Someone online once ranked which school’s club activities were the most enviable.
The video listed several schools, paired with footage, and rated them from best to worst.
Many people in the comments joined in, filling in schools the video didn’t cover. The most popular answer was Weiyang Middle School from Yuanzhou.
As for Zhuming Girls’ High School in Suzhou, because it was an all-girls school, it didn’t quite reach that school’s level in either quantity or quality.
Still, compared to other rigid, formal schools, Zhuming Girls’ High School’s club activities were fairly rich and colorful—not the best, but far from the worst.
Not only did it have common clubs like the Literature Club, Art Club, Vocal Music Department, K-ON Club, Film and Television Department, Chess and Go Department, Manga Research Club, and Game Programming Department, but it even had unique all-girls school clubs like the Tea Ceremony Department, International Exchange Department, Etiquette Department, and Fashion Research Department.
The Club Building wasn’t built solely for mainstream clubs; more importantly, it was for the students’ holistic development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. Sports clubs specifically operated in the expensive, purpose-built gymnasium.
Although the Club Recruitment Fair lasted only one day, the school gave a special day off so everyone could participate in club recruitment on campus.
Since Zhuming Girls’ High School was a private school, the Student Council had more say than at ordinary schools. They could weigh in on club recruitment, cultural and sports festivals, and even social practice.
As Jian Shuye had once mentioned, the rule that clubs couldn’t recruit members before the Recruitment Fair had been in place for three or four years.
But the Student Council had its rules, and the club leaders had their flexible methods: students who came in early were just “prospective” members, not officially joining the club. They would fill out the application form directly on the day of the Recruitment Fair.
This led to a peculiar sight at the start of the fair: as soon as each club set up its booth, the first ones to line up weren’t unaffiliated students, but members of that same club who had just helped set up the booth, queuing to submit their applications.
It was really a case of “taking off your pants to fart.”
Lin Yi watched the Recruitment Fair before her and had a realization.
After all these layers, she was just trying to comfort herself—that Jian Shuye hadn’t asked her to help because she was a rule-abiding Student Council member.
Wait.
Was Jian Shuye even a good student?
The weather was decent today.
Though the forecast said it would rain, according to the timeline, it would start after 5 p.m.—by then, everyone would have already packed up and left, so the fair proceeded as scheduled.
The once-empty school plaza was now divided into walkways and booths by Student Council members, with each club’s location predetermined.
These menial tasks were handled by Student Council assistants, while the brain-intensive work of deciding locations was left to the president and vice president.
Of course, there was some maneuvering involved.
Popular clubs like the Literature Club, Drama Department, Art Club, and Vocal Music Department—traditional big clubs that were also legitimate paths to further education and supported by the school—were placed by the Student Council in the spacious area near the teaching building.
Meanwhile, obscure little clubs or interest groups, like the “National Tourism Research Club,” were shoved into the corners.
Lin Yi didn’t even have to leave the teaching building.
Just by watching from the hallway, she could see the long queues at the popular clubs.
Yan Jianxing carried a badminton racket over her shoulder.
Today, she wasn’t wearing her school uniform. She had on a white T-shirt with the “Zhuming Girls’ High School Badminton Team” logo printed on the back.
She wore knee-length fitted athletic shorts, knee pads and arm guards, and white sneakers.
Her high ponytail remained her most dazzling trademark.
As soon as Lin Yi saw her, she instinctively wanted to burrow into Yan Jianxing’s arms. Being held by her felt amazing.
Who could refuse a beautiful girl’s embrace?
Lin Yi certainly couldn’t.
“Yi Yi, where are you planning to go later?”
“Just browsing. I already agreed to join a club, so I might go help out later.”
Yan Jianxing stroked Lin Yi’s head with both hands, calling it “recharging Lin Yi energy.”
“That’s great! Yi Yi writes novels so well—of course you’d join the Literature Club. When you become the president, I’ll brag about you to everyone!”
The corner of Lin Yi’s mouth twitched.
If only she had actually joined the Literature Club…
She pulled out her phone and checked it.
Still no messages.
Yan Jianxing nuzzled Lin Yi’s cheek, then reluctantly said,
“I’ll head out first then. Remember to come to the badminton hall around 9:30. There’s an exhibition match, and I’m playing!”
“I’ll be there.”
Lin Yi gave a thumbs-up.
“I’d be no better than a beast if I don’t show.”
“Come on, say it nicer! Bye!”
After seeing off Yan Jianxing, Lin Yi was about to head back to her seat when she saw Su Kui walk out.
She wasn’t wearing her school uniform today either.
It was clear she had carefully coordinated her outfit: a light-colored dress with puff sleeves, a lace shoulder cape, and a seaside straw hat on her head.
Her skin was cool and pale, so delicate that it was almost impossible to see pores, yet warmth radiated from her face.
Under her brownish long hair, her eyes were clear and bright.
When she smiled, her gaze softened like water.
Her nose was small and straight, with a slightly rounded tip, softening her sharpness and making her look softer.
Today was another day Lin Yi’s heart was stolen by Su Kui’s beauty.
Su Kui spun in place, her white canvas shoes light on her feet, the dress swirling as if it exuded a celestial aura.
“How do I look? Good?”
Lin Yi clapped.
“You look great! Where did you put this together?”
Su Kui took off her straw hat and handed it to Lin Yi.
“Handmade by the Handicraft Department. Limited edition.”
Lin Yi examined the hat in her hands.
A plastic lily was threaded through it.
It was indeed a fine piece of work that only someone skilled could create.
“Did you make this, Su Kui?”
“Yeah.”
Su Kui hopped forward a little, then bent slightly.
“Help me put it on.”
“Oh, oh, okay, okay.”
Lin Yi stood on tiptoe and reached up to place the hat on Su Kui’s head.
Su Kui looked up, and as Lin Yi was momentarily stunned, she stretched out a finger and poked Lin Yi in the waist.
“Whoa!”
Seeing Lin Yi’s startled expression, Su Kui clasped her hands behind her back, took two steps backward, and beamed.
“I’ll go now. Bye!”
“Bye…”
Sigh.
Sorry, Yan Jianxing.
Su Kui’s outfit was just too lethal.
Now her heart was completely occupied by Su Kui.
Maybe no other girl could make her waver for the rest of the day.
After seeing off Su Kui, Lin Yi was about to return to her seat when she saw Feng Chuyue walk out.
She hadn’t changed clothes, but had simply added a beige knit cardigan over her school uniform skirt and white blouse.
Her shoulder-length hair, due to shyness, seemed to have grown a little longer and covered part of her face, which only made her delicate features more intriguing and piqued Lin Yi’s curiosity.
Today, for once, she had pinned her hair into a small bun with a white butterfly-shaped clip.
Her lashes under her bangs were always softly lowered, as if afraid to disturb anyone.
When she realized Lin Yi was watching her, the tips of her ears flushed red, and she lowered her head slightly.
Her fingertips curled gently, clutching a wooden box in her hands, making her look especially fragile and endearing.
Whose little cutie had snuck out?
Lin Yi walked over to Feng Chuyue and looked at the box.
“What’s this?”
Feng Chuyue lowered her head and smiled faintly, as if Lin Yi had asked a good question, but quickly ducked her head even lower to correct her expression.
“Go… Go board.”
“Going to the Chess and Go Department?”
“Mhm…”
Lin Yi gently patted Feng Chuyue’s shoulder.
“Want me to go with you?”
Feng Chuyue jerked her head up, then realized she was too excited and turned her back to Lin Yi.
Finally, her little bun bobbed up and down, indicating her agreement.
Lin Yi’s inner desire surged.
‘Can I hug her?’
She seriously asked herself.