I really don't want to date a girl addicted to the internet!

"Then stop talking nonsense. Whatever she came for, send her back." The aloof girl lowered her head to read her book, her tone businesslike.

Cheng Fei and Nagasaki Asuna exchanged glances without making a sound.

Zhou Han and Ruan Jingyi looked at each other.

Ai Kato looked completely bewildered.

An eerie silence fell over the club activity room.

Miriam suddenly stood up, strode over to Kato Ai, and stared at her with sparkling eyes. "Ms. Kato, right? Would you like to join our Corridor Research Club?"

Kato Ai nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

She was still clutching the brand-new application form in both hands.

"Please come in, welcome. By the way, I am..." Miriam immediately led the shy girl into the room with a courteous manner and guided her to sit on her steel tube chair.

"Didn't you understand what I just said? Tell her to get out." Shen Xi took a deep breath and stared at the woman without any politeness.

“Fresh blood is very important to a club. Don’t you think you’re being too cold-hearted? I think Ms. Kato would be perfect to join our Corridor Research Club!” Miriam said righteously, hands on her hips.

Shen Xi glanced at Kato Ai and sneered, "Sorry, the Corridor Research Club already has enough people. I have no intention of letting any new students join."

"Heh heh, it seems you're completely unaware of the relevant regulations? What a naive young man." Miriam covered her mouth with the back of her hand and let out an exaggerated laugh.

"What rule?" Shen Xi hesitated for a moment.

"The club must accept new members every year, or it will be disbanded!" Miriam said, pointing her index finger with a triumphant air.

"How could there be such a rule?" Shen Xi frowned, suspicious.

Miriam said confidently, "If you don't believe me, feel free to ask others. There have been clubs that maliciously discriminated against outsiders before that were disbanded. I'm a veteran who's been with Sakura for four years, so I know about these things."

"Vice Minister, is there such a regulation?" Shen Xi thought for a moment, then looked to the side.

After a long silence, Cheng Fei coughed and looked across at the other side. "Secretary, is there such a rule?"

Asuna Nagasaki nodded. "Yes, the student council issued a notice yesterday reminding us, which is why I put up that cardboard box outside. I thought I could at least collect all the application forms for backup. Originally, Shen Xi ordered us to throw them all away."

Cheng Fei nodded to indicate that he understood, and looked at Shen Xi with a serious expression. "Minister, since that's the case, why not make an exception and let Ai Yi in? After all, we need to recruit new members."

He didn't care whether Ai Kato would eventually join the club; his main concern was not wanting to force her out now.

“That’s right, I think Ms. Kato would be perfect to join the club. She’s Ms. Nagasaki’s sister and she’s so cute… I mean, she looks like a pro at playing in the corridor! Right, Ms. Kato?” Miriam immediately agreed and looked at Kato Ai.

The young girl sitting on the steel tube chair became the focus of attention, her innocent face showing a hint of confusion, "What is... a corridor?"

Miriam's lips twitched slightly.

"That's enough, let her out." Shen Xi seemed to have lost interest, shook her head, and looked away.

"Well, even if she's never played before, we can still train her, right? Why don't we give her a chance?" Zhou Han suggested, as if to give it a try.

Shen Xi glanced at her expressionlessly.

Zhou Han's expression hardened, and she quickly covered her mouth, "I didn't say anything."

“Teacher Shen, since there’s nothing else going on right now, at least let her sit down and fill out a form?” Cheng Fei said seriously, then added after a moment’s thought, “I’ll buy you tiramisu later.”

"Trash, what are you trying to say? You really want her to join the club, don't you?" Shen Xi kicked him under the table, clearly unhappy.

"Please calm down, Teacher Shen. What I mean is that since there are regulations, we have to recruit a new student. It's not like we can't consider her, right?" The boy said seriously. "This is a suggestion based on rational consideration. Of course, if Teacher Shen really doesn't want to recruit her, that's fine too. I will definitely support it. We can pick someone else from the applications later."

After Cheng Fei finished speaking, he shut his mouth, picked up his pen as if nothing had happened, and continued with what he was doing, seemingly having completely lost interest in the topic.

Shen Xi stared intently at him, her eyes flickering. After a moment, she turned her face away and said in a flat tone, "Tell her to fill out the form quickly."

Nagasaki Asuna smiled and waved to Kato Ai, "Ai, come here, I'll teach you how to fill it out."

The naive young girl quickly moved over.

“I’ll help too!” Miriam offered readily.

Zhou Han patted her small chest and breathed a sigh of relief before sitting down with Ruan Jingyi.

So, under the guidance of Nagasaki Asuna, Kato Ai filled out her application to join the club.

The shy girl kept glancing at the boy opposite her who didn't even look up, seemingly wanting to strike up a conversation, but she held back in the subtle atmosphere.

……

After the club activity ended, the group left the campus together.

"Shen Xi, I'm taking Ai back, so I won't be with you," Nagasaki Asuna said to the slender figure in front of her, naturally receiving no response.

Kato Ai followed beside her older sister. The two girls, who were quite a bit shorter, had identical sweet features, attracting the attention of passing Sakura students.

“I’ll take Miss Nagasaki and Miss Kato!” Miriam excitedly raised her hand.

“Milian, that’s not necessary this time.” Nagasaki Asuna maintained her smile.

"Okay, then next time." The blonde girl reluctantly withdrew her hand.

On the other side of Kato Ai, Zhou Han asked with curiosity, "So where did little Ai learn Chinese?"

“Yes… I taught myself.” Kato Ai glanced at the tall, straight back of the boy in front of her and said softly.

"Self-taught? That's amazing!" Zhou Han smiled and patted her head, praising her like a young mother to her child.

"Ai is very smart. She learned a lot in order to get into Sakura Academy." Nagasaki Asuna also rubbed Kato Ai's head.

"I only did it for..." The young girl lowered her head, her face slightly flushed, and her voice was very soft.

On the other side, Cheng Fei walked ahead with his hands in his pockets, side by side with Shen Xi.

"Sweetie, I absolutely have no romantic feelings for her, please believe me." The boy shook his head helplessly, his voice audible only to the two of them.

The aloof girl scoffed, "Trash, she's been watching you the whole time. It feels good to be called 'brother' by a little girl like that, doesn't it? You've gained a little sister who's practically throwing herself at you. Congratulations, Cheng Fei."

The word "younger sister" was emphasized especially.

"She's just my younger sister, my favorite will always be Sister Shen." The boy lowered his head.

"Disgusting, don't try to impose such a delusional title on me." Shen Xi glared at him without any politeness.

The two walked under the cherry blossom trees and arrived at the school gate. Cheng Fei stopped and pointed to the parking lot. "Let's go, little cutie, I'll take you home."

Shen Xi kept walking forward, as if she couldn't hear or see him.

The boy followed, peering over to examine the expressionless little face. "Little cutie, you're really angry?"

"As expected, they're just empty talkers." Shen Xi narrowed her eyes, quickened her pace, and seemed genuinely angry.

"What's wrong with me now?" the boy asked, puzzled.

"You just said you'd buy me tiramisu, but it turns out it was just empty talk." The girl's slender legs moved quickly.

Cheng Fei, keeping pace with her, paused for a moment, then smiled with relief, "Little cutie, don't be too cute?"

So the two of them went to the bakery near the school gate to buy tiramisu, and Cheng Fei also bought desserts for the others behind them.

Kato Ai received a snow-white vanilla panna cotta. The young girl looked at the boy with bright eyes, "Thank you, brother...!"

This prompted Shen Xi, who was standing nearby, to let out a faint, cold laugh.

Afterwards, Cheng Fei and Shen Xi reversed back into the parking lot, got into the Panamera, and drove towards Guang'an Street.

The sports car weaves through traffic, flashing by like a silver snake.

The aloof young woman sitting in the passenger seat used a spoon to put the tiramisu into her mouth, feeling the silky smooth texture melt in her mouth, her face expressionless.

"Little cutie, are you happy?" the boy holding the steering wheel asked, looking at the road.

"What crazy things are you going to say now?" Shen Xi turned her head to look at him.

“It’s been a year since we officially met.” The boy paused to make eye contact with her. “If you include online interactions, it’s been even longer.”

"It's just that the planet happened to have completed one revolution around the star. It's a meaningless point in time, so I don't find it particularly special." The girl said indifferently. "Besides, you didn't join the Corridor Research Club right after the start of last year, so it hasn't been a year yet."

"I'm impressed, my dear Teacher Shen." The boy was speechless.

"I'm not yours either." Shen Xi raised her chin, eating her dessert as she spoke in a cold, indifferent voice, "By the way, when are you planning to break up with that guy surnamed Lin?"

"Looking forward to it? Actually, I recently changed my plans and I'm not planning to break up anymore." The boy glanced at her and spoke in a casual tone.

There was a moment of deathly silence in the car.

"Oh." Shen Xi's expression and tone were extremely indifferent. "Whatever, I don't really care anyway. Since that's the case, I'll just forget about the reward I was going to give you later. Let's just leave it at that."

"What reward?" The boy was taken aback.

"There's no reward. Since you're not planning to break up, you have no right to know." The girl put another bite of tiramisu in her mouth, her tone unchanged.

"Oh, little cutie, you can tell I was just kidding, right?" the boy continued casually. "Tell me what the reward is."

"Heh, sorry, I was just joking. There's actually no reward." Shen Xi laughed with a smug look on her face.

Cheng Fei hesitated for a moment, then smacked his lips and said, "Little cutie, you're getting naughtier and naughtier."

"I learned that from a scoundrel like you. I brought it on myself." The girl said without a hint of guilt.

"So what's the reward? Tell me quickly." The boy's tone became expectant.

"Did you tell me? Stop daydreaming." The girl glared at him and said coldly, "You're always chasing after women and expecting rewards. The only thing you'll never fail at is daydreaming."

The boy thought for a moment, "So you originally decided to give me a reward, but then Ai changed her mind because of her? Teacher Shen, I was wrong. I'll cut ties with her tomorrow and let her go back to Japan."

Shen Xi nodded coldly, "Then I'll be waiting for your good news in the club activity room tomorrow."

The boy pursed his lips and remained silent for a second. "Teacher Shen, please don't be like this. Why are you being so mean now?"

"Ha, just as I expected."

"Sweetie, I've already told you I'll keep my distance from her and nothing untoward will happen." The boy spoke earnestly, then paused, "What exactly is the reward? Please tell me, or I'll be sleepless for the next three days."

"I said no, and that's it." Shen Xi turned her face to look out the window, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips where he couldn't see.

871. Tang Yu made a new move.

Asuna Nagasaki escorted Ai Kato home, and since the distance wasn't far, the two chose to walk.

On the street bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, the long shadows of two figures, one tall and one short, stretched out side by side.

"Sister, who exactly is that person..." Kato Ai's small face showed a hint of hesitation.

“Shen Xi?” Nagasaki Asuna glanced at her, her hands behind her back.

"Mm." Kato Ai nodded, the tangible chill from the club activity room still lingering in her heart.

Nagasaki Asuna pondered for a moment, then spoke in a light tone, "Well, Shen Xi is Cheng Fei's sweetheart, and she also likes Cheng Fei, but for some reason, the two of them are not together yet."

"Huh?" Kato Ai's bright eyes widened slightly, then her gaze became flustered, and her delicate voice trembled, "So, brother has someone he likes...?"

"You could say that." Nagasaki Asuna smiled and nodded, noticing the knowing look on Ai's face, and gently stroked her head. "Is Ai very sad?"

"No, no..." Kato Ai hurriedly looked away from her gaze and looked ahead. It felt as if something had been taken away from her body, and her sweet, expressionless face became blank.

“Aiyi, there are a lot of girls who like Cheng Fei, a lot of them,” Nagasaki Asuna said softly. “Cheng Fei has more than one girlfriend.”

"More than one...?" Kato Ai's eyes widened.

“That’s right, but it’s a secret. Remember not to tell anyone.” Nagasaki Asuna made a shushing gesture.

“Okay…!” Kato Ai nodded quickly.

"Among the girls who like Cheng Fei, Ai is already very close to him, so don't be sad. If you keep trying, maybe things will turn around in the future?" Nagasaki Asuna said with a smile.

"What does my sister mean...?" Kato Ai looked at her, her bright eyes regaining their liveliness, revealing an incredulous expression.

Asuna Nagasaki ruffled her hair. "After all, Ai is a cute and hardworking little sister. Even Cheng Fei couldn't bear to kick Ai out this afternoon."

"My brother can't bear to send me away...?" Kato Ai seemed to sense something.

"The Corridor Research Club is a very important place. If Ai wants to be with Cheng Fei, she should work hard in the club." Nagasaki Asuna smiled, not without a hint of sarcasm.

"..." Kato Ai's face flushed red instantly.

The young girl's gaze swept uneasily as she walked forward silently, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She finally got into Yinghua High School and met the brother she had been longing for, but the situation was completely different from what she had expected. It wasn't too good, but it didn't seem too bad either...

Nagasaki Asuna glanced at the inexperienced girl with a complicated expression out of the corner of her eye, a knowing smile playing on her lips, and said nothing more.