The Classical Literature Club’s classroom signboard shone brilliantly under the setting sun.
Jian Shuye took a key from her pocket and unlocked the clubroom’s front door.
“Come in.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks for having me…”
As expected of Jian Shuye.
Even the club she hangs out in has such a literary vibe.
Entering the classroom, the space wasn’t too different from what Lin Yi had imagined.
There were just more bookshelves, a few large desks pushed together to form a conference table, a standing air conditioner, and a computer.
The shelves were filled with many books, but Lin Yi felt they were all quite distant from her.
If someone gave them to her, she’d probably think they were just taking up space.
Titles like Golden Slumber, Disassembly Motives, The Murder Magic of Astrology, and The Summer When Sunflowers Don’t Bloom.
However, one entire shelf was filled with the complete Hyouka series, probably serving the triple purpose of reading copies, collector’s copies, and lending copies.
Hey, girl, isn’t this the ‘Classical Literature Club’?
Why is it all mystery novels?
Where’s the ‘classical’ part?!
Seems like you guys really need to be reined in!
Jian Shuye casually opened a cabinet, put on a kettle of water to boil, then turned and asked, “Black tea or oolong tea?”
“Don’t go to any trouble, plain water is fine!”
“Then oolong tea it is.”
Lin Yi broke into a cold sweat.
This beautiful girl’s personality is really a bit domineering.
After brewing the tea, Jian Shuye lightly patted the desk in front of her, and the two sat down facing each other.
“So, um, Jian Shuye… classmate?”
“Hm.” Jian Shuye gently blew on her tea, not surprised that Lin Yi knew her name.
“Why did you ask me to come here?”
Jian Shuye picked up her teacup and smiled.
“You want to join a club?”
“Well, I’m considering it.” Lin Yi clutched her athletic school trousers. “But, my roommate already invited me to join the badminton…”
“Abandon that idea. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Huh?”
Jian Shuye took a small sip of tea, frowned slightly, then put the lid back on the cup and placed it on the table.
She crossed her legs, those irresistible legs swaying gently under the table with practiced ease.
“You’re wasting your advantages, wasting time, and wasting your youth.”
Before Lin Yi could say anything, Jian Shuye cut her off further.
“Your grip is weak, your gaze wanders, your footwork is sloppy, your reactions are slow. Not a single movement is proper. Playing badminton is just torturing yourself.”
I’m so sorry my playing is so terrible it polluted your eyes.
But didn’t you leave before I even started playing?
Did you sneak back to watch?
Lin Yi didn’t dare voice these thoughts, only asking, “Then, Jian Shuye, classmate…”
“No need for the ‘classmate’ part.”
“Then, Jian Shuye, you…”
“Isn’t using the full name troublesome?”
“Then… Shuye?”
Jian Shuye didn’t say anything else, clearly accepting it by default.
Why didn’t you say so earlier, making me ask over and over?
For the first time, Lin Yi felt this beautiful girl in front of her was really troublesome.
“What club do you think I should join? The Art Club? Or this… Classical Literature Club?”
The corners of Jian Shuye’s mouth lifted slightly.
She crossed her hands and countered, “Why do you think I would have you join either of these clubs?”
“Because I heard from others that you’re in the Art Club, plus you brought me here today.”
Seeing Jian Shuye remain silent, Lin Yi continued, “You think I’m not suited for the badminton team, so you probably think I have some talent for painting or writing or something.
That’s why you brought me here.”
Jian Shuye delivered her verdict.
“Wrong answer. You have absolutely no connection to the above-mentioned talents.”
Lin Yi pouted.
I don’t want to talk anymore.
I want to jump off this fourth floor right now.
“Let’s be direct. Don’t waste your appearance on meaningless club activities. You should aim for something higher.”
Huh?
Appearance?
Ah, right. Lin Yi thought.
I do have Charm Rank A, after all.
Though because I haven’t styled my hair in ages and rarely buy clothes, this Charm A seems to be hidden away.
But in front of these eyes that could see through any problem, her external value had still been unearthed.
“So, you’re saying you want me to…”
“Come be my private model.” Jian Shuye answered.
“Ah, I see, haha. Be a private… private what?”
“Private model.” Jian Shuye repeated.
Lin Yi frowned, stroked her chin, and looked up at the ceiling, thinking for a moment.
Then she tilted her head and asked, “Private model… for what exactly?”
“Many aspects. To be more detailed, it means monopolizing your extracurricular time.” Jian Shuye looked directly at Lin Yi. “Your time after class, including weekends, will be at my disposal.”
“Disposal?”
Jian Shuye counted on her slender fingers.
“Including painting model, writing material, clothing try-on, drama partner, and so on.There are many uses for a model. You’ll find out later.”
“Wait!” Lin Yi rubbed her forehead, distressed. “You mean, once I accept this arrangement, I’ll never have any free time of my own again?”
“You could say that, but you can ask me for leave.” Jian Shuye held her palm up.
“With a reasonable reason, I’ll approve your time off.”
What is this girl saying?
What does she think she is?
What does she think I am?
Isn’t this blatantly saying I can only be a decorative vase and accomplish nothing?
Naked humiliation!
The ultimate belittlement!
Unbearable slander!
“I absolutely will not…”
“As compensation for your loss, the payment is this.”
Jian Shuye extended her right hand, pinching a pink banknote.
“Will not…”
Jian Shuye’s right hand fingers pinched again, and five more notes fanned out behind the first one.
Lin Yi swallowed.
“For one session?”
“Hourly wage.”
Are you insulting me with money?
Lin Yi wanted to rebuke her like that, but the offer was simply too generous.
Six hundred per hour.
Lin Yi had no reason to refuse.
Jian Shuye put away the banknotes in her hand, then took out her phone.
“Then let’s exchange contact information. But let’s be clear upfront: only I can contact you. You cannot send me messages. I won’t reply to a single word.”
“Hold on!”
Lin Yi stretched out her hand, still trying to struggle.
No, I can’t. I’m still a first-year high school student.
Using my looks to earn money… that’s something you do after muddling through four years of university, failing to find a job, going home to mooch off your parents, wasting your life, getting kicked out by your parents in desperation, and having no other choice.
Starting such work now… isn’t it a bit too early?
[Timed Task Opportunity Detected: You, still a NEET in your thirties, realize under your mother’s tears and your father’s curses that you must support yourself. At this moment, finding a job has become your primary goal!]
[Task: Find a Job]
[Task Time Limit: 15 days (Difficult), 7 days (Hard), 1 day (Extreme)]
—Hacky-system, what are you doing?!
Are you forcing a good girl into prostitution?!
[Abandon this task?]
—No.
Lin Yi pinched her fingers, finally pulling out her small phone with the cracked screen from her pants pocket and exchanging contact information with Jian Shuye.
Jian Shuye looked at the other party’s account with the Tom Cat profile picture and nodded.
“We won’t sign a contract. Since I’m the one paying you unilaterally, daily settlement is fine.”
“Hey, I want to ask you something.” Lin Yi felt somewhat uneasy.
“Will this affect my studies? After all, I still want to…”
Jian Shuye interrupted.
“You can rest assured. The work intensity isn’t high. Or rather, if you find this matter troublesome, you can give up anytime.”
As if talking about something very casual, Jian Shuye put away her phone.
“My invitation to you was just a spur-of-the-moment idea. Just treat it like joining a club. If you’re not satisfied, just quit. I don’t care.”
“Alright. I’ll… give it a try.”
[Task completion detected. What incredible speed! It’s as if an HR person was blocking your door demanding you sign a contract. Your future is truly bright!]
[Basic Reward: Unlock Skill Painting Lv.1; Extra Reward: Painting Skill increased to Lv.2; Additional Reward: Unlock Skill Performance Lv.1]
Heh.
Lin Yi looked at Jian Shuye.
That face, set against the backdrop of the setting sun, was truly flawless.
She probably didn’t need money; just showing a slightly pleading attitude would make anyone unable to refuse her request.
The world was realistic.
Good-looking people had an invisible pass, and on top of that, she was rich.
Lin Yi sighed.
“Do rich girls like you always prefer to solve problems with money?”
Jian Shuye leaned back in her chair.
“Isn’t that the normal way?”
“But high school students usually rely on friendship, favors, promises, and things like that. Who directly talks about money?”
“I think paying for work is what society takes for granted.”
Lin Yi no longer understood what “normal” and “taken for granted” meant in Jian Shuye’s dictionary.
Click.
The front door of the Classical Literature Club opened.
Two bespectacled girls holding books, seeing the two people inside the clubroom, froze.
They looked at the words on the doorplate, then at Lin Yi and Jian Shuye, and immediately asked, “You two… who are you?”
Jian Shuye stood up, patted her black-and-red pleated skirt, and said to Lin Yi, “Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
“If you’re not leaving, then I’ll go first.”
Lin Yi was shocked.
“Wait, you’re not a member of the Classical Literature Club?”
Jian Shuye calmly replied, “Of course not.”
“Then your key?”
“Borrowed from the faculty office.”
That’s stealing!
And you sneak in and casually use someone else’s tea leaves and cups without batting an eye!
Ignoring Lin Yi’s stunned expression, Jian Shuye walked right between the two Classical Literature Club members and left elegantly.
This Rank A beauty’s head is seriously messed up!