Chapter 71: Wishful Thinking (Request Monthly Tickets!)

In the evening, in the literature club's designated classroom.

Xu Youyu walked in, yawning, and casually sat down on a chair, glancing at the other two people in the room.

One was Duan Qintian, the club president from Class 1, Gao San.

The other was Qin Yawei, his fellow vice president.

"Didn't we already settle the booth setup for club recruitment at noon?" Xu Youyu asked, puzzled, "What else is there? I've got student union business to handle soon."

"It's like this," Duan Qintian said, knowing Xu Youyu was vice president of the student union; he pulled out three lists and got straight to the point, "Professor Kong provided a list of students—those who scored full marks on their high school entrance exam essays or won municipal or higher-level essay competitions—37 people total."

"The teacher's suggestion is that we proactively recruit them."

"All the other club members are busy setting up recruitment booths, so I thought we could divide these 37 among ourselves?"

"Fine." Xu Youyu nodded.

Qin Yawei beside her also nodded, then took the lists from Duan Qintian.

"One list each," Duan Qintian said, "The ones with checkmarks are your assigned people. I'll handle 13, you two each take 12."

"There's no rush—club recruitment will last several days."

"After today's recruitment ends, if anyone on the list hasn't signed up yet, we'll go find them ourselves."

"OK." Xu Youyu didn't even look at the lists—she just stuffed them into her bag and hurried out, "Student union meeting—I'm leaving."

Watching Xu Youyu's retreating back, Qin Yawei sneered, "If she knew the student union was busy, why did she even run for vice president?"

"Xu Youyu won awards in competitions," Duan Qintian chuckled. "And the election was fair and open—what's there to complain about?"

"Her dad's a literature professor at Qianjiang University—winning awards is easy for her," Qin Yawei scoffed. "Besides, most of the votes for her were from guys—you think I don't know what guys are thinking? It's just because she's got big boobs."

"Hey hey hey," Duan Qintian sighed helplessly, "You're actually saying this to me? Aren't you embarrassed?"

"I'm just stating facts," Qin Yawei huffed. "You dare say you didn't look? At least sneaked glances three times."

"... I'm not wasting words with you." Duan Qintian stood up and headed for the door, unable to take it anymore. "Just remember to invite everyone on the list."

"Hmph." Qin Yawei grumbled, then glanced at the checked names on the list.

Du Juncheng, Tan Na, Zou Xue… Li Luo.

…

After math class in the afternoon came history class.

Li Luo returned from Professor Kong's office and pasted the poster onto the blackboard.

Since some classmates were in the hallway or using the restroom and not all were present, he didn't rush to speak.

Only after history class ended did Li Luo step up to the podium and explain the club recruitment to everyone.

"In short, if any of you plan to compete in subject contests, check out the relevant club booths."

"If you don't have that intention, you can still join other interest-based clubs."

"Isn't there a Chinese literature club?" Hua Xiuxiu asked, having checked the poster and found no such club. "There's only one literature club—is this the Chinese competition club?"

"Chinese is special," Li Luo explained. "Only essay competitions carry real weight; other Chinese knowledge contests are mediocre, so there's only one literature club."

"Oh." Hua Xiuxiu nodded; as a literary girl, she was clearly interested in the literature club.

"What are the membership requirements for the literature club, class monitor?" Lin Yuan raised his hand to ask for Hua Xiuxiu.

"You'll have to ask them yourselves," Li Luo said, pointing toward the direction of Houde Road outside the window. "Every club will have its own booth, and they'll list their requirements there."

"After our next PE class, we'll claim the best spots right outside the playground."

"Just go ask directly if you're interested in any club."

After delivering the announcement, Li Luo stepped down from the podium, returned to his seat, and glanced at Yan Zhusheng: "Which club are you planning to join?"

"I want to check out the rock band club—nothing else interests me," Yan Zhusheng said without hesitation, then turned to him, "Are you going?"

"I haven't decided yet," Li Luo shook his head. "I'll check things out first."

"Class monitor, you should join the basketball club," Zhu Yufei grinned. "Then we can play together every evening and on Saturdays."

"Not a bad idea," Li Luo nodded.

"Aren't you going to the anime club?" Zhang Guohuang whispered timidly. "I heard they hold small cosplay exhibitions—don't you want to see?"

"Come play basketball with me," Zhu Yufei wrapped an arm around Zhang Guohuang. "What's fun about the anime club?"

"Aren't you joining the literature club?" Hua Xiuxiu now walked over and asked Li Luo. "You got full marks on your high school entrance essay—you'd have no trouble getting in."

"I'll pass on the literature club," Li Luo shook his head. "I heard you have to submit at least one piece per month—I don't have time for that."

He barely squeezed in writing time at night—who'd waste energy writing for the school's literature club?

And they don't pay for submissions.

"The literature club prints a magazine every month featuring all members' works from that month—it circulates around campus," Hua Xiuxiu reminded him. "Don't you want your work seen by more classmates?"

"Uh…" Hearing this, Li Luo shook his head even harder. "No, absolutely not!"

He hoped Zhu Yufei and Zhang Guohuang never read his stuff—if they ever found out his pen name, their view of him as class monitor would be utterly weird.

Besides, these guys don't have much money—they read online novels for free, so he wouldn't earn any subscription fees from them anyway.

He just hoped they'd focus on their studies!

Seeing Li Luo was truly uninterested, Hua Xiuxiu gave up and dropped the idea of inviting him to visit the literature club booth later.

"I'm actually quite interested in the literature club," Lin Yuan butted in. "Let's go together later?"

"Sure," Hua Xiuxiu nodded. "But your Chinese essay skills aren't strong—why go to the literature club?"

"That's exactly why I need to improve," Lin Yuan declared solemnly. "Wait for me after PE."

"Aren't you coming to check out the basketball club too?" Zhu Yufei asked.

"Cough." Lin Yuan cleared his throat, leaned in, and whispered, "You guys go ahead—I'll join you after I finish with the literature club."

"Let's go—class is about to start," Li Luo said.

The group then headed outside to prepare for PE class.

Just as he stepped outside, Li Luo ran into Ying Chanxi coming down the stairs.

So Li Luo told the others to go ahead and turned to Ying Chanxi: "What do you want?"

"You have PE next period, right?" Ying Chanxi asked. "After class, let's grab something to eat, then stroll through the stalls on Houde Road?"

Earlier that morning, Ying Chanxi had asked Li Luo to copy a schedule for Class Eight, so she came down before PE to meet him and discuss lunch and club recruitment.

"What club are you joining?" Li Luo asked curiously.

"Hmm…" Ying Chanxi winced at the topic. "Teacher Sun wants me to join the Math Club, but the Physics and Chemistry teachers also want me to join their clubs, so I don't know which to pick."

"... Isn't there any option that's more fun?"

"There is." Ying Chanxi nodded. "The Literature Club is an option too—relatively relaxed, and you can pick it alongside competition clubs from other subjects. Want to join together?"

Li Luo's lip twitched; he didn't want to answer.

"... How about the Anime Club instead? I'd rather see you in cosplay."

"What are you talking about? Dream on!"