Rockefeller once said, “Equivalent exchange is the enduring principle of social interaction.”
In Lin Yi’s previous view, the relationship between her and Jian Shuye was extremely unhealthy, bound together by money and beauty.
Yet it was unbreakable, because Jian Shuye was truly very rich, and Lin Yi was also truly very beautiful.
From a long-term perspective, Lin Yi felt that Jian Shuye’s side always held a huge advantage. It was true that Lin Yi was beautiful, but Jian Shuye was not far behind. What Lin Yi had, Jian Shuye also possessed herself.
The so-called commodity scarcity was not invincible on Lin Yi’s side.
Originally, Lin Yi thought that Jian Shuye would absolutely not give up on something produced by the System, but she hadn’t expected to underestimate Jian Shuye’s self-restraint regarding her.
She probably received excellent training from a young age. Even if she really liked something, she would only indulge a little.
Satisfying a small craving every day is stronger than satisfying it all at once and then losing interest in the thing.
“Earlier, when I messaged you, it was to discuss serious business.” Jian Shuye regained her lofty, imposing manner. “Next week, the school will hold the Club Recruitment Fair. At that time, all clubs will hold an exhibition to attract new members.”
Lin Yi started cleaning up the cups. “Huh? But many new students have already joined clubs long ago, haven’t they?”
Jian Shuye made a definitive statement on this. “Those are all violations of the rules.”
“What do you mean?”
“All clubs are managed by the Student Council, and the rule set by the Student Council is that clubs are not allowed to recruit members in advance before the Recruitment Fair.”
Lin Yi glanced at Jian Shuye with a complicated expression.
Jian Shuye gave a cold smile. “I know what you want to ask, but I am an exception. The school has granted me special permission. I am exempt from all restrictions.”
“Whatever the rules are, if privileges exist, they will collapse one day,” Lin Yi said indignantly.
“At least not now.” Jian Shuye did not deny this.
After washing the cups, Lin Yi pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Jian Shuye.
“So, our Myriad Phenomena Club needs to show its stuff at the Recruitment Fair?”
“I didn’t know you knew martial arts,” Jian Shuye said with interest. “Show me a routine?”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, what is our Myriad Phenomena Club going to do at the Recruitment Fair?”
“Nothing.”
“Then how will we recruit new members?”
“Why would we need to recruit new members?”
Lin Yi felt she and Jian Shuye were not on the same wavelength.
Jian Shuye crossed her legs the other way, the toe of her black loafer tapping up and down in the air.
“Participating in the Recruitment Fair doesn’t mean we have to recruit new members. In my plan, this club doesn’t need a third person.”
Lin Yi was shocked. “You mean, from now on, we two have to handle everything?”
Jian Shuye didn’t speak.
Three seconds later, Lin Yi was shocked again. “You mean, from now on, I have to handle everything alone?”
“I look forward to seeing your name at the top of the grade ranking list next time,” Jian Shuye said with a smile.
Before Lin Yi could protest, Jian Shuye took out her phone. “Last time we took down the Classical Literature Club. I went back and thought about it for a while. I found there are still many groups in the school like them, just mixing around for club fees without doing their proper duties. It affects the quality of the Recruitment Fair.”
“So?”
“Interrogate them,” Jian Shuye said with considerable enthusiasm. “Make them understand that every cent the school gives them is extremely precious. For the Recruitment Fair, they must bring out something of real substance.”
Wow, A-Ye, are you serious?
Lin Yi wanted to decline. “This kind of thing that offends people isn’t easy to do, is it? Perhaps we could just let things take their natural course, wait until they can’t recruit members and then…”
“There’s no need for that.” Jian Shuye stood up and walked towards the door. “My eyes cannot tolerate a single grain of sand.”
Lin Yi still wanted to dissuade her. “Is your hobby looking for trouble for yourself?”
“Perhaps.” Jian Shuye stepped out of the dormitory door. “It’s true that I feel troubled by having no troubles. Perhaps this is also a way for me to pass the time.”
“I don’t want to join you in this mischief…”
“You will.” Jian Shuye shook her phone. “I bet that at six o’clock this afternoon, you will still come to the usual place to find me.”
After saying that, she left Lin Yi’s dormitory, leaving behind only a fragrant breeze smelling of lavender.
That woman, what does she take me for?
I have my dignity too! I’m not some nobody you can summon and dismiss at will!
I, Lin Yi, would rather starve to death, jump from this dormitory building, than suffer this kind of insult again!
…
…
At six o’clock in the evening, the school ground was completely dry. Only the occasionally smelled scent of damp earth and the cold air reminded the students that the typhoon had just passed not long ago.
Lin Yi arrived at the Gardening Club Garden.
She had originally decided that she would absolutely not obey Jian Shuye’s words and come here.
But after spending the whole afternoon watching all of Radish Madman’s outdoor videos, her heart was left with nothing but emptiness, and she really wanted to find something to do.
She admitted she was indeed curious about how Jian Shuye planned to take on the entire school single-handedly.
But she would absolutely not admit that she was tempted by Jian Shuye’s beauty.
—Haki System, what do you think?
The System did not answer.
—Your silence means you agree by default. Good. After all these days of getting along, there are always times when we reach a consensus.
Jian Shuye was holding a small trowel, carefully turning the soil in front of a potted plant.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned her head. Seeing it was Lin Yi, she turned back and continued turning the soil.
“There’s a delivery box to your left. Open it for me.”
Lin Yi found the delivery box. Opening it and looking inside, she saw a golden nameplate with the five large characters “Myriad Phenomena Club” written prominently on it.
“Later, we’ll go take down the Classical Literature Club’s sign and replace it with this one.”
“What about the old one?”
“I plan to buy a bookshelf.” Jian Shuye stood up and clapped her hands together. “When the time comes, I’ll put all the unqualified club signs on it as trophies for display.”
Lin Yi broke into a cold sweat. She strongly suspected that this woman Jian Shuye would get a sack thrown over her head and get a beating when she went home at night.
Looking at her slender arms and legs, she probably wouldn’t hold up well against a beating.
And Lin Yi couldn’t guarantee that the person throwing the sack wouldn’t be herself.
After putting away the prop, the two of them went up to the Club Building together and arrived in front of the familiar classroom.
Of course, this kind of rough work was still done by Lin Yi. Although her limbs still felt sore, she could at least manage the work of taking down a nameplate and putting up a new one.
Looking at the golden nameplate shining even more brilliantly under the setting sun, Lin Yi indeed felt a sense of belonging, like home.
Being in the same club as the number one beauty in the entire school… no, perhaps the number one beauty in the entire country… was probably something only achievable in the realm of light novels.
Lin Yi’s phone lit up.
Jian Shuye: [Congratulations on Your Wealth]
Hah, she needed to revise her wording. Jian Shuye was the number one beauty in the entire universe, without a doubt.
Jian Shuye looked at the nameplate, nodded, and then said, “Let’s go. Today, we’re going to the Manga Research Club.”
“Our school has that kind of club too?”
“There are many clubs you can’t even imagine.” Jian Shuye closed her eyes. “They’re all parasites of the school, eating the club fees issued by the Student Council and playing their own happy games.”
Lin Yi didn’t dare speak, because her dream life was exactly like that.
“The school’s money, why are you cherishing it for the school…”
“My money!” Jian Shuye suddenly turned her head around. “They take the club fees and have fun. The club fees are issued from my Student Council! The Student Council’s money, in turn, is issued from the sponsorship fees!”
And the sponsorship fees were indeed issued by Jian Shuye’s family.
Lin Yi had to admit, indeed, no one could be more qualified than Jian Shuye to inspect the clubs.