They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

How could someone with a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius say such cold things?

How would I know?

"So that's how it is. It really is An Yu after all."

Chapter 90: A Temporary Commission After Returning to the Club

"An Yu, do you have any disposable tablecloths or anything like that?"

"I don't have it now. I don't carry such things with me all the time, so why ask such a question?"

"Hey, I thought you had a lot of these kinds of things over there."

"..."

An Yu thought for a moment, then asked me very seriously.

"Ning Ruoyu, are you being sarcastic?"

Such a quick reaction, An Yu, you're really growing up.

I looked at the girl with satisfaction. She was crossing her arms and tilting her head, which made my gaze unconsciously follow her downwards.

...although in some places it seems that there has been no growth at all.

"?"

An Yu was even more puzzled.

Why did you first show a look of relief, and then a look of sadness?

"The thought that you would misunderstand me like this breaks my heart."

I was just talking nonsense.

"Huh? Well, I'm sorry."

An Yu looked somewhat flustered.

Is she really that easy to fool? I have a feeling that An Yu has become more agreeable. Is it just my imagination?

"Although I don't know the reason, I think this guy is definitely lying."

Who, who's sabotaging me?!

I was angry. I glared at the doorway and saw Chen Di return my gaze with a somewhat cold look.

It felt like I was thinking of getting to school early to copy homework, only to run into the teacher who had also arrived at the classroom early—I chickened out.

"Hey, isn't this my dear buddy?!"

"Stop doing this."

"No, brother, I'm being completely honest with you, how could you say something so hurtful?"

I protest. How can someone with a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius say such cold things?

"How come this busy man, who knew the plan had flaws but still played along with us before choosing to handle the aftermath alone, still found time to go back to the club?"

"..."

So I said I needed to borrow a disposable tablecloth from An Yu first.

Seeing that I smiled awkwardly and didn't say anything, Chen Di finally sighed and put away his usual harshness.

"Let's stop joking around. Junior Qiu Luxi is involved in some very troublesome things, right?"

"That's quite troublesome and tricky, the kind of thing I don't recommend all of you get involved in."

"……I see."

Chen Di nodded. "Although I'm a little reluctant, perhaps your judgment is correct. Involving other students in the school when their safety cannot be guaranteed could easily cause even bigger problems."

"Yeah, right?"

"I feel much more justified now. It seems that in your eyes, Ning Ruoyu, I am also the kind of person who gets involved without even being sure of my own safety."

"Where did I imply that in my words just now?!"

Seeing Chen Di's ambiguous smile, I realized I'd been tricked. Although a hint of resentment lingered on his face, he seemed to have let it go.

"Given your habit of slacking off for ages after completing a task, there must be a reason why you're still here at the club, right?"

“Oh right, what about Xiao Qiu? Didn’t she come back with you?” An Yu interjected.

"Why would you think she would come to the clubroom with me? She's in the year after us, but we're classmates, right?"

"Yes, but I always feel that it should be this way."

"Isn't the concept of 'should' in this world a bit too strange? She's currently trying to repair her relationship with her family while also giving various media interviews and receiving praise. She also has to reschedule her canceled appearances and work schedules. She's quite busy."

Incidentally, after learning that his granddaughter's real wish was to become a screenwriter, the old man accelerated his pace of acquiring entertainment companies and also asked me if I wanted to acquire some publishing houses or online platforms.

How would I know?

I always feel that the people around me have some inexplicable misunderstandings and unrealistic fantasies about me—that I was just a lousy gigolo in my past life, and they don't understand these things.

I sent him President Wu Yuehua's WeChat. I hope the senior student club's lateness today wasn't due to this issue.

"See, you really are the one who knows Xiao Qiu's movements the most!"

"?"

Does this count?

"Xiao Qiu is an idol! It's already terrifying that they know Xiao Qiu's schedule!"

I silently tapped the tablet that was placed in front of me.

First Response! Live Interview with Actress Qiu Luxi!

"Are there any other questions?"

I sighed as I looked at the bewildered An Yu.

"There is one."

However, Chen Di tilted his head.

"This seems to be a breaking news story that just recently trended on social media. How did you know about it beforehand, Ning Ruoyu?"

"Well, speaking of this, she just casually mentioned it to me after she received the notice and question draft sent to the store that day."

"Hmm, it feels so novel to see people I'm usually around suddenly appear on the screen." An Yu had already started watching the preview videos before the live stream.

"By the way, Ning Ruoyu, you haven't told us why you joined the club yet—can we talk about it as we watch?"

……

On the screen, the host was asking Qiu Luxi questions about a series of recent events. Their questions had probably been confirmed beforehand, as even the cat was able to prepare a script based on the questions and then answer them.

To be honest, I've rarely seen such a boring question. I felt even the host was getting restless. Apart from Qiu Luxi's fans, other viewers would probably start to lose focus after watching for a while.

Of course, even if one's attention wanders, the director's several meaningful close-up shots make the girl on screen appear even more pitiful, enough to be a screensaver.

"Xiaoxin's school wants to have a discussion about her future school selection, but both of your parents happen to be away on business trips?"

"Yes. They originally thought that Xiaoxin was living with me, so they took the business trip as a matter of course. But who would have thought that there would be a meeting with the school during this period."

"Can't you come back earlier?"

“The journey is too far, and the project seems to be in the stage where it is most short of people.” I said casually. “I did talk to Xiaoxin’s homeroom teacher, but the teacher’s attitude was very so-so. He said that considering that I am not an adult myself, he does not agree to me going in place of my parents.”

"...Isn't this just making things difficult for someone?" Chen Di frowned.

"It seems so. The homeroom teacher seemed a bit confused and seemed very resistant to my involvement in this matter."

"What should we do?"

"I called the school directly. If rules and regulations don't make things convenient for students and parents, complaining is only natural, right?" I shrugged. These guys who use the rules to make things difficult for others only realize how unreasonable their rules are. At that time, I was busy dealing with Qiu Luxi's matter and couldn't be bothered to argue with a stranger.

"The school has apologized to me, but said that the homeroom teacher was also concerned about safety. If I want to go for a meeting, I should at least bring someone of the same age or older with my parents' authorization."

"The other party has made some concessions, so I don't really care—I've obtained the authorization from my parents, but for those older than me..."

"I understand, so Ning Ruoyu, you came to find us, right?!"

An Yu clapped his hands, as if he understood something, and leaned forward slightly with some anticipation.

Um, I actually just came to see Chen Di.

Chen Di smiled when he saw An Yu's sparkling eyes and then at my somewhat speechless expression.

"What a pity, I seem to have some things to do that day, so I can't attend for you."

"I didn't even say which day, did I?"

I glared at the guy.

He smiled but said nothing.

"Hey, is the class monitor busy?"

An Yu didn't care about my complaints at all; the joy in her words was truly undeniable.

"Well, well, if there's really no one else here, I'm completely, no, absolutely, definitely available!"

What should I do? I really don't want to see this guy. I feel like it will cause a lot of trouble in various ways.

Maybe I should ask someone else. Although I'm not that close to the president, but...

"Honey, I can too!"

A charming female voice approached from the doorway with a smile.

"So that's how it is. It really is An Yu after all."

I nodded, giving An Yu an affirmative look.

"Oh dear, I'm really thoroughly disliked now~"

Ling Qingxue said with a smile, seemingly not really caring.

I can still tell whether trouble or danger is the right choice.

As I was thinking this, I was drawn in by the noisy commotion and commotion coming from the corridor outside the club.

"What happened?" I asked Ling Qingxue, who had come from outside.

“I don’t know either. But it seems like no one has been doing their own thing along the way; everyone’s been glued to their phones—yes, just like you guys right now.”

Ling Qingxue pointed to our tablet.

"?"

I turned to look at Qiu Luxi, whose camera was being pointed at, and frowned.

Seriously? Everyone's watching this boring interview so seriously. Are high school students these days really that bored?

The next second, several lines of large, temporarily scrolling text appeared on the screen.

"Qiu Luxi reveals her experiences and insights from the past few days for the first time—and more exclusive top-secret content coming soon!!"

[Next chapter preview: "Ah, yes. After all, I didn't expect to be in charge of this interview."]

"Isn't our group's motto a self-deprecating joke, 'Studying journalism, studying journalism'?"

"I understand, I'll give it a try."

"It's not that I'm completely uninterested. I do have a type I like now."

Interlude: Are you watching?

Look closely, this host's name is Xiao Wang. She's got a big gig today and is currently busy preparing her script.

"'What are your thoughts on the rumors circulating online lately?' 'We heard that Lu Xi, you're preparing for a new drama and a new variety show. Will that have any impact?' 'Welcome Lu Xi to our live stream! Say hello to our viewers, okay?'..."

"very nervous?"

A senior colleague from the station, already made up, stood behind Wang Jiao and asked a question with a smile.

"Ah, yes. After all, I didn't expect to be in charge of this interview."

"Ha, well, she is Qiu Luxi after all." The senior smiled wryly. "Friendly reminder, don't overdo it on stage, say things like 'I'm already an old friend of Xiaoxi' or something. Qiu Luxi is quite special, you know."