So I Had No Choice But to Stop Being the White Moonlight – Chapter 5

Which Side Do You Sleep On?

To make a good impression on Shi Jinlan, Chi Qian had thrown all her energy into cleaning her room, huffing and puffing for the better part of the day.

The nightstand, snack cart, and various other trinkets she’d bought only to let them gather dust were all assembled. The chair had been transformed from a storage rack back into its original form. She’d mopped the tiled floor three times until it was clean enough to be used as a mirror.

“Whew——”

Chi Qian rolled up her sleeves and wiped the sweat from her brow.

She looked up at the window she had polished to a shine, only to see that the sun, which had been hanging in the sky a second ago, had now sunk into the sea. The moon hung high above the horizon, bright and pristine.

The first day of the mission was about to pass this peacefully.

From the bottom of her heart, Chi Qian hoped tomorrow would be just as calm, and that she might be able to earn some goodwill from Shi Jinlan.

Just a little bit would be fine.

All things are difficult at the start¹, after all. She wasn’t greedy; a little bit would be enough to satisfy her.

“Meow~” Thirteen wound around Chi Qian’s feet and let out a long cry, as if to say she had no ambition.

Chi Qian thought nothing of it.

What was the use of ambition? She’d fought tooth and nail to get ahead in a male-dominated programming company, but didn’t she still get framed by obscene rumors, become a scapegoat for no reason, and then get sent here in a daze before she could even get her revenge?

She didn’t want ambition anymore. Just getting by was enough.

【This is called making steady progress, you get it?】 Chi Qian thought, salvaging her dignity. She gave Thirteen a light tap with her foot. 【Let’s go. Time to get Shi Jinlan.】

The island was silent as night fell, with only the faint sound of waves washing ashore, sometimes soft, sometimes heavy.

A light burned steadily in the sick ward. The family that had said they were coming to stay hadn’t seemed to reach an agreement, or perhaps they weren’t coming at all. The ward was quiet.

The door was open, and a long shadow sat alone on one side of the room.

Chi Qingyan must have pushed a wheelchair over for Shi Jinlan at some point, likely intending for Chi Qian to help her into it when she arrived.

But now, Shi Jinlan had already moved from the bed to the wheelchair by herself.

She hadn’t called for anyone’s help. She’d done it all alone.

A breeze blew through the sick ward, and the sound of rustling pages fluttered a few times.

With one hand resting on her knee, Shi Jinlan sat with her back perfectly straight yet relaxed against the wheelchair, unhurriedly flipping through a book.

Chi Qian stood at the door while Shi Jinlan sat in her wheelchair. The distance between them was neither far nor near, allowing for a clear view.

The woman’s eyes were calm and gentle as she read, and even the black flames that usually radiated a malevolent energy from her body now burned with a natural peace.

Her long eyelashes were slightly lowered, and a lock of hair fell over her shoulder, giving her a natural, innate nobility that made one feel distant, as if she belonged to another world.

Chi Qian had never met anyone like this before and stood frozen at the door for a long while.

But the night wind was sharp, and just before she was about to sneeze, she quickly spoke up. “Good evening.”

Shi Jinlan had just read the first line of a newly turned page when her brow furrowed slightly.

The black flames leaped in Chi Qian’s vision, and then she saw Shi Jinlan look up at her.

Unlike at noon, Shi Jinlan’s gaze didn’t hold as much hostility.

The overhead light reflected in her dark pupils as she slowly raised her head. Her look was languid and sinister; the calmer it seemed, the more it made one’s heart tighten.

Shi Jinlan did not like being disturbed while reading, nor did she permit it.

But the sharp sea breeze blew in, rustling the coarse fabric of her clothes, and the damp air lingered in the sick ward.

Every inch of her surroundings reminded her that this was no longer the past.

Shi Jinlan just watched Chi Qian until Chi Qian felt her heart was about to pound out of her chest. Only then did Shi Jinlan slowly compose herself. “Is the room ready?”

“Mhm, it’s all ready,” Chi Qian nodded, adding, “I got you a quilt that was newly aired out a couple of days ago.”

“Then let’s go.” Shi Jinlan closed the book in her hands and wheeled herself toward Chi Qian.

That was right. Shi Jinlan didn’t need to wait for Chi Qian to push her.

She had mastered the wheelchair in a very short time.

Of all the things she had learned over the years, this was by far the simplest.

But this made Chi Qian a little uncomfortable.

She had already planned to push Shi Jinlan back to the room and earn some goodwill in the process.

Now, she was just walking beside Shi Jinlan. Even though the person next to her was much shorter, Chi Qian, leading the way, could still feel the oppressive aura emanating from her.

Fortunately, the path from the sick ward to Chi Qian’s room was short, and she soon led Shi Jinlan to the door.

The door was open. She took the initiative to introduce the space. “Here we are.”

“It’s very clean,” Shi Jinlan said quietly, glancing inside.

Receiving praise, Chi Qian smiled proudly. “Of course! I spent the whole afternoon cleaning it.”

What an easily satisfied person, Shi Jinlan criticized inwardly, giving a slight nod without saying anything more.

The island night was quieter than the city’s. Once the sun set, it fell into a deep slumber.

Shi Jinlan seemed affected by this as well and was feeling a bit drowsy. She pushed the wheels of her chair straight to the bedside, looked at the bed against the wall, and wasted no words. “Which side are you used to sleeping on?”

“Either is fine with me. It’s up to you,” Chi Qian said.

——She wouldn’t dare make Shi Jinlan accommodate her.

Shi Jinlan glanced at the bed. “I’ll sleep on the outside, you take the inside.”

This would make it easier for her to get in and out of bed.

Chi Qian, of course, understood this. She nodded, about to ask if Shi Jinlan needed help getting onto the bed.

But before she could get the words out, Shi Jinlan had deftly maneuvered the wheelchair so her legs were facing the bed. With a push of her hands, she sat down on the mattress with considerable ease.

The brightly polished lamp illuminated every corner of the room. In a flash, Shi Jinlan was sitting securely on the bed.

The light skirt billowed from the movement she made. Beneath the fabric, her scabbed skin was long and well-proportioned. Faintly visible, it was a hazy glimpse that hinted at her former grace.

Chi Qian was slightly stunned. She finally understood how Shi Jinlan had gotten from the hospital bed to the wheelchair in the sick ward. She couldn’t help but sigh internally: So strong, so beautiful.

“Not sleeping?” Having arranged her skirt, Shi Jinlan looked at Chi Qian with cold eyes.

“I am!” Chi Qian immediately snapped out of her thoughts and consciously walked to the foot of the bed, stepping onto it from the side against the wall so as not to disturb Shi Jinlan.

Click.

The light switch was on Chi Qian’s side, so she became the one to turn off the lights for Shi Jinlan.

Moonlight filtered through the thin curtains into the bedroom, casting the back-to-back silhouettes of Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan in the dimness.

The buckwheat pillow² supported her neck well, but the slightest movement sent the rustling sound of the filling into her ears, an annoying intrusion into her thoughts.

The book said that buckwheat could relieve coughs, calm asthma, reduce inflammation, and lower lipids and blood sugar, making it an excellent material for a pillow core.

Shi Jinlan recalled the medical book she had been reading that evening and gently closed her eyes.

Her legs would require a long recovery process, and she had to make use of the time.

She needed to understand at least some medicine; otherwise, she wouldn’t even know when someone was trying to harm her. To treat a person with their own methods³, one still had to prescribe the right medicine for the illness⁴.

And then, she needed to contact those who were truly loyal to her.

Although many had been bought by Shi Cheng and had betrayed her this time, she had also seen those who were truly loyal.

She had to contact them quickly, grasp everything she could, and link up with everyone possible.

It’s just…

Shi Jinlan frowned slightly, listening carefully to Chi Qian’s breathing.

The person behind her was a problem.

The old gentleman wanted her to take care of herself, which meant this person would likely be by her side at all times.

It would be best if she didn’t become an obstacle.

Otherwise…

A cold gust of wind suddenly hit Chi Qian’s back. Now classified as an obstacle, she shivered for no reason.

Wait, my quilt is on properly, isn’t it?

Chi Qian tried to feel the quilt on her back, complaining internally.

With Shi Jinlan sleeping right next to her, she didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.

Seriously, in a situation like this, how am I supposed to win over Shi Jinlan in the future?

Chi Qian felt a sigh coming on, but she managed to hold it in.

【Host, excessive suppression is not good for your health.】

Thirteen’s reminder sounded in Chi Qian’s mind.

【Then what should I do?】 Chi Qian’s face was a mask of worry.

【Data shows that people are more prone to pessimism at night. It would be best for the host to go to sleep.】 Thirteen seemed sleepy and let out a big yawn in her mind.

【Moreover, if you don’t sleep now, the probability of a headache tomorrow is 98.24%, and the probability of a stomachache is 58.999%. For the sake of your health, you shouldn’t stay up late.】

【If only your health monitoring could be connected to Shi Jinlan.】 Chi Qian’s mind was currently full of Shi Jinlan.

【The host should first make good use of the ability to observe their words and expressions.】 Thirteen replied.

【Stingy.】 Chi Qian huffed, then carefully wrapped the quilt around herself, preparing to sleep.

Although Chi Qian still felt her system was unreliable, it’s not the ten thousand you fear, but the one in ten thousand⁵.

She really didn’t want to be jinxed by Thirteen’s crow’s mouth⁶; the medicine the old gentleman brewed was just too bitter!

Sleep, sleep. Tomorrow, she would need a full tank of energy to win over Shi Jinlan!

The night deepened, and the small courtyard on the island was silent.

But perhaps Thirteen’s crow’s mouth was effective, or maybe it was due to too much stress, but Chi Qian’s sleep was not peaceful. The moment she closed her eyes, the world felt chaotic.

It was likely a case of what you think of by day, you dream of by night⁷. After tossing and turning until midnight, Chi Qian finally fell asleep, only for Shi Jinlan’s black flames to burn their way into her dream, threatening to pounce and devour her.

As far as Chi Qian knew, she had no grudge against it, yet it chased her relentlessly as she ran for her life, from one dark night into another. Then a rock appeared out of nowhere, tripping her and sending her tumbling to the ground.

Seeing that Chi Qian could run no more, the mass of black flames quivered with excitement.

Chi Qian thought she was done for, that she was about to be eaten by the black flames, but what came instead was a gentle nuzzle.

The black flame didn’t want to eat her; it just rubbed against her, like a kitten or a puppy.

Chi Qian sat on the ground, stunned for a long while. Perhaps human fear comes from the unknown. Now that this mass of black flames was acting so docile and cute, it wasn’t so scary anymore.

As if sensing the change in Chi Qian, the black flame stopped its movements.

The flame that had been baring its fangs and brandishing its claws⁸ trembled, and large, black teardrops fell into Chi Qian’s palm. It looked enormous and terrifying, yet also humble and pitiful.

“You… you don’t want to be like this either?”

“Or is it that your master…”

Chi Qian paused, hesitating. Through the black flames, she seemed to see the silhouette of Shi Jinlan.

The wheelchair confined her body but not her presence.

Her calm eyes held a sinister gloom, and a terrifying, oppressive aura shot out, aimed straight at Chi Qian, as if displeased with her question.

【Host!】

【Host, wake up!】

【Host!】

…

【…Huh?】

After being called many times, Thirteen’s anxious voice finally broke into Chi Qian’s mind.

One second she was lost in thought, staring at Shi Jinlan’s back in her dream, and the next she was abruptly yanked out of it by Thirteen, leaving her completely dazed. 【W-what’s wrong?】

【The poison in Shi Jinlan’s body is acting up!】 Thirteen said urgently.

【What?!】

In the darkness, Chi Qian’s eyes shot open.

She instantly turned and sat up, only to see that Shi Jinlan, whose body had been straight when she fell asleep, was now curled into a ball.

Moonlight slipped in and fell on her face, her thick eyelashes trembling.

The flames were burning too, intense and quivering. The dark color enveloped their master, and within the oppressive aura was a hint of pallor, both morbid and fragile.

Chi Qian had never seen such a scene before and was instantly terrified.

She wanted to touch Shi Jinlan to check on her, but the moment her hand landed on Shi Jinlan’s shoulder, she felt an all-encompassing cold.

It was too cold, as if she had just been pulled out of icy water.

The chill was like a needle, drilling straight into her palm, impossible to dodge.

Just as Chi Qian was reeling from this bone-deep cold, the hand she had placed on Shi Jinlan’s shoulder was suddenly shrugged off.

Shi Jinlan gritted her teeth. Just like Chi Qian had seen in her dream, she was sinister and distant, yet she couldn’t control the trembling of her body. “Don’t… touch me.”

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The author has something to say:

Today: Don’t touch me

In the future: Touch me

hahahaha

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