Ch 4: How To Be A Good Lackey (QT)

Hearing Shao Ye’s evaluation of him, Xi Guanming’s expression did not change much. The faint smile still lingered at the corner of his lips as he asked, “Why not sleep on the bed?”

If he took the bed, where would the president sleep? On the floor? That would be completely backwards!

Shao Ye shook his head. “I’m fine sleeping on the floor.”

“Alright,” Xi Guanming didn’t insist. As he took off his coat, he said, “It’s late. Go to sleep. If you feel uncomfortable, let me know and we can switch.”

After saying that, he reached up and turned off the light. The room fell into darkness. Pale moonlight filtered through the thin curtains, and the shadows of leaves cast onto the opposite wall looked like rabbits with drooping ears.

Lying on the floor, Shao Ye thought about how he was now sleeping in the same room as Xi Guanming. Every cell in his brain seemed to be throwing a party. There was no trace of sleepiness. His eyes were wide and bright. After his thoughts ran wild for a while without tiring, he finally couldn’t hold back and softly called out to the person on the bed, “President?”

“Mm?”

“Do I really have no chance of getting into the student council?”

Xi Guanming had told him earlier he could try again next year, but the problem was that by then Xi Guanming would have already graduated. What would be the point of joining after that? Was he supposed to wholeheartedly serve the student body? As if!

Xi Guanming’s slightly low voice came from above as he patiently explained, “Before next year’s recruitment, if any current members are dismissed for misconduct, the student council will consider recruiting new members.”

“Then can I get in?” Shao Ye asked, full of hope.

“That would still require a collective decision,” Xi Guanming said. “It’s not something I can decide alone. Shao Ye, do your best.”

Shao Ye let out a long sigh. It felt like getting into the student council was hopeless. He had already tried so hard before and still failed the interview. He was telling the truth, there really was something shady going on!

“Don’t overthink it. Sleep. You still have class tomorrow morning. Good night,” Xi Guanming said.

“Good night.”

…

The next morning, as soon as it was light, Shao Ye got up from the floor. But Xi Guanming had woken even earlier and already left. He had left a note by Shao Ye’s pillow, asking him to close the door when he left.

Shao Ye folded up the bedding on the floor and stuffed it into the cabinet, then sprinted all the way back to the dorm. He took a quick shower, changed clothes, rushed to the teaching building, grabbed a piece of bread on the way, and dashed into the classroom just as the bell rang. The entire sequence was smooth and fluid.

His grades had always been at the bottom of the class. He never paid much attention during lessons. Sitting in the back, he yawned at the screen full of equations. He thought with relief that at least being an ordinary member of the student council didn’t require good grades, then immediately remembered he hadn’t even gotten in.

Tragic. Truly tragic.

Shao Ye lay half-dead on his desk for most of the morning. Having eaten only a piece of bread, his stomach had long been growling. As soon as class ended at noon, he rushed to the cafeteria.

On the third floor of Lostine Restaurant, Jiang Yan arrived as promised at table seventeen, the one Shao Ye had reserved. She had no idea what kind of person this “boss” he spoke of would be. After all, in a prestigious academy, a term like “boss” felt strangely out of place.

Since it was daytime and lunchtime, the restaurant was filled with students who had just finished class. Jiang Yan didn’t need to worry like she had the night before. But when she saw the face of the person who arrived, a face both familiar and detestable, anger surged straight to the top of her head.

By the time Shao Ye finished eating and drinking his fill, planning to head upstairs for his favorite mango pudding as dessert, he noticed a crowd of students gathered noisily by the windows on the east side.

Shao Ye enjoyed a good spectacle. He easily pushed through the crowd and saw, at the center, Si Xu, who usually carried himself with arrogance, now sitting with a dark expression. Translated on Hololo novels. His platinum hair was dripping wet, water falling steadily. His white shirt was soaked through, turning semi-transparent, revealing the contours of his muscles beneath.

Shao Ye instinctively compared the two of them. In both size and shape, Si Xu was completely outmatched. He quietly asked a nearby student, “What happened? Did Si Xu fall into the fountain downstairs?”

The student wasn’t sure either. “No idea. I just heard Jiang Yan call him trash, and then suddenly she splashed a glass of water in his face and walked off.”

It had happened too suddenly and was too shocking. By the time everyone reacted, Jiang Yan was already gone.

“Jiang Yan’s temper is awful. No wonder so many people hate her!” someone behind them commented.

“She just snaps out of nowhere. Better stay away from her in the future.”

Shao Ye nodded in agreement. Fortunately, the president hadn’t come today. If Xi Guanming had been splashed instead, his grand plan would have collapsed before it even got started.

“What are you looking at? Get lost!” Si Xu shouted angrily at the crowd, and the onlookers scattered immediately.

Shao Ye rubbed his chin and didn’t linger. There weren’t many classes in the afternoon, so he planned to head to the gym to train his biceps.

When Xi Guanming heard about what had happened at Lostine that noon, he simply smiled faintly and made no comment. He continued processing the documents submitted to him, then forwarded them to the school committee for approval.

Lu Yiheng’s bullying of a fellow student was severe. After unanimous discussion by the committee, he was to be expelled. As for the other four accomplices, they were all given major demerits and placed on probation.

The vice president of the student council looked at the decision and hesitated before asking carefully, “President, isn’t this punishment too harsh? Lu Yiheng didn’t actually cause any real harm to Jiang Yan.”

Without even lifting his head, Xi Guanming continued reviewing the remaining documents. “If you knew what Lu Yiheng intended to do that night, you wouldn’t think so.”

“And the Lu family—”

“If they’re dissatisfied, they can take it up with the school,” Xi Guanming said, pausing slightly as he switched pens. “If they’re willing to publicize the matter.”

The vice president said nothing more. He picked up the documents and was about to leave when Xi Guanming called him back.

“Is there anything else, President?” he asked.

Xi Guanming took out a list and said, “After dismissing these people, there will be vacancies in the student council. This time, try to select students with good academic performance.”

Not long after the semester began, some wealthy students in the council had, under certain influences, used the student council’s name to bully new students. It wasn’t until complaints reached Xi Guanming that they toned it down.

Xi Guanming had not acted immediately, and those people had quietly relaxed, thinking the matter had passed and the president would not pursue it further. They hadn’t expected him to deal with everything all at once today.

With these positions opening up, and the president specifically requesting high-performing students, it was likely that many of them would go to less privileged students.

Following the principle of speaking less and doing more, the vice president replied, “Understood, President. I’ll arrange it.”

“Thank you for your hard work,” Xi Guanming said with a smile.

Not long after the vice president left, Xi Guanming’s phone lit up on the desk. Someone had sent him a message, saying that something significant would happen at the school that night and hoping the student council would stay alert.

Xi Guanming ignored it, flipped the phone face down on the desk, and stood up to leave.

“President, where are you going?”

“I have something to discuss with the principal,” Xi Guanming replied. “I may not be on campus tonight. Continue your patrols as usual.”

At dusk, the orange-red glow of the sunset spread across the sky like luxurious brocade, shifting in layers of light and shadow, dazzling and magnificent.

At present, tensions between commoners and nobles within Golden Laburnum were growing increasingly intense. The school’s harsh punishment of Lu Yiheng had only further fueled this conflict.

When Lu Yiheng first learned he was to be expelled, he didn’t take it seriously at all, assuming it was a joke. After all, he hadn’t actually done anything to Jiang Yan the night before. On what grounds were they expelling him? But soon after, a teacher called him in for a talk. It was real.

Insane. The school had completely lost its mind! Just to protect some poor student, they were treating them like nothing? After discussing it with a few close friends, Lu Yiheng decided to gather more people and make a big scene. If they wanted to expel him, then he might as well fully live up to the charges first.

Of course, they had another consideration. If enough people were involved, the school couldn’t punish everyone. Surely they wouldn’t dare expel all of them?

The poorer students weren’t all pushovers either. They had already felt injustice on Jiang Yan’s behalf. After learning of Lu Yiheng’s plan, they quickly devised their own strategy, deciding to play along and confront them head-on.

All of this had nothing to do with Shao Ye.

During the two evening classes, he slept through one and a half of them. To make sure he wouldn’t be unable to sleep later, he snuck off to the gym to burn off his excess energy. Before long, he was drenched in sweat. Standing in front of the mirror, he raised his arms and admired his strong physique.

In the mirror, the boy wore a black tank top and shorts, the muscles on his arms rising like rolling hills.

Not bad. Shao Ye turned around and looked himself over again. His glutes could probably use a bit more work.

Just then, the dance studio next door, which had been quiet until now, suddenly grew noisy. But it didn’t sound like dancing. Curious, Shao Ye went to take a look. Inside, dozens of people had split into two groups, shouting insults at each other. Some were already clenching their fists, eager to strike. A full-blown brawl seemed moments away.

Shao Ye sucked in a breath. So many people gathered here… were they about to fight? It certainly didn’t look like they were celebrating a birthday.

This could get serious. He should report it to the president immediately.

But earlier in the evening, he had seen the president leave with the principal. He was probably no longer on campus. And even if he could bring him back, it might be too late. Fists and kicks had no eyes. What if the president got hurt?

That would be a problem.

Shao Ye rubbed his chin, his expression turning solemn as he mobilized the few functioning brain cells he had. Translated on Hololo novels. Calling security might help, but if he could turn the situation around himself, save the day at this critical moment, then when the president returned, he would definitely be impressed. Maybe he’d even agree to take him in as a subordinate.

But there were at least thirty or forty people inside. Two fists couldn’t beat four hands, let alone dozens.

So what should he do?

Shao Ye suddenly slapped his forehead.

Got it!

…

Author’s note:

[Discussion: Is the president deliberately escalating the conflict between the two sides?]

: Remove the word “is,” thanks

: He’s already helped the poorer students suppress the nobles several times. Not just suppress, but really crushing them. But the noble kids are directing all their resentment toward the poorer students

: He has a point though. Nobles should have dignity. The trash should be weeded out early instead of left to ruin Golden Laburnum’s atmosphere

: Poor students: the president is a good person

: Nobles: the president is a good person

: He should thank us.jpg

: He even allocated some student council spots to the poorer students because he was worried they were at a disadvantage. Honestly, I’m moved to tears

: No. 6 should be the one crying. The president literally told him last night he doesn’t make the decisions

: The president knew there would be a big fight tonight. Not only did he leave, he even took the school leadership with him

: School leadership: I feel very reassured with you as student council president pat pat

: No. 6 is actually on-site, thank goodness

: This many people in a group fight, what a scene

: I’m already thinking of calling an ambulance for them

: Fight! Fight!

: Is No. 6 going to step in?

: Which side would he even help? He’s technically from the noble class, but he helped Jiang Yan last night. Lu Yiheng’s group probably won’t accept him

: Watch closely, this man is called Old Six, and he’s about to witness an unprecedented brawl

: Old Six peeks, Old Six turns, Old Six retreats

: He didn’t even join in, and he’s already using the bathroom escape?

: Disappointing

: Wait wait wait wait wait, No. 6 is actually going in

: Is he really that bold? How many can he take?

: All of them

: Huh?

: His chest is big, sure, but taking all of them is a bit much

: Did No. 6 turn on cheats? You can cheat in Neverland?

: No, he went to the bathroom and grabbed two mops, rinsed them several times in the toilet, and now the three-year wait is over, the Dragon King returns!

: ???

: ??????

: ????????

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