Yuanyue Academy, Tuesday morning. In the top-floor study room of the library, Yaqiao Mu stood by a blackboard, wiping away chalk marks as he spoke.
"Our school and Xiu Zhi progress faster in mathematics than other schools. Geotry covers a lot of content, so we’ll first test the waters... Take a look at these materials, the President and I prepared them for you."
Seated opposite him, Aria Spencer barely glanced at the blackboard. Instead, she turned to Yan Huan, flashing an "excessively evil" smile.
"..."
Yan Huan rubbed his sore muscles, ignoring her antics. Ever since Spencer acquired that bag full of strange comics, her behavior had changed. She would sneak glances at him and flash peculiar, unsettling smiles full of deja vu.
He had a strong hunch—during last weekend’s comic convention, An Le must have purchased sothing like Dragon Bound. Spencer, likely influenced by her, seed to have picked up so “new tricks.”
Fine, Spencer. Just wait; I’ll deal with you.
Looking around the modest study room, Yan Huan confird there were only three people present. A recent ssage popped up on his Plane app from Bai Yi:
"Sorry, Yan Huan. I’ve got an event this morning, so I’ll only be back by noon. Could you help
fill out the study group registration? I’d like to join."
After replying with a "Got it" cat emoji, Yan Huan locked his phone and calculated: including Bai Yi, there were only two people in the study group.
The participation was weak. Yuanyue's first-years were leading the group, but the upperclassn likely wouldn’t show up. No one wanted to lose face by being tutored by juniors.
Besides, this study group was Principal Hers' clumsy attempt to help Spencer. The study format? Yan Huan and Yaqiao Mu split the subjects: math and science for Yaqiao, while Yan Huan handled literature, reading comprehension, and social studies.
It wasn’t just the study group's structure that intrigued Yan Huan—Spencer’s Modifier also piqued his curiosity. Unlike Ye Shiyu’s or Bai Yi’s complex systems, or An Le’s thrilling functions, Spencer’s Modifier felt oddly subtle. It seed passive yet ever-present, operating without cooldowns and almost too seamlessly.
To unravel it, Yan Huan decided to push Spencer academically.
"Hey, what are you even doing? Scribbling nonsense? Guessing on all the multiple-choice questions is bad enough, but how did you even co up with option E on a question with only four choices?"
"Bla ?"
"Yeah, why didn’t you add more options?" Spencer huffed indignantly, arms crossed.
Yaqiao Mu nearly laughed in exasperation. “President, check this out. Isn’t it hilarious?”
Yan Huan sighed, approaching their table.
In ten minutes, Spencer had already worn Yaqiao Mu down. “President, she can’t even solve a basic quadratic equation. Teaching her is hopeless! Might as well send her back to elentary school.”
“What?! Are you calling
dumb?!”
For the first ti, Spencer reacted. Her rising anger tipped the wooden table, startling Yaqiao Mu, who imdiately ducked behind Yan Huan.
"Help , President!"
Yan Huan rely glanced at her raised fist before calmly righting the overturned table and retrieving her unfinished test paper.
After a brief inspection, he murmured, "She struggles with equations... Algebra is weak, too..."
“Exactly! What’s the point of this group if she can’t even handle basic math? No wonder she only scored 66!”
At this, Spencer shot up like a tiger ready to pounce, but Yaqiao Mu had already fully retreated behind Yan Huan. Her raised fist faltered, and she sulked back into her chair, muttering:
"Wait a minute. What's this 'equation' you keep talking about?"
Both Yan Huan and Yaqiao Mu stared at her in disbelief.
"How did you even get into Yuanyue?" Yaqiao blurted.
"Simple! They invited
because I t their entrance criteria!"
While Yaqiao Mu facepald in silence, Yan Huan looked between her exam paper and the extravagant scene outside the window—a golden lion emblem, along with the words Spencer Golden Lion Group, emblazoned on the opulent teaching building funded by her family.
No wonder.
Spencer, noticing their silence, continued smugly, “What’s wrong? I can even bring the invitation letter if you don’t believe .”
Yan Huan gave her a thumbs-up with a smile. “No need. I’ve already seen enough.”
“What do you an?”
“Your talent and effort.”
Spencer took his words as praise, crossing her arms with satisfaction. “Good. So tell , what’s this ‘equation’? So kind of code?”
Yan Huan clutched his chest in silent agony, the soreness from last night’s workout compounding his frustration. He finally muttered, "Forget it. That’s enough for this morning. We’ve assessed your situation well enough."
The students’ council? Utterly defeated.
anwhile, peering into the study room from the door, Principal Hers sighed deeply.
This is the harsh reality of life...
Still, he wasn’t giving up. Strong individuals must persevere. Though his plans for the study group seed futile, he devised a new strategy: make Spencer join the Track and Field Club and secure victory in the Club Competition.
Watching Spencer willingly attend the study group was a surprise, and Hers deduced the motivation behind her early arrival: romance.
Yes! Youthful love!
Spencer might lack certain qualities as a person, but as a creature of nature, her instincts remained intact. Driven by primal desires, she must have been drawn to Yan Huan.
Smiling deviously, Principal Hers leaned against the doorfra, his mind whirring.
I’ll use Yan Huan to keep her in line. Perfect!
In interactions between n and won, everyone instinctively showcases their best side at first, aiming to attract the other.
“So, as long as I quietly matchmake the two of them…”
Hehe.
“Matchmake? What matchmaking? Principal, why are you standing here?”
A cold female voice suddenly rang out behind him, jolting Principal Hers like a bolt of lightning down his spine.
His pupils contracted as he turned around, coming face-to-face with a petite yet stunningly beautiful girl erging from the elevator, accompanied by several other students.
It was none other than Ying Gong Tong.
Her face bore a smile, but it was the kind of smile that sent chills down one’s spine.
I’m dood!
Only now did Principal Hers rember that the eldest daughter of the Ying Gong family had also been a part of the student council all along. Initially, she claid to be “experiencing student council life,” but over ti, whenever she assigned heavy tasks to Yan Huan, she’d subtly reprimand Hers as well.
Cold sweat ford on Hers’ forehead as he wiped it with a handkerchief and coughed lightly.
“Haha, I was rely inspecting the library’s book collection and checking on the student council’s study group… Ying Gong, why are you here with so many students?”
“These are students who haven’t joined any clubs yet. Since club registration is part of the student council’s responsibilities, I brought them here to finalize their club affiliations in a seminar room.”
With a cheerful expression, Ying Gong Tong approached Principal Hers. Her eyes flicked briefly to Yan Huan and Yaqiao Mu, who were teaching Spencer, before her smile faded slightly.
“However, Principal Hers, it seems that Spencer doesn’t quite et Yuanyue Academy’s enrollnt standards, does she?”
“… Vice President Ying Gong, Linn’s education system differs from yours. It emphasizes well-rounded developnt rather than just academic performance… Spencer has her own strengths.”
It wasn’t for nothing that Yaqiao Mu often complained about how hard it was to please elite families at Yuanyue. While dealing with the Golden Lion Group on one side, now the Ying Gong family’s eldest daughter had appeared on the other.
Yuanyue Academy, being a private institution, relied heavily on these influential parents to maintain its status. But as the saying goes, “What you depend on will also beco your burden.”
No matter how imnse the power, there’s always soone more powerful. Balancing these forces was like walking a tightrope, and sotis, the big players behind the scenes ended up clashing.
Thankfully, it was Ying Gong Tong, not the Ying Gong family itself, speaking with Hers now.
Ying Gong Tong maintained her faint smile, her gaze fixed on the sweat-soaked Hers.
“That’s good to hear, Principal Hers.
“I trust the school’s student evaluation system and am willing to believe that Spencer is a well-rounded, intelligent, healthy, and eligible student for Yuanyue Academy. After all, even if soone is admitted, they’ll still face expulsion if their subsequent performance is poor. Isn’t that right, Principal?”
Her words sent a chill down Hers’ spine.
“Uh…”
Just as he was about to respond, Ying Gong Tong turned back to the students behind her.
“Everyone, please head to seminar room L502 for now. I’ll notify the relevant club recruiters shortly.”
“Got it, Vice President!”
Most students, chatty mbers of the “Go-Ho Club,” headed off, greeting Principal Hers as they passed. A handful of quieter, more reserved students trailed behind, including An Le, who had been clenching her fists ever since Ying Gong Tong spoke.
Earlier that morning, Park Shuwen had returned to school with her face wrapped in thick bandages. She dared to sit only after confirming that Spencer’s seat beside An Le was empty. Yet, she still found ti to sneer at An Le:
“Just wait. That Spencer will be expelled soon. Without her, your life will only get worse.”
An Le’s fists tightened further as the thought crossed her mind:
Was Spencer facing expulsion because she stood up for ?
Just as she passed Principal Hers, An Le’s grip grew so firm that her small pinky-shaped pet atop her shoulder stuck out its tongue with a sinister smile.
Then ca Ying Gong Tong’s voice.
“An Le, please wait a mont.”
“Eh?”
An Le turned around to see Ying Gong Tong smiling warmly at her.
“I’d like to have a word with you, An Le.”
“M-?”
“Yes, you.”
“Well… okay.”
Blushing, An Le lowered her head and walked back, puzzled about why the vice president would want to speak with her.
Seeing this, Hers quickly wiped his sweat. “I’ll leave the student council to your work, then. I’ll check on other areas.”
“Take care, Principal.”
“Goodbye, Principal…”
An Le was the only one who bowed properly. As she raised her head, she saw Ying Gong Tong’s friendly smile.
Elegant and composed, Ying Gong Tong had an intimidating charm. Many girls claid to dislike her, but An Le suspected it was more out of jealousy. Her academic excellence and influential family background made her stand out among Yuanyue’s social elites.
“Vice President Ying Gong, what do you need from ?”
“Well, it’s like this. Since you’re not in any clubs, I’ve arranged for you to join the Ani Club and the Gaming Club directly. You don’t need to go through any evaluations or processes.”
“Eh? That’s… so… uh…”
Ying Gong Tong brushed her black hair aside, chuckling softly as she covered her mouth.
“While it’s school policy, clubs aren’t obligated to accept mbers. The student council wields considerable influence, but so do the clubs—they have every right to refuse new mbers.
“With the Club Competition approaching, every mber must participate. Adding mbers now is troubleso.”
She gently held An Le’s hand and continued, “Since you seem shy, I thought it’d be better to bypass the process altogether. Those clubs aren’t focused on winning this year, so it should be easy.”
An Le stamred nervously, “Th-thank you, Vice President Ying Gong!”
“Just call
Ying Gong, An Le.”
“O-okay… Ying Gong.”
“You’re so adorable.”
Ying Gong Tong’s soft laugh flustered An Le, but beneath that refined deanor, her calculating gaze betrayed her inner thoughts.
She didn’t care much for An Le, finding her ek and easily manipulated. The real target was Spencer.
By bringing An Le closer, Ying Gong Tong essentially placed a spy next to Spencer, making it easier to gather intel and set traps.
Yesterday, with Nara’s help, she discovered Spencer was on the verge of expulsion.
Spencer had two chances to stay:
Passing more than half of her midterm exams, an almost impossible feat based on her earlier 66 marks.
Winning the Club Competition.
Principal Hers had already laid the groundwork for Spencer to join the Track and Field Club, led by Owen, a strong contender this year. The plan was clear: bend the rules, let Spencer shine, and keep her enrolled.
But Ying Gong Tong wouldn’t allow Hers’ sches to succeed. Spencer’s abilities, coupled with her interest in Yan Huan, made her far too dangerous.
To protect—not monopolize—Yan Huan, Spencer had to go.
With a serene smile, Ying Gong Tong said to An Le, “Let’s head to the other seminar room now. I’ll quietly handle the arrangents, but let’s keep this discreet in front of others.”
“O-okay. Thank you, Ying Gong!”
“You’re welco.”
Ying Gong Tong watched An Le’s blushing face as she left for the nearby classroom. The smile on her face faded as she glanced at the brash Spencer in the room, then took out her phone.
She had already created a group chat with club recruiters. One ssage stood out:
Hua Zhaofeng: “On my way, Vice President.”
A lickspittle for Park Shuwen, thought Ying Gong Tong with a blank expression. She @’d everyone again to remind them:
Ying Gong Tong: “@everyone, please head to seminar room L502 in the library’s top floor promptly.”
It was ti for Ying Gong Tong to play her hand.
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