Chapter 22: Training Schedule, Perfection and Defects, Popularity…

Chapter 22: Perfect Training Plans and the Hype Around Imperfect Creations...

The two locked eyes calmly for a moment before each withdrew their gaze.

Qi Heyin couldn't decipher their silent exchange. After a brief moment of puzzlement, she heard Zhu Xuan speak with a smile, "Alright, let's wrap this up."

"It wouldn't be right for us to keep catching up while leaving the two girls out of the conversation."

With that, he took a few steps forward, took out his phone, and displayed his QR code to the two girls, saying kindly and thoughtfully, "To make it easier to organize pre-competition training later, please add me as a friend. I'll set up a group chat soon."

Qi Heyin: "..."

Her hunch was right...

After the girl beside her scanned the code, Zhu Xuan then held out his phone to Qi Heyin.

"Please scan the code, miss."

The man's tone was composed and natural, as if he had never met her before.

Qi Heyin silently raised her eyes to meet his calm and gentle face.

Noticing her gaze, Zhu Xuan looked down at her from his taller vantage point, a slight smirk playing on his lips, his smiling eyes flashing with a hint of mischief.

Staring fixedly into his eyes for a few seconds, Qi Heyin added him as a friend without a word.

Another ten minutes or so passed before the final member of the Faro team finally arrived.

A boy named Yi Weiqiu pushed open the conference room door, gasping for breath like he had just finished a hundred-meter sprint. When he looked up and saw Zhu Xuan, he nearly jumped in surprise: "P-President?!"

"Hello, Yi Weiqiu," Zhu Xuan nodded gently, explaining calmly, "Congratulations on passing the academy’s selection exam and joining this year’s four-member Faro competition team. During this period, I will be your team leader, fully responsible for your pre-competition training and preparations."

Before the boy could react, he extended his QR code again.

Yi Weiqiu acted like a president's fanboy—blushing, stammering, and finally trembling as he took out his phone to add Zhu Xuan as a friend, looking utterly honored.

Zhu Xuan regarded him with a kind expression, continuing to smile as he offered a surprising invitation: "Yi, your performance in the selection exam was outstanding. I look forward to seeing excellent students like you join the student council in the future."

After a pause, he turned to the girl beside Qi Heyin and added with a smile, "Of course, Su Qingyue as well."

"If you ever consider it, feel free to come to me anytime."

Truly befitting the student council president. With those words, Qi Heyin instantly felt that Zhu Xuan’s ability to win people over had reached a masterful level.

The girl beside her might not realize it, but judging by the new boy’s excited and flustered expression... at the very least, he had already become a devoted follower of the president.

With all four members of the Faro team now present, Zhu Xuan finally turned to the main agenda.

Mostly, it was about the preparatory arrangements before the official competition began.

He had already synced everyone’s schedules to establish a unified training timetable and secured a dedicated venue.

"Our fixed practice space will be on the twenty-first floor of the Comprehensive Office Building, inside the student council area. There’s a large study space there."

"I’ve compiled all the past competition questions. We’ll start by having everyone work through past exams, then tackle the reference materials mentioned in the competition guidelines."

"For this competition, Su and Yi will focus on the humanities section. He Yin and Zhi Mo will cover math and science. As for the Mimic section... that's all He Yin's domain. I trust you’re the expert here."

Zhu Xuan smiled and continued, "This year, our team members have all aced their tests—the average score in the selection test set a new record in the competition’s history. So, the academy’s goal isn’t just to win the championship, but to break our own record."

"So... I'm looking forward to seeing what you all can do. Before the tournament, I'll do my best to provide all the assistance the team needs."

President Zhu concluded his speech earnestly.

Prepared and organized—there was no denying that he was rock-solid reliable when handling things with composure.

"Now, I'll go upstairs to grab the workbooks for everyone. It's getting late, so we'll wrap up soon. I'll send all training-related notices to the group later."

With that, Zhu Xuan rose from his seat and made to push the door open.

"Wait a moment, Brother Zhu Xuan." Wen Zhimo suddenly stood up as well.

Tilting his sweet, innocent face slightly, he said considerately, "Those workbooks must weigh a ton. I'll go with you to carry them."

"M-Me too!" Upon hearing this, the boy named Yi Weiqiu also raised his hand eagerly.

"It's fine, Zhi Mo's got it." Zhu Xuan chuckled lightly.

Moments later, the two vanished through the doorway.

"No way President Zhu is leading us this year..." Yi Weiqiu sighed, staring at the empty doorway with excitement. "I thought it'd be the head of the Academic Department again, like in previous years!"

"Ah, so the president didn't lead the team before?" Su Qingyue blinked in surprise.

"Then we're really lucky this time!" Hiding her flushed face, she added, "Actually, I really admire the president too. I could barely get a word out with him here."

Qi Heyin: "..."

Who would've thought that half the team were already the president’s fangirls?

Thinking further, even Wen Zhimo—the only one she was somewhat familiar with—seemed to have a good relationship with Zhu Xuan.

Qi Heyin couldn’t help feeling like she had actually joined President Zhu Xuan’s personal fan club...

Meanwhile, the ascending elevator numbers slowly settled on the twenty-first floor.

Zhu Xuan returned to his office and dumped four thick, brick-like printed workbooks into Wen Zhimo’s arms.

Wen Zhimo’s arms buckled under the load.

"Let’s go, Zhi Mo." Zhu Xuan said calmly.

The long hallway was dead silent.

Wen Zhimo followed quietly behind Zhu Xuan, his tea-brown eyes fixed on the other’s back for a long moment before he finally murmured, "You’re the worst, Zhu Xuan."

"You volunteered to carry them." Zhu Xuan replied with a smile.

"You know I’m not talking about that." Wen Zhimo’s voice drifted lightly through the air, like a whisper in the wind.

"Brother Zhu Xuan almost revealed my hobby to everyone earlier." His face stayed blank, but his tone carried a hint of confusion. "Since when do you blab like this?"

"Oh?" Zhu Xuan raised an eyebrow indifferently. "Then it seems you still misunderstand me. Nothing I love more than commentary during a good show."

"Oh? Or is it because someone saw through your act, ruining your fun, so you decided to rope everyone into your misery?"

"Brother Zhu Xuan, I couldn’t help but notice that Senior Qi was giving you the cold shoulder today. You two have history, don’t you?" Wen Zhimo went for the jugular.

Zhu Xuan’s smile froze. "Oh?"

Wen Zhimo instantly understood and chuckled softly, "So it was about Senior Qi all along."

"Brother Zhu Xuan, since you've exposed yourself and ruined the fun, please don't throw me under the bus," he said earnestly. "You just can't stand seeing others succeed, can you?"

"Zhi Mo, you don't mince words," Zhu Xuan replied with a gentle smile.

He turned to look into Wen Zhimo's hazel eyes and said cryptically, "Seeing you all get interested in that person one by one, I'm genuinely curious."

"Aze is one thing, Xiao Che might just be going through a phase... but what about you, Zhi Mo? Why?"

Wen Zhimo thought for a moment, then his eyes crinkled into a shy smile. "Because Senior Qi reminds me of my brother!"

"You mean Xinglian?" Zhu Xuan was slightly taken aback.

Wen Zhimo nodded seriously.

He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, his eyes distant, lost in memory, his tone faraway. "Brother is a copy of her, and she's a copy of brother... Ever since I first met Senior Qi, I've wondered why there could be two people in this world with such similar personalities."

"They're both so intelligent, always so calm and rational, as if they wouldn't bat an eye if a mountain collapsed before them, and they always give me that appraising gaze... It makes me really, really want to..."

Wen Zhimo's voice grew softer, his arms unconsciously tightening around the workbooks, his eyes glistening with an unhealthy flush creeping over them.

"Really want to keep them close," he finished with a sigh.

"They are beautiful, perfect humans... Zhu Xuan-ge," he said, looking at him with a deep, solemn gaze. "While you and I, we're just defective models in this world."

Zhu Xuan: "..."

Zhu Xuan gave him a complicated look and said gently, "Maybe you should talk to someone, Zhi Mo."

Five minutes later, the two returned to the meeting room with the textbook-thick workbooks.

Receiving the workbooks, everyone looked shocked, realizing this would undoubtedly be a marathon study session.

With the books distributed, today's meeting came to a close, and the Competition Team members went their separate ways.

The first afternoon class was about to start. Qi Heyin walked alone to the classroom, feeling a tinge of sadness at the thought of seeing President Zhu Xuan daily from now on.

At least her teammates seemed decent, so working together for the competition should be pleasant.

Quickening her steps, Qi Heyin soon arrived at the teaching building.

Something was different that afternoon. As she walked across campus, she kept sensing gazes from all directions, as if many people were secretly watching her.

While this wasn't entirely unusual, it had never felt so intense before.

It was as if she'd suddenly become the school's new celebrity.

Just then, Qi Heyin reached the classroom door.

This afternoon's remedial course was for freshmen.

The moment she stepped inside, countless eager eyes turned her way, making her feel like the center of attention.

Before she could process what was happening, she spotted a familiar junior sitting in the front row, waving excitedly at her.

"Qi-senpai! You're amazing!" the junior exclaimed, her face flushed with excitement. "Do you know you've gone viral on FF?!"

"They just finished the voting—from now on, you're officially recognized as the 'Academic Goddess' of Faro!"