Chapter Fifty-One: On the Matter of the Class Representative Discovering Natsuki Writes Novels

Dragging his exhausted body, he finally made it through the day's military training. No matter how brash and youthful Xia Shu might be, he was still only human. These past two days had sapped his energy so much that he found himself dozing off during evening self-study.

To think that even at university, there would still be such a thing as evening self-study! What's more, their school made it compulsory for all freshmen to take the English Level Four exam in December. So, just as they were settling into college life, many students felt as if they'd been transported straight back to high school.

During evening self-study, members of the student council would come around for attendance checks. To boost the freshmen's passing rate for the English exam, the school also required everyone to hand in their phones during this period.

As the class assistant, Xiao Xiao temporarily oversaw the class during evening study sessions, since the class committee hadn't yet been elected. If the counselor didn't come to supervise, she would sit at the lectern, keeping a watchful eye on them.

Each time, she would see to it that everyone turned in their phones. As for the decoy phones stashed in the hanging organizer on the wall, she simply pretended not to notice.

"While your English skills from the college entrance exam are still fresh, I suggest you all work through some more Level Four practice papers whenever you can," Xiao Xiao advised, her tone that of an experienced elder. "In my experience, those who don't pass the Level Four exam as freshmen rarely ever manage to pass it in their four years here."

"I can understand how you all feel," she continued warmly. "After all, you made it through the gauntlet of the entrance exams to get into Yundu University, and of course you want to enjoy a more relaxed college life."

"As for evening self-study, I'm not one to be overly strict. I just hope you'll all be self-disciplined and manage your time wisely. Time wasted is a debt you’ll have to pay back yourself in the end."

At that moment, Xiao Xiao sounded like a female monk reciting scriptures. If it were anyone else, the class would have been bored senseless.

But she was beautiful, with an undeniable elegance. According to rumors from all around, the senior was still single. So during these tedious evening sessions, the boys in class would quietly admire Xiao Xiao as she sat at the front.

No doubt, some of them were already entertaining all sorts of thoughts.

Wang Yang was among them.

Every day, he sat with Xia Shu and Lin Xiang at the back row, gazing at the class assistant like a starstruck fan. "Heh, today she's wearing black stockings!"

"Getting excited again, are you?" Lin Xiang teased, grinning.

"Can’t a guy have a little imagination? At least I’m not as creepy as those guys in the front rows who practically drool over her. I just admire her from afar—I wouldn’t dare have any wild ideas."

At least Wang Yang’s gaze was innocent.

"If you really like her, you’d better move quickly," Lin Xiang added with a smirk. "Opportunities don’t wait. Miss your chance, and you’ll end up as nothing more than a backup plan."

"But I’ve got social anxiety..."

"Don’t be such a coward! Whether you’ll have a good college life depends on whether you have the guts to take a chance. That class assistant really is attractive, so I support you making a move," Lin Xiang said, patting his shoulder with the air of a seasoned strategist.

Liu Zhuang, meanwhile, glanced at Xia Shu, whose head nodded as he struggled to stay awake, and commented, "Xia Shu looks like he’s been completely drained these past couple days."

"That’s normal," Lin Xiang chuckled. "My girlfriend’s a few years older than me, and even that wears me out after just one visit. Xia Shu’s girlfriend is a whole twelve years older—no wonder he’s exhausted."

Lin Xiang smiled wickedly. He’d been so tired over the holiday that he hadn’t bothered to visit his girlfriend, opting instead to sleep all day in the dorm.

"You guys talk about this stuff like it’s nothing," Wang Yang sighed. "If I ever had a girlfriend, I’d probably be over the moon just to hold her hand!"

He couldn’t help but daydream, gazing longingly at Xiao Xiao at the front, his fists unconsciously clenching.

"Since you’re so interested in her, why not be a little more proactive?" Lin Xiang encouraged.

"I am! I’ve been sending her good morning, good afternoon, and good night messages every day!"

"Oh? So you’re already making moves? But that’s not really what I’d call a conversation starter."

"Here, let me give you some pointers..."

...

"Xia Shu, could you stay behind after evening study? There’s something I need to discuss with you."

—

The bell rang, signaling the end of evening self-study.

Xia Shu snapped awake, ready to head back to the dorm with his roommates when Xiao Xiao suddenly walked up to him.

"Hmm? Sure," he replied, raising his eyebrows in confusion. She was smiling, so it probably wasn’t to scold him for dozing off in class.

As she approached, she happened to pass by Wang Yang, who was so startled that he dropped his pen, which rolled to her feet.

Wang Yang’s eyes widened in shock. He bent to pick up the pen, coming face-to-face with her long, stocking-clad legs. He froze on the spot for three seconds, swallowed nervously, then stood up.

But Xiao Xiao didn’t pay him any mind. Seeing her call out to Xia Shu, Wang Yang couldn’t help but look on with envy and curiosity.

Could the class assistant be interested in Xia Shu? But he’d already made it clear he had a girlfriend! How could this be...

"Come on, let’s go!" Lin Xiang slapped him on the back, chuckling as if he’d guessed Wang Yang’s thoughts.

When the classroom had emptied, Xia Shu turned to Xiao Xiao. "What is it, class assistant?"

"After military training ends, the school will hold a Welcome Gala for freshmen. Given all the attention you've drawn recently, the school has taken notice. The counselor just messaged me to let you know that you should prepare a speech as the freshman representative. At the Welcome Gala, you’ll be giving some remarks on stage!"

Xiao Xiao smiled, her eyes lighting up as she regarded Xia Shu. She’d been too busy before to properly take notice of this junior, but now, standing quietly across from him, she realized he really was quite handsome.

What girl wouldn’t be moved by a clean-cut, good-looking boy? Still, while Xiao Xiao might feel a flutter, she knew where to draw the line. She could be friendly, but to mix in romantic feelings wasn’t her style.

"Me, a freshman representative? But I think I had the lowest score on our entrance exam," Xia Shu replied in shock.

Wasn’t the representative usually chosen from the top scorers? He was genuinely surprised to have been picked.

"It doesn’t matter what your entrance score was. Once you’re here at Cloud City University, everyone starts from the same line," Xiao Xiao replied. "Besides, there are many ways to judge excellence. Thanks to you, the school has gotten a lot of attention during orientation. You’ve attracted plenty of future applicants, so it makes perfect sense to choose you as the representative."

Xia Shu scratched his head. "So how long should the speech be?"

"Around two thousand words," Xiao Xiao replied. "After training tomorrow, you’ll need to check in with the director at the Academic Affairs Office."

"Two thousand words... All right." Xia Shu nodded and continued, "Is there anything else? If not, I’ll head back to the dorm."

"Wait, there’s one more thing."

—

"What is it?"

"Junior, aren’t you an online novelist?" Xiao Xiao asked, her eyes wide and her lips curling into a playful smile.

"What? How did you know that?" Xia Shu was stunned, staring at her in disbelief.

"So it’s true! I’m really impressed—you write those kinds of stories, and you’re only a freshman? That’s honestly shocking!"

Seeing Xia Shu’s reaction, Xiao Xiao was certain she hadn’t guessed wrong.

But Xia Shu was puzzled. "How did you find out I write novels?"

"Maybe... I’m one of your readers?" Xiao Xiao grinned mysteriously, then turned away, waving at him. "It’s getting late. You’d better head back!"

"All right..." Xia Shu stood there, completely bewildered.

Is she really a reader of mine? How could that be? The owner of the fans’ group is just one of my alternate accounts!

Wait—could it be...?

A sudden thought struck him.

No matter how he turned it over in his mind, the only way Xiao Xiao could have figured out his writer identity was if one of his roommates had let it slip.

So, when Xia Shu got back to the dorm, the first thing he did was interrogate his roommates.

"How did the class assistant find out I write novels? Did one of you tell her?"

Lin Xiang was busy video chatting with his girlfriend and clearly hadn’t been talking to the assistant.

Both Liu Zhuang and Wang Yang shook their heads.

Liu Zhuang eyed Wang Yang. "Haven’t you been messaging her a lot lately? Are you sure it wasn’t you?"

"I told you, all I’ve said to Xiao Xiao is good morning, good afternoon, and good night! There’s no way I’d recommend her a novel like yours—it’s not even suitable for minors!" Wang Yang insisted, looking Xia Shu squarely in the eyes.

Hearing this, Xia Shu was left even more perplexed.

If it wasn’t his roommates, then how did she find out?

"Could it be... the platform I publish on belongs to her family?"