So I Had No Choice But to Stop Being the White Moonlight – Chapter 97
by Little PandaI’m Not Going to Be the White Moonlight
The Proposal
A wind rose, and the treetops hiding the cold moon rustled.
Chi Qian’s cunning gave Shi Jinlan little time to react. With a press of her arm, she pulled Shi Jinlan completely into her embrace.
The wind in the courtyard dried one’s lips. Chi Qian unilaterally pried Shi Jinlan’s lips open.
Her soft tongue slipped past Shi Jinlan’s teeth, crowding the already limited space in her mouth, tirelessly seeking moisture.
Chi Qian’s invasion was too purposeful; Shi Jinlan couldn’t withstand it at all.
Summer clothes were thin. The light fabric folded in Chi Qian’s palm, and she effortlessly conquered Shi Jinlan’s domain.
A sound like a whimper escaped Shi Jinlan’s throat. The line of her back tensed into a track, guiding Chi Qian’s fingers upward.
Finally, they stopped at a familiar row of clasps.
“Hm?” Chi Qian was a little surprised.
They were both in pajamas, and it was time to rest.
She didn’t remember Shi Jinlan having a habit of wearing a bra to sleep. Could it be that she had put it on specifically to come outside?
It was only then that Chi Qian noticed how tightly wrapped Shi Jinlan’s chest was against her own.
The two snowy mounds were pressed together, casting an undulating shadow against the flat plain of Chi Qian’s chest in the dim yellow light of the bedside lamp.
Chi Qian glanced at her own figure and finally understood why Shi Jinlan had taken the extra step.
That unique propriety and dignified self-possession of Shi Jinlan’s was magnified in this moment, making Chi Qian’s heart itch.
Her warm breath pressed against Shi Jinlan’s neck and settled on her skin.
Burning lust flared. Shi Jinlan then felt the restraint on her back loosen as the binding was suddenly released. Her breathing became easier, yet not entirely so.
After undoing the taboo, Chi Qian kissed her again.
With no underwire in the way, the hem of her top was easily rolled up, hiding a disarray from the moonlight that the fabric concealed.
Before this, it had been a week since Shi Jinlan and Chi Qian had been this intimate.1
That night, Chi Qian had failed to tuck her in properly in the end, and her cold had gotten worse.
Between handling company affairs and recuperating, Shi Jinlan was like the driest firewood in midsummer, needing only a single spark.
Pop!
Like a cherry squeezed between fingers, Shi Jinlan felt a wave of heat surge through her.
The heat flowed like lava, slow yet swift, with no planned path. Everywhere it touched teetered on the edge of losing control.
But in the end, control was not completely lost.
The shoe on Shi Jinlan’s foot fell to the ground with a clack, the sound seemingly striking her on the head as well.
She still remembered what Chi Qingyan had said to her as he left. It was the first task given to her by the person who had just given her his approval.
She had to complete it perfectly.
She could not fail.
Shi Jinlan’s expression suddenly changed. The hazy lust was reined in, bit by bit, by reason.
Displeasure surfaced, but it was accompanied by even more helplessness.
Over the years, as her power grew, she had never restrained her paranoid nature.
So she never imagined that one day she would need to restrain her own desires just to curry favor with someone.
Before Chi Qian’s next assault could begin, Shi Jinlan took a deep breath.
She reached back and grabbed Chi Qian’s wrist, which was about to slip under her skirt. “Let’s talk when we get back, okay?”
“Not okay.”
How could she give up when the prize was right at her lips?
Chi Qian was unwilling. Besides, Shi Jinlan had been the one to take charge last time; it should be her turn now.
Could it be that Shi Jinlan was unwilling?
The thought made Chi Qian even more reluctant to give up.
Her lips brushed against the corner of Shi Jinlan’s mouth as she coaxed and wheedled, trying to get her to agree. “Grandfather won’t know.”
Unable to withstand such teasing, Shi Jinlan swallowed hard.
She clung to the little rationality she had left and bargained with Chi Qian. “Go back.”
“Once we’re back, you can do whatever you want.”
The offer was undoubtedly very tempting.
Who was on top, who was on bottom, whether it was in the bedroom or somewhere else—it would all be up to Chi Qian to decide.
Chi Qian’s mind, which always spun fastest at the most inconvenient times, raced. In an instant, her eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really,” Shi Jinlan nodded.
After receiving a firm answer, Chi Qian planted a flurry of kisses on Shi Jinlan’s face, sealing their contract.
The clingy enchantress from a moment ago instantly transformed into the world’s most well-behaved girlfriend. She immediately lay back on the bed and pulled the covers over herself. “Good night, Ah Lan.”
In the dim yellow light, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled.
Shi Jinlan looked at her, wondering what kind of mischief this girl was plotting now. Calming herself, she let out a light breath. “Good night, Ah Qian.”
Waves surged, washing over the beach and erasing any trace of the previous night.
The sun hung brightly in the sky early in the morning, provoking waves of chirping from the cicadas.
However, compared to the average temperature for the season, the island’s climate was still relatively cool.
Song Tang checked the System’s heatstroke warning and plopped a straw hat on her head.
The hat’s straps fluttered in the wind. She wore a sleeveless top and loose shorts, a look that wasn’t particularly refined but was casual and languid, perfectly suited for the island.
Auntie Zhou had even praised her down-to-earth outfit and stuffed a red bean bread into her hands as she was preparing to leave.
Song Tang walked out of the hot spring inn, unwrapping the bread from Auntie Zhou, planning to head toward Chi Qian’s house and wander around on the way.
It was still early, anyway. She had plenty of room for error.
As she was thinking, she arrived at an intersection.
In the shimmering heat haze, a figure stood by the side of the crossroads.
The light chiffon fabric of her dress billowed in the wind, and her long, brownish-flaxen hair seemed to lessen the scorching midsummer heat.
Gentle and casual, and also familiar.
Yuan Ming.
The name of the person she had just met yesterday had barely surfaced in Song Tang’s mind when Yuan Ming looked over naturally and greeted her. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Song Tang said, surprised. She felt that Yuan Ming was acting far too calm, as if she had been waiting for her on purpose.
But what reason would she have to deliberately wait for her?
Not trusting her intuition, Song Tang asked again, “Are you… just passing by?”
“When I left home, I was wondering if I might run into you here,” Yuan Ming explained gently, then smiled. “What a coincidence for us.”
Her gentle eyes curved slightly, catching a glint of golden sunlight.
This woman’s pupils were incredibly deep. Song Tang felt as if she had been struck.
This woman was too smooth with her words.
Should they really call this a coincidence?
“But it’s still two hours until the agreed time,” Song Tang said, always one to ask questions directly.
Yuan Ming’s expression didn’t change. She glanced at the delicate watch on her wrist. “You’re right. I thought it was almost time.”
Her expression was natural, showing no sign of any premeditation. She then took the initiative to invite Song Tang, “In that case, why don’t I show Miss Song around first? To do some scouting?”
Song Tang, with the bread in her mouth, looked around at her surroundings.
The waves crashed against the shore, sending a cool breeze.
She was a stranger in a strange land; it was better to have a guide than to wander around aimlessly and potentially offend the locals. “Alright, then. I’ll trouble you to lead the way.”
“Okay.” Yuan Ming nodded, then handed Song Tang something from her pocket. “Sugar-free soy milk.”
The container felt as if it had just been taken out of a refrigerator—cool and comfortable in her palm.
Song Tang raised an eyebrow. She was a picky eater, but this soy milk was exactly to her taste. “Thanks.”
The flat areas on the island were mostly used for residential construction. To find a scenic wedding spot, one had to either go up the mountain or down to the sea.
The island had developed rapidly in recent years, and many roads had been built up the mountain. Yuan Ming led Song Tang through a forest and soon arrived at a place overflowing with flowers.
The floral fragrance was like a surging wave.
Song Tang couldn’t help but take out her phone to capture the scene before her. In a daze, she felt as if there was a similar sea of flowers deep in her memory.
“What are you thinking about?” Yuan Ming asked, leaning closer when she saw Song Tang staring at the sea of flowers.
“I…” Song Tang hesitated, then turned to look at Yuan Ming, feeling both drawn to and wary of her eyes. “I was thinking this place would make a great backdrop, definitely very photogenic, but getting down there involves several steep rocks.”
With that, Song Tang walked around Yuan Ming and stepped onto a nearby rock—
“Hey!”
“Be careful!”
Song Tang was about to misstep. The moment her hand flew out, Yuan Ming caught it.
Sunlight filtered through the treetops on either side, dazzlingly golden.
The midsummer heat was suddenly covered by a touch of coolness. This person felt very cool, and in the summer sun, very bright.
For a moment, Song Tang even felt that the person holding her wasn’t human. But then, the place where their bodies touched began to warm up, as if learning human temperature.
Song Tang was dazed for a second, then saw Yuan Ming’s gentle face enter her vision. “Are you okay?”
Song Tang shook her head instinctively, feeling that Yuan Ming’s words sounded strangely familiar.
Unnamed flowers bloomed all over the mountainside, like a flickering, uncertain memory.
Yuan Ming maintained a calm and polite distance from Song Tang. Seeing that she was steady on her feet, she let go of her hand. “If this place is chosen for the wedding, it will need to be properly prepared.”
Hearing this, Song Tang quickly snapped back to her senses, forcefully suppressing the turmoil in her heart to appear calm in front of Yuan Ming. “Indeed. Let’s just keep it as a backup for now.”
“Let’s go check the next place.”
Yuan Ming nodded. “Okay.”
The sunlight outlined Song Tang’s tall figure, her red hair like a torch.
Yuan Ming’s gaze was deep as she followed the figure with her eyes, slowly picking up her pace.
The scent of herbs drifted toward the sky, carried by the wind.
Chi Qian squatted in the courtyard, back to her old trade. Shi Jinlan and Chi Qingyan were sorting and drying medicinal herbs. The morning sun filled the courtyard, creating a perfect picture of the years being quiet and good.2
Chi Qian looked at the backs of Shi Jinlan and Chi Qingyan standing side-by-side, feeling that they had many, many more days like this ahead of them.
They would definitely break free from the System’s shackles and have their own unique, perfect ending.
They definitely would.
After they finished their work, Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan prepared to leave.
As soon as they got on the little electric donkey,3 they received a message from Song Tang to meet at the abandoned Old Stone Embankment by the sea.
Chi Qian was curious and confused about this place.
It was a large natural reef that had been expanded by the islanders and had served as a pier for a while in the last century.
Chi Qian had passed by it before. From a distance, it looked quite unremarkable. Could it really be a wedding venue?
With this doubt in mind, Chi Qian rode with Shi Jinlan to the location.
Before they even reached their destination, she saw Song Tang waving at her from afar. “Over here!”
“Coming!” Chi Qian called back.
The little electric donkey wound down the road along the embankment. The waves surged up continuously, the seafoam like natural flowers, creating a brilliant white trail.
The cool wind instantly swept away the summer heat. Chi Qian suddenly saw the benefit of having a wedding here. Before she even stopped the scooter, she exclaimed, “This place is actually really nice.”
“Did you think it was pretty unremarkable at first?” Song Tang came over, seeing through Chi Qian’s earlier reservations.
Chi Qian smiled sheepishly, then asked in return, “Did you think so too?”
Song Tang remained silent, looking as if she hadn’t. It was Yuan Ming who glanced at her helplessly. “She thought I was going to lure her here and throw her off.”
“Hahahahaha.” Chi Qian let out an unkind laugh at Song Tang’s expense.
“It is nice, and the venue is suitable,” Shi Jinlan said, nodding in approval after carefully observing the area.
“Besides, it was because of this sea that we were brought together,” Chi Qian said without reservation, smiling at Shi Jinlan.
“Yes,” Shi Jinlan replied, rubbing Chi Qian’s face. It all felt like yesterday.
The wedding was just around the corner. Chi Qian looked at the long embankment and ran lightly toward the end.
The wind lifted the long hair by her face, and her thoughts drifted as lightly as the strands.
“Miss Chi, do you take Miss Shi to be your wife?”
Standing on the spot where the vows would likely be exchanged, Chi Qian couldn’t help but hear the common template from novels echo in her mind.
Even though it was just a template, her heart still hammered in her chest.
She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. Her feet tapped on the path of fine pebbles, and with a light step, she suddenly spun in a circle.
Her light skirt fanned out like blooming petals.
But Chi Qian had only completed half a turn before she froze.
Shi Jinlan had appeared behind her at some point, and as she spun, she slowly knelt down.
A wave suddenly crashed ashore, splashing up a curtain of foam.
Shi Jinlan was kneeling on one knee, a small box held in her well-defined hand.
And a diamond ring was right before Chi Qian’s eyes.
The author has something to say:
Lanlan: Proposal time! Red packets for comments
Footnotes
- Original idiom: 耳鬓厮磨 (ěrbìnsīmó), literally ‘ears and temples rubbing together’, describing the intimate closeness of lovers.
- Original phrase: 岁月静好 (suìyuè jìng hǎo). A popular modern phrase that evokes a sense of peaceful, idyllic, and unchanging happiness.
- ‘Little electric donkey’ (小电驴) is a common and affectionate slang term for an electric scooter in China.
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