Evenings at the academy always carry a refined languor. The sunset paints the sky a honey color, the spire of the clock tower draws a clean arc in the twilight, and students in uniforms stroll in twos and threes through the neatly trimmed bushes, their laughter mingling with the evening breeze, making this aristocratic domain even more tranquil.

Yu Jiuyuan sat by the window of the student council office, twirling a pen between her fingers, her gaze fixed on the meticulously tended rose garden outside. The petals still clung to the evening dew, gleaming softly in the dimming light, much like the harmless gentleness on her face at that moment.

On the table lay supplementary information for the eastern plot of land, its edges neatly pressed down with silver bookmarks. This was a companion document to the risk assessment report Xie Zhecheng had given her, supposedly compiled by his assistant. However, the almost harsh logical loop between the lines clearly bore Xie Zhecheng's unique mark.

The perfectionist's obsessive-compulsive tendencies are evident even in the accompanying materials, which are meticulously crafted to tolerate no flaws.

Yu Jiuyuan chuckled softly, her fingertip tracing a geological hazard marked in red on the report. Xie Zhecheng was indeed frank, not even hiding such crucial information that could influence the bidding decision. But the detachment wrapped in this frankness was even stronger, as if to say, "I've given you the information; whether you can understand it or how to use it is none of my business."

The favorability rating remained a glaring 0. Negative emotions: 25, neutral: 8, positive: 15. This number was like a stubborn barrier, which she couldn't shake in the slightest despite her previous deliberate attempts to create "chance encounters" and "help."

"What are you thinking about?"

A gentle voice sounded from behind her, carrying a perfectly timed smile. Yu Jiuyuan didn't turn around, but she already knew who it was. She placed her pen on the table, and when she turned around, the nonchalance on her face had been replaced by a soft smile, like a freshly peeled candy.

“Senior Rong.” She tilted her head slightly, her hair falling over her shoulder, “I’m looking at the materials Senior Xie gave me. He organized them so meticulously.”

Rong Shenghan walked to her side, his gaze sweeping over the documents on the table, his smile as gentle as the evening breeze: "Xie Zhecheng has always done things this way. However..." He changed the subject, his fingertip lightly tapping the cover of the supplementary document, "He held back this geological report for three days before giving it to you."

Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow. Of course she knew. Xie Zhecheng's style of doing things was always calculated, and a three-day time difference was enough to make the Yu family take many detours in the early preparations.

"She probably wants to test me." Her tone was light, as if she were talking about something amusing, but a cold glint flashed quickly in her eyes. The perfectionist's nitpicking is often hidden in these subtle details.

"Perhaps." Rong Shenghan remained noncommittal, casually picking up a crystal ornament from the table. It was a commemorative gift from the student council last year, designed as a simplified version of the college emblem.

He ran his fingertips along the cool crystal surface and suddenly chuckled, "Speaking of which, did you see the post Lin Yanran made on the forum this afternoon?"

Yu Jiuyuan shook her head. She had been checking the bidding budget all afternoon and hadn't had time to read the students' gossip.

"He took a picture of the coffee shop and captioned it 'Met an interesting opponent.'" Rong Shenghan's voice was a little playful. "Everyone on the Saint Sakura forum is guessing who this 'opponent' is."

"They're probably talking about me," Yu Jiuyuan said frankly, as if she were talking about someone else. "After all, our conversation today wasn't very pleasant."

"Oh?" Rong Shenghan raised an eyebrow, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes. "Lin Yanran is known for her fiery temper. You didn't suffer any losses?"

"Does Senior think I'm the kind of person who would suffer a loss?" Yu Jiuyuan smiled, her dimples shallow, but her eyes were like knives dipped in honey. "He said he had the Su family backing him up, so I said that 'backing down' is not in the Yu family's dictionary. He probably didn't expect me to be so direct."

Rong Shenghan looked at her. The girl sat in the warm yellow light, her profile soft, her eyelashes casting light shadows under her eyelids, making her look as innocent as a harmless little animal. But only by looking at her up close at this moment could one catch a fleeting glimpse of a calmness and calculation beyond her years in the clarity of her eyes.

He suddenly realized that Xie Zhecheng's unwavering composure might not be because Yu Jiuyuan hadn't done a good enough job, but rather because this perfectionist had long seen through her gentle facade.

“The Su family…” Rong Shenghan withdrew his gaze, his tone becoming somewhat indifferent, “Su Jingshu has been busy with charity gala matters recently, and I heard she specially invited you.”

“Yes, I received the invitation.” Yu Jiuyuan nodded, her fingertips lightly tracing circles on the table. “She certainly knows how to pick a date; it’s just a week before the bidding results are announced.”

Charity galas have always been a stage for wealthy families to exchange information and cultivate relationships. Su Jingshu's choice to invite her at this time is ostensibly a gesture of goodwill, but secretly she probably wants to probe her background and, incidentally, give Lin Yanran a heads-up.

"Are you planning to go?" Rong Shenghan asked.

"Of course," Yu Jiuyuan smiled, her eyes crinkling. "How could I miss such a great opportunity?"

This banquet was practically a tailor-made observation field for her "taming manual," as she could both meet Su Jingshu, the "behind-the-scenes manipulator," and observe the reactions of Xie Zhecheng, Rong Shenghan, and Yuan Xu.

Rong Shenghan looked at the light in her eyes and suddenly chuckled, "You don't shy away from it at all."

“What’s there to be shy about in front of my senior?” Yu Jiuyuan looked up at him, her gaze as frank as if she were laying bare her cards. “After all, we’re ‘allies,’ aren’t we?”

She spoke the word "ally" softly, yet it carried a tacit tension. Rong Shenghan's smile deepened. He neither admitted nor denied it, but simply picked up the geological report and said slowly, "The fault zone mentioned in this report actually has a hidden solution."

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