My 'White Moonlight' First Love Came Back, but I Don't Love her Anymore - Chapter 10

The moment Yan Jiuqing saw Wanyan, she struggled to break free from Du Shangwei’s grip and hurried to her side. For the first time, Wanyan saw true fear on Jiuqing’s face.

“Yanyan, why are you here?”

Wanyan countered with a question of her own. “Am I interrupting your little struggle?”

“No, Yanyan, listen to me,” Jiuqing blurted out, desperate to explain.

“Fine. Explain.” Wanyan’s calm composure made Jiuqing feel uneasy; she could not gauge what Wanyan was thinking.

Du Shangwei gazed at Jiuqing with intensity, her voice cold. “Qingqing, why explain anything to her? An intruder should know when to step aside.”

Jiuqing’s eyes darkened. “Du Shangwei, what nonsense are you talking about!” She immediately grabbed Wanyan’s hand and said carefully, “Yanyan, let me explain.”

Wanyan’s brow furrowed, and her gentle voice was laced with a sudden chill. “I have been waiting for your explanation.”

In her haste to justify herself, Jiuqing’s voice trembled. “Yanyan, my feelings for her are no different than for a stranger now. I have no idea why she suddenly appeared at the company entrance tonight. I was in a hurry to see you, but she insisted on grabbing me. Yanyan, I was so scared.”

As she spoke, she tried to lean into Wanyan’s embrace. However, Wanyan’s reflex to take a step back deeply stung Jiuqing’s heart. Jiuqing looked up in disbelief. “Yanyan, you do not trust me.”

Wanyan lowered her eyes to hide the complexity within them. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke calmly. “I trust you.”

Jiuqing lifted her head, her eyes misty with tears. “Then why will you not hold me?”

Wanyan hesitated. The distraction at the concert and the instinctive loss of composure were proof that Jiuqing still cared about Du Shangwei. Could she continue to stay with Jiuqing while pretending everything was fine? Could a fading love truly support a happy marriage in the future?

She did not want her life to mirror her parents’ life, which was a marriage filled with endless arguments and blame until it reached an inevitable end. She was at a loss, yet she was not ready to just let go.

Du Shangwei sneered. “Qingqing, she says she trusts you, but does her heart truly believe you?” Her words acted like a warning bell in Jiuqing’s mind.

Wanyan turned to face Du Shangwei. “Du Shangwei, you are already engaged. Please stop bothering Jiuqing. You are her past; I am her future. If you truly loved her, you would not have vanished without sending a single message after you went abroad.”

Wanyan calmly stated the undeniable truth, which was the very thing Du Shangwei had been trying desperately to erase.

“What do you know!” Du Shangwei snapped. “I had my reasons.”

Jiuqing stiffened as she listened to the two women. Du Shangwei mocked, “Future? If I had not fallen ill, I never would have gone abroad. Do you think you would have ever become her future then? Her past and future were meant to be mine. You are nothing but a thief who stole someone else’s happiness. You have already had six years of her youth; now that I am back, it is time for you to leave.”

Jiuqing looked at Du Shangwei in shock. If Wanyan had not been standing there, she would have rushed over to ask what illness had forced Du Shangwei to leave. A delayed sense of heartache took root in Jiuqing’s soul. She had thought Du Shangwei left for no reason, but it turned out she was forced by circumstance.

Yet, Du Shangwei was engaged, and Jiuqing could not bring herself to leave Wanyan. They were destined to remain apart.

Wanyan caught the obvious shift in Jiuqing’s emotions and silently looked away. “But you are already engaged.”

“That is just a business alliance,” Du Shangwei replied. “Qiao Hao and I reached an agreement long ago. It is all for show.”

Wanyan’s lips curled into a cold, moon-like smile that did not reach her eyes. “But I am Jiuqing’s girlfriend. What use is telling me this? Do you want her to feel sorry for you so you can rekindle your old flame? How ridiculous.”

Feeling exposed, Jiuqing avoided Wanyan’s gaze, nervously smoothing her hair. “Yanyan.”

Wanyan’s expression was flat, as if discussing something trivial. “Why? Are you truly heartbroken for her?”

Jiuqing’s pupils dilated like a startled deer. “I, no, Yanyan.”

“No what?” Wanyan pressed.

“No desire to rekindle things with her,” Jiuqing answered frantically.

Wanyan smiled and stepped forward to pull Jiuqing into her arms. Jiuqing rested her head on Wanyan’s shoulder, deliberately turning her back to Du Shangwei. Wanyan looked straight ahead, her words directed at the other woman. “I assume you heard her. I will not repeat it. The autumn night is cold; Jiuqing and I are going home.”

The word “home” caused the final string in Du Shangwei’s mind to snap. Her eyes turned bloodshot as she watched them leave, her fists clenched in unvented rage.

Inside the Porsche, the air felt frozen. The sound of deliberate, slow breathing filled the silence. Neither spoke; one focused on the road while the other stared out the window. As the neon lights flashed by, they cast shifting colors across Jiuqing’s face.

Tonight, Yanyan seems like a different person. Does she believe me? Jiuqing thought. She and Du Shangwei had ultimately missed their chance.

After Wanyan’s car drove off, a Rolls-Royce parked nearby also pulled away. Inside, Luo Yuening sat with her eyes closed, looking exhausted. She was covered in a thin wool blanket, her wine-red hair cascading behind her. Her black heels had been replaced with comfortable flats.

He Jia sighed. “Sister Luo, why put yourself through this?”

Following Wanyan only to witness her declaring her ownership over someone else was pure self-torture.

“Go and investigate what happened between Yan Jiuqing and Du Shangwei,” Luo Yuening ordered.

“Alright,” He Jia replied. She wondered what kind of person Zhou Wanyan was to make the beautiful, arrogant Luo Yuening so obsessed.

After that night, both Wanyan and Jiuqing chose to stay silent about Du Shangwei’s provocations. It was as if by not speaking, they could pretend nothing had happened and remain in a sweet facade.

Time flew, and soon it was October. Jiuqing’s company seemed less busy, and she spent much more time with Wanyan. She rushed home after work every day; if Wanyan was not there, she would call immediately to say how much she missed her. For a moment, Wanyan felt they had returned to the early days of their romance.

Today was Yan Jiuqing’s mother’s birthday. They had agreed to visit her together at the Yashan Villa, but a last-minute emergency at the office meant Wanyan had to go alone.

The villa sat halfway up a mountain, far from the city’s noise. It was a European-style building with vibrant greenery in the courtyard, clearly tended to with great care. Flowers bloomed everywhere, giving the large villa a sense of warmth rather than isolation.

Wanyan parked and entered with gifts. She wore a beige coat over a black turtleneck, simple black trousers, and Martin boots. The look was minimalist yet formal. The cold mountain wind tossed her hair, but her expression remained gentle and composed.

“Ma Hong, still busy?”

The woman addressed as Ma Hong turned and smiled when she saw Wanyan. She stopped watering the flowers and hurried over. “Wanyan is here! You have come for the Madam’s birthday.” Ma Hong’s eyes crinkled with age-earned laugh lines.

Ever since Jiuqing’s mother, Xu Wan, left the Yan family nine years ago to live here, Ma Hong had been by her side. She was always kind and made sure to cook Wanyan’s favorite dishes. She took the gifts and glanced behind Wanyan.

“Jiuqing had an emergency at work,” Wanyan explained. “She will be here later.”

“I see,” Ma Hong replied. “Madam has been mentioning Miss Jiuqing constantly lately. She will be a bit disappointed not to see her yet.”

“Don’t worry, Ma Hong. I will explain it to her.”

“Is that Xiao Yan?” a voice called out. Ma Hong immediately went to support Xu Wan.

Wanyan looked up to see Xu Wan standing on the stone steps. She looked frail, as if a gust of wind might knock her down. Her face was as pale as paper, yet she remained elegant and poised.

“Yes, Auntie. I have come to see you.”

Xu Wan gave a faint smile. “Come inside, Xiao Yan. The autumn air is chilly; do not catch a cold. Ma Hong, take the things inside.”

“Thank you, Auntie Xu.”

The villa’s parlor was spacious and a bit empty, with a slight chill in the air. Wanyan and Xu Wan sat together on the sofa. The steam from the teapot on the table carried the scent of tea. Xu Wan reached out to pour a cup for Wanyan.

“Auntie, let me do it,” Wanyan said gently, taking the pot.

The steam rose like a thin mist between them before dissipating. After setting the pot down, Wanyan asked, “Auntie, how have you been feeling lately?”

Xu Wan shook her head with a sad smile. “Same as always. I live one day at a time.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic, Auntie Xu. You will live a long life.”

“Xiao Yan, you are a good child. You must stay happy with Jiuqing.”

Wanyan’s brow twitched. “We will, Auntie.” She then added softly, “By the way, I should tell you that Jiuqing was ready to come, but a sudden matter at the office delayed her. She will be here later.”

“I heard you talking to Ma Hong,” Xu Wan said calmly. “Jiuqing has been at odds with her father since she was little, yet her personality is just like his. Work always comes first. She forgets everything when she is busy, even eating. Xiao Yan, you must look after her for me.”

“Since I moved here, I have cut all ties with the Yan family. Jiuqing fought with her father a lot for my sake, but I remained submissive because of my own lingering attachments. I know she resents me for that, even if she does not say it. I have always wanted to explain things to her, but the wounds have scarred over. Bringing it up now would only cause more pain.”

“I will, Auntie. Don’t worry,” Wanyan replied. She did not know how else to comfort her; she was not Jiuqing, after all. “But have you told Jiuqing these things?”

Xu Wan lowered her eyes. “No. I am afraid I will not have the chance in the future.”

Wanyan looked up, her eyes filled with confusion. “Auntie, what do you mean by that?”

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