The Cold CEO Chases His White Moonlight - Chapter 6

The air seemed to freeze for two seconds.

With just one exchanged glance, Ji Zhiwei could feel the stirrings of emotion rising from the depths of her heart.

The pain and tension of that momentary heartbeat were so intense they could have been carved into her bones.

But this was a public place, and she was accompanied by her roommate. Summoning all her willpower, Ji Zhiwei forced herself to look away.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Gu Yunhui seemingly smiling before her gaze dropped to Ji Zhiwei’s hand, the one Cheng Lanxin had just tugged.

Ji Zhiwei closed her eyes, her neck burning with heat.

“Xiao Wei, do you know her?” Cheng Lanxin didn’t think much of it.

She only thought that if Ji Zhiwei knew that beautiful woman, maybe she could introduce them.

“No, I don’t.” Ji Zhiwei would never admit it.

Just then, Gu Yunhui took a step toward her little canary and overheard the exchange.

Gu Yunhui narrowed her eyes, fixing her gaze on Ji Zhiwei.

After sleeping together for over three years, to say they didn’t know each other wasn’t that a bit too heartless?

Though she understood why Ji Zhiwei would say that.

If their roles were reversed, she wouldn’t tell anyone she knew such a young girl either.

But as the patron, she had every right to be displeased.

Ji Zhiwei felt Gu Yunhui approaching, her heart leaping into her throat.

She longed for Gu Yunhui’s embrace, remembered the arms that, though not particularly warm, were soft and dependable she wanted to be close to her.

She wanted it day and night.

But of all times, why now?

Ji Zhiwei was terrified Gu Yunhui might “cross the line” and tease her right in front of Cheng Lanxin.

She swallowed hard, every inch of her skin tense with anticipation.

“Here for the audition, right?” Gu Yunhui stopped in front of Ji Zhiwei, refraining from any further inappropriate actions for now.

“Yeah! Pretty sister, are you part of the staff?” Cheng Lanxin wasn’t one to shy away from strangers.

Ji Zhiwei was usually this quiet, so she didn’t notice anything amiss, only eager to strike up a conversation with Gu Yunhui.

“Something like that. You can wait over there, the supporting roles will be up soon.”

Gu Yunhui’s eyes were on her canary’s friend, but her mind lingered on Ji Zhiwei.

Only after Cheng Lanxin thanked Gu Yunhui and cheerfully pulled Ji Zhiwei away did Gu Yunhui move.

She reached out, hooking Ji Zhiwei’s pinky, her thumb brushing against her palm before giving it a light pinch like a punishment.

Ji Zhiwei forgot to breathe.

That second felt endless.

Long enough for her to savor every tiny movement, the tickle in her palm, the pressure around her finger, the warmth of skin against skin, all of it searing into her mind, setting her ears aflame.

But the next instant, Gu Yunhui let go, and Ji Zhiwei suddenly wished that second had been longer.

She wanted more like interlacing their fingers.

Unable to help herself, Ji Zhiwei looked up at Gu Yunhui.

Gu Yunhui still wore that flawless expression. Only her lips moved slightly.

Little Gardenia.

Ji Zhiwei saw the silent call.

She wanted so badly to step forward.

The grievances from the past few days seemed to dissolve in that moment. Ji Zhiwei forgot all her displeasure, remembering only the way her heart raced.

But she couldn’t, she didn’t dare. Biting her lip, Ji Zhiwei lowered her head and hurried after Cheng Lanxin.

Cheng Lanxin hadn’t noticed the exchange between her roommate and the beautiful woman.

She was now focused on preparing for the audition, and Ji Zhiwei didn’t speak to her.

Then, her phone rang again jarringly loud.

Ji Zhiwei quickly pulled it out and silenced it.

It felt like a hot potato, she nearly dropped it.

【Angry?】 Gu Yunhui’s message popped up.

Ji Zhiwei took several deep breaths, steadying her trembling hands before daring to reply.

【Not at all.】

【Then why didn’t you reply earlier?】 Gu Yunhui had already entered the audition room, greeting an acquaintance before taking a seat toward the back.

She was free today and, on a whim, decided to drop by after remembering she’d given the girl this opportunity.

It had been a while since she teased her little canary, and it was still just as amusing.

Ji Zhiwei bit her lip again, unsure how to respond.

She had been angry at the time, so upset she didn’t want to reply. By the next day, she felt too much time had passed, so she let it go.

【I forgot.】 Ji Zhiwei tossed out a random excuse.

Forgot? Gu Yunhui wasn’t buying it. More likely, she’d been upset.

Same as last time when she’d stood her up. Fortunately, a few sweet words were enough to cheer her up childish temperaments were easy to handle.

【Do you have plans after the audition?】

Ji Zhiwei stared at the message, flipping through her calendar.

She did. A lot, actually. The school anniversary was the day after tomorrow, and she had plenty to prepare.

But if Gu Yunhui was asking, it meant she wanted her company.

What should she do? Ji Zhiwei clutched her phone, torn.

“Next.” Before she knew it, Cheng Lanxin had already finished her audition.

Judging by her cheerful expression, Ji Zhiwei could tell the results must have been good.

“Sorry, I suddenly don’t feel well. Could you go ahead of me?” Ji Zhiwei clutched her stomach, pleading with the girl behind her.

“Alright!” The girl gave her a long look before stepping into the room.

Ji Zhiwei rushed to the restroom. She turned off her phone, taking five minutes to compose herself.

But the moment she entered the audition room and spotted Gu Yunhui sitting in the back row, she knew her efforts had been wasted.

“Ji Zhiwei, is it?” Lu Peijiu was even seated on the judging panel.

She held Ji Zhiwei’s resume in her hand, seemingly quite interested in her.

“Which role are you auditioning for?” Lu Peijiu asked, glancing back at Gu Yunhui after speaking.

Gu Yunhui smiled back at her, sending a shiver down her spine.

Even the usually stern woman beside her seemed to radiate a chilling aura through the reflection of her glasses.

Ji Zhiwei didn’t know where to look, so she simply lowered her head.

“I’d like to try for the role of Sinan.” This was the supporting female role Ji Zhiwei had previously set her sights on.

Lu Peijiu offered no comment, signaling for her to begin.

Ji Zhiwei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, she was in character.

Lu Peijiu hadn’t specified which scene to perform.

Following her own interpretation, Ji Zhiwei chose the most intense, emotionally explosive scene in the entire script.

The scene demanded exceptional acting skills.

It required portraying a couple, once deeply in love, now torn apart by betrayal for the sake of their country hatred at its peak, yet an underlying reluctance to let go of that love, agony paired with resolute determination.

Ji Zhiwei had practiced this scene extensively, studied references, and even secretly consulted her acting professor. She was fairly confident.

But halfway through, she was interrupted.

The stern woman beside Lu Peijiu was Director Ye. It was she who had called for the stop.

“You, go and run lines with her,” Ye Pingsheng spat out the pen she’d been chewing on and nudged Lu Peijiu.

“Huh?” Lu Peijiu was baffled. She thought the young actress was doing fine, no need for guidance.

Though her technique wasn’t as polished as a seasoned actor’s, her raw talent surpassed even many established stars in the industry.

To put it in others’ words, Ji Zhiwei’s every move was like a performance simply standing there made people feel she had a story worth uncovering.

“Stop ‘ah’-ing. I want to see her limits. Never mind, this makeup isn’t right. President Gu, do you think you could help her out?”

Ye Pingsheng shot Lu Peijiu a look of exasperation, as if lamenting her lack of potential.

She then turned to Gu Yunhui, who was still lost in thought, and repeated herself.

“I don’t know how,” Gu Yunhui said, bewildered as a script was shoved into her hands.

“You don’t have to do anything. Just stand there. If you remember any lines, say a couple. The rest is up to her.”

Ye Pingsheng laid out the instructions, shooting Gu Yunhui another pointed glance that seemed to say, You’re the one who brought her in you deal with it.

Gu Yunhui swallowed hard.

She really hadn’t expected that coming here just to spectate would land her as free labor.

Having never read the script, Gu Yunhui had no idea what was coming. But Ji Zhiwei was already panicking.

“It’s fine, Xiao Ji. Just continue acting to the part where Sinan stabs her lover. If we had a wooden stake here, I wouldn’t have asked her to step in. Just relax treat her like she’s already dead.”

Ye Pingsheng was the type who spoke bluntly but made sense.

Ji Zhiwei thought a wooden stake might have been better.

She looked at Gu Yunhui, imagining the scene where Gu Yunhui had stood her up, then coldly walked away after their agreement ended. She tried to see her as the general in the play, while she immersed herself in Sinan’s life.

Gu Yunhui suddenly noticed the shift in the girl’s gaze.

When Ji Zhiwei looked at her, the affection in her eyes was no longer concealed. For a fleeting moment, it even deepened into profound love yet laced with unmistakable hatred.

Gu Yunhui’s breath hitched.

The fondness she understood, and it pleased her. But the hatred? It stung more than she’d expected.

The next second, Ji Zhiwei embraced her.

Reciting her lines, Ji Zhiwei held her so tightly that Gu Yunhui, who had never been defied by her canary before felt uncomfortable.

Reminding herself this was just acting, Gu Yunhui suppressed her irritation, making a mental note to settle the score with this little one tonight.

As the scene progressed, Gu Yunhui felt dampness on her chest.

Ji Zhiwei was crying hard. The kind of weeping that felt like her heart was being torn apart.

Hearing those lines, for a brief moment, Gu Yunhui felt like she was the character in the play.

The one who had betrayed her country and the lover before her.

Without thinking, Gu Yunhui raised a hand and gently stroked Ji Zhiwei’s head.

Ye Pingsheng watched but didn’t interrupt.

Had she not known their relationship, she might’ve assumed Gu Yunhui was a natural actor.

But most likely, it was just raw emotion.

Ji Zhiwei broke character for a second. Catching sight of Ye Pingsheng’s furrowed brows from the corner of her eye, she quickly slipped back into the role.

Then she lifted her head, delivering a fierce, heart-wrenching accusation, why had her lover betrayed her?

The love in her eyes hadn’t fully burned out, but hatred nearly drowned the gold in her irises.

Gu Yunhui’s chest ached at the sight.

She wanted to say she hadn’t and she did.

Ji Zhiwei ignored her, continuing with her lines.

Gu Yunhui had never felt worse. Her own canary hated her, clung to her while crying, and disregarded her words.

And she had no outlet for her frustration.

Then Ji Zhiwei cupped her face.

Gu Yunhui could sense her hesitation.

The moment was fleeting, and only Gu Yunhui’s deep understanding of Ji Zhiwei allowed her to perceive it, an outsider might not have noticed at all.

Could it be Gu Yunhui’s heart raced a little faster.

The next instant, Ji Zhiwei truly pressed Gu Yunhui’s head forward and kissed her.