Volume 3 Chapter 4

Volume 3 + Chapter 4: Qianxue’s Admirer

At this moment, long lines had formed outside the classrooms of the Go Club, the Music Club, and the Street Dance Club.

The reason so many students had come for interviews was not merely because these three clubs were highly prestigious, it was even more because of their president, Ouyang Qianxue. After all, very few boys could resist being captivated by such beauty. Everyone understood the saying, the closer you are, the greater your chances. The nearer one stood to her, the more opportunity one believed they might have.

At the entrance of the Go Club sat a tall, handsome boy.

His name was Duan Haichen. He was here to interview for the Go Club, and prior to this, he had already passed the audition for the Music Club.

“Senior Qianxue… I’ve finally made it to your side.”

At the thought of soon seeing the person he had admired for so long up close, Duan Haichen’s heart surged with excitement.

He still remembered, it had been six months ago. Back then, he was just an ignorant middle school student. Aside from attending endless tutoring classes arranged by his parents, he had no time that belonged to himself. Over time, he realized he had lost all passion for the world around him.

Then, one day, the school organized students to attend a local piano competition to cheer for their school’s participants. Duan Haichen, bored out of his mind, went along simply to pass the time.

“Ah… there’s still nothing here that interests me,” he muttered, nodding off after listening to the first few performers.

But before long, he was jolted awake by a wave of astonished exclamations. On the stage stood a blonde girl of breathtaking beauty.

At first, like everyone else, Duan Haichen was merely struck by her appearance.

But the moment her fingers touched the piano keys, it felt as though the entire world had changed. Her performance seemed to carry a kind of magic, drawing listeners in so deeply that they couldn’t break free.

Her technique was flawless, her emotions delicate and profound. The entire piece, much like the girl herself, was perfect and pure. Long after the performance ended, Duan Haichen realized that the passion he had once lost had begun to stir within him once again.

By the time he came to his senses, he found that his gaze could no longer leave the girl.

And so, he secretly began to investigate her. When he learned of her achievements, sweeping through Sakura Academy’s clubs upon enrollment and becoming the school’s beauty, his admiration for this “senior” only deepened.

From that moment on, he set Ouyang Qianxue as his goal.

He buried himself in his studies every day, determined to gain admission to Sakura International School, to get closer to the person he admired.

But Sakura Academy’s admission standards were extremely high. To ensure success, Duan Haichen imposed a strict and rigorous study plan upon himself.

Whenever he grew tired from studying, he would browse Sakura Academy’s forums, reading about Ouyang Qianxue’s achievements to motivate himself.

And the “senior” he admired never disappointed him, defeating a current idol, becoming the first person in Sakura Academy’s history to preside over three clubs, and even defeating student council president Bai Yuxuan in a public debate. Each legendary feat fueled his determination.

After a long wait, Duan Haichen finally reached the entrance of the Go Club. Inside, the vice president was conducting interviews with new students. The method was simple, playing matches of Go. Yet astonishingly, she was simultaneously facing nine opponents at once.

From a distance, Duan Haichen could see that she was playing against all nine freshmen while even giving each of them a two-stone handicap, yet she remained completely at ease. Whenever one student lost or gave up, another would immediately step in to take their place, ensuring she was always facing nine opponents at the same time.

“So this is the strength of the Go Club’s vice president… facing nine players at once, giving them a handicap, and still handling it effortlessly.”

Just then, four students suddenly entered the clubroom. Leading them was a petite, adorable girl with pink ribbons tied on both sides of her hair.

“Hey! Even if you want to join the club, you can’t just cut in line!”

Faced with the dissatisfaction of those around them, the girl merely smiled with disdain and flicked the armband on her arm.

Upon seeing the armbands of the four, those who had been complaining sucked in a breath and fell silent, the words “Student Council” were clearly displayed on them.

Noticing the four at the door, the vice president frowned slightly.

“You’re from the student council?” she asked as she stepped forward.

“That’s right.”

“But as far as I know, the student council only had Bai Yuxuan.”

“Oh, we’re newly joined members as of today. My name is Xia Bingdie. I heard that the Go Club was one of the top-performing clubs in the school last year, so I wanted to take a look. By the way, is Senior Ouyang here?”

“She’s not here today, she has something to attend to. If you need anything, you can speak with me. I’m the vice president of the Go Club and currently in charge.”

“No need to trouble yourself, Senior. I’m just here to observe. We’ll simply watch from the side, please continue with your work.”

After saying that, Xia Bingdie pulled over a chair and sat down to watch the matches.

After finishing a round with a group of freshmen, the vice president let out a long breath and announced her decisions on who would pass or fail. But at that very moment, 

“So the famed Go Club of Sakura Academy is nothing more than an empty reputation. The vice president needs to bully beginners just to demonstrate her skill?” Xia Bingdie remarked mockingly.

“If you’re here to observe, you’re welcome. But if you’re here to cause trouble, then leave immediately,” the vice president said, her tone tinged with displeasure.

“Oh, please don’t mind me, Senior. I’m just a straightforward person, I tend to say whatever’s on my mind. While your skill clearly overwhelms these freshmen, your endgame handling is rather rough. So in my view… you’re nothing extraordinary.”

“Oh? Then it seems you have quite a deep understanding of Go.”

“Not particularly. I just studied it for a while so I’d have more ways to connect with someone. How about it, Senior? If you’re dissatisfied with what I just said, we can settle it with a match.”

After Xia Bingdie spoke, the vice president hesitated. She had absolute confidence in her own ability, she believed that aside from the former president and the current president, Qianxue, no one at Sakura Academy surpassed her. But seeing the long line of applicants still waiting, she forced down her irritation.

“I’m busy right now. If you want to play, wait until I’m done with recruitment.”

“Senior, I think you’ve misunderstood. Do you really think I came all this way just to play Go with you? I simply wanted to see what Sakura Academy’s ‘excellent’ clubs were like. But now I find that the Go Club actually lets someone so incapable serve as vice president. It seems the club isn’t as impressive as the rumors claim.”

“Enough!”

At last, the vice president could no longer endure it and burst out in anger.

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