“Moonlight Allure” - Chapter 4

From the day she arrived in this world, Jiang Xueyin realized that the gears of fate had already shifted.

In the original novel, the plot at this stage should have seen Xiao Nianru forced to endure an induced heat cycle with the scumbag Alpha. Heartbroken and despondent, Nianru would have contacted the Alpha’s parents, who would have forcibly dragged the villain away and made her sign the divorce papers.

From that point on, the Alpha’s campaign of revenge would have begun.

None of that would happen now. Yet, Jiang Xueyin knew that while the original tragedies were averted, new, unwritten plotlines could emerge. Anxiety coiled around her heart like creeping vines. She gripped her phone, hesitating for a moment before calling Xiao Nianru, only to find the line busy.

She hung up and checked the trending topics on Weibo. Third on the list was: #Xiao Nianru Car Accident.

For a moment, it felt as though an invisible hand had squeezed her heart; a wave of suffocating despair nearly pulled her under. She tapped into the hashtag with trembling fingers, only to let out a long breath of relief. It was a minor rear-end collision; no one was hurt.

She must be busy handling the aftermath, Jiang Xueyin thought. She made a mental note to find an opportunity to practice driving again; in the future, she wanted to be the one picking Xiao Nianru up.

Half an hour later, she tried the call again. “Niannian, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Sorry, I might be a little late getting there,” Xiao Nianru’s voice was warm.

“As long as you’re safe. I’ll wait for you. Please, drive carefully.”

“I will.”

Jiang Xueyin waited another hour. The moment she heard the sound of a car outside, she bolted upright and hurried to the door.

Xiao Nianru stood before her as she opened the door, dressed in an off-the-shoulder, knee-length cream dress. Her features were as gentle as a painting. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Are you injured?” Jiang Xueyin asked, her eyes scanning for any hurt.

“I’m really fine,” Xiao Nianru said gently. “Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xueyin reached out instinctively, but her hand grasped nothing but air.

“Where is the agreement?” Xiao Nianru asked, glancing around the room.

“In the study.” Jiang Xueyin lowered her head, her emotions a chaotic tangle.

Xiao Nianru gave a soft “mm” and headed upstairs. Jiang Xueyin followed closely behind. Since they had already settled on the terms, they only skimmed the documents once more before signing.

As they both put down their pens, their eyes met. The room fell into a long, heavy silence.

“When, when do we go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to finalize it?” Jiang Xueyin broke the quiet.

“Tomorrow is Saturday, so they’re closed. Let’s aim for next Monday. I’ll have Li Han send you the draft for the public announcement,” Xiao Nianru said, letting out a long sigh. There was a sense of relief in her voice, as if the dust had finally settled.

She hadn’t expected it to be this easy. Four years ago, when Jiang Xueyin was pursuing her, she had been as passionate and radiant as a wildfire. But the flashes of obsession that occasionally surfaced had always left Xiao Nianru with scars.

“Do you want to grab dinner?” Jiang Xueyin paused, then added, “A farewell meal.”

Xiao Nianru smiled slightly. “Alright.”

“Let’s go to this place.” Drawing on her memories of Xiao Nianru’s tastes, Jiang Xueyin quickly found a highly-rated Cantonese tea house in the city.

“Don’t you usually prefer spicier food?” Xiao Nianru tucked her copy of the agreement into her bag and looked up at her.

“No, I never.” Jiang Xueyin caught herself. In the real world, she couldn’t handle spice, but the “scumbag Alpha” loved it. Whenever the original host and Xiao Nianru went out, they always ordered several spicy dishes.

“I, I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather lately. Internal heat. I need to avoid spicy food,” she lied.

Xiao Nianru nodded thoughtfully. “I see.” She sounded like she believed it, but her gaze lingered.

Xiao Nianru put on her black mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, only to notice that Jiang Xueyin was standing there without any disguise.

“Shouldn’t you wear a mask or sunglasses?” Xiao Nianru reminded her softly. “You might get photographed.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Jiang Xueyin murmured. She realized she didn’t have a single photo of herself and Xiao Nianru together.

“You used to say you hated being on camera,” Xiao Nianru noted.

“I do. But if you’re by my side, I can handle it.” Jiang Xueyin looked at her earnestly, reaching out to straighten Xiao Nianru’s cap.

The sudden intimacy caught Xiao Nianru off guard. By the time she reacted, Jiang Xueyin had already retracted her hand, standing a safe meter away.

Jiang Xueyin noticed their outfits were accidentally coordinated, her own black dress and leather shoes made them look like a couple. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. “Alright! Let’s go.” She picked up a pair of sunglasses.

When they reached the car, Li Han was waiting. Jiang Xueyin couldn’t hide her disappointment.

“You don’t look very happy to see me,” Li Han joked.

“Not at all,” Jiang Xueyin forced a smile. Her dream of a “world for two” was officially dead.

Li Han drove, Xiao Nianru took the passenger seat, and Jiang Xueyin sat in the back.

“Papers signed?” Li Han asked.

“Yes, all done.” Xiao Nianru glanced at the rearview mirror. Jiang Xueyin’s face was half-hidden in the shadows, her expression unreadable. She looked upset.

“Once this is settled, you can start preparing for auditions again,” Li Han said while driving.

“Good.” Xiao Nianru closed her eyes to rest.

In the back, Jiang Xueyin was frowning at her phone. In her rush to leave, she had grabbed the old phone. It was flooded with unread messages—parents, her brother, and “trashy” friends all asking if the divorce was real. She didn’t want to reply to any of them. She turned the phone off and stared out the window. The city skyscrapers blurred past, and the pedestrians’ faces were a smear of color.

She felt as if this world was still miles away from her.

As they entered the parking lot, Li Han said, “You two go up and eat. Xu Wei will be here later to pick you up.”

Xu Wei. The name made Jiang Xueyin’s brow furrow. Where have I heard that. Then it hit her.

Xu Wei was Xiao Nianru’s assistant—an Omega who was currently on leave to care for a sick relative. In the original story, she was diligent at first, but later, she was manipulated and bribed by the Alpha ex-wife and a shady boyfriend into betraying Xiao Nianru for money. She was one of the “last straws” that broke Xiao Nianru.

Jiang Xueyin’s gaze hardened. To save Niannian, she had to get rid of that “straw.” But to do that, whether by threat or bribe, she would eventually have to return to the Jiang family and reclaim her status. Right now, she was nobody.

“What are you thinking about?” Xiao Nianru asked, noticing her staring into space.

“Nothing. Just wondering what to order.”

They were about to open the car doors when Li Han stopped them. “Wait.”