They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

...Qiu Luxi's disappointment was clearly visible to the naked eye.

The proprietress glanced at me and the pretty idol girl with her head drooping, and said with a smile.

"If you don't go back soon, I'm going to lock you two in the shop, okay?"

"!"

Qiu Luxi immediately distanced herself from me.

That's great. She didn't say a word, but I felt extremely insulted!

"But it's almost nine o'clock, how about I drive you home?"

"……Well."

Qiu Luxi showed a somewhat hesitant expression.

"The subway is still running, so I'll take it back." I politely declined, glancing at Qiu Luxi.

Qiu Luxi's expression became even more conflicted.

“…………Hmm.”

She even closed her eyes and began massaging her temples, making no attempt to hide her swaying.

"Oh, I see. Xiao Ning, could you please take Xiao Qiu to the subway station?"

"!!"

Qiu Luxi immediately opened her eyes and raised her head, exuding an aura of "unwillingness".

"Actually, I had planned to do this too, but it seems..."

I kept telling myself, "This is work, this is work. I need to be professional."

If it weren't for the pressures of life, I would have already caught the subway!

"Actually, Xiao Qiu only recently started taking the subway – if possible, it would be more reassuring to have someone watching over her."

“But—” Qiu Luxi seemed to want to interrupt.

"Otherwise, wouldn't it be better if I took you back myself?" the landlady asked with a smile.

"Um—I want to take the subway..."

Qiu Luxi made a faint sound.

Qiu Luxi collapsed.

...Chu Guyin's mother is no simple character.

Thinking this way only made me more curious.

How did my senior manage to become so socially anxious and withdrawn despite living in such a family environment?!

……

On the way to the subway entrance, Qiu Luxi kept a very wary eye on me.

This vigilance wasn't out of suspicion or hatred towards me as a bad person, but rather like the attention and caution one would have towards the teacher on the podium when using a mobile phone in class.

That makes me a little curious.

However, every time I tried to strike up a conversation, she would turn her head away and avoid eye contact with me.

She looks just like a "young lady" when entertaining guests.

And so, we arrived at the subway station.

Do you know which subway line you need to transfer to get home?

"Yes, I know how to use navigation."

When it comes to serious matters, she is very cooperative and honest.

"Then I'll leave you here. I'm heading towards the school."

Nine o'clock isn't that late, and I'm confident in my makeup skills.

More importantly, I'm fed up with working overtime.

Qiu Luxi seemed somewhat surprised to see that I had taken the initiative to suggest we part ways.

"...If you don't put me on the subway, is it alright to report this to my family?"

"Who cares about all that? I don't need to be so meticulous... Holy crap, what did you say?"

What is she saying?

What does she know?

Uncle Gold Tooth, is this the secret mission you were talking about?! ???

So secret that even the parties involved know about it?!

Next chapter preview:

...Is this club really okay?

"unlucky!"

"At least I was shameless, I didn't slap anyone in the face."

Hu Dan and I both uttered incredulous sounds at the same time, and looked at each other with complicated expressions.

Chapter 57: Prisoners and Toilets

"Alright, I guess I'll stick with youth campus stories this time! -- By the way, Ning Ruoyu, the president just said in the group chat that a new member will be joining our club. Do you have any inside information?"

I put down the book I was holding.

"Don't ask me, but the only people who can join our club are probably a few acquaintances. Either Xu Xingxin, Ge Lanlan, or Hu Dan?"

"That's impossible. After all, they all have their own clubs, and Hu Dan is a top athlete in the track and field team."

An Yu frowned, tore a piece of paper from his notebook and placed it on the table, then took out a bag of peanuts from his bag and poured a handful onto the paper.

"I'm really curious, and because of Aki's presence, it's hard to imagine the president inviting anyone else to join the club."

The image of a purple-haired girl's back flashed through my mind, but I quickly dismissed it—if I could join the literary society as a nominal member, then there was no need to disband the art club, which was essentially just a nominal membership.

When Qiu Luxi was called upon, she raised her head from the single sofa, glanced at us, and when she realized that we weren't calling her, she shrank back onto the sofa, picked up her tablet, and started to doze off.

...Is this club really okay?

"It seems like your relationship with Xiao Qiu is getting better. Oh, could it be that you're flirting behind my back again?" An Yu looked me up and down with a suspicious gaze.

"What a fine mouth, how could it be on someone like that?" I sighed. "It's nothing, just cleared up some misunderstandings."

It's still not resolved. Qiu Luxi still sees me as an inspector sent by her parents, and considers me her number one enemy who is monitoring her free life.

How infuriating! Why does she hate me? Just because what she said is true? Putting aside the facts, isn't her prejudice against me completely inexplicable?

...However, there are advantages to speaking frankly. For example, now she and I have somewhat defined our boundaries, unlike at the beginning when I couldn't figure out why she was hostile to me, and she suspected that I was tattling on her every day.

"It's a misunderstanding. I feel like there are quite a few misunderstandings surrounding you, Ning Ruoyu."

An Yu said this while peeling peanuts with a crunching sound, her cheeks puffed out, making her look like a little squirrel.

"I must record in history that many of these misunderstandings seem to have been fueled by you."

"I'm just adding icing on the cake~"

"Come on, open your mouth, I'll throw the peanut shell in for you."

While An Yu and I were engaged in a battle of wits over peanut shells, the door to the club room was opened.

"...Seeing you two still so energetic is the best thing ever. But An Yu, could you please not get so close to someone's partner?"

When I saw this person walk in—no, I should say roll in—only two words popped into my head.

"Damn it, what bad luck!"

"?"

An Yu glanced at me. Oops, did I blurt that out?

However, the visitor was not angry; instead, he continued to look at us with a gentle smile.

"I've brought water for everyone, right? No need to scan the code this time, right?"

"I don't even want to drink this time. Can you please take your wheelchair and get out of here?"

I said indifferently.

"Oh dear, I hate it. We can keep these kinds of romantic remarks to ourselves. There are so many people around, it's so embarrassing."

The one who would say such shameless things is naturally Ling Qingxue, whom I thought would never appear in my sight again.

"Has the president gone mad, inviting a crazy woman like you to participate?"

"These words are so hurtful~ Why won't you believe I've turned over a new leaf? You promised Chuqing back then~"

"Whether I believe you or not is a different matter from whether I agree with Chu Qing. I only know that a leopard can't change its spots."

My somewhat malicious sarcasm startled Qiu Luxi, who was already asleep. She sat up from the single sofa, looked at me and then at the newcomer Ling Qingxue, wrinkled her nose, and then quickly hid behind the desk.

It seems to indicate that they don't want to get involved.

"...Sorry, let me explain."

Chen Di, who appeared at the door, looked utterly exhausted.

"Ling Qingxue has withdrawn from the basketball club and is therefore considered unaffiliated. Her actions during the summer vacation were reported to the school through certain channels, so she is currently under special observation at school. Joining the literature club is more like a form of probation."

"If there are any violations or unusual behaviors during this period, senior Wu Yuehua and you, as club members, can vote directly. The voting results will directly affect her expulsion."

Chen Di also looked somewhat helpless.

"In other words, she is currently in a situation of redeeming herself through meritorious service. Her achievements and grades cannot be added to her overall score; they can only guarantee her graduation. The reason for letting Ling Qingxue join the Arts Club is that the Arts Club has fewer members, making it easier to manage. The school believes that with the student council president present, they can also directly supervise her."

"Isn't this like throwing a Red Wolf into the ranch?" I said, disgruntled. "Is this some kind of sheep village buffet?"

"I have absolutely no interest in these boring little lambs. If you were to call this a buffet... well, that wouldn't be entirely wrong~"

Ling Qingxue made no attempt to hide the smile on her lips, her gaze fixed intently on me.

"I have no interest in kittens as long as the other philandering cats stop bothering me."

She glanced at An Yu, who, despite being the one in the wheelchair, seemed so oppressive at that moment.

An Yu glared at me and forcefully pulled my arm, saying, "Shameless."

"At least I was shameless, I didn't slap anyone in the face."

"……Well"

An Yu crashed.

Ling Qingxue seemed to have come prepared.

Is it a fait accompli?

I asked Chen Di.

"...Yes, it was a last-minute requirement from the school. Neither my senior nor I knew about it beforehand."

Chen Di sighed.

I shrugged.

"I'm going to the restroom—since it's a given, there's nothing I can do about it. I'd welcome it as free labor."

Having said that, I walked straight out of the club room.

"...Is he angry?" Ling Qingxue's puzzled voice came from inside the room.

“No.” Chen Di’s voice revealed helplessness. “I think he’s just lazy.”

…………

Well, personally, I don't really care whether Ling Qingxue joins or not. Anyway, I'm just a figurehead, so having another character who does the work but doesn't get paid doesn't hurt me.

I said I needed to use the restroom because I felt it was too much trouble to explain Ling Qingxue to Qiu Luxi in the room, to pretend to be polite with each other, and to recount the whole story and the grudges between us!

However, Chen Di saw right through my plan, and now I have to pretend to go to the bathroom.