“The presidents of these clubs, they are all on good terms with Song Wenyue, right?” Song Xingqiu’s question was more of a statement.
Wu Hongzhou nodded. “Yes.”
It was not so much that they were close personal friends as it was that Song Wenyue, as the ironclad heir to the Song family, was destined to be at the core of the Empire’s future ruling class. Those people were simply investing early, rehearsing their future loyalty.
Unlike Song Wenyue’s anxieties, Song Xingqiu had not made it public that he was also participating in the race for the heirship. For one, Song Cheng would likely not cooperate. What Song Cheng wanted was for him to stimulate Song Wenyue’s growth privately within the family, not to air the family’s grievances in public to become the talk of the Empire, and he certainly did not want to see the family’s stock price ride a roller coaster because of it.
Secondly, even if he managed to leak the news as he wished, the public would only side with Song Wenyue. After all, the gap between him and Song Wenyue was as wide as an ocean. On one side was the only son of the Song family’s current head; on the other was a younger brother born twenty years apart who lived almost entirely in legend. Anyone would choose Song Wenyue. No one could see a chance for Song Xingqiu to win.
“So, no matter which club I choose, I will only be made a target,” Song Xingqiu stated calmly.
Wu Hongzhou remained silent. That was exactly the case. He spoke up tentatively. “Otherwise, how about you start your own club? You do not need external validation; you just need to get the credits to graduate smoothly.”
“Establishing a club requires five members. I can join. As for the other three, I can try to find them.” Wu Hongzhou hesitated as he finished. He was calculating who would be willing to face Song Wenyue’s pressure to join a newly established club that was destined to be targeted. The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a pang of regret. Thinking carefully, besides himself, he could not find a second person.
Just as he was thinking of how to remedy his offer, Song Xingqiu interrupted. “There is no need. I will not be forming my own club.” He explained honestly to Wu Hongzhou. “It is not just a staffing issue. The establishment, funding, and approval of all club activities must go through the Student Council. Even the School Board cannot directly interfere in this. This is the primary source of the Student Council’s power. You have not forgotten who the Student Council President is, have you?”
“The difficulties I would face in forming a club would be far greater than joining an existing one.”
In theory, the School Board possessed the highest authority and could intervene in any Student Council matter. However, if the Board interfered lightly, it would mean publicly admitting that the Student Council’s decisions required external correction. For hundreds of years, the image of absolute fairness and supreme student autonomy that the academy had built for the Student Council would come crashing down.
In Axelonia, the Student Council was never just a simple student organization. It represented the will of all noble students and was granted a transcendent status and substantial power by the school rules. The act of bullying special-admission students was indeed not governed by any explicit rules. However, the special nature of the Student Council was recognized in black and white and was tacitly accepted by everyone as part of the campus order.
If Song Xingqiu truly used the Board’s privileges, he would be handing the noble students the very weapon they needed to stab him. Unless it was a last resort, Song Xingqiu would never play that card.
Reminded by Song Xingqiu, Wu Hongzhou finally remembered that the Student Council President was none other than Jiang Baixie. He instinctively wanted to defend him. “Although Jiang Baixie is closer to Song Wenyue, he has always been fair. He would not make things difficult for you over such small matters.”
Wu Hongzhou could not continue. Song Xingqiu had his arms crossed, looking at him as if he were an idiot, completely unsurprised by his argument.
Wu Hongzhou remained silent. The last time he spoke up for Jiang Baixie, Song Xingqiu had looked at him the same way. He silently shut his mouth. Last time, he had just asserted that Jiang Baixie would never give the key to Song Wenyue, only for Song Wenyue to be pinned down by bodyguards immediately afterward, followed by Jiang Baixie’s “coincidental” return. The level of coincidence was enough for even Wu Hongzhou, who trusted Jiang Baixie implicitly, to notice something was wrong. Not to mention, Jiang Baixie had installed a camera in the dorm.
It was just that the image Jiang Baixie had cultivated over the years was so deeply rooted that it was hard to overturn in an instant.
Song Xingqiu ended the conversation, giving a crisp conclusion. “I have already decided which club to join.”
“Which one?” Wu Hongzhou asked.
Song Xingqiu smiled, though the smile did not reach his eyes. “The Student Council.”
When Song Xingqiu handed the club application form to his homeroom teacher, a flash of surprise crossed the teacher’s face. He kindly advised, “Do you want to reconsider?” He explained, “I am not saying it is bad to join the Student Council, but their entry requirements are very strict. Because of the Council’s unique status, they usually only recruit first-year freshmen. This year’s recruitment has already ended; I doubt they will take in anyone new.”
The teacher was giving Song Xingqiu enough face. What he really wanted to say was that the Student Council placed great importance on grades. Song Xingqiu had not taken the entrance exam and had entered the fourth year through the back door. The teacher was unsure of his academic level, but as a member of Axelonia, he instinctively looked down on students from external education systems. After all, there were too many outstanding students at Axelonia.
Song Xingqiu insisted, “No need. I want to apply for the Student Council.”
The teacher tried one more time, feeling troubled. “How about you fill out another application for a different club and leave it with me? Just in case the Student Council does not approve, you can apply for the other one immediately.”
Song Xingqiu still refused. “Thank you, but I only want to join the Student Council.”
The teacher had nothing left to say and took the form. “Then fill out one more copy. I will keep one here, and you take one to the Student Council tonight. After submitting the application, you need to be interviewed within seven days. It has been a month since school started and everyone already has a club. The faster you move, the better.”
The teacher said this, but in his heart, he thought that he should go early, get rejected early, and give up so he can apply for a second club. Otherwise, this club business would be dragged out indefinitely. Song Xingqiu nodded and began to fill out the form.
A few students in the office exchanged looks and quietly slipped out. Before they had gone far, excited whispers could be heard. “Song Xingqiu applied for the Student Council! He actually dared to choose the Student Council!”
The teacher shook his head privately; Axelonia never lacked news. He looked at Song Xingqiu, expecting him to be startled by the commotion, only to find that the boy’s eyebrows had not even twitched.
One minute after Song Xingqiu submitted his application, the school forum exploded. Questions arose if it was really the Student Council. Others confirmed that people in the office heard it and that the teacher tried to talk him out of it several times, but he insisted on only filling out the Student Council form. Some wondered if he really thought he could compete for the best of everything just because he gained a slight upper hand over Song Wenyue.
Since he was the only one in the whole school who transferred from the Federation, no one knew his background. Some speculated if he was tired of living, noting that the Student Council President is Jiang Baixie and wondering why Wu Hongzhou did not try to stop him. Others suggested that since Jiang Baixie has always valued talent, maybe he really will make an exception. However, others questioned what talent he had, wondering if he was going in there to be the Student Council’s mascot. They joked that with that face, he was definitely qualified to be a gatekeeper. They assumed Song Wenyue had been quiet for the past two days because he was waiting for this. In Axelonia, rules must be followed, and they doubted Song Xingqiu could push through to the end.
Following the news of the fallout between Song Xingqiu and Song Wenyue, and them taking separate cars back to school, the malice on the forum toward Song Xingqiu was almost overflowing. Everyone had assumed that after they went home together, Song Cheng would make Song Xingqiu understand what it meant to be the head of the Song family and the heir. In their imagination, Song Xingqiu should have returned with his tail between his legs. Unexpectedly, it was Song Wenyue who was furious, while Song Xingqiu was not only calm but seemed to have returned in triumph.
Yesterday, Shen Qianyan was still happy for Song Xingqiu’s victory, thinking that after this incident, people would re-evaluate Song Xingqiu’s position in the Song family and stop bothering him. Unexpectedly, this instead angered the top-tier noble students. They projected themselves into the situation and felt their status was threatened. How could someone who had lost his inheritance rights be so arrogant! They immediately thought of their own siblings eyeing their positions at home, and their disgust for Song Xingqiu reached a peak.
Song Xingqiu’s situation in the Song family was identical to the situation of special-admission students at the school. They were both the weak within the system. Noble students had long been in a superior position, accustomed to using their status and power to oppress others. They did not expect Song Xingqiu to dare challenge the authority of the next heir and even succeed. Everyone immediately felt a sense of crisis. Suppressing Song Xingqiu became their unspoken consensus. On the forum, noble students mocked Song Xingqiu’s choice of the Student Council.
In the fourth-year classroom, Song Wenyue, having heard the news, looked at Jiang Baixie beside him. He could not hide his mockery and the excitement of impending revenge. “Jiang Baixie, what did you say to him in the dorm? Why would he choose the Student Council? Were you too friendly to him, giving him unrealistic fantasies?”
Hearing the news, Jiang Baixie’s brow furrowed imperceptibly before he returned to his usual indifference. “I cannot control his thoughts. He chose the Student Council out of recognition for it.”
Song Wenyue nodded three times. “You are right. Recognition. It is recognition.” Then, as if remembering something disgusting, he said with loathing, “People like him love to crawl toward the center of power. After all, it is something he has never touched in his life.”
Song Wenyue stood up and patted Jiang Baixie’s shoulder, the malice in his eyes almost spilling over. “It is rare for my little uncle to want to join the Student Council. When he interviews, please be sure to vet him thoroughly, President.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “vet” and “President.” Just from his tone, classmates could already imagine the scene of Song Xingqiu being torn to pieces by Jiang Baixie. It seemed Song Xingqiu was already a fish on the chopping block. It was too ridiculous. Where did Song Xingqiu get the courage to choose the Student Council?
Jiang Baixie’s expression remained unchanged, but in his heart, he thought he was a fool. Song Wenyue thought Song Xingqiu was walking into a trap, unaware that the other had already crossed the biggest pit and found the optimal solution in a desperate situation. He wondered if Song Xingqiu noticed.
In the evening, when Jiang Baixie returned to the dorm, Song Xingqiu was pouring a cup of hot water. The mist softened his always aggressive face; the steam blurred his sharp eyes and softened his pursed lips. Even the tight line of his jaw melted into this soft mist. He was currently looking down, his thick eyelashes casting a small shadow. He was focused on blowing gently on the rim of the cup, revealing a gentleness completely different from his usual self.
Gentle. That was truly the greatest lie in the world, Jiang Baixie thought.
“You are back.” Song Xingqiu put down the water cup and took the initiative to greet Jiang Baixie.
Jiang Baixie’s gaze fell on Song Xingqiu’s face, trying to find any clues in his unusually well-behaved expression, but he failed. He withdrew the slight irritation in his eyes and regained his usual calm. Since his plan to take down Song Xingqiu in one fell swoop failed and his true face was seen through, his interactions with Song Xingqiu had gradually spiraled out of control. They were never able to enter the track he expected. Song Xingqiu always deviated from his planned path time and again, and this time was no exception.
Jiang Baixie curled his lips into a polite and warm smile, appearing kind and gentle. “I heard you plan to apply for the Student Council.”
Song Xingqiu admitted it straightforwardly. “Yes.”
Jiang Baixie’s tone remained gentle. “I thought I would see you come for an interview today.”
Song Xingqiu lowered his eyes, gently blowing away the rising steam, and took a slow sip before looking up. “The school rules state that an interview can be taken within seven days after submitting an application.” He rubbed the warm wall of the cup with his fingertips and added, “It is the Student Council, after all. I also need to prepare.”
Jiang Baixie nodded, his voice unhurried. “Then I shall look forward to it.”
Song Xingqiu was non-committal, only tapping his index finger on the side of the cup every now and then, letting the silence spread between the two of them. The silence did not last long. Jiang Baixie lowered his voice further, as if mentioning it casually. “I thought you would choose another club.”
The tapping stopped abruptly. Song Xingqiu rubbed his fingers, and the softness and obedience brought by the mist melted like thin ice under heat. The sharp edge underneath reappeared. A tiny curve formed at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were sharp with scrutiny. His tone was playful. “Like?”
Jiang Baixie seemed completely unaware of the subtle change in Song Xingqiu’s expression. He took a relaxed posture, bending over to put his shoes neatly into the shoe cabinet while continuing to list examples in an even tone, as if talking to a good friend about casual things. “Like, the boxing club, the sanda club, the wrestling club, or the taekwondo club.”
He changed into slippers, looking very much at home, and naturally walked to Song Xingqiu’s side to use the sink. The sound of running water broke the brief silence. The two stood very close, close enough to feel each other’s breath. When Jiang Baixie turned off the faucet and used a towel to wipe the water from his hands, his elbow accidentally touched Song Xingqiu’s bare forearm. The moment their skin touched, there was a slight coolness from the water vapor.
“Sorry,” Jiang Baixie said immediately, taking a step back to create a proper distance.
Song Xingqiu, however, remained where he was, not moving an inch. He accepted the apology, his gaze lingering on Jiang Baixie’s face for a moment. A flash of realization appeared in his eyes, followed by a sudden understanding as he raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into an ambiguous smile. “Right. Those clubs, they do sound quite suitable for me.”
Looking closely, Song Xingqiu’s face, which was usually obscured by his aura, was increasingly handsome and beautiful, but the sarcasm in his eyes was also becoming more obvious. Jiang Baixie, acting as if he did not see Song Xingqiu’s hostility, continued to suggest warmly, “Then do you want to change clubs now? It is not too late.”
Song Xingqiu held his water cup and took a light sip. The steam blurred his face again, quietly swallowing all his previous aggression. Jiang Baixie watched quietly; that tense scene felt like a mere illusion. Song Xingqiu shrugged, his posture relaxed and casual. “That will not do. The presidents of the other clubs are all my nephew’s people. I have no interest in walking into a trap.”
His words, however, were not relaxed at all. Song Xingqiu was being blunt about his situation at school. He spoke so frankly that Jiang Baixie instinctively began to say something about Song Wenyue. He did not finish, eventually letting out a light sigh. He truly looked like someone worried about the cold relationship between the uncle and nephew.
Jiang Baixie simply changed the subject, attempting to suggest, “Then how about starting a club yourself?” A gentle smile remained on his lips, but his tone carried a few hints of tentative testing. “With your charisma and strong abilities, there will surely be many people following you. When that time comes, you will no longer be subject to others.”
When the two of them talked, they were as familiar and intimate as long-time friends. At this moment, both seemed to forget the reality that Jiang Baixie was Song Wenyue’s friend. Jiang Baixie appeared particularly invested. His slightly forward-leaning posture, focused gaze, and the gentle smile that never left his lips were all silently pulling them closer. Anyone who saw this would think he was sincerely looking out for Song Xingqiu.
What a good actor. No wonder Wu Hongzhou believes him implicitly, Song Xingqiu thought to himself. He blinked his eyes, his voice carrying the joy of sudden enlightenment. “If you had not said it, I would not have thought it was possible.”
Jiang Baixie looked at Song Xingqiu, but he did not see any corresponding emotional fluctuation on the boy’s face. Instead, he saw mockery in his eyes. Jiang Baixie’s brow arched. Sure enough, the next second, Song Xingqiu said to him with a smile, “But creating your own club will also be subject to others. Every activity of every club needs to be approved by the Student Council. If things go wrong, not only will I not be able to get the credits to graduate, but I will also involve other students in the club, making them unable to graduate as well.”
At this point, his eyes turned much colder, staring straight at Jiang Baixie. “How can I stake my future and everyone else’s on the Student Council?”
Hearing this, Jiang Baixie looked at Song Xingqiu. Song Xingqiu met the deep gaze Jiang Baixie sent his way. Jiang Baixie had probably been certain that given Song Xingqiu’s personality, he would never choose to join any existing club and would instead choose to form a new one. It did seem like a good idea. A new club completely under his control would indeed be something Song Wenyue could not interfere with.
But the lifeblood of all clubs was ultimately in the hands of the Student Council. As the President, Jiang Baixie had too many legitimate means to pressure, delay, and veto. No, with Jiang Baixie’s persona, he would not strike personally. He would only need other department heads to step forward and block every activity application of the club. Jiang Baixie would only need to lend a hand at the right time, in the guise of mediation or special approval, to become the savior in a time of need. Step by step, Song Xingqiu would be led down that pre-paved, seemingly bright path.
He refused to take those two paths. Now he had chosen the third path. To enter the Student Council directly, to join the game himself.
Jiang Baixie’s voice was still gentle, incredibly so. “You are right. But if you join the Student Council directly, are you not worried that the people inside will be unfriendly to you? After all, in Axelonia, there are followers of Song Wenyue everywhere.”
His tone did not carry a hint of threat or pressure, as if he were simply stating a worrying fact. Song Xingqiu’s eyelashes fluttered as if he were truly frightened by Jiang Baixie’s words. However, when he looked up, there was no fear in his eyes. Instead, there was a hint of the cunning of a successful prank. He lowered his voice, his expression innocent and pitiful. “Are you one of them too?”
He had already begun to enjoy the feeling of tearing off Jiang Baixie’s disguise. “Will you bully me, President?”
He was truly curious why Jiang Baixie went to such great lengths to control everyone. Was it simply a love for the sense of control, turning everyone into his chess pieces and puppets?
Song Xingqiu’s malice came unexpectedly. Jiang Baixie’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment, and finally, he shook his head, his smile flawless. “How could that be? I have always been fair and just.”
Song Xingqiu breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I am relieved.” He put down the water cup, washed it clean, and put it back in its original place. He walked back to his room with brisk steps, not forgetting to call out to Jiang Baixie, “Please look after me during the interview, President.”
Song Xingqiu called him “President” over and over, showing no doubt about being able to enter the Student Council. Whether Jiang Baixie wanted him in or not was unimportant. What mattered was that Song Wenyue would insist on letting him in, and other noble students would look forward to it. The moment Jiang Baixie chose to become the player, he had already become a piece on the board.
Actually, counting it all up, Jiang Baixie’s positioning for him was not too bad. He did not know what Jiang Baixie’s ultimate goal was, but judging from his various actions, it was ultimately nothing more than wanting Song Xingqiu to be grateful to him, to see him as a savior in the academy, to become someone who admired and was close to him, perhaps even to be granted a seat as a friend.
It was just that Jiang Baixie’s first move was too eager for success; he only wanted to take a shortcut, such that every subsequent method had a natural crack in it. However, it was not necessarily because Jiang Baixie was too impatient. It was more likely that before meeting Song Xingqiu, this trick had worked every time. Jiang Baixie was too confident in himself and was careless. Judging by the evaluations of him from Wu Hongzhou and other special-admission students, Jiang Baixie was indeed very popular. So, perhaps everyone in Axelonia was too easy to fool.
But regardless, Song Xingqiu was not interested in his “kindness.” He had no interest in becoming a part of someone else’s layout.
Furthermore, Jiang Baixie seemed to have thought of him as being too kind and good-natured. If one dared to provoke him, one had to be prepared for the backlash. Now, even if Jiang Baixie called for a halt, he would not agree to it.