The White Moonlight is So Scheming - Chapter 16

“Academic God! Save me!” Liu Yurou rushed into the classroom with dark circles under her eyes, plopped into her seat, turned around, and clasped her hands together in a reverent bow toward Ji Zhijie.

Recognizing who it was, Ji Zhijie deftly pulled out her homework from her bag and placed it on the corner of the desk. “Don’t copy everything word for word. Remember to change some parts.”

“You can count on me!” Giving an OK sign, Liu Yurou grabbed Ji Zhijie’s homework and immediately started scribbling furiously.

After swallowing the last bite of her sandwich, Shen Juexia looked at Ji Zhijie with confusion. “What’s she in such a hurry for?”

A flicker of disbelief crossed Ji Zhijie’s eyes. She wasn’t sure how to answer that question.

“Miss Shen, not everyone is like you. If I don’t do my homework, my allowance gets docked,” Liu Yurou replied without pausing her frantic writing.

Elbowing Ji Zhijie lightly, Shen Juexia suddenly leaned in and whispered near her ear, “Academic God, can I copy your homework too?”

“You don’t even do homework,” Ji Zhijie replied, bending down to organize the materials in her drawer, brushing off Shen Juexia’s question.

“What? She can copy, but I can’t?” Crossing her arms, Shen Juexia kicked Ji Zhijie’s desk leg in dissatisfaction.

Her wrist bumped against the corner of the desk. Ji Zhijie frowned, suppressing her irritation. “Fine, copy after she’s done, okay?”

“Why does she get to go first?” Shen Juexia persisted.

Trying to find a test paper but repeatedly interrupted, Ji Zhijie unconsciously raised her voice. “Because you don’t even do homework in the first place!”

Shen Juexia didn’t argue back. Instead, she pouted in frustration.

At the same time, Liu Yurou, having finished copying the physics homework, turned around. “Huh? What are you two arguing about?”

“Nothing!”

“Nothing.”

They spoke in unison. Ji Zhijie awkwardly turned her head away, while Shen Juexia huffed and lifted her chin defiantly.

Liu Yurou’s suspicious gaze swept over them before she inadvertently noticed two identical lunchboxes on the corner of the desk. “Since when did you two get so close? You even use matching lunchboxes now?”

“The breakfast Ji Zhijie had this morning was made by me,” Shen Juexia said, gripping the hem of her uniform. Though she was speaking to Liu Yurou, her attention was secretly fixed on Ji Zhijie’s reaction.

“Huh?” Stunned by the answer, Liu Yurou quickly turned to Ji Zhijie for confirmation. “Academic God, is she lying to me?”

Ji Zhijie’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. She let out a noncommittal hum, tacitly admitting it.

“No way! You two are really close, huh.” With a strange expression, Liu Yurou returned the physics homework to Ji Zhijie and turned back to continue scrambling through the rest of her assignments.

“Ji Zhijie.”

Interrupted again while tidying her desk, Ji Zhijie sighed and looked at Shen Juexia. “What now—”

Just moments ago, Shen Juexia had been pouting like a pufferfish, but now she was all smiles, her eyes sparkling. Unable to read her thoughts, Ji Zhijie frowned slightly. “If you have something to say, just say it directly. Don’t look at me with such a strange expression.”

Cupping her cheeks in her hands, Shen Juexia spoke in a soft, sweet voice, “Ji Zhijie, it turns out that in other people’s eyes, we have a really good relationship.”

“How childish.”

Ji Zhijie’s fingers paused, her gaze flickering away.

________________________________________

Afternoon classes ended.

This time, Shen Juexia hadn’t fallen asleep. The moment the bell rang, she turned to Ji Zhijie with bright eyes. “Let’s go, shall we grab lunch?”

At the same time, Liu Yurou, who sat in front of Ji Zhijie, turned around and said, “Hey, genius, I spent all my allowance on in-game purchases yesterday. I’m broke this month. Can I join you for lunch at the first-floor cafeteria?”

“No way! Ji Zhijie already promised to eat with me!” Shen Juexia blocked Liu Yurou’s view with her arm, her eyes narrowing like a territorial puppy.

Completely oblivious to the awkwardness, Liu Yurou shrugged. “No big deal. The three of us can eat together. The tables on the first floor are all connected anyway.”

Seeing that Liu Yurou wasn’t backing down, Shen Juexia turned her pleading, doe-like eyes to Ji Zhijie, her gaze brimming with grievance.

Click.

Ji Zhijie closed her pencil case and gave Liu Yurou an apologetic look. “Yurou, I did promise her first.”

The moment those words left her lips, Shen Juexia’s mouth curved into a satisfied smile.

She looped her arm through Ji Zhijie’s and chirped, loud enough for others to hear, “Let’s go, Zhijie~ Just the two of us.”

Watching them walk away, Liu Yurou was utterly baffled. Why did a simple lunch invitation feel like some dramatic love triangle?

________________________________________

Spotting Ji Zhijie sitting alone by the window, Liu Yurou approached with her tray and took the seat across from her. “Genius, why are you eating alone? Where’s Shen Juexia?”

Setting down her chopsticks, Ji Zhijie began to explain, “She went to—”

But before she could finish, Liu Yurou cut in, “By the way, are you going to the drama club this afternoon? I heard the prize money for the school arts festival is huge this year!”

Before even reaching the first floor, Shen Juexia spotted Liu Yurou through the second-floor window.

Clutching the takeout bag she’d just picked up, she stomped over and plopped down heavily beside Ji Zhijie, shooting Liu Yurou a wary glare. “Why are you sitting here?”

“Uh, is this cafeteria your family’s property?” Unfazed, Liu Yurou scooped up a spoonful of steamed egg and calmly retorted.

“You—!” Unable to counter, Shen Juexia turned her glare to Ji Zhijie. “Ji Zhijie, you promised to eat with me.”

“I am eating with you,” Ji Zhijie replied flatly, baffled by her antics. “Just eat properly.”

“No! I won’t eat! Let me starve to death!” Shen Juexia lowered her eyes, sniffling softly.

Ji Zhijie’s fingers twitched awkwardly. “Yurou, maybe you could—”

Having only intended to say hello, Liu Yurou tactfully stood up. “It’s fine. You two take your time.”

“Thanks.” Ji Zhijie offered a small, grateful smile.

Just as she was about to get up, Liu Yurou remembered their earlier conversation. “By the way, about what I mentioned to you earlier—make sure to think it over carefully.”

“Okay,” Ji Jiezhe nodded solemnly.

Watching Liu Yurou’s retreating figure, Shen Juexia felt as if someone had tossed a small stone into her heart, each beat leaving her unsettled. “What did she say to you?”

“Nothing important. Let’s eat.” Ji Jiezhe opened the takeout box for Shen Juexia and placed the chopsticks on its lid.

Her fingers tightened on her knees as Shen Juexia endured the waves of discomfort rising in her chest, muttering under her breath, “You have a secret with someone else now, and you won’t even tell me.”

“Are you going to eat or not?” Ji Jiezhe set down her chopsticks, pressing her lips together.