Under Shen An’s earnest gaze, Zhao Qingyu slowly laid out the plan she had in mind.
“Our school has a tradition,” she said. “Whether it’s the Student Union or the clubs, every time there’s new member recruitment or a change in leadership, they hold a get-together.”
“Like a mixer?” Shen An couldn’t help but interject.
“Kind of. You could think of it that way. The goal is simple: to help everyone in the group get to know each other better.”
Zhao Qingyu spoke leisurely. “Take our Art Troupe, for example. After this round of recruitment, with the seven groups and five departments combined, we’ll have two or three hundred people. That’s a lot. Just relying on everyday work interactions between departments isn’t enough for people to really get familiar with one another.”
“In most cases, people only interact with those in their own department, so their relationships are naturally closer within the group.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, but it can make things feel a bit distant. If you don’t know anyone outside your own department, it gets awkward running into them—you won’t even know how to say hello, right?”
Shen An nodded slightly.
This was a common sight in universities these days.
It usually boiled down to organizing a mixer or a big party.
“Of course, I don’t expect it to achieve much,” Zhao Qingyu continued. “Like you just said, it’s hard for people to truly understand each other. Sometimes, even roommates or classmates who spend four years together don’t end up close.”
“Much less at a casual mixer.”
Zhao Qingyu toyed with her short hair and her earrings. “But a tradition is a tradition—it’s best not to try breaking it on a whim.”
“I might seem a bit impulsive in how I handle things, but when it comes to this, I plan carefully.”
“So, Senior Sister, the plan you’re talking about is this new member gathering?”
“Close, but that’s just the first step.”
Zhao Qingyu sighed. “I’m not sure if it’ll work. If even the first step fails, it’ll be hard to move forward with the rest.”
“No rush, Senior Sister.”
Shen An smiled. “These things take time. Step by step. Haste makes waste, right?”
“Overthinking just adds unnecessary stress. Better to focus on doing the current task well.”
Zhao Qingyu paused at his words, then chuckled softly. “Look at you, lecturing me now.”
Shen An shrugged. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Fair enough. I think the same, but sometimes when it’s just in your own head, it’s easy to worry unnecessarily.”
Zhao Qingyu gazed at him warmly. “So let’s think this first step through together.”
“What do you say, Senior Sister?”
Shen An sat up straight, listening attentively.
“I’m thinking we shouldn’t limit this mixer to campus,” Zhao Qingyu said, narrowing her eyes. “Let’s take it off-site.”
“Off-site?” Shen An caught on quickly. “Like a trip?”
“Exactly.”
Zhao Qingyu nodded. “But I know everyone’s time is limited, especially you freshmen with packed schedules. Planning a three- or four-day trip would be tough.”
“So, I’m proposing we pick a weekend, find a good spot for camping, and just hang out and explore.”
Shen An pondered for a moment before offering his thoughts. “Camping might not draw as big a crowd as a regular gathering.”
It took two full days, after all. Camping sounded exciting and novel, but it came with its hassles.
Zhao Qingyu huffed lightly. “I know what you’re worried about. It won’t be pure camping—there’s a hotel nearby for anyone who wants to crash there instead.”
“And there are plenty of entertainment options, so it won’t be boring. Everyone can do whatever they want.”
“Ha, in that case, ‘vacation’ might be more accurate,” Shen An teased.
“Vacation? Yeah, that fits better.”
Zhao Qingyu rested her chin on her hand, her beautiful eyes rippling with amusement. “That’s my first-step plan.”
“Good!”
Shen An clapped approvingly, playing along perfectly.
Zhao Qingyu shot him a playful glare. “I didn’t tell you to clap. I wanted your input.”
“Uh…”
Shen An stopped clapping and murmured, “Honestly, I don’t have much to add because I don’t know the details of your plan.”
“Or what goals you have for this getaway.”
“Mm, no big goals. Just a simple chance for everyone to bond and get to know each other.”
Zhao Qingyu’s voice softened.
“I see. That makes it tricky, then.”
Shen An spread his hands frankly. “Senior Sister, you’ve probably been in those situations where everyone sits there in awkward silence.”
“You’ve got the perfect venue, the ideal timing—everything’s set—but no one has anything to say.”
“That’s not something you can prep for in advance. It depends on the vibe at the time.”
A gathering just provided the opportunity, like a platform.
Its only real function was to get people face-to-face. Whether friendships formed from there had nothing to do with the event itself.
From Shen An’s experience, in a group of a dozen or so—excluding the organizers—maybe four or five participants would chat throughout.
That was already a high success rate.
Worse cases saw people pairing off into little cliques.
The absolute worst: the organizer talking themselves hoarse while everyone else stared at their phones, too bored to talk or engage. Pure awkwardness.
Zhao Qingyu had clearly considered this.
She fixed her gaze on Shen An, smiling brightly. “That’s exactly why I wanted to talk to you.”
Shen An’s mouth twitched as he instinctively leaned back. “I’m not sure I follow, Senior Sister.”
Zhao Qingyu huffed. “Don’t play dumb.”
“I really don’t get it.”
She picked up her teacup leisurely. “Don’t understand? Fine, I’ll spell it out.”
“Your job is simple: bridge the gaps between departments. What you described is just a lack of someone to kick off conversations.”
“You be that spark. How about it?”
Shen An shook his head. “I don’t think so. You’re overestimating me, Senior Sister. I might not pull it off.”
“Tsk, you’re the best fit.”
Zhao Qingyu analyzed earnestly. “You’ve gotten along well with the presidents of every department lately. And among the new members, a few are your classmates—you seem close to them too.”
“You get along with everyone, young and old. Solid foundation.”
“Senior Sister, that phrasing…”
“Don’t interrupt.” Zhao Qingyu shot him a coquettish glare.
“Alright, go on.”
Shen An raised his hands in surrender.
“I’m not putting you on the spot or setting you up.”
Zhao Qingyu’s tone softened. “It sounds tough, but it’s not.”
“With hundreds of people in the troupe, you’re not the only one who can talk. Others will follow your lead.”
“Like our presidents: Yu Wen’s outgoing and bubbly, right? Taili might seem quiet, but once she gets going, she doesn’t stop.”
“And your classmate Wang Yuqiong—she strikes me as great at mingling.”
“I might not be the best to bring it up around her, but you? Just nudge her, and she’ll jump in.”
“Put it together like that, and it’ll liven right up.”
“Besides, I don’t expect you to make everyone best friends. Just get the key new members from the main departments acquainted.”
“If some folks hate socializing, let them be. No need to push.”
Her reasoning made perfect sense. She wouldn’t really have Shen An running around like a circus act.
He just needed to lead by example.
“And you think I didn’t prep any perks for you?”
Zhao Qingyu pouted playfully. “Think about it: as the icebreaker and guide, even if they don’t know folks from other departments, they’ll know you.”
“One department, two… if everyone across the seven groups and five departments knows you, your standing in the Art Troupe will be rock-solid.”
“If you earn their trust and respect, who knows? I might not even carry as much weight as you.”
That was the deeper power of networking.
The more influence you wielded in social circles, the higher your status within them.
Shen An listened quietly, unable to find a solid counterargument.
He was well-suited for the role, truth be told.
But glancing at Zhao Qingyu’s smug, relaxed expression, he smirked inwardly and asked, “Then why not take the role yourself, Senior Sister?”
Zhao Qingyu froze.
“I can’t think of anyone more perfect for it than you.”
“You’re the Deputy Troupe Leader. When you speak, everyone listens. Even if they don’t want to respond, they’ll rack their brains to come up with something.”
“Besides, your connections are far more extensive than mine. When it comes to organizing and planning, you’re the one who suits the role no matter how you look at it.”
Zhao Qingyu: . . . .
She fell silent.
In truth, by all rights, Zhao Qingyu was indeed the most suitable person for the job.
She was the event’s organizer and initiator, the one with the greatest authority to speak.
But . . . but . . .
Shen An tossed out a quiet jab. “You’re not thinking of slacking off again, are you?”
Zhao Qingyu’s head snapped up, her face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. “I am not!”
“I . . . I’m the Troupe Leader, you know—the grand Troupe Leader. I have to maintain some dignity.”
“But don’t you want people to get close to you?”
Shen An asked with a sly glint in his eye. “The more dignity you put on, the more they’ll fear you.”
“Fear me? Fine by me . . . That’s exactly the effect I’m going for!”
Zhao Qingyu let out a cold snort.
“Oh~”
Shen An’s lips curved into a smile, as if he’d completely bought it.
Zhao Qingyu awkwardly averted her gaze from his teasing stare.
Damn it . . .
An inexplicable wave of guilt washed over her, as though Shen An had peered straight into her heart.
Truth be told, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to.
It was that . . .
She didn’t dare.
To be more precise: this woman who seemed so aloof and capriciously wicked was actually a closet socially anxious type.
She knew how to bully people, but making friends? That was beyond her.
Expecting her to steer conversations and liven up the mood was about as likely as the world ending tomorrow.
How could a proud fox queen just wag her tail for anyone?
