The White Moonlight is So Scheming - Chapter 19

Gazing at the girl seated in the center, holding a script with black-framed glasses perched on her nose, Liu Yurou announced loudly, “President, I’ve brought a new recruit for you!”

Shifting her focus from the script in her hands to Shen Juexia’s face, Mu Xue’s eyes flickered with admiration. “Is she a classmate of yours?”

After greeting Ji Zhijie, who was sitting to the left, Liu Yurou introduced, “Yes, she’s a classmate from our class. Not only is she a performing arts student, but she also happens to be Ji Zhijie’s deskmate. Her name is Shen Juexia.”

Under the collective scrutiny of the group, the usually bold and domineering Shen Juexia felt an uncharacteristic nervousness. “Hello, I’m Shen Juexia. I’d like to join the drama club.”

No one responded.

The heavy silence made Shen Juexia awkwardly curl her fingers.

The drama club wasn’t large.

Including Ji Zhijie and Liu Yurou, there were only twelve members in total.

Ji Zhijie’s reason for joining the drama club was simple: during the club recruitment period, the club president had relentlessly pitched it to her. All funding would be spent on snacks, there were few members, even fewer responsibilities, and the drama club was the perfect place to coast for credits.

At that time, the school board had already transferred the funds to Ji Zhijie’s account. After covering the medical expenses, Ji Wan resumed chemotherapy. With no other elders in the family, all the burdens fell squarely on Ji Zhijie’s shoulders.

The promise of minimal responsibilities was undeniably appealing.

And so, Ji Zhijie stepped right into the drama club’s trap.

Though the workload wasn’t overwhelming, whenever there was an event requiring performances, Ji Zhijie was inevitably cast in a role.

Later, Ji Zhijie learned the truth.

On the very day she transferred into Class 6 of the third year, Liu Yurou had rushed to Mu Xue and insisted that she find a way to recruit Ji Zhijie no matter what.

Because ever since the previous club president graduated, the drama club had lacked a female actor capable of playing male roles and Ji Zhijie happened to fit the bill perfectly.

Before Liu Yurou and Shen Juexia pushed open the door, Ji Zhijie had already entered the activity room. Without preamble, she told Mu Xue, “The person coming in later can’t be my leading lady.”

The originally cast leading lady had abruptly quit.

She transferred to the music club, which had more members and far more generous funding, leaving Mu Xue already stressed about the upcoming arts festival even more overwhelmed.

When the club’s pillar made such a demand, Mu Xue agreed without a second thought. But now, after seeing Shen Juexia, she couldn’t help but regret it.

Ahhh! With these two faces on stage together.

Even if the performance was terrible, people would still flock to see it. And Shen Juexia was a performing arts student, no less.

“Zhijie…” Mu Xue swallowed hard, practically clasping her hands in supplication.

Lowering her eyes silently, Ji Zhijie pretended not to hear.

Though only a few minutes had passed, Shen Juexia, left standing to the side, felt as if she had been waiting for a decade.

Across the awkward silence, Liu Yurou and Mu Xue exchanged a glance. Then, Liu Yurou broke the heavy atmosphere. “So, Juexia is officially joining our drama club?”

“Of course, of course!”

Standing up, Mu Xue clapped in welcome. “Everyone, let’s welcome Shen Juexia to the drama club! From now on, she’s one of us~”

Apart from Ji Zhijie, the other club members exchanged knowing glances before breaking into applause one after another, warmly welcoming Shen Juexia:

“Xia Xia, you’re so pretty!”

“Welcome! We’re all really easy to get along with!”

Mu Xue even personally brought a chair for Shen Juexia, thoughtfully wiping the seat before offering, “Juexia, why don’t you sit next to me for now?”

Flustered by the attention, Shen Juexia pressed her lips together and looked at Mu Xue, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents. “Thank you, President!”

As expected, aside from that oddball Ji Zhijie everyone liked her at first sight.

“Oh, it’s nothing!” Mu Xue adjusted her glasses shyly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she pulled out the chair and sat back down.

Liu Yurou’s gaze discreetly swept over Ji Zhijie, piecing together what must have happened earlier. “President, have you decided on the play for the arts festival yet?”

At this, Mu Xue sighed heavily. “Our club is small, so we don’t have many options to begin with. We originally chose Miss Julie, but now that Jiejie suddenly quit, Meiyun could temporarily take the lead role. But then we’d be short someone for Meiyun’s original part.”

Hearing her name, Zhao Meiyun, who had been scrolling on her phone with her head down, quickly looked up and waved her hands in protest. “I don’t want to memorize another script, President. Don’t do this to me.”

Shen Juexia glanced around the room and noticed something odd. Why were all the club members girls?

Noticing her confusion, Mu Xue kindly explained, “Have you heard of the Takarazuka Revue? Our club’s founder was a huge fan, so our drama club was modeled after theirs. It’s all girls here. If a male role is needed, one of our actresses takes it on.”

Instantly intrigued, Shen Juexia arched a delicate brow. “So, who in our club plays the male roles?”

“Well…”

Sensing the sudden chill from her left, Mu Xue stiffly scratched the back of her head.

“What’s wrong? Is that girl not here today?” From the moment she entered, Shen Juexia had felt an odd tension in the club. Now it was even stranger, whoever she looked at immediately averted their gaze.

Except for Ji Zhijie.

“Ji Zhijie?!” Shen Juexia’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.

Ji Zhijie turned to her impatiently, her voice icy. “What? Is there a problem with me?”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Shen Juexia flushed crimson, flustered.

Realizing her reaction might have been too exaggerated, she stammered, “I-I didn’t mean it like that. I just didn’t expect you to… do this.”

Do what?

A thought flickered through Ji Zhijie’s mind.

Suddenly, she stood up.

She strode over to Shen Juexia.

Her amber phoenix eyes shimmered with ambiguous affection.

Under Shen Juexia’s stunned gaze, Ji Zhijie pressed a hand to her shoulder, leaning in close. Gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind Shen Juexia’s ear, she murmured softly, “You mean like this?”

The moment those cool fingertips brushed against her skin.

Shen Juexia’s sensitive, honest ears instantly flushed a delicate shade of pink.

After saying these words,

Ji Zhijie composed herself and returned to her seat with an indifferent expression.

The activity room fell into dead silence.

Everyone except Ji Zhijie seemed frozen in place, their mouths agape in shock.

“Ahem, alright! Let’s get back to business first,” Mu Xue coughed loudly, snapping everyone out of their daze.

Shen Juexia, sitting to Mu Xue’s right, was the most exaggerated of all.

It wasn’t until the group had moved on from the topic and started discussing another matter that Shen Juexia finally snapped out of her trance and withdrew her gaze from Ji Zhijie.

Ji Zhijie, who was reviewing the script,

silently curled the corners of her lips the moment Shen Juexia looked away.

Rolling up the script, Mu Xue decisively announced, “Let’s set aside the issue of the female lead for now. Everyone should continue rehearsing according to their originally assigned roles.”

Chen Qian, in charge of costumes, asked, “Then what about the female lead’s outfit? What measurements should we follow?”

Without batting an eye, Mu Xue glanced at Shen Juexia and tightened her grip on the script. “Just follow Jiejie’s measurements for now.”

“Are you planning to bring her back?” Chen Qian pressed.

“Oh, my dear Qian, don’t ask too many questions just start making the outfit first!” Guiding Chen Qian by the shoulders and nudging her to sit at the sewing machine, Mu Xue lowered her voice mysteriously. “Don’t worry, I have a plan up my sleeve.”