A Young Woman's Heart

Mo Xueyao finished her task. She used gauze to filter out the excess water, leaving only the solidified material, which she then kneaded into a ball. However, the shape of the ball was... not very attractive.

How should I put it? It looks like a lump of rock, except it's somewhat translucent...

"Holy crap, Xiaoxue is awesome." Gao Yuan, who sat next to Mr. Xue, just watched the whole thing and didn't have to lift a finger.

Mr. Xue is very skilled in the production process, and the soaps he makes are relatively more regular in shape. After his processing, they are square and look quite realistic.

"Can this be used as soap?" Zhou Yong leaned closer and exclaimed, "As expected of Xiaoxue, she's really awesome!"

"You're so uncultured, can't you use a different compliment?" Cha Li glanced at the two of them sideways and held the lumpy soap she had made in her hand.

Only Mr. Xue in the whole class could make the soap produced in the laboratory look so good; no one else could.

Even the girls can only make soap...

Of course, two consecutive chemistry classes wouldn't just consist of one experiment. After checking that most students had completed their experiments, Yao Gugu had the students do another experiment during the second class period.

The most interesting part of chemistry is probably when you do experiments yourself.

Turning theoretical knowledge into reality gives people a strange sense of accomplishment.

However, after two consecutive classes, Mo Xueyao still felt somewhat tired.

The moment the bell rang, many boys rushed out of the classroom without even washing their hands, clutching their chopsticks or spoons.

However, even if they run so enthusiastically, they probably still can't outrun the students in the main teaching building.

After all, the distance is different...

Mo Xueyao wasn't in a hurry, since she was already used to having to wait in long lines to get a meal.

If there are other people in line with you, it won't be too boring.

"Xiaoyao, the Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. Do you think there will be a holiday this year?" Wang Jiale walked to Mo Xueyao's side, her twin ponytails swaying on either side of her head.

"No way, the Education Bureau didn't issue any notice." Mo Xueyao slapped Wang Jiale's ponytail on the right side of his head, making it shake even more violently.

"Hey, Xiaoyao, what are you doing? You've messed up my hair!" Wang Jiale retorted, patting Mo Xueyao's ponytail. "Hey—the Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional holiday, and you don't even get a day off."

"Although it's a traditional festival, it's not one of the more important ones," Mo Xueyao said, rubbing her slightly sore eyes. "At most, we might serve zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for lunch on the Dragon Boat Festival."

"What's wrong~ Lele wants a vacation so badly?" Hua Yinyin blinked and clung to Mo Xueyao like a monkey. "Summer vacation is coming soon, you can have a two-month break."

"Phew, summer vacation is not friendly to me at all." Wang Jiale pouted, looking unhappy.

"What's wrong?" Mo Xiaoxiao asked with a smile, while covering her younger sister's mouth as she bit her.

"My dad said he's going to enroll me in an advanced class during the summer vacation because my grades are still too bad. He said he wants me to at least be in the top 30 in the whole grade... But it's not that easy!"

"How tragic." Mo Xueyao gloated.

She has never attended these extracurricular classes since she was a child—mainly because her family didn't have the money, and therefore her parents didn't have the habit of enrolling her in extracurricular classes.

So every summer and winter vacation, she can comfortably enjoy all her rest time.

……

Chapter 310 Talent Scout

When school ended today, the sun was not visible in the sky, with only a few rays of sunlight shining through the clouds.

Even in summer, it doesn't suddenly become very hot; the temperature rises and falls repeatedly until it reaches the peak of the summer.

For example, on a cloudy day like today, it feels a bit chilly.

Mo Xueyao, who hadn't worn stockings when she went out, sneezed from the cold wind. It was only in the twenties today, but she thought that since it was summer, it wouldn't be cold. However, she was wrong.

Thankfully, I'll be home soon. If it's still cloudy tomorrow, I'll definitely need to wear long socks when I go out.

As always, the bustling school gate is lined with many vendors, but apart from the most regular few, the vendors change every day.

For example, today there was an old woman with a wrinkled face squatting in a corner at the school gate. In front of her was a sturdy straw basket containing a bunch of chicks huddled together.

"Chirp chirp chirp—"

"Wow, the chicks are so cute." Lu Chengyuan couldn't help but turn around and take a few more glances.

"Xiao Ji?" Mo Xueyao was lost in thought and didn't react.

"Yes, little chick."

"What's so cute about that guy?"

“We weren’t talking about Duanmu Ji,” Li Wanyan explained helplessly on Lu Chengyuan’s behalf.

"Oh... well, she was only pretty when she was little. She's not pretty at all now that she's grown up." Mo Xueyao pouted.

“It seems that poultry are cutest when they are young.” Lu Chengyuan nodded. “I also bought a chick when I was in elementary school, but it wasn’t cute at all when I actually raised it.”

“Of course, if you raise chickens at home, there will be chicken droppings everywhere…” Mo Xueyao nodded in agreement. She had actually bought one when she was in elementary school, mainly because it was very cheap and even elementary school students could afford it.

I remember back then, the chicks outside the school gate cost about one cent each?

Even earlier, back in kindergarten, there were coins that cost five cents.

These chicks no longer hold much appeal for high school students; even if someone stops to look at them, they're unlikely to buy them.

However, some students still can't resist buying one from those vendors selling rabbits or hamsters.

Animal sellers are not very common. They usually change schools every day, and you might only see them once every month or two at the gate of Yukong High School.

As she walked out of the school gate, Mo Xueyao let down her ponytail, put the hair tie in her pocket, and gently tossed her black hair.

"Phew...that feels much better."

"Xiaoyao doesn't like tying her hair up?" Lu Chengyuan touched her hair. "How do you take care of it? It's so smooth..."

"I don't really take care of it, I just wash my hair with shampoo," Mo Xueyao replied casually, brushing her bangs back from her eyes. "Don't you feel uncomfortable having your hair tied up all the time?"

"It's alright, I'm used to it."

As they were chatting, a man in a suit and sunglasses suddenly walked towards them.

He was very thin and short, looking like a monkey.

Hello, student.

"Why? I have no interest in joining any clubs or taking any surveys," Mo Xueyao said directly, refusing the offer.

There are actually quite a few people like this. They're not necessarily bad people; most of them are just salespeople. But if they keep pestering you and talking incessantly, it can be really annoying.

“Yes, you don’t need any insurance. If you want to sell insurance, you should go to an adult.” Lu Chengyuan said, mimicking Mo Xueyao, with her hands on her hips, but her tone was less intense and carried a hint of teasing.

"You've got it wrong, I'm not a salesman." The man in the suit took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of rather dull eyes. "I'm a talent scout. Young man, are you interested in becoming a star?"

Lu Chengyuan wasn't happy at all, because the talent scout was clearly looking at Mo Xueyao when he asked the question.

"To become a star?"

"Yes, our company can turn you into a star. You have a great image and a unique temperament. With our help, becoming a top star is definitely not a dream."

"Oh." Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes and walked past him. "Not interested."

"Wait! Young man, don't you like the feeling of being the center of attention?" Although this guy still had that deadpan look, his tone was a little anxious. "Your image and temperament are really good! Especially your temperament, it's very unique. As long as you debut, you'll definitely be a hit! Right now, there's a huge gap in the star industry in our country, unlike other developed countries where it's already very mature. But precisely because there are fewer competitors, you can reap huge benefits..."

"Not interested." Mo Xueyao repeated her words like a broken record.

"Hey, wait a minute, I'm interested! Can I become a star?" Lu Chengyuan excitedly pointed to herself.

The talent scout looked Lu Chengyuan up and down and shook his head: "You're too ordinary."

"What?! I'd say I'm above average, wouldn't you say?"

"Not enough, far from enough! Wait, classmate!" The talent scout quickly caught up and blocked Mo Xueyao's way. "Are you really not going to consider it? If you think debuting alone is too lonely, that's fine too. You can debut with the girl next to you."

"Huh? I can do it again?" Lu Chengyuan pointed to herself excitedly.

“It’s not you, it’s her.” The talent scout pointed honestly at Li Wanyan.

"Wanyan?"

"Yes, although she's not as good as you, she's perfect as a foil to you. The two of you can form a group and debut as idol singers. This process is already very mature in Japan. All we have to do is adapt it to our national conditions. Our company has huge resources and can spend money to promote you. We can definitely make you a huge star!"

"Not interested." Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes.

"No need." Li Wanyan shook her head gently, looking at the talent scout as if she were looking at a cockroach crawling out of a sewer.

"Wait! Think about it some more! This is my business card! If you change your mind, you can always come to me. You are a rough gem, and with our help, you can polish and refine you..."

"Alright, alright... it's all a lie."

"It's really not a lie. Our company is truly powerful and has the capital. If you don't believe me, I can take you to our company headquarters to see for yourself."

"Thank you, but no need." Li Wanyan pushed away the business card the other party offered, and Mo Xueyao also stepped aside to avoid him. Only Lu Chengyuan was a little disappointed and followed the two of them after a few seconds of stunned silence.

The talent scout stopped following him shamelessly, mainly because passersby had already started to notice him. If he continued to pester them, he might be treated as a thug and restrained by the crowd.

If it were before 1997, he might have been arrested by the police for hooliganism.

"Oh my, Xiaoyao and the class monitor, they're talent scouts! Why don't you give it a try? You could become a star! Being a star is great, you can make money, and it's easy."

“Being a celebrity isn’t easy.” Li Wanyan turned to look at her, seemingly somewhat disappointed in her.

Perhaps it's because her ideas were too naive and simplistic?

"Putting all that aside, do you really think that talent scout is real? He's probably a fraud." Mo Xueyao gently nudged Lu Chengyuan's arm. "You're too naive. There are many scams like this. They pretend to be talent scouts, take girls to interviews, and then imprison them in a room or something. Some even get killed."

"Is it that scary? But I think it's real!"

"It doesn't look real at all. It doesn't look professional at all."

"If he were a fake, he could easily fool any girl who's even remotely attractive. But just now, he didn't seem to have any intention of making me a star at all, and I was the one who asked him first!"

"Perhaps... he's just picky?"

"What? Xiaoyao means I'm the ugliest?" Lu Chengyuan puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. "Oh, Xiaoyao~! You're actually mocking me!"

"No, no..." Mo Xueyao said with a sneer as she fled, "That's not what I meant..."

"And Xiaoyao, you were practically praising yourself just now. Oh dear, I didn't expect Xiaoyao to be so narcissistic. I misjudged you!" Lu Chengyuan said with a grin.

"Eh—"