The White Moonlight is So Scheming - Chapter 36

Looking at Shen Juexia with one cheek puffed out, Ji Zhijie couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. She raised an eyebrow and said with a faintly mocking smile, “Does it have to be a competition? Can’t it just be that I simply wanted to make breakfast for you?”

 

Gulping down the tamagoyaki in her mouth, Shen Juexia licked her lips and awkwardly turned her head away. “Ahaha, your tamagoyaki is really delicious.”

 

A barely perceptible smile lingered at the corners of Ji Zhijie’s lips.

 

Not wanting to tease the little rabbit any further, Ji Zhijie turned back and picked up her copy of Wuthering Heights, which she had placed upside down on the desk. Just as she was about to resume reading, she unexpectedly met Liu Yurou’s teasing gaze.

 

She didn’t understand the playful glint in the other girl’s eyes.

 

Frowning, Ji Zhijie lifted the book to block her view.

 

Taking small bites of her blueberries, Shen Juexia stole occasional glances at Ji Zhijie, secretly delighted.

 

She had thought it was going to be a competition.

 

Turns out, Ji Zhijie just genuinely wanted to make breakfast for her.

 

Yay~ It seems Ji Zhijie already considers her a good friend!

 

The high school students, freshly returned from vacation, gathered together, chattering about their holiday experiences with no intention of settling down.

 

Shen Tinghan was always surrounded by people, and the first day of school was no exception. She spoke little, mostly listening to those around her while responding with faint smiles.

 

Shen Juexia sat just one row away from them, quietly organizing her winter break homework, seemingly indifferent to the snippets of conversation that reached her ears.

 

Her classmates had all had eventful holidays. Some had vacationed in villas in Hainan, others had indulged in seafood feasts in Qinhuangdao, and a few had even traveled abroad.

 

“Zheng Wenjun went to London, did you hear?”

 

Shen Juexia looked up. “Oh, really?”

 

The school rules explicitly forbade makeup, but she immediately noticed the shimmering rose pink on Yao Qingyan’s lips.

 

Leaning forward, Yao Qingyan even carried a faint perfume scent, though Shen Juexia couldn’t quite place which flower it was supposed to evoke.

 

“You went back to England to visit your mom over the break, right?”

 

“No.” Shen Juexia didn’t want to talk about her dull holiday, especially not about her mother.

 

Yao Qingyan waited for a follow-up that never came, pouting until two little dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.

 

Shen Juexia, having neither received a response nor knowing what else to say, went back to tidying her desk.

 

“Why do you always ignore my messages? And you never come out to hang out with me?”

 

Shen Juexia’s hand, holding a workbook, froze mid-air. “I’m sorry.”

 

Yao Qingyan’s features scrunched up in frustration. “Don’t just apologize. Why don’t you reply? Do you not want to talk to me?”

 

“It’s really not that. When I’m studying, I lock my phone in the drawer,” Shen Juexia offered an apologetic smile. “Or sometimes I’m busy and forget afterward.”

 

Three years ago, she had been diagnosed with ADHD and depression. At her worst, she could lie in bed for two days without eating or drinking. After intermittent treatment, she had mostly regained the normal social functions of a person.

 

On overcast days, forget replying to messages. She didn’t even have the strength to get out of bed.

 

“But you should still reply when you’re free.” Yao Qingyan tapped the desk impatiently.

 

Shen Juexia was at a loss and decided to explain properly. “When I’m in a bad mood, I can’t reply to messages either, because…”

 

She really didn’t want her friend to misunderstand, especially one who had repeatedly extended kindness.

 

“Wow, so full of yourself,” a boy muttered as he passed by, shooting her a malicious glance.

 

Shen Juexia’s words were cut short.

 

She saw the sharpness in his eyes and knew the boys in class didn’t like her. Some might even say they despised her. She wasn’t entirely sure what “full of yourself” meant, but she could tell it wasn’t friendly.

 

Shen Juexia stood up from her seat. “What did I ever do to you?”

 

The boy had intended to look down on her, but he hadn’t expected her to stand. He glanced up and realized, to his embarrassment, that she was taller than him. He shrugged awkwardly.

 

“I wasn’t talking about you.”

 

“You said that while looking right at me.” Shen Juexia glared at him. Her deep-set eyes only darkened further as she furrowed her brows.

 

The boy gulped and took two steps back. “You’re just imagining things.”

 

Shen Juexia clenched her fists.

 

“Kong Wenlong, you’re on duty today. The blackboard hasn’t been cleaned yet.” Shen Tinghan’s voice suddenly cut through the air.

 

No matter the situation, whenever Shen Tinghan spoke, any noise in the room would instantly die down. Her voice always carried an inexplicable authority.

 

The hushed classmates all turned their attention to the back blackboard. The artwork from last semester’s art class representative was nearly smudged beyond recognition even the national flag now resembled scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

 

The boy immediately put on a smile, scratching his head sheepishly at the class monitor. “Oh, right, right. I’ll get to it.” With that, he quickly slipped away, though not before sneaking a mocking face at Shen Juexia.

 

A few students snickered. Shen Juexia’s fists, stiff with anger, had nowhere to go, so she silently shoved them back into her pockets.

 

Yao Qingyan leaned in and whispered, “Kong Wenlong seems to have a crush on the Ice Queen.”

 

“Huh?” Shen Juexia was surprised though she wasn’t sure why. Who wouldn’t like someone so perfect?

 

“No way, no way. You really can’t tell?”

 

“I never paid attention,” Shen Juexia admitted honestly.

 

“Well, you’ve only been in our class for less than a month.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Yao Qingyan narrowed her eyes at Kong Wenlong’s retreating figure and scoffed. “Look at him. Does he even stand a chance with someone like her?”

 

Shen Juexia hoped the bitterness she detected was just her imagination.

 

Kong Wenlong returned with a soaking wet cloth and headed straight for the blackboard, deliberately starting his cleaning right next to Shen Tinghan.

 

His dark skin looked even darker beside Shen Tinghan’s fairness, and with his broad nose and thick lips, he reminded Shen Juexia of the Congolese exchange student from her previous class.

 

“Who’s to say who’s worthy or not? Liking someone is a personal freedom,” Shen Juexia muttered, looking away.

 

Yao Qingyan frowned. “You’re weird, defending him like that.” The scent of mint liquor on her grew stronger, almost making Shen Juexia sneeze.

 

“I’m not defending him.”

 

Yao Qingyan snorted and walked off without another word, her waist-length ponytail swaying with more agitation than usual.

 

Just as she was about to return to her seat, she veered off, greeting Ma Youyou before seamlessly rejoining her usual clique. The makeup-and-celebrity-obsessed trio.

 

Shen Juexia slumped into her seat, flipping open her Chinese textbook. The moment she saw the title of Lesson Six—The Book of Songs: Jian Jia—she realized she couldn’t even pronounce the first two characters. Her mood soured even further.

 

For the rest of the day, Yao Qingyan didn’t speak to her again.

 

Normally, Yao Qingyan would glance back every twenty minutes or so, flashing her a sweet smile. Today, there was nothing.

 

Shen Juexia didn’t initiate a conversation with her either.

 

What was there to say? An apology? A peace offering? Or some other meaningless chatter?

 

Social interactions drained too much energy. Most of the time, she preferred talking to herself, pretending to be an invincible powerhouse in the empty, gloomy room.

 

Finally making it to the end of the school day, Shen Juexia didn’t want to walk through the crowded hallway and deliberately stayed behind at her desk to read.

 

By the time the clock struck six, the sunset outside had deepened, leaving the classroom both empty and bright. Today’s duty monitors, Shen Tinghan and Kong Wenlong, had just finished sweeping and were now wringing out the mops.

 

“I’ll mop the left three rows, you take the right,” Shen Tinghan pressed down on the mop, squeezing out the water with force.

 

Kong Wenlong stood at attention and gave an exaggerated salute. “I’ll wipe the windowsills! Once you’re done mopping, just head home. It’s getting dark better leave early.”

 

Shen Juexia especially hated his ingratiating smile.

 

Shen Tinghan found it amusing. “Whoever finishes mopping first can wipe the windowsills.”

 

Truth be told, Shen Juexia also disliked Shen Tinghan’s smile because every expression of hers was perfectly measured, flawless in every way.

 

Ever since school had let out, though Shen Juexia had her biology workbook open in front of her, her peripheral vision and ears had been absorbing every bit of interaction between the two. Her chest felt tight; the frustration that had lingered all day now sharper than ever.

 

Kong Wenlong’s mouth never stopped.

 

“Class monitor, do you read comics?”

 

“No.”

 

“Play games? I can carry you.”

 

“No.”

 

“Makes sense, you’re a model student, after all. Heh. You like music, right?”

 

“Mhm.”

 

“No way, me too! What kind do you like?”

 

“Chopin and Debussy.”

 

“…”

 

Hearing Shen Tinghan shut him down so effortlessly, Shen Juexia couldn’t help but snort a laugh.

 

Kong Wenlong heard it and snapped, “We’re mopping here. Don’t block the way! Go home already, will you?”

 

Shen Tinghan, however, didn’t seem bothered. She picked up the mop and headed toward the first row on the right.

 

“It’s fine. Just don’t walk around while it’s wet. The windows are all open. It’ll dry in five minutes.”

 

“I’m leaving now.” Shen Juexia shoved her math workbook into her bag.

 

Oh, so I’m in the way of your flirting, huh? There was a hint of defiance as she slung her bag over her shoulder and left her seat.

 

The February evening was dry and bitingly cold. Shen Juexia shivered as she walked, her thin body craving warmth more than usual today. Even the fiery music in her headphones couldn’t save her. Finally, she gave in and stopped by a street food stall.

 

The vendor, engrossed in scrolling through Douyin, suddenly looked up and saw a foreign-looking face. Excited, he clapped his hands. “Where are you from? Wee to China!”

 

“I’m Chinese. One scallion pancake with sauce, please.” Shen Juexia smoothly delivered her practiced line.

 

The vendor looked a little disappointed, his broken English had gone to waste. “Oh, from Xinjiang?”

 

“Mhm.” Shen Juexia took the easy way out.

 

The vendor skewered a pancake, chopped it into pieces with a cleaver, and the crispy, fragrant aroma wafted from behind the glass counter.

 

As she waited, the last traces of twilight faded, the final hints of pale blue dissolving into darkness and neon lights.

 

Shen Juexia thought of Shen Tinghan. They actually lived so close. It would’ve been perfect to walk home together after school.

 

She didn’t like talking to others, but she liked talking to Shen Tinghan. Maybe Shen Tinghan really did have magic. A  magic of words which was why everyone loved talking to her.

 

However, Shen Juexia didn’t trust her ability to communicate via text. No matter what she typed, it always came across as idiotic. She knew Shen Tinghan was sharp-witted, which made her own foolish behavior seem all the more glaringly stupid.

 

“Eight sixty,” the shopkeeper announced after weighing the order.

 

Shen Juexia paid, took the freshly cut scallion pancake, and turned to step into the biting wind.

 

“I’ll go with you to the hospital this afternoon.”

 

A pale, slender neck tensed slightly.

 

Ji Zhijie lifted her head, gazing quietly at Shen Juexia like a devout believer pleading for the goddess’s mercy.

 

“Drip…”

 

A soft droplet shattered the unyielding stone.

 

Holding Ji Zhijie’s fingertips, Shen Juexia sat down beside her, gently stroking the back of her hand to soothe her. “I’ll go with you. Don’t be afraid. I’m sure your mother will get better.”

 

A silent nod.

 

Her gaze fell on their intertwined hands.

 

A surge of warmth flooded Ji Zhijie’s chest, nearly overwhelming her.

 

Glancing at her phone from the corner of her eye, Shen Juexia sighed inwardly: Sigh… At least my sister isn’t coming back until tomorrow. Accompanying Zhijie to the hospital today should be fine.