Volume One, Chapter 49: Desecration

Chu Xingzhi gazed at Song Qingyu with lingering reluctance, knowing she had misunderstood him.

He wanted to explain, but there was simply no way to clarify this matter.

Meng Yucheng noticed the chill radiating ever more fiercely from Gu Yuandong, muttered a curse under his breath, and forcefully dragged Chu Xingzhi out of the room.

As soon as they left the hotel, Chu Xingzhi landed a fierce punch on Meng Yucheng. His expression was gloomy and terrifying, but above all, he was furious.

“You said you had everything arranged! How did it end up being Qingyu?”

Meng Yucheng, clutching his face, was utterly aggrieved. He had trusted the private detective because the man had helped him with many things. He figured as long as he found someone and put them in Gu Yuandong’s bed, it didn’t matter who it was.

Had he been just a little curious—

Just a moment of curiosity would have revealed that the person the detective called Gu Yuandong’s ‘white moonlight’ was actually Song Qingyu.

Now, Meng Yucheng exploded in anger as well. “You dare blame me? I told you to check tonight, but you didn’t! If you’d just looked, none of this would’ve happened!”

“But didn’t you look? Why didn’t you recognize Qingyu?”

Meng Yucheng laughed bitterly in his anger. “I only saw a silhouette! I don’t love Song Qingyu—how would I recognize her from her back?”

The two hurled blame at each other, growing angrier by the minute.

Chu Xingzhi, unable to vent his frustration, kicked a stone post nearby in rage, only to hurt himself badly.

“Damn, damn, damn!”

Seeing this, Meng Yucheng’s anger eased a bit. He knew Chu Xingzhi was the most miserable in all of this.

His tone softened, “What now?”

“How should I know!” Chu Xingzhi snapped. When the car arrived, he got in and left at once.

Meng Yucheng was left coughing in the car’s exhaust. “Damn… I did all this for you, and this is how you treat me!”

—

Bai Yinian sensibly left space for Song Qingyu and Pei Jingmo.

Pei Jingmo looked at Song Qingyu’s pale, distressed face and apologized, “Miss Song, I’m very sorry. You’ve suffered tonight because of me.”

Song Qingyu shook her head.

Truth be told, both times the private detective had found something, it was because Mr. Gu was helping her, which led to the mistaken belief that she was his ‘white moonlight.’

“Is this your phone?”

Seeing Gu Yuandong hand her the phone, Song Qingyu quickly took it. “Thank you, Mr. Gu.”

The phone had been powered off. Once she turned it on, it was bombarded with countless messages and notifications.

Seeing that most were from Xie Liuzheng and Pei Jingmo, Song Qingyu said, “Mr. Gu, I should head back.”

“Wait—” Pei Jingmo stopped her. “It’s late, and we’re far from the city. Let me arrange for someone to take you home.”

Song Qingyu didn’t refuse. After what had just happened, she was afraid to walk the night road alone.

Pei Jingmo called He Shubai.

—

He Shubai was efficient and arrived quickly.

After Song Qingyu left, Bai Yinian entered the room. “How do you plan to deal with Meng Yucheng and Chu Xingzhi?”

Pei Jingmo changed clothes as Bai Yinian watched, his tone indifferent. “Why deal with them?”

“Hm? You’re not angry?”

“Of course I’m angry.” Pei Jingmo’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “You know the worst way to torment someone, don’t you?”

Bai Yinian understood instantly.

When dealing with a rival in love, it was far more satisfying to let the knife linger overhead, never knowing when it would fall, and make him suffer in anticipation.

Chu Xingzhi was no match for Pei Jingmo. Even before Pei Jingmo took action, Chu Xingzhi would self-destruct.

When he was at the end of his rope, he would inevitably hand over his own weakness for Pei Jingmo to exploit.

“Alright, I should be heading back.” Pei Jingmo patted Bai Yinian’s shoulder. “I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”

Bai Yinian: “…”

—

In the car, Song Qingyu was about to contact Xie Liuzheng when her phone rang—Xie Liuzheng was calling.

The moment the call connected, Xie Liuzheng let out a heavy sigh of relief.

“What’s going on with you? Not answering calls, not replying to messages—do you know how worried I was?”

It had suddenly started raining at night, and the director had added a scene to be filmed in the rain.

Xie Liuzheng, worried that Song Qingyu might catch cold, messaged her to wait at the hotel.

The shoot lasted two hours. When Xie Liuzheng returned to the hotel, she found Song Qingyu wasn’t there.

Opening WeChat, the last message was—

Qingyu Baby: “I’m almost at the film base, do you want anything to eat? I’ll bring it for you.”

After Xie Liuzheng sent her the message to wait at the hotel, Qingyu never replied.

A sense of unease crept in, so she called Song Qingyu, only to get the message that the phone was switched off.

“There was an accident, but it’s all fine now. Don’t worry.”

“What happened?” Knowing Xie Liuzheng’s impatience, Song Qingyu didn’t hide anything.

Upon hearing the whole story, Xie Liuzheng exploded, unleashing a barrage of scolding at Chu Xingzhi and Meng Yucheng.

“That Meng Yucheng was always an idiot, but how did Chu Xingzhi become one too?!”

“How long has he been with you? Of course he knows you’re the prince’s ‘white moonlight’!”

“‘Wrong person’—so it would’ve been fine if it was someone else? What nonsense!”

Xie Liuzheng was furious. Song Qingyu tried to comfort her. “Alright, it’s over now, don’t worry. I’m already on my way home.”

“Okay, get some rest when you’re back. Next time I see him, I’ll roast Chu Xingzhi alive!”

Just hearing the name ‘Chu Xingzhi’ made Song Qingyu’s head ache.

—

As soon as she hung up, Pei Jingmo’s call came in.

“Hello—”

“Qingqing, are you asleep? You haven’t replied to messages or answered calls.”

Before Song Qingyu could speak, he added, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. But without your messages, I was really worried.”

Pei Jingmo’s gentle, soothing voice made Song Qingyu’s nose tingle. “I’m almost home.”

“I’ll come down to meet you right away.”

The car stopped at the entrance of Yunqi Garden.

Song Qingyu immediately spotted Pei Jingmo, wearing only a thin T-shirt.

“Qingqing—”

He walked toward her against the light.

In that instant, Song Qingyu felt an unprecedented warmth. Her heart raced, and she could no longer hold back—she ran to him.

“Pei Jingmo—”

She threw herself into his arms and couldn’t help but cry.

She had truly been frightened today. Had it not been Gu Yuandong, she might already have been defiled.

“It’s alright now, it’s alright. I’m here, don’t be afraid.”

His hand gently patted her back, comforting her tenderly.

“With me here, don’t be afraid—”

Pei Jingmo had said this so many times, and each time, it brought Song Qingyu immense peace. She couldn’t resist that sense of security.

Pei Jingmo gave He Shubai a look.

He Shubai said calmly to Song Qingyu, “Miss Song, I’ll take my leave then.”

Only then did Song Qingyu realize He Shubai was still present. She felt a little embarrassed. “Thank you, Secretary He. Take care.”

“You’re welcome.”

He Shubai left, and Pei Jingmo took Song Qingyu home.

After the shock, Song Qingyu was trembling all over.

That night, Pei Jingmo dried her hair, carried her to bed, and tucked her in. “Sleep now, I’ll be right here with you.”

Song Qingyu glanced at the clock.

It was already two in the morning.

She shook her head. “No need, you should sleep. You have work tomorrow. I’ll be fine.”

“How can I sleep seeing you like this? Be good, sleep—I’m a grown man, one night without sleep won’t matter.”

Outside, heavy rain was falling, accompanied by occasional thunder. Song Qingyu bit her lip.

After a moment’s hesitation, she asked quietly, “Would you… like to sleep together?”