The so-called business tent was actually just an abandoned little shed.
Every summer, when new students enrolled, the campus network operator would send people over to set up a small sunshade here, handling mobile cards and internet packages for the incoming freshmen.
Outside of that time, the little shed was basically abandoned, and no one usually came here.
Simply put, Li Xueli had chosen a quiet spot where no one would disturb them.
Chuyao said she was coming, but in truth, she first took a shower, dried her hair, changed into clean little clothes, and put on the warm white stockings she drew last time.
By the time she arrived for the meeting, it was already past three in the afternoon. The winter sunlight stretched long across the campus, making everything feel drowsy and languid.
“Xu Chuyao, you’re here~”
Li Xueli had been sitting under the beam for a while. When she saw the thunder girl arrive, she happily stood up to greet her.
She was wearing a down jacket, so sitting for a bit shouldn’t be too cold.
“Pfft, I just got up. Drank a little too much last night.”
Xu Chuyao explained casually, then sat in the chair opposite her, getting straight to the point: “Li Laoshi, what did you want with me?”
“It’s just a small matter… Oh right, you did exceptionally well in this final exam, especially the essay. Your argument was novel, your approach unique, and your choice of words had the elegance of classic poetry. It was even better than the sample essay.”
Such a sincere compliment.
“Thank you, I know.” Xu Chuyao blinked. “Anything else?”
“And… Oh right, I heard that the last few operations outside the school were all directed by you, and they were a complete success. That’s really impressive.”
“Thank you, anything else?”
“And… and…”
Li Xueli seemed to be thinking of something, but Xu Chuyao kept pressing for the main point, so she hesitated and couldn’t say it.
Seeing this, Chuyao decided to add some pressure and stood up to leave.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back first. I drank too much last night and didn’t sleep well.”
“Wait! Xu Chuyao, don’t go, please!”
Li Xueli tugged her a little. With no choice, she braced herself and said, “Actually, it’s like this. Just a few days ago…”
After listening to her story, Xu Chuyao was dumbfounded and finally understood why she had been so secretive.
A few days ago, Li Xueli received an anonymous letter. The letter said it sympathized with her difficulties in life and work, and that there was an organization dedicated to helping improve such situations. There would be a small gathering tomorrow to explain in detail.
At the time, she was indeed at a career low. After the curriculum reform, the weight of the Culture Class had been further reduced. During the Key Point Class before finals, barely any students listened, and she felt depressed. When she received the letter, she got excited, thinking it was some sort of educational expert’s seminar.
But the next day, when she arrived at a bar in the southern part of the city, she found several young people holding their hands high, saying things like, “Spirit Power Users are born greater than all others,” and even the weakest First Rank Spirit Power User should be worshipped by billions of ordinary people, and so on.
Good grief, wasn’t this the Clown Gang that was rumored about in the academy?
Li Xueli was terrified—she didn’t know whether to stand or sit, and didn’t dare to run. Luckily, the gathering didn’t last long, and soon ended. Before leaving, those people handed out business cards, inviting them to a real gathering in a few days.
She should have reported this to the academy, but after all, she had come into direct contact with the Clown Gang and was afraid she couldn’t explain herself clearly, or that she would be suspected. She didn’t know what to do.
Torn, Li Xueli thought of her one and only Outstanding Student, Xu Chuyao, and happened to know the girl had some Newspeak Authority in this area.
“I understand now.”
At first, Xu Chuyao found it hard to believe the Clown Gang was recruiting right in Shengling Academy, but thinking it through—Li Xueli had graduated for so long and was still Second Rank, probably wouldn’t advance any further in this life, and her job was insignificant and unappreciated—it really did fit the Clown Gang’s recruitment profile.
It could only be said that after the Commerce Plaza battle and the restrictions on movement, the Clown Gang in Center City had been forced into a corner and were taking risks. If they could turn a teacher in the academy, they’d gain a big advantage in intelligence.
“Speaking of which, did any of the things they said move you?”
Chuyao was a bit curious, since Li Xueli’s situation really matched the Clown Gang’s profile. It would be normal if she was persuaded.
Li Xueli adjusted her down jacket collar and, embarrassed, glanced at Xu Chuyao, lowering her voice: “They said a lot about my situation, and it sounded reasonable, but when they said I was completely disappointed in my current life, that wasn’t true. Although many students don’t listen to my class and the school doesn’t value me, I still have an excellent student, and that’s what keeps me going in this career.”
“Who listens?”
Xu Chuyao asked casually, but after a long pause with no answer, she looked up to find Li Xueli staring at her intently.
“I—I do!”
She nodded very seriously and solemnly.
“Alright then.”
Look at how awkward this is.
Xu Chuyao picked up the business card and looked at it. The information was very simple—no mask, no spray paint, nothing that looked like a merchant’s slogan, just an address—No. 14, Heping Lane, Pioneer New District, Center City.
“I understand the situation now. But Li Laoshi, I need to correct a small mistake you made.”
Li Xueli saw the girl give her a cute wink, her beautiful eyes seeming to sparkle with starlight.
“You said I have some ‘Newspeak Authority’ in this area. That’s not right. When it comes to the Clown Gang, I have all the Newspeak Authority.”
The girl’s slender, soft hand gently returned the business card to her:
“You just attend the gathering as usual. We’ll arrange support. To show your sincerity, you can even leak them a bit of action news when the time comes.”
Li Xueli accepted the business card with the address, a little dazed: “Then what about the school…”
“I’ll tell the school you’re my informant.”
Their conversation lasted less than half an hour. The abandoned little shed soon returned to its deserted state. The brief meeting ended—one returned to the dormitory, the other to the teacher’s apartment.
She had come with nervousness and uncertainty, thinking she’d just give it a try, but didn’t expect things to be resolved so easily. Li Xueli felt a sense of relief, but also a vague sense of loss.
Her only Outstanding Student wasn’t just excellent at Culture Class.
On Xu Chuyao’s side, she was also a bit emotional. She thought dealing with the Clown Gang would take time, waiting for the Mayor’s side to sort things out before making a move. She didn’t expect such a major lead to show up in school, a target delivered right to her door. She couldn’t pass this up.
And to top it off, after getting drunk last night and being scolded by the protagonist, Chuyao was still angry.
She urgently needed a soft target to vent her anger on.
It’s you guys, then.
[Chuyao Doesn’t Want to Eat Hands: Important notice, gather in the Meeting Room at 10:30 tomorrow morning!]
Time to give them a hard lesson.