tentatively, seeing that both sides had reached a standstill.

“I have nothing to talk about with her. Let go of my wife and get out. This ends here.” Rage simmered in Lin Shan’s eyes. If Jiang Xueyin weren’t a Jiang, she would have been thrown into the ocean to feed the sharks long ago.

“And if I insist on taking her?” Jiang Xueyin’s gaze hardened.

Lin Shan let out a dry laugh. She adjusted her wine-red waves and straightened her tie, her eyes burning as she looked at Lin Xi. “We’re surrounded by the sea. Where exactly do you think you can run?”

“You’re right. It’s nothing but ocean, where could I possibly go?” Lin Xi murmured. She released Jiang Xueyin’s hand and turned to look at her. “Please tell her, tell her I miss her. Tell her not to worry. I’ve never been some helpless little rabbit waiting for slaughter.”

Jiang Xueyin’s heart stirred. She watched helplessly as Lin Xi began to walk back toward Lin Shan, feeling utterly powerless.

Suddenly, the faint, wailing sound of a siren drifted in from the distance.

Jiang Xueyin’s eyes lit up. She lunged forward, grabbing Lin Xi’s hand and giving her a firm, meaningful nod. Lin Xi froze in surprise.

“What’s that sound?” Li Jiannan asked, alert. “Is that a siren?”

“There shouldn’t be police here,” Lin Shan muttered, rubbing her fingertips together. “Someone led them to us.”

Both Li Jiannan and Lin Shan turned to Jiang Xueyin, their suspicion laid bare. Jiang Xueyin remained perfectly composed. “Why are you looking at me? You’d better start cleaning up this mess, unless you’re waiting for the police to cuff you.”

“You called them, didn’t you?” Lin Shan said slowly.

Li Jiannan raised a hand, and more men appeared outside the booth. “It doesn’t matter. The police won’t necessarily find this place.”

“Well, I have no desire to visit the station again,” Jiang Xueyin said, turning back to Lin Xi. “I’m just here to take what’s mine.”

“Is that so?” The doubt in Li Jiannan’s eyes didn’t flicker.

“Boss! Boss! The police are actually on the ship!” A male Alpha in black ran toward Li Jiannan, panic-stricken.

“Clear out everything in the auction house first! Tell the people on the fourth floor to stay sharp!” Li Jiannan barked. The men outside the room held their ground.

“Jiang Xueyin, you aren’t taking her.” Lin Shan stepped forward, standing directly in front of Lin Xi and reaching out for her.

“Why not? I’m taking her to see her family. Why won’t you let her go? What right do you have to restrict her freedom?”

Seeing that Lin Xi was ignoring her, Lin Shan grabbed the girl’s arm, her expression darkening. “Because I am her Alpha! No one takes her away from me!”

The air grew heavy with the metaphorical scent of gunpowder.

“Nobody move! Hands in the air!” A righteous, booming voice rang out from nearby.

Jiang Xueyin felt a surge of triumph. They’re here! The pinhole camera on her chest had been recording everything. As long as Ruan Mingyue had seen the footage, finding this room was easy.

A file of armed officers poured in, surrounding the group. Ruan Mingyue held up her badge, her voice ringing with authority. “You two are under suspicion for illegal transactions. You’re coming with us.”

Lin Shan’s gaze darted between Jiang Xueyin and Ruan Mingyue. She let out a sudden, mocking laugh. “Jiang Xueyin, the rumors were true. You really have gone mad.”

Jiang Xueyin slowly closed her eyes, the horrific images of the private auction flashing through her mind. “I’m not the one who’s mad,” she said coldly. “You are.”

As she was being led away, Lin Shan leaned into Jiang Xueyin’s ear. “Then I’ll leave Xixi in your care for a few days. If anything happens to her, I don’t mind getting even crazier.”

With that, Lin Shan turned and followed the officers. Unlike her, Li Jiannan was anything but calm. He glared at Jiang Xueyin with wide, murderous eyes.

Jiang Xueyin watched him be hauled away. She caught the shape of the words he mouthed: Death wish.

She didn’t flinch.

Ruan Mingyue walked over, her eyes scanning Jiang Xueyin and Lin Xi. “Are you two alright?”

“We’re fine.” Jiang Xueyin removed the brooch and rings, handing them over. “Where’s Niannian?”

“Waiting for you outside.” Ruan Mingyue looked at Lin Xi, her expression softening. “You’re Xiao Nianru’s long-lost sister?”

Lin Xi dazed for a moment, whispering to herself, “She, she always remembered me?”

“Yes. Let’s go.” Ruan Mingyue led them out.

Xiao Nianru and Qiao Wanyi were waiting outside the auction house. The moment Jiang Xueyin spotted Xiao Nianru, she sprinted toward her and threw herself into her arms.

“Niannian! Are you okay?” Jiang Xueyin’s voice cracked with a sob. Warm tears fell onto Xiao Nianru’s shoulder. Startled, Xiao Nianru didn’t push her away.

“Why are you crying like this?” she asked gently.

“You have no idea how terrifying it was in there.” A chill still gripped Jiang Xueyin’s heart at the memory.

“It’s over now. It’s okay.” Xiao Nianru stroked her back, whispering comfort.

After a moment, Jiang Xueyin pulled back and hurriedly wiped her eyes. “Sorry, I lost my composure. Oh, I found your sister. It’s her.”

Lin Xi stood in the corner, her hands twisted together, looking nervous.

“Xiao Yu?” Xiao Nianru called out tentatively.

“Sister I’m sorry. I forgot the way home,” Lin Xi sobbed.

“It’s my fault. I should have found you sooner.” Xiao Nianru pulled Lin Xi into a hug. “Have you been okay all these years?”

Lin Xi was silent for a moment before breaking into a gut-wrenching cry. “Not at all. They never even treated me like a human being. I was just a tribute the Lins gave to Lin Shan. Something to be thrown away once I lost my value. I only tried to claim a little bit of power for myself before I became useless, was that so wrong? Why did she treat me like that?”

Thinking of the days she spent imprisoned by Lin Shan, Lin Xi cried until her eyes were red. Xiao Nianru patted her shoulder. “It’s alright. I’m taking you home.”

“Sister, I don’t want to go back there. They sold me. I don’t want to go back.”

“Then we won’t. I’ll take care of you. We’ll go to our home,” Xiao Nianru promised.

Watching the genuine smile on Xiao Nianru’s face, Jiang Xueyin felt a smile of her own appear. It was worth it.

“By the way, what was my real name? I don’t remember. I want to change it.” Lin Xi hated the name she carried now.

Xiao Nianru stroked her head and said softly, “Xiao Qingyu.”

Xiao Qingyu had been the first person to love her purely since she arrived in this world, the little girl who gave her candies and toys just to see her happy.

“And thank you.” Xiao Qingyu let go of her sister and wiped her tears, turning to Jiang Xueyin. “I don’t even know your name yet.”

Xiao Nianru spoke up first. “Jiang Xueyin. She is my Alpha.”

“That’s right,” Jiang Xueyin added, her eyes crinkling with a joyful smile.