They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"Wow, you guys escaped from that old man's check, huh? Awesome, awesome."

The female college student who was chatting with Ning Ruoyu expressed her sincere admiration.

"That uncle is notoriously old-fashioned. Once, a couple from out-of-school relationships tried to sneak into the school, but they were caught and the counselor was called in, which made everyone very embarrassed."

"After all, the counselor doesn't really want to get involved, right? But because the security guard did this, they have no choice but to deal with it according to the school's rules and regulations."

"Wow, Xiaoning, you've completely figured out the survival mode in university." Sister Zhang said with a smile, "Take big problems lightly and small problems away from each other. Everyone should just mind their own business. Like that uncle, he's so annoying."

It turned out to be the case.

Wu Yuehua, who didn't interrupt, thought to herself.

Perhaps most students at Linwai High School think they are that old-fashioned person.

Ning Ruoyu glanced at Wu Yuehua, who was silent and lost in thought.

"Such people are very annoying. They just rely on their tiny bit of power to put on airs and try to gain benefits. However, although people sometimes feel helpless when they encounter those who are strict with themselves before being strict with others, I personally admire them more."

"Hmm, you're right... I feel that Secretary Li is sometimes like that... Such a personality can easily offend people and also make it easy for him to suffer losses."

"..." Wu Yuehua glanced in the direction the boy was speaking, and happened to meet his smiling eyes.

"So these two types of people are different, right, senior?"

In a daze, Wu Yuehua seemed to understand why Qiu Luxi would quietly sit opposite Ning Ruoyu when she had nothing to do in the club, and then secretly and seriously watch him—well, although it was only Qiu Luxi herself who thought she was being secretive.

Perhaps even that cat-like junior schoolmate was drawn to those bright, clear eyes. The boy's deliberately low-key appearance at school was actually quite unassuming, but his eyes always carried a hint of gentleness and weariness, irresistibly attracting and captivating people.

"Oh, but the condition for me to help you visit the Lucheng Debate Club is that you need to do me a small favor, Xiao Ning, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

As Sister Zhang said this, she gave the boy a smug smile.

"...I haven't forgotten, but I feel like you didn't have this attitude before, Sister Zhang."

Ning Ruoyu's tone was tinged with unease.

"Hehe, after all, the proprietress was there. If I had made that request then, wouldn't the proprietress, who's been eyeing you so covetously, have stopped me?"

As Sister Zhang said this, her eyes unconsciously gleamed.

"Xiao Ning, will you be my boyfriend?"

[Next chapter preview: "I see, so what's the real situation?"]

"Haha, I'm sorry, I don't meet the criteria and I'm not one of the all-nighters invited by Sister Zhang."

A good name brings peace and safety year after year.

"Oh? You two seem to be having a good time... Ahhh, I was just kidding, Xiao Ning, Xiao Ning, don't leave me behind and go first!!"

Chapter 106: Senior Students with the Same Surname Wu

"Yay! -- Although I really want to say that, the person next to me is our school's beloved student council president, the girl who is rumored to be in charge of discipline."

I said with a smile. Senior Wu Yuehua, who was standing next to me, didn't seem to have reacted yet, and her expression was somewhat blank.

"So please let's put this matter aside for now. If you have any requests, please confess in private next time."

"Wow, Xiao Ning, you're really good at keeping things under wraps. If I were to confess my feelings in private, you'd probably come up with a different story, right?"

"If you, Sister Zhang, were more sincere and less manipulative, my words would be a little more genuine."

"Oh, you're so annoying! Big sister always uses jokes to cover up her true feelings. Just like a chocolate-covered liquor—Xiao Ning, you haven't felt my sincerity because you're unwilling to try to understand me properly, okay?"

Sister Zhang held up one finger and said it in a serious tone.

"I see. So what's the real situation?"

"Well, the debate club at Lucheng University is a selective club," Sister Zhang explained to me. "About three or four hundred people apply each year, but only 16 will become official members. So it's more like a competition team than a club?"

"This seems similar to our high school?" I looked at Wu Yuehua, a senior student standing beside me. Since I wasn't that familiar with Sister Zhang, she usually didn't interrupt our conversation. Seeing my gaze, she nodded in affirmation.

Of course, high school can't compare to the scale of university, and that's why the senior students who were able to defeat the Luda University debate team as high school students are regarded as a legend that only happened once.

"Well, I participated for a while, but when it came to the formal selection, I felt I was too busy and it didn't fit my expectations for my extracurricular life in college, so I declined the invitation."

In other words, the debate club's members are not entirely selected unilaterally by the club itself. Some talented and capable members also have the option to choose whether to stay or leave.

"Wow, as expected of Sister Zhang! (clapping)"

"Xiao Ning, you can be really perfunctory sometimes!"

I've only ever heard of bullying or being perfunctory with people.

However, Sister Zhang didn't take it to heart. "So although I know those members, our relationship is only at the beginning. That's why I can be a little shameless and listen in. Xiao Ning, what should you do?"

"So, Sister Zhang, you thought of having me pretend to be your boyfriend?"

"Hmph, that's right, Sister Zhang, I don't have any selfish motives at all, I'm just thinking of you guys!"

As she was saying this, Sister Zhang was called out by the girls not far away.

"Yueyue! Have you found a buddy for staying up all night? The school's security seems pretty bad lately, and our advisor told us to find a few more guys. Do you have any handsome guys in your contacts? Share them with us... Ah, you found one?"

"Haha, I'm sorry, I don't meet the criteria and I'm not one of the all-nighters invited by Sister Zhang."

I answered for Sister Zhang, who had guiltily looked away.

"Oh, what a pity. If Yueyue hadn't invited you, wouldn't you have come with us?"

...After perfunctorily seeing off the partygoers, I silently looked at Sister Zhang.

"Hey!"

She poked her cheek with her finger, her eyes darting around guiltily. "I can explain this. It's like how a bank safeguards assets for its users and pays them interest. The investment returns during that time also belong to the bank—it's perfectly reasonable, right? I was just doing what a normal bank should do!"

No wonder they're from the School of Economics; even their nonsense has such a business mind.

"Putting aside your other intentions, Sister Zhang, your excuse is ridiculous." I sighed. "I'm your boyfriend, so I came to observe. But what about this senior of mine? Is she here as your girlfriend? What's our relationship? Is it your monogamous system?"

"That's a good idea!" Sister Zhang clapped her hands excitedly, but quickly realized it wasn't the time to be silly, so she scratched her head.

"The competition has nothing to do with it. I just wanted to ask someone a question."

Seeing the troubled look on Sister Zhang's face, Wu Yuehua hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

Although I had already guessed some of the reasons why the president came here, I was still somewhat relieved to see that she was willing to tell me.

"Oh, is that so? Then you don't mind telling me? I can ask for you directly, or I can just tell you if I know the answer."

Unlike when she was chatting with me, Sister Zhang was much more serious and earnest when she spoke to President Wu Yuehua.

"Well, maybe you're not too sure about this either, because I've never seen him participate in any of the previous competitions—"

Here he comes! The legendary mysterious male student who supposedly made the president forget the entire third debate and was suspected of having some kind of love-hate relationship with the president!

I listened with great curiosity.

"His name should be—Wu Sui'an."

A good name brings peace and safety year after year.

...No, this surname?

Now I understand a little better why Senior Wu Yuehua was so secretive about this topic; she's definitely a character whose story you can guess just by hearing her name.

But to my surprise, Sister Zhang's expression looked a little strange after hearing her name.

"Wu Sui'an? Ah, are you perhaps a family member of Senior Wu?"

Judging from what Sister Zhang said, that senior named Wu Suian seems to be quite a famous figure in university.

"Yeah, a relative's child, you know, the kind that way."

I frowned, but said nothing.

“That’s true, you can tell from the surname, since it seems like your surname is quite rare.” Sister Zhang said with a smile. “However, I don’t know much about Senior Wu. It seems he graduated in the second semester of the year I enrolled. Um, I really don’t know the specifics.”

"Secretary Li knows him best! They used to date, I think. But it seems like Senior Wu hasn't been in much contact since he started his master's program."

This is way too much information! The receptionist, Sister Li, is actually the ex-girlfriend of the person Wu Yuehua is looking for? Is Lucheng such a small city?

"Hey! Senior, have you seen me at university recently? Is this the guy I'm looking for?"

"Huh? Hmm... After all, the university is very big. But since Li Wanying didn't tell me anything, she probably hasn't come back yet, right?" Sister Zhang stroked her chin. "Actually, I still think they haven't broken up. Hmm, how should I put it, it just feels like they've stopped contacting each other."

"Not contacting each other doesn't mean breaking up—that inequality is brilliant!" Seeing my somewhat speechless look, Sister Zhang added.

"After all, I can't just gossip like that. Maybe Senior Wu is just too busy, so they're just being affectionate when I'm not around."

“Impossible.” Wu Yuehua said somewhat abruptly, but quickly came to her senses. “Oh no. I know that relative a little bit, and I don’t think he’s the kind of person who acts ambiguously.”

"Hmm, that's true. After all, I only got to know Senior Wu because of Wanying. But I don't really know him." Sister Zhang replied with a smile. "But are we still going to the debate practice match later? My friend sent me a message."

"I'll just wander around the school. You and Ning Ruoyu can go together, senior," Wu Yuehua said.

"...Really not going?" I asked her. "Actually, it would be fine if the senior said we were the 'kids' she joined in the club."

"Hey~ I meant to say boyfriend and girlfriend~ It's so boring that they haven't had any scandals since they started university~" Sister Zhang protested. "And Ning Ruoyu, you're so knowledgeable, you even know that the club members call the next batch of juniors 'kids'."

"Hmm, based on what my senior said, I feel that my relative probably won't show up at practice matches casually—I don't want the team members to recognize me either."

Ignoring Sister Zhang, who was still deliberately throwing a tantrum, Senior Sister Wu Yuehua said this.

"If there are any problems, I'll keep an eye out for them for you."

"Yes. Really... thank you."

"Hey? You two seem to be having a good time... Ahhh, I was just kidding, Xiao Ning, Xiao Ning, don't leave me behind and go ahead!!"

Along with the somewhat boisterous Sister Zhang, I temporarily separated from Wu Yuehua.

When I went to the training match, I probably never imagined that I would discover something like that in an ordinary university debate practice match.

[Next chapter preview: "Can you do some professional testing on your end?"]

"THC and CBD content".

It's like a deep, clear spring; you never know how deep it is, or what unspeakable darkness lies hidden beneath.

"I also need to let you know—this kind of thing is beyond my ability as a high school student."

Interlude: The Flower of Evil Blooms on Flesh and Blood

"Hey buddy, you contacted me first? Wait, am I seeing things? You even ordered coffee for me?!"

Walking into the usual Flower Street Cafe, Kim Seo-heng looked like he'd seen a ghost.

The fact that Ning Ruoyu was treating him so seriously—damn, he started to panic.

It's funny to think about it now. Jin Shuheng is a man who has experienced all sorts of ups and downs. Back when there was the conflict between Bai Hui and the mole, and someone knocked out his tooth, he remained calm and collected, getting up and finding the nearest dental clinic to get it filled. Now, however, he was startled and turned pale at the sight of a cup of coffee placed in front of an empty seat.

It can only be said that Ning Ruoyu's bastard left a very deep impression. The summer's gray industry reform, and the recent confrontation with Old Master Qiu—although this guy has been avoiding any involvement with the gray industry, he is now a figure that all three sides have heard of.

Many of the "kids" who had direct contact with him even developed a fear of high school in Linwai, making the area around Linwai unusually peaceful lately. It inexplicably reminds people of those powerful figures from the past who could maintain peace and order by sitting in the center of the city—but ironically, people from all walks of life, both the legitimate and criminal, admire this kind of person, making the young man's reputation even more outrageous.

Can you perform some professional tests on your end?

There were no jokes or banter; unlike usual, the boy's face was devoid of any smile.

"Which aspect?"

"THC and CBD content".

These two abbreviations also made Jin Shuheng's face turn stern.

"...Are you sure you need this test?"

The young man nodded.

“The samples… that’s true, they can’t be handed over to me here.” Jin Shuheng rubbed his temples. “Brother Ning, I don’t know if you’re short of money or what. I heard from my subordinates that you’ve recently taken a large sum of money from the funds entrusted to me for safekeeping, and you’ve also been occasionally involved in borderline industries.”

"Of course, this is your income and hobby, and I won't say anything. But that stuff is not allowed."

Jin Shuheng said coldly, leaning forward slightly. "Are you crazy? That's the most forbidden thing in the Nine Hua Kingdom! Even the most clueless young man under my command only looks for similar substitutes. Do you want to do that kind of business directly? That's not just gray area, it's nakedly black, pitch black that survives by cannibalism!"

"The money and gambling industry are too complicated to explain, so I won't."

However, in front of Jin Shuheng, Ning Ruoyu remained calm and even casually took a sip of coffee.

“Although Chu Qingya is the owner behind this store, your reaction just now was too agitated. Quiet down. The topic we're discussing now is that even being suspected will provoke Bai Shi and his gang to fight to the death.”

Jin Shuheng wanted to say something, but in the end he leaned back in his chair.