So I Had No Choice But to Stop Being the White Moonlight

So I Had No Choice But to Stop Being the White Moonlight – Chapter 100

by Little Panda

I’m Not Going to Be the White Moonlight

Consummation

Yeah, Right.

In the afterglow of sunset, the sea breeze swept past the tree in front of the ancestral hall, its verdant leaves casting swaying shadows on the stone bricks.

It brushed over the figure who had just walked up, bathing her in a myriad of soft light.

Chi Qian never imagined that Shi Jinlan would appear, let alone that she would overhear their conversation and bind herself to the System.

From Chi Qian’s perspective, binding to the System wasn’t a good thing at all; it was terrible. “Why did you just bind yourself like that? Don’t be impulsive.”

Shi Jinlan was unconcerned. “I’m not being impulsive.”

Her expression was serene as she sat down beside Chi Qian. “I’ve been unhappy with that Main System of yours for a long time.”

“But have you considered that by binding yourself, you could be manipulated by the Main System?” Despite Shi Jinlan’s calm and nonchalant demeanor, Chi Qian couldn’t help but worry for her.

But Shi Jinlan remained just as placid, showing no concern. In fact, she seemed eager for a fight.

Her eyes held a slow, bloody sense of slaughter, as if she found the prospect quite interesting. “Then I’ll have a chance to meet it.”

Shi Jinlan was a dangerous person. Chi Qian had known that since she was thrown back into this world.

The more challenging something was, the more interested she became. Chi Qian thought her own attempt at persuasion just now had been terrible, but she also felt a lucky sense of reassurance from Shi Jinlan’s determination.

They both wanted to protect each other.

But advancing and retreating together was also a form of protection.

“Be careful. If you feel anything is wrong, you have to tell me immediately,” Chi Qian urged.

Shi Jinlan nodded, then said to Chi Qian, “This System world of yours… is it blue?”

“You can see it?” Chi Qian was utterly astonished.

“Mhm,” Shi Jinlan nodded.

Ever since binding with Thirteen, she had felt a channel open in her mind.

The channel wasn’t aggressive. By simply lowering her gaze slightly, she could easily see through Thirteen into the mysterious interior of the System. With a little more effort, her consciousness could even enter and exit the System freely.

“This System of yours is a bit…”

Shi Jinlan narrowed her eyes slightly. She showed no great surprise at this other world she had touched. Instead, she thought about it calmly and chose a word that, while not exactly elegant, was accurate: “Trash.”

“Meow~”

Faced with Shi Jinlan’s assessment, Thirteen let out a small, aggrieved cry.

It lay in Chi Qian’s arms, muttering softly, “That’s because you’re too powerful. The Host can’t do that.”

They were both Hosts, yet one was respectfully addressed by Thirteen as “you,” while the other was just “the Host.”

Chi Qian looked at the calico cat in her arms, which was clearly showing favoritism, and discontentedly ruffled the fur on the back of its head twice. “Who was it that said the System wouldn’t praise one Host while putting down another?!”¹

“Meow~ (Host, don’t bully a cat!)” Thirteen protested. With a nimble leap, it escaped onto Shi Jinlan’s lap.

This cat was a natural-born sycophant. It placed its two paws on Shi Jinlan’s lap and began to knead, again and again.

Its round eyes, like two black grapes, gazed at its new Host, doing its utmost to curry favor.

Although Chi Qian had great faith in the solid camaraderie between her and Thirteen, seeing its pathetic display of having found a new, powerful backer made her feel both scornful and annoyed.

“You shameless, sycophantic cat.” Chi Qian reached over and ruffled Thirteen’s fur against the grain again.

The cat let out a cry of protest, unable to resist in time.

Chi Qian, gloating, sat to the side and cackled.

The sun, hanging halfway up the mountain, was ringed by a halo of light that passed, hazy and dazzling, across Chi Qian’s vision.

She laughed without restraint, but her eyes suddenly paused.

The sea breeze was cool and temperate, rustling the leaves and bringing with it a patch of shade.

Chi Qian felt a dazed sense of familiarity with her mood and the scene before her upon seeing the cat act this way.

Now, within the new memories she and Shi Jinlan were constantly creating, she was recovering her lost ones.

But she no longer felt panicked by it. The things the Main System had deliberately hidden—she would find them sooner or later.

Just as Chi Qian was thinking this, a cool hand rested on her head.

Shi Jinlan gazed into Chi Qian’s eyes and said earnestly, in the gentlest of voices, “I am your Host, too.”

Thump! Thump!

With a bang, it felt as if countless fireworks had exploded in Chi Qian’s chest.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the thin clouds, sparkling with golden light.

She seemed startled by Shi Jinlan’s words. Her pupils dilated, and her entire heart was filled to the brim with affection.

Shi Jinlan wanted to tell Chi Qian that they were one and the same, that her glory was also Chi Qian’s glory.

And Chi Qian understood.

The wind blew over. She leaned to the side and, without discussion, rested her head on Shi Jinlan’s shoulder.

In the distance, the evening clouds burned the world red. The sea surged. Having kneaded to its heart’s content, Thirteen curled up on Shi Jinlan’s lap and fell asleep.

The dim yellow light filtered through the leaves and fell on Chi Qian’s palm. She watched the dust motes floating in her palm as the tip of her nose brushed against the warm fragrance of Shi Jinlan’s neck. It felt as if the world was left with nothing but peace.

I really want to freeze this moment forever.

So Chi Qian thought.

A not-so-auspicious thought suddenly popped into her head: A person should die at their happiest moment.

The day before the wedding, a little rain fell on the island for the first time in a long while. The next day, the sky was as blue as if it had been washed clean.

The seawater curled into waves that flocked toward the approaching boats. Against a backdrop of red, the entire island was enveloped in the joyous atmosphere of a wedding.

All the big names in the business world had come. A dense crowd of luxury cars, as if they were free, were transported to the island by yacht.

Chi Qian had never seen such a spectacle. Two days before the wedding, Song Tang had made her stand at the pier for two hours to relax, letting the wind blow on her. In that time alone, she had seen five Rolls-Royces, not to mention Porsches, Maybachs… It was like a meeting of the Celestial Dragons.²

Worried she would only get more nervous the more she looked, Chi Qian quickly pulled Song Tang away.

It was better not to borrow that much pressure in advance. She would leave it for her future self to handle on the wedding day.

“I feel like we don’t even need to put blush on you.”

Outside the room, the lively and clamorous sounds rose and fell, and the red decorations reaching for the sky were a boisterous sight.

Song Tang stood behind Chi Qian, looking at her in the mirror and teasing her about her nervousness.

“It’s not that exaggerated,” Chi Qian denied, fiddling with the pearls stuck to her cheeks in the mirror. “I just feel like it’s a bit of a reckless waste of fine things.”³

“That’s why they say beauty is built with money,” Song Tang said dismissively, opening a box beside her.

“Oof.”

Chi Qian was still admiring her makeup when her head suddenly grew heavy.

The weighty Dian Cui coronet⁴ was placed on her head, making her long neck seem a bit shorter.

“Chest out, head up.” Song Tang steadied the coronet on Chi Qian’s head and tapped her slumped shoulders. “We’ve been preparing for so many days, Ah Qian. You can’t drop the chain now.”⁵

“I know, I know.” Chi Qian straightened her back, which had been momentarily bent by the weight, and reached up to adjust the coronet on her head.

Right now, she didn’t envy ancient transmigration Mission-Takers one bit.

It was too much suffering.

“Meow~ (Host, you look so beautiful.)” Thirteen, serving as Chi Qian’s dowry cat, had also been dressed up. With a red corsage around its neck, it leaped lightly onto Chi Qian’s lap.

It was very interested in the pearls on Chi Qian’s face. Its eyes darted back and forth, chasing the light reflecting off them, and its mouth wasn’t idle either. “However, the Health System indicates that if the Host wears this coronet for a long time, your neck and shoulders will be too sore to lift for the next week.”

“Can’t be helped. It’s just too beautiful,” Song Tang said as she adjusted Chi Qian’s coronet, admiring her masterpiece with satisfaction. “So beautiful. I wonder if President Shi’s cool face can handle this version of you.”

“Tangtang!” Chi Qian’s face flushed when she heard what Song Tang said in front of everyone.

But Song Tang was perfectly serious. She tilted her head to look at Chi Qian, a sly glint in her eyes. “What’s wrong? I was talking about outshining you. What were you thinking?”

“I…”

“Oh, my little ancestor, it’s almost time! You two still have time to chat here? Quick, get in the car to go pick up the bride!”

Just as Chi Qian was about to refute the trap Song Tang had deliberately set, Auntie Zhou pushed the door open and came trotting in.

Song Tang had combined a traditional Chinese wedding with the island’s customs. The wedding would begin with Chi Qian, the local, going to Auntie Zhou’s Hot Spring Inn to pick up Shi Jinlan.⁶ Then, they would proceed to the reef embankment they had chosen for the ceremony.

Auntie Zhou, as the person in charge of picking up the bride, had been busy to the point of disorientation all morning. Not only did she have to deal with the constant stream of well-wishers, but she also had to keep a close eye on the timing of each segment.

So it was that no matter how many times you rehearse, when the official event begins, it will inevitably be a rush.

Besides, how could a smooth and orderly process befit such a lively and magnificent occasion?

As Chi Qian was thinking this, Auntie Zhou shoved a fan into her hand.

The moment the bedroom door opened, she saw the corridor packed with guests. Their gazes made the hand she held the fan with break out in a layer of sweat.

The path from the bedroom to the courtyard usually took less than half a minute, but Chi Qian felt like she had been walking for a century.

The suona played joyous music, and the joyful clamor in the courtyard was even greater.

Just as Chi Qian stepped out of the courtyard, she saw Chi Qingyan through her fan, surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers.

And Chi Qingyan saw her, too.

“Grandfather.”

“Xiao Qian.”

Simultaneously, the grandfather and granddaughter called out to each other with tacit understanding.

Though this was supposed to be a joyous occasion, Chi Qian inexplicably felt like crying.

She looked at Chi Qingyan’s clothes, which he had specially tidied up to be neat and proper, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

But it wasn’t like she was leaving and never coming back, so why was she crying?

Chi Qian squeezed the fan in her hand, unable to understand. So she forced herself to smile, lowered the fan by half a fraction, and sought praise from her grandfather like a child. “Am I beautiful?”

“Beautiful.” Chi Qingyan’s eyes never left Chi Qian. He nodded, then looked at the coronet on her head and couldn’t help but worry again, “Is it heavy?”

“It’s very heavy,” Chi Qian glanced at Song Tang and complained to Chi Qingyan in a small voice.

“Should we put some padding in it?” Hearing this, Chi Qingyan immediately grew concerned and started thinking of a solution for Chi Qian.

“It’s already padded with a thick layer of sponge inside, don’t you worry,” Song Tang quickly came over to calm Chi Qingyan down, explaining, “It’s just that these are all made of real materials, so it’s bound to be heavy.”

“I see.” Chi Qingyan understood and nodded, then urged Chi Qian, “Alright then, hurry up and go. I’ll be at the venue to receive your respects soon. The sooner it ends, the sooner you can relax.”

As he spoke, Chi Qingyan raised his hand and stroked Chi Qian’s exposed hair.

Although he knew that this grand, extravagant wedding was destined not to end early, the soft hair radiated a warmth far greater than any gemstone, its color the most beautiful and real.

“Okay,” Chi Qian replied. With several people helping to hold her dress, she got into the car.

The car Song Tang and Shi Jinlan had chosen was spacious enough that Chi Qian could sit inside with her coronet on without having to bend over.

With no one staring at her curiously anymore, she relaxed considerably. As the car drove on, she looked out the window with curiosity.

Along the way, every single household had hung up red Double Happiness characters and red lanterns.

This was a custom of the island, and also everyone’s blessing for her and Shi Jinlan.

One was the granddaughter of a doctor who had saved countless lives on the island over the years.

The other was a president who, in just three short years, had enabled the people of the island to live good lives.

One saved lives, the other taught them how to fish.

They truly were a perfect match, made by heaven and of equal standing.

Faced with everyone’s enthusiastic approval and blessings, Chi Qian’s eyes grew even redder.

She gazed at the shadowy mountains in the distance, feeling as though she and Shi Jinlan had walked a very long road to finally have this day, making even the blessings seem exceptionally precious.

They were finally getting married.

“Alright, if you cry and ruin your makeup, you won’t look good for the camera,” Song Tang, keenly aware of Chi Qian’s delicate emotions, handed her a tissue.

Hearing this, Chi Qian tried hard to control her tears and said haughtily, “I’m not crying.” But then she contradicted herself by taking the tissue.

The soft tissue soaked up her tears, wetting a small corner.

By the time she handed the tissue back to Song Tang, Auntie Zhou’s Hot Spring Inn was just a stone’s throw away.

Who wouldn’t want to watch the excitement of picking up the bride? Auntie Zhou’s inn was already surrounded by people.

Chi Qian handed out red envelopes all the way. Fortunately, after seeing so many luxury cars yesterday, Song Tang had pulled Yuan Ming into an all-nighter to pack many more red envelopes, so they had enough to “bribe” their way past the people guarding the door.

“Woo! The bride is here to pick up the bride!”

“This bride is so pretty too!”

…

The innocent and genuine voices of children met the opening doors and fell into Chi Qian’s ears.

Chi Qian didn’t look around. Her gaze was purposeful. The hand holding the fan slowly lowered, allowing her to look into the festive, bustling room, searching for Shi Jinlan.

The room was filled with people, bustling and noisy.

Only a conspicuous streak of bright red sat in the center of the room, poised and serene.

Sunlight enveloped the room, casting the other people in Chi Qian’s vision into blurry silhouettes.

The moment she looked into the room, she found Shi Jinlan.

The woman wore a coronet similar to her own, sitting upright on the bed.

The bright red and her cool temperament, which should have been contradictory, merged together, making Shi Jinlan stand out like a crane among chickens. Her tall figure was as straight and distinguished as a pine or bamboo, like a princess from some dynasty.

A fluffy black ball was perched on her, bobbing up and down, curiously watching the joyous people around it. A small red flower, just like Thirteen’s, was tied to its little head.

Chi Qian hadn’t expected Chubei Liang to be so well-behaved. She felt that Shi Jinlan must be a fairy who had descended to the mortal world.

Then her gaze moved up from Chubei Liang, rising to Shi Jinlan’s face.

The Kesi silk fan embroidered with lilies and phoenixes was held in front of her face, indistinct and hazy, outlining her delicate features. It was as if she were hiding behind a thicket of flowers, luring people to step forward and behold her beauty…

“I’m asking you, are you dumbstruck?”

As Chi Qian was lost in thought, Song Tang gently patted her on the back as a reminder.

Chi Qian quickly came back to her senses, looking completely bewildered. “What?”

“What’s this? Struck dumb by how beautiful the bride is?”

“Hahahahaha, Miss Chi, is our Miss Shi that beautiful?”

…

Today, she was the main character. Every action of hers would be watched and made fun of.

Chi Qian’s face flushed, but she didn’t mind.

She had just been mesmerized by the sight of Shi Jinlan, and she admitted it with the confidence of being in the right. “Of course she’s beautiful. My wife is the most beautiful person in the world!”

“Ooooh.”

As soon as this answer was given, the room immediately erupted in good-natured teasing.

Chi Qian was proud and flamboyant. No one noticed the person behind the fan slightly curl her lips into a smile.

“It seems Ah Qian is ready to face the challenges,” Yuan Ming stepped out to manage the scene.

“Of course,” Chi Qian nodded.

“Then, please, Miss Chi, find out which one of these is the real Chubei Liang.” A girl produced a board from somewhere, on which were arranged 4×8 photos of black rabbits.

Chi Qian was instantly stunned. “They’re all black! How am I supposed to find it!”

“But Miss Shi can find it,” Yuan Ming said nonchalantly, glancing at Madam Housekeeper, who had arrived early. “Auntie Chen can, too.”

Hearing this, Madam Housekeeper smiled at Chi Qian from a distance.

After all, they had been colleagues for a while, so she was kind enough to offer, “Miss Chi, I can give you a hint: the ears.”

“The ears?” Chi Qian frowned.

“If you can’t guess, you won’t be able to take Miss Shi away today,” Yuan Ming said. Perhaps from spending too much time with Song Tang, she had also learned her slyness. She smiled warmly and started a countdown.

Seeing this, Chi Qian felt a sense of urgency.

Her competitive spirit was still raging inside her. She could lose to Shi Jinlan, but not to Madam Housekeeper!

Time ticked away. Listening to the countdown, Chi Qian hurriedly picked up a pen and, following Madam Housekeeper’s hint, tried to recall.

Chubei Liang’s ears… they seemed to be rather pink.

With that thought, Chi Qian swiftly eliminated several options.

Finally, only two were left for her final judgment.

Both of these had pink ears and a grassy background.

Which one was Chubei Liang?

Chi Qian narrowed her eyes and decided to bet on her luck.

She found the rabbit on the left quite pleasing to the eye and was about to circle it…

“Ahem.”

Very softly, Shi Jinlan’s light cough sounded from amidst the noisy chatter of the crowd.

Chi Qian’s brows twitched. Hearing the sound, she turned to look at the people around her and found that none of them had reacted.

She began to doubt if she had misheard.

But then she looked up at Shi Jinlan again. Behind the thin fan, there seemed to be a pair of eyes, coolly and seriously watching her.

In an instant, Chi Qian was certain that Shi Jinlan had just made a sound to tip her off.

“You’ve chosen this one?” Yuan Ming asked, watching Chi Qian’s hand hovering over the wrong picture. Her gaze shifted from Chi Qian to Shi Jinlan, and she smiled, imperceptibly letting them off the hook.

“No!” Chi Qian denied it at once.

Since that one was wrong, she would choose the other one!

“This one!” Chi Qian immediately circled the other picture. “This is Chubei Liang!”

Yuan Ming looked at it and didn’t keep her in suspense. “Correct.”

But just as Chi Qian was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she continued, “It’s not over yet.”

Another girl brought out another board and said to Chi Qian, “Next, please find Thirteen among these. And there’s more than one this time~”

The taste of victory hadn’t lasted long before Chi Qian’s triumphant smile froze on her face.

Thirteen was in charge of delivering the rings, so it hadn’t come with her to pick up the bride; it had been taken directly to the venue.

Without this cheat, distinguishing the cats was even harder for Chi Qian than distinguishing the rabbits.

And yet, it wasn’t that hard.

She had spent far more time with Thirteen than with Chubei Liang.

She searched her memory, eliminating the cats in the pictures. Whether she was confirming or denying, it was all done with great familiarity.

Yuan Ming watched Chi Qian swiftly draw her circles and prompted her, “You’re still missing one~”

And it was this prompt that got Chi Qian stuck.

Once again, she was left with only two pictures.

Which one was Thirteen?

There was still plenty of time. Chi Qian stared at the two pictures before her, lost in deep thought.

Her mind was now filled with Thirteen. The calico cat, greedy and not very affectionate, held its tail high, prying open a crack in her memories.

“Hey, how did you break your leg, you poor little thing.”

“Don’t move, don’t move, I’m here to save you.”

“Hey, hey, hey! Be good and let me put on the medicine, or you’ll have a scar!”

…

The glaring sunlight was like a white film, illuminating the dust in her memory.

Chi Qian seemed to smell a mixture of seawater and blood. The cat struggled, and her hands were covered in scratches.

In that memory, Thirteen seemed to have been seriously injured, so much so that it had forgotten she was its Host.

Or perhaps, its master?

Chi Qian’s brow furrowed tightly. As if guided by an unseen force, she noticed a small patch of missing fur on the left hind leg of the cat in one picture.

She was almost instantly certain. Pointing at the picture, she asked Yuan Ming, “Is it this one?!”

A flash of surprise crossed Yuan Ming’s eyes as she looked at Chi Qian, but she quickly suppressed it.

Still smiling radiantly, she said to Chi Qian, “It seems you’ll be taking Miss Shi away with you.”

“Then will you come with me?” Hearing this, Chi Qian eagerly extended her hand toward Shi Jinlan.

The fan blocking her view finally moved. Shi Jinlan turned her head and looked up at Chi Qian.

Her cool eyes were tinged with a layer of bright red, like a red lotus on a snowy mountain. The aloofness in her features made her seem unattainable, yet one couldn’t help but want to draw closer.

Long fingers slipped into her palm.

Shi Jinlan handed the fan she was holding to Chi Qian.

“Wuhu!”

“The brides are departing!”

…

“Ah Qian.”

Amidst the lively noise, Shi Jinlan called out softly in Chi Qian’s ear.

“You’re so beautiful.” Chi Qian’s heartbeat was drowned out by the clamor. She was lost in the moment, involuntarily speaking her heart’s true thoughts.

“Silly kid,” Shi Jinlan chuckled at the sight.

Her long fingers slid between Chi Qian’s, lacing their hands together.

Once again, they were sent off with a shower of fresh flowers.

The vibrant petals, reminiscent of the Flower Float Parade from three years ago, rained down along the path they took as Chi Qian led Shi Jinlan away.

Followed by cameras, Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan got into the car.

Without the gazes of the crowd, Chi Qian felt much more relaxed.

She lowered her arm, which was sore from being held up for so long, and looked at Shi Jinlan, seeking praise. “Ah Lan, wasn’t I amazing just now?”

“Amazing.” Shi Jinlan reached out and gently stroked Chi Qian’s face.

As they drew closer, Chi Qian noticed the exhaustion in Shi Jinlan’s eyes and couldn’t help but ask, “Did you go into the System again last night?”

Shi Jinlan admitted, “I couldn’t sleep, so I went in to have a look.”

She smiled faintly and exposed Chi Qian as well. “Wasn’t a certain someone doing the same?”

Chi Qian smiled sheepishly. “Well, I couldn’t sleep, you know.”

“Did you find anything?” Shi Jinlan asked.

Chi Qian shook her head.

Fishing for a needle in the ocean really was difficult.

But Shi Jinlan seemed to have made some progress.

She squeezed Chi Qian’s hand and said, “I found a little something.”

“What?” Chi Qian asked excitedly, sitting up straight.

“I discovered that the Main System is not currently inside the System,” Shi Jinlan said, her voice steady, yet tinged with a hint of madness. “If necessary, I might be able to make it so it can never return.”

Chi Qian was astonished.

Dark clouds seemed to be gathering over the distant mountains. The sea was calm, without wind or waves. Though the weather was perfect, it gave one an inexplicable feeling that a storm was coming.⁷

But before the storm could arrive, the sound of the suona blew away all clouds of sorrow.

The reef embankment was covered in red. The car carrying the two of them soon arrived at the venue.

The wedding guests had already taken their seats, and their gazes turned in unison to look over.

Yuan Ming and Song Tang were in the car behind them. They dutifully opened the car doors and helped the two brides out.

“So that’s the bride, so beautiful!”

“I heard this Chi Qian is Miss Shi’s savior?”

“A rare case of loyalty and righteousness.”

“I must say, Miss Shi is really generous.”

“A thousand gold pieces can’t buy a beauty’s smile. It’s worth it.”

“And look how well they match. Beauties are just so pleasing to the eye.”

…

Amidst the hushed discussions of the crowd, Chi Qian walked down the red carpet toward the main stage.

Her red dress fluttered, her steps measured.

Chi Qingyan sat in the seat of honor, watching his two granddaughters approach, his aged eyes seeming to have seen the story of all their years.

The trials of the past were all in the past.

He only hoped that from now on, his children could live without a single worry.

Despite having rehearsed many times, Chi Qian still nearly missed her mark.

Shi Jinlan, watching Chi Qian from behind her fan, still found her a little… beneath her calm eyes, she felt an itch to shrink this person down and hide her in her sleeve.

“First bow to Heaven and Earth.”⁸

With everything in place, the Master of Ceremonies’ resonant voice called out to the two brides.

Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan turned in unison and bowed toward the path they had come from.

“Second bow to the Elder.”

Turning again, Chi Qian found herself directly facing Chi Qingyan.

Shi Jinlan’s parents had passed away young, and Shi Hongpin had died unexpectedly at the hands of the Main System. Their only elder was Chi Qingyan.

Their robes swept across the ground, lingering for a moment on the carpet.

Both of them bowed deeply, filled with reverence and love for Chi Qingyan.

Then came the final part: “Wife and wife bow to each other!”

Red fans faced each other, robes overlapping.

The sea breeze blew through their coronets, and the pearls collided, making a crisp, clean sound.

Dignified and respectful, in love and in reverence.

Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan gazed at each other through their fans, their eyes filled to the brim with love.

The Master of Ceremonies watched and shouted, “The ceremony is complete!” Then he continued, “Will the two brides please exchange rings. From this day forward, you will love and support each other, and grow old together!”

As soon as his voice fell, Thirteen, who had been waiting for a long time, walked over from the other end of the red carpet with a small satchel on its back.

The little cat walked at a leisurely pace, its eyes exceptionally determined. Amidst the surprised and curious gazes of the crowd, it walked valiantly and spiritedly, looking exceptionally proud.

“Meow meow meow~ (Hosts! This system has come to deliver your rings! Didn’t I do a great job!)” Thirteen leaped nimbly onto the main stage, its little head held high, and rubbed against their skirts for a good while.

Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan exchanged a smile and squatted down together, scratching Thirteen under the chin.

“You’ll be rewarded with dried fish when we get back.”

“Double!”

Hearing this news, Thirteen meowed happily again. It delivered the rings from its back to their destination, perfectly completing its mission.

The rings rested on fine velvet cloth, like stars that had fallen from the sky.

Chi Qian lifted Shi Jinlan’s hand and slipped the small ring onto her finger once more.

She couldn’t resist gently stroking with her thumb, a barely-there caress across Shi Jinlan’s palm, as she watched her put the ring on her own finger.

“Neither sickness nor poverty will ever part us. We will support each other, walk hand in hand, and never be separated.”

CRASH!

The moment Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan finished exchanging rings and were looking at each other, reciting the vows from their marriage certificate, a wave suddenly crashed against the shore, sending up thousands of white splashes.

The hand Shi Jinlan was holding trembled inexplicably. A highly unstable sound of static buzzed in Chi Qian’s ears, as if trying to break through Shi Jinlan’s barrier and press in.

【[Tying our hair to be husband and wife, our love and affection will never be doubted.]⁹

Plot Complete.]

In an instant, the blowing flower petals hung suspended in mid-air.

Even the guests watching the ceremony were frozen in place.

The sky flickered, and a countdown clock lit up.

【World Restarting in: 00:00:30】

Chi Qian looked at Shi Jinlan in a daze.

Song Tang, holding Thirteen, was also stunned.

Only Yuan Ming remained serene.

Gazing at Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan’s marriage vows, she raised the corners of her lips into a faint smile.

Footnotes

Original term: 拉踩 (lā cǎi), literally ‘pull and step on’. It is internet slang for elevating someone by denigrating someone else.
Original term: 天龙人 (tiānlóngrén). A term from the manga ‘One Piece’ for the untouchable World Nobles. It has become internet slang for the super-rich and powerful who act as if they are above everyone else.
An idiom, 暴殄天物 (bàotiǎntiānwù), meaning to waste natural resources or squander precious things.
点翠冠 (Dian Cui Crown) refers to a type of exquisite traditional Chinese headdress featuring Dian Cui (tian-tsui) craftsmanship. This technique involves meticulously cutting and pasting the bright blue feathers of the kingfisher bird onto a metal base to create jewelry and hair ornaments.
A common slang phrase, 掉链子 (diào liànzi), like a bicycle chain falling off, meaning to fail or mess up at a crucial time.
This part of the ceremony is called 接亲 (jēiqīn), where one partner goes to the other’s home to ‘pick them up’ for the wedding. It traditionally involves games and challenges set by the bridesmaids to test the partner’s resolve.
An idiom, 山雨欲来 (shānyǔyùlái), literally ‘the mountain rain is about to come’. It means the calm before the storm, foreshadowing an impending crisis.
This is the first of three traditional bows in a Chinese wedding ceremony. The second is to the parents/elders (二拜高堂, èr bài gāotáng), and the third is to each other (夫妻对拜, fūqī duì bài).
A line from a classical poem. ‘Tying hair’ refers to an ancient marriage ritual where the bride and groom would tie locks of their hair together to symbolize their union.

I’m Not Going to Be the White Moonlight

Footnotes

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