Starseer Academy.
The difference between the Arts and Entertainment Department and the General Studies Department was more than just the fork in the road splitting apart in front of the Main Building.
The uniforms of the two were also strikingly different.
“Notice those students in black uniforms; they’re from the General Studies Department.”
Meng Yiqiao walked ahead, coldly explaining the knowledge of Starseer Academy to Li Xingya.
Behind her, Li Xingya nodded, saying nothing.
‘She’s aloof, but…’
‘She’s still taking care of me, huh.’
Li Xingya thought, when suddenly she heard a click sound from beside her.
She looked toward the sound and saw several male and female students in black uniforms by the roadside, holding cameras pointed at her.
Yes—cameras. The lenses were astonishingly long, obviously very expensive ones.
click
Another sound, accompanied by the flash of the camera, and another photo of Li Xingya was taken.
When their eyes met Li Xingya, one of the girls even smiled and waved at her.
‘Ah… these guys are probably professionals.’
That thought immediately popped into Li Xingya’s mind.
Meng Yiqiao, leading ahead, obviously noticed this, and she said indifferently,
“Congratulations, on your first day at the academy, you’ve been ‘tagged’ by the Talent Scout Department.”
Her tone was so flat that it was impossible to tell whether this so-called “congratulations” was a compliment or a mockery.
“Is being tagged by the Talent Scout Department… a bad thing?”
Li Xingya asked.
This question made Meng Yiqiao pause in her steps.
She turned around, looking at Li Xingya with an incredulous expression.
‘How could you think that?’
Her eyes seemed to speak; Li Xingya was sure Meng Yiqiao was questioning her like that.
“It’s not a bad thing.”
After a moment, Meng Yiqiao continued,
“Being tagged by the Talent Scout Department means they think you have potential. In the future, you might become an outstanding graduate and leave your mark on Starseer Avenue, and after leaving the academy, you’ll be active on stage as an idol.”
Meng Yiqiao glanced at Li Xingya.
“It’s rare to be noticed by the Talent Scout Department on your first day, but you’re pretty enough, so it’s normal for you… You need to get used to being photographed, and learn to show your best smile in front of the camera.”
When the Talent Scout Department students turned their cameras toward Meng Yiqiao, she smiled.
If the usual Meng Yiqiao was like an ice cube, then the one with a raised corner of her mouth was like… mochi? In other words, soft and sweet.
After taking the photo, Meng Yiqiao even bowed to them to thank them for their recognition.
But when Meng Yiqiao raised her head again, her expression reverted to that cold, keep-away look.
Seeing this, Li Xingya couldn’t help but smile too.
‘She’s a good kid.’
‘I like this businesslike attitude as a working girl.’
‘We’re definitely going to get along well.’
click—!
click—!
click, click, click…!
Li Xingya’s smile triggered a continuous series of shutter sounds.
Even Meng Yiqiao was momentarily stunned.
‘She has a pretty good smile,’ Meng Yiqiao thought.
‘From any angle, she’s not inferior to professional idols.’
‘Even… a little like Lin Jin’an.’
‘If she hasn’t received professional training, this girl is simply born for this career.’
Meng Yiqiao waved at Li Xingya.
“Let’s go. Teacher Fu doesn’t like people being late for her class. Also… you’re adapting pretty quickly. Keep it up. Starseer Academy welcomes geniuses.”
Meng Yiqiao never skimped on praise.
“Mm, okay.”
Li Xingya followed Meng Yiqiao again, but before leaving, she didn’t forget to turn back and wave goodbye to the others.
From Meng Yiqiao’s attitude, it was clear how high the status of the Talent Scout Department was at Starseer Academy.
Although Li Xingya had no intention of climbing the so-called “outstanding graduate” peak, years of workplace experience told her that maintaining a relatively good relationship with these people was definitely not the wrong choice.
“So… do the General Studies students spend their days finding people with potential like this?”
Li Xingya asked.
Facing Li Xingya’s question, Meng Yiqiao slowed down again.
“Not really. Actually, the Talent Scout Department isn’t an officially recognized club by the academy; it just has a lot of influence. Its members are mostly General Studies students with great insight and connections. Their core work is to find potential ‘future stars’ on campus and recommend them to the major agencies at the right time.”
After a moment, Meng Yiqiao added,
“And the General Studies students’ main job has a more fitting name—manager. Courses like ‘Persona Management and Operations,’ ‘Stage Crisis Management,’ and ‘Idol Backstage Management’ are all classes for General Studies students.”
Meng Yiqiao turned around and looked at Li Xingya with a serious expression for the first time.
“At Starseer Academy, the first lesson to learn is not to think you’re special because you’re in the Arts and Entertainment Department, and definitely don’t deliberately offend the General Studies students. Otherwise, rumors might spread all over the school the next day.”
‘General Studies = HR department.’
‘How troublesome.’
‘It’s just a school, but it’s more like a highly simulated entertainment industry, huh.’
‘I have to be careful with interpersonal relationships… Hmm, I kind of want to go home.’
Li Xingya kept complaining inwardly.
Instead, she forced herself to look energetic.
“Thank you for telling me this.”
“It’s nothing, just some common knowledge about Starseer Academy.”
Meng Yiqiao’s cold face still showed no emotion.
“After all, the teacher said I should look after you as your deskmate.”
‘…Look after me?’
Surviving three years safely at Starseer Academy was obviously going to be hard.
So.
Would it be a lot easier if there was someone who was already excellent enough, willing to keep looking out for me?
Li Xingya looked at Meng Yiqiao’s back. She originally planned to quietly get through three years, but suddenly she had a dangerous thought.
tap tap tap
Meng Yiqiao heard light footsteps coming from behind her.
Before Meng Yiqiao could react to what was happening,
accompanied by a light giggle, her arm was suddenly grabbed.
“W-Wait.”
“Meng Yiqiao, you seem really amazing at Starseer Academy. Speaking of which, how old are you exactly?”
Li Xingya smiled, blinking her adoring starry eyes.
At that moment, her eyes seemed to have stars flying out of them.
“No, I’m not amazing. I’m not amazing.”
“Not true, I just think you’re amazing, really!”
Li Xingya pressed close to Meng Yiqiao.
“Look, you’re beautiful, super beautiful! You’re also very polite. You’re definitely going to be one of the outstanding graduates in three years!”
Outstanding graduate.
As a student of Starseer Academy, even Meng Yiqiao, cold as ice, would subconsciously feel happy being praised like that.
“Thank you…”
A trace of uncertainty flickered in Meng Yiqiao’s eyes.
“So, can you tell me your age?”
Li Xingya pressed her advantage.
“I’ll go first, I’ll go first. My name is Li Xingya, and I’m sixteen years old.”
Li Xingya’s smile had a kind of irresistible magic.
When Meng Yiqiao came to her senses, she had already said everything that needed to be said.
“I’m seventeen years old.”
“Then you’re older than me. If you’re older, you’re my big sister! Sister, as your deskmate from now on, please take care of me!”
“…Please take care of me.”
Facing a fully powered Li Xingya for the first time, Meng Yiqiao was, as expected, sunk.
This walking iceberg hadn’t melted, but… a small crack had indeed formed.
‘Li Xingya…’
‘Truly a terrifying woman.’
Meng Yiqiao thought to herself.