Moonlight Allure - Chapter 27.1

Ignoring the gaze on her, Jiang Xueyin put on her shoes and said tonelessly, “I have things to do.”

“Going to see that Xiao Nianru again?” Jiang Tingshuo slammed the magazine in his hand onto the coffee table with a sharp thud. His eyes were dark and bottomless. “To this day, you still haven’t divorced her. I’ve looked into it, the person you snatched from the Lin family is her sister. You caused this entire mess because of her. She really is a jinx.”

A mocking smile touched Jiang Xueyin’s lips. Jiang Tingshuo certainly “loved” his daughter; he was even willing to shift the blame for her own actions onto Xiao Nianru.

“It has nothing to do with her. Even if she didn’t exist, I would have saved those people anyway,” Jiang Xueyin said firmly.

Jiang Tingshuo let out a cold laugh. “Enough! Save your excuses. You aren’t stepping a single foot out of this house today!”

“Then I’ll go and finalize the divorce today, fine?” Jiang Xueyin straightened her collar and opened the door, only to find two male Alphas standing in her way, blocking the exit.

“There’s no need for you to go in person; I’ll handle it. It’s just a divorce certificate, how complicated could it be?” Jiang Tingshuo walked over and pressed his hand heavily onto her shoulder. “From now on, you are not allowed to see her again.”

The invisible pressure made it almost impossible for Jiang Xueyin to breathe. She finally understood why the “original” Scum Alpha had wanted to leave this place. The warmth was only a facade; peace only existed as long as you stayed within the tracks they laid for you. If her real-world parents’ control was visible and direct, the control here was invisible and insidious.

Jiang Xueyin slowly closed her eyes. She could run away, but then what? A life of fugitives? What about Xiao Qingyu?

She opened her eyes, her gaze clear and cold. “Fine. I won’t see her. But I have one condition. Send Xiao I mean, Lin Xi to Country Y. Let her study there so the Lin family can never find her again.”

“You’ve caused a disaster, and you think you have the right to negotiate?” Jiang Tingshuo’s voice was low.

“How about this: ‘Jiang Xueyin suspected of attempted suicide following threats after the cruise incident.’ Is that enough?” Jiang Xueyin spoke casually, as if she were talking about someone else entirely.

SLAP!

The force of the blow sent Jiang Xueyin’s head reeling to the side. A searing pain bloomed on her left cheek. She let out a dry laugh, seemingly indifferent. “Not enough? Should I make a bigger scene then?”

“Jiang Xueyin, I thought you had matured over the last three years, but it seems you’ve only improved your ability to talk back!” Jiang Tingshuo’s face was frozen with rage as he raised his hand again.

“Will you agree if you finish hitting me? Then go ahead.” Jiang Xueyin leaned her face toward him, her eyes sharp.

Jiang Tingshuo stared at her, then slowly lowered his hand. “I agree to your request. But for the next few days, you stay in this house. You go nowhere.”

She agreed instantly. “Deal.”

“Go to your room,” Jiang Tingshuo barked.

Jiang Xueyin turned and headed upstairs. Halfway there, her father called out again, “Wait. Hand over all your other electronic devices too.”

She looked back at him with a deep, inscrutable gaze before replying, “Fine.”

She handed over her old phone. Jiang Tingshuo looked at it and tossed it on the table. “Besides this one, there’s another phone.”

Jiang Xueyin’s pupils contracted. “How did you know?”

“I checked your spending records. Hand it over. Stay away from the nonsense on the internet for a few days. Quiet your mind, read some books, and reflect on yourself.” He held out his hand.

Helpless, Jiang Xueyin handed over her new phone. Jiang Tingshuo didn’t ask for the password; he just placed the two phones together. “Go.”

“Remember your promise,” Jiang Xueyin reminded him before leaving.

Jiang Tingshuo’s face darkened. “Jiang Xueyin, I am your father, not your enemy.”

She didn’t respond, turning back toward her room. She sat on the sofa, dazed, watching the rain tap against the windowpane.

Xiao Nianru waited in the cafe for a long time. The sky broke into a torrential downpour, but Jiang Xueyin never showed. Her messages went unreturned.

Just as she was about to leave, a message finally arrived: “10:00 AM tomorrow. Go to the Civil Affairs Bureau for the divorce.”

Xiao Nianru stared at the screen, an uneasy feeling creeping into her heart. Jiang Xueyin’s favorability was currently at 84%; even though she had signed the papers, she had been dragging her feet on the actual filing. She hadn’t been proactive at all.

To suddenly demand the filing at a specific time without even asking if she was free, it didn’t feel like Jiang Xueyin. She knew something was wrong, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. Finally, she replied: “Okay.”

She stood by the window, watching the rain meander down the glass for a long time until Xiao Qingyu called her name.

“Hmm?” Xiao Nianru masked her gloom, turning to her sister with a gentle smile. “Why are you here? I thought you messaged me saying you were going to sleep.”

“I can never sleep when it rains,” Xiao Qingyu said, looking out at the storm. “I remember the day they sold me it was a rainy day just like this.”

“It’s all in the past now,” Xiao Nianru comforted her, pulling her into a hug.

“And then I was worried you didn’t have an umbrella, so I came to get you.” Xiao Qingyu paused. “Sister, honestly, Miss Jiang is actually quite good. When she saved me, she was like a god descending to earth. She didn’t flinch even against those thugs. She fought that hard just because of you.”

“I know,” Xiao Nianru nodded, her eyes flickering.

“So, are you two really getting divorced?” Xiao Qingyu asked. “The way she looks at you I think she’s sincere.”

“Sincere.” Xiao Nianru lost herself in thought. The original Jiang Xueyin had been sincere once, too. The difference was that they weren’t the same person now, and this Jiang Xueyin’s favorability was unnervingly high. She didn’t doubt her sincerity, but human hearts are fickle. If Jiang Xueyin was truly just a “fan,” how long could that last? Between an idol and a fan, beauty exists in the distance. When they face each other every day, the filters eventually fade.

“She feels different from the others,” Xiao Qingyu added. “I can’t put my finger on it, but she isn’t like Lin Shan or Li Jiannan.”

“Everyone is unique,” Xiao Nianru murmured.

As the rain intensified, people began to huddle under the cafe’s awning for shelter. “Let’s head back,” Xiao Nianru said, fearing they might get stuck.

Jiang Xueyin missed Xiao Nianru. With her phone, tablet, and computer gone, she had nothing but books to keep her company. Luckily, there were books on film directing in the room.

The original Scum Alpha’s directing career had ended by her own hand. One night, Xiao Nianru had accompanied her to see an investor. The man had said, “If Miss Xiao stays the night with me, I’ll invest whatever you want.” The Scum Alpha had kicked him so hard he suffered internal bleeding. From then on, finding investment became impossible. Combined with the Jiang family’s quiet suppression, she had simply given up and rotted at home.

Jiang Xueyin let out a long sigh and looked at her notebook. “Li Jiannan” was still there, not crossed out. A wave of regret nearly overwhelmed her. She shouldn’t have come back to this house.

The Scum Alpha hadn’t loved Xiao Nianru that much, and she hadn’t cut ties with her family purely out of love. She had wanted to escape her cage but lacked the ability, eventually becoming a “soft-rice eater” with a hard attitude.

Returning to the Jiang family meant resources, but it also meant being shackled.

She walked to the window. Three floors up, overlooking a maple forest. Jumping was too risky. She had to endure, wait for the right moment, and then escape. She would say a final goodbye to the Scum Alpha’s past.

The next day, Xiao Qingyu accompanied Xiao Nianru to the Civil Affairs Bureau. They sat in the car, hesitant to get out. Xiao Nianru’s 9:30 AM message to Jiang Xueyin still hadn’t been answered. Anxiety coiled in her chest. Jiang Xueyin never went this long without replying unless she was in trouble.

At nearly 10:00 AM, a reply finally came: “Something came up, I can’t make it. I sent someone in my place. Just give your documents to him; it’ll be handled quickly.”

She looked out the window. Indeed, a young man in a black suit and sunglasses stood by the entrance, his lips pressed into a cold line, holding a folder.

“Sister, what’s going on?” Xiao Qingyu shrank back, clutching Xiao Nianru’s sleeve. Her trauma from Lin Shan made her terrified of men in black suits.

In Country W, it began when a group of men dressed in black and wearing sunglasses dragged her away by force and shoved her into a car—marking the start of her nightmare.

Xiao Nianru patted her sister’s shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. Stay here. I’ll go down and see what the situation is.”

Just as she was about to open the door and head out, the young man approached their car and knocked on the window.

Xiao Nianru lowered the glass, maintaining a composed facade. “Hello. Can I help you?”

“I am Miss Jiang’s secretary. I’m here to assist with her divorce. You only need to hand over your identification and documents to me,” the male Beta in sunglasses said, his tone bordering on a command.

“When did she get a secretary? Why wasn’t I informed?” Xiao Nianru toyed with the hem of her skirt. She glanced at the Beta’s favorability, a mere 5% but a wave of anxiety rose in her chest. She was certain this man did not belong to Jiang Xueyin.

“Miss Xiao is busy with work; it’s natural you wouldn’t know.” The Beta extended his hand. “Please, hand them over.”

“I want her to come here and divorce me in person.” Xiao Nianru pressed her hand against the briefcase on her lap, her gaze hardening.

“Miss Jiang is busy with company business and has no time. Please do not make things difficult for me.” The Beta gave a slight nod, and his favorability dropped another point.

“Is that so? We had an appointment to file today, and yet she stands me up.” Xiao Nianru let out a soft, dry laugh. “Fine. Since she’s so busy, you should hurry back and help her. There’s no rush for the divorce.”

She turned to her driver. “Xiao Zhang, let’s go. To the set.”

“Wait!” the Beta called out urgently. He removed his sunglasses, his face etched with anxiety. “Miss Xiao, I am only doing as Mr. Jiang instructed. Please, don’t make this harder on me!”

Xiao Nianru looked at the unfamiliar face. “Where is she?”

The man opened his mouth, then lowered his gaze to the ground. He couldn’t say.

Xiao Nianru’s smile vanished. “In that case, we’ll do this another day.”

The Beta gave a look of “I knew it would come to this” and sighed. “Mr. Jiang said that if you do not divorce today, the production of the film you are currently filming will face a total collapse of its capital chain. Everyone’s hard work will go to waste.”

“The Jiang family invested in Sea of Stars?” Xiao Nianru frowned. She clearly remembered that there were no Jiangs on the investor list, only a mysterious Mr. Liu who never showed his face.

“Yes. While Mr. Liu’s withdrawal might not stop the filming entirely, it will certainly compromise the final quality of the film.” Having delivered the threat, the Beta pivoted to a bribe. “If you cooperate, there are three upcoming film resources waiting for you.”

“Enough.” Xiao Nianru’s voice turned ice-cold. “I don’t need ‘resources.’ I agree to the divorce.”

She handed the prepared documents to the man.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Having secured the files, the Beta went straight into the Civil Affairs Bureau. Xiao Nianru let out a long sigh and leaned back against her seat, lost in thought.

“Sister, did something happen to Sister Jiang?” Xiao Qingyu asked uneasily.

Xiao Nianru slowly opened her eyes and gave a soft hum. “Her electronic devices have been confiscated. She’s likely under house arrest.”

“Is it because of me?”

“Don’t overthink it.” Xiao Nianru patted her sister’s head.

After a while, the Beta returned and handed Xiao Nianru a red divorce certificate. “By the way, Mr. Jiang also said he will handle your sister’s departure abroad and guarantee her safety.”

“The Jiang family truly is omnipotent,” Xiao Nianru mocked. Some people spend a lifetime struggling for a resolution; he got a divorce certificate just by walking in and out of a building.

The Beta replied tonelessly, “Miss Xiao, you flatter us.”

“Thank Jiang Xueyin for me.” With that, Xiao Nianru told the driver, “Let’s go. To the set.”

The Beta watched blankly as the black business van sped away.

Inside the Car, Xiao Nianru brushed her fingers over the photo on the divorce certificate, her expression calm. “In truth, it’s mostly because of me. She did all of this for me.”

“Sister.” Xiao Qingyu bit her lip, her eyes full of guilt. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for. You’re safe, and that makes me happy. I’ll fly out to visit you in the future.” Xiao Nianru rubbed her sister’s head gently. “You need to leave quickly while Lin Shan is still detained. Don’t let Xueyin’s efforts go to waste.”

“I know.”

The day Xiao Qingyu left, the weather was clear. She stood at the VIP terminal waving goodbye. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, it felt as though they had never been apart. Xiao Nianru watched her go, pulled down her cap, and headed for the parking lot.

There were many reporters waiting at the Beijing International Airport. Unfortunately, she was recognized after only two steps.

“It’s Xiao Nianru! Over here!”

“Ms. Xiao, why did you and Jiang Xueyin divorce? Did she cheat?”

“Is it related to the recent drug case? Is Jiang Xueyin not as innocent as she seems?”

A barrage of questions hit her. Xiao Nianru spoke calmly: “It was an amicable separation. Xueyin is a good person; I hope everyone respects her privacy and avoids baseless speculation. I’ve already stated this in my official announcement. Please, let me through, I need to get to the set.”

Li Han arrived with two bodyguards to escort her back to the car.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xueyin stayed obediently at the Jiang estate. She didn’t cause trouble; she ate and slept as expected. But whenever she tried to leave, the butler, Zhou Ming, would stop her.

“Miss, the Master said you should stay indoors for a few days.”

Jiang Xueyin glanced at him. He was respectful, with his usual practiced smile. There was no doubt this was Jiang Tingshuo’s order. Both her father and Jiang Jue hadn’t been home for dinner for several days, supposedly working late at the office.

Bored to tears, Jiang Xueyin began studying the photography equipment in her room. The lens collection was extensive, organized in glass cabinets topped with trophies—photography awards the “original” had won in university. It was enough to keep her occupied for days.

But Xiao Nianru’s face kept drifting into her mind. She missed her.

She turned on the TV and searched for news. The top video was the recording of Xiao Nianru at the airport responding to the divorce. Jiang Xueyin gripped the remote, her eyes fixed on the screen. Tears fell before she realized it.

As Xiao Nianru had said, it was all in the statement, she didn’t have to answer anything. But she did. Not only did she answer, she defended Jiang Xueyin with everything she had.

Jiang Xueyin wiped her tears and exited the video. She curled up on the sofa and began watching one of Xiao Nianru’s movies. This version of Xiao Nianru had a different filmography than the one in the book, but her acting was just as exquisite, natural and raw.

Elsewhere, Lin Shan was not having a relaxing day.

“Gone? She’s gone?” Lin Shan had just been released from detention. Hearing the news, she kicked a bodyguard in a fit of rage, disregarding all decorum. “How did the people at the airport fail to stop her?”

“The Jiang family had too many people at the airport, Ma’am. we couldn’t intervene.”

Lin Shan hissed through gritted teeth, “The Jiangs. Jiang Xueyin!”

She slapped the unlucky bodyguard again before storming into her car. “To the Lin Group. Now.”