In practice, I can issue tasks to my master.

As Nangong Cheng spoke, he set up the tasks.

"From my personal point of view, I think Airi's voice is very beautiful. Perhaps you could try to develop in the direction of a professional singer."

[Daily tasks are being released]

[Target: Sakura Airi]

[Task issued: A perfect life requires perfection in every aspect. Nangong Cheng believes you have the potential to become a virtual idol singer. Please spend at least one hour each day on career-related training starting today.]

[Task Reward: 100 points/day]

[Punishment for mission failure: If you don't try, you'll only become Nangong Cheng's Star Fury Force.]

Alas!!!

Sakura Airi shuddered.

"I...I understand!"

"I, I will try!"

Look how scared the child is.

Nangong Cheng watched Sakura Airi leave the classroom, then he called out to Horikita Suzune, who was also about to leave.

"Horikita, I have something to ask you."

"?"

Horikita Suzune stopped in her tracks.

Nangong Cheng didn't beat around the bush. Regarding the literary girl among the seven who hadn't yet been assigned a mission, he needed Horikita Suzune to help him act as a wingman or even the main force.

"I see you enjoy reading, so I was wondering if you've read any mystery or detective novels?"

"...Yes, but I've only read Sherlock Holmes, who is quite famous."

Horikita Suzune answered truthfully.

She frowned slightly, knowing that Nangong Cheng wouldn't do anything meaningless, and wondered what he was planning to do this time.

"Okay, then come with me somewhere."

"where?"

"library."

Volume 1: Chapter 42, Shiina Hiyori's New Book Friends

Just like a corporate slave clocking in at work, Hiyori Shiina crosses the gate on time and heads straight to her favorite little world of solitude.

Afternoon, sunlight, books, and beautiful girls—these four elements combine to create a very beautiful scene.

Perhaps it would be even better with a cup of black tea?

However, today seems to be a little different.

Someone already took the spot?!

how so……

There's hardly anyone here...

But these two look kind of familiar?

"Hello, classmate, it's nice to see you again."

Nangong Cheng stood up to greet him.

"You are... Ayanokouji, no... you are Nangong Cheng?"

Hiyori Shiina has a very good memory.

She remembered where she had seen the boy and girl in front of her before; they were the two who came to the class to sell information on the second day of school.

She didn't know the girl's name, but the boy had left a pretty deep impression on her.

There was no other reason than that the person gave a false name.

After all, there are only about a hundred first-year students, so matching names and faces is not difficult, not to mention that students in Class D have also mentioned this on the forum.

"It seems you already knew, classmate."

Nangong Cheng showed no embarrassment at being discovered to have given a false name; instead, he continued speaking along with Shiina Hiyori's words.

"Then let's get to know each other formally—Nangong Cheng, Class D, Grade 1."

"This is my classmate, Horikita Suzune. We met before."

Horikita Suzune stood up and nodded, which was considered a greeting.

She glanced at Shiina Hiyori, still wondering why Nangong Cheng had brought her along to meet this girl from Class C.

"Namgong-san, Horikita-san..."

Shiina Hiyori murmured twice, then smiled and gave the same reply: "First year, Class C, Shiina Hiyori."

"Did you two come here specifically to see me today?"

The Advanced Development Zone not only occupies a large area, but it also boasts a very large library.

However, the foot traffic is very low.

There are four classes in each grade, with a total of 40 students in each class. The three grades combined have a total of 480 students – and that's without even considering the number of students who drop out.

In addition, due to the school's unique nature, apart from midterm and final exams, most students do not spend time specifically in the library.

Hiyori Shiina has been living in the library since the first day of school. Every day, without fail, she comes to read books as if she were going to work, and she almost always stays until the library staff goes off duty and closes the library before leaving.

Considering that Nangong Cheng and Horikita Suzune had previously visited Class C to sell information, she did not believe that this encounter was a completely accidental coincidence.

"Shiina-kun is really perceptive..."

Nangong Cheng sighed.

That's why he never tried to approach Shiina Hiyori, because as a literary girl and a mystery enthusiast, Shiina Hiyori was, in some ways, a more difficult character to fool than Sakayanagi Arisu.

The latter has the weakness of being sickly that can be exploited, but aside from the endearing trait of Shiina Hiyori being bad at sports, which is typical of literary girls, there is really no weakness that Nangong Cheng can exploit to seduce her.

So, is it really necessary for him to make Hiyori Shiina one of the targets for earning points?

Nangong Cheng had a new idea in his mind.

"Although we came here specifically to see you, we simply want to make friends."

"Oh?"

Hiyori Shiina tilted her head.

Even if we're not in the same class?

"Friendship can even transcend national borders... Do you really care about something as trivial as class competition, Shiina-kun?"

"Well……"

A hint of distress flickered across Shiina Hiyori's face, as if she were genuinely feeling troubled.

"But Nangong, your reputation or image isn't very good in everyone's eyes right now, and Longyuan will definitely ask me about this too. Just thinking about it makes me feel so troubled..."

"And why me of all people?"

Horikita Suzune also wanted to ask this question.

Why did Nangong Cheng bring her to meet this girl from Class C, and even say he hoped they could become friends...?

What exactly was his intention?

"Because Horikita's personality is a bit complicated for now, and apart from me, there's basically no one in our class who can have a normal conversation with her, and considering that she's also a book lover, I think you and Shiina would get along better."

Nangong Cheng's intention was very simple.

They used Horikita Suzune as a front.

One thing is certain from the mission he gave Kushida Kikyo on the first day of school—he doesn't necessarily have to issue missions that benefit himself.

This approach is essentially courting disaster.

Because normal people would suspect the benefits the mission was targeting, and this can be confirmed by Horikita Suzune's reaction at the time and her subsequent questioning about the school's secrets.

So what if we take a different approach?

If he doesn't see himself as someone who benefits from the mission's objectives, then there's absolutely no risk, right?

From this perspective, his previous actions were indeed foolish, but fortunately, he was careful about the mission involving Shiina Hiyori, which prevented things from developing into the worst possible situation.

But upon closer examination, it actually has both advantages and disadvantages.

Although the previous approach did make it easy to expose oneself, it also successfully attracted their attention.

The relationship has changed, and he no longer needs to rely on tasks to complete interactions; the foundation he laid earlier is sufficient.

Therefore, he can issue more tasks that are unrelated to himself, gradually reducing their vigilance in a slow and steady manner, which is beneficial for long-term development.

"Furthermore, I think that as fellow book lovers, having a book-loving friend with whom we can exchange and discuss our reading experiences wouldn't be a bad thing, would it?"

"Hmm, that's true."

Hiyori Shiina really wanted a fellow book lover.

Although she appears to be a reclusive person who keeps to herself, it's just that she can't find friends she can talk to.

She would naturally be happy if she found a book lover with whom she could have a good chat.

"But Nangong's statement is a bit dangerous, because this is only the second time we've met, but you said it as if you know me very well... Could it be that you've been following and investigating me?"

"Haha... I did do some investigation, but you're wrong to accuse me of following you. The cameras along the way can all testify to that."

Nangong Cheng chuckled, then patted Horikita Suzune on the shoulder.

"Horikita, why don't you say a few words?"

"..."

Horikita Suzune didn't really know what to say.

Judging from the current situation, Nangong Cheng hopes that she can become friends with this girl named Shiina Hiyori, but his specific purpose is definitely not as superficial and simple as he said.

So even if she adheres to the principle of doing more and talking less, she really should cooperate with Nangong Cheng now.

"Shiina-kun, nice to meet you."

"I'm a pretty straightforward person, so please just tell me if you feel uncomfortable."

Shiina Hiyori lightly touched her lips with her index finger, and finally nodded with a slightly helpless and relieved smile.

"Then please take care of me, Horikita-kun."

Starting today, the update time will be changed to the evening.

Volume 1: Chapter 43, Mom, I'm really going to start controlling you.

With Nangong Cheng's deliberate assistance, Horikita Suzune and Shiina Hiyori's communication was barely considered smooth.

At least the two of them could talk about literature-related topics, and as long as their ideas sparked, Nangong Cheng felt much more at ease.

But we can't completely relax yet.

Although he still needs to carefully consider whether to choose Shiina Hiyori as the target for points, this does not prevent him from wanting to deepen his relationship with Shiina Hiyori.

Horikita Suzune is the key to this.

[Daily Task Released]

[Target: Horikita Suzune]

[Task: Spend at the library with Hiyori Shiina every day for at least 2 hours]

[Task Reward: 100 points/day]

[Punishment for failing the mission: Write a love letter of no less than 400 words to Nangong Cheng every day]

Nangong Cheng has had a love-hate relationship with the mission failure penalty mechanism for a long time.

Love is what ensures the success of the mission.