Polygonatum under the dining table

While cooking together, Lin Yuxuan and Mu Yue brought up Tang Yawen.

“Xuanxuan… you and Tang Yawen are close, right?
I don’t remember you mentioning her before.”

Mu Yue asked cautiously.

“Mm-hmm, we’re recent friends~”

Lin Yuxuan answered honestly—
and in a way that didn’t make Mu Yue feel excluded.

If you had a social circle but didn’t let Mu Yue in,
it’d mean you didn’t value her.
Girls were very sensitive to that.

“Oh, I see. Tang Yawen’s actually pretty cute.
But why’ve I never heard of her? Which club is she in?”

Clubs were a huge part of school life—
almost everyone joined one.
Club participation gave major college entrance exam bonuses.
Many students even paid their parents to get them “honorary” spots
just for the extra points.

“She’s not in any club. She’s socially anxious,
so she’s too scared to join.
I think she should join at least one.”

Lin Yuxuan had been planning to recommend her—
perfect timing that Mu Yue brought it up.

“How about joining our club?
We’re still small compared to others.”

“Mm, I’ll ask her later.”

The two skilled cooks quickly finished their delicious dishes.

“Wenwen~ Try it~”

Lin Yuxuan handed Tang Yawen a spoon,
eagerly waiting for her to taste the soup.

“Mm…”
Tang Yawen had no appetite.
Her mind was still on Lady Ximen…

“How is it~ Tasty, right?”

“Sour…”
Her heart was sour—so everything tasted sour.

“How can it be sour?! Silly Wenwen…
It’s seafood soup!”

Lin Yuxuan couldn’t hold back her frustration.

“Tang Yawen, try my spicy crayfish too~”

Mu Yue, sitting beside Lin Yuxuan,
spoke with the air of a hostess.

The three sat around a long table—
Lin Yuxuan and Mu Yue on one side,
Tang Yawen alone on the other.

This wasn’t intentional.
Tang Yawen had sat first.
When Lin Yuxuan and Mu Yue finished cooking,
they naturally sat together.

“Th-thank you, Senior…
This looks pretty spicy… I can’t handle much spice…”
Tang Yawen didn’t know how to feel about this dish—
so she tried to decline.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t think—”

Mu Yue genuinely wanted to be kind.
She didn’t see this girl as a rival.
She and Xuanxuan were probably just regular friends.
And since she was Xuanxuan’s friend,
Mu Yue couldn’t let Xuanxuan lose face.

Lin Yuxuan quickly stepped in.

“It’s fine, Xiao Yue. Wenwen won’t mind.
Let’s eat~”

The atmosphere slowly relaxed.

Soon, Lin Yuxuan steered the conversation
toward getting Tang Yawen into the club.

“Wenwen, didn’t you say you wanted to join a club?
Senior Mu Yue is the president of the anime club.
If you’re interested, just talk to her~”

“Exactly! Just fill out a form, and you’re in.”

Mu Yue was happy to earn some favor
in front of her white-haired big sister.

As for Tang Yawen—
she did envy others who had clubs after school.
But she was also terrified of crowds.
Clubs meant people.
So she was about to decline.

“I…”
Just as she opened her mouth—
she felt a soft, silk-covered foot gently press against her ankle.

She looked up—
and met Lin Yuxuan’s sweet, meaningful smile.

The message was clear:
“Try refusing me… and see what happens…”

Meanwhile, under the table,
Lin Yuxuan’s smooth, silk-clad foot
gently rubbed against Tang Yawen’s bare foot,
peeking out from her little leather shoe.
The soft, smooth, elastic skin of young girls
brushed together—
sending waves of warmth up Tang Yawen’s body.

Lin Yuxuan was blackmailing her—
while secretly tempting her with near-flirtation.

Tang Yawen nervously glanced at Mu Yue,
sitting beside Lin Yuxuan.

The senior was focused on her food—
completely unaware of the steamy scene under the table.

The tablecloth was long enough to cover their legs—
no one could see what was happening below.

A strange pleasure surged through Tang Yawen…

Xuanxuan still cares about me…

Senior… doesn’t know a thing…

I can’t disappoint Xuanxuan…
I have to agree…

Waaah… so good… Xuanxuan’s foot is so smooth…
Is she… sweating?…

After a brief inner struggle,
Tang Yawen surrendered—
as smoothly and completely as the White Flag Kingdom.

“I… I want to join the club…
Please, Senior Mu Yue…”

“No problem~ Easy peasy~”

Mu Yue was happy she could help Xuanxuan.

I was so good~ Xuanxuan, you better praise me~

She thought, then looked at Lin Yuxuan.

But Lin Yuxuan was still smiling sweetly at Tang Yawen,
who sipped her drink with a slightly flushed face—
hiding her nervousness.

(Just joining a club… why are they reacting like this?)

Mu Yue felt something was off.
Especially Xuanxuan’s loving gaze toward Tang Yawen—
it made her uncomfortable.

“Xuanxuan…?”

“Huh?!”
Lin Yuxuan jumped, startled.

She quickly pulled her foot back with the smallest motion.

“Xuanxuan~ Next Monday’s monthly exam~
How’s your prep going~?”

“Mm… okay… we’ll study together later.”

“Mm-hmm.”

After dinner, the three began studying.

Mu Yue, being a second-year senior,
could tutor the two younger girls.

She wanted to tutor Lin Yuxuan—
but Xuanxuan seemed to know everything already.
Instead, the blonde girl was the one constantly getting help.

“Dummy, this type of problem only has two fixed solutions.
Even if you can’t solve it, just memorize them.
You couldn’t even guess right with a 50% chance!”

“Waaah… I’ll remember…”

Tang Yawen sniffled, pitiful and teary.

Lin Yuxuan realized—
some people just weren’t made for academics.
But Wenwen’s artistic talent was exceptional.

Everyone had different gifts.
For Wenwen, excelling in art could guarantee a stable future.
She didn’t need to be good at school.

But she did need to graduate high school.
At least not waste three years.

Lin Yuxuan had to help her.
With her current grades, she might not even graduate.