After Accidentally Marking My Stepsister's White Moonlight (GL, ABO) - Chapter 32

At first, Ye Wenjin had no idea about the rumors circulating around her. After the audition ended, everyone dove straight into an intense rehearsal schedule. No one dared to slack off.

As the lead dancer, Ye Wenjin had to devote even more time and energy. Not only did she need to synchronize with all the dancers, but the three lead dancers also had to work together closely and build rapport.

But truthfully, that was proving to be quite difficult.

The other two lead dancers were Yi Huan and Rong Yunshu.

It was an odd coincidence. The three of them weren’t exactly enemies, but they definitely couldn’t be described as getting along either. The lack of harmony between them was starting to trouble her.

Another thing—when the final list of lead dancers was announced, most of their classmates were surprised and confused to see Rong Yunshu’s name. After all, she had always been a middle-of-the-pack student: not particularly eye-catching and usually very low-key.

No one expected her to make the cut.

Ye Wenjin, however, knew that Rong Yunshu had talent. But others didn’t, and Rong Yunshu didn’t feel the need to explain herself. As a result, the atmosphere during rehearsals had been far from pleasant.

Rong Yunshu didn’t care how others viewed her, but there was one thing she just couldn’t understand—why hadn’t Ye Wenjin been chosen as the main dancer?

Sure, He Wenxi and Yi Huan were strong contenders, but Ye Wenjin had been in top form during the audition. Her choreography showed real breakthroughs. Rong Yunshu simply couldn’t understand why she hadn’t been picked.

When the list was first released, she even suspected something shady might’ve happened with the judges. She had considered asking the teachers to release the audition footage so that everyone could judge for themselves.

That way, the fairness of the selection would be clear.

But Ye Wenjin stopped her, saying it would reflect poorly on her if things escalated.

This was Rong Yunshu’s first time being selected as a lead dancer. It was a big opportunity, and if she left a bad impression on the teachers, it might affect her future rehearsals.

Ye Wenjin didn’t want to assume the worst of the instructors, but she wasn’t naive about how things worked either. She just didn’t want Rong Yunshu to take unnecessary risks.

“Better to let things lie. Lead and main dancers are both crucial roles—there’s not much difference. Yunshu, just let it go,” Ye Wenjin said with concern.

Rong Yunshu knew she meant well, but she still felt something was off.

After a pause, Rong Yunshu sighed. “I get it. But it still doesn’t make sense. With your performance, you should’ve been the main dancer. Wenjin, you’re too honest. That’s why people take advantage of you. If it were anyone else, they would’ve made a scene by now.”

Ye Wenjin gave a helpless smile. She had a feeling that by “anyone else,” Rong Yunshu meant Yi Huan. After all, Yi Huan had already thrown a fit when the results were announced.

No one knew what the teachers said to calm her down, but she had since simmered down. Still, the way she looked at He Wenxi these days was full of resentment.

Whenever the two crossed paths, Yi Huan would either ignore her completely or roll her eyes.

In contrast, He Wenxi always seemed unbothered, her calm demeanor only making Yi Huan look petty and narrow-minded by comparison.

The contrast was hard to ignore. Ye Wenjin even overheard some students quietly criticizing Yi Huan.

Rong Yunshu scoffed, her tone sharp. “Yi Huan probably thinks the results are unfair too, but she’s just too dumb. A few words and she backed off. Now she keeps picking fights with He Wenxi. Compared to her, He Wenxi’s clearly playing a smarter game. Who do you think people like more now?”

Then she clicked her tongue. “So stupid. It’s embarrassing.”

Ye Wenjin opened her mouth to say something—but then froze awkwardly.

Because the person they were talking about had somehow appeared out of nowhere—and was now glaring at Rong Yunshu with eyes full of fire.

Ye Wenjin tried to give Rong Yunshu a warning nudge, but before she could, Yi Huan stormed over.

“Rong Yunshu! What the hell is your problem?!”

Rong Yunshu didn’t flinch. She looked her straight in the eye and smirked. “You didn’t get it? I said you’re dumb. You’re being used as a foil to make He Wenxi look better, and you don’t even realize it. Am I wrong?”

Yi Huan was furious. Her whole face turned red, her eyes brimming with tears.

Rong Yunshu frowned slightly. “Can’t win the argument, so now you’re gonna cry? How fragile.”

Ye Wenjin tugged her sleeve, trying to rein her in. “Stop it already.”

Rong Yunshu looked away, not bothering to argue further.

Yi Huan was fuming now. Her voice shook as she shouted, “You’re such a pain, Rong Yunshu!” Then she ran off, clearly trying to hold back tears.

Even as she ran, she was muttering something under her breath—probably still cursing Rong Yunshu.

Rong Yunshu let out a derisive snort.

Ye Wenjin felt mentally exhausted.

To be honest, their lead dancer trio was a mess.

“Can you tone it down a bit?” she said gently. “We’re a team now. We still have to work together for a while.”

She really hoped to smooth things over, but neither Yi Huan nor Rong Yunshu seemed interested in peace. After nearly a week of rehearsals, they’d barely exchanged more than a few words unless absolutely necessary.

Their strained dynamic was so obvious that others had started gossiping about it. Ye Wenjin overheard a few classmates talking about them just the other day.

It was incredibly awkward.

She sighed, just hoping things wouldn’t get any worse.

But of course, things did.

One ordinary afternoon, while they were in the middle of rehearsal, a classmate told her that the teacher was looking for her.

Ye Wenjin, confused, went to the office—and immediately noticed the stern look on Teacher Guan’s face. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Teacher Guan? You were looking for me?” she asked hesitantly.

Teacher Guan was the instructor in charge of their group dance performance. Known for being strict and intolerant of nonsense, her sudden summons made Ye Wenjin nervous. She racked her brain, trying to recall if she’d done something wrong.

But what came next left her speechless.

“I heard a rumor,” Teacher Guan said. “Ye Wenjin, be honest—do you have a relationship with an older, wealthy woman outside of school?”

Though her words were somewhat roundabout, Ye Wenjin immediately understood what she was implying.

She was stunned into silence.

Teacher Guan watched her closely. When she didn’t respond, her tone became more severe—and tinged with disappointment.

“Do you have any idea how valuable this opportunity is? I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want to put pressure on you. But this performance isn’t just for a general audience. Several top-tier dancers will be attending, likely scouting for talent. This could be your big break.”

She paused, then added sharply, “I won’t tolerate any scandals. You’re still a student. Do you realize how damaging this kind of gossip can be?”

Ye Wenjin finally found her voice. “Teacher Guan, wait—I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Seeing her confused expression, Teacher Guan’s frown deepened but her tone softened a little.

“Just answer me honestly. Do you have any kind of improper relationship with someone outside school?”

Ye Wenjin’s eyes widened. She shook her head quickly. “No! Absolutely not!”

Still frowning, Teacher Guan continued, “Then are you aware of the rumors saying you’re being kept by someone?”

Her gaze sharpened, trying to catch any trace of guilt.

But Ye Wenjin just stared at her, dazed and bewildered. She looked genuinely confused, not the least bit guilty.

Teacher Guan’s suspicion wavered.

Ye Wenjin was even more confused than she was. It was the first time she’d heard such a ridiculous rumor, and she didn’t even know how to respond.

Silence fell over the office.

The two stared at each other for a long moment.

Finally, Teacher Guan said in a grave tone, “Ye Wenjin, I need you to answer my questions honestly. This could affect whether you’re allowed to keep your role as lead dancer. Do you understand?”

That startled Ye Wenjin. Her heart pounded as she struggled to stay calm.

She nodded. “I haven’t done anything improper, Teacher Guan. Please, go ahead.”

“I’ve heard claims that you’re being kept by someone. Is that true?”

Ye Wenjin found it absurd. “No. Absolutely not.”

Teacher Guan didn’t say whether she believed her or not. “Then who’s the person you’ve been meeting outside of school lately?”

Ye Wenjin was taken aback but answered honestly. “She’s an elder who worries about my health. She brings me meals every day.”

Teacher Guan raised an eyebrow. “An elder? But according to your records, your only listed family member is your mother, Ye Shuyiao. There’s no one else.”

Before calling Ye Wenjin in, she’d checked her file. The only contact listed was her mother.

Ye Wenjin hesitated.

Aunt Wu wasn’t actually a relative—she was her sister’s housekeeper. But explaining that meant revealing her sister’s identity and their marriage arrangement.

She didn’t know how to explain without exposing everything.

Teacher Guan’s tone turned stern. “Ye Wenjin, tell me the truth. If you’ve done something improper, you’ll lose your position. This performance cannot afford any distractions. Do you understand?”

Ye Wenjin felt like she couldn’t breathe.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and think clearly.

After a moment, her eyes sharpened.

If this were just a baseless rumor, Teacher Guan wouldn’t have reacted so strongly. So…

“Teacher Guan,” she said carefully, “may I ask—did someone report me for misconduct? Because if this is just a rumor, calling me in like this seems a bit excessive.”

Teacher Guan’s frown deepened. “That’s not your concern. Just answer truthfully. If you’re innocent, I’ll make sure your name is cleared.”

Ye Wenjin’s expression turned calm. “Then I believe it’s only fair that whoever made the report should be held accountable if it turns out to be false. You’re a fair person, Teacher Guan, so that’s not too much to ask, right?”

She was sure now—this wasn’t just idle gossip. Someone had filed a formal complaint with so-called “evidence.” Otherwise, Teacher Guan wouldn’t have called her in or been so convinced.

But what was their goal? Even if they succeeded in getting her removed, what else would they gain?

Ye Wenjin wasn’t about to let herself be slandered. She had to fight back.

Teacher Guan didn’t respond immediately. She was thinking.

Time passed in silence.

Finally, after a long pause, she nodded. “Alright. If you’re innocent, then the person who filed the false report will be dealt with accordingly.”

Ye Wenjin took a deep breath. “Okay. Please allow me to make a phone call. Once they arrive, you’ll understand everything. It may take a little while.”

Teacher Guan nodded, still unsure. But she knew the matter had to be cleared up.

Ye Wenjin felt grateful that, for all her strictness, Teacher Guan was at least fair. She didn’t judge without evidence.

Taking another steadying breath, Ye Wenjin pulled out her phone and dialed Jian Mo’s number.

“Hello? Xiaojin, what’s wrong?”

The moment Jian Mo’s voice came through the speaker, Ye Wenjin’s eyes reddened.

Softly, she said, “Sis… I need to trouble you to come to the school again. I’m sorry for bothering you. Also… could you bring Aunt Wu with you?”

On the other end, Jian Mo’s expression turned icy the moment she heard Ye Wenjin’s voice.