Chu Yueyi died without sincerity, simply collapsing onto the castle sofa.
Juliet was drugged unconscious by Romeo's anesthetic, leading the remnants of the Montagues to mistakenly believe she had been poisoned. The Montague family took the opportunity to launch an attack on the Capulet family, planning a surprise assault during Juliet's funeral. The Capulets were caught off guard and found themselves at a disadvantage.
At the critical moment, Juliet awoke in her coffin. She led troops to once again defeat the Montagues, then joined forces with Romeo to ease the tensions between the two families. The finale was, of course, a happy ending, with Romeo moving into the Capulet castle and the family heads living happily ever after.
After the entire play ended, Chu Yueyi rationally commented: "What a cliché romance novel plot."
Staff member: "The gender-swapped version is the new twist."
Director: "Isn't it all just an excuse for the kissing scene?"
Chu Yueyi and Shi Guanghua: "..."
The two fell silent, having been too busy with the play to reflect until now. Suddenly reminded, they both blushed furiously, wishing they could let off steam from their faces. The director's insistence that the play was born for the kiss scene left the Moonlight Group unable to explain themselves in public.
As the program staff began tidying up the theater, Chu Yueyi and Shi Guanghua left the stage, heading backstage to change back into their own clothes.
The narrow, long corridor backstage led to the male and female actors' dressing rooms. The two walked one behind the other, finally free from the teasing of others, with no one else around.
Shi Guanghua walked behind Chu Yueyi, occasionally helping her with her dress. Looking at her back in the court gown, he suddenly asked, "How was my performance?"
Chu Yueyi was startled by the question and stiffly praised him: "Ah, it was quite good..."
To be honest, Shi Guanghua's acting on stage was rather lacking in skill, but her survival instinct kicked in at this moment. Especially since she was facing away from him, wouldn't it be like stabbing him in the back if she answered poorly?
Shi Guanghua raised an eyebrow: "Was the kissing scene good too?"
Chu Yueyi: "..."
Chu Yueyi vaguely replied: "...Why are we talking about this?"
Faced with her avoidance, Shi Guanghua nodded understandingly and said coolly, "I see, kiss and run."
Chu Yueyi immediately bristled: "That was a stage performance!" And the poison kiss scene was his idea anyway.
Shi Guanghua countered: "If it's just a performance, why can't we talk about it?"
Chu Yueyi felt he was picking a fight. She perfunctorily responded: "Fine, fine, it was great. Teacher Shi's kissing scene was phenomenal, absolutely earth-shattering and mind-blowing in its excellence. I've never seen anyone perform a kissing scene better than you."
Faced with this over-the-top flattery, Shi Guanghua replied blandly: "You've never done a kissing scene before, so how would you know if it's good or not?"
Chu Yueyi: "..." Then why did you ask me in the first place?
Completely flustered by him, Chu Yueyi took a deep breath and said impassively: "Although I've never done a kissing scene, some things are universal."
Shi Guanghua seemed unprepared for her answer. His expression immediately changed slightly, and he anxiously pressed his lips together.
She had never done a kissing scene, yet had universal experience – what else could that be?
His eyes darkened slightly, inexplicably stung. He felt quite uncomfortable, as if he had been dunked in acid.
Walking in front, Chu Yueyi hadn't noticed Shi Guanghua's change in expression. She continued leisurely: "After all, I've played so many otome games. Teacher Shi's kissing CG image quality ranks in the top three. It would be a super strong premium SSR even in otome mobile games."
She suggested that major otome game companies should buy out the rights immediately, as they'd unlock a new path to riches.
Shi Guanghua had been upset a second ago, but he immediately felt better. He hesitantly asked: "...Can games be called universal experience?"
Chu Yueyi: "What do you mean? Looking down on theoretical practice? 2D characters are the strongest!"
Shi Guanghua: "..." Great, before it was just female classmates, now it's not even real people. The range of abnormality is getting wider and wider.
The two walked along the dim corridor, finally seeing a glimmer of light at the end.
Shi Guanghua suddenly asked: "Have you thought about what to do with your last prop?"
Both sides originally had three Promise Keys, and now only one remained. There was also only one recording left for the show. "Romeo and Juliet" would be split into two parts for broadcast, as the tenth and eleventh episodes, with the twelfth episode being the finale.
Chu Yueyi replied firmly: "I'm not telling you. I have to keep something up my sleeve."
Shi Guanghua looked curious: "Why?"
Chu Yueyi: "In case you make a request to tease me at the end, I at least have a means of self-protection. I can use the prop to counteract it, so I must use it after you."
Shi Guanghua lowered his gaze: "If it's not a request to tease you, what do you want to use the prop for?"
Chu Yueyi pondered for a moment, then tentatively said: "Have you wear women's clothes and perform crosstalk at Deyun Society?"
To be honest, this was her original intention, her initial dream.
Shi Guanghua: "!!?"
Shi Guanghua firmly refused: "I will never wear women's clothes on the Deyun Society stage."
Chu Yueyi blinked and continued to tease the honest man: "Does that mean you're willing to compromise and wear women's clothes in private?"
Shi Guanghua said with frustration: "...Why are you so keen on having me wear women's clothes?"
Seeing his annoyance, Chu Yueyi pushed even further, joking: "This way, when we meet, I can confidently greet you with 'Hi, wifey.'"
Shi Guanghua glanced at her sideways and said in a low voice: "Can't you use any other term?"
He couldn't understand what was going on in her head, why she was so fixated on "Hi, wifey."
Chu Yueyi: "..." What other term?
Chu Yueyi: Goodness, how did it feel like she had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot?
Chu Yueyi laughed dryly: "Haha, of course, I was just joking with Teacher Shi."
The atmosphere between them had changed after the kissing scene. Even a brief chat would lead to intense back-and-forth, with any topic taking a strange turn.
Fortunately, today's recording was completely over. After being teased by the staff, Chu Yueyi and Shi Guanghua could finally leave in their respective vehicles.
In the car, Li You sat in the front seat and reminded her: "Yueyi, we've finalized the recording time for the finale with the director today. The film crew is starting earlier than expected, so you can join them right after finishing the show recording."
Chu Yueyi was stunned: "Is it that rushed?"
She had thought she would have some time to rest after the show, but now she was heading straight to the film set without a day's break.
Li You: "Yes, we originally thought you wouldn't make it to the opening ceremony, but now after communicating with both sides, everything works out."
Chu Yueyi knew her manager's arrangements were fine. Attending the opening ceremony showed professionalism and responsibility. However, once an actor joins a crew, it's hard to leave, and they'll be busy for at least three to four months.
"Heart-Fluttering Promise" had only been recording for a few months. Time can wash away many things and fade some once-profound emotions. Chu Yueyi had initially mocked Zou Qian, but now she found herself eating her words. After the finale, she had no free time at all. Was this just online dating from the beginning?
She had indeed thought about both parties cooling off after recording, but she hadn't expected to be forced to cool off by work.
Li You noticed the artist in the back seat had fallen silent and asked curiously: "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly quiet?"
Chu Yueyi: "Nothing, I'm thinking."
Li You: "Thinking about what?"
Chu Yueyi: "When Juliet becomes the family head." How to speed up this career progression.
Li You: "?"
The Moonlight Drama performance was edited into two episodes for broadcast. The tenth episode was a behind-the-scenes version, while the eleventh episode was the final cut. The "Heart-Fluttering Promise" production team put considerable effort into post-production. Although the plot was absurd and far-fetched, with powerful background music and filters, it actually presented a high-end feel.
The tenth episode covered the play preparation. Shi Guanghua took the initiative to propose acting together, and the topic somehow led to the kissing scene. Then the two began to imply things about each other without backing down, starting to fabricate non-existent "Romeo and Juliet" plot points.
-- The director is right, be bolder! Since we're using props, let's act out something exciting!
-- CYY frantically explains that the kiss was simulated, afraid that the jar of vinegar at home might shatter.
-- He's so sour, so sour, so sour, asking if she's "very disappointed," tsk tsk tsk.
-- Romeo: My love rival is called career.
-- Although the plot can't be said to be identical to Shakespeare's, it's at least completely unrelated.
-- Shakespeare: Don't drag me into this.
-- Please explain, Ms. Chu, is Juliet's career ambition to hire Romeo to sing ballads every night!?
-- "The Movie Queen's Golden Canary Lover": She's a top-tier actress with outstanding performances and no negative reviews. He's her kept man, living a life of luxury and pleasure as her "golden canary." On the day she wins the Best Actress award, he leaves in despair, only to be chased down by her. She pins him against the wall, gripping his waist, and kisses him, saying: "Don't think about escaping."
-- I burst out laughing at the "golden canary" part. At 6'3", he's certainly not small, haha!
In the theater, Chu Yueyi and Shi Guanghua take the stage in glamorous attire, performing according to the new script. Although the plot details are quite far-fetched when scrutinized, the handsome man and beautiful woman make for a pleasing sight, causing viewers to marvel.
If only Chu Yueyi hadn't quipped that Shi Guanghua's lines sounded like rap, this scene might have been even more perfect.
-- As long as they don't open their mouths, they're a perfect match; as soon as they speak, it's like a comedy routine on stage.
-- Thanks for the ship fuel. A comedy duo lasts longer than love.
-- The director is the captain of the "push their heads together" team, eager to shoot the kissing scene!
-- VIP members don't allow stand-ins. This is false advertising, a serious fraud. I'm going to file a complaint against the production team!
-- "What's the use of the lower lip?" You have the nerve to ask? Just kiss me already!!
-- Let the mouth do the work of the hands, meaning anywhere hands can touch, the mouth can too!!
The audience thought the Moonlight Group would just fake their way through, but who knew they'd choose to use stand-ins during the performance, only to have a mishap afterward, followed by a retaliatory kiss. This sent the comment section into a frenzy, filled with screams of excitement and "ahhh" and "ooooh."
-- Thank you for taking the time to improvise a scene just to fool us into seeing you kiss.
-- LMAO, don't worry about my diabetes!
-- High-end kissing scenes often only need the simplest approach, but I like the fancy ones too.
-- Ms. Chu, can you tolerate his deliberate provocation? If it were me, I couldn't stand it. Revenge is necessary!
-- Those who offend the Chu family, no matter how far, must be kissed! Stand tall! Kiss him until he's breathless!!
Soon after, Shi Guanghua is defeated by Chu Yueyi, battered and imprisoned in the castle, facing humiliation as a captive. Chu Yueyi, as the new clan leader, now holds power and is unstoppable. The remnants of the Montague family stir up trouble, and Shi Guanghua plans to use a kiss to poison her.
-- Juliet: Let him spread his seed and bring glory to the family!
-- Romeo: If I'd known about this humiliation, I would have surrendered from the start.
-- Juliet: What can you do? Cuddle? Romeo: Do things that can't be broadcast.
-- Hey, you in front, put some clothes on! You're not right in the head!!
-- There must be some edited content here! There are unaired scenes in the castle, otherwise how would the remnants know they could kiss?!
-- Romeo dislikes the remnants mainly because they interfere with his "service" to Juliet.
-- Modern version: "service," Palace version: "duty," are these interchangeable words?
-- Mr. Shi, you weren't even acting, you just wanted to kiss, right? Does Romeo's script include "you did that on purpose"?
-- Supposedly poisoning, actually sweetening. Ahhh, I'm dead.
-- Shi closes his eyes, Chu's ears turn red, and you call this acting a kissing scene? Are you two going for an Oscar?
-- Finally uniting the two clans through marriage? True! Love! Conquers! All!
-- Can I ask timidly, were they already together and just using the show to go public?
-- Wow, that's a great idea. I'll dream about this tonight.
-- Waaah, there's only one episode left, not enough! Since they're married in the play, I declare them officially married!
-- Civil Affairs Bureau: I can testify to that.
These two episodes were so sweet that netizens screamed on the spot, but when they thought about the final twelfth episode, they suddenly became gloomy and grief-stricken. Even though everyone is currently ecstatic about the ship, they all know that after the finale, interactions between the two will greatly decrease, and they might even draw boundaries with each other.
Walking together for a while, gathering and dispersing have their time – this is the ending for most ships.
After a lively feast, there's always a time to disperse.
Because CP fans consumed such high levels of sweetness in these two episodes, thinking about the upcoming reality feels even more empty, always giving a sense of fleeting beautiful moments. The low mood of some fans quickly spread, making others inexplicably sad, and even the super topic was filled with melancholic words.
Lalaya: Everyone, don't be so down lately. We've gained happiness from them, let's continue to support them going forward. Isn't that good?
Xiao Zhua: I understand the reasoning, but it'll be hard to see them together in the future, and there might even be conflicts.
Jasmine Soup: Beginner shippers are mourning for days, while advanced shippers are chuckling softly.
Moonlight Has Always Been Like This: Seeing everyone so sad makes me laugh. Do so many people really not understand why they chose to perform "Romeo and Juliet"?
H'er: Oh my god, did I miss something? But they performed an adapted version, it has nothing to do with the original, right?
Tiemia: Although it was adapted, they kept some lines, and what's left is the essence. I suggest comparing the differences between the two versions. This play wasn't chosen randomly.
Guan Guang: Do you really think the top student in the performance department couldn't memorize the lines from this play?
Pointy Ears: Ms. Chu occasionally has a kind of scholarly or cultured romance.
Some Moonlight shippers suddenly started speaking in riddles, naturally confusing the heartbroken CP fans. They didn't know exactly what they hadn't grasped, unable to understand the true essence of "Romeo and Juliet."
Mie Ya Mie Ya: Please, teachers, just explain it directly. Waaah, this child really can't figure it out. Even a small hint to let me think on my own would be fine. I'm about to collapse from depression lately @Moonlight Science Society
Moonlight Science Society: "Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow." (From "Romeo and Juliet")!