If it were an ordinary girl admiring Senior Bailin and chasing after her as a goal, that wouldn't be surprising at all.

But for someone like Xulu—a top-tier student already above most—it genuinely caught Liming off guard.

After all, that goal seemed too distant and vague. It didn't feel like something a smart person would aim for.

Putting himself in her shoes, Liming thought that if he were Xulu, joining the Student Council wouldn't be about idolizing Senior Bailin. He'd focus more on self-improvement.

"This idea... is quite common..."

Struggling to find the right words, Liming settled for a neutral phrase. Admiring Senior Bailin was almost a universal trait among students who knew her. Even used to her inhuman efficiency, Liming couldn't help but respect her.

"You could've just said it didn't suit me. No need to beat around the bush. But Class Rep, you're surprisingly gentle. I thought you'd be rigid."

"Well, I was pretty rigid before," Liming admitted.

Xulu remained slumped on the desk, only tilting her head to watch Liming adjust his posture as he sat.

Her bangs fell slightly over her eyes, tickling her eyelids. She brushed them aside absentmindedly.

Liming mentally rated that gesture an eight out of ten. The playful contrast was unexpectedly cute. For a sensible girl like Xulu, that kind of charm was dangerously effective.

"Admiring someone keeps you far from who they truly are. No matter how hard you try... it's all... futile."

She'd almost said "unattainable," but that sounded too naive—like a daydream.

"Xulu, that's actually normal. Many who haven't truly met Senior Bailin feel just like you."

"Oh? Really?"

Realizing she wasn't as unique as she'd thought, Xulu sat up. She wondered if her admiration for Senior Bailin was unreasonable.

"Back when Senior Bailin wasn't this famous, she still had a terrifying reputation at Zhenzhong Middle School. I've met plenty like you, Xulu."

In fact, on that sunlit day when he first saw Senior Bailin, Liming had become one of her admirers too.

Driven by that admiration and relentless effort, he'd finally reached her side.

"...I see. I thought someone as foolish as me would be rare."

Their conversation was taking a heavy turn. Zhangqianxing, who'd been pretending to be invisible, frowned and looked away to avoid getting annoyed.

Zhangqianxing valued self-pursuit and often mocked those who pinned their goals on others. That's why he teased his best friend Liming sometimes.

Unbeknownst to Liming himself, his words, actions, and thoughts were deeply shaped by Senior Bailin.

This path... would lead to trouble someday...!

"It's not foolish. Admiring strength and beauty is instinctive. Someone as exceptional as Senior Bailin would be strange without admirers."

"True. Class Rep Liming, you're not just skilled at work—you explain things so well too. Sigh~~ I feel it's getting harder to surpass you."

"You flatter me..."

Bonding over Senior Bailin, Xulu and Liming chatted warmly.

Guided by Xulu's subtle questions, even Liming grew interested. He noticed something startling: in Xulu, he kept seeing echoes of Senior Bailin.

Not in looks or aura—but in her offhand opinions on certain topics.

When you admire someone, you unconsciously mimic their traits. As Liming saw Senior Bailin in Xulu, she was searching for her idol's qualities in him too.

Admittedly, Liming wasn't as handsome as Zhangqianxing, but he was decent-looking. His academic and work skills were top-notch—truly outstanding.

If Liming wasn't exceptional, ninety percent of Qianning High School students might as well jump off a building to atone for their mediocrity.

Unlike Xulu, Liming was male. Even learning from Senior Bailin, he wouldn't blindly copy her. He absorbed purposefully.

If Xulu resembled Senior Bailin at all, Liming thought, it was only in grades. After all, she'd solved every major problem on the entrance exam with three methods each—an insane feat Liming envied.

Her personality and work style had faint traces of Senior Bailin too, but barely.

"Sigh, I really envy you, Liming, for working with Senior Bailin in middle school. If I'd known, I'd have gone to Zhenzhong too."

From "Class Rep" to "Class Rep Liming," now just "Liming."

As her address shifted, their bond steadily warmed. Two exceptional people attracting each other was natural—but for now, they were just friends.

"Zhenzhong's atmosphere wasn't great. Most students were troublemakers, with local thugs hanging around. Many lost their drive to study there," Liming said, shaking his head at the memory of his alma mater.

"Doesn't that make you even more impressive? You entered Qianning High School with perfect scores on both entrance and graduation exams. That could've gotten you straight into Hai Zhong in Haikong Province."

Hai Zhong was the province's top school. Liming's grades qualified him easily, and he'd applied. But mysteriously, he'd been rejected.

"So yeah... I envy you..."

Liming sensed the sincerity in Xulu's envy. Gazing at this talented, beautiful girl, he suddenly felt she was hiding a secret.