Chapter 2

Having accepted the reality of her transmigration into the novel, Yun Yin’s tightly wound nerves finally began to unwind. Exhausted both physically and mentally, she longed only for sleep.

Buzz… buzz…

But before she could drift off again, an abrupt ringtone shattered the silence of the room.

Following the sound, Yun Yin spotted her phone vibrating nearby. She picked it up, and the letters “ZWZ” flashed across the screen.

ZWZ?

Who was that?

In a split second, the name Zhou Wenze flashed through Yun Yin’s mind.

Wasn’t that the male lead’s name in the novel?

The realization struck her like lightning. Without hesitation, Yun Yin hung up. She knew exactly why he was calling.

Her current position was precarious, and she wanted nothing to do with the male lead.

Even though death was inevitable, she had no intention of being tortured to death by the villain.

Besides, all she wanted now was to be a lazy bum, doing absolutely nothing.

It felt as though she had exhausted all her energy before the transmigration. If possible, she wanted to spend her remaining time in peace and quiet, free from all troubles.

Yun Yin didn’t answer the phone, so Zhou Wenze stopped calling and instead sent her a message.

Zhou Wenze: Are you asleep?

Yun Yin glanced at the time. It wasn’t even eleven o’clock yet.

Before she could finish reading, another message popped up:

Zhou Wenze: I was worried when you didn’t answer.

Yun Yin stared at the two messages and replied indifferently, Mm.

Surprised by her cold response, Zhou Wenze remained silent for a moment before sending another message:

Zhou Wenze: A Yin, did you see Pei Yu’s bid price?

Yun Yin’s brow furrowed slightly.

The concern was fake, the last question was his true motive.

In the novel, the original owner had been deeply devoted to the male lead, Zhou Wenze. To help him achieve his ambitions, she willingly sacrificed everything she had to support him.

Alas, the stream flowed with intention, but the fallen flower showed no affection. The male lead had never loved her in return.

Just as the villain had his “white moonlight,” the male lead also had his own unattainable love—except his wasn’t the original owner.

Thinking of this, Yun Yin couldn’t help but purse her lips. She randomly tapped a few numbers on the keyboard.

The message sent, but Zhou Wenze didn’t reply for a long time.

Zhou Wenze seemed stunned by the price.

After a long pause, he finally sent a message: A Yin, are you sure you didn’t misread? I’m not doubting you, but this bid is incredibly high. Do you really think Pei Yu would offer such an exorbitant amount?

Yun Yin glanced at her phone, a faint smile playing on her lips as she leaned back against the headboard. Without hesitation, she replied: Isn’t the high price proof that Pei Yu is determined to secure this land? You understand its true value better than anyone.

Having sent the message, she tossed her phone aside and prepared for bed, not bothering to wait for Zhou Wenze’s response.

As expected, Zhou Wenze didn’t reply again, seemingly convinced by her words.

After all, Yun Yin was completely devoted to him, willing to do anything for him. Every piece of information she had previously provided had been flawless; he had no reason to doubt her now.

Zhou Wenze trusted this time would be no different.

Today had been overwhelming. Yun Yin lay in bed, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep almost immediately.

But not long after she fell asleep, the door creaked open, and a tall, brooding figure entered the room, striding directly to her bedside.

A timely evening breeze swept through, billowing the white window curtains open and allowing the clear moonlight to spill into the room, enveloping Yun Yin’s face in a soft, ethereal glow.

Bathed in the lunar light, she appeared exceptionally serene and gentle.

Pei Yu lowered his gaze to the sleeping figure on the bed. Her slender neck, exposed above the collar of her nightgown, seemed even paler against the dark duvet.

Lost in thought, Pei Yu suppressed the turbulent emotions rising within him. He reached out and gripped her delicate neck.

Then slowly tightened his grip.

Only when Yun Yin’s brow furrowed, as if she were about to jolt awake from her dream, did Pei Yu release his hold, a scornful smile curling his lips.

Seconds later, he turned and left without a sound, vanishing as if he had never been there.

Only the moonlight remained, pooling on the floor.

Back in his study, the bidding document still lay on his desk.

Pei Yu lowered his eyes slightly, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and meticulously wiped his fingers. Without hesitation, he tossed the white silk cloth into the nearby trash bin.

What tricks is this woman planning this time?

He didn’t care, except his patience was wearing thin.

The early autumn sunlight was gentle, bathing the world in a warm glow. A light breeze stirred the white curtains, bringing a sense of tranquility.

But Yun Yin’s mood was far from tranquil.

Despite a full night’s rest, she was visibly exhausted, dark circles prominent beneath her eyes.

She had been plagued by nightmares all night, leaving her mind still muddled.

In her dream, someone had been choking her—and that someone was Pei Yu.

Though it was just a dream, the possibility lingered, deepening her unease.

In the mirror, she saw a girl with drooping eyes, her pale face framed by delicate, exquisite features.

If Yun Yin had seen this reflection, she would have recognized it instantly.

The original owner of this body looked almost exactly like her from before she had transmigrated into the book.

After finishing her morning routine, Yun Yin dragged herself downstairs.

In the dining room, Aunt Lin had already prepared breakfast.

As Yun Yin descended the stairs, she spotted Pei Yu sitting at the table, leisurely eating his meal. Her steps faltered momentarily before she resumed, pretending not to notice him as she took her seat and silently began eating.

After that, neither of them spoke, only the clinking of cutlery filled the awkward and eerie silence.

In the original owner’s memories, their encounters had been rare. This villa was merely one of Pei Yu’s many properties, where he seldom spent the night or even visited, let alone shared a face-to-face breakfast like this.

The book portrayed the original owner as Pei Yu’s “white moonlight,” yet their interactions were pitifully scarce. The author never explicitly explained how Pei Yu’s affection for her had developed, making this romantic subplot feel abrupt and inexplicable.

But did Pei Yu truly love the original owner? Yun Yin pondered, not entirely convinced. If the original owner hadn’t been so cunning, how else could she have obtained Pei Yu’s company secrets?

While such opportunities might have required painstaking effort for the original owner to secure, they were perfect for Yun Yin. She could enjoy effortless wealth, receiving tens of millions in monthly allowance without lifting a finger—it was almost too good to be true.

While Yun Yin was still lost in thought, Pei Yu finished his breakfast and as he stood up to leave, he suddenly spoke, instantly bringing her back to her senses, “You will accompany me to a dinner party tonight.”

“Huh?” Yun Yin, holding her glass of milk, looked up at him. “What would I go there for?” she asked instinctively.

What would you go there for?

A flicker of darkness crossed Pei Yu’s eyes before he countered, “You don’t want to go?”

Hearing his loaded question, Yun Yin desperately wanted to shout, “Absolutely not!”

But the moment her eyes met Pei Yu’s, she felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. “I… I didn’t mean to…” she murmured.

Before Yun Yin could finish, Pei Yu interrupted, “I’ll send someone to pick you up at six tonight.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned and strode out of her sight.

Is this how he treats his white moonlight?

Yun Yin stood there, bewildered. She wanted to say she wasn’t particularly eager to go.

Pei Yu wouldn’t mistake her hesitation for playing hard to get, would he?!

Even after settling onto the sofa, gazing through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows at the lush, vibrant garden, Yun Yin still wondered, Was this even a scene in the book?

The novel had been so long, and she’d skimmed through the plot so quickly that many details had faded from her memory.

Well, there’s nothing for it but to take things one step at a time.

Time passed quickly, and evening arrived.

Pei Yu’s driver was punctual. The clock had barely struck six when the roar of an engine echoed at the gate.

Yun Yin, who had been sitting on the garden swing with her eyes closed, pretending to nap, instinctively opened her eyes at the sound and looked toward the gate.

The man standing nearby also turned to face her.

Their gazes locked across the hazy, golden twilight.

She wore a loose-fitting long dress, her raven hair cascading freely down her back. Her snow-white skin seemed almost translucent in the sunlight, and a clear bewilderment flickered in her eyes when she saw him.

Pei Yu paused briefly, then strode toward her.

Noticing his approach, Yun Yin quickly snapped out of her daze. She stood up from the swing, her voice slightly flustered. “Weren’t you sending someone to pick me up?”

As she spoke, Pei Yu’s gaze drifted to a tiny brown mole on her nose, so small it could easily be overlooked. He couldn’t recall when that mole had appeared on her face.

Under Yun Yin’s questioning gaze, Pei Yu lowered his eyes to conceal the strange feeling stirring within him. His voice remained as cold as ever. “Just happened to be in the area.”

Yun Yin didn’t suspect anything. “Then let me change first,” she murmured.

Without waiting for his reply, she turned and hurried into the house.

She had been sitting on the swing, lost in thought, and had completely lost track of time. And whenever she was with Pei Yu, an inexplicable anxiety would creep into her heart. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he might suddenly strangle her and dump her body into the sea.

It wasn’t entirely her fault for thinking this way. The dream she had last night had felt disturbingly real.

Afraid Pei Yu would grow impatient, Yun Yin quickly changed her clothes and applied light makeup to brighten her complexion before hurrying downstairs.

She jogged to his side, slightly breathless. “I’m ready.”

Though Pei Yu had been waiting impatiently, seeing her like this, he said nothing more than a curt, “Let’s go.”

Yun Yin followed him at a respectful distance. Only when they reached the entrance did she notice another figure standing beside the black Maybach.

Lu Lin stepped forward to greet them. “President Pei, Miss Yun.”

Pei Yu gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.

Yun Yin nodded politely. “Hello.”

She recognized Lu Lin as Pei Yu’s assistant and college classmate, one of the few people Pei Yu truly trusted.

Previously, the original owner of her body had considered trying to drive a wedge between them by manipulating Lu Lin. Fortunately, she had transmigrated before that plan could be put into action.

As they spoke, the trio reached the car. Lu Lin had already opened the rear door.

Pei Yu took the back seat first. After a moment’s hesitation, Yun Yin also climbed into the back, placing her hands on her knees and sitting rigidly upright.

Moments later, the silver-black Maybach shot forward like an arrow, gliding smoothly down the road.

The car was eerily silent, and Yun Yin felt that awkward, unsettling atmosphere return.

After what seemed like an eternity, Yun Yin subtly relaxed her stiff shoulders and glanced sideways, trying to be discreet.

In her peripheral vision, she could see the man’s high, straight nose, his thin lips pressed together, and the prominent Adam’s apple in his throat. The scenery outside the window blurred into streaks, leaving only his sharp, handsome profile in focus.

“Do you find me attractive?” A deep voice rumbled beside her.

“Yes,” Yun Yin answered instinctively.

Realizing whose voice it was, Yun Yin snapped awake as if from a dream. She quickly averted her gaze and tightened her grip on the hem of her skirt.

The thought of having stared at him for so long filled her with a tangled mix of emotions.

How could I have been so entranced?!

For a moment, she didn’t dare lift her head to gauge Pei Yu’s reaction.