Transmigrated as the Short-Lived White Moonlight, I Ended Up Happily Ever After With the Female Lead - Chapter 38

Huo Xiuyuan’s eyes were filled with anticipation, and he blocked the cabin door, adopting a posture that clearly meant he wouldn’t move aside unless Ji Yan’an agreed.

Song Yi’s hands, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, were about to clench into fists again. Ji Yan’an, holding her arm, distinctly felt the movement. Blinking rapidly, she quickly understood what was happening. She hurriedly tugged at Song Yi’s sleeve corner and whispered close to her ear, “Don’t be angry, my Beauty. What does it matter if we just play along with him? He pays, and I can make him give up hope. It’s perfect!”

Whether it was “perfect” or not, Song Yi didn’t know. All she knew was that when Ji Yan’an spoke, the breath from her nostrils sprayed onto Song Yi’s neck. The exposed skin was brushed by warmth, causing Song Yi’s cheeks to flush faintly once more, practically turning red up to her earlobes. Song Yi used to speak close to Ji Yan’an like this before; this time, Ji Yan’an was doing the same.

Ji Yan’an secretly smiled and deliberately continued to breathe warm air. Unable to bear it, Song Yi reluctantly released the fist hidden in her wide sleeve and gently pushed Ji Yan’an’s head away. She didn’t say anything, but Ji Yan’an understood. Stopping the teasing, Ji Yan’an straightened up and said to Huo Xiuyuan, “Alright. However, we left in a hurry and didn’t bring any money, so…?” Ji Yan’an deliberately left the rest unsaid, raising an eyebrow. That look made Huo Xiuyuan instantly understand, and he obediently replied, “I’ll pay!”

Hearing this, Ji Yan’an’s lips curved upwards, and she smiled impishly, wearing the smug expression of a child whose mischievous plan succeeded. Even Song Yi couldn’t help but smile, though she pressed her lips together to hide it. The pitiable “sugar daddy” Huo Xiuyuan remained utterly oblivious, his mind entirely filled with the prospect of spending time with Ji Yan’an. Perhaps this could lead to a romantic connection? Lost in thought, Huo Xiuyuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud, his refined, jade-like demeanor instantly dissolving into that of a simpleton giggling foolishly at the village entrance.

Impatiently, how could Huo Xiuyuan enjoy a leisurely boat ride? The boat had barely crossed half the lake when he clamored to dock. The boatman, of course, had no reason to disobey and quickly rowed the small boat to the shore. Huo Xiuyuan disembarked first, adjusted his lapels, and was just about to turn around to help Ji Yan’an out when he saw Ji Yan’an being held—carried—by Song Yi as they stepped out of the cabin and onto the bank.

Ji Yan’an had only intended for Song Yi to help her, but perhaps because she had been sitting for too long, her legs had gone numb. The moment she stood up, she collapsed into Song Yi’s arms and was instantly lifted into a horizontal carry. Ji Yan’an looked at her in surprise. Song Yi said lightly, “I’m afraid you’ll fall in again.” Ji Yan’an froze, staring blankly at Song Yi’s profile. She had really remembered… Ji Yan’an had said she was afraid of water, so Song Yi simply carried her to spare her any worry. Where could she find such thoughtfulness?

However, being held like this brought Ji Yan’an closer to Song Yi’s shoulder, and she caught a faint smell of blood. This scent instantly reminded Ji Yan’an of Chang Yunjie throwing the teacup. Considering how excited she had been to go out, she had dragged Song Yi along—Song Yi hadn’t had time to apply medicine! “My Beauty… your injury…” Ji Yan’an’s mood sank. She reminded Song Yi apologetically, wondering if they should return to the manor to treat the wound first. But Song Yi shook her head, tightening the arm holding Ji Yan’an, looking completely nonchalant: “The previous medicine was excellent. This small injury is nothing; it will heal quickly.”

She spoke so casually, yet Ji Yan’an felt intensely distressed. Just moments ago, Song Yi had even threatened Huo Xiuyuan for her sake; if Huo Xiuyuan had fought back, wouldn’t she…? Ji Yan’an stopped the thought. Song Yi successfully reached the shore. Many people stopped on the bank, having witnessed a beautiful scene: a woman in blue carrying a lovely, delicate woman in her arms—it was incredibly pleasing to the eye.

Huo Xiuyuan felt profoundly ignored, though thankfully Song Yi set Ji Yan’an down instead of continuing to hold her. “My Beauty, am I heavy?” Since transmigrating, Ji Yan’an had noticed her figure was even better than in modern times, so she was confident about her weight. “My arm is tired,” Song Yi replied. Of course, she knew what Ji Yan’an meant, but she deliberately didn’t compliment her. She walked forward with her hands behind her back, the cold wind lightly lifting a few strands of hair at her temples. Ji Yan’an stared intently, giggling foolishly, and followed after her like a silly girl: “Hehe, if your arm is tired, then it’s tired, hehe… My Beauty, you are truly beautiful!”

Huo Xiuyuan watched the two women completely ignore him. Unable to interject, he could only follow dejectedly behind them. Ji Yan’an continued to compliment Song Yi tirelessly ahead, while the pageboy behind Huo Xiuyuan, seeing his master remain silent, dared not speak either. The atmosphere was completely split.

They walked along the main street of Songzhou, amidst the crowded flow of people. The warm winter sun shone on the ground. Song Yi’s blue long dress swayed slightly as she walked, and the hair strands lifted by the breeze finally settled down. Ji Yan’an reached out and tucked a strand of Song Yi’s hair behind her ear. Song Yi turned her head, meeting Ji Yan’an’s gaze. The two looked at each other for a long, long time until a vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers tanghulu needed to pass, which finally made them break eye contact.

“I want tanghulu!” Ji Yan’an exclaimed, looking at the bright red candied skewers, her appetite piqued. Hearing this, Huo Xiuyuan immediately rushed over, bought one for her, and handed it to Ji Yan’an. “Th-thank you,” Ji Yan’an said, taking the candied skewer with a complicated expression. She looked at Song Yi, who was beside her, and then handed the skewer back to Song Yi: “My Beauty, you eat it too.”

“What about you?” Song Yi asked, taking the candied skewer, her cold expression softening slightly. “Me? I want my Beauty to buy me another one!” Hearing this, Song Yi finally smiled. It turned out that the moment Ji Yan’an said she wanted tanghulu, Song Yi had already taken out money to buy one, but Huo Xiuyuan had beaten her to it. Ji Yan’an noticed this. She refused to eat the one Huo Xiuyuan bought and would only eat the one Song Yi bought for her. “Alright,” Song Yi said, a surge of warmth filling her heart. She took out money and bought two more skewers: one for Ji Yan’an and one for herself. As for the one Huo Xiuyuan bought, Song Yi simply returned it to him.

“But… didn’t Yan’an say she didn’t bring any money?” Huo Xiuyuan looked at the tanghulu in his hand, feeling that his sole function—paying—might also be unnecessary now. “Mind your address,” Song Yi said, her face turning cold. Huo Xiuyuan was calling her “Yan’an” so intimately, and Song Yi found it deeply irritating.

Ji Yan’an, who had been standing still, intending to quietly eat her tanghulu, saw Song Yi’s demeanor and feared the two might start fighting again. She quickly pulled Song Yi away, pointing up and around, anything to distract Song Yi. Huo Xiuyuan flicked his sleeve and continued to follow, full of suppressed frustration.

The street was crowded with people. Commoners in cloth clothing were busy procuring things needed for the coming New Year. Even with meager means, they did not lose their passion for life. Ji Yan’an stood in front of a stall, watching the flow of people while eating her tanghulu. She suddenly felt that living like this forever would be quite wonderful—beautiful scenery, peaceful and contented citizens. It turned out this was the magnificent land described by the original author. Ji Yan’an had never seen the streets of the capital, but she knew she loved the feeling of Songzhou.

Song Yi watched Ji Yan’an, whose eyes sparkled with stars, delighted by everything and cheerful at every sight. Song Yi’s heart calmed down alongside hers. The dark days seemed never to have existed. Now, only by being close to Ji Yan’an, her little sun, could Song Yi feel warmth and forget the past.

Huo Xiuyuan watched the two women holding hands right in front of him, feeling utterly depressed. He had brought Ji Yan’an out specifically to reminisce about their childhood, but why did Ji Yan’an act as if she hadn’t remembered anything? Regardless of whether or not a place was somewhere they used to play as children, there was no trace of recognition in Ji Yan’an’s eyes—only novelty. “Yan… Miss Ji, do you still remember the restaurant we often went to as children? It’s still there—a century-old establishment. Why don’t I treat you? Shall we go eat together?” Huo Xiuyuan had guided the two around for most of the morning without Ji Yan’an recalling anything, so he resorted to his last great tactic.

The restaurant was called Xing Zui Lou Star Drunk Tower, a beautiful name. Its interior furnishings were indeed exquisite, and its ability to remain standing in Songzhou proved its worth. When the manager saw Huo Xiuyuan and recognized Ji Yan’an’s identity, he spoke cautiously, afraid of displeasing either of the important guests: “It’s been many years. Miss Ji has finally returned to Songzhou! May I ask what you would like to eat?”

Ji Yan’an had never been to the Xing Zui Lou before and didn’t even know what dishes they had, so how could she possibly speak up? She decisively pulled Huo Xiuyuan in to serve as a shield: “Didn’t Young Master Huo offer to treat us? We’ll leave today’s menu entirely up to Young Master Huo.”

“Then shall we order all the meat dishes we used to eat as children?” Huo Xiuyuan was eager for Ji Yan’an to let him order, hoping that doing so would help Ji Yan’an recall more of their younger days together. Seeing Huo Xiuyuan’s persistence, Ji Yan’an inwardly sighed, nodded, and allowed him to proceed. She and Song Yi were then led by a pageboy to a private room upstairs.

“Didn’t Young Master Huo… get married a long time ago?” The waiter, who had been watching all this from afar, asked a nearby tea-drinker. The tea-drinker was also baffled. He set down his teacup and pondered: “That’s right, he only got married a year ago. Originally, he said he was going to wait for Miss Ji’s return. It was the Old Madam of the Ji manor who persuaded him to settle down and honestly marry the Chang family’s Second Concubine-born Miss. But now… why is he still associating with Miss Ji?”

The waiter clicked his tongue, muttering that the Chang Second Miss was ill-fated, and perhaps a letter of divorce would be issued to send her out tomorrow.

Just then, a maid from the Chang residence emerged from the back kitchen and overheard everything clearly. She never imagined her own Young Master Huo Xiuyuan, her mistress’s husband would still be flirting around. While she was seething with anger, the waiter saw her and hurriedly pretended everything was normal, asking, “Young Mistress, have you picked up the food?” It turned out the Chang Second Miss had heard her husband liked the food here and specifically sent someone to buy it, which is how the maid ended up hearing the conversation between the waiter and the tea-drinker.

“Forget the food for now, what were you just discussing!” The maid felt deep resentment on behalf of her mistress. The waiter and the man exchanged glances and had no choice but to repeat the conversation. After hearing it, the maid put the food she was holding on the table and ran out of the Xing Zui Lou. It looked like she was going to find the Chang Second Miss.

“Did we… cause trouble?” The waiter was trembling with fear. The tea-drinker was no better off; he stopped drinking his tea and continuously wiped away cold sweat: “I estimate the Chang Second Miss will be here shortly. Miss Ji definitely isn’t interested in Huo Xiuyuan, so Young Master Huo will end up pleasing neither side. Take care, brother, I’m taking my leave.” He then left a few taels for the tea and ran off, leaving the waiter behind to groan miserably.

Upstairs, Huo Xiuyuan remained blissfully unaware of what was about to happen, still happily ordering dishes.