The White Moonlight I Chased, the Divorce I Never Expected - Chapter 34
Wen Ranqing hadn’t even moved much, yet she was already breathing lightly, her back damp with a fine sheen of sweat. Her dark hair was a tousled mess, its soft fragrance curling in the air. She looked completely overwhelmed—like she’d been utterly bullied.
The elevator ride from the third basement to the top floor lasted less than a minute. This wasn’t a place where anything could really happen, and in a minute, realistically, nothing had.
Chi Yi made no further move. All she’d wanted was to get Wen Ranqing to stop clinging and behave—but she hadn’t expected her to be so thoroughly intimidated that she actually wrapped herself up in the blazer on her own.
Was this the real Wen Ranqing?
Chi Yi didn’t have time to linger on the thought. She strode quickly out of the elevator.
Wen Ranqing barely registered the change in surroundings, but from the bright light of the elevator to the dim, empty top floor, the shift in atmosphere was unmistakable.
“Xiao Yi…” she murmured softly.
Though she had only been here a few times, Chi Yi recognized the layout by moonlight alone. As soon as she stepped into the office, she heard a faint voice guide her from behind:
“The light switch is over there.”
Her heart softened. She walked over and gently set Wen Ranqing down on the soft sofa before turning back to switch the lights on. She no longer feared the dark the way she had as a child—but still, brightness brought a sense of ease.
Wen Ranqing, still cloaked in Chi Yi’s blazer, sat quietly on the couch. The tips of her ears were flushed crimson, and her eyes still carried the sheen of unshed tears. The burning ache in her stomach hadn’t subsided, and now that she’d left the warmth of Chi Yi’s arms, the cold in the air seeped in, intensifying the discomfort.
Instinctively, she pressed a hand to her abdomen for warmth. Then, her gaze drifted back to Chi Yi.
Chi Yi had turned to the side as she switched on the light, revealing a sharply defined jawline, youthful and precise, radiating a confident vitality. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulder. Perhaps it was from recent rest—her pale skin was smooth and clear, not a flaw in sight. Her lips, tinted with bold lipstick, were her only embellishment—bright and daring.
The black evening gown she wore was minimalist in design, exposing slender limbs without an ounce of excess. It spoke of someone who kept fit—not with bulky muscle, but with fluid strength. She looked capable. Strong. In control.
The chill that had briefly quieted Wen Ranqing’s body returned as a smoldering heat. Though still slightly dazed, she suddenly remembered just how long Chi Yi had held her earlier. She spoke softly:
“Your arms must be tired… Want me to massage your hands?”
Noticing her movement, Chi Yi frowned slightly.
“Sit here and rest for a bit. Your earring is in my office—I’ll go down and get it.”
Wen Ranqing wasn’t bothered by the refusal. She simply smiled, her eyes curving gently as she tightened her grip on Chi Yi’s blazer.
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”
Chi Yi turned and walked quickly out of the office, her heart beating noticeably faster than usual. She paused for a moment to steady herself, then headed down four floors to retrieve the earring from her desk.
Just before returning, her steps halted.
She turned back and went to the break room.
Inside were both a warming cabinet and a mini fridge.
Chi Yi hadn’t come here often lately, not since work had gotten intense. She scanned the shelves—no honey in sight. The warming cabinet was mostly filled with milk and fruit juices. Both were good for post-drinking recovery.
Without much thought, she reached for a bottle of milk—her personal preference—and wrapped her fingers around it.
By the time Chi Yi returned to the top floor, the milk was still warm in her hands.
The office door hadn’t been closed earlier, and Wen Ranqing remained in the exact same spot, curled quietly on the sofa, face nestled in Chi Yi’s blazer like it was a precious remedy—soaking in the familiar scent that calmed her down.
No one would cling to someone like that if they didn’t care—not in such an intimate, unguarded way, especially with no one else around. The sight of it made Chi Yi’s heart thump hard.
She set the earring box on the low table within Wen Ranqing’s reach. Without a word, she unscrewed the cap of the milk bottle and handed it to her.
Milk could help slow alcohol absorption and ease irritation to the stomach lining. Even though it had been some time since the drinking ended, a bit of warmth for the stomach still mattered.
The bottle sat within easy reach. Wen Ranqing’s fair fingers wrapped around it with little effort, the bottle large but easily held. She stared at it blankly for a moment, face and ears flushed, her movements sluggish.
Chi Yi pushed the bottle a little closer and said simply, “Take it.”
Wen Ranqing took the milk and sipped gently. Her soft, glossy hair fell forward slightly, concealing part of her delicate face. Only the tip of her pale pink nose peeked through.
Chi Yi averted her gaze, a hint of discomfort stirring inside. Her eyes landed on the neat stacks of documents on the office desk—but at one corner, two small paper bags caught her attention. The design looked familiar, as though someone had forgotten to put them away in the middle of work.
The logo was pale, hard to identify at first glance. But after a few seconds, Chi Yi recognized it—it was from that cake shop.
Her sweet tooth had been exposed long ago, during her first visit to the Wen family home. Back then, she’d made her preferences embarrassingly clear. At just eight years old that summer, she had devoured the entire menu of that cake shop—more than once. She never waited a day to try new flavors. The shop wasn’t far, but it still took an hour round trip. Wen’s mother would sometimes drive there herself; other times, their housekeeper would go.
A few days ago, she remembered Wen Ranqing had come back holding bags from that shop. She’d said she wasn’t hungry, and Chi Yi hadn’t thought much of it. But seeing them now, untouched—it made something warm and bright flare inside her chest.
After finishing more than half the milk, Wen Ranqing felt less discomfort in her stomach. The sheer volume of liquid sobered her a bit, her mind clearing slightly. She remembered something she hadn’t yet done.
“Xiao Yi, sit here for a while, won’t you? Let me massage your hands,” she said sweetly. “That way, they won’t feel sore tomorrow.”
Her voice was soft, almost soothing. Chi Yi didn’t agree, but sat down in a single armchair nearby. “Let’s just talk,” she replied.
“Okay.” Wen Ranqing set the bottle down and leaned closer, not bothered at all by Chi Yi’s aloof tone. Her voice dropped again.
“Xiao Yi…”
As she moved, the blazer slipped, revealing a patch of snowy shoulder. Wen Ranqing looked down to adjust it, her movements slow and graceful. The gesture, completely unintentional, made Chi Yi’s heart itch again.
Lowering her eyes slightly, Chi Yi noticed Wen Ranqing’s phone. The photos inside—it looked like they weren’t in their usual place anymore.
“Mm,” Chi Yi replied vaguely.
“I saw Mr. Wen Xu today.” Wen Ranqing gently took Chi Yi’s arm and began to massage it lightly. Her touch was soft—like cotton. Chi Yi couldn’t tell whether she was sincerely trying to help or just awkwardly flirting, but her heartbeat quickened all the same.
Wen Ranqing was nearly thirty now. Her entire being radiated quiet sophistication. The more often Chi Yi had seen her elegant and untouchable in public, the more she was stirred by the tenderness Wen Ranqing showed only to her.
No one could resist the feeling of being special in the eyes of someone they loved. But for Chi Yi, that feeling wasn’t something she was allowed to indulge in—not yet.
“Ex-wife” was just a label—it didn’t confine her. She didn’t see it as a barrier to action or feeling. But if Wen Ranqing didn’t truly care about her… Chi Yi didn’t want either of them wasting another four years.
Small details, subtle gestures of care—Chi Yi couldn’t help but question what they really meant. She had stayed tonight because she needed clarity.
Wen Ranqing’s softness made her restless inside, but she stayed patient and listened.
“Xiao Yi,” Wen Ranqing said gently, “I don’t want to cause you trouble. I don’t want what we had to cost you any opportunities.”
It was her own assumption, something she had forced herself to believe. As she kept speaking, her cheeks grew redder, but her voice remained calm.
Chi Yi frowned. That might have played a small part—but not enough to make her back down from a valuable chance. Maybe she’d feel awkward bumping into an old colleague or two—but that was it.
Wen Ranqing’s palm moved slowly up and down her forearm, breath hot as it escaped her parted lips.
“He’ll be staying in Beihang for three days,” she said. “The next two days, his schedule is open. If you’d like… you can meet with him again. Talk things through.”
This sort of conversation had never happened between them before—not even during their marriage. Chi Yi didn’t know how Wen Ranqing normally handled things like this, but the fact that she didn’t act on her own this time—that she came to ask first—touched her deeply.
The warmth where Wen Ranqing had touched her lingered, buzzing on her skin.
Chi Yi didn’t ask anything else.
Instead, she pulled her in.
Wen Ranqing landed in her lap.
“Ah…” Her lips parted in surprise, but only a soft sound escaped.
The sleek fabric of the mermaid gown slid upward, and the material between her legs felt shockingly cold. Instinctively, she curled her shoulders in.
Behind her, Chi Yi’s arm braced her back—strong, steady. The warmth of her hand, even though clothing, felt scorching.
The contrast between warmth and coolness struck her at once, and Wen Ranqing’s body became overwhelmingly sensitive.
She knelt on Chi Yi’s lap, a faint flush at the corners of her eyes. Every sensation seemed to replay that one intimate moment they had once shared. The memory, far from fading in her intoxicated haze, returned in vivid, heart-racing detail—every frame sharp as crystal.
Just the thought that Chi Yi might do something made Wen Ranqing’s breath grow short and erratic.
Hot, damp breaths brushed along her neck. One of her heels had already fallen off. Chi Yi leaned forward to remove the other one. Her fingers accidentally brushed against Wen Ranqing’s ankle, and the touch made her foot instinctively pull back. Embarrassment clouded her expression.
Chi Yi wrapped an arm around her waist and hips, gently guiding her closer. That small motion alone made Wen Ranqing’s back soften, her strength slacken. Her hands clutched helplessly at the fabric of Chi Yi’s shoulder, and she murmured, voice tight with uncertainty,
“If this is something you don’t want… I won’t go.”
“There are two candidates being considered for the overseas assignment to Country X. The list hasn’t been made public. I’ll withdraw.”
The scent of fruit-laced alcohol mingled with the natural sweetness of her skin, the combination so rich it became intoxicating. The air between them thickened, and Chi Yi’s focus slipped—the heat of her breath hovered dangerously close to Wen Ranqing’s scent gland.
Maintaining this posture, the force of her presence as an Alpha was like a soft, suffocating net—impossible to escape. Wen Ranqing bit down on her lip, lips flushed a deep red, swallowing every broken breath and trembling sigh. She bore it silently for a while before softly calling her name.
“Xiao Yi…”
Chi Yi’s voice was low, rough. Her eyes didn’t leave the pink-tinged curve of Wen Ranqing’s delicate ears.
“Director Wen,” she asked, “what kind of ‘need’ are we talking about here?”
The ears, like their owner, were soft and warm with a slight fullness—so close to her that Chi Yi’s throat tightened painfully. She forced herself to hold back. She asked again, patiently, because she’d asked once before—and it was clear Wen Ranqing hadn’t fully understood her then.
This time, she needed an answer.
Wen Ranqing froze.
Words that blunt, no adult could pretend not to understand. The flush spread upward from her collarbone, painting her ears a deep red. Even her knees trembled slightly.
The air around them throbbed with tension, silent and charged.
Wen Ranqing’s expression was still full of shame, her voice faint and trembling when she finally spoke.
“I need you…”
“Emotionally and physically… I need you.”