The White Moonlight is So Scheming - Chapter 13

Stewed yam with black chicken, steamed perch, sweet and sour shrimp, and the appetizing sour soup with beef; each dish was vibrant in color, the aroma of the food wafting through the air.

Yet, it felt like a ticking time bomb was strapped to her body.

No matter how sumptuous the spread was, Shen Juexia, seated at the dining table, found everything tasteless.

She felt as though a giant snail was relentlessly chasing her from behind. If she moved fast, the snail sped up; if she slowed
down, it would devour her whole.

And this terrifying snail—

Had Shen Congjun’s disgusting face plastered on its head.

Clink. Shen Juexia set down her spoon. “Aunt Liu, I’m done.”

Aunt Liu, who had been tidying up in the kitchen, immediately put down the cloth in her hands and walked over, her eyes filled with
concern. “Miss, was the food not to your liking today?”

Shen Juexia shook her head lightly in silence.

Standing up, she said, “I had some sweet soup earlier and couldn’t eat much else. I tried every dish tonight, they were all
delicious. I just don’t have an appetite.”

“But…” Aunt Liu licked her lips anxiously.

Before the eldest young lady went abroad, she had repeatedly emphasized the importance of ensuring the second young lady ate well
for every meal. And now, after fainting just this afternoon, she wasn’t eating properly in the evening. How could this be?

Understanding Aunt Liu’s worry, Shen Juexia reassured her gently, “I really don’t feel like eating right now. If I get hungry
later, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright! But please remember to call me if you do get hungry,” Aunt Liu nodded repeatedly. “Anytime is fine, just say the word.”

Without turning back, Shen Juexia waved her hand listlessly and trudged upstairs.

Flipping on the bedroom light, Shen Juexia kicked off her fluffy slippers and buried herself under the covers.

Ji Zhijie was unpredictable.

She had no idea how to make her like her.

And the entire plan had to be carried out in secret, without her sister finding out about Ji Zhijie’s unusual background.

“Damn it all!” Shen Juexia grabbed the plush toy beside her pillow and banged her head against it several times.

Beep!

A notification chimed.

“Tch…” Shen Juexia wrinkled her nose in displeasure, pouting as she picked up her phone.

Her finger hovered mid-air, about to switch to WeChat, but when the screen lit up, her eyes dimmed with disappointment.

Displayed before her—

Over thirty missed calls, all from an hour ago.
All from her sister.

No wonder her sister had been so frantic and angry earlier…

Guilt, remorse, shame.

At this moment, a thought flashed through Shen Juexia’s mind: Maybe I should just confess everything.

Her gaze wandered around the room, her expression conflicted.

This was her and her sister’s home.

Just because she had been unhappy living in the old family estate, her sister had gone out of her way to negotiate with their
grandfather and resolutely moved out with her, buying this garden villa.

Every brick and tile in this house—

From the decor of each bedroom to the paintings in the hallway had been handpicked by the two of them together.

Would they ever see each other again?

If she stripped away her identity as the Shen family’s young lady, someone as useless as her would probably never have crossed
paths with her sister in this lifetime.

Ji Zhijie was clever.

Although her temper was a bit peculiar, she excelled academically and was just as beautiful as her sister.

If her sister’s younger sister were her…

Would the burden on her sister’s shoulders have been much lighter all this time?

“Beep beep!”

The sharp notification sound snapped Shen Juexia out of her thoughts.

“Xia Xia, it was my fault earlier.”

“I shouldn’t have spoken to you in that tone.”

“You have the right to choose your friends freely, and I trust your judgment.”

She pressed her tongue hard against the roof of her mouth, but tears still fell uncontrollably in large drops. Shen Juexia felt as
if her heart had been completely pierced by soft, icy shards.

Her sister was truly too good.

But the kinder her sister was, the more despicable her own thoughts became.

A sister like this…

She really didn’t want to hand her over to someone else.

“Sis, I didn’t bring my phone when I went downstairs earlier, so I missed your calls.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had called me so many times. I made you worry.”

Biting her lip lightly, Shen Juexia’s fingertips trembled slightly. “Sis, I love you so much. Can I stay by your side forever?”
Shen Tinghan hadn’t properly stopped the bleeding earlier.

So, the wound began to bleed again, staining the white gauze with splotches of red.

Glancing down at the bandage wrapped around her ankle, Shen Tinghan clenched her palm, silently warning herself.

A bitter smile flickered in her eyes.

She tapped the screen lightly and sent the message: “Xia Xia, you’ll meet someone you truly want to spend your life with someday. I
can only accompany you as you grow up.”

The moment she received the reply, countless thoughts surged through Shen Juexia’s mind.

But in the end…

She simply replied: “Okay. I’ll listen to you, sis.”

Staring at the sticker Shen Juexia had sent. Two little rabbits snuggled tightly together. Shen Tinghan curled her lips slightly.

One should learn to be content.

Being able to walk a part of life’s journey with Xia Xia was already something to be grateful for. She shouldn’t dare to reach for
the Pandora’s box that should never have been opened.

“Take good care of yourself.”

“Mm!”

Sprawled on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, Shen Juexia felt both heavy and lighthearted.

Lighthearted because…

She had finally reached a conclusion. And heavy because she felt hypocritical and selfish.

How ridiculous.

Every time the thought of confessing crossed her mind, scenes of the truth coming to light would automatically flash before her
eyes.

She didn’t care how important the sisters’ reunion would be for Shen Tinghan and Ji Zhijie. Her mind was only occupied with her own
considerations.

If it really came to that…

What would she do? Where would she go after leaving the Shen family?

Clearly, this was a question without an answer.

Or rather, it was a question whose answer she didn’t dare to know.

When weighed against the fear of losing her sister, the guilt in her heart was insignificant, almost negligible.

Shen Congjun was right.

She really was a selfish, rotten seed.

But so what?

Right now, she was the only one who knew the cards in play. Since fate itself was on her side, why should she make things difficult
for herself?

What she wanted wasn’t excessive. If Ji Zhijie successfully fell for her, she would personally reveal the truth. But if not…

Then it would only prove this truth.

There was no need to be discovered.

After confronting the darkness within her heart, Shen Juexia suddenly felt enlightened. She was no longer trapped in guilt when
facing her sister, nor did she feel fearful and uneasy when thinking of Ji Zhijie.

From one perspective,
her current approach could be considered selfish.

But from another angle,
wasn’t her behavior now the best way to spare everyone from harm?

Like parting the clouds to see the blue sky.

She got up from the bed and quietly walked into the bathroom. Standing by the sink, she cupped her hands and scooped up cold water,
splashing it over her face again and again.

Her thoughts were like a weathered stone tablet,
gradually sharpening under the flow of water, revealing an ink-black edge.

Pulling out a soft cotton towel, she gently wiped the water from her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

In those harmless almond eyes
was an almost obsessive determination to succeed.