Chapter 67: Two Armies at War, Don’t Kill the Messenger

This is a comic book, right?

But Lin Yi didn’t dare say it out loud.

After all, these paintings did look impressive.

Although Lin Yi didn’t understand what art was, she could at least tell what was pretty and what was ugly.

The two walked for a while and finally stopped at a spot directly under the sun.

A set of tables and chairs had already been set up, but the flagpole, broken into two pieces, had yet to be assembled.

“Raise the flag and beat the drums!”

“Are we starting a war or what?”

Jian Shuye placed the painting on the desk, staring straight ahead.

“You’re close.”

Lin Yi followed Jian Shuye’s gaze.

Across the aisle was the Manga Research Club’s booth.

Not sure if it was because of today’s event or because they just liked manga, but the three of them were each wearing a wig—red, yellow, and blue—sparkling dazzlingly in the sunlight.

The three members of the Manga Research Club obviously saw Jian Shuye and Lin Yi too.

After all, those two were school-level beauties; they shone wherever they stood.

Jian Shuye looked at the three festive little heads of red, yellow, and blue, then turned to Lin Yi.

“What’s the date today? Did the circus come to school?”

Lin Yi looked weary.

“The 29th.”

Jian Shuye glanced at the flagpole Lin Yi had already assembled, pulled a prepared scroll out of the desk drawer, leaped up easily, and hung it.

The scroll unrolled, revealing the words “Myriad Phenomena Club” written in Jian Shuye’s own Slender Gold calligraphy.

The strokes were vigorous yet graceful.

“One minute before eleven o’clock on the morning of September 29th, you and I are together.”

Jian Shuye turned, flicking her jet-black hair.

“Because of me, you will remember this minute.”

Lin Yi would indeed remember it very clearly, even to her death.

Because only a young lady like Jian Shuye, whose head was full of bubbles, would choose to set up a stall in a garbage spot directly under the sun.

At least prepare one of those huge sun umbrellas they put in front of stores, okay?

Look at the Manga Research Club—they picked a spot under a tree, set up a canopy, did cosplay, and even brought a Nintendo Switch.

It was as enjoyable as surfing on the beach!

Just to set up across from them, getting yourself sunburned to death—how unworthy is that?

Jian Shuye seemed to sense Lin Yi’s reluctance and asked,

“You don’t seem very eager to fight?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you come with a determination to die?”

“No.”

Lin Yi admitted frankly.

Jian Shuye turned, picked up her phone, and selected Lin Yi from her contacts.

Jian Shuye: [Congratulations on Your Wealth]

“Do you have it now?”

Little Sister Lin Yi straightened up, puffed out her chest, and said,

“I’ve heard that there’s a kind of bird in this world that has no feet. It only lands once in its life.”

“So?”

“That one time is when it dies.”

Lin Yi stared fixedly at the opposite booth.

“I am that bird now, ready to charge and land.”

Jian Shuye crossed her legs and lifted her chin.

“Very good. Go and challenge them. Remember, be as arrogant as you want. I’ll foot the bill.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lin Yi marched forward and arrived at the Manga Research Club’s booth.

The three Manga Research Club members all looked up and saw Lin Yi standing in front of them.

Three minutes passed.

Lin Yi stood under their canopy, not saying a word.

The blue-haired Manga Research Club President crossed her arms and said,

“If you have something to say, say it. If not, don’t stand in front of us. You’re an eyesore.”

Lin Yi didn’t speak.

She just narrowed her eyes.

The yellow-haired Yuki Club Member tugged at the President’s sleeve.

“President, I think this person just came to enjoy our shade.”

“Oh, that’s even more despicable than provoking us! Throw her out!”

Lin Yi raised a hand.

“Hold on. I have something to say.”

“Oh, then spit it out.”

Lin Yi secretly glanced behind her, then cupped her hands and said,

“How about you just give in to Jian Shuye? If she really gets into it, I’ll have to stand here with her all day.”

The three exchanged looks.

They had thought Lin Yi came to talk tough, but she ended up losing face.

The Manga Research Club President shrugged.

“No problem. Just have your master take down her stall. Don’t block the way for other students to come see our manga.”

“How could that be? How about you take down your stall? Don’t block the way for others to come see Jian Shuye’s masterpiece.”

The red-haired Zhu Yu Club Member finally lifted her eyes from the Switch.

“Are you deliberately picking a fight?”

“No, no. This is called negotiation. If that doesn’t work, I’ll perform a special trick. I can do a backflip. Really.”

Lin Yi was all smiles.

The Manga Research Club President gritted her teeth.

This beautiful girl in front of her was too infuriating.

Her good looks only added fuel to the fire.

Her blue hair shook as she stood up and slammed the table.

“Jian Shuye, look at this lackey you’re leading. She’s sticking around like a stubborn plaster, refusing to leave. How disgusting!”

Then she pointed a Wilderness Prison Heaven Finger at Lin Yi.

“And you! Neither human nor ghost. Want to block our entrance, huh? Despicable! Dirty!”

Lin Yi put her hands on her hips, looking fearless.

After all, Jian Shuye said she’d take the blame, so Lin Yi could go all out.

“What if I know? I’ll stand right here, so what~”

“Step back! Step back! No other club members are allowed to stand on our booth line!”

The Manga Research Club President pointed at the yellow line drawn by the Student Council.

Lin Yi faced them and jumped back.

“See, I jumped out. How about that~”

The three looked at each other, frowning.

Lin Yi jumped forward again.

“Oops, I’m standing inside again.”

Before the others could react, she jumped back again.

“Oops, I’m back inside. In and out. Hit me if you can, dummy~”

“Get her!”

The three girls dropped the Switch, pushed aside the desk, and charged forward.

Lin Yi immediately ran back.

The hard training over the past ten or so days hadn’t been in vain.

She successfully jumped into the Myriad Phenomena Club’s yellow line before getting hit, and stood proudly.

“Stop! Outside the yellow line! Outside the yellow line!”

This time it was Lin Yi’s turn to point at the three.

A gentle breeze rustled the three girls’ wigs.

They saw Jian Shuye stand up, looking confident of victory.

“Is there something wrong? All this anger, Manga Research Club President.”

The Manga Research Club President said,

“Jian Shuye, what do you want?”

“Nothing much.”

Jian Shuye sneered.

“I just want to have a contest with you to see how many people today are willing to read your manga magazine versus how many are willing to look at my paintings.”

“Despicable!”

“Not as despicable as you. You hired ghostwriters to draw for you.”

The Manga Research Club President was choked.

She glanced around and quickly said,

“Don’t spout nonsense. When you speak and act, you need evidence.”

Jian Shuye looked at her own fingernails.

“Less nonsense. Are you willing to compete or not? Both sides wager their respective club rooms.”

Lin Yi looked at Jian Shuye out of the corner of her eye.

‘This woman sure is bold, treating school property as capital to squander at will.’

The three with red, yellow, and blue wigs discussed for a moment, sneaking glances at Lin Yi several times, and finally said helplessly,

“Fine, we’ll compete. But let’s agree beforehand: no dirty tricks. Make sure your little lackey behaves!”

“Of course. I’m a person who values fairness.”

So the three of the Manga Research Club retreated to their booth, glaring at Lin Yi and Jian Shuye.

Lin Yi had no seat, so she had to prop herself up with one hand on the desk and cross her legs in a 4-shape to look cool.

“Minister, so there’s nothing for me to do anymore, right?”

“Of course not.”

Jian Shuye snapped her fingers.

“Go upstairs and bring down a few more paintings. Then stay here as a model to attract the girls’ attention.”

“Despicable!”

Lin Yi leaned down, almost gritting her teeth to squeeze out the words.

“Didn’t you say we were going to have a fair contest with them? How can you use beauty to lure people to look at paintings?”

“Who said I was going to have a fair contest with them? I only promised not to be the first to let you go over and bite them.”

Jian Shuye looked calm.

Lin Yi felt a surge of grief.

This unscrupulous woman had even schemed against her most loyal subordinate.

“At least you’ll let me go have lunch, right?”

“That’s fine.”

Jian Shuye nodded.

“And while you’re at it, bring me a meal too, and carry a case of black tea drinks.”

‘Tight. My fists are tight.’