My 'White Moonlight' First Love Came Back, but I Don't Love her Anymore - Chapter 9

“Yanyan, you smell so good. I want to be by your side every day, without leaving for a single moment.”

Yan Jiuqing hung herself around Zhou Wanyan, her pale arms interlaced behind Wanyan’s neck, her voice soft and carrying a hint of a coed’s whine.

A smile touched Wanyan’s lips as she took a silk scarf and unhurriedly tied it around the other woman’s neck, covering her snowy skin.

Jiuqing chuckled softly. “Yanyan, isn’t this a bit like trying to hide the obvious?”

Wanyan’s face flushed a light red, and she lowered her head without a word. Seeing this, Jiuqing continued to tease her. “Yanyan, are you shy? No, Yanyan must be tired. Otherwise, why would you have fallen asleep right as we started last night, leaving me to do everything myself… mmm.”

Jiuqing’s eyes curved upward, her expression playful as if she had everything under control. She looked at Wanyan with a beaming smile, even as Wanyan placed a hand over her mouth to silence her.

Wanyan slowly lowered her hand. “Jiuqing, what goes on in your head every day? Is it always full of these things?”

Jiuqing gave a small nod and gently shook Wanyan’s hand. Wanyan’s shy nature had not changed at all over the years. Jiuqing was satisfied with the reaction; now, she needed to head to the office to discuss the plan involving Xia He.

“Alright, Yanyan, I have to go. I hope to see you waiting for me at the door the moment I get home.”

After Jiuqing left, Wanyan stayed home until the time was right. She applied light makeup and prepared to drive to the location Lin Qi had sent her. Today was the day to record the song she had written recently.

She arrived at the TW Recording Studio and was led by Lin Qi’s assistant to the designated room.

“Long time no see, Sister Lin,” Wanyan said with a smile.

Lin Qi walked up to greet her. “It has been a while. What have you been busy with lately?”

“Mostly staying at home and looking for inspiration,” Wanyan replied. “By the way, Sister Lin, which teacher has been chosen to sing this song? I’d like to know in advance to avoid any awkwardness when we meet.”

Lin Qi hesitated. “Erm… no need to rush. You will find out in a moment. You actually know this person.”

Wanyan’s brow furrowed slightly, her eyes reflecting her confusion. “I know them?” She mentally went through her contacts in the industry but couldn’t find anyone who fit the criteria.

Realizing she had nearly slipped up, Lin Qi quickly tried to recover. “You will know once she arrives.”

Wanyan did not press further. After a bit of small talk, Lin Qi suddenly spoke up. “Are you interested in moving to the front of the camera? There is a new drama being prepared, and I think the second female lead would suit you perfectly.”

Wanyan made a joke of it. “I think I will pass, Sister Lin. I know nothing about acting; I do not want to cause you any trouble.”

“That truly is a shame,” Lin Qi said, sounding genuinely regretful. She didn’t want to give up just yet. “But you do not have to give me an answer right away. Think it over.”

Wanyan felt it would be rude to refuse again immediately. “Alright, Sister Lin, I will think about it.”

Delighted that Wanyan had softened her stance, Lin Qi smiled and placed a hand on Wanyan’s shoulder. “You really should consider it. The role is a perfect match for you. It does not matter if you have never acted; I can teach you. I believe you have a lot of talent.”

Wanyan turned her head slightly, her features softening like a gentle breeze. “Alright, Sister Lin.”

Luo Yuening walked in just as this scene was unfolding. Her bright gaze swept across Wanyan’s face before settling on Wanyan’s shoulder, a flash of loneliness hidden in her eyes. The intensity of the gaze made Lin Qi feel as if her hand were being scorched. She turned around and found the source of the look.

Lin Qi stood up casually. “Yuening, you are here.”

Yuening?

Wanyan’s body stiffened. She slowly looked up, and for a moment, the image of the girl from six years ago overlapped with the woman in the black dress standing before her. Meeting again after so many years, Wanyan realized her state of mind had changed; she was no longer that fragile person. She could face her calmly now.

Wanyan stood up, a polite smile on her face, and extended her hand. “Long time no see, Luo Yuening.”

Luo Yuening gave a brief acknowledgment and walked past everyone to sit by herself. The slight upward tilt of her eyes and the impatience in her gaze gave the impression that she was not happy to see Wanyan.

Wanyan quietly withdrew her hand and sat back down. The air in the room was thick with awkwardness.

Lin Qi stepped in to break the tension with a dry laugh. “So the two of you really do know each other…”

A cold glare immediately shot toward her. Lin Qi felt like crying and looked for an escape. “The producer should be here by now; I will go meet her. You two take your time and chat; I will be going now.”

After Lin Qi left, the two of them were alone in the recording studio. Wanyan realized that seeing Luo Yuening again had finally dissolved the lingering emotional turmoil from six years ago. She had once resented the hurtful things Yuening had said and vowed never to see her again, but now that they were face to face, she realized that time truly was a healing medicine.

“You are just like before; you have not changed at all,” Wanyan said.

Luo Yuening crossed her arms, her lips curving into a faint, mocking smile. “Do you think you know me that well?” Her tone was combative.

Wanyan replied intentionally, “I do not know you.”

Luo Yuening bit her lower lip and shot Wanyan a resentful look. She doesn’t know me? After all those years of friendship, she has the nerve to say she doesn’t know me? She is clearly trying to spite me. Six years later, she is still just as annoying.

“I saw you at the concert,” Yuening said.

“Oh.”

Luo Yuening was dissatisfied with the response. “That is it?”

Wanyan couldn’t help but laugh. “What else do you want me to say?”

Yuening seemed to remember something and clung to it. “Some people said they would never see me again in this lifetime. So, why did they go to the concert?”

“Jiuqing likes Yue Qi. Besides, you were a surprise guest; I did not know beforehand that you would be there.”

Wanyan’s calm composure made Luo Yuening appear even more flustered. Yuening’s face flashed with an unnatural expression, and she snorted. “What is that supposed to mean? If you had known I was going to be there, would you have stayed away?”

Wanyan tilted her head slightly. “I would have gone anyway.”

Luo Yuening felt unhappy again. Had Wanyan really moved on so completely? She had no right to ask; they were neither friends nor lovers. If they were anything, they were friends who had a falling out. She turned her head away, her face flushing with anger, and spoke with icy sarcasm. “If I had known you wrote this song, I would never have accepted it.”

It seemed this was the only way she could hide her true feelings. She acted indifferent, but her eyes were fixed on Wanyan.

Wanyan’s gaze remained clear and steady. “All these years, and you are still as childish as ever,” she said unhurriedly. “The notification I received said that the lead of The Radiance of Time specifically asked to sing this song. Wanting to make up with me is not something you should be ashamed to say. Is there a need for all this pretending?”

Having her inner thoughts exposed so easily made Luo Yuening feel very annoyed. It made her feel as though she were always a step behind Wanyan.

“You are no different. Six years have passed, and you are still just as… narcissistic. I did not know you wrote the song; I just thought the song was…”

Wanyan wore her usual gentle smile. “What about the song?”

“It sounds good,” Yuening admitted reluctantly. Then her voice rose. “So do not overthink it. Do not think I am singing this because of you.”

“That is good, then.”

“Zhou Wanyan, what do you mean by that?”

The conversation was cut short as the producer, Zhang Jin, walked in. Sensing the odd atmosphere, Zhang Jin, who had worked with Wanyan many times, chose to ask her. “Wanyan, do you know Teacher Luo?”

“We know each other.” “We do not!”

They spoke at the same time, locked eyes for a second, and then quickly looked away. Luo Yuening crossed her arms and turned her head, her face flushing. A lock of her wine-red hair even stuck up. What an annoying person.

Zhang Jin looked to Wanyan for help. Wanyan gave a helpless smile and stood up. “Teacher Luo, let’s begin. If we record the song today, we will not have to see each other tomorrow.”

Luo Yuening shot her a hateful look. “My thoughts exactly.” With that, she stomped into the recording booth.

Wanyan’s gaze became unreadable. Six years, and you are still just as childish.

Zhang Jin sat at the mixing console and gossiped. “Wanyan, did you really know Teacher Luo before?”

Wanyan remained composed. “We were classmates for a few years.”

“So neither of you had formal training?” Zhang Jin chatted. “How did you both end up in this industry?”

Wanyan’s grip on the headset tightened, her eyes like a deep spring hiding endless thoughts. “It has been too long; I have forgotten what my original reasons were.”

“Fair enough,” Zhang Jin said. “But is Teacher Luo a bit out of tune?”

Wanyan burst into laughter. Even through the glass, Luo Yuening somehow caught her laughing. As expected, Yuening glared at her fiercely. After that, Wanyan could feel that Luo Yuening was recording the song with extreme seriousness.

After the recording, the sky had darkened, and the streetlights had flickered on. The city was alive with neon lights and moving traffic. Knowing it was almost time for Yan Jiuqing to get off work, Wanyan drove to the company entrance to wait.

After waiting for a long time, she finally saw the familiar figure—and someone else following behind her.

Du Shangwei.

Although she had never met Du Shangwei, she recognized her from the photos Jiuqing had shown her. Why were the two of them walking together? A fog of confusion rose in Wanyan’s heart. Jiuqing had told her the story of their past love, and Wanyan knew Du Shangwei had left an indelible mark on her heart.

Wanyan gripped the steering wheel tightly, the veins prominent against her pale skin. Her eyes were dark with shifting emotions. She wanted to trust Jiuqing, but her mind couldn’t help but drift toward baseless suspicions. She decided to wait and see what they would do.

Just as Du Shangwei reached out to grab Jiuqing’s hand from behind, Wanyan honked the horn and stepped out of the car. She appeared right in their line of sight. She saw their reactions clearly: Du Shangwei’s indifference and the flash of panic on Yan Jiuqing’s face.

“What are you doing?”

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