The Foolish Bookworm of the Aristocratic Boys’ School chapter 83.1

Chapter 83: What I Like part 1

Li Ao drafted the application just as his cousin had requested. To increase the chances of success, he even compiled several examples into a new file for his cousin to use as backup.

However, when his cousin returned from his call with the Principal, his expression was far from pleasant.

Guessing that the Principal had rejected them, Li Ao offered some comfort. “We can think of other ways. For instance, have Shi Ye organize an internal selection for ‘Best Newcomer’ within the Tennis Club.”

As he spoke, a mischievous thought struck him. Holding back laughter, he suggested, “Or we could hold a beauty pageant. Wen Rong would definitely win.”

“The Principal agreed.”

“That’s good… Wait—the Principal agreed to a beauty pageant?!”

Zhou Xie lowered his chin, staring grimly at the name Zhang Jincheng on the document. “I’m talking about the scholarship.”

Li Ao dodged his gaze. “Then I’ll go prepare.”

“But he wants me to arrange the enrollment of a special recruit who dropped out three years ago as soon as possible.”

Li Ao’s hand paused as he unlocked his tablet. “The one Zhao Zeyang forced to drop out?”

“Mn.”

That person hadn’t left much of an impression on Li Ao originally. However, when Zhao Zeyang was expelled, the school had contacted that student regarding compensation, and he had expressed a desire to return to Floriman Academy.

Li Ao had felt something was off back then, and his cousin had felt it even more strongly.

Coincidentally, Shi Jing had been clamoring to enroll at the time, so his cousin had used Shi Jing to block that person’s return.

He hadn’t expected the Principal to suddenly demand that person’s enrollment now.

“That’s a bit strange.”

“The Principal feels Wen Rong is uncontrollable and wants to find someone to replace him.”

Right! That was the reason.

Same background, similar reasons for entering the school. On the surface, he could indeed replace Wen Rong.

“And he also changed the allocation of the scholarship.”

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“His exact words were that the new clubs need a head start too. Distributing the scholarship as club funding would satisfy everyone more effectively.”

“How can the achievements of the old clubs be inherited by new clubs?”

“The scholarship is issued before the new clubs are officially established. If you don’t want to yield your achievements to others, you don’t have to join a new club.”

Li Ao: “…”

Li Ao couldn’t help but ask, “Then what about the News Club?”

“If Wen Rong is smart, the money can still end up in his pocket. Zhang Jincheng needs to protect his studio, so he won’t stay in the News Club. I recently received Zhang Lin’s application to establish a club; they plan to develop new software. So—”

Li Ao finished the thought: “The News Club will be left with only Wen Rong…”

“But he’s an idiot. He won’t embezzle that money.”

Li Ao felt the issue wasn’t the money, but the fact that the News Club would be left with only Wen Rong.

Looking back at everything Wen Rong had done, every single act had benefited others. It was obviously done for others. Now, all the people he helped were leaving the News Club. Li Ao didn’t need to look into the future to guess how Wen Rong would feel.

Holding onto a sliver of hope, Li Ao asked, “Does anyone else want to join the News Club?”

“I haven’t received any applications.”

“…”

“Right now, everyone is forming their own projects waiting for school support. No one is going to give up their future just for Wen Rong. Even a fool like Shi Ye wouldn’t throw away the Tennis Club.”

Li Ao understood.

“So, if we want to put this money directly into Wen Rong’s hands, there is a more direct method.”

“He’s probably going to be very sad.”

“…”

Zhou Xie shut his mouth.

Realizing they were talking past each other, he thought for half a second before changing the subject. “Look into that special recruit who dropped out three years ago… his name is Lin Jinghang. Don’t check the wrong person. I want to know who he’s been in contact with during the three years since he left.”

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Li Ao, still in a daze, replied, “Okay.”

The clock on the wall ticked in circles, grid by grid. The sky darkened, and the dismissal bell rang in the distance.

Simultaneously, Zhou Xie stood up abruptly. “You keep working. I’m going out for a bit.”

The vintage car modified by Shi Ye still retained its original exterior, but the interior had been almost completely overhauled. Zhou Xie drove the unfamiliar car to a small road near the academic building.

Hardly anyone passed by here, and there were no other cars.

He took out his phone and, using his authority as Student Council President, messaged Wen Rong directly:

[Location] [Come here. I have something to discuss with you.]

After sending the message, Zhou Xie’s hands trembled slightly. He had to light a cigarette to steady his nerves.

He thought he must have developed a stress response. Just thinking of the two words “Wen Rong” gave him a premonition that he would die of anger; his emotional fluctuations were severe.

By the time he finished one cigarette, there were finally two thump thump sounds on the window.

The cigarette butt flickered between his fingers and fell onto the back of his hand.

Zhou Xie shook his burned hand and turned his head—a young man dressed as a security guard was shining a flashlight into the car.

Zhou Xie rolled down the window. “What is it?”

His face was fairly “well-known.” The security guard quickly lowered the flashlight. “Sorry, sorry! I received a report from a student and came over. I didn’t know it was you.”

“A report?”

“A student said there was an unidentified vehicle parked here. To prevent another accident, I came to check the situation.”

“Was it a very good-looking student?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I see. I’ll contact him. You can go back to work.”

The security guard left with his flashlight. His figure wasn’t clear in the dark, only the beam of light remained bright and conspicuous.

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Only then did Zhou Xie realize the sky had turned completely black. The phone screen was glaring like a small light bulb.

“Pfft.”

In the enclosed space of the small car, a snort of laughter rang out.

Such a petty little trouble gave him a headache just like the previous stunts, yet his body inexplicably secreted dopamine, producing a very interesting sensation.

—What a handful.

Zhou Xie opened the chat with Wen Rong and typed:

[I just want to talk to you about club matters.]

Two seconds later, the phone buzzed.

[Okay.]

Thump thump.

This time, Zhou Xie finally saw the thin silhouette outside the car.

He rolled down the window again. Seeing Wen Rong standing alone, he jutted his chin toward the passenger seat. “Get in.”

Wen Rong hesitated. “Will it take long?”

“Mn.”

Seeing his reluctance, Zhou Xie tapped the steering wheel and said meaningfully, “You can also choose not to get in.”

—Freeze to death, then.

“Then I’ll stand here.”

“…”

Just then, a gust of wind blew past.

The cold wind of deep winter pierced the bones like needles. Wen Rong shrank his neck into his collar, his teeth chattering. “What do you need me for?”

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Zhou Xie kept it brief. “To get you into the Student Council.”

“Huh?”

“To make you… to invite you to join the Student Council.”

Wen Rong hurriedly shook his head. “No need, no need. Thank you.”

He actually refused?

Zhou Xie raised an eyebrow in surprise. “During club recruitment, you said you wanted to join the Student Council.”

“Thank you, I… I think the Student Council is great, but I want to stay in the News Club.”

“…”

Zhou Xie knew that to persuade Wen Rong, he should tell him that the News Club was about to be left with him as the sole member.

But Zhou Xie didn’t have that habit.

He didn’t like interfering with other people’s decisions, even if they were wrong.

Or perhaps, more maliciously, he enjoyed watching people walk into traps.

“Is… is there anything else?”

Seeing him start to shuffle his feet to warm up, Zhou Xie’s mood improved slightly. He pointed his chin at the passenger seat again. “Get in. I’ll drive you back to the dorm.”

“No need, no need. I’m going to the library.”

“I’ll drive you to the library.”

“No need, no need.”

“Suit yourself.”

Zhou Xie started the car. “Move aside.”

“Oh, oh.” Wen Rong quickly backed away. Realizing something, he circled halfway around and stood on the sidewalk.

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—Freeze to death.

Zhou Xie watched the shivering figure in the rearview mirror, silently cursing.

The car moved another two meters. The person in the rearview mirror turned sideways, hunched his back, and sneezed.

If he froze to death here, everything done before would be in vain.

Zhou Xie stepped on the brakes, unbuckled his seatbelt, and opened the door.

Looking over the protruding roof of the vintage car at Wen Rong, he explained his actions: “I told you to get in because the car is warm. It’s better for talking.”

Wen Rong stared back at him foolishly with wide eyes.

Zhou Xie glanced upward, continuing his explanation. “There are changes in the clubs. It can’t be explained in one or two sentences.”

Only then did Wen Rong inch forward, pull open the rear door, and sit carefully inside.

But he didn’t move toward the center; his body pressed against the door, maintaining a posture ready to bail out at any moment.

Zhou Xie asked coldly, “Do you want me to give you a knife? Would holding it against my neck make you feel safer?”

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