Chapter 62
After the team-building event, the new Student Council Presidium, whose formation was somewhat dramatic, officially began its operations. Even though Zhuang Chi always felt that this organization, with its current personnel, was like a highly personalized machine assembled from an airplane's wings, a ship's sails, and a car's wheels, it could surprisingly manage to function normally.
It was just that the relationships between the members were a bit complicated, which could lead to difficulties when assigning tasks.
For instance, right now, after yesterday's team-building, the Presidium held its first regular meeting. Lou Che began assigning people to the topic they had just discussed: "To prevent a special situation like Zhuang Chi getting lost in an unfamiliar place from happening again, we need to create and distribute a complete map of St. Blaisedon within the school... First, we need to survey the school grounds, figure out what all those numerous, meaningless buildings are for. This is a task that requires stamina and time, a great responsibility. So, let's first choose Zhuang Chi, who is both an Alpha and the primary victim. And her partner will be—"
Lou Che's eyes darted around. "...Olivia will do. You two don't need to rush, since it's not a very urgent task, so just take your time. Just stroll around with the mindset of a tour. Then, Gu Ximian and I will be in charge of preparing the specific plan, and An Chen will take Ling Jing to cooperate with the Propaganda Department—"
"Hey, did you just casually group yourself with Gu Ximian?" Ling Jing was the first to object, her eyes widening in a quick reaction. "Let's not even talk about whether this assignment is fair or not, but it's way too autocratic. Don't you ask for everyone's opinion before assigning tasks? And isn't An Chen supposed to be the Student Council President? Say something, will you?"
"...Hmm, although you've been here longer and might have more experience than me, Lou Che, I do have an opinion to raise," An Chen leaned back, crossing his arms with an air of importance. "First, Ling Jing is right, we should ask for everyone's preferences before assigning tasks. Second... isn't 'preparing the plan' something the Student Council President has always needed to be involved in? Otherwise, I'll still have to confirm it in the end. There's no need for this extra step."
"..." Lou Che looked at him for a long moment, then raised an eyebrow. "So, you mean you also want to be in a group with Gu Ximian?"
An Chen choked, his face flushing red. He stammered out a weak defense like, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm just discussing the matter at hand." Ling Jing, as if taking over, leaped into the fray, slamming the table indignantly. "Why are you all so self-centered! Why don't you ask for Gu Ximian's opinion first!"
Everyone present turned to look at Gu Ximian, who was sitting quietly at the table as if it had nothing to do with her. Zhuang Chi saw her gaze shift and her lips part as if to say something, but then she heard Lou Che decisively interrupt, "Don't be silly, Ling Jing! If we ask for Gu Ximian's opinion directly, wouldn't she definitely say she wants to work with Zhuang Chi!"
"..."
Although she was mentally prepared to be dragged into this, Zhuang Chi hadn't expected the angle to be so peculiar. She looked at Lou Che in a daze. His expression was grave, and before she could ask, he spoke again in a low voice, "Wouldn't that be terrible! If we let the two of them continue to spend time alone like that... would you guys be happy watching that? An Chen? Ling Jing?"
...What a self-righteous yet incomprehensible statement. Zhuang Chi was dumbfounded. What surprised her even more was that both An Chen and Ling Jing actually fell silent. She looked at them, but they averted their gazes. She had no choice but to look at the earnest-faced Lou Che and say slowly, "...Sorry, I don't quite understand what you mean by that..."
"I'm sorry, Zhuang Chi," Lou Che looked at her with sincere apology. "I also know my actions are a bit despicable... but love is a battlefield. The one who runs too far ahead becomes a target. Especially after what happened at the arcade with the claw machine the other day. Although I don't know what you two were arguing about, from Gu Ximian's behavior at that time, I've seen through it all—you're too far ahead in the lead! Zhuang Chi!"
...Honestly, it was hard to say whether he was being despicable or just too forthright. Even if he thought that way, did he really need to state such thoughts so clearly in front of his "love rival" and the object of his affection?
Not quite understanding the thought process of a genius, there were too many questionable points, leaving Zhuang Chi at a loss for where to even begin refuting. But Lou Che blinked and suddenly said, "But that's not the only reason I made the assignments this way. Look, you and Olivia are both first-year students. It's a good opportunity to get familiar with the school. Olivia arrived even later than you, so she probably hasn't had a good look around yet... Right, Olivia?"
"...Eh?" Olivia, who had been drifting outside the battlefield, blinked as if waking from a dream. She had clearly been spacing out and didn't seem to have heard Lou Che's question clearly. She answered in a fluster, "I-I can do any job. I'll just go with Zhuang Chi's opinion. If she wants to go with me, of course I'd be very willing..."
"You're too honest, Olivia." Lou Che shook his head as if disappointed in her, sighing, "If you don't voice your desires for the things you want early on, it'll be too late when someone else takes them."
Why does this person always say such inflammatory things! Zhuang Chi hadn't noticed it when they first met, but now she was quite worried that Lou Che would influence these few, originally rather innocent Alphas. "...Lou Che, don't say so many strange things to Olivia. She'll really take them seriously."
"It's not strange at all. I'm helping others for the pleasure of it! It's good if she takes it seriously, that would be a meritorious deed on my part!"
Zhuang Chi was starting to get a headache. Just as she was thinking about how to reason with him, she saw Gu Ximian, who had been silent beside her, finally move. She suddenly opened the notebook that was closed in front of her and tore out a page with a rip.
"...We've been talking about a single work assignment for so long and still haven't decided. If it's like this every time, is this Presidium going to get any work done at all?" Gu Ximian said, her expression cool as she quickly folded and tore the paper into six pieces. She stated concisely, "Let's draw lots."
"...Oh." Lou Che replied, disappointed but obedient. He then added seriously, "If we draw lots, the probability of you and Zhuang Chi being in the same group is about 20%. That's not a high probability. If you really want to be in a group with her, you should—"
"They're written. Come draw lots."
He was cut off by Gu Ximian before he could finish. Zhuang Chi looked at Lou Che's thwarted expression, suppressed a chuckle in her throat, and went to draw a lot with a straight face. This would probably be the Presidium's method for deciding work assignments from now on. The biggest problem for this organization in the future would likely be a lack of unity.
As a side note, Zhuang Chi drew the lot to liaise with the Propaganda Department with Ling Jing. Ling Jing was quite happy, raising her hands high. "Yay!"
Lou Che, who drew the lot to write the plan with An Chen, wasn't as happy as her. He listlessly lifted his eyelids and reminded her, "If someone offers to buy your lot, you better not sell it."
"...That won't happen. Do you think everyone here is as faithful to their inner desires as you are?"
Even Ling Jing could criticize someone so calmly. A hint of relief rose in Zhuang Chi's heart, but she also felt worried about the appearance of Lou Che, who was even more difficult to handle than Ling Jing. And then—
"..."
Gu Ximian quietly collected the lots and threw them away. Turning her head, she saw Zhuang Chi and asked doubtfully, "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...It's nothing."
It was just that Gu Ximian and Olivia had drawn the same group, which made Zhuang Chi a little worried. After all, the relationship between the two of them had seemed very delicate since the kidnapping incident, and they were rarely seen alone together anymore. But Gu Ximian didn't seem to have any particular reaction. Zhuang Chi then looked over at Olivia and saw that she did seem a bit tense, her shoulders stiff, but she still smiled at Zhuang Chi's gaze, as if to reassure her.
"Then it's decided," An Chen said, concluding the matter, unaware of the situation over here. "Does anyone else have anything to say? Not just about this, but other things are fine too."
Zhuang Chi had nothing to say, but Olivia, after thinking for a moment, timidly raised her hand.
"...I've been thinking about this all day, and I feel I need to tell you," Olivia said softly under everyone's gaze. "Lily... the date for her return to the country has been set."
Several people frowned. Olivia sighed lightly. "After she returns to the country, the royal family will decide how to deal with her. There will probably be a meeting. I... haven't decided whether to attend yet, because if I go back to attend, I definitely won't be able to avoid seeing Lily. So I might choose to participate online, but I will do my best to ensure Lily receives a just verdict. Don't worry."
...It seemed Olivia was really serious about practicing "never seeing Lily again." Zhuang Chi felt complicated emotions. The others around them also fell silent for a moment. Only Gu Ximian quickly responded, "It's fine, online is enough. She will certainly receive a just punishment, as long as you truly think so."
It sounded like there was a hidden meaning in her words. Zhuang Chi looked at Gu Ximian, but she didn't continue, instead simply changing the subject. "Just let her go back quickly. No one here wants to see her again anyway."
"..." How to put it... it was a bit difficult to speak up after Gu Ximian's words, but Zhuang Chi thought for a moment and still tentatively raised her hand. "...If I want to meet with Lily, do I have to submit an application like Gu Ximian did before?"
"Meet with Lily?"
Before Olivia could speak, Gu Ximian had already frowned, her voice lowering. "...You still want to see her?"
"I just have some things I don't understand and want to ask her." Zhuang Chi shook her head, frowning slightly. "I want to ask her the fundamental reason why she chose to do such a thing. I've asked her before, and I feel her perception is completely inconsistent with the facts, but at that time she refused to believe me and wouldn't tell me why she thought that way. So I was thinking, if I go ask her again now, maybe I can find something out..."
"...She's already done it. I actually think the reason doesn't matter. Nothing is enough for her to be forgiven."
Gu Ximian said such decisive words, but her gaze flickered, and in the end, she sighed lightly and said, "But if you want to go no matter what, then I'll go with you to apply."
"Is that okay?" She thought Gu Ximian would be strongly against it, but unexpectedly, she relented so quickly and even offered to go with her. Zhuang Chi looked over and smiled at Gu Ximian. "Thank you."
Gu Ximian had just shaken her head, the words "You're welcome" not yet out of her mouth, when Lou Che suddenly let out a "Ha!" and shot his head up. "C-can we go with you too?"
"What's the point of so many people going? After the application, only Zhuang Chi can go see Lily anyway." Gu Ximian refused without a change in expression, a smile playing on her lips. "Having just me to accompany her is more than enough, isn't it?"
Lou Che was speechless for a long time, finally slumping dejectedly onto the table. This left Ling Jing, who was sitting next to him, confused. "...What's wrong? Do you want to see Lily that badly too? You look like you've taken a huge blow."
"...As an Alpha, can't you use your brain a little more, Ling Jing?" Lou Che sighed deeply, lamenting, "The two of them are going to be alone together again! We didn't prevent it at all!"
...How did a perfectly normal matter get twisted into something so strange by him again? Zhuang Chi looked inexplicably at the three Alphas across from her, each with a different expression, feeling that Lou Che's gloomy look was simply because he was overthinking things. She turned to Gu Ximian to comfort her, "I don't know what's going on in Lou Che's head... Don't listen to his nonsense."
"..." Gu Ximian's gaze flickered slightly. She said softly, "Mm, okay."
After seeing Lily, Zhuang Chi walked down the road, still feeling heavy-hearted.
...Although she did get an answer this time, there was still no useful information. Instead, it only seemed to deepen the mystery.
She recalled Lily's answer to her question, "Why did you think Olivia liked Gu Ximian to the point of getting engaged?" Her tone had been tinged with confusion: '...I can't really say. No one else told me anything. It's like I suddenly got this impression and believed it without a doubt.'
Suddenly. Zhuang Chi thought. Logically speaking, no matter how sudden, there should be a reason. Lily's decision to commit a crime was also very sudden. No matter how you looked at it, it was illogical.
An abnormal event must have a strange cause. But what exactly was this "strange cause"?
"Don't think about it so much." Gu Ximian, walking beside her, probably guessed her thoughts from her grave expression and said softly, "What she said was all mystical and strange, it has no reference value."
"I think it's probably because she's been on edge about everything related to Olivia for so long that she's become neurotic."
Attempting to offer this explanation, Gu Ximian herself didn't care about the reason—she cared more that Lily would receive her due punishment. She was only saying this now to provide a line of thought for Zhuang Chi, who was inexplicably concerned. She thought about it and snorted coldly, "...From the first time I saw her at the banquet, I felt something was off about her. Turns out she really is a villain from the plot."
"..."
Zhuang Chi silently pressed her lips together. She recalled how Gu Ximian had indeed seriously warned her to be wary of Lily back then. She thought to herself that for Gu Ximian, things had indeed developed as she had expected. Only she herself knew that Lily had no such role in the original plot, but she couldn't say it out loud.
"Alright, let's head back first." Gu Ximian said, looking at the sky. "The sky is so overcast, it looks like it's about to rain. Shouldn't we hurry back to school?"
That's true. Without any other clues, it was futile to keep thinking about it.
As Zhuang Chi was thinking, she heard Gu Ximian continue, "...And then, after we get back, do you want to grab a cup of coffee? We've been out for so long, I'm a little thirsty."
"Ah, sure." Zhuang Chi readily agreed, then felt a little apologetic. "Thank you for coming with me. Let me treat you, okay?"
Gu Ximian looked at her for a long moment, then shook her head gently. "It's fine. I've already received my reward."
If Lou Che were here, he would probably say something strange again, Gu Ximian thought. Something like, "Meaning 'the time spent alone with Zhuang Chi is the reward,' right?"—strange yet sharp words.
To prevent a repeat of the situation where she had angered Zhuang Chi before, Gu Ximian wanted to understand Zhuang Chi more. If anyone were to ask, that's how Gu Ximian would answer. It sounded noble and proper, impossible to find fault with.
So what was the real reason?
Only Gu Ximian herself knew. Perhaps only when Zhuang Chi finally realized and asked her personally would she be willing to say it out loud.
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