MORIC - Chapter 26
Chapter 26: Forcible Plunder Isn't So Bad Either
The instructor for the drama elective was named Chen, a tall Omega woman who was also one of the lead performers at the Imperial Royal Theater.
The drama elective at Guyun Academy was divided into cultural studies and performance.
The cultural studies exam came first, with the final performance taking place in the last two weeks.
Chi Yueshan spent every day nervously memorizing all sorts of drama knowledge, also worrying about what kind of program she would perform.
When Teacher Chen saw Xi Zhoumeng arrive, she smiled and let the remaining students discuss among themselves before walking over.
Xi Zhoumeng had originally wanted to say a word to Sheng Yangkui, but with Teacher Chen's arrival, she had to abandon the idea.
"Zhoumeng, what brings you here today?"
The two of them happened to be standing not far from Chi Yueshan, close enough for her to hear their conversation.
Xi Zhoumeng was a bit taller than Teacher Chen. Due to her height, she rarely wore high heels, or else she would stand out too much among the Omegas.
Although she was already conspicuous enough.
"I heard the class is ending soon."
She smiled at the teacher, and Duan Daizhen also grinned and leaned in. "We're here to ask about the scope of this year's cultural exam."
Chi Yueshan muttered, "Why does everyone give way to her like that?"
Xuan Ping, standing beside Chi Yueshan, heard her and whispered, "I actually hope Senior Xi joins. That way, even if it's not a random assignment, maybe you could ask her to teach you?"
This kind of drama performance class was torture for students like them from the Lower World.
Xuan Ping wasn't even a student in this elective; she was purely there to keep Chi Yueshan company.
She sat to the side, writing a report for her own elective.
Chi Yueshan said, "I don't want to."
She touched the golden button on her watch. The stuffy nose that accompanied her heat was so uncomfortable that she took a large gulp of water.
"I really don't want to fail."
Xuan Ping held back a laugh. "At the beginning of the semester, you said you wanted to be in the top three."
Chi Yueshan sighed. "It's impossible this semester."
She was completely listless. In truth, she understood very well that without a letter of recommendation, even placing in the top three would be useless.
Even if no one at the academy was giving them a hard time, the gap was difficult to bridge, let alone getting a noble to write her a recommendation letter.
There weren't many nobles in the academy. Wen Xinghuo didn't remember her at all, and as for Xi Zhoumeng…
Chi Yueshan already owed her quite a few favors, and a recommendation letter required a family seal. Besides, Wen Xinghuo had little power in her own family. Even if Chi Yueshan found Wen Xinghuo, on what grounds could she ask her to do this for her?
Xi Zhoumeng was even more out of the question.
"Are you two not planning to participate in the performance class?"
Teacher Chen asked the two students before her.
Xi Zhoumeng hadn't even taken off her velvet gloves. It was unclear where she had come from, but the lace on her gloves was adorned with pearls.
She touched a pearl, her peripheral vision catching Chi Yueshan slumped over her desk, whispering to Xuan Ping.
Just as Duan Daizhen was about to speak, she heard Xi Zhoumeng ask, "How many scripts are there for this year's performance?"
The teacher glanced at her light-screen. "There are over forty students in this class this semester, so there should be five groups."
Duan Daizhen remarked, "That's quite a small number."
Xi Zhoumeng said, "Five groups, so the group sizes must be small."
The curriculum changed every year. Duan Daizhen thought for a moment. "I remember last year we staged a full play, so there were more people."
The female Omega teacher had known these two students for many years.
Duan Daizhen had been recommended to the theater troupe as a child actor before she was ten. Xi Zhoumeng, on the other hand, had only joined in middle school. Duan Daizhen still remembered when Xi Zhoumeng was brought in by her Omega mother, her entire being screaming, I look down on this.
Yet, the one who looked down on it all naturally became the top performer among that batch of actors in the troupe.
As the instructor who had guided them back then, Teacher Chen still felt it was a pity that Xi Zhoumeng had refused the invitation from the Imperial Royal Theater.
Otherwise, with Xi Zhoumeng's talent, she could have become the most brilliant pearl of the Empire.
Xi Zhoumeng asked, "Is it still random assignment this year?"
Teacher Chen glanced at the light-screen. "No, I'm having them decide on the script first, then the actors."
Xi Zhoumeng said, "I've already completed my credits for this semester."
Duan Daizhen hummed in acknowledgment. "So?"
Xi Zhoumeng continued, "The final performance event planning should be for exchanging points for special gifts, right? I want the points."
Duan Daizhen didn't understand at first, but Teacher Chen let out an "oh." "I didn't add your name, so if you want to perform for fun, just pick a group yourself."
She was quite happy about it. After all, Xi Zhoumeng was very lazy; even back in middle school, one could see her reluctance to exert herself.
Yet, she could portray any role she played, as if fate itself was determined to feed her.
Duan Daizhen asked in shock, "What? You're going to participate?"
Of course Xi Zhoumeng was going to participate. The suspected female lead number two, Sheng Yangkui, was here, and so was the cannon fodder female supporting character, Chi Yueshan.
In a situation like this, wouldn't it be boring without her, cannon fodder number one?
"I like the scripts the teacher provided this year."
She pointed to the one on the far left of the light-screen, The Yellow Rose. "I've never tried this kind of genre before."
Teacher Chen chuckled. Duan Daizhen didn't react at first, but after a moment, she asked in surprise, "If I remember correctly, isn't this a taboo theme?"
Teacher Chen nodded. "The ones I've given before were too conventional. Taboo and art—I'm looking forward to this collision."
Previously, it was always gods and demons, maidens and sea monsters, but this one was about social ethics.
Duan Daizhen said, "I'm a little tempted myself."
Xi Zhoumeng raised an eyebrow. "Don't you dare compete with me."
Duan Daizhen said, "Help me see if there's anything suitable for me. I'm idle anyway."
Xi Zhoumeng suggested, "How about The Bad Angel?"
Duan Daizhen replied, "Then I want to be the main villain. What role are you going to play in your script?"
Without a second thought, Xi Zhoumeng said, "The wicked stepmother, of course."
The teacher also found this very interesting. The skill level of these two was far beyond their peers.
Chi Yueshan felt a chill run down her spine after hearing half the conversation. When Teacher Chen returned to the stage, she glanced at Xi Zhoumeng.
She found the other girl looking right at her.
Xi Zhoumeng had smoke-gray eyes, much like the ring of fur on her school robe's cuff at that moment.
It was a distinction, and also a mark.
She seemed to detest imitation, yet her every move easily inspired admiration.
Xi Zhoumeng's lips curled into a smile. Chi Yueshan whipped her head around.
She clutched her chest. Xuan Ping, thinking she was unwell, asked, "What's wrong?"
Chi Yueshan shook her head and said it was nothing, but her face turned pale, frightened by her own abnormally racing heart.
This feeling was so strange.
"Alright, I'll begin the group assignments now. If you need to switch, you can negotiate privately."
"Everyone, please look up at the light-screen."
The elective teacher's voice was gentle. Xuan Ping propped up her face with her hand and said, "Yueshan, how do you think your acting is?"
Chi Yueshan replied, "Utterly terrible. If it weren't for graduating…"
Xuan Ping sighed. "I told you not to choose this elective. So many nobles, both B and O, are in it."
It was too late for regrets. "I just need to play a passerby and scrape by with the credits."
She also didn't want to be in a group with nobles. These young masters and misses were all very troublesome, and she might end up in another argument.
The results of the random assignment appeared on the light-screen.
Chi Yueshan's light-brain also notified her that she had been assigned to the group for The Bad Angel.
Ah, there's absolutely no role I can play in this script.
Chi Yueshan could already envision the tragic sight of herself failing the course.
When winter break arrived, she didn't plan to return to the Lower World. She intended to stay at school or find a job in the Upper World's Machine City that provided room and board.
If she failed, she would have to pay a fee for the makeup exam.
Damn it, she really didn't have much money left.
Duan Daizhen said, "I know several of the Omegas in this group, and there are two Betas. Ah, I really think this elective should allow Alphas to join."
She had suggested this many times, but the school's academic affairs office had never adopted it.
"A Beta playing an Alpha is hard to pull off, but special invitations should be possible, right?"
Duan Daizhen saw Chi Yueshan's name. "There's one extra Omega. It's going to be hard to cast the roles for this script."
After the results were announced, everyone sat together according to their assigned names. Just as Chi Yueshan was about to go over,
one of the Betas from that group said to her, "Classmate, can you switch groups?"
The question was direct and merciless, even causing Chi Yueshan some embarrassment.
People passing by couldn't help but stop to watch the drama unfold.
Chi Yueshan was quite famous now; everyone recognized who she was.
They also knew she came from the Lower World.
People from the Lower World seemed to speak with an air of poverty, reinforcing the stereotype and making others feel that she was steeped in humility from head to toe.
Not to mention that drama performance had always been considered an upper-class art form.
Chi Yueshan bit her lip. "Who should I switch with?"
This course was indeed difficult. The cultural and historical knowledge was incredibly obscure. The education for Omegas in the Lower World was sporadic at best. During the time she should have been receiving an education, Chi Yueshan was still a wanderer, and the rescue station was just an empty shell.
By the time she had settled down, the schools no longer wanted her.
Omegas like Xuan Ping, whose parents were still alive and who could continue their education until differentiation, were very, very rare.
Occasionally, when Chi Yueshan heard Xuan Ping complain, she could feel how much her parents loved her.
Chi Yueshan had never been one to admit defeat. During her days at Guyun Academy, she would wake up at the crack of dawn to recite these obscure technical terms.
But the elite education of the nobles was too far ahead. No matter how hard she tried, it was always difficult to reach a high level.
This made Chi Yueshan think of Wen Xinghuo more and more frequently, wondering if she had experienced such painful struggles when she first came from the Lower World to the Upper World.
But the current Wen Xinghuo was so outstanding that Chi Yueshan couldn't bring herself to complain.
Yet, she was only human; she would feel sad and pained.
Keeping her eyes from turning red and maintaining her dignity was already the result of her utmost effort.
She still had her hard-won dignity.
The male Beta was average-looking, but the family crest on his chest revealed his extraordinary family background. He lifted his chin and said, "Just switch with someone else."
Chi Yueshan was the only one from the Lower World in this elective.
No one really wanted to be in a group with someone from the Lower World. It wasn't just about looking down on them; they were afraid of having their scores dragged down.
Xuan Ping had been messaging Mu Lai, but hearing this, she stood up. Just as she was about to go over, a hand pressed down on her shoulder.
"You should leave."
It was Xi Zhoumeng.
Her skirt hem swirled in the air like a swimming fish. Her gloved hand tapped the crest on the male Beta's chest.
"Or, Duan Daizhen, you can switch scripts."
Xi Zhoumeng had taken a nap at noon and was feeling much more refreshed.
Her raven hair, as if studded with starlight, was incredibly smooth, making the frizz Chi Yueshan had seen that morning seem like a dream.
Duan Daizhen walked over. "What?"
Others began to whisper—
"What does she mean? Is Senior Duan joining our group?"
"For real? If Senior Duan is here, we'll definitely get a high score!"
"Damn, Senior Xi is so beautiful, she looks so expensive… I want her to tap my chest too."
"Are you stupid? Who would dare to touch a noble's crest like that?"
"Senior Xi is so beautiful even when she's insulting people. I want to bite her glove…"
Cold sweat trickled down the male Beta's back.
Normally, this finger-tap might have made him ecstatic, but now it was exceptionally humiliating.
It was an insult.
The rankings among the six great noble families had always been decided by real power and achievements.
The Xi Family were meritorious subjects of the Queen, even the sharp blade that had expanded the Empire's territory, sacrificing countless outstanding Alphas over the generations.
Even if this generation's Xi Li was a good-for-nothing, the supreme glory of their ancestors remained.
Xi Zhoumeng's beauty was impeccable, and as an Omega with S+ spiritual power, she was a rare sight.
Many people lamented that she wasn't an Alpha; otherwise, the next Zerg Tide might have been another victory for our R-Galaxy Empire.
"S-Senior, I…"
The male Beta couldn't finish his sentence. Duan Daizhen came over to smooth things over. "It's no big deal. Just switch then. You can find another group yourself."
Duan Daizhen turned to Chi Yueshan. "Then, junior, you'll be in my group?"
Sounds of envy rose from all around.
Xi Zhoumeng said, "No, you can't."
She slowly and deliberately removed her glove and tossed it into Chi Yueshan's arms. "She is my yellow rose."
Chi Yueshan had just looked up from an unread message on her light-brain, still fuming about Xi Zhoumeng telling her to get treatment. She let out a loud, "Huh? What what?"
Xuan Ping whispered, "Senior Xi is going to be in the play The Yellow Rose."
Chi Yueshan picked up the glove in her lap. It carried the familiar scent of Xi Zhoumeng.
The people around them fell silent for a few seconds, then started whispering again—
"Are they really love rivals? I want this kind of treatment too…"
"Wuwuwu, what is this 'poor Lower World O gets doted on by a domineering lover' script? I'm a simpleton, and I love to see it…"
"Chi Yueshan is so lucky!!! But Senior Xi isn't an Alpha… so she can't provide stamina…"
The scent made Chi Yueshan's head spin, and the sensation of Xi Zhoumeng holding her yesterday came rushing back.
She glared at the still-discussing students in a fit of pique, thinking to herself: Whoever wants this blessing can have it!
What domineering love! In that case, shouldn't the Xi Family offer me billions of Star Coins to leave Xi Zhoumeng?!
Comments
Post a Comment