Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Is Jiang Qingli Capable, or Not?

Hearing this, Jiang Qingli stared warily at the female before her.

"Do you remember that little Vermilion Bird you soothed in Central City?" Qin Shu asked, blinking.

Jiang Qingli nodded. "I do."

Even though the Vermilion Bird had caused a huge commotion, the way it had kept trying to burrow into her palm... The image of the huge bird acting so clingy was certainly memorable...

"I found out about you soothing that Vermilion Bird right when it happened," Qin Shu said with a smile. "The Vermilion Bird Clan has always been secretive, so the news was never made public."

’No wonder.’ After calming the Vermilion Bird, Jiang Qingli hadn’t seen any reports on public media. Even the onlookers hadn’t posted anything about it. It was as if the incident had never happened.

"Don’t be so tense." Observing Jiang Qingli’s expression, Qin Shu folded her hands and said with a smile, "I don’t mean any harm. I just wanted to ask if you’re interested in joining our Melt Star Association."

"Me?" Jiang Qingli was a little surprised.

"Yes, you." Qin Shu sat up straight, her expression serious as she looked at her. "I hope you will join us."

Jiang Qingli pressed her lips together to stay calm, but her mind was reeling. ’Is today April Fool’s Day?’

The Melt Star Association rivaled the Student Council; it had to be a powerful student organization. Her Superpower was still unstable, yet she was receiving a personal invitation from the Melt Star Association’s president, Qin Shu?

’Isn’t this plot development a little... too much like a power-fantasy novel?’

"You don’t have to be so resistant," Qin Shu said. "The Melt Star Association may not have the long-standing foundation of the Student Council, but I believe we can offer you more help."

Her gaze shifted to a point not far away, and she suddenly chuckled. "The Student Council was foolish enough to give the vice presidency to the person you hate most... what was her name again, Bai Yiyi?"

Jiang Qingli felt a bit awkward. ’How does the whole academy know she and Bai Yiyi don’t get along?’ And now it was being brought up during a recruitment pitch.

"It’s just a vice president. Their judgment really isn’t all that great."

"Qingli." Qin Shu propped her chin on her hand and smiled. "If you join the Melt Star Association, I promise you will be the next president."

Her voice was just loud enough for the three people passing the terrace to hear.

"Did losing to us in last year’s school competition drive Qin Shu crazy?" The red-haired female covered her mouth in shock, complaining dramatically to the other two. "She’s actually going to give the presidency to that worthless, wicked female! Is the Melt Star Association so short on funds they’re resorting to getting famous by being infamous?"

"Could it be because Jiang Youchen is coming back soon?" she speculated. "Qin Shu is definitely going into the military after graduation. Maybe she wants to use this to win over the Jiang Family? But giving her a vice presidency would have been enough. We only offered a vice presidency before..."

"Ke An." The tall female with blonde hair and blue eyes standing in the middle frowned. "Watch your words. The Student Council has never ’given’ anyone a position. Everything is based on fair competition."

"Fine," Ke An pouted.

Still a little indignant, she asked the other person, who had been silent the whole time, "Hey, Yuan Shiyao, Jiang Qingli is your sister-in-law. Tell us, is she any good or not?"

When the delicate-featured youth with black hair and green eyes heard the words "sister-in-law," a muscle in his brow twitched violently.

He ground his teeth and replied coldly, "How should I know? We’re not close."

"Not close?" Ke An said teasingly. "The whole department knew she was chasing you back then. I heard she even ran to your dorm to try and watch you shower. Did she really not get a peek?"

"I said I don’t know!" Yuan Shiyao raised his voice, his green eyes filled with fury. "If you’re so jealous, you can go offer yourself to Qin Shu’s bed. Don’t take it out on me!"

She hadn’t expected him to expose her hidden, dark thoughts so brutally.

Ke An’s face paled, and she muttered indignantly, "A male with a temper like that... I wonder if any female will ever dare to have you..."

Yuan Shiyao took a deep breath, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides, knuckles white.

Just as he was about to retort, the president suddenly spoke up. "Alright, that’s enough from both of you."

Yuan Shiyao’s anger was caught in his throat. He couldn’t voice it, nor could he let it go, so he had no choice but to swallow it down.

"Yuan Shiyao," the president ordered coolly, "you go recruit Jiang Qingli."

"Me recruit... Jiang Qingli?" Yuan Shiyao’s green, cat-like eyes widened slightly, full of resistance.

"I know you hate Jiang Qingli, but out of all of us, you have the closest relationship with her. Should I ask Bai Yiyi to go instead? We’d be lucky if they didn’t start a fight!" The president looked troubled.

"But Jiang Qingli is just a... a worthless, wicked female."

As Yuan Shiyao spoke the latter phrase, the image of the girl’s expression when she had said "thank you" to him flashed through his mind, and his voice softened unconsciously.

"That is a fact, but the Melt Star Association wants her. And what the Melt Star Association wants, we must also have." The president patted his shoulder. "So... I’m afraid you’ll have to bear with it."

She said it was a grievance, but her tone left no room for negotiation.

The president turned and walked away to chat with other influential guests.

Ke An raised an eyebrow smugly. "Yuan, you’re a male. You should know how to seduce a female, right? I’ll be looking forward to your performance."

After saying her piece, she crossed her arms and left.

Yuan Shiyao stood there for a moment before turning to look toward the terrace.

Through the glass window, he saw Jiang Qingli tilting her face up, smiling at Qin Shu, who sat opposite her.

The light from the lamps and the moon shone down on her together, making her snow-white skin glow with a beautiful, pearl-like luster.

’She seems different from before.’

’But that doesn’t mean the whole world has to grovel at her feet and become one of her conquests.’

He would never, ever resort to seducing Jiang Qingli.

He was an S Level male. He wouldn’t stoop so low.

Yuan Shiyao turned and walked away.

At the same time, Qin Shu stood up.

"You still have plenty of time to consider becoming the next president." Qin Shu smiled, bowing slightly and holding out her hand. "For now, may I have this dance with this beautiful young lady?"

"I’m not very good at dancing."

Ballroom dancing was a required course for the nobility. Jiang Qingli was afraid of giving herself away.

"That’s alright." Qin Shu winked at her. "I’ll lead. Just follow me."

She was so enthusiastic that Jiang Qingli no longer refused, placing her hand in Qin Shu’s palm.

Qin Shu took her hand and led her to the center of the ballroom.

A spotlight shone down in the center of the dance floor, circling once before finally settling on Qin Shu and Jiang Qingli.

All eyes in the room focused on them.

Qin Shu was used to being the center of attention. She held Jiang Qingli’s hand and led her into a dance.

The hems of their dresses fluttered, as light and graceful as butterflies.

Jiang Qingli’s steps went from hesitant at first to fluid and skilled, as if she had practiced many times before.

Seeing this, the surrounding guests began to murmur among themselves.

"She’s sharing the first dance with Jiang Qingli, of all people..."

"Jiang Qingli is such a suck-up. She used to chase after S Levels, and now she’s sucking up to Qin Shu. She was born to be a bootlicker."

"Jiang Qingli is actually dancing pretty well this time. She looks like she did a few years ago."

Yuan Shiyao stood in the crowd, his gaze unconsciously following the girl’s fluttering skirt.

He pressed his lips together, his green eyes filled with displeasure.

He had been watching with a critical eye, looking for flaws.

But now, he had to admit that Jiang Qingli’s dancing was flawless and impeccable.

The music ended, and the sound of applause and compliments filled the air.

Jiang Qingli was a little dizzy from the spinning. She accepted a glass of wine from a waiter and touched her forehead.

"Do you want to go rest for a bit?" Qin Shu pointed. "There’s a lounge over there."

"Thank you." Jiang Qingli nodded, lifting her skirt to walk in that direction.

As she passed a private lounge, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

A long, slender hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the room.

She fell into a scorching hot embrace.

Hot breath scattered across the side of her neck as a warm body nuzzled against her.

Jiang Qingli’s eyes widened. Her hand fumbled for the alarm button inside her dress. Just as she was about to press it, a hoarse, familiar male voice sounded by her ear.

"Give me..."