Chapter 1 Part 2: Club Dynamics and Relationships
Si Jiao was a bit puzzled but didn't think much of it.
"Thanks!" Zhuang Yuxia turned and smiled at her, accepting the paper plate.
Her pretty face was slightly flushed, she brushed a lock of hair aside with her hand, her red lips slightly parted as she panted lightly, faint beads of sweat on her forehead she looked a bit hot.
"Yuxia-jie, should we turn on the AC?"
"Hm? Turn it on, it's a bit hot." Zhuang Yuxia froze for a moment, then nodded.
Si Jiao turned around to switch off the fan and turned on the AC instead.
"Ah " Sitting on the floor leaning against the sofa, Situ Qiong mused, "So are the four years of college going to be just the few of us together again?"
"Not exactly." Zhuang Yuxia suddenly said, "This year our literature club has a new member."
Everyone said "Eh?" in unison, their faces showing surprise, as if they hadn't expected it.
"What's with those faces."
"No... just a bit unexpected." Situ Qiong narrowed her eyes and asked, "Another girl?"
"Nope, it's a boy." Zhuang Yuxia shook her head. "The student council president's younger brother."
"Oh... her."
"Hm? Who is that?" Hearing this, both Si Jiao and Situ Qiong looked puzzled.
After all, they had only officially enrolled today, so not knowing who the student council president was made sense.
"A friend I met in university, named Ye Ming, same year as me, we're both third-years, also your senpai."
Zhuang Yuxia said, "I hadn't planned to take more members, but she knows I'm the literature club president. Her younger brother seems especially fond of reading. I went to her house during the summer and assessed the guy; after confirming no problem, I decided."
"Eh so sudden." Situ Qiong sighed.
"What, very reluctant?" Seeing her look, Xia Wenxue smiled.
"Of course." Situ Qiong pouted. "If word gets out that senpai, Jiaojiao, and I are dating, it would affect Jiaojiao a lot, right?"
Hearing Situ Qiong show concern for her, Si Jiao froze for a moment, warmth welling up. At first, the two sometimes butted heads, but after spending time together, though they still occasionally bickered and played around, their relationship was much better than before.
"Don't worry." Zhuang Yuxia smiled. "With me doing the assessment, aren't you reassured?"
"If that person were completely unsuitable, I wouldn't agree just because his sister is my friend."
"I don't mind," Xia Wenxue shrugged. "Since you say so, it should be fine."
"Mm... Right. Yuxia-jie, you usually consider things so thoroughly. If you say so, one more newcomer is fine."
"Then I also "
Seeing everyone gradually express they had no problem, Zhuang Yuxia smiled, sat back behind her desk, and said, "Then it's settled."
"Isn't he coming?" Xia Wenxue asked. "For the welcome meeting."
"He is, but he'll be a little late "
No sooner had she finished speaking than there was a knock at the door.
"Please come in."
After Zhuang Yuxia spoke, the person pushed the door and entered.
A handsome blond young man walked in; the smile on his face faintly revealed the confidence in his heart. Though his clothes were low-key, a closer look showed they were all name brands.
Xia Wenxue wasn't surprised. The student council president, Ye Ming, in terms of family background, was no less than Zhuang Yuxia, this young lady. Since he was her younger brother, he naturally grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.
He walked into the room, glanced around at everyone, then walked toward Zhuang Yuxia and said with a smile, "Sorry, Yuxia-jie, I'm late."
"Mm, it's fine."
Supporting herself on the desk, Zhuang Yuxia stood up and smiled at him. "Let me introduce everyone. This is Ye Ming's younger brother, his name is Ye Shengge."
"Hello, everyone." Ye Shengge turned to them and gave a slight bow.
Judging from his words and actions, it was clear he had received high-level education from a young age, very polite.
"Hello." Si Jiao stood and smiled slightly. "I'm Si Jiao."
"Miss Si Jiao, hello!"
Seeing Si Jiao, Ye Shengge's eyes lit up; he smiled and said, "My sister and I are both your fans. She knew you would be enrolling, but only recently learned you'd join the literature club and that you're longtime friends with Yuxia-jie... Might I trouble you for your autograph?"
Suppressing the excitement in his voice, he put down his backpack, took out a pen and two autograph boards, and asked politely.
Si Jiao waved her hand and smiled. "Thanks, no need to be so polite. Just call me Si Jiao."
She accepted the pen, signed both autograph boards, then bent slightly to pull up Xia Wenxue and looped an arm around his shoulder. "Also, this is my boyfriend, Xia Wenxue."
"Ah?" Hearing this, Ye Shengge widened his eyes.
"Ahaha..." Si Jiao laughed awkwardly. "I've never gone public with this. Brother Xia said it wouldn't be suitable for me, and he doesn't want media attention either, so we've kept it hidden."
"But since you'll be a club member from now on, I thought I'd tell you in advance to avoid misunderstandings."
Ye Shengge came to his senses and nodded. "Alright, don't worry, I'm tight-lipped, I absolutely won't say anything!"
"And another thing!"
Situ Qiong stood and took Xia Wenxue's other arm. "I'm also Xia Wenxue's girlfriend. I'm Situ Qiong, hello."
"Huh?!" Ye Shengge's eyes widened.
"Uh... simply put, as you imagine." Xia Wenxue paused and explained, "The three of us... are dating."
"Just like you think."
"I-is that so?" Ye Shengge said in surprise. "Ah... don't worry, I won't say anything."
"It is a bit surprising though..." Ye Shengge glanced at Zhuang Yuxia. "So that's what you meant when you told me that earlier, Yuxia-jie..."
"Mm. In short, please keep it secret. This kind of thing can't be casually talked about!" Si Jiao smiled.
"Don't worry, really. My mouth is a fortress. Even if someone captured and tortured me, I wouldn't say!" He patted his chest.
"I'm Mo Ran." Mo Ran lifted her gaze and looked at him, said coolly, and then nothing more.
"Hello, Brother Xia Wenxue, Miss Situ Qiong, Mo Ran-senpai."
"Alright, no need to be so polite. Just call us by our names," Zhuang Yuxia patted his shoulder. "There's a lot of food left, hurry and eat."
"Right." Xia Wenxue said, "Just use our names, no need to be too polite."
"Alright then, everyone, I'll respectfully accept your kindness!"
...
"Sigh " After finishing the food, Situ Qiong suddenly let out a melancholy sigh.
"What's wrong?" Seeing her like this, Xia Wenxue asked.
"I don't want to go to military training " Situ Qiong pouted. "Can I find some excuse like Si Jiao not to go?"
"Dummy, mine isn't an excuse," Si Jiao rolled her eyes. "I have real work!"
"Uu..." Situ Qiong held her head with a pained expression. "Military training itself is bad enough it's bad enough "
"Why does our school's military training last a whole month!"
"A whole month..." She instinctively pressed her legs together, glanced at Xia Wenxue, and whispered, "But not being with senpai for a month is too hard to bear..."
"With your personality, Xiaoqiong, indeed." Zhuang Yuxia's voice came from behind the monitor. "Before then, just grudgingly use your hand to satisfy yourself~"
"Z-Zhuang Yuxia, what are you saying!" Situ Qiong's pretty face reddened as she shouted. "There are other people here!"
"Ah."
Zhuang Yuxia poked her head out and stuck out her tongue. "Sorry, forgot. I thought it was still just us."
"Haha..." Ye Shengge scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "It's fine, it's fine. We're all university students. Doing this is normal."
"Uu..." Situ Qiong buried her face between her knees, her feet twisting shyly, reflecting the bashful heart of a young girl.
Xia Wenxue patted her head. "Just bear with it."
"Hmph..." Situ Qiong snorted and said through clenched teeth, "Brother Xia, don't forget."
"During the month I'm gone, you have to hold back too!"
"Ah haha..." Xia Wenxue turned his head and whispered, "That's true."
"Mm..." Si Jiao paused, leaned to Xia Wenxue's ear, and whispered, "Brother Xia... if you really can't hold it in, you can come find me..."
"Even if we can't really do it, some edging is fine..."
As she spoke, a rosy flush rose on Si Jiao's face; she felt a bit embarrassed.