They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"Thank you all for coming to participate in our first club activity after school today. Welcome to the Literature Club!"

"...Although that's the case, there are actually only five people at the moment, so let's keep the welcoming ceremony simple."

Lai Ruhui, the class advisor and Chinese language teacher of Class F, who came to the club to give instructions, said this.

"Then I'll head back now. You guys have a great time, and remember to close the doors and windows and clean up properly before you leave!"

"...Did they just run away like that?"

My eyes widened. This is supposed to be a literary society, but it's actually a clandestine organization called "Going Home" (or "Going Home Club"). Are even the teachers part of "Going Home"?

"Is this the kind of mouth that's so rude?"

Xiao Lai glared at me. "I also want to go back early, but the higher-ups are coming to inspect. We teachers are all busy planning related exhibitions and arrangements. Do you think being a civil servant is so easy!"

“Even when I go home, either the boarding students have problems, or the classmates have some trouble. I’m also often left with various lesson plans and group competition tasks by the older generation. Because I’m a new teacher, my classes are frequently rescheduled. Although there are winter and summer vacations, my actual work is not a 9-to-5 job at all. Compared to other public sector employees and civil servants, I can leave early…”

Xiao Lai is broken.

"The school is planning a club showcase event recently, which we call the 'Battle of a Hundred Clubs' in our area," said senior student Wu Yuehua with a wry smile. "So sorry, junior, Chen Di and I probably won't be able to get away for a while."

"Weren't you just helping out? You've been forced to work for free?" I asked Chen Di.

"...The class monitors were also dragged in to do the hard labor. So this time it wasn't voluntary work for me, it really became my job." Chen Di sighed.

I nodded to show that I understood.

"So although it's supposed to be a standard setup of five members and one teacher, in reality, the three of you juniors will probably be the ones who actually need to participate in the activities. Oh, but don't worry, we've prepared for the showcase activities for the Hundred Clubs Battle, so you just need to follow your own pace."

"?" I was slightly taken aback. "Am I just a nominal member? What do you mean by 'my own rhythm'? I don't have any rhythm at all!"

Don't try those classic HR recruitment tricks on me! We agreed to pay the highest social insurance and housing fund contributions, don't go back on your word!!!

"Don't worry. Although it's just a nominal appointment, the school is serious this time. Every student must make contributions to the club, and it will be counted in their usual performance evaluation score—the score that is closely related to college admissions."

Unlike Lucheng High School, Linwai High School does not admit students solely based on academic performance. Linwai's winter schedule is four classes from 8:30 AM to 11:50 AM, and two classes from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

The remaining time is mostly required to be devoted to relevant extracurricular activities. Whether it's clubs or competitions, from scientific experiments to community volunteering and cooking competitions, the impressive resume and extra points gained from winning awards are another key factor in getting into Linwai High School.

Xiao Lai explained to the president, "Yuehua has already arranged most of the activities and preparations for your club. What you need is just a report or a result, so that it will be easier to collect points."

"While that's true, teacher, you've been too blunt," Senior Wu Yuehua said, looking at Xiao Lai with a hint of helplessness.

Xiao Lai puffed out his chest. "As an adult, I have plenty of experience in slacking off."

So, is there really nothing wrong with our homeroom teacher's behavior?

"So, senior, what exactly should we do?"

An Yu raised a question.

"If possible, I hope you can help me do what I want to do, something related to literature. For example, write a short story, a screenplay, or some interview transcripts."

"Because I'm planning to publish a campus magazine."

"A short story?" An Yu immediately became excited. "How about a fanfiction of 'The Moonlight Tonight Is Like Last Night'?!"

The senior student was momentarily speechless.

"...You watch 'Tonight' too?"

Beside him, the girl who had been silent all along, and who even seemed not to be participating in the discussion, tilted her head and suddenly poked An Yu in the back.

"Huh?...Oh, um, yeah." An Yu looked a little bewildered. "Ping Qiuyue's writing is really good!"

"...An interesting woman~"

Qiu Luxi nodded in agreement, unsure whether the comment was praising Ping Qiuyue or An Yu.

"Have you read that book too?"

"Yes! It's very good. I like it very much." Qiu Luxi thought for a moment and then added, "...I've read all of Ping Qiuyue's books!"

"Hey, really?! You've even read Ping Qiuyue's debut novel, 'Farewell to the Cold Dream,' which was serialized on the forum but can no longer be found?!"

"Hmph, I'm one of the top 100 registered members on that forum."

"!!!"

"Um, although this atmosphere for discussing literature is great, please stop for a moment." Senior Wu Yuehua, whom I guessed was the person involved, looked embarrassed and unsure of what to do.

"We welcome fan fiction or new scripts that you conceive yourself. As long as it's related to literature and can be published in newspapers or magazines, it's fine!"

"...What do you plan to write?"

I looked at my dear friend Chen Di.

"Ah, I won the gold medal in the New Concept Writing Competition for one of my essays last semester. I plan to revise the story and publish it."

Okay, this is a despicable traitor!

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

“If you really can’t get interested in literature, you can help write reviews of other people’s works,” Senior Wu Yuehua suggested.

"After all, you can communicate directly with the author and understand what they want to write. It's a bit like cheating."

"Got it, I'll take care of the flattery."

"That's not quite it. I still hope you can write down your own opinions and develop a liking for literature to some extent," said Senior Wu Yuehua.

"Oh, but don't be too happy about it. Your Chinese score this time is already pretty good. You should use your free time to brush up on physics, chemistry, and geography," Xiao Lai chimed in.

"Chinese language studies have no future. Study more science subjects, and you can become an engineer with easy work and high pay!"

Is this the kind of advice a language arts teacher should give?

"The student council is about to have a meeting, so we have to go there first," said senior student Wu Yuehua with an apologetic expression. "Chen Di is the same."

"...!"

Upon hearing Wu Yuehua's words, Qiu Luxi, like a kitten seeing catnip, took a step closer to Chen Di.

"Are you Chen Di?"

The girl blinked, as if examining a toy that piqued her curiosity.

"Yes. I'm Chen Di, the class monitor of Class F." Chen Di introduced himself and then frowned slightly.

"...It feels different from what I imagined."

"you know me?"

“…It doesn’t matter. Please guide me.” Qiu Luxi didn’t answer his question, but instead extended her hand.

Chen Di was a little confused, but he still reached out and shook hands with her.

"That's perfect. Although we know each other, the junior students probably don't know us yet, right? Let's take this opportunity to briefly introduce ourselves, which can also be considered the self-introduction session on the first day."

After speaking, Senior Wu Yuehua paused for a few seconds, "My name is Wu Yuehua, a student in Class A of Senior Three, and I currently serve as the president of the student council, the third debater on the debate team, and the president of the literature club."

"Hmm..." Qiu Luxi looked a little confused. She hesitated for a moment before shaking hands with her senior who reached out her hand.

"I...I...I'm An Yu, and I'm a student in Class F along with Ning Ruoyu and Chen Di!"

An Yu also raised his hand and spoke earnestly.

"Although it's just a nominal role, I'm genuinely interested in 'Tonight'! I hope to have the opportunity to discuss it with everyone!"

"Mmm!" Qiu Luxi nodded, probably because they shared the same interest. An Yu smiled and reached out his hand, and she gently squeezed it in return.

"Huh? I want one too?" I sighed.

"My name is Ning Ruoyu, from Class F. Please take care of me and help each other. Thank you everyone."

After saying that, I also reached out my hand to Qiu Luxi.

But she remained silent.

“…Ning Ruoyu?”

Her indigo eyes looked at me, and similar to her reaction when she heard Chen Di's name, Qiu Luxi tilted her head and then took a small step back.

"You're Ning Ruoyu?"

"I'm considering whether or not to change my name."

In fact, after the summer vacation, rumors that "Ning Ruoyu is actually a very handsome guy" started circulating, originating from Ning Ruoxin's junior high school.

Unfortunately, despite a few blurry photos and numerous claims of witnessing junior high school students taking summer tutoring, the story was ultimately dismissed as an urban legend, and remained prevalent only within the affiliated high school.

Students from other schools mostly reacted with comments like: "Hahaha, that's ridiculous!" "Princess carry of the little sister? Those girls at our high school must have read too many melodramatic CEO romance novels, hahaha!" "Do you believe it? I certainly don't!"

In short, Lucheng is a large city, and the influence of the affiliated high school doesn't reach Linwai. In this environment that is so deeply ingrained in my past, no one would believe that kind of rhetoric.

"..."

Like a cat seeing a cucumber, Qiu Luxi instinctively hid behind Senior Wu Yuehua, eyeing me warily. In this situation, forget about a friendly handshake; I felt like she was about to run away.

When will my ability to stop a child from crying just from my name finally disappear? I'm getting tired.

"?" Senior Wu Yuehua didn't seem to understand the situation either, but she still tried her best to smooth things over.

"It's good that we can get along amicably."

—This atmosphere doesn't seem friendly at all!

"It's getting late, Chen Di and I have to go now. By the way, junior, could you wait for me here after the event? We can go back together, I have something to tell you."

Although Wu Yuehua's suggestion seemed abrupt at the end, I currently have no reason to refuse it.

[Next chapter preview: The reason for the thick walls in the Middle East is not for bulletproofing?]

Judging from the president's reaction, he probably knows very little about the abolition of Senior Sister Chu Guyin's club.

"I'm here to apologize."

Having spent almost half a year in this world, I've developed some of the temperament of a student—a real step forward! My goal is a wonderful campus life, and I'll keep striving for even better results.

My gossip cravings are satisfied, time to go home!

Chapter 52: Hey bro, wanna have some gossip? It's about two senior girls!

"Hmm... I see, so that's how you describe a scene!"

Using Qiu Luxi's account, An Yu ate corn sticks while looking at Ping Qiuyue's past works on a tablet.

"stare--"

Sitting next to An Yu, Qiu Luxi seemed to shrink into the sofa, but she would occasionally cast wary and scrutinizing glances at me.

I'm doing my geography homework for today.

The reason for the thick walls in the Middle East isn't for bulletproofing? Geography is so hard to understand.

The clock in the clubroom ticked away.

Occasionally, An Yu would hand me snacks and then praise how well "Ping Qiuyue" wrote; occasionally, Qiu Luxi would suddenly stand up and poke this or that; and occasionally, the loud chants of the sports club could be heard from outside the corridor...

The literature club's classroom was much smaller than the one I used to use for the light music club. But with the three of us doing our own thing, it felt spacious.

To be honest... it was filled with the unbridled laziness and wasted time of student life, and the slacker was quite satisfied.

……

"Ah, it's getting late, I need to head back now."

An Yu put down her tablet, wiped her fingers, which were dirty from eating snacks, with a tissue, and glanced at her phone.

"!"

Qiu Luxi was eating the corn cob that An Yu had given her at the time, and upon hearing this, she immediately stood up as well.

"...Want to go back together?" An Yu asked her.

Qiu Luxi nodded vigorously.

An Yu looked over at me.

"Don't worry about me, I'll wait here for Senior Wu Yuehua." I was still battling the subtropical monsoon climate and didn't look up.

"Then we'll head back now. See you tomorrow, Ning Ruoyu!"

“Stare—” Qiu Luxi didn’t speak, but just looked at me warily, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Okay, see you later."