The club recruitment was still in full swing.
Logically, Senior Year 2 students should not be that interested after having already experienced a year of recruitment, but Jiang Ling still saw many of them near the bulletin board in front of the building. There were even quite a few from her own class.
According to what she later learned, many people were like her—they joined clubs solely because the activity rooms provided a place to rest.
The Fifth Floor had also been very lively lately. Every day after school, Jiang Ling saw many Senior Year 1 students visiting the clubs.
Despite the Literature Research Society being the very first classroom, everyone seemed to instinctively ignore it, reflexively heading toward the clubs further down the hall.
Jiang Ling found it quite strange. Logically, since the Club President was such a beautiful girl, the number of students wanting to join should be enough to break down the door.
Thinking this, Jiang Ling rested her chin on her palm and observed Ji Qingyan, who was sitting nearby reading a book. A focused Ji Qingyan was very charming. Her eyes possessed a sense of vitality that was unlike her usual cold and lifeless gaze. When she reached an interesting part of the book, small dimples would even appear on her cheeks.
After spending these past few days together, Jiang Ling had realized that while Ji Qingyan seemed like a cold person, both inside and out, that icy exterior was more of a habit than anything else. Jiang Ling couldn’t quite describe it, but when communicating, the girl was just like any other normal teenager. She liked to use cute emojis when chatting, though she was a bit more concise when speaking.
In short, Jiang Ling felt that she was a very easy person to get along with.
‘Xiao Tongqi, keep it up. I believe you and Ji Qingyan will become good friends.’
“Finished with your draft?”
“Cough, not yet.”
“You’ve been staring at me for five minutes. If you look any longer, I’ll gouge your eyes out.” Ji Qingyan spoke expressionlessly before taking a sip of tea. Jiang Ling, however, felt a cold shiver run down her spine. ‘How can such cruel words come from such delicate lips?’
“Understood!”
Ji Qingyan had felt Jiang Ling’s gaze for a long while. It was intense, scanning her from top to bottom as if trying to memorize every detail. Had it been anyone else staring at her like that for five minutes, Ji Qingyan would have already slammed her book into their face. But Jiang Ling was different—she was a friend.
Ji Qingyan couldn’t help but raise her book until it covered her entire face. Her beautiful cheeks were flushed a peachy red, and her slender legs, clad in over-the-knee socks, were pressed tightly together. She felt her heart fluttering in a messy rhythm.
‘I must not be used to spending time with a close friend yet.’
That was what Ji Qingyan believed. After all, she was used to being alone.
*Knock, knock.*
The classroom door was knocked on, and then it opened halfway. Several heads peeked in from the outside. They were several girls who were curiously observing Jiang Ling and the room.
Judging by their school uniforms, they were Senior Year 1 students who had likely come to visit the clubs.
A girl with short hair standing at the front spoke first. “Is this place actually a club? There are only two people inside, and the facilities are so shabby…”
A girl next to her tapped her on the shoulder, seemingly telling her to shut up, but her eyes were fixed on the interior with terror — Ji Qingyan had stood up, radiating a freezing, terrifying aura. The girls instantly froze at the door, unable to move.
“Did your teachers never teach you to have manners?”
“You come in here and immediately start criticizing someone else’s space. Are you high school students or just some idle punks off the street?”
“…”
Time in the club seemed to freeze instantly. The smile on Jiang Ling’s face also stiffened; she was shocked by Ji Qingyan’s sheer attack power.
“Waaaah!”
The girls let out a cry of distress, shouted a loud apology, closed the door, and fled the Literature Research Society.
Ji Qingyan, however, acted as if nothing had happened. She returned to her seat and poured herself a fresh cup of tea. Noticing Jiang Ling’s strange look, she asked, “What is it?”
Jiang Ling felt like she finally knew why no one joined the Literature Research Society.
Although she had long since experienced Ji Qingyan’s verbal barbs, after witnessing her lecture the freshmen, Jiang Ling couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for those students.
She was clearly a beautiful girl with long, black, straight hair, yet her tongue was incredibly sharp.
“Qingyan.” Jiang Ling paused for a long while before saying, “Were you a regular on Tieba in the past?”
Ji Qingyan tilted her head, seemingly not understanding what she meant.
Well, it seemed Tieba wasn’t popular in this world.
***
Fang Chenxi had found out from somewhere that Jiang Ling had joined Ji Qingyan’s club and was currently harrassing her like crazy on WeChat, but Jiang Ling didn’t have time to deal with her.
An accident had occurred this afternoon. Lu Yuyao had come down with a fever, and it wasn’t light. At 38 degrees, her entire face was flushed red and her gaze was dazed.
When Jiang Ling met her at the gate, she was already slurring her words. She must have been enduring it all the way until school let out.
Jiang Ling sped home on her bike, found some fever reducers, and mixed them with warm water to feed to Lu Yuyao. Perhaps because the fever had muddled her mind, Lu Yuyao was exceptionally obedient, doing whatever Jiang Ling told her to do.
Lu Yuyao lay on the sofa, her small hands holding a cup containing the brown sugar water Jiang Ling had just brewed for her. Her period had just ended yesterday, so Jiang Ling thought some brown sugar water would make her feel better.
“It’s so hot.” Lu Yuyao’s voice was even softer and more delicate than usual, sounding like she was acting spoiled. It was very pleasant to the ear.
But Jiang Ling didn’t have the heart to appreciate it. She simply comforted her softly. “You won’t feel dizzy after you drink it. Drink slowly, there’s a good girl.”
“Then blow on it for me.” Lu Yuyao blinked her cute eyes and looked at Jiang Ling pitifully. That expression made it impossible for anyone to refuse.
“Uh…” Jiang Ling didn’t want to argue with a sick person. Following the request, she blew gently on the cup twice. “Go ahead and drink. It’s not too hot anymore.”
“Okay.” Lu Yuyao finally lifted the cup and began sipping the brown sugar water in small gulps.
Shortly after the medication, Jiang Ling took a thermometer, planning to check Lu Yuyao’s temperature again. However, when it came time to act, she hesitated.
She needed to place the thermometer under Lu Yuyao’s armpit. However, that meant she had to undo the girl’s clothes, which would lead to seeing her underwear and… more things she shouldn’t see.
‘Jiang Ling, why are you hesitating at a time like this? Lu Yuyao is sick,’ Jiang Ling comforted herself. ‘I’m acting as a doctor right now, and a doctor doesn’t overthink things.’
Lu Yuyao’s eyes were closed. Her soft, pink lips parted slightly as she let out occasional soft moans, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on her forehead.
“Forgive me, Eldest Young Lady.”
‘I’m a doctor. I’m a doctor. I’m a doctor.’ As if trying to embolden herself, Jiang Ling kept muttering.
With trembling hands, Jiang Ling unbuttoned the front of the girl’s collar. One, two, three… she continued until she was sure she could fit the thermometer in, but her gaze was drawn to the vast expanse of the girl’s fair skin.
Exquisite collarbones and soft, delicate curves that were not yet fully developed were encased in sky-blue lace underwear. It looked like an opening flower bud, incredibly enticing. Further down was a flat belly and a smooth, slender waist…
Jiang Ling’s breathing became ragged.
Not daring to look any longer, she lifted Lu Yuyao’s arm, placed the thermometer in her armpit, and then moved her arm back to hold it firmly in place.
Lu Yuyao’s body was perspiring, which only caused that distinct feminine fragrance to become even more intense, rushing straight to Jiang Ling’s head. Perhaps because she felt a sudden chill, the girl continued to moan. Her cute tongue darted out, resting against her lips as if she were a puppy trying to dissipate heat.
Jiang Ling’s gaze suddenly became resentful.
‘Eldest Young Lady, if you keep this up, I really won’t be able to handle it.’