A Calculated Gambit and an Unexpected Candidate

Having spent an untold sum and made countless promises, even defying school regulations by bribing top students in her grade to throw matches.

Given such elaborate machinations, if one were to claim all this effort was merely to become a regular student council president, neither Aileen nor Xi Yao, let alone Jiang Li, would believe it.

Undoubtedly, she had greater ambitions.

“Allowing her to become student council president is simply too dangerous, yet it’s an undeniable fact that she is the top student in the senior class,” Aileen stated earnestly. “That’s precisely why we need you, Jiang Li. Only your popularity and prestige can overshadow hers and secure victory in the election.”

She wasn’t entirely truthful.

Jiang Li had been chosen not only because she was the most likely candidate to defeat Yun Caiyi, but also due to her inherent personality.

Her aloof demeanor and minimal social interaction meant she lacked a loyal following or a strong support base.

Isolated and solitary within the student council, what good would it be, even if she occupied the president’s seat?

Easily controlled, a perfect puppet figurehead.

However…

“I apologize, but I’m not suitable for this, nor do I have any interest,” Jiang Li declined once more. “You should seek someone more capable.”

Aileen showed no disappointment; everything was proceeding as anticipated, for she still held a trump card.

“Jiang Li, I fully grasp your desire to remain uninvolved, but often we find ourselves caught in circumstances beyond our control. You can’t simply evade things you wish to avoid,” she remarked placidly. “Even if you don’t seek trouble, trouble will inevitably seek you out.”

Jiang Li frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve seen the forum posts, haven’t you? And you’ve heard the students gossiping during the day?” Aileen said unhurriedly. “Why do you think these groundless rumors manage to spread so rapidly?”

Whether they were truly groundless was debatable, but Aileen, ever the tactful one, adopted an air of cooperation.

Jiang Li pressed her temples. “So that’s it. It’s Yun Caiyi’s faction, isn’t it?”

Earlier, she had been flustered and lost her composure, preventing her from thinking deeply.

Now, with clarity, everything fell into place.

Aileen knew Jiang Li posed a threat to Yun Caiyi’s student council presidency bid; the students knew it, everyone knew it, and Yun Caiyi, of course, knew it better than anyone.

Therefore, Yun Caiyi and her cronies were disseminating unverified rumors to diminish Jiang Li’s chances of running for student council president.

“I’ve reviewed those forum posts. They’re highly targeted, designed to portray you as the more vulnerable party in a romantic relationship,” Aileen stated slowly, “as someone overly reliant on another.”

Her tone remained utterly calm, as if she were merely assessing the taste of the water before her, rather than discussing matters of romance.

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow. “And so?”

“This will create an impression among your classmates that, regarding your personality, you aren’t a particularly assertive or independent person,” Aileen said, tapping the water glass with her fingertip. “In other words, it’s to make everyone believe you lack leadership qualities.”

‘Hiss, still hot.’

“That’s truly malicious,” Xi Yao remarked.

Jiang Li clenched her hands, her expression darkening, knuckles cracking audibly.

“I imagine you wouldn’t be willing to simply endure this injustice, Jiang Li,” Aileen said, temporarily abandoning her drink and placing her hands elegantly on the table, as if cushioning them beneath her ample chest. “We can assist you. As long as you enter the election, I’ll immediately arrange for people to cooperate and help you launch a counterattack, crushing her aspirations.”

By then, Jiang Li had regained her composure entirely.

She didn’t agree immediately; instead, she swiftly considered the relationships and conflicts among the various parties involved in the situation.

“Those are very tempting terms, but,” she articulated, word by word, “revenge isn’t necessarily my concern.”

Aileen’s smile slowly faded, and for the first time since arriving, she felt a sense of losing control of the situation.

“Do you truly believe there’s someone more suitable than you,” she prompted, “someone capable of defeating Yun Caiyi in the election, someone you trust implicitly, and who would also avenge you?”

“Of course,” Jiang Li said, turning to her well-endowed roommate. “Xi Yao can.”

Xi Yao blinked in bewilderment. “Me?”

‘Student council president? Don’t be ridiculous. How could I… wait a moment, I actually think I can.’

Aileen couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her lips. “Don’t joke, Jiang Li. Running for student council president requires a certain academic standing — at least an ‘A-Excellent’ grade, which means being in the top fifty of the entire grade.”

“Top fifty? That’s simple,” Xi Yao said with ease. “The election happens right after the monthly exam, so I’ll just aim for top fifty by then.”

For a grade of several thousand students, placing in the top fifty might seem challenging, but Xi Yao wasn’t starting from scratch like everyone else; she was merely reviewing.

Top ten might be a stretch, but top fifty is utterly straightforward.

Aileen unconsciously picked up the water glass again. “But Xi Yao, I recall your final exam results last semester were only around eight hundredth place.”

‘So hot! I need to put it down quickly.’

“Last time, I wasn’t performing at my full potential,” Xi Yao declared earnestly. “It was just a small competition; I was holding back my tactics.”

‘Holding back tactics…’

Aileen’s mouth twitched, but seeing Jiang Li’s perfectly calm expression, she felt a flicker of uncertainty and surprise.

‘Did she really hold back?’

“Alright, then, even if we assume your academic performance isn’t an issue, what about popularity and prestige? How could you possibly overshadow Yun Caiyi, who is the senior class’s top student?”

No sooner had Aileen finished speaking than a thought struck her, and her gaze turned peculiar. “Wait a moment, let me think.”

‘It seems there really is a chance.’

Noticing her deep in thought, Xi Yao didn’t interrupt, merely watching her quietly.

‘This person is quite pretty.’

At that moment, Aileen was locked in an internal struggle.

If her grades weren’t an issue, then popularity and prestige wouldn’t be either. After all, Xi Yao, as a beautiful girl with an ample bust, already possessed a strong foundation for high popularity, and Aileen had just conceived an excellent plan to help her gain sufficient renown.

However, Xi Yao wasn’t an ideal choice.

Unlike Jiang Li, she was full of vitality and seemed to have a good rapport with others.

Most importantly, this individual was formidable; she wouldn’t be confused by Aileen’s complex sentences.

If she became student council president, she would certainly not be a compliant puppet figurehead.

Yet, Yun Caiyi was even less suitable, and if Jiang Li refused, there truly was no better option than Xi Yao.

“Very well, then. Tomorrow is the weekend, so I’ll go discuss this with the others,” Aileen said, rising gracefully. “I’ll come find you both again on Monday.”

“Alright,” Xi Yao said, waving a small hand. “Take care.”

Aileen cast a final glance at the water glass on the table, its rim still emitting wisps of white steam.

‘Never mind, I won’t drink it after all.’

The blonde beauty departed with the same elegant stride she had arrived with.

The few student council girls waiting by the door followed, trailing behind her.

Xi Yao ran to close the door, then walked back. “I really didn’t expect the seniors to be behind this mischief, Jiang Li. Don’t be angry; we’ll definitely get our revenge.”

Jiang Li shook her head. “I’m not angry. It’s perfectly normal to resort to unscrupulous methods to remove obstacles to advancement…”

She trailed off mid-sentence, turning to gaze out the window, her soft cheeks puffing slightly. “Alright, I am angry.”

Normal as it might be for a meteor to fall from the sky and kill someone, if it landed on your own head, no one could remain indifferent.

Furthermore, upon reflection, Jiang Li harbored a slight perplexity about herself.

Over the past year, due to her aloof nature, she had been the subject of countless whispers and gossip behind her back, so she ought to have grown accustomed to it.

Yet today, upon hearing the rumors about her and Xi Yao’s relationship, despite her anger, why had she instantly become flustered, losing her composure and judgment?

Jiang Li couldn’t fathom it, nor did she dare to ponder it further.