Arriving at the third floor and walking to the Archery Club entrance, he found the door half-open. Peering inside, he spotted a girl dozing off in a chair.
As expected, she was the Archery Club secretary.
She was responsible for handling registration forms.
A second-year senior student.
As for why she was dozing off?
At least she hadn't drunk any strange red tea.
"Knock~"
"Knock knock~"
"Knock knock knock~"
Su Cheng knocked on the door rhythmically.
The senior student heard the sound and lifted her head groggily. Seeing Su Cheng standing at her door with a smile, she startled awake and sat up straight, stammering, "Who... who are you?"
"I'm here to join the Archery Club."
Su Cheng nodded slightly and walked in, handing over his club application form to her: "This is my application."
The girl took it and looked it over, occasionally glancing up at Su Cheng with surprise in her eyes, muttering, "It even has the Club President's and Student Council President's signatures..."
"I understand."
The girl accepted the form, then pulled out another form from her drawer and handed it to Su Cheng: "Please fill this out while I prepare the measuring equipment."
"Alright."
Su Cheng took the form, noticed it was for measurements like height, and quickly filled it out at the desk.
Then he placed it on the table, waiting for the girl.
Looking at the senior student who was seriously searching for equipment, Su Cheng suddenly felt that there were still more normal people in this world.
The second floor was practically an asylum for lunatics.
He'd never go there again.
"I should tell you in advance, our club doesn't allow early departures," the girl suddenly reminded him without turning around.
"Yes, I know," Su Cheng smiled.
Without joining a club, he could go home at 3 PM.
After joining, he would have to stay until 5 PM when the club activities end bell rings.
"Good."
The girl turned around with equipment in hand and asked, "Do you know how many pieces of equipment you need for practicing archery?"
Su Cheng answered without hesitation, "A bow and arrows?"
"That's right."
She approached Su Cheng with various tools: "Stand up and spread your arms, I need to take measurements."
"Oh, okay."
Su Cheng did as instructed.
"The arrow length is determined by each person's arm length, and the arrow weight depends on the bow's draw weight."
The senior student explained while carefully taking measurements.
"Here, pull this to test your draw strength."
"Alright."
"That should do it, let me record this."
Su Cheng watched the senior's back with surprise, not expecting that both bow and arrows needed to be custom-made. His heart sank halfway - this would definitely be expensive.
"Now, for the last item, sit down and extend your hand."
The senior finished recording and gestured for him to sit.
Su Cheng sat down.
The senior took Su Cheng's palm and observed it while speaking: "Your hands are even softer than mine, but don't worry about injury from shooting. I'm measuring you for hand protection now."
"Even the gloves need to be custom-made?"
"Also, 'soft' isn't really an appropriate way to describe me, is it?"
Su Cheng questioned, but still cooperated obediently.
"I apologize for my rudeness."
"It's fine, please continue."
"Because everyone's hands differ in size, length, and thickness, the glove fit is crucial."
The senior continued measuring while explaining: "Usually, one glove can last twenty or thirty years, so according to the male club members, it's like another half of archery - you should cherish it like a wife."
"I think I understand now."
Su Cheng nodded, feeling increasingly heavy-hearted.
"All done."
The girl pulled out a card reader and QR code from a nearby drawer: "Would you prefer to pay by card or scan the code?"
Here it comes!
The moment he'd been most concerned about!
"I'll scan... how... how much is it?"
Su Cheng took out his phone and opened the scanner, his eyes fixed intently on the girl's lips, afraid to miss any numbers.
"With the school subsidy, it's only fifty thousand per semester."
The senior said casually.
Su Cheng's heart sank heavily.
What did she mean by "only" fifty thousand?
Was she serious?
Fifty thousand would be enough for him to live on until high school graduation.
Seeing his expression, the girl asked, "That's right, you heard correctly. It's this cheap. Isn't it unbelievable?"
"Yes, it's quite surprising."
Su Cheng's hand trembled as he held his phone, reluctantly scanning the QR code with a pained expression.
"Let me tell you something even more exciting."
The senior paused here, seemingly gathering her thoughts, then continued: "You're the first one to have President Ji's signature, and most likely you'll receive personal instruction from President Ji herself. You should know that no one else has ever had such an honor."
"Hehe."
Su Cheng forced a smile, then put his phone back in his pocket, feeling extremely heavy-hearted.
He didn't want President Ji's personal instruction at all, nor did he feel any sense of honor about it.
He couldn't imagine how much pressure he'd feel under the teaching style of such an ice-cold woman.
He just wanted to be a ghost member.
Learn archery skills and then quit the club.
Fifty thousand per semester was really too much to bear.
"Alright, you can go to the dojo to report to the Club President now."
The senior organized the documents and looked up, continuing: "All the equipment and clothing will be delivered this week. For now, familiarize yourself with the dojo and some etiquette."
"Thank you."
Su Cheng nodded.
His heart was filled with melancholy as he walked out the door towards the dojo.
He had visited the dojo once last week, and although he only lingered outside the door for a few minutes, he had already deeply remembered that ice beauty.
...............
It seemed he had used up his confession chance today.
In a corner of the club building, a short-haired girl was expressionlessly observing Su Cheng's retreating figure, appearing lost in thought.
According to her previous observations and analysis.
When Su Cheng had chances, his gaze would always drift toward girls' heads.
When Su Cheng had no chances, no matter who the other person was, he would immediately avoid eye contact as soon as he saw them.
Acting completely uninterested in girls.
However, he had finally joined the club.
Liu Qingyue watched Su Cheng enter the dojo and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Judging from his strange behavior at noon, the confession time should have been during lunch.
But this time she couldn't determine what the reward was from his appearance...
Perhaps it was another peculiar item?
Liu Qingyue pondered silently. Due to other tasks at noon, she hadn't been able to observe Su Cheng then.
It seemed she would have to wait until tomorrow morning's interaction to analyze.
Liu Qingyue glanced toward the dojo, having made up her mind.
Since she needed to return early to the villa to serve her young mistress, she had no free time in the afternoon.
As an attendant, she naturally couldn't get away on weekends either, so she had no idea what Su Cheng did on weekends.
"Senior, hello."
However, just as she was about to leave, a cold female voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
This made Liu Qingyue's heart jump.
With her powers of observation and intuition, it should have been impossible for anyone to approach her silently.
But this time, she hadn't noticed at all!
She instinctively turned her head slightly to look up, and saw a expressionless girl with long black hair standing beside her.
So that's why.
Seeing who it was, Liu Qingyue immediately understood.
She had thoroughly investigated everyone in Su Cheng's class.
And this person was the one she found most troublesome in Su Cheng's class.
Li Guanqi.
This person had a strange aura - if you weren't paying attention, you would completely overlook her.
She had to divide her attention between watching Su Cheng and dealing with her, while constantly reminding herself to maintain awareness of her presence. This was going to be troublesome.
Liu Qingyue became internally vigilant.
So in the moment she turned her head.
"Ah!"
Liu Qingyue pretended to be startled.
However, this only earned an utterly flat response from Li Guanqi: "I apologize, but, senior, your reaction time is quite slow."
"Who... who are you?"
Liu Qingyue didn't respond directly, but instead patted her chest and asked.
Her voice carried a sweet and coquettish tone.
"I'm a classmate of the boy you were just observing."
Li Guanqi's casual remark sent Liu Qingyue's heart racing, almost leaping out of her chest.
Yet her face showed embarrassment and shyness: "You... you can't tell him."
Li Guanqi observed Liu Qingyue's reaction with a calm expression and slowly uttered two words: "Why not?"
"Do I really need to explain why a girl would observe a boy?"
Liu Qingyue bit her lip and stamped her foot coyly: "Oh, just keep it a secret for your senior, okay?"
Li Guanqi slightly furrowed her brows: "So this is your reason for stalking him since he left the classroom? Don't you think that's a bit far-fetched?"
Suddenly, silence fell over the air.
Liu Qingyue kept her head down, appearing reluctant to speak, her face flushed red down to her neck: "It's... it's because Su Cheng is kind to everyone and trusts people too easily. I'm worried he might be deceived by bad women..."
The redness in her face and neck was due to her holding her breath while looking down, causing her muscles to tense and blood to rush to that area - all happening in just a few seconds.
Li Guanqi's eyebrows finally relaxed at this sight, returning to a neutral expression, and she slowly said: "Is that so?"
Su Cheng was indeed quite trusting.
After all, he had inexplicably trusted her at lunch.
"Look, these are our chat messages. We have a very good relationship!"
Liu Qingyue took out her phone and showed Li Guanqi their conversation history.
[Same place tomorrow morning~]
Su Cheng: [No problem!]
Li Guanqi glanced at the chat history and nodded, saying coolly: "Seems I misunderstood."
Liu Qingyue quickly nodded upon hearing this: "So please don't tell him about this. It would make things really awkward between us."
Li Guanqi looked at Liu Qingyue, noting her face full of anticipation and anxiety.
Her lips moved slightly as if wanting to say something more, but she ultimately swallowed her words and simply said: "I understand."
"Thank you, junior. I'm really grateful!"
Upon hearing these words, Liu Qingyue finally let out a long breath, feeling much more relieved. A bright smile appeared on her face as she grabbed Li Guanqi's hand and shook it repeatedly.
"No need to thank me. I was the one who misunderstood."
Li Guanqi watched Liu Qingyue's radiant smile and felt a slight stirring in her heart, but she merely withdrew her hand and then raised both hands, using her index fingers to pull up the corners of her mouth, creating an extremely stiff smile.
"What are you..."
Liu Qingyue asked, puzzled by Li Guanqi's rigid smile.
Actually, she knew about Li Guanqi's condition, but to maintain the pretense of not knowing her, she had to ask.
"I can't control my facial expressions, but I wanted to return your smile somehow."
"Please don't force yourself. It must be tiring."
Seeing Li Guanqi maintain this smile, Liu Qingyue looked worried and instinctively lowered her hands.
"Alright, senior. I'll take my leave now."
She gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
She watched Li Guanqi's methodical departure, a gloomy expression gradually appearing on her face.
However, the moment Li Guanqi turned around, Liu Qingyue quickly changed her expression, putting on a sweet smile again.
Li Guanqi raised one hand, this time using only one index finger to pull up the corner of her mouth.
This time her smile wasn't stiff at all, but rather had a strange curve to it.
It was a wicked smile!
Indeed!
It was Su Cheng's signature dragon king pleasure smile!
Watching Li Guanqi walk further away until she disappeared from sight, Liu Qingyue finally withdrew her gaze and turned toward the club building.
She knew things had become complicated now that she had caught Li Guanqi's attention.
She would need to be more careful when observing Su Cheng from now on.
Soon, she arrived at the Archery Club on the third floor, where a girl was sleeping - her handiwork.
She had put something in her tea to help her sleep.
Unless there was a loud noise, the girl wouldn't wake up.
And now... she had some business to attend to.
She had been following Su Cheng and noticed something odd about that club application form.
Even with her young lady's signature, it shouldn't have caused such reactions from those neurotic third-years on the second floor.
Though she had her suspicions, she needed to verify them personally.
So, she quietly entered the archives room and started searching through the files.
Then, she found Su Cheng's club application, and despite her previous suspicions, she couldn't help but be stunned when she confirmed it.
Li Zhao's signature and personal seal.
After a while, she put the application back and left the third floor.
"This really matches his luck."
Liu Qingyue sighed inwardly.
In just two days of not seeing him, Su Cheng had already become acquainted with the student council president.
Without a doubt.
He must have met the student council president either on Saturday or Sunday.
That would explain getting this personal signature.
And he likely received some kind of reward as well.
Undoubtedly the best kind of reward.
It seemed she needed to find time to learn about what had happened at home recently.
Her mind raced, and she finally decided to investigate Su Cheng's apartment situation.
After all, according to web novel conventions, obtaining some ability or item would inevitably trigger conditions that would require such capabilities.
If there were any clues, she could deduce the general effect of the ability or item, and then use certain conversational techniques to get answers from Su Cheng's own mouth.