The White Moonlight I Chased, the Divorce I Never Expected - Chapter 41

The slightly rumpled hem of her nightdress disappeared behind the bathroom door as Chi Yi stepped out to shower in the other room.

Wen Ranqing, still wrapped in the lingering warmth of that final kiss, felt utterly soothed by her words.

She sat alone for a moment, then suddenly her face turned bright red.

Xiao Yi is so bad!
How could she kiss her like that after saying something so serious…

Though there was no particularly strong scent lingering in the air anymore, Wen Ranqing still felt incredibly self-conscious. She bit her lip and began quietly cleaning her body.

In the bathroom next door.

Chi Yi hadn’t actually broken a sweat—most of the dampness on her body wasn’t even her own. Her shower didn’t take long. Afterward, she went to strip the bed and take care of the ruined sheets.

As she reached for a fresh set of linens, she came across the jacket she’d draped over Wen Ranqing that night she’d taken her home.

It was neatly folded and placed aside, almost reverently. If not for the nearby tangle of used suppressant syringes, Chi Yi would never have connected that jacket with how Wen Ranqing had survived her last heat cycle.

She brought the fabric to her nose, breathing in softly. It had clearly been washed—only the faintest trace of Wen Ranqing’s scent lingered.

Chi Yi’s throat bobbed. Something subtle and hard to name stirred deep inside her.

The more time she spent with Wen Ranqing, the more she realized she didn’t fully understand her.

Wen Ranqing’s feelings toward her… might be deeper than she’d ever dared to imagine.

Chi Yi stood still for a long moment. Then, careful to leave the items exactly as she’d found them, she spread out the clean sheets, picked up her phone, and sent a message to Qu Yinan letting her know she wouldn’t be onsite tomorrow due to personal matters.

The sea-crossing bridge was a Ningxing Province project. It wasn’t far, but still a three-to-four-hour drive. All technical specs had already been synced with the team. Chi Yi’s absence wouldn’t disrupt much—her role had always allowed her a bit more flexibility.

After finishing everything, she grabbed a fresh towel and returned to the bathroom to bring Wen Ranqing back to bed.

The room was still thick with steam and comfortably warm.

Wen Ranqing was nestled against the edge of the tub, her skin still faintly flushed. She looked utterly peaceful, her head resting to one side, half-asleep in the warm water. By the time Chi Yi stepped in, she was barely conscious—her eyelids heavy, her breathing slow.

Chi Yi didn’t know whether it was the drawn-out heat cycle or her fault, but Wen Ranqing’s body had clearly reached its limit. She was soft, weak, and simply couldn’t take any more.

Chi Yi’s brows pinched with concern. She gently wrapped a towel around her and lifted her out of the tub. She didn’t care that her own clothes were freshly dry—they were quickly soaked again as she carried Wen Ranqing with painstaking care, trying not to wake her.

The distance from the bathroom to the bed was short, but Chi Yi moved slowly. Her gaze lingered on Wen Ranqing’s quiet, resting face, and she kept checking to make sure she hadn’t stirred.

But just as she placed her gently on the bed, Wen Ranqing stirred and murmured in her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open halfway, still hazy with fatigue.

Chi Yi’s scent, warm and familiar, suddenly seemed farther away. Wen Ranqing’s voice came softly, tinged with unease: “…Xiao Yi?”

“I’m here.”
Chi Yi checked that the air conditioning wasn’t too cold, then lifted the blanket and slipped into bed beside her. She turned to face her, voice low and gentle: “Go to sleep. I’ll stay with you.”

Wen Ranqing gazed faintly at Chi Yi’s silhouette. Her breath slowed. The scent that had become her comfort was close again, calming her racing heart. Those soft, radiant eyes of Chi Yi’s surfaced in her mind—and with them, a quiet sense of peace.

Chi Yi had promised to stay the night.

The thought settled something deep inside her. Secure and safe, she shifted toward her and murmured a barely audible “Mm.”

Chi Yi couldn’t resist stealing one more glance at her in the low light.

Wen Ranqing’s usually pale face was now flushed pink, her features delicate and luminous. Not a trace of thirty showed—though it wasn’t the look of youth, but of a woman who took care of herself, whose bare face held a natural elegance and charm.

Chi Yi didn’t close her eyes for a long while.

Her fingertips brushed over Wen Ranqing’s lips, gently pressing down. She unconsciously wanted to kiss her again—only to be met with a soft hum and a sleepy little murmur of protest.

Wen Ranqing was truly exhausted tonight. Her body was sore all over from the drawn-out heat, and though her consciousness was fuzzy, she still remembered Chi Yi’s teasing from earlier. Now she wanted to kiss her again…

She didn’t really want to refuse Chi Yi’s touch—she loved it, in fact. But she still made a sound to express her “displeasure.”

“What is it?”

Chi Yi didn’t realize she was the problem. She simply leaned in and pecked Wen Ranqing’s lips—only for the woman to bury her face into the blankets, pressing her forehead against Chi Yi’s chest. All Chi Yi could see was a cascade of dark hair and the tips of her reddened ears.

The dignified president of Wen Group—why did she always turn into such a shy mess in front of her?

Chi Yi had to admit: she found it absolutely adorable. Wen Ranqing’s embarrassment, her sweet little reactions—they always made her heart race.

Chi Yi chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Wen Ranqing, still nestled under the covers, squirmed slightly and let out a tiny sleepy sound.

Her eyes had already closed. Warm in Chi Yi’s arms, she was on the verge of falling asleep.

Seeing how tired she was, Chi Yi tucked the blankets around her snugly. Still, she never figured out what had caused that little burst of stubbornness just now.

Not that it mattered. She wasn’t annoyed—in fact, she found it endearing. Her chest swelled with something real and full.

The warmth she held was a presence that hadn’t been there just days ago. A person now shared her space. And even though it still felt unfamiliar… it was Wen Ranqing.

Chi Yi’s eyes stung for a moment. Her heart felt both content and deeply at ease.

She kissed the shell of Wen Ranqing’s ear, thinking—We still need more time. Both of us.

They slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, Wen Ranqing stirred awake with limbs heavy and aching. Her body was still sore, but in her half-conscious state, her heart clung to one hope: that Chi Yi would be here all day.

The comforting scent surrounding her made her reluctant to open her eyes.

“Don’t move… it’s still early. Sleep a little more.”

Chi Yi’s husky voice murmured behind her ear, still drowsy from sleep. When Wen Ranqing shifted slightly, she was pulled back into a warm embrace, their bodies pressed close.

Her heat, finally, seemed to have ended overnight. But Chi Yi was still in her susceptibility period. The soft hum in her throat was like a kitten purring—gentle, obedient. Wen Ranqing’s supple curves brushed lightly against Chi Yi, separated only by the thin fabric of her robe.

It was enough to set Chi Yi’s mind spinning again.

She kept her eyes shut, steadying her breath, clinging to the final thread of restraint—and to respect for Wen Ranqing’s will.

Unaware of Chi Yi’s internal struggle, Wen Ranqing leaned back into her arms. Her body still worn out, she obediently drifted back to sleep.

By noon, Chi Yi woke up, heat burning under her skin. At some point, she’d ended up wrapping Wen Ranqing entirely in the covers, holding her close.

Even so, the warmth wasn’t enough to cool the fire inside her. She exhaled slowly, trying to regain composure.

Quietly, she slipped out of bed, showered and dressed quickly, injected another suppressant, and downed a large glass of cold water to calm the heat surging through her system.

She returned with a cup of warm water—and found Wen Ranqing sitting up in bed.

She was clearly still flustered, awkwardly trying to dress. And just as Chi Yi entered, the silk blanket slipped from her shoulders, revealing pale skin dotted with faint pink strawberry marks.

Chi Yi’s spine stiffened. Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass.

Without pausing, she walked straight over to Wen Ranqing.

Startled, Wen Ranqing reached to pull the blanket back up to cover herself. But instead of pushing her away, she instinctively tilted her head and pressed a soft kiss to Chi Yi’s lips. Her pale neck arched, graceful and exposed—a vision that sent a hot shiver through Chi Yi.

“…Clothes…” Wen Ranqing’s fingers clutched the fabric tightly, knuckles white. Her voice was soft, full of shyness and helplessness.

Chi Yi paused for two seconds.

Then she placed the glass on the nightstand, turned, and walked to the wardrobe. Inside, nearly the entire closet was filled with various sleepwear—lace, silk, cotton, every style imaginable.

Just a glance had her blood pressure spiking.
Was yesterday’s the most conservative one she owned?

Suppressing the heat rising in her chest, she grabbed a black lace set—chosen only because it was the least see-through.

Her phone buzzed.

She turned away from Wen Ranqing to give her privacy while changing and picked up the call. It was Gao Tianzong, his voice urgent.

“Boss, there’s been a technical issue at the component factory. We need someone to speak directly with the project lead. Qu-jie didn’t want to bother you, but the rest of us are already in Ningxing…”

Wen Ranqing, still quietly dressing behind her, was moving gently, but Chi Yi heard every rustle of fabric, every breath.

She frowned slightly but remained calm. “Got it. Tell Qu not to worry—I’ll take care of it.”

The call ended. Wen Ranqing had guessed from the tone alone that it was about work.

She didn’t complain. Of course she felt reluctant—but she didn’t show any disappointment. As if just spending the night with Chi Yi had already made her immensely happy.

“Go on, Xiao Yi. I’ll be fine.”

Chi Yi hesitated. Then, wordlessly, she began changing right in front of her.

The door clicked shut behind her a few minutes later. Wen Ranqing remained seated on the bed, eyes lingering on the faint red marks still fading on Chi Yi’s back.

The factory was on the outskirts of town. One round trip would take at least two hours—not to mention the technical discussions ahead.

Wen Ranqing sat in silence for ten minutes after Chi Yi left. She said nothing, but eventually, her eyes dimmed. The disappointment finally showed.

Chi Yi, meanwhile, made a judgment call. After a brief stop at the office and speaking with the factory manager, she opted to coordinate remotely via video. It was slower than being on-site, but it allowed her to do what mattered most: stay close.

Wen Ranqing hadn’t asked her to stay. She even smiled, pretending nothing was wrong.

But Chi Yi couldn’t bear to leave her alone. Not today.

So she returned to the company to grab her files, then swung by a nearby shop to pick up some light food.

Half an hour later, Chi Yi was back in the building. She’d moved so quickly that she hadn’t sent a message or called ahead.

The moment she shut the door behind her and started changing shoes, warmth wrapped around her from behind. Hot breath spilled over the back of her neck, and despite the suppressant, her heart stuttered.

“…Xiao Yi? You’re back?”

Her voice trembled. Caught between disbelief and pure, unfiltered joy.

Wen Ranqing’s embrace wasn’t tight, yet it clung in just the right way. Chi Yi turned easily, kissed her forehead through a curtain of soft hair, and explained:

“I went to get food. Since I said I’d take the day off, I’ll work from home today. The only thing is… I might not be able to keep you company the whole time.”

The kiss warmed her forehead. Wen Ranqing instinctively closed her eyes, heart pounding at the phrasing—work from home, not your home.

She snuggled against Chi Yi’s shoulder and murmured, “It’s not a bother… I’m really happy.”

They ate quickly. Then Chi Yi joined a video conference while Wen Ranqing sat quietly beside her, reviewing some materials.

They were from Wen Junze.

In just two months, the boy had made remarkable progress—steadier, more thoughtful. The files he sent were well-organized, clearly written, and easy to read.

Chi Yi, on the other hand, was knee-deep in complex issues, her attention fully consumed by the remote call.

Wen Ranqing kept glancing at her. Her eyes followed the graceful line of Chi Yi’s brows, down her nose, and finally settled on her lips, still slightly red from sipping hot tea.

She couldn’t look away.

Thinking about everything those lips had done to her last night, Wen Ranqing’s face warmed all over again.

Chi Yi spent a long time working. As soon as the other side logged off, she looked up—and there was Wen Ranqing, blushing sweetly. Her gaze sparkled like water, yet her posture remained obedient, almost bashful.

Chi Yi’s heart stirred. She pulled her into her lap.

“…Xiao Yi, the computer’s still on…”

Wen Ranqing faced away from the screen and couldn’t see anything. All she could hear were faint murmurs from the call still ending.

She was still in a nightdress, barely covered—and Chi Yi’s hand brushed down her back, gentle but lingering. Wen Ranqing’s ears flushed instantly, her breath catching in her throat.

Chi Yi lowered her head and breathed deeply at the base of her neck, her whole body still burning. She nipped lightly at Wen Ranqing’s cheek, fingers tracing the raised floral patterns on the lace.

Before she could do much more, Wen Ranqing already trembled against her, clinging to her collar with a soft whimper.

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