Chapter 12: Literary Research Society

Jiang Ling didn’t consider herself a crybaby.

The fact that she suddenly burst into tears was definitely Fang Chenxi’s fault.

It was absolutely her fault!

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on whose fault it was.

“Ji Qingyan, why are you here?”

Fang Chenxi wasn’t startled by Ji Qingyan’s sudden appearance.

She raised an eyebrow and turned around to ask a question of her own.

Ji Qingyan looked up, her cold eyes meeting Fang Chenxi’s.

“Before asking that, shouldn’t you answer my question first?”

Fang Chenxi narrowed her eyes slightly, but Ji Qingyan didn’t care about her reaction.

She lowered her head, her slender fingers gently turning a page in her book.

The air seemed to be thick with the smell of gunpowder.

“….”

‘Wait, wasn’t I just arguing with Fang Chenxi? Why has the tension shifted to Fang Chenxi and Ji Qingyan instead?’

Jiang Ling’s head felt a bit dizzy, but she was the first to react and explain to Ji Qingyan.

“I’m sorry. We didn’t know this was the Literature Research Society. We didn’t break in on purpose.”

Ji Qingyan nodded, seemingly accepting Jiang Ling’s explanation.

After all, she could tell the two had likely wandered in by mistake; otherwise, they wouldn’t have ignored her existence and argued amongst themselves.

“Classmate Jiang is the sensible one. Unlike someone who has no manners at all and certainly looks like the type who would make others cry for no reason,” Ji Qingyan said casually, shifting the topic back to Fang Chenxi.

Her gaze never once left the book in her hands.

Fang Chenxi clenched her fists and stared at Ji Qingyan with an expressionless face, though she was furious inside.

She let out a cold snort and retorted sarcastically, “That’s still much better than some vile person with a perverted hobby who watches people wander into a classroom and peeks at them from the side.”

Ji Qingyan’s cold eyes instantly locked onto Fang Chenxi.

Jiang Ling finally saw a different expression on Ji Qingyan’s frosty face; she seemed angry.

She snapped her book shut and stood up.

“In that case, do you plan to continue staying in the club of a vile person like me? Do you want to become a vile person yourself?”

After Ji Qingyan finished speaking, she put on an expression of sudden realization, let out a laugh, and continued, “Even if Classmate Fang wants to stay, a vile person like you who harasses classmates won’t be welcome anywhere. Even a jerk’s club has standards.”

“You!”

The veins on Fang Chenxi’s forehead bulged.

She was so angry at Ji Qingyan’s self-deprecating yet biting remarks that her teeth ached.

She turned her head to look at Jiang Ling behind her.

If Jiang Ling hadn’t been there, she would have definitely started a shouting match with Ji Qingyan.

Jiang Ling was shocked that Fang Chenxi had actually been shut down by Ji Qingyan.

One had to know that this girl’s personality was extremely aggressive—the type where if you bit her once, she would bite you back ten times.

“Alright, alright, let’s just go.”

Jiang Ling grabbed Fang Chenxi’s hand and signaled with her eyes for her to stop talking.

Fang Chenxi opened her mouth to speak but was glared at by Jiang Ling again, forcing her to give up.

“Don’t misunderstand. My words just now were only directed at Classmate Fang. If Classmate Jiang wants to stay for a visit, I would still be very welcoming,” Ji Qingyan added slowly.

Ji Qingyan sat back down and reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

Her sitting posture remained elegant; her entire being was as perfect as a sheltered Eldest Young Lady from a prestigious family.

It was hard for Jiang Ling to associate the remarks from a moment ago with the elegant beauty before her.

“Yes, I’ll come visit when I have the chance.”

Jiang Ling practically dragged Fang Chenxi out of the Literature Research Society as if they were fleeing.

The two of them walked down the stairs in silence, almost in a single breath.

It wasn’t until they left the teaching building that Jiang Ling realized they were still holding hands, and she immediately let go.

A flash of reluctance appeared in Fang Chenxi’s eyes. She pursed her lips and spoke first.

“Jiang Ling, I’m sorry. I actually wanted to apologize, but I just didn’t know how to say it for a moment.”

Fang Chenxi, who was half a head taller than Jiang Ling, lowered her head miserably.

She looked like a little girl who had done something wrong and was proactively apologizing to her mother.

Actually, after that commotion just now, Jiang Ling wasn’t that angry anymore.

Especially after seeing Fang Chenxi suffer a loss in front of Ji Qingyan, Jiang Ling felt quite satisfied.

However, Jiang Ling remembered her recent decision—she couldn’t always let Fang Chenxi push her boundaries.

Jiang Ling acted cool and remained silent as she stepped onto the path leading to the school gate.

Seeing that she wasn’t speaking, Fang Chenxi didn’t give up.

She walked side by side with her, whispering in her ear the entire way, repeating the same few sentences over and over.

Things like:

“I was wrong,” “I’m sorry,” and “I didn’t consider your feelings.”

Jiang Ling could understand that Fang Chenxi didn’t know how to coax people.

Fang Chenxi’s personality had been like this in her past life as well.

Many times, it was only because of Lu Yuyao’s concessions and tolerance that the two of them avoided excessive conflict.

Jiang Ling’s ears were almost growing callouses from listening to her.

“I don’t blame you.”

She finally stopped at the school gate and met Fang Chenxi’s eyes.

Jiang Ling’s gaze held nothing but helplessness.

“It wasn’t all your fault; my emotions were a bit extreme too. Go back and get some rest. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”

“Really?”

Fang Chenxi asked tentatively.

Seeing her ask so cautiously, Jiang Ling felt a sense of guilt.

Why did she feel like Fang Chenxi had turned into her puppy—the kind she could order around and train at will?

Was it just because she had held her hand?

“Really.”

Fang Chenxi nodded, still appearing half-convinced.

Under Jiang Ling’s watchful gaze, she departed first.

Jiang Ling watched her get into a black business car.

It looked very grand.

Jiang Ling didn’t know much about car brands, but seeing a dedicated staff member come down to open the door for Fang Chenxi told her the car was definitely not cheap.

The summer evening was already cool, forming a sharp contrast with the sweltering heat of the day.

After leaving the school gate, a cool breeze blew past.

Jiang Ling wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a bit cold.

‘My club.’

Jiang Ling recalled what Ji Qingyan had said in that classroom.

Ji Qingyan was actually the President of the Literature Research Club.

Jiang Ling hadn’t expected that.

So it turned out Tianhua Middle School clubs could apply for independent classrooms as activity spaces.

But what kind of club was the Literature Research Society?

It sounded quite interesting.

Jiang Ling had occasionally heard her classmates mention that there were many categories of school clubs, including many strange ones, which was why so many students were willing to join them.

But as she recalled her time in the Literature Research Society, Ji Qingyan had been sitting there all by herself.

There were several chairs around her, but they were all empty.

It was indeed very strange.

Ji Qingyan had a very low presence in class, yet she was the President of the Literature Research Club.

Thinking this, Jiang Ling became more and more interested in the Literature Research Society.

It just so happened that the club recruitment would take place in two days, so she might as well go check it out.

***

“Welcome back. Would Master like to eat first, take a bath first, or…”

As soon as Jiang Ling pushed open the door to the villa, Lu Yuyao’s soft, sweet voice washed over her.

Wearing casual loungewear, Lu Yuyao stood at the door with her arms open, greeting Jiang Ling with a smile.

“After military training ended, your whole person has clearly become much more active,” Jiang Ling said with a smile, seeing her full of energy.

Every time they had come back over the past few days, Lu Yuyao would collapse on the living room sofa like a puddle of mud after her shower.

Sure enough, things were different now that they were on break.

“Of course! Military training was simply a nightmare,” Lu Yuyao complained.

However, seeing Jiang Ling walk straight past her towards the interior, her eyes widened and she pouted.

“You haven’t answered me yet! What do you want to do first?”

“I want to go back to the bedroom first.”

“That obviously wasn’t an option,” Lu Yuyao complained.

Closing the door, Lu Yuyao put her hands on her hips and followed Jiang Ling upstairs while pouting.

“I’m saying, in the future, when I come home, you should also wear a maid outfit to welcome me like this, okay? It feels much better to hear a greeting like that.”

“Forgive me, Eldest Young Lady. Wearing a maid outfit to serve you is already my limit,” Jiang Ling said.

“Hmph. A maid who doesn’t listen to the Eldest Young Lady isn’t a good maid.”

“Then, does the Eldest Young Lady like bad maids?”

Jiang Ling suddenly turned around.

Her long blonde hair brushed past the tip of Lu Yuyao’s nose as she followed closely behind.

The faint, subtle fragrance made Lu Yuyao lose her focus.

Her cute eyes blinked as she spoke.

“Well, I don’t hate them, anyway.”

Lu Yuyao’s face turned inexplicably red as she said this.

“Hee hee.”