Chapter 29: The Returned White Moonlight (29)

Chapter 29: The White Moonlight Returns (29)

Waves crashed against the reefs, and the urgent wail of police sirens cut through the air.

Yun Jinqiu stood on the beach, the focus of all eyes.

Meng Qianfan approached Yun Jinqiu, his face haggard. "You came?"

Yun Jinqiu glanced at him, understanding the fear in his eyes.

"I came to assess the situation."

Meng Qianfan sighed, turning his gaze to the sea.

Yun Jinqiu nodded slightly. Chloe had already gone to get an update from the police.

The Shang family watched Yun Jinqiu with a complex mix of emotions. While Shang Wenyi’s death would benefit many of them, they never anticipated he would commit suicide—especially not for unrequited love.

How terrifying—a ruthless schemer, capable of framing his own father, turned out to be a "lovesick fool." The Shang family was astonished, yet also disdainful. Once a fearsome demon reveals a weakness, it becomes nothing more than a powerless, wandering spirit. A useless thing, destined to be a mere stepping stone for others.

The salvage team retrieved a wrecked Maybach from the sea. Its front was severely deformed, clearly a total write-off. But the person inside was missing.

Chloe summarized what he had learned and relayed it to Yun Jinqiu.

Just then, Shang Wenyi’s father approached Yun Jinqiu. Behind him walked an elegant and dignified woman, though she was not Shang Wenyi’s mother. Yun Jinqiu surmised she was likely one of Chairman Shang’s many lovers.

Chairman Shang’s health had been poor for years. After only a brief exposure to the sea breeze, he began to cough incessantly.

"Xiao Qiu, it’s been years since I last saw you," Chairman Shang said, overcome with emotion.

Yun Jinqiu had nothing to say. Anything he could think of would feel awkward. So he casually asked, "Where’s Mrs. Shang?" How could Shang Wenyi’s mother be absent at such a critical moment?

"It happened suddenly. She’s still on her way back to the country," Chairman Shang replied indifferently, as if "she" were someone utterly insignificant.

Yun Jinqiu couldn’t help but frown.

"And who is this?" Yun Jinqiu inquired.

The woman behind Chairman Shang appeared a little reserved but held her composure.

"She’s my caregiver," Chairman Shang explained.

"I see," Yun Jinqiu responded.

Chairman Shang knew his explanation was flimsy, but he didn’t care.

"You’re also here for Shang Wenyi, aren't you? I thought you two would never cross paths again."

Yun Jinqiu didn’t deny it. "That was indeed the plan."

Chairman Shang fell silent for a long moment, then suddenly let out a scornful laugh.

"It seems no one cares about him, even in death."

Yun Jinqiu couldn't fathom how a father and son's relationship could become so hostile.

The laughter died, replaced by a wave of sorrow. Chairman Shang took a letter from his wallet and handed it to Yun Jinqiu.

"This is the suicide note Shang Wenyi left. It contains only a few sentences. You can read it if you wish."

Yun Jinqiu hesitated, then took the note. The gray envelope had been soaked in seawater and, though dried, still bore damp stains.

"I am his father, yet his final words don’t mention me at all," Chairman Shang said, his emotions a tangled mess. But at this point, even sighing felt exhausting.

Yun Jinqiu opened the envelope.

Inside was a crisp white sheet of paper. As Chairman Shang had said, there were only a few sentences. The handwriting, pressed deep into the paper, was unmistakably Shang Wenyi’s.

Shang Wenyi didn’t know whom to address the note to or who would eventually read it. He had left two cryptic lines. Without knowing him, it would be impossible to understand what he meant.

"I thought I could be just friends with him, but when I learned he was leaving, I realized that as long as I was alive, I could never let him go. I might truly be sick. I wanted to clip his wings, to keep him by my side forever. I would treat him well, better than anyone else. But I suddenly realized that what mattered most to him was always freedom. He doesn’t like me; he doesn’t want to be with me. I don’t want to disappoint him, so the only option is for me to disappear. Forever."

As Yun Jinqiu read the letter, his fingers trembled. His thoughts were a tangled mess, a fog he couldn't see through.

What a mess. A real mess.

Sometime later, the salvage team retrieved Shang Wenyi’s documents from the sea. They were mostly business papers, their writing already illegible. Police officers in gloves sifted through the contents of the document bag but found nothing important and gave up. Yun Jinqiu glanced briefly and saw it was a land transfer agreement.

Soon after, the salvage team retrieved Shang Wenyi’s wallet from the sea. The cash inside had likely been washed away by the waves. Only a few bank cards remained, along with a photo tucked inside the wallet. The person in the photo had a radiant smile that was hard to look away from.

"Can anyone identify the person in this photo?" the police asked.

At that, all eyes turned to Yun Jinqiu.

Yun Jinqiu was silent. Wordlessly, he stepped forward. The photo had clearly been folded. Yun Jinqiu unfolded the other side.

On the other side was Shang Wenyi himself.

Yun Jinqiu remembered the origin of the photo. It was taken during their high school graduation. He never expected Shang Wenyi to have kept it all this time.

"No trace of Shang Wenyi has been found in the nearby waters. You should prepare yourselves. He may have been washed away by the currents," the salvage team tactfully warned Shang Wenyi’s family that the chances of finding him alive were slim.

Chairman Shang listened, numb. "Do what you can."

"Understood."

...

A gloom settled over Meng Qianfan as he stood on the shore. As the sky grew darker, his heart grew heavier.

*Shang Wenyi was really dead. What was he supposed to do now?*

Yun Jinqiu checked into a hotel by the sea. Chloe was shocked that Shang Wenyi had actually gone through with it and jumped into the sea. He felt Shang Wenyi got what he deserved, but facing the loss of a life, he still felt a sense of solemnity.

The night passed. Yun Jinqiu had barely slept. He couldn’t fall asleep. Even though his mind was blank and quiet, he tossed and turned, unable to rest. Perhaps... the hotel bed wasn’t soft enough.

Chloe knocked on Yun Jinqiu’s door.

"Is something wrong?" Yun Jinqiu asked expressionlessly.

Chloe took a breath. "Shang Wenyi has been found."

"...Found?" Yun Jinqiu lifted his eyelids slightly. "Is it his body, or..."

"Not his body. He’s alive, but he's unconscious. He’s been taken to the hospital." Chloe couldn’t help but marvel at Shang Wenyi’s incredible luck.

"Unconscious?" Yun Jinqiu let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. As long as Shang Wenyi was alive, that's what mattered.

With Shang Wenyi found, Yun Jinqiu hesitated, then decided it was time to leave.

Shang Wenyi's mother is named Bai Jiangli. She is a strong-minded and resourceful woman. It's not that she doesn't care about Shang Wenyi, but she has many important things to do, so she can't look after him. If something important happens to Shang Wenyi, she will definitely not be absent. However, Shang Wenyi is a very proud person; since childhood, he has never actively sought help from his mother. He has always tough everything out on his own.

In a way, Shang Wenyi and his mother are quite similar. They are both strong-willed and have quirky personalities. Most importantly, they both look down on Chairman Shang—one looks down on the father, the other looks down on the husband.

Yun Jinqiu finished packing his luggage and prepared to check out, but was stopped by Bai Jiangli.

"Jinqiu, you've grown up so much?" Bai Jiangli took off her sunglasses and looked at Yun Jinqiu with mixed emotions.

Yun Jinqiu took a step back. Although he grew up with Shang Wenyi, he had only met Bai Jiangli a few times. In Yun Jinqiu’s mind, Shang Wenyi’s mother was very stern and difficult to approach.

Bai Jiangli was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, her long hair tied up, looking very imposing, and somewhat resembled Shang Wenyi.

"Auntie," Yun Jinqiu called out calmly.

Bai Jiangli glanced at the suitcase in Yun Jinqiu’s hand and frowned slightly. "Are you leaving?"

Yun Jinqiu pressed his lips together and did not respond. He understood the look in her eyes—she did not want him to leave.

"Where are you going?" Bai Jiangli asked.

Yun Jinqiu took a deep breath. "I’m going to the United States."

"Can you put it off for a few days? I hope that when Wenyi wakes up, you will be the first person he sees." Bai Jiangli’s tone was not asking but telling.

Yun Jinqiu was silent for a long while before refusing. "No. My flight is scheduled for today."

"Was it booked by that foreigner, Chloe?" Bai Jiangli smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, he hasn't had the chance to book it yet."

"What do you mean by that, Auntie?" Yun Jinqiu frowned.

Bai Jiangli had her bodyguards bring Chloe over. Although Chloe was quite skilled, Bai Jiangli’s bodyguards were elite special forces. Under the suppression of a group of special forces, Chloe stood no chance.

Yun Jinqiu suppressed his anger. "Auntie, I respect you as an elder. But don’t force my hand."

Bai Jiangli sighed. "I know, I know this isn’t right. But I hope you can stay by Wenyi’s side when he is at his most vulnerable. As for the rest, I can’t concern myself with it anymore. In this lifetime, there isn’t much I can do for him. I can only try my best to fulfill his wishes."

"You want to make amends to him by sacrificing me?" Yun Jinqiu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Don’t worry," Bai Jiangli said, putting her sunglasses back on. "Once Wenyi wakes up, I will compensate you."

"Compensate me? What do you think I lack?" Yun Jinqiu asked disdainfully.

"Does anyone in this world have everything?" Bai Jiangli waved her hand, and her bodyguards immediately took Yun Jinqiu’s suitcase.

"Whatever it is, there will always be something you lack in this world. As long as I can afford it, I will give it to you."

Yun Jinqiu sneered. "Auntie, don't sell yourself short. There are many things you can do for Shang Wenyi. Including that psychiatric assessment."

"Psychiatric assessment?" Bai Jiangli raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think it’s fake? Are the things Shang Wenyi has done something a normal person would do?"

Yun Jinqiu was momentarily speechless. So, was Shang Wenyi actually mentally ill? Probably not. But it was certain that Shang Wenyi’s values had been warped.

Half an hour later, Yun Jinqiu was brought to the hospital room.

After a night of emergency care, Shang Wenyi’s vital signs had stabilized. However, he was still unconscious, and the doctors did not know when he would wake up.