No need to overthink it. At a glance, Li Ming recognized the familiar layout, phrasing, precise personnel allocation, and the meticulously detailed cascade of contingency plans. This document could only be Senior Bailin’s handiwork.

It was just too distinctive. Anyone who’d worked with Senior Bailin knew she loved listing endless backup plans.

In reality, those backups were rarely needed. As long as the executor wasn’t a complete idiot following her instructions, they’d never be used. Resorting to Plan B meant you’d already botched Plan A.

For Li Ming, those brief yet fulfilling days alongside Senior Bailin had felt like a rebirth. No—everyone orbiting her had felt reborn.

Senior Bailin was their pillar.

With her nearby, strength seemed to surge endlessly from within their hearts.

Admiring the strong and striving to emulate them was human nature. From ancient knights and heroes to modern-day excellence, humanity always gravitated toward the exceptional.

And Senior Bailin embodied that exceptionality in every way.

Qianning High School’s Student Council had once thrived, earning even teachers’ praise. But after Bailin’s early graduation, Li Ming—her designated successor—struggled under the complex workload. He tried restructuring roles to share the burden, unaware how delicately Bailin had balanced the entire system.

His changes backfired. Departmental duties clashed and collapsed. The once-efficient council ground to a halt, forcing the school to disband and reorganize it entirely.

Though no one blamed Li Ming for the reorganization, thick guilt festered in his heart. Guilt toward Senior Bailin, who’d entrusted him with the council.

That was why, despite their history, Li Ming avoided greeting her on the street. He couldn’t face her pure, gentle gaze. Guilt paralyzed his every move.

“…Initial recruitment has two phases… followed by secondary screening and a final vacancy-filling mechanism. Tsk tsk. This strict process feels less like student council recruitment and more like a corporate junior hire pipeline… I’d bet my bottom dollar this is Senior Bailin’s blueprint.”

While Li Ming pretended to ponder but actually zoned out, Zhang Qianxing skimmed the recruitment plan and landed near the truth.

“The plan’s definitely her style. But how’re you so sure it’s *her*?”

“Heh~ My exclusive intel network. Little Ming, don’t forget who I am—I’m Thousand-Night Star, the all-hearing~”

Li Ming lost the will to facepalm at that cringey title, flaunted with such pride.

He knew Zhang’s family had connections—relatives in government and state enterprises. Exposed to official documents since childhood, Zhang had honed a sharp eye for details.

But seeing his best friend’s relentless digging about Bailin, that familiar, determined glint in his eyes… Li Ming guessed exactly what Zhang planned.

He had no reason to stop him. Yet an odd unease settled in his chest.

“Well? Little Ming, wanna try out for the Student Council together? Best chance to get close to Senior Bailin~”

“You’re only joining for her? You’d get kicked out in two days… no, you’d be swept out the door before even stepping inside.”

Li Ming snatched Zhang’s phone, reopening the recruitment file while delivering the fatal blow.

The blow deflated Zhang’s enthusiasm.

Zhang was a master slacker. If joining meant being exploited… he sighed inwardly.

“Ah~ Can’t have it both ways…”

Still, Zhang wouldn’t abandon his goal over a few words.

Senior Bailin outshone every woman he’d seen in state enterprises. If there was a chance? He’d take it. Where else would he find someone like her?

“Stop playing dead. Recruitment starts a week after military training. If we want in, we prepare *now*.”

“Huh? Over a month away! Isn’t that rushing it?”

“Fool. Did you think Senior Bailin only judges interviews?”

Li Ming shot a deadpan look at his suddenly dense best friend. Zhang’s IQ only spiked around girls.

“You mean…”

“Our class rep means,” Xu Lu cut in smoothly from behind Zhang, her crisp voice and neat ponytail adding a touch of sharp elegance, “Senior Bailin’s evaluation begins long before recruitment.”

Seated right behind them, Xu Lu had naturally overheard their unguarded chat.

“Ohho, Miss Xu~ Got your eye on the Student Council too?”

“Not originally. But your passionate discussion sparked my interest.”

She admitted it openly. The Qianning High Student Council was an honor no student refused.

“Then we’re rivals from today. Ming and I won’t go easy on you!”

Zhang’s dramatically boastful declaration earned only a slight smile from Xu Lu—a knowing, teasing curve of her lips Li Ming recognized well. He often wore the same expression when Zhang acted like a dead fish.

*This study committee member,* Li Ming thought, *is quite the character.*