Chapter 41: The Next Choice

Qi finally managed to pry herself free from her excited roommate.

Watching Su Xiaoqie gleefully start a new game with the newly released skin, the black-haired girl helplessly rubbed her forehead, then turned and walked into the bathroom.

She took off her black tights, sat down on the bench, and pulled out her phone to browse.

Qi was looking at the class schedule she had taken a picture of earlier in the classroom; it showed their class’s weekly course arrangement.

Tomorrow, Thursday, the last period before noon was the weekly physical education class.

Although PE class didn’t involve running laps in the scorching sun, some form of exercise was still required.

For example, the next PE class would focus on volleyball, and all students had to participate.

But her legs would start to feel weak and limp after just a few bounces, and if she collapsed in the gymnasium, that would be too passive.

Given her current condition, if she wanted to attend PE class, she would have to swap her tights for sheer stockings that showed skin.

But wasn’t that the same as going out wearing lingerie?

The black-haired girl was very troubled.

She wasn’t mentally prepared to wear sheer stockings yet, leaving only one option.

She needed to find a way to avoid tomorrow’s PE class.

Putting down her phone, Qi let out a long sigh.

The punishment for failing this monthly exam had caused her serious trouble.

She didn’t know how long this state would last.

If she passed next time, would the status be cleared?

Right now, it felt like she had been equipped with a stamina bar exclusive to her legs, one that couldn’t naturally recover.

The lower the stamina bar, the more debuffs she suffered, and the stronger the tingling discomfort in her body.

Once the stamina bar ran out, her legs would become unable to support her due to the excessive physical stimulation, leaving her completely immobile.

Her reluctance to meet Bai Qiaoyu was partly due to this.

There were too many unpredictable factors when dealing with that person.

If her legs suffered any stimulation and lost mobility, that person might take advantage of the situation and do something even more excessive.

But avoiding her twice in a row had brought their fragile, pretentious window paper to the brink of being torn.

Qi had a feeling that the next time Bai Qiaoyu contacted her, it would be time to make a choice.

Either give in, go out, and voluntarily step in front of her, or stand firm, completely tear apart the pretense of harmony, and openly confront Bai Qiaoyu.

The former was a possible solution Qi had deduced based on Bai Qiaoyu’s personality.

It could maintain the status quo and keep dragging this situation on, but it meant handing over the initiative to the other party, which was very risky.

The latter seemed to wrest back control, but it faced another problem: when confronting Bai Qiaoyu, Qi could only rely on Jiang Wanli.

But could the president of the Study Council win against a company president?

Even with Jiang Wanli’s help, she might be safe as long as she stayed at school, but she still had a job and would eventually have to leave campus.

What would she do then?

Besides, could she really trust Jiang Wanli completely?

Jiang Wanli wasn’t stupid.

She could distinguish between asking for help and being used.

Given enough time, she would figure it out, and then Qi would reap what she sowed, having to face pressure from both Jiang Wanli and Bai Qiaoyu.

That was why Qi had mainly focused on raising goodwill until now.

Only this time had she directly asked Jiang Wanli for help retrieving the card.

The ideal scenario was still to raise goodwill high enough that Jiang Wanli would volunteer to help, rather than over-relying on asking for favors.

Direct confrontation might seem satisfying, but it hid many, many problems, and Qi had to consider them all.

Of course, this matter could also be put off until the next time she actually had to make a decision.

For now, the priority was figuring out how to handle tomorrow’s PE class.

Feeling that her legs had recovered enough, Qi stood up in the bathroom and took her clothes to shower.

The next day, as soon as Qi stepped into the classroom, Liang Qiaoqiao pulled her aside.

“Qiqi, for this PE class, will you team up with us again?”

The black-haired girl looked at the chocolate shoved into her hands—one more piece than usual—and instantly understood.

This guy was trying to bribe her again, just like last PE class.

Actually, on the day they had swimming class, Liang Qiaoqiao had also used chocolate to bribe her.

But swimming class was in the afternoon and was non-mandatory, so Qi never attended.

Of course, even if it were a mandatory morning class, Qi wouldn’t go.

After all, she couldn’t exactly wear stockings to swim, could she?

Unfortunately, she couldn’t attend this PE class either.

Qi reluctantly stuffed one piece of chocolate back into Liang Qiaoqiao’s arms.

“I’m not feeling well today. I probably can’t make it to PE class.”

“Ah, really? That’s too bad…” Liang Qiaoqiao looked a bit disappointed but pushed the chocolate back.

“You can still keep the chocolate, Qiqi. I bought it for you anyway.”

“Mm, okay.”

Qi naturally accepted it.

“If you want to skip PE class, you should let Zhiyun know,” another girl beside them reminded.

Her name was Lin Yu.

She, along with class monitor Zhang Zhiyun and Liang Qiaoqiao, spent almost every day together.

When Liang Qiaoqiao had first pulled Qi into their little group, Lin Yu had naturally accepted her.

The black-haired girl nodded and looked over at Zhang Zhiyun.

“What’s wrong?” the class monitor asked first.

Qi scratched her head a little sheepishly.

“Uh, can I just make up an excuse?”

Hearing this, the other girl glanced at her, then looked a bit exasperated.

“You can, but I don’t recommend skipping PE class to slack off.”

“I really am not feeling well. It’s just… kind of hard to describe…”

Liang Qiaoqiao, who had been eavesdropping, thought of something and patted Qi’s shoulder like a seasoned veteran.

“Qiqi, things like this happen to every girl. Just say it outright. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Huh? What kind of thing?”

The black-haired girl looked confused.

She didn’t know what the other had imagined, but she knew Liang Qiaoqiao must have misunderstood something.

But as soon as she said that, the other two also wore expressions of understanding, which only made Qi more bewildered.

“Got it. When PE class starts, Liang Qiaoqiao can take you to the infirmary. You can rest there,” the class monitor nodded.

“Okay. Well, just say I sprained my ankle.”

“Fine.”

It didn’t matter.

As long as the goal was achieved.

Just then, Liang Qiaoqiao suddenly spoke in a serious tone:

“Qiqi, Yunyun will definitely approve your leave request. She’s really nice. Even though she looks cold and aloof, that’s just her persona—wah—”

“If you don’t talk, no one will think you’re mute.”

Zhang Zhiyun had somehow circled behind her, her face dark as she pressed Liang Qiaoqiao’s head down.

Qi had already slipped into a corner, watching from the sidelines as she unwrapped a piece of chocolate and started eating.