So I Had No Choice But to Stop Being the White Moonlight – Chapter 46

She wants to kiss her.

A long gust of wind suddenly rose from the other side of the sea, wrinkling the still water.

The water’s surface shimmered, just like the innocent pupils of a little girl.

Shi Jinlan was seared by the earnest, clean gaze before her, her expression dazed.

The small orb in her chest that would always inexplicably contract and expand slowly emerged, as if drawn by the word the little girl had spoken.

“Like.”

What exactly was “like”?

Why did this child say the reason she stood up was because she liked Chi Qian?

Her legs had long since recovered to the point where she could stand, it was just that she had been slow to actually do it.

Shadows of people coming and going passed through the path of light, and Shi Jinlan’s vision flickered.

She had somewhat forgotten the pain of standing up back then; she only remembered a single thought lodged in her heart, a very simple thought—she wanted Chi Qian to live.

She just couldn’t lose her.

Could that be “like”?

Shi Jinlan knitted her brows, her extremely complicated gaze falling upon the cane in her hand.

A rare confusion and bewilderment appeared in those dark, deep pupils. Over the years, it wasn’t that Shi Jinlan hadn’t encountered people who pursued her—both men and women, with family backgrounds that could be ranked from high to low for quite a list.

But she hadn’t accepted a single one, nor had she ever been influenced by them.

Expressionless, she would immediately draw a Milky Way between herself and those pursuers. No matter what kind of unavoidable contact occurred, her heart would not be moved in the slightest.

Logically, she should have been the same way toward Chi Qian.

She was just using this idiot to recuperate here.

Once her leg was healed, she would leave. If she was in a good mood, she would take her along.

Just wanting to take her away.

Was this also “like”?

Barely visible dust motes floated in the sunlight, and the fragrance of flowers drifted down leisurely.

Shi Jinlan subconsciously pressed her lips together lightly. The night air was cool, but her lips were warm, a moist sensation still lingering on them.

That was the kiss Chi Qian had imprinted on her lips.

That person seemed to be doing this for the first time, too, pressing forward stiffly, her breath trembling with nervousness.

For a moment, Shi Jinlan thought it was Emergency Rations¹ that had pounced into her arms; that gentle, wet warmth felt just like that rabbit.

Or perhaps, it should be said that the rabbit was like this person.

But no matter what, Shi Jinlan’s heart had been crashed into by this rabbit.

Her heartbeat was like Emergency Rations rebelling in its cage, kicking against her chest one thump at a time, so unbalanced it was about to derail, like an attack of supraventricular tachycardia.

If Shi Jinlan’s inaction when Chi Qian took the initiative to kiss her could be covered up by her not having had time to react…

Then why did she later grab Chi Qian by the waist, pull her in, lift her head, and continue to kiss her?

Kissing was like a downpour in a tropical rainforest—warm, humid, and filled with rising steam.

What Chi Qian failed to do, Shi Jinlan did. She pried open her teeth and intertwined with her.

Impulse?

Or the effect of hormones?

Shi Jinlan didn’t consider herself someone who would indulge her desires so freely.

But yesterday, she had truly lost control because of Chi Qian.

Why did it have to be Chi Qian?

Could “like” be contagious?

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Chi Qian didn’t know if liking someone was contagious, but she knew that ambiguity would definitely be seen by others.

Auntie Zhou held Guoguo’s Little Genius Watch², looking at Chi Qian with a beaming smile. “Qianqian, what’s the situation between you and Miss Shen now?”

Chi Qian, who was still admiring the photo at the side, was abruptly stunned.

She had never imagined that Auntie Zhou could figure something out from just this one photo, the astonishment on her face completely undisguised.

Seeing this, the smile on Auntie Zhou’s face grew wider.

She patted Chi Qian’s shoulder, putting on an expression of someone who understood everything, and took the initiative to tell her, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell your Grandpa. Tell me, is there something going on between you two?”

Wait, how did Auntie Zhou figure out that Grandpa wouldn’t approve of this?

One question after another popped up in Chi Qian’s mind, becoming a medal pinned to Auntie Zhou’s chest.

She never expected Auntie Zhou to be so perceptive. Amidst her astonishment, she spared a second to marvel: As expected of the group at the top of the intelligence network’s pyramid! Truly badass.

After grasping the accurate gossip, Auntie Zhou was a bit impatient. She sidled up to Chi Qian and asked again, “Your reaction… does this mean you and Miss Shen are already secretly together behind the old master’s³ back?”

“No way!” Seeing Auntie Zhou’s guesses getting deeper and deeper, Chi Qian immediately denied it.

She had a clear understanding of Auntie Zhou. Once she knew, the entire village would know.

At that point, even if she didn’t tell Grandpa directly, how could he not know?

From the very beginning, Grandpa didn’t want her to like Shi Jinlan.

It was best to let him find out about this as late as possible, to avoid making him worry—and worrying for nothing at that.

Thinking of this, half of the nervous excitement Chi Qian had just been feeling subsided.

She looked at Auntie Zhou very seriously and clarified, “There’s nothing going on between us.”

Auntie Zhou didn’t believe her, still smiling. “If there’s nothing, why are you so nerv—”

As she spoke, Auntie Zhou seemed to understand something. Her eyes darted, and she switched to a guess that was closer to the truth. “Is it that you like Miss Shen, but you don’t know how Miss Shen feels about you?”

Auntie Zhou, I think we should kick Thirteen out of the System’s position and let you do it!

Chi Qian had never seen such powerful deductive ability; she was completely dumbfounded.

But Auntie Zhou was still tireless, even getting more enthusiastic. “I, for one, think Miss Shen is interested in you too.”

“Look, isn’t Miss Shen’s smile so beautiful, and there’s a hint of mischief on her face. Oh my, this is clearly her taking the opportunity to deliberately tease you.” Auntie Zhou looked at the photo in her hand and began to analyze it for Chi Qian with great enthusiasm. “You see, Miss Shen usually has such a stern, cold face. When does she ever have this kind of action or expression? It’s only like this with you, Qianqian.”

Auntie Zhou’s analysis, coupled with her doting tone and expression, made Chi Qian’s heart thump.

She subtly moved her arm; the shoulder that Shi Jinlan had just held was faintly radiating heat.

Unconsciously, Chi Qian was swayed by Auntie Zhou and asked, as if possessed, “…Is that so?”

Chi Qian thought, the one in the game is confused, while the onlooker is clear⁴…

But for someone like Shi Jinlan, who was so good at hiding her feelings, would an onlooker really be clear?

“Would I lie to you?” Auntie Zhou patted Chi Qian affirmatively, raised an eyebrow, and gestured to her. “Find a chance and tell Miss Shen.”

As she said this, Auntie Zhou glanced around again, lowered her voice, and suggested to Chi Qian in an even more secretive whisper, “But I think today is a good opportunity.”

“Look, the festival⁵ is such a lively and happy event. Miss Shen must be in a good mood too. After it’s over, just tell her. Ask her if she wants to be with you. I think she’s guaranteed to agree.”

“Is that so…” As Chi Qian listened, she herself began to feel herself wriggling and about to move⁶, but a rope of caution was always holding her back, making her feel that Auntie Zhou’s plan was a bit too rash.

【This is a good plan, Host! I support it with both hands!】

Just as Chi Qian was hesitating, Thirteen appeared in her mind with both hands raised.

【What does this have to do with you!】 Chi Qian was a little displeased to see that Thirteen had been secretly hiding in the system space, eavesdropping on her and Auntie Zhou’s planning.

But what displeased her most was Thirteen’s professional ability: 【And another thing, look at Auntie Zhou! She’s way more reliable than a system like you. She analyzes things and gives me ideas. Have you ever done that for me even once!】

【Um…】 Thirteen, in the wrong, averted its gaze, looking at the sky and the ground—anywhere but Chi Qian’s sharp stare.

“Auntie Zhou, there are only six minutes left! Where are your people—!!”

Time passed both slowly and quickly. An urgent voice came from the doorway again.

It was almost enough to tear the heart and rip the lungs⁷, as if trying to be heard over the gongs and drums outside.

“Coming, coming!” Hearing the voice, Auntie Zhou immediately returned the Little Genius watch to the little girl, grabbed Chi Qian with one hand and Shi Jinlan with the other, and headed toward the parade float⁸ procession that had yet to depart.

To the beat of the gongs and drums, Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan passed through the people mountain, people sea⁹ together.

She held up her dress and skirt, moving past villagers in modern clothes. The white gauze was like mist, intertwining with Shi Jinlan’s, creating an inexplicable feeling of eloping.

And the crowd cheered, the villagers along the road seeing them off and applauding, as if celebrating their elopement.

Chi Qian thought she would probably never forget this moment in her life.

In this moment, she and Shi Jinlan were the most compatible pair in everyone’s eyes. And she was not “Chi Qian,” and Shi Jinlan was not “Shi Jinlan.” They were Ah Qing and Ling Ji, a pair approved by the two goddesses.

The sports car Auntie Zhou had rented was truly just as she had described, completely wrapped in fresh flowers.

Amidst the clusters of brocade flowers, Chi Qian lifted her skirt and got onto the parade float nimbly. The next second, Auntie Zhou’s words floated into her ear: “Do as I said, you can’t go wrong.”

The words were quiet and quick. Chi Qian turned her head in a panic, only to see Auntie Zhou smiling at her, looking full of confidence.

Chi Qian hadn’t expected Auntie Zhou to still be thinking about this. Unable to resist her fervent gaze, she gave a quick nod, signaling to Auntie Zhou: I got it.

“The time has come—the parade of floats begins!!”

Just as Auntie Zhou received the silent reply, the sound of firecrackers erupted from the front of the procession.

The red-papered firecrackers exploded with a sky-shattering noise. Chi Qian hadn’t seen such a scene in a long time. She couldn’t help but shrink her neck, mustering the courage not to cover her ears.

“What can’t go wrong?”

But because of that, Shi Jinlan’s voice blasted over.

That calm voice was nearly drowned out by the fervent sound of the firecrackers, yet Chi Qian heard it clearly.

Shi Jinlan’s question was more lethal than the firecrackers, startling Chi Qian so much she nearly shot up from her seat.

“No-nothing…” Chi Qian never thought Shi Jinlan would overhear Auntie Zhou’s reminder, and she stammered in her reply.

She certainly knew her answer wasn’t very convincing. Her fingers touched the flower basket placed next to her seat, and her mind had a rare moment of brilliance. “It’s just, Auntie Zhou told me to tell you to be more enthusiastic later, and that you must throw out all the flowers.”

A lie.

Shi Jinlan looked into Chi Qian’s pupils and got her answer, her face expressionless.

She felt that Auntie Zhou and Chi Qian had a secret. They had been talking about something in the break room just now, both of their voices kept low, as if deliberately trying to prevent her from hearing.

What was it that she couldn’t know…

Shi Jinlan frowned slightly. The inertia from the car starting up caused her to lean back by half a measure.

Light and shadow overlapped, making it seem as if she and Chi Qian were displaced.

As the drumbeat changed its rhythm, the parade of floats officially began.

Nearly the entire island’s population had come out. A massive crowd squeezed onto the not-so-spacious island road, with flower petals and colorful ribbons flying through the air.

In the past, whenever she went out, the area was either cleared or booked entirely for her. Even when attending large-scale events, Shi Jinlan always sat high up in the SVIP seats with the best view. This was the first time in her life she had experienced such a deafeningly lively scene.

When the jubilation sank into the mortal world, the visual enjoyment it brought was not diminished in the slightest.

“Mommy, Goddess Ling Ji is so pretty!”

“Her dress is so beautiful.”

“Qianqian makes a really good Ah Qing. Old Chi’s granddaughter is so handsome.”

“So many flowers! They’re wearing a whole head of flowers!”

“That’s because Goddess Ah Qing likes flowers. If you behave, maybe Goddess Ah Qing will toss you a flower later.”

…

Gongs and drums shook the heavens¹⁰, and human voices like a boiling cauldron¹¹ filled the air. It was impossible to tell which sound could overpower the other.

Looking at the enthusiastic crowd, Chi Qian’s heart also grew excited. She picked up the flower basket in her hand and began to toss flowers to everyone.

The petals drifted down, scattering among the crowd like flurries. The voices of the people were like waves of the sea.

Shi Jinlan didn’t think the flowers in her hand were anything worth fighting over. The figures around her swayed back and forth, and next to every raised hand was a smiling face.

And the one with the most brilliant smile was the person sitting next to Shi Jinlan.

Chi Qian had her hair in Ah Qing’s signature high ponytail, her long hair dark and neat, like splashed ink. Her spirit and energy emitted like the wind¹², exceptionally heroic.

She held her head high, sunlight pouring down from one side. Her thick, curled eyelashes were dusted with gold. Her wild growth was just right.

She was not a flower carefully nurtured in a greenhouse, untouched by sun or rain.

Rather, she was the most vibrant blossom, blooming under the sun, in a wild field, having weathered wind and rain.

She wasn’t necessarily the most beautiful, but she was the most full of life.

Like the sun, dazzling and bright, influencing those around her.

Shi Jinlan didn’t even realize that her gaze had shifted to Chi Qian.

Suddenly, a cool, richly fragrant handful was stuffed into her loosely clenched hand.

“Ah Lan, you do it too!”

Seeing that Shi Jinlan hadn’t moved for a long time, Chi Qian grabbed a handful of petals from her own basket and stuffed them into Shi Jinlan’s hand.

She thought that maybe not everything Auntie Zhou said was right, but one thing was.

In such a lively scene, one must be happy.

She wanted Shi Jinlan to be happy.

Everything else could be put aside for now.

Under the long day’s sun, Chi Qian’s eyes were bright.

She smiled, inviting her, the warmth of her palm covering the cool flower petals.

Shi Jinlan looked at the petals Chi Qian had stuffed into her hand, and her heart skipped several beats.

She calmly, restrainedly, watched Chi Qian scatter petals to the surroundings.

But an insane thought uncontrollably popped into her head.

She wants to kiss her.

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The author has something to say:

Lanlan: Transforms into a kissing maniac, kissing every corner!

Qianqian: Darts off a cliff.

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