The White Moonlight is So Scheming - Chapter 27

Fingers clutching the hem of her clothes, Shen Juexia looked up at Ji Zhijie, biting her lip as she asked, “What about the drama club’s performance?”

Brows slightly furrowed, Ji Zhijie rested his knuckles against his chin.

He pondered for a long while.

Each second felt like an eternity. Just as Shen Juexia was about to resign herself to fate, a slender, well-defined hand landed on her head and gave it a gentle ruffle.

Eyebrows raised, his eyes brimming with unmistakable amusement, Ji Zhijie deliberately said in a lighthearted tone, “Before you joined the drama club, we were doing just fine. Or do you think we can’t manage without you?”

The heavy stone pressing against her chest was gently lifted.

Relieved, Shen Juexia nodded, tilting her nose upward and shaking her head as she pushed Ji Zhijie’s hand away with a look of disdain. “Didn’t I tell you last time not to just casually touch my hair?”

With that, the little bunny clenched her fists.

She waved them threateningly in front of her chest, more for show than anything else.

Beep beep.

The front door swung open in response.

Xu Qing entered first, bending down to arrange the slippers for Shen Juexia. “Miss, have you had lunch yet?”

Leaning against the wall, Shen Juexia changed into her slippers and replied weakly, “No. Ask Auntie Liu to make something simple. I want to go upstairs and take a shower first.”

Xu Qing’s gaze swept over the deep blue T-shirt Shen Juexia was wearing once more before she smiled and nodded. “Alright, Miss. Go ahead and shower. I’ll call you when the food is ready.”

Too exhausted to even speak, Shen Juexia nodded and trudged heavily toward the stairs.

Warm water cascaded from the showerhead. Shen Juexia turned around, squeezed out some body wash, and lathered it into a rich white foam before spreading it over her skin.

The water slid down her shoulders,

traversing the gentle slopes of her chest and the slight hollows of her waist, lingering greedily at her fingertips before reluctantly trickling down her calves and disappearing.

Humid mist filled the space freely.

Tiny droplets condensed into plump, round beads, clustering densely on the glass before rolling down one after another.

Shen Juexia tilted her head back,

letting the water wash away her exhaustion.

Threads of tangled thoughts coiled around her heart.

She had thought that once she built a good relationship with Ji Zhijie, everything would fall into place. Yet, even though she had successfully gotten closer to him, the distance to the ending she imagined only seemed to grow wider.

The pain Ji Zhijie had endured for her—

Could she ever make up for it so easily? Shen Juexia didn’t know.

The unresolved matters between her and Ji Zhijie

were still far from settled.

Unbeknownst to her, a seed had been planted in her heart long ago and had already grown dense and wild. By the time Shen Juexia turned to look back, she realized with a start. The unruly sapling that should have been nipped in the bud had now become a towering tree.

Sister…

Her eyes grew hot. Staring at her reflection in the fogged-up glass, Shen Juexia helplessly covered her face, shoulders trembling slightly.

Though the weather had cleared after yesterday’s rain,

a trace of lingering dampness still hung in the classroom air.

It was still early, and today’s cleaning duty students hadn’t arrived yet. The homework assigned by the teacher the day before remained untouched in the corner of the blackboard.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Juexia tightened her grip on her backpack straps.

The moment she stepped into the classroom, her gaze darted toward the spot that had been on her mind.

The seat that had been empty for days was finally occupied. Ji Zhijie sat in his usual spot, holding a half-read copy of Wuthering Heights in his hands.

Feeling a sudden intuition, Ji Zhijie lifted her gaze from the book.

Across more than a dozen empty seats, she looked toward Shen Juexia standing by the front door of the classroom. A faint smile played at the corners of Ji Zhijie’s lips. “Good morning!”

Infected by the warmth in Ji Zhijie’s eyes, Shen Juexia relaxed her furrowed brows and slightly raised her chin, like a little rabbit who had just won a battle, before walking into the classroom with satisfaction.

Great!

Ji Zhijie had finally returned to class.

As Shen Juexia approached the desk, before she could even move, Ji Zhijie already seated, stood up and reached out to take the backpack off her shoulders.

“What are you doing?” Tilting her head, the little rabbit asked in confusion.

After hanging the backpack on the side, Ji Zhijie sat down at the same time as Shen Juexia and pulled out a pre-prepared breakfast from the desk. “You’ve brought me breakfast several times before, and I never really thanked you. I tried making something myself yesterday—want to see if it tastes good?”

Dazed, Shen Juexia stared blankly at Ji Zhijie before slowly shifting her gaze to the plastic container in her hands. “You made this?”

“Mm.” Ji Zhijie nodded.

“Uh… you want me to eat it?”

Swallowing hard, Shen Juexia hesitated before asking.

A trace of confusion flickered across Ji Zhijie’s delicate features as she pressed her lips together. “Of course, I made it for you. Why would you ask that?”

Why had things suddenly turned out like this?

Not long ago, her biggest worry had been when she could wear the latest dress. But now, everything had changed.

After calming Ji Zhijie’s emotions, Shen Juexia took her phone and, before morning reading began, walked to the window at the back of the classroom to make a call. “Auntie Xu, I need to ask you for a favor.”

Having just parked the car when she received Shen Juexia’s call, Xu Qing assumed the girl had forgotten something and settled back into the driver’s seat. “What is it, Miss? Did you leave something at home?”

“No.” Glancing sideways at Ji Zhijie’s reflection in the window, Shen Juexia bit her lower lip. “I want to skip class this afternoon to accompany a friend to the hospital. Her mother is being admitted to the sterile ward today.”

Puzzled, Xu Qing frowned. “Do you need me to pick you up from school? Around what time?”

“No, no!”

Xu Qing meeting Ji Zhijie?

That would be disastrous!

Pausing briefly to steady her breathing, Shen Juexia continued, “Actually, I was hoping you wouldn’t tell my sister about me skipping class to go to the hospital. I don’t want her to know.”

Assuming Shen Juexia was worried about Shen Tinghan interfering with her friendships, Xu Qing sighed—it seemed even the second young miss was starting to realize how abnormal the eldest sister’s possessiveness had become.

“Accompanying a classmate isn’t a bad thing.”

“Ms. Shen probably wouldn’t object. Why don’t you talk to her properly?”

If it were just an ordinary classmate, she wouldn’t need to resort to secrecy. But Ji Zhijie was different.

Gripping the window frame until her fingertips turned pale, Shen Juexia pleaded softly, “Auntie Xu, I really don’t want my sister to know. Can you help me? Just this once. She won’t be back until tomorrow. No one will find out as long as you don’t tell her.”

The line fell silent.

Neither spoke another word.

Her gaze flickering incessantly, Xu Qing remained silent for a long while before finally speaking: “You must come home early in the evening, and make sure to inform your teacher in advance so they don’t end up calling President Shen about it.”

“Thank you, Auntie Xu~ I knew you’d be the one to spoil me the most!”

Hanging up the phone, Shen Juexia put her phone away and sat back down in her seat.

Outwardly composed, the slight tremble in her loosely clenched hands betrayed her true emotions. Ji Zhijie looked at Shen Juexia and asked, “So? Did your family agree?”

Her rabbit tail swaying gently behind her, Shen Juexia blinked her dark, glistening almond-shaped eyes and replied cheerfully, “It’s all settled. Don’t worry, Ji Zhijie, I’ll be there with you.”

The corners of Ji Zhijie’s lips curled up imperceptibly as she lowered her gaze.

She nodded.

“Knock, knock.” Xu Qing rapped on the door and called into the room, “Miss, dinner is ready.”

“So it was her.” Holding an apple in her hand, Ji Wan’s expression softened. “Did you thank her for me? Once I’m discharged, invite her over for a meal. I’ll cook it myself.”

“Alright,” Ji Zhijie replied softly.

Ever since Xu Li had announced the news.

The entire class had turned their attention to the upcoming school sports meet.

The event would last three days, with substantial prize money for each competition. Even those not skilled in sports could enjoy a few days off, so everyone eagerly anticipated the games.

That evening, after returning home.

Shen Juexia dropped her backpack and bounded up to the second floor.

The first thing she noticed upon entering her room was the neatly folded blue T-shirt placed at the foot of her bed, the one Ji Zhijie had lent her earlier.

Auntie Xu usually tidied her clothes according to her preferences, but this time… perhaps she wasn’t sure where to place this particular item?

Just an ordinary T-shirt.

Since she’d already worn it, Ji Zhijie probably wouldn’t want it back, right?

Casually grabbing the T-shirt from the bed, she tossed it into a drawer in the walk-in closet. Shen Juexia clapped her hands lightly and sat down at her desk.

Heh, everything was going according to plan.

Though there had been a minor hiccup along the way, Ji Zhijie was finally opening up to her.

As long as things progressed smoothly, she could pull Ji Zhijie to her side before her true origins were exposed. By then, Shen Congjun wouldn’t even have grounds to make trouble for her!

Just imagining Shen Congjun trembling with rage yet powerless to do anything about it lifted Shen Juexia’s spirits.

For over a decade, he had openly and covertly looked down on her.

At first, Shen Juexia had occasionally felt hurt, thinking it was because she couldn’t measure up to her sister in any way, failing to bring glory to the Shen family, which was why he had always treated her with indifference.

Who would’ve guessed she wasn’t even his daughter after all?

This was truly fantastic!

Humming a little tune to herself.

Shen Juexia set down the cushion comb in her hand.

Picking up her phone from the bedside table, Ji Zhijie tapped open the message, her smile deepening as she read, “I’m at the hospital right now, just helped Mom peel some apples.”

Upon receiving Ji Zhijie’s message, Shen Juexia pouted in dissatisfaction and replied, “Hmm? Isn’t the caregiver there? Didn’t we agree at noon that she’d start helping out from today?”

Even through text, Ji Zhijie could easily picture her expression. She patiently explained, “Auntie Chen had already discussed it with me earlier. She had some family matters to attend to this afternoon and won’t be able to come to the hospital until later.”

“Huh? And then what?!”

“Just for today. I’ll stick to the agreed time after that.”

After a moment’s thought, Ji Zhijie added, “So don’t worry, I’ll be at school tomorrow.”

“Ji Zhijie, you’re really clever.”

“What?”

Scrolling through the emoji options, Shen Juexia picked one of a little rabbit giving full marks and sent it over. “I hadn’t even said anything yet, and you already knew what I was thinking.”

Lowering her head with a silent laugh, a suspicious blush crept onto Ji Zhijie’s cheeks. “Of course, considering Miss’s thoughts falls within my job responsibilities.”

What the heck…

Why suddenly say such strange things?

Picking up the water glass from the corner of the table, Shen Juexia took a sip before slowly typing, “Well, as long as you know it yourself.”

“Shen Juexia, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Liu Yurou, like a nun immune to seduction, shook her head expressionlessly and declared righteously, “I absolutely won’t tell you. Wait until Ji Zhijie comes to school tomorrow and ask her yourself.”

If soft tactics didn’t work, then she’d have to resort to hard ones.

Taking another step forward, cornering Liu Yurou completely, Shen Juexia held her breath and raised her eyebrows. “Tell me now, or else I’ll—”

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Before Shen Juexia could finish, Liu Yurou burst into goose-like laughter. “Hic… HAHAHA, Shen Juexia, you look so cute when you try to threaten someone.”

The imposing aura she’d mustered instantly deflated.

The rabbit’s perked-up ears drooped down.

Turning into a lop-eared rabbit.

Pouting and fidgeting with her hands, Shen Juexia still refused to give up. “Yurou, just tell me, okay? I promise I won’t tell anyone else…”