The Bathhouse Alliance and Campus Strategy

Aileen tapped the booklet, suggesting, “Let’s go through these one by one. Grades, there shouldn’t be any issues, right?”

“No problem at all,” Xi Yao affirmed without hesitation.

“And sports?”

Aileen’s gaze remained sharp, instantly discerning a potential weakness in Xi Yao’s profile.

“Sports, well, that’s a bit of a… I’ll practice,” Xi Yao stammered slightly. “There’s still plenty of time, so it shouldn’t be a major concern.”

After all, the goal was to be in the top fifty overall, not necessarily top fifty in every single subject; a bit of practice would suffice.

“I’ll find a reliable consultant to assist with the physical training aspect,” Jiang Li chimed in, echoing her confidence. “It won’t be an issue.”

Aileen raised her elegant eyes, a hint of skepticism in her tone. “Truly reliable?”

“Absolutely,” Jiang Li stated plainly. “She’s my older sister, and she works as the high school’s nurse.”

There was nothing secretive about this, nor was it a revelation. Yet, Aileen registered a flicker of surprise upon hearing her words.

‘Faculty staff?’ Aileen mused. ‘Now that’s interesting.’

Xi Yao blinked, a question in her eyes. “Is there a problem with that?”

“Not exactly a problem, but typically, faculty members steer clear of student council affairs, especially something as significant as a presidential election, as it’s meant to be entirely student-led,” Aileen explained slowly. “Faculty generally don’t get involved, much less in matters that would overtly show bias.”

Jiang Li shrugged her delicate shoulders with an air of nonchalance. “She’s probably just worried that if Yun Caiyi takes office, things will become even more difficult for me.”

Such concern for a younger sister was certainly understandable.

Aileen didn’t dwell on it, continuing with the booklet in hand. “As for popularity, I already have an excellent plan, and you two simply need to cooperate with me. So, let’s skip that for now. Next, prestige—while it generally blossoms from popularity, you can’t afford to just passively wait for it.”

Xi Yao blinked innocently, a playful glint in her eyes. “So, should I wait soaking wet?”

Aileen pressed her lips together, staring at her with an utterly blank expression. Jiang Li, meanwhile, discreetly covered her face, at a loss for words.

“Ahem, I just thought the atmosphere was a bit too serious, so I told a little joke,” Xi Yao mumbled, settling back into her seat.

Aileen’s mouth twitched. ‘A cold joke?’ she thought, ‘I can’t even be bothered to call you out on it.’

‘That was clearly a lewd joke.’

“To put it bluntly, you need a core group of supporters,” the golden-haired beauty declared, taking a sip of water to compose herself. “Just like Yun Caiyi has her entourage of hangers-on, you, too, require a loyal following.”

“That’s a bit challenging,” Xi Yao said, spreading her small hands in a gesture of helplessness. “If we were to start cultivating a base now, we’d simply run out of time.”

She understood Aileen’s point perfectly, but the current circumstances didn’t allow for it.

Aileen, however, merely offered an elegant smile. “Under normal circumstances, that might be true, but not necessarily this time.”

“How so?” Xi Yao inquired, her gaze fixed on Aileen.

Even Jiang Li quietly poured herself a glass of water, settling beside them to listen intently.

“Many have noticed Yun Caiyi’s behavior, and a significant number of people have been discussing it privately,” Aileen began. “Her recent actions, in particular, have caused considerable dissatisfaction among students.”

Aileen set down her cup, speaking slowly. “She believes that by monopolizing the campus forum, she’s managed to control public opinion. It’s a rather laughable notion, as the school’s true sentiment doesn’t particularly rely on the internet.”

Xi Yao nodded her small head, a silent affirmation that she was listening and wanted Aileen to continue.

“Students in school spend a great deal of time together; if they have something to say, they simply speak face-to-face. There’s hardly a need for a campus forum,” Aileen elaborated. “Every few students form a small circle, and by discussing a topic among themselves, they can quickly forge a consensus within a larger group.”

Aileen straightened her delicate posture, her graceful arms crossed beneath her chest, offering an elegant summation. “Casual conversations among friends, then spreading through the ‘friends of friends’ network—that is the true bedrock of campus public opinion. Yun Caiyi has placed far too much importance on the forum.”

“So, what exactly do we need to do?” Jiang Li asked, cutting straight to the point.

She was a straightforward woman, always direct in her approach.

“It’s quite simple,” Aileen replied. “Given Yun Caiyi’s recent actions, there are undoubtedly many students who harbor resentment towards her. Xi Yao, your task is to seek them out, organize these individual small circles, and consolidate them into one large collective. That way…”

“I understand,” Xi Yao interjected suddenly. “And I’ve already done it.”

Aileen paused, slightly taken aback. “You… what did you say?”

“I said, I’ve already accomplished it,” Xi Yao stated with a serious expression. “Just last night.”

She then proceeded to briefly explain the matter of the “Bathhouse Alliance.”

Aileen’s gaze grew complex a few minutes later. “So, you orchestrated a ‘poolside chat’ format, effectively organizing all those who oppose Yun Caiyi, and you’ve positioned yourself at the very core of it.”

‘Poolside chats, direct engagement with the masses—what a brilliant tactic! I never would have imagined this white-haired, large-chested girl possessed such a shrewdness.’

‘You’re practically Roosevelt.’

“Oh no, not at all, I didn’t orchestrate it; it was merely a coincidence,” Xi Yao demurred modestly. “And as for being the core, that’s also a bit misleading. It’s simply because I have large breasts.”

Aileen rolled her eyes. “Well, my breasts are also large. How come I wasn’t roped in to be the core?”

“Because you didn’t go bathing,” Xi Yao retorted, utterly unabashed. “Come bathe with me in a couple of days, and we can form a dual-core lineup.”

“My apologies, I’m unavailable,” Aileen stated flatly. “I must decline.”

‘Still trying to trick me into bathing together?’

Though Aileen outwardly dismissed rumors as unreliable, she was well aware that neither of the two occupants of this dorm had been cleared of lesbian suspicions.

As an elegant and pure young woman, Aileen was determined to unequivocally say no to lesbians.

However, she had to admit, this white-haired, large-chested girl before her possessed truly astonishing methods, managing to pull off such a feat in mere days.

‘Roosevelt, huh? Does she aspire to serve four consecutive terms, just like him?’

The Wenlu Academy student council held new elections every semester; two years comprised four semesters, perfectly aligning with four terms.

Aileen cast a deep, discerning glance at Xi Yao, her eyes now holding a trace of apprehension.

‘A cunning woman, adept at disguise, seemingly harmless, yet secretly ambitious and far from an easy opponent.’

The other young woman at the table, Jiang Li, was not thinking so profoundly. She had merely felt a slight tremor of nervousness when Xi Yao suggested Aileen join them for a bath. Upon hearing Aileen’s refusal, she quietly relaxed.

‘How strange,’ she mused, ‘Why would I even have such a thought?’

“All right, then let’s move directly to the issue of popularity. In fact, my plan is already in motion,” Aileen stated slowly. “Firstly, we must conceal our true objective, allowing Yun Caiyi to believe that Jiang Li remains her primary competitor.”

Xi Yao nodded. “I understand. Quietly make a fortune.”

‘That’s the best approach!’

“Therefore, the next step is to launch our counterattack regarding the campus forum’s public opinion,” Aileen continued, pointedly ignoring Xi Yao and turning her gaze to Jiang Li. “The narrative I’ve orchestrated isn’t what you might expect to clear your name of scandal; rather, it’s a bit… Jiang Li, can you accept this?”

Jiang Li didn’t directly answer the question, instead posing one of her own. “Will it help Xi Yao?”

“Yes,” Aileen affirmed with absolute certainty, “And significantly so.”

‘As substantial as her and Xi Yao’s Tuantuan.’

“Then there’s no problem,” Jiang Li declared without hesitation. “Unleash your plan.

****