Leaving the Company

After sending Taozi to the guest room and forcing her to shut down, An Shiyu returned to the kitchen. Seeing Ye Shuang kneading dough, with chopped scallions set aside nearby, she raised an eyebrow.

“Scallion pancakes? You’re making these first thing in the morning?”

“They’ll be done in ten minutes. It’s really not much trouble, and Yezi likes them too.” After putting the flour into the bread machine to knead, Ye Shuang began beating eggs. At the same time, he didn’t forget to heat some milk and steam a few ears of corn.

“We might as well have gone out for morning tea.”

An Shiyu sat on the edge of the stove, propping her chin on her hands as she watched. Her slender legs dangled in the air.

“Where’s Xiaoyi? How come you’re up so early today?” Ye Shuang asked.

“She’s probably still asleep. She’s been tinkering with some little toys lately.” An Shiyu glanced toward the staircase.

“Toys?”

“VR, virtual games, that sort of thing. She plans to make one herself.”

“Oh?”

Ye Shuang had no idea what kind of game Anshi Yi would be able to create. However, the audience for VR in China was still very small, partly because of the equipment and partly because of the quality of the games. A game that could truly reach the level of Sword Art Online probably wouldn’t exist for another ten years.

“Anyway, that has nothing to do with me.”

After jumping down, An Shiyu landed steadily on her feet and walked behind Ye Shuang.

The next second, she leaned against his back.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Ye Shuang froze when he felt her against him.

“Nothing. I’m sleepy. Let me lean on you for a bit.”

“If you want to sleep, go lie down properly in bed.”

“This is fine. Let me lean here for a while.”

Ye Shuang: “……”

After hearing An Shiyu say that, Ye Shuang stopped protesting. He continued preparing breakfast, doing his best not to move around too much. Even so, every tiny movement brought him a strange sensation, along with a sense that something was off about An Shiyu.

“……”

“Little Yu, about your clothes…”

“Oh, it’s fine. They’re not big enough to pull down anyway.”

Ye Shuang: “……”

After a while, An Shiyu suddenly stood up straight.

“Mm, I’m going to change.”

With that, the girl trotted upstairs in her slippers, pattering away like a gust of wind.

……

Back in her room, An Shiyu leaned against the door and stood there quietly for a moment, as if deep in thought.

She pulled a tissue from the side.

“Haah—what’s wrong?” A voice came from nearby. Anshi Yi was rubbing her eyes as she sat up. “I’m dead tired. Where did that mosquito come from last night?”

As she spoke, she noticed An Shiyu’s appearance.

“Hmm? Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?”

“No. It’s just a little hot outside.” After saying that, An Shiyu walked straight into the bathroom.

“Hey, why are you locking the door? I still need to brush my teeth and wash up.”

“Stop nagging.”

Half an hour later, Tang Keke and the others gradually got out of bed. It was around the same time they would usually wake up for work, so even with their biological clocks all over the place, the girls were still able to get up.

Perhaps because they had spent the entire summer vacation without attending school, everyone looked completely disheveled. Tang Keke had put her shirt on backward, was still wearing a long winter skirt, and even had an employee badge from the Chen Corporation hanging around her neck.

Bai Yuyou was even more ridiculous. She came out wearing a full maid outfit, her innocent expression making it clear that she had no idea what she had done.

“You girls and your completely random outfits…”

Ye Shuang pinched the bridge of his nose. Thankfully, his good daughter was the most presentable of them all. Yezi had gotten herself ready properly and didn’t need the adults to worry about her at all. As for Little Yu and the others, there was no need to mention them. Taozi’s hair was also a little messy after catching up on some sleep.

After making it through that chaotic morning, the girls finished breakfast and headed straight for Yinshan Academy.

Moving up to sixth year was essentially the equivalent of the third year of a regular university. At this stage, most students focused on internships, while Zhixia, Linlin, and the others were nearing graduation.

……

“What? Zhixia and Linlin are leaving the club?”

As soon as Tang Keke arrived in the classroom, she saw the message in the Light Music Club group chat. She looked genuinely shocked, unable to believe that Zhixia, the club president, was actually stepping down.

The message had been posted by Zhixia. It was a long one. In addition to thanking every member of the Light Music Club, she explained that with graduation approaching, she no longer had time to participate in club activities. For that reason, she would also be handing the position of president over to someone else.

Fourth-year students barely spent any time at the academy, so regular club activities were naturally out of the question.

“Seriously? If Zhixia and Linlin aren’t here anymore, then what’s going to happen to our Light Music Club?” Tang Keke began counting on her fingers. The club had always had far fewer members than the other clubs. If three more people left, then—

There was herself, Yu You, Taozi, and Little Yu…

“Ducky is already gone, so wouldn’t that mean we’ve suddenly lost practically everyone?” Tang Keke said. The club had never had many members to begin with. Losing three of them at once meant they were completely finished, didn’t it?

Besides, Keke and Taozi had only joined to make up the numbers, while Little Yu and Xiaoyi barely attended any activities at all, showing up once in a blue moon.

“We’re doomed! The club’s been handed over to us, and we’re going to destroy it immediately! The Light Music Club’s second dynasty is ending with us!” Tang Keke grabbed Bai Yuyou by the shoulders and shook her back and forth.

Compared with Keke’s panic, Bai Yuyou remained fairly calm.

“Calm down, Keke,” Bai Yuyou said softly.

“You have a good idea, Yu You?” Keke asked curiously when she saw how composed Yu You was.

“Nope.”

Those two words instantly dragged Keke back to reality.

“Right. How could there possibly be a solution? It’s not like we can make Zhixia and the others repeat a year, can we?” Tang Keke muttered.

However, Bai Yuyou added, “But Zhixia and the others are about to graduate. We were bound to part ways eventually.”

After all, Zhixia and Linlin weren’t in the same year as them. This outcome had always been inevitable.

“It’s a little lonely,” Tang Keke said reluctantly. If the club had too few members, wouldn’t it be disbanded?

Seeing Tang Keke looking so dejected, Bai Yuyou said, “Keke, you only ever go there to drink tea. You don’t even practice your instrument.”

“I learned to drive an automatic, didn’t I?” Tang Keke protested. “What’s wrong with drinking tea? Yu You is the one who eats the most snacks, anyway.”

“Why don’t we recruit some new members?” Bai Yuyou suggested.

“Huh? Me?” Tang Keke pointed at herself.

She was barely competent as it was. Wouldn’t it be strange for someone like her to go recruit new members?

“We can ask Ye Shuang what he thinks at lunchtime,” Bai Yuyou said after considering it.

“Sure, that works.”