MORIC - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: I Called My Love Rival 'Mom'

Chi Yueshan paid absolutely no attention to Xi Zhoumeng's foolish words.

When rehearsals began, she wished she could be as far away from this person as possible. Unfortunately, in the selected scenes, wherever she was, Xi Zhoumeng was almost always there too.

With Chi Yueshan's abysmal acting skills, she was also frequently called to a halt.

Sheng Yangkui had not come alone.

Guyun Academy stipulated that students could not bring servants, but this rule did not apply to the royal family. When Sheng Yangkui arrived, she was accompanied by a female official who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six.

She appeared stern and unsmiling. Chi Yueshan glanced at her a couple of times and felt a sense of oppression.

However, Sheng Yangkui herself looked like a little kitten, as if speaking too loudly would startle her.

Chi Yueshan thought: She doesn't seem like she can be a queen. They should have at least chosen someone healthy.

But none of this had anything to do with her. Her most pressing task was to get this annoying class over with as soon as possible.

Yet Xi Zhoumeng was like a foreman, picking at every little thing.

"Chi Yueshan, stand up straighter."

"Chi Yueshan, you forgot your lines."

"Jiang Xian, get a little closer. You and he are a villainous, scheming engaged couple."

"Princess, you need to look more melancholic."

"Chi Yueshan, no holding the script. Can't you even memorize these few lines?"

…

It felt like the entire lounge was filled with Xi Zhoumeng's cruel directions.

They were even laced with personal attacks. Chi Yueshan couldn't understand for the life of her why Jiang Xian looked like she was about to twist into a maggot whenever she faced Shi Yangshu. Was she that into him?

Xi Zhoumeng didn't act herself. She just lay on the sofa, watching the people in the mirror. The moment Chi Yueshan's attention drifted even slightly, she would be intercepted with unerring precision.

And then she would receive a very unfriendly piece of guidance.

It was too painful.

Chi Yueshan practically wanted to cry.

Especially during the simulated family dinner scene, the personalities of these characters were all in the performance, making it even harder to integrate.

Xi Zhoumeng said, "You all discuss it amongst yourselves. I'm calling someone over."

Jiang Xian asked, "Senior, who's playing the master of the house? We're still missing two roles: the master of the family and the third sister's first love."

The original work described the master of the house as very imposing; all the children were afraid of him. And the third sister's first love was a traditional, slender, beautiful young man who needed a bit of a melancholic air.

Xi Zhoumeng said, "I've called them. They'll be here soon."

Outside, the sky had completely darkened, and the rain was still falling. Looking out the floor-to-ceiling window, one could see the landmark of the Upper World's center—a bright pearl.

It was suspended in the city's sky, like a real pearl.

That was the Queen's residence.

During a break, Chi Yueshan sat to one side, reviewing her lines. In her peripheral vision, Sheng Yangkui was sitting nearby. Her female attendant was saying something to her, and the princess's small face turned a few shades paler.

Xi Zhoumeng went to coach Jiang Xian and Shi Yangshu. Perhaps she had managed to unlock something in this budding, ambiguous couple, because the two of them actually started acting shy.

"Get up."

Xi Zhoumeng said to Chi Yueshan.

Chi Yueshan looked up. "What do you want now?"

Xi Zhoumeng said, "The last scene just now. Let's rehearse it."

Chi Yueshan said "oh," and the AI robot dutifully delivered the props.

Xi Zhoumeng entered her role in a second, becoming Qiu Mei, waiting in her room for her same-sex lover.

Chi Yueshan took a deep breath, turning into a ruthless line-reading machine. "Are you feeling better?"

Damn it, I really can't say the word.

Her lips trembled as she mumbled a faint "Mother."

Xi Zhoumeng: "Again."

Chi Yueshan: …

【System: Were you an actress before?】

【Xi Zhoumeng: My ex-girlfriend was.】

She was so uncharacteristically honest that the system was almost flattered.

But it also felt like there might be a catch.

The AI robot started the timer again. Even though Xi Zhoumeng wasn't in costume, you could feel her aura change.

The pure yet tantalizing scent of the dream Omega faded, replaced by a maturity that seemed steeped in wine. Even just her back seemed to carry endless stories.

It gave Chi Yueshan the mistaken impression that this person was actually very old.

"Are you feeling better?"

The character Chi Yueshan played, Fu Xin, spoke in a rather rigid and flat manner. Even when she had emotions, they were impossible to discern from her tone.

She herself was nothing like that, and it took her a long time just to get the tone right.

Besides, the cadence of this kind of drama was different.

Fu Xin was a heartless and thoroughly ruthless person.

She wasn't the real Fu Xin, yet she could perfectly assimilate everything about the deceased biologist, transforming herself into a presence that even deceived her own family.

Chi Yueshan had also read "The Yellow Rose," but she didn't quite understand why someone would do that.

Xi Zhoumeng had even made them submit character analyses in the light-brain group chat, which had Chi Yueshan scratching her head in frustration.

She managed to squeeze out a thousand words and submit it, only to have Xi Zhoumeng label it a complete mess.

She was so arrogant.

"Mother."

Chi Yueshan finally managed to force the word out.

That word was so foreign to her. She had lived this long without knowing who her mother was. Her stepmother was her stepmother, and she didn't require her to call her mother.

Xi Zhoumeng turned and smiled at her. "You're here?"

That voice was so cloying it sent shivers down Chi Yueshan's spine.

She maintained an impassive expression and grunted in acknowledgment.

In the play, Fu Xin and Qiu Mei had that kind of relationship, so she had to walk over to her naturally.

The movements in this kind of play were very exaggerated. Chi Yueshan somehow turned a natural walk into a young swallow diving into the forest, tripped her right foot with her left, and plunged headfirst toward Xi Zhoumeng.

Behind Xi Zhoumeng was the prop bed simulated by the AI. It was very, very hard. With such a crash, she fell right onto it.

Chi Yueshan was buried in her embrace, feeling dizzy from the mix of pheromone-scented perfume.

Just then, someone else pushed the door open without knocking.

"Whoa! What's the situation here?"

Xi Shuang's voice was highly recognizable, naturally cheerful, as if she were happy all day long.

The others immediately rushed over to help Xi Zhoumeng.

Unfortunately, the delicate Xi Zhoumeng ached all over. Her hand hurt, and it was very red.

Chi Yueshan stood up, feeling like she was about to faint.

It was as if something foreign had drilled into her body, as if she had fallen into Xi Zhoumeng's trap, her entire being filled with the other's scent.

Sheng Yangkui was watching from the side, engrossed in her script. Wen Xinghuo stood behind Xi Shuang like a silent little mountain.

Sheng Yangkui, however, stood up subconsciously.

Wen Xinghuo merely gave her a fleeting glance before walking toward Xi Zhoumeng.

Sheng Yangkui unconsciously clenched her fists. The head female attendant coughed lightly, and Sheng Yangkui returned to her usual demeanor.

She was born to be without joy or sorrow, her body a vessel for others' use.

She had never had anything of her own, including warmth.

Xi Zhoumeng deeply regretted not adding a mattress to the prop list, or this wouldn't have happened.

The system in her mind was still gloating.

【You're so afraid of pain, yet you asked me to electrocute you?】

It found this host very contradictory. You could say she was arrogant, but she also seemed quite polite.

You could say she was indifferent, but she also seemed to have things she cared about.

Xi Zhoumeng stood up on her own. She had taken off her shawl for the performance, leaving one arm and elbow exposed.

The room was warm, and the scrape from the fall was a vivid red, a shocking contrast against her snow-white skin.

Xi Shuang clicked her tongue. "Should we go to the school infirmary?"

Wen Xinghuo pulled Xi Shuang aside and glanced at Xi Zhoumeng's hand. "It's fine, just needs some ointment."

She seemed accustomed to it, her tone familiar. "Why are you still so afraid of pain?"

Chi Yueshan had been feeling quite guilty, but seeing Wen Xinghuo's actions and hearing her intimate words, she was suddenly overcome with jealousy.

She wanted to die even more.

And to make matters worse, Xi Zhoumeng deliberately glanced at Chi Yueshan before turning to smile at Wen Xinghuo. "You've known since we were kids that I'm afraid of pain, haven't you?"

Damn it, damn it, they're so close.

Jiang Xian across from me, you have such an auntie-like smile!!! Stop shipping them!!

Sheng Yangkui's hand, clutching the script, trembled slightly. She was trying hard to control her emotions.

She's doing this for my own good.

Her not looking at me is for my own good.

But will she really belong to me?

【Xi Zhoumeng: What's up with Wen Xinghuo? Why is she suddenly acting like this towards me? Did she take the wrong medicine?】

【System: Her concern index isn't very high. Do you want me to give you the precise index?】

【Xi Zhoumeng: No need. She's probably putting on a show for someone.】

In Xi Zhoumeng's peripheral vision, the culprit was hanging her head, looking as pitiful as a weed about to be trampled.

Wen Xinghuo also glanced at Chi Yueshan. She quickly looked away and replied to Xi Zhoumeng's teasing, "I know. Your big brother even said you're not allowed to use such a thick mattress, it's bad for your back."

【Xi Zhoumeng: Was she provoked by something?】

【System: My database isn't fixed yet, otherwise I could check the affection level for you.】

【Xi Zhoumeng: What use are you to me.】

Chi Yueshan was on the verge of tears. Was that something you could say at a time like this?

Why!!

I'm so heartbroken. It makes it sound like they've already slept together.

Wait a minute, I don't know if that's true or not.

If I were childhood friends with Senior Xinghuo, I'd probably want to be with her too, right?

Isn't that just a matter of course?? How could sparks not fly?

Damn you, Xi Zhoumeng, showing off again.

Xi Zhoumeng received a glare from Chi Yueshan.

Wen Xinghuo had already averted her gaze. She asked seriously, "What roles did you want me and Xi Shuang to guest-star in?"

Xi Shuang was happily enjoying the drama, even moving to stand next to Chi Yueshan. "Junior, what were you and Xi Zhoumeng acting out just now? It even needed a bed."

Jiang Xian blurted out, "A bed scene!"

Xi Shuang: "Woooow!"

Chi Yueshan's face was an unnatural shade of red, a mix of shame, anger, and embarrassment in front of her crush. "It's not!! We were just talking!"

Xi Shuang: "A bed scene is great! What script is this? Whoa! 'The Yellow Rose'??? This is totally my thing!!! Looks like Teacher Chen is getting more and more open-minded."

She was a seasoned drama enthusiast, had seen Teacher Chen's shows, and had even sung praises for Xi Zhoumeng's graduation project back in the day.

"Zhoumeng, I thought you'd washed your hands of this…"

She was immediately pulled aside by Wen Xinghuo. "Don't use words carelessly. Let them rehearse first, we'll watch."

Xi Shuang is such a simp, Chi Yueshan thought, watching the Alpha who was frantically making heart signs at Xi Zhoumeng.

Xi Zhoumeng was still staring at the red mark on her hand, making Chi Yueshan's hair stand on end.

But she didn't look at Chi Yueshan. First, she said to Jiang Xian and Shi Yangshu, "You two, run through it a few more times."

"Xi Shuang, you act out a scene with Sheng Yangkui. The script is to your left."

She arranged everything methodically, then looked at Wen Xinghuo. "Xinghuo, do you mind guest-starring as my husband? If not, please go work with those two first-year Betas over there."

Jiang Xian whispered to Shi Yangshu, "I never thought I'd have to call Senior Wen 'Uncle'."

Shi Yangshu was also under a lot of pressure. "And I have to call her 'Dad'. This cross-casting is too weird!"

Chi Yueshan thought: The one really taking advantage here is Xi Zhoumeng. She gets to call Senior Wen 'husband'.

And I have to call her 'Mom'. This is just too!!! Insane!!

The public lounge was very large, and Chi Yueshan and Xi Zhoumeng only occupied one corner.

After arranging everyone, Xi Zhoumeng looked at Chi Yueshan.

Chi Yueshan was already looking at the script. She knew her own situation; she had to be serious.

Noticing Xi Zhoumeng's gaze, she didn't dare to look up.

It wasn't until Xi Zhoumeng walked right up to her that Chi Yueshan pursed her lips. Just as she was about to apologize, Xi Zhoumeng's finger touched her lips.

Chi Yueshan's eyes widened.

Xi Zhoumeng said, "Save words like 'sorry' for when you've actually messed up. Right now, there are still many possibilities."

The back of her hand was still red, the effect of the fall making it look as if she had been tortured.

It easily evoked a sense of pity, as if the one who had injured her was a heinous criminal.

Chi Yueshan felt a little ashamed and mumbled an "Mm."

Xi Zhoumeng tapped her glasses. "Hurry up. One more time."

This time, it went much more smoothly. After all, it was going to be performed on stage, so it wasn't as exaggerated as Xi Shuang had made it out to be. It was enough that everyone knew what was going on.

Xi Zhoumeng was truly professional.

Chi Yueshan was easily led by the nose, only realizing she had been drawn into the role after the fact.

But the next part wasn't so easy.

Chi Yueshan had managed to call Xi Zhoumeng "Mother," but she couldn't bring herself to call Wen Xinghuo "Father."

This is so fucking weird!

Am I the unluckiest person in the world?!! I have to call the person I like 'Father', and my love rival 'Mother'!!

Chi Yueshan looked at Xi Zhoumeng, trying to convey with her eyes, I'm going to fucking kill you.

But to her surprise, Xi Zhoumeng very naturally touched her own hair and said to Wen Xinghuo with a smile—

"Your daughter is so cute."

Chi Yueshan: No wonder the Fu Xin I'm playing wants to kill her old man. Who the hell wants their girlfriend to call them cute?

A couple of seconds later, she realized she had misidentified herself in the scenario.

A grief-stricken expression appeared on her face.

Sheng Yangkui, sitting beside her, thought to herself—

How is this person still so lively?

Get instant access to all chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next