Chapter 46

Just two days after the opening ceremony, club recruitment kicked off.

Seniors from all the various clubs hauled out chairs and stools, lining them up in a long row on the playground as they waited for the bright-eyed freshmen to sign up.

The playground was packed during the extended break. Fang Zhi packed away her stationery and stood up to head out, only for Chen Nian to grab her arm. “Don’t you think it’s… kind of sunny today?”

Fang Zhi shook her head. “The autumn air is crisp and clear. Not at all.”

Chen Nian pressed on. “Don’t you think the Street Dance Club would actually suit you better? You’ve started learning to dance, after all.”

Fang Zhi replied calmly, “I’m learning folk dance.”

Chen Nian leaned in. “I’m telling you, all the big celebrities do modern dance…”

Fang Zhi shot back, “So Fang Zhixiao’s a big celebrity in your book?”

Chen Nian fell silent. “…”

Ever since she’d let that slip during the opening ceremony, Fang Zhi hadn’t missed a chance to throw shade at her.

Chen Nian had offered a ton of explanations, but it didn’t matter—accidental or not, a private chat was a private chat. And keeping it from Fang Zhi? That screamed problem.

Chen Nian admitted she had issues, but she couldn’t exactly explain what they were to Fang Zhi.

Fang Zhi had already been plenty curious about Fang Zhixiao. Now? She was hooked.

Whatever the nature of that curiosity, step one was meeting her.

On that front, Fang Zhi was bold, straightforward, and utterly shameless compared to Chen Nian.

She shook off Chen Nian’s hand. “Anyway, I’m going to the Drama Club no matter what. You can watch me do it, or not—your call.”

Chen Nian jumped to her feet at once. “Fine, let’s go.”

Even an idiot would pick that option.

Their hands stayed clasped as they made their way to the playground.

The Drama Club had snagged a prime spot—super visible—and it was staffed by a bunch of photogenic types, so it was drawing a crowd.

A ring of people surrounded the table.

Fang Zhi stopped at the edge of the group, while Chen Nian went up on her tiptoes and spotted Fang Zhixiao right away, seated at the table.

Fang Zhixiao was manning the sign-up sheets, walking interested students through filling them out.

Seeing how seriously Fang Zhixiao was taking it, Chen Nian’s immediate thought was: Wonder how much cash Wen Zhengnan had to drop to get this ice queen parked here like a statue.

Speak of the devil. Someone patted her shoulder from behind, and a smooth, standard Mandarin voice followed, paired with a warm, friendly smile.

Wen Zhengnan glanced at Chen Nian, then at Fang Zhi. “You two interested in our club?”

Chen Nian wanted to stall for even a second, so she blurted, “Nope, not at all,” while desperately trying to clap a hand over Fang Zhi’s mouth.

But Fang Zhi didn’t say a word. Wen Zhengnan sighed dramatically. “Ouch, that stings.”

Chen Nian glanced at Fang Zhi, but Wen Zhengnan just asked them, “Where’s Junior Tianyi? Not with you guys?”

Chen Nian waved him off. “Nah, he’s even less interested.”

Wen Zhengnan clutched his chest like he’d been shot, then wove through the crowd to the back of the table and got back to work.

Chen Nian tugged at Fang Zhi’s hand, asking carefully, “Zhizhi, you change your mind or something?”

Fang Zhi didn’t hesitate. “Nope.”

Chen Nian blinked. “Then what was that just now…”

Fang Zhi shrugged. “Everything’s first-come, first-served. Can’t cut in line, right?”

Chen Nian was speechless. “…”

The kid had grown up—her brain worked faster now, and she could justify anything.

Left with no choice, Chen Nian stood there suffering alongside Fang Zhi, waiting as the line in front thinned out. Finally, Wen Zhengnan and Fang Zhixiao came into clear view. Then Lin Tianyi popped up out of nowhere and bounced over to join them.

“Why didn’t you call me!” he yelled at Chen Nian. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming today?”

Chen Nian gave him a sidelong look. “You showed up too.”

Lin Tianyi grinned. “We’ve got PE next period.”

Chen Nian shrugged. “Oh.”

Lin Tianyi turned to Fang Zhi, beaming. “Zhizhi, you signing up for Drama Club? Let’s do it together!!!”

Chen Nian wanted to kick him into next week.

She couldn’t figure out when Lin Tianyi had gotten into acting.

She couldn’t figure out what kind of magic Wen Zhengnan and Fang Zhixiao had, to have their little trio so wrapped around their fingers.

But none of that mattered anymore. What mattered was she’d failed to stop this destined encounter.

Fang Zhi and Fang Zhixiao’s gazes met once more, though only briefly this time. Fang Zhixiao asked, “You want to join?”

Fang Zhi nodded. “Yes.”

Fang Zhixiao handed her a form. “Fill this out.”

Fang Zhi took the sheet but didn’t start writing. Instead, she asked, “How often does the club meet during the week? Any plays lined up this year? What kind of stuff do new members handle? Does everyone get a chance to perform on stage?”

A barrage of questions left everyone around them stunned.

Chen Nian wanted to applaud Fang Zhi. Lin Tianyi gazed at her with utter admiration. The freshmen nearby just looked baffled.

Wen Zhengnan paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. He opened his mouth to respond, but Fang Zhixiao cut him off.

She met Fang Zhi’s gaze and asked, “Then why don’t you start? What’s your goal in joining the club? To learn? Make friends? Or perform on stage?”

Fang Zhi replied, “How can you separate those? If you want to perform on stage, of course you need to learn and make friends.”

Fang Zhixiao said, “Sounds like you want the full package.”

Fang Zhi: “I believe everyone in the club is after the full package.”

Fang Zhixiao suddenly curved her lips into a smile. “Wanting a lot is fine. The more you want, the more you have to give. Before you make demands of the club, think about what you can offer it first.”

Chen Nian bristled at that. “Senior, isn’t that going a bit far? School clubs are where people come together over shared interests—a place for mutual learning, exchange, and growth. And here you are acting like joining is some cutthroat battle over money. We’re not a for-profit group, are we? The way you’re—”

“No, no, Chen Nian, you’ve got the wrong idea,” Wen Zhengnan jumped in quickly.

Chen Nian was clearly hot-tempered—the kind who could rant for a solid ten minutes without missing a beat.

Wen Zhengnan had seen her in action a few times and knew this freshman was as odd as she was formidable. He swiftly headed her off with a gentle explanation.

With him there, even the biggest flare-up got smothered like a fire wrapped in water, robbed of room to spread.

Once Wen Zhengnan finished, Chen Nian fell silent. Fang Zhixiao stopped glaring at Fang Zhi. Fang Zhi grabbed a pen and went to another table to fill out the form. Lin Tianyi hovered around Wen Zhengnan, starting to speak several times before finally saying, “Senior, can I sign up too? I don’t know anything right now, but I’ll learn seriously with everyone.”

Wen Zhengnan’s eyes crinkled with a warm smile. “Of course you can.”

By the time Lin Tianyi finished his form, it was nearly time.

His next class was PE, so he didn’t need to head back to the academic building. Instead, he plopped down on a bench at the back of the Drama Club room and chatted eagerly with Wen Zhengnan like the ultimate fanboy.

Meanwhile, Fang Zhixiao straightened the few sign-up sheets over and over, clearly not in the mood to mingle.

Chen Nian tugged at Fang Zhi. “Zhizhi, let’s head back.”

“Mm.” Before leaving, Fang Zhi glanced at Fang Zhixiao one more time.

In the two classes that followed, Chen Nian was thoroughly glum.

The silver lining was that middle school prioritized studies, so club activities were sparse—just twice a week at most, and never too long.

Those sessions were either after school or on weekends, both of which Chen Nian could manage.

Over the next two weeks, she tagged along more diligently than many of the freshmen who’d signed up on a whim and then ghosted from laziness.

Fang Zhi naturally didn’t mind her company, and Wen Zhengnan—the nice guy he was—didn’t mind her spectating either.

When the others held meetings or rehearsed, Chen Nian would sit off at a distance where she couldn’t hear the words but could catch the general vibe.

In those four club sessions, Fang Zhixiao only showed up twice. Whenever she did, the atmosphere grew tense, like swords drawn. But with Wen Zhengnan around, no real arguments broke out—no hard evidence of conflict. Sometimes Chen Nian even wondered if the tension was just her own nerves playing tricks.

After fretting for so long—enough to lose a few extra strands of hair—the most interaction between Fang Zhixiao and Fang Zhi amounted to a few words and some extra glances.

Chen Nian started second-guessing herself.

Maybe it was all coincidence.

Even if not, things were different now. Nothing bad would happen again.

Huddled in a corner, Chen Nian silently pumped her fist.

Today’s session was rehearsal. Afterward, Fang Zhi looked worn out and hooked her arm through Chen Nian’s, leaning half her weight against her.

Chen Nian unscrewed her thermos and carefully poured a cup of warm water. “Drink this first.”

Fang Zhi tilted her head. “Not thirsty.”

“Be good—you’re sweating,” Chen Nian coaxed. “Girls are made of water. Lose some, and you gotta replenish it.”

Fang Zhi laughed, amused. Lin Tianyi came bounding over, panting. “Chen Nian, I’m made of water too—gimme some!”

“Go on,” Chen Nian said, pointing to a mineral water bottle nearby. “You’re made of mud. Off with your mud.”

Lin Tianyi let out an outraged howl.

The three of them walked out together, Lin Tianyi chattering nonstop while Chen Nian bantered back at him. Every so often, she would check on Fang Zhi too. This was the most common pattern whenever the three of them were together.

Fang Zhixiao made a quick trip to the bathroom. By the time she returned, the classroom was empty except for Wen Zhengnan, who was still packing up his things.

Fang Zhixiao grabbed her backpack and said, “Goodbye.”

Wen Zhengnan hurried after her in two quick steps. “The Princess role is pretty straightforward—better suited for a newcomer. The Queen is still perfect for you…”

Fang Zhixiao tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Because I’m the vicious type, right?”

Wen Zhengnan’s brows furrowed. “Of course not! The Queen’s character is more complex, and you have the experience…”

Fang Zhixiao wasn’t listening to his explanation. Truth be told, she didn’t need one—she understood everything perfectly well already.

She cut him off. “Arrange it however you want. I have a competition coming up anyway, so I might not even be able to perform.”

Wen Zhengnan halted in his tracks and let out a long sigh.

Fang Zhixiao ignored him. She slipped on her headphones and strode ahead.

She was nearing the school gate when she spotted Chen Nian and the others coming from the bike racks.

Three people, two bikes. Lin Tianyi’s backpack was in his bike basket, while Fang Zhi’s was in Chen Nian’s.

Chen Nian was pushing the bike, with Fang Zhi walking lightly alongside her, not carrying a thing in her hands or on her person.

Fang Zhixiao came to a stop and watched Fang Zhi quietly.

Sure enough, Fang Zhi hopped onto the back seat of Chen Nian’s bike. Chen Nian steadied herself with one foot on the ground, slung her own backpack over the handlebars without complaint despite the extra weight, then pulled out the water bottle tucked beside it and offered Fang Zhi a sip.

Only after all that did the bike finally start moving.

Laughter rang out. There was playful shouting, someone tugging at a friend’s clothes. They were all bathed in the glow of affection.

Fang Zhixiao lowered her gaze and gripped the strap of her backpack tighter as she continued walking outward.

Today, no one was tailing her. No one came chasing after her. No one even tried to strike up a conversation.

She walked her boring route, boarded her boring bus, and arrived at the door of her boring home.

She slid the key into the lock. The door swung open, and the person in the living room turned around. “Why didn’t you knock? You scared me half to death.”

Fang Zhixiao pressed her lips together and murmured softly, “Auntie, I didn’t know you were home.”

The woman, dressed in a pretty skirt and curling her hair, didn’t pause in her motions. “If I’m not at home, where else would I be? One after another, you all act like I don’t even live here anymore…”

Fang Zhixiao said nothing, just stood there quietly.

The woman finished curling one side and glanced back to see her still rooted at the entryway. She frowned. “What are you doing standing there? Come in already. Go upstairs and change into something nice. You’re coming out with me.”

Fang Zhixiao stepped inside and asked, “Where are we going?”

“To drag your deadbeat uncle back home,” the woman replied. “Oh, and when you see him, remember to call him Dad.”

“Okay, Mom,” Fang Zhixiao replied.