Chapter 67: The Tea Society

“What’s wrong with ancient traditions? The old, traditional clubs are truly profound, full of heritage and substance! It’s not odd to develop a new hobby now, especially since I didn’t have any before. My handwriting really does need improvement. What if I fancy someone and want to write him a love letter, but my script is so awful I can’t even bear to send it? How embarrassing would that be!”

“Oh, please. Who writes love letters by hand these days? Haven’t you seen how Lin, the talented girl, sends hers online?”

Shi Qingqing gazed up at the sky. “Anyway, I’ve decided to join the calligraphy club. It’s promising. What club do you plan to join?”

“I’m thinking about the debate club.”

“Great, let’s go sign up together.”

While other clubs were swarmed with people and utterly crowded, the calligraphy club’s table was all but deserted.

The registration was handled by a shy and quiet first-year boy named Robin.

When Shi Qingqing arrived, he simply asked for her class, and without any fuss or requirements, accepted her into the club.

Zhang Xiaotu went to the debate club to sign up, which required an assessment. Her lively personality and sweet smile helped her get in smoothly.

The first day of registration was just for getting familiar with the environment.

Robin, the club member, enthusiastically recommended the essential tools for the club: pens, paper, and so on.

A brush was crucial—the first and most fundamental step in the calligraphy club was mastering brush work.

Shi Qingqing bought one casually from the school market for ten yuan.

She also picked up some paper.

And just like that, the money she’d won from grabbing red packets last night and today on QQ was gone again.

Damn! After grabbing dozens of red packets, the money vanished in an instant.

Holding her brush, paper, and other supplies, Shi Qingqing went to report to the club.

On the way, she passed a crowd.

Shi Qingqing saw it was the recruitment site for the Tea Society.

“Why can’t you let us join? I am now a gold school badge holder, just one step away from platinum—surely you could make an exception for me!”

“Exactly! My family runs a tea house, we have every kind of tea you can imagine. Can’t you grant me a special spot?”

“My family is in the pharmaceutical business and has close ties with Young Master Rong. He can vouch for me to get into the Tea Society…”

Inside and out, there were seven or eight layers of people, at least several hundred jostling for a place. Most wore school badges on their uniforms; bronze ones were rare, but silver and gold were common.

Yet only a few managed to squeeze to the very front; most lingered on the fringes, heads bowed as they fiddled with their phones.

To Shi Qingqing, these people looked like giant red packets waiting to be claimed.

Ahem.

Shi Qingqing paused, took out her phone, and checked for any lucrative red packets to snatch.

With only 10% battery left, she had to use it sparingly.

“Beep. Group ‘Tea Society Discussion’ is currently grabbing red packets. Would you like to join?”

Without hesitation, she joined!

Inside, people were chatting.

Wei Liang: So infuriating! The registration people must have lost their minds, refusing to let me join the Tea Society…

Cat in Your Arms: Wei Liang, you might as well give up for now. Wait until you earn your platinum badge… By then, the Four Young Masters of Qingming might have graduated.

Everyone in the group burst out laughing, sending a flood of face-slapping emojis.

Even Shi Qingqing found it amusing.

Damn, someone like Zhan Shao—such a rare specimen—is only suitable for admiring from afar. You besotted fools have no idea how twisted he is: forcibly abducting people, arrogant, obsessive about cleanliness, moody, even his dog bullies others…