Chapter 15

Yuan Yuyuan had no choice but to be more specific. "Are there any strange rumors circulating about Honami and me?" Kanzaki finally realized what he meant. "Oh, those. The students are all saying you two were flirting when you were running for class representative. There's a rumor going around that you two have known each other for a long time and only hid your relationship because you came to a new school. It's being spread as if it were the absolute truth. Tell me, is there actually something going on between you two?" "Why are you suddenly so interested, you poker-face? Don't you know whether there is or isn't? Even if I wanted there to be, she might not. Has Honami said anything?" "She did. Ichinose-san said you two are just very good friends, but everyone thinks she's just being shy. Nobody really believes that, though." Yuan Yuyuan fell silent, lost in thought. His original intention had been to let others know he had a good relationship with Ichinose, and combined with seeing through the school's trap on the first day, his influence in the class would be second only to hers. Although there was a small hiccup along the way, the effect seemed even better than expected. Ichinose's personality dictated that she wouldn't seriously clarify things to others, and as long as he tacitly agreed to it, even if others favored Ichinose more, they wouldn't care too much about which of the "couple" was calling the shots. It was a bit unfair to Ichinose, but that didn't matter! As long as he didn't let her know it was intentional, it would be fine. After clarifying the situation, Yuan Yuyuan warned Kanzaki not to run his mouth about it. After all, many people had heard their conversation on the first day, and in a sense, Kanzaki's words somewhat reflected Yuan Yuyuan's own attitude. It would be bad if things backfired and reached Ichinose's ears. Just then, Ichinose returned to the classroom with Chihiro Shiranami, acting as if nothing had happened—that is, if one ignored the angry glare Shiranami was shooting at Yuan Yuyuan. Yuan Yuyuan didn't care at all about what this girl thought of him, and Shiranami had no intention of questioning him in front of everyone, so the afternoon classes ended uneventfully. After school, Yuan Yuyuan received a message from Manabu Horikita. It contained only one sentence: [Bring Ichinose to the Student Council to meet your colleagues.] "Honami, President Horikita wants us to go to the Student Council." Since school had just ended and Ichinose was still waiting for her two dawdling sidekicks, Yuan Yuyuan was quite grateful that the sister-complex president had sent the message at the right time. "Alright, then Chihiro-chan and Asako-chan, you two head back first. Yuyuan and I have to go to the Student Council. Sorry about that." Ichinose said to her two good friends, and the pair left the classroom under the suspicious gazes of Chihiro Shiranami and Asako Amikura. "Honami and Yuyuan-kun really are a couple, aren't they? They even joined the Student Council together. They're like a model couple! Wuwuwu, I love this ship so much!" Amikura was still busy shipping them, completely failing to notice that the look in Shiranami's eyes beside her was about to burst into flames. "Honami and him are not in that kind of relationship! They are just friends." "Why are you so agitated, Chihiro? I was just saying it casually. Once everyone is mentally prepared, they'll definitely make it official. Besides, aren't you happy for Honami that she has such an excellent boyfriend? Unless..." Asako Amikura found it increasingly strange; Shiranami's reaction was a bit too intense. "Chihiro, are you trying to steal a man from Honami???" "How could that be! I just think he's not right for Honami, and they won't be happy together!" "Is that so? But I think Yuyuan-kun is quite good. He's capable and very mature, unlike other boys who just howl and cry at the drop of a hat. Most importantly, he's handsome! He's not as bad as you say." Shiranami didn't say anything more. It wasn't that she didn't know Amikura made a fair point, but she didn't want anyone to take her Ichinose away. Yuan Yuyuan naturally didn't know he already had "shippers," and he was currently heading to the Student Council meeting room with Ichinose. This time, he didn't play around; he knocked on the door and only entered after receiving a response from Manabu Horikita. The meeting room contained only a large U-shaped table and the necessary water dispenser, which was very much in line with Manabu Horikita's style. Manabu Horikita was sitting at the head of the table processing documents, while Akane Tachibana stood by his side assisting him. Yuan Yuyuan looked to the other side, where the people Horikita had mentioned, Kiriyama and Nagumo, were sitting. The one glaring at him with resentment was likely Kiriyama. He couldn't still be blaming him for taking the vice-president position, could he? He really hadn't made any progress at all. Meanwhile, the other second-year student with yellow hair was staring at Ichinose, completely ignoring Yuan Yuyuan. Seeing that Nagumo seemed to have designs on Ichinose, Yuan Yuyuan gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Honami's charm is truly immense; our senior is already head over heels for you." In truth, Ichinose was long accustomed to such gazes, but after Yuan Yuyuan said that, and having heard about Nagumo's tyrannical behavior in the second year and his reputation for womanizing, she couldn't help but shrink back behind Yuan Yuyuan. Nagumo had already sentenced Yuan Yuyuan to death in his heart for making him lose face in front of a female underclassman, but on the surface, he pretended not to hear the implication that he was a lecher. "Haha, President Horikita really has found an interesting underclassman." However, Yuan Yuyuan simply pulled Ichinose to sit on the other side of Manabu Horikita, having no intention of engaging with him at all. The corner of Nagumo's mouth twitched; he clearly hadn't expected any freshman to dare ignore him. Manabu Horikita noticed this as well, but he didn't care. If even Yuan Yuyuan had to walk on eggshells around Nagumo, then his reputation for having a keen eye would truly be ruined. "Now that everyone is here, let me introduce you." "This is Yuan Yuyuan from Class 1-B. Because he saw through the school's test on the first day, I invited him to serve as the vice-president of the Student Council. The other is Honami Ichinose, also from Class 1-B, who will serve as the secretary. For the time being, Tachibana will help her get familiar with Student Council affairs." It was common knowledge in the Student Council that Manabu Horikita had given the vice-president position to a freshman. But except for Akane Tachibana, no one knew the reason. What shocked Kiriyama and Nagumo even more was that Manabu Horikita would go so far as to show favoritism, allowing Ichinose, who looked like nothing more than a pretty face, to become the secretary. Manabu Horikita ignored the surprised looks from Kiriyama and Nagumo and turned to introduce the two to Yuan Yuyuan. "This is Miyabi Nagumo from Class 2-A, the vice-president of the Student Council. And this is Ikuto Kiriyama from Class 2-B, currently serving as the treasurer." Yuan Yuyuan nodded at the two across from him, and Nagumo responded with a smile. Only Kiriyama snorted and turned his head away, though no one cared about him at all. First Semester: Chapter 16 - Chapter 15: The Excellent Housewife, Mrs. Ichinose. Manabu Horikita had brought them to the Student Council mainly to let Yuan Yuyuan meet his future opponents so he could have a more intuitive understanding of them. This wasn't limited to Nagumo; Kiriyama was also very likely to be bitter about his demotion, and in fact, that was exactly the case. But Manabu Horikita suddenly realized he couldn't just let them leave like that, so he asked Nagumo and Kiriyama if they had encountered any difficulties in their work as a formality, and urged Yuan Yuyuan and Ichinose to be diligent in their Student Council duties. Afterward, Manabu Horikita caught Yuan Yuyuan's eye while adjusting his glasses, signaling for them to leave. "Congratulations, underclassman. Becoming vice-president as soon as you enroll is truly unheard of." After they walked out of the meeting room, Nagumo took the initiative to praise Yuan Yuyuan. Seeing the look on Kiriyama's face grow even uglier, his smile became even brighter. Yuan Yu...