Chapter 97: with translation of chapter title

On a big weekend, Xia Xi was holed up in the dorm doing homework, with just one drawing left to finish, when she suddenly got a message from an enthusiastic senior; she tossed her pen and ruler aside, stood up, and flung open the wardrobe to look for clothes.

The weather was crisp and clear, indeed perfect for golf, and Xu Yanfeng knew how to enjoy it.

Xia Xi changed into a white sports outfit, put on a khaki baseball cap, grabbed a few cosmetics from the desk and stuffed them into her bag, then waved to her roommates: "Bye, I'm off."

Seeing this, her roommates took it for granted; without asking they knew Xia Xi was going to meet Xu Yanfeng, because smiles creased the corners of her eyes and brows, and her mouth turned up. If she had a pair of little wings on her back, they would surely be fluttering happily.

Xia Xi hailed a taxi at the school gate and gave the address: "Driver, go to the Fengye Lake International Golf Club in the southern suburbs."

"That place is a bit far," the driver said, "we're already out in the suburbs."

"It is a bit far," Xia Xi said, unzipping her bag, pulling out cosmetics, planning to do light makeup during the ride, "Don't worry, I'll pay double the fare—I won't let you make the trip for nothing."

The driver couldn't stop grinning: "All right, sit tight, we're off."

At first, hearing they were going to the Fengye Lake International Golf Club, the driver hesitated a bit—this place sounded high-end, its patrons were either rich or noble, all with private cars; if he made a round trip and couldn't pick up a passenger, he'd lose money. Fortunately, this girl was savvy.

Holding a small mirror, Xia Xi dabbed on her makeup: first a thin layer of foundation, then she covered the faint dark circles from consecutive late nights, added a touch of blush for color, and finally applied a peach-colored lipstick, sheer and moist.

All done.

She pursed her lips, Xia Xi satisfiedly lifted the corners of her eyes, put her things away. She had rushed out without time to wash her hair, so she took off her cap, sprayed two puffs of dry shampoo onto her scalp, and ruffled it with her hand.

The driver had been noticing her for a while; seeing this, he chuckled and asked, "Going to see your boyfriend?"

Hearing the word "boyfriend," Xia Xi sighed inwardly, wishing it really were her boyfriend. She answered the driver truthfully: "Not yet."

"Oh, so you're pursuing someone but haven't caught them yet," the driver remarked, "You're so outstanding—that guy must have very high standards."

Xia Xi narrowed her eyes: "He's also quite outstanding."

If Xu Yanfeng weren't outstanding, she wouldn't bother pursuing him—there are better things to do with that time. Precisely because he's so excellent, she doesn't feel that chasing him is a waste of time.

Xia Xi plugged in her earphones and listened to music to pass the long drive.

After over an hour, the golf club arrived. Compared to when she lived in Lao Xiao Qu, the trip to the city took about the same time.

Xia Xi paid the fare, was received by staff, entered the club's service area, and only then realized she had overlooked an important matter—the Fengye Lake International Golf Club operates on a membership system.

Simply put, without a membership you can't play here.

Xia Xi sat on a leather sofa, holding the club brochure and a cup of hand‑drip coffee given by the staff. The staff member greeting her was a woman about thirty, dressed in a black professional suit, bending over respectfully to introduce the club's situation.

"Our Fengye Lake Golf Club is built on the natural landscape as a mountain‑challenge lakeside course; the scenery is picturesque, Tianshan Lake like jade, surrounded by Fengye Lin. In autumn the red maples stretch on, a delight to behold. Besides the natural views, our facilities are top‑notch: the first phase is an 18‑hole mountain golf course covering over a thousand mu; the second‑phase fairways are currently under construction, and once completed they will offer players a fresh, novel experience. Moreover, our clubhouse service area provides various premium, comforting services for our distinguished members."

Xia Xi stared at the brochure until her eyes swam, listened to the staff's explanation until she was entranced, but the moment she saw the membership price she snapped to attention, accompanied by waves of pain.

Six figures.

Here they only accept lifetime memberships, no quarterly or annual cards or such.

Xia Xi's family background is more affluent than most people's, with a sufficient monthly stipend; plus her own efforts earn her scholarships and competition prizes each year. But compared to truly wealthy families that have been rich for generations, these amounts are insignificant.

At this moment she keenly felt the gap between herself and Xu Yanfeng.

She was unwilling to spend such a huge sum on a membership for a sport she wasn't particularly interested in, her ultimate goal being to chase a man. "Madam, what do you think?" the staff member half‑knelt before Xia Xi, friendly and enthusiastic, a standard smile on her face, holding a form that needed a signature.

Xia Xi closed the brochure, leaned forward to set it on the black marble coffee table, and returned a similar smile: "Sorry, I've thought it over and I don't think a lifetime membership is cost‑effective. Personally, I'm still at the exploratory stage with this sport."

The staff member paused, thinking this young woman's outstanding demeanor didn't look like someone who couldn't afford the fee. Not wanting to lose a potential client, she became even more enthusiastic: "You don't need to worry about that—we have plenty of beginners here; the club provides one‑on‑one coaching from professional instructors, plus caddies to accompany practice, so you'll have an enjoyable golf experience."

The staff member's pitch was flowery, but Xia Xi wouldn't change her mind.

But having come all this way, she didn't want to leave empty‑handed; after looking around, she asked the staff: "Do you have a membership trial period? I've never tried it, so how can I know whether your service is worth such a high fee?"

The staff member's face showed difficulty: "Really sorry, madam, we currently don't offer that service."

The Fengye Lake International Golf Club enjoys a sterling reputation; no one doubts its service quality, nor questions whether the steep membership fee is worth it, because everyone who comes here has plenty of money.

Xia Xi sighed inwardly; it seemed today was destined to be a wasted trip.

As her gaze wandered, she suddenly noticed a hiring notice on a nearby wall. It was a bit far away—only the four large black characters were legible, the rest too small to read—so Xia Xi got up and walked over; the notice clearly stated that the club was recruiting caddies.

Her big eyes blinked, the corners of her mouth slowly turning up, she turned to ask the staff member: "Are you hiring caddies here?"

The staff member struggled to keep up with her sudden topic shift—just moments ago they'd been talking about membership, now she jumped to recruiting: "Huh? Uh… yes, we are hiring caddies here, what's up?"

Xia Xi smiled more warmly, her eyes narrowing: "What do you think of me?"

Staff member: "……"

If you haven't lost your memory, you just said you're still at the exploratory stage with this sport.

Although the technical requirements for a caddie aren't as high as for a coach, a caddie must be able to provide golfers with references to golf rules and course rules, at the very least needing a firm grasp of golf rules and rich knowledge of the course.

"Miss, I'm afraid you're not quite…"

Just as the staff member was about to refuse, a colleague hurried past holding a walkie‑talkie, voice urgent: "Xiao Yuan has an upset stomach; Young Master Xu's side is short a caddie—can we get someone to fill in?"

A voice came over the walkie‑talkie: "None left—we were already short‑staffed, and today being a weekend with many guests, we've recalled all the caddies on holiday."

"What am I supposed to do? Those few for Young Master Xu—are they people you can offend?!"

A lightbulb went off in Xia Xi's mind—wasn't this just like someone bringing a pillow when you're sleepy?

She approached the flustered staff member and volunteered: "I heard you need a caddie—can I give it a try?"

The man who had been speaking turned to size her up: "Are you here to apply?"

Xia Xi nodded, but she didn't want to deceive him, so she laid it out first: "I need to be clear—my golf skills are average, and I'm applying for a temporary position."

"Whether you're temporary or long‑term, let's first deal with this urgent problem!" The man, as if he'd found a savior, grabbed Xia Xi's arm: "Hurry, come with me to change clothes—I'll take you to the course."

"Hey, no, she…"

The staff member who had earlier been receiving Xia Xi reached out to stop her, but since she had been squatting, she stood up suddenly, her legs a little numb from the heels, and couldn't catch up with the two ahead.

Xi Xi: Yes! Heaven helps me! Now I can not only chase a guy but also make money! (End of chapter)