Useless

Upon hearing Ye Shuang's words, Zhixia and Linlin clearly looked disappointed.

If they couldn't find a faculty advisor for the Light Music Club this semester, the club would have to disband—something they dreaded the most.

"I can try asking around for you," Ye Shuang said after a moment of thought, seeing their dejected expressions.

"Really?!" The two girls' eyes instantly lit up.

"Yeah, but don’t get your hopes up too much. I’m just asking, no guarantees," Ye Shuang replied. He never made promises about uncertain things, knowing full well that high expectations often led to greater disappointment.

"That’s more than enough!" For Zhixia, even a sliver of hope was better than nothing.

Zhixia and Linlin then exchanged contact details with Ye Shuang, agreeing that he’d notify Zhixia directly if he found a teacher willing to advise the club.

Finally, his gaze shifted to Bai Yuyou. "Yuyou is a bit slow to warm up to people and can be a little oblivious in some ways. I hope you’ll look out for her," Ye Shuang said to the two girls, gently patting Bai Yuyou’s head.

Bai Yuyou softly added, "Thank you."

"No need to thank us. The Light Music Club is happy to have you, Xiao Bai," Zhixia said, taking Bai Yuyou’s hand. "Come on, Yuyou, let’s go practice the guitar."

Bai Yuyou glanced back at Ye Shuang, who simply nodded with a smile.

"We’ll leave the teacher matter in your hands," Linlin said to Ye Shuang.

"Mm."

After watching the three return to the classroom, Ye Shuang lingered at the door for a few seconds before leaving.

"If Yuyou joins club activities, does that mean she’ll come home later?" Ye Shuang mused as he descended the stairs, a hint of emotion in his expression. Her life was becoming more vibrant by the day.

Maybe there’d come a time when she wouldn’t need him anymore?

"Why do you sound like a resentful housewife?" An Shiyu chimed in.

Ye Shuang: "..."

"Why are you still here? Planning to follow me around?" he asked.

"Meh." An Shiyu pulled a lollipop from her pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth, crunching loudly. "Uncle, take me out for milk tea."

Ye Shuang refused outright. "No."

"Do it, and I’ll help you solve the faculty advisor problem," An Shiyu drawled lazily, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Uncle, you wouldn’t want Bai Yuyou’s club to disband, would you?"

Ye Shuang remained expressionless. "So you could’ve helped earlier? Why didn’t you say anything when I looked at you?"

"You didn’t ask."

"..."

"Anyway, it’s not a big deal," An Shiyu said, flashing a little fang. "But everything comes at a price."

Ye Shuang considered it. Buying milk tea wasn’t much of a sacrifice.

"Fine, let’s go."

When they reached the underground parking lot, Ye Shuang assumed they’d take his car, but An Shiyu tossed him a helmet instead. "Here, put it on."

"Huh?"

Ye Shuang stared at the helmet, then noticed An Shiyu standing beside a motorcycle—one that looked identical to Chen Hai’s!

"Your bike?" Ye Shuang was surprised to see An Shiyu straddling the machine. Had she bought it after seeing Chen Hai’s?

The girl adjusted her black helmet and glanced at him through the visor.

"Yep. Regret buying it, though."

"Why?"

"Legs too short."

Ye Shuang’s gaze dropped to her sheer-stockinged legs, which barely touched the ground. "..."

What an honest reason.

Ye Shuang put on the helmet and expected to take the driver’s seat, but An Shiyu showed no intention of letting go of the handlebars—clearly, she was riding.

Saying nothing, Ye Shuang climbed on behind her. "Where are we getting milk tea?"

"Zhanmen."

"That far?!" Ye Shuang was stunned. Wasn’t that over ten kilometers away?

Might as well order delivery.

An Shiyu didn’t answer, twisting the throttle and speeding off—

"By the way..."

"What?"

"Do you even know how to ride a motorcycle?" Ye Shuang asked, sensing that An Shiyu wasn’t exactly the reliable type.

"It’s just a toy. I can fly helicopters and drive yachts too," came her muffled reply through the helmet.

Ye Shuang deadpanned, "I can fly helicopters in games too."

"I can do it in real life," she shot back.

An Shiyu didn’t elaborate further. As they exited the school zone, Ye Shuang pointed to a turn. "That’s a no-motorcycle zone in the city. You’ll have to detour from here."

"Is that so?"

"Don’t act like you had no idea!"

"It’s fine. The cops won’t catch me."

"..."

"Just turn yourself in. I don’t want to ride anymore."

An Shiyu obediently followed Ye Shuang’s directions and made a U-turn. The road was nearly empty, so she accelerated to 70 or 80 kph—meanwhile, Ye Shuang sat awkwardly, gripping the side rail instead of holding her waist.

It wasn’t the most comfortable position.

"Uncle." An Shiyu’s voice cut through the wind.

"What?"

"If you don’t want to end up in pieces, you’d better hold onto my waist. Feel free to grope the slime while you’re at it," she teased.

For safety’s sake, Ye Shuang reluctantly wrapped his arms around her slender waist. The Yinshan Academy uniform was truly deceptive—it hid both An Shiyu’s waist and Bai Yuyou’s backpack’s true proportions.

Well, except for Keke.

Just then, An Shiyu sped up even more.

"Slow down!" Ye Shuang’s vision blurred from the wind resistance.

This was nothing like driving a car. Even at 100 kph, a car felt stable.

"Speed limit’s 100 here."

"The limit being 100 doesn’t mean you have to go 100!" Ye Shuang retorted. Though the straight road had no traffic lights, it wasn’t a highway. A pedestrian could dart out at any moment, and a motorcycle offered no protection.

"Slow down!" Ye Shuang pinched An Shiyu’s waist. She shuddered and finally eased off the throttle.

"Perverted old man," she muttered.

"Blame yourself for driving like a maniac."

"This is slow."

"You’re young. Don’t take life for granted," Ye Shuang said seriously.

After a pause, she replied flatly,

"Taking it seriously doesn’t change anything."