Chapter Six: The Ocean Cruise, Part 5
Zhao Jinchu nodded and handed over the sheet. This task would be best accomplished through teamwork and division of labor.
As the process sheet circulated, the top student, a girl, began to organize the group. “I think it’s best if we use this time to get to know each other. My name is Li Juanjuan, an intern at Infinity Corporation, and this is my second time doing a mission.”
Once she started, others followed suit with their introductions.
Among those present, Li Juanjuan and Qin Chuan were on their second mission, while the rest were all first-timers.
The boy who had been marked with a low-level yellow card had a fragile mindset. After hearing the introductions once, he began to break down. “You two have done this before and must have experience. We haven’t done it at all. This isn’t fair!”
His words turned into sobs.
Another girl nearby groaned, “What’s wrong with you? Stop crying.”
The boy’s sobs quieted but didn’t cease.
Finally, Li Juanjuan spoke up. “I’ve reviewed the process sheet for making the mermaid clay sculpture. It’s divided into three steps: first, gather mermaid blood; second, create the perfect clay mixture; third, combine both and pour it into the mold to make the sculpture.”
She paused, watching everyone’s expressions before continuing, “To save time, I propose we split into three groups. One group searches for mermaid blood, another works on perfecting the clay mixture, and the third finds the mold.”
Everyone showed agreement.
The distressed boy spoke up again, “How do we divide the groups then?”
Li Juanjuan pointed to herself and Qin Chuan. “Both of us are on our second mission, so we can each lead a group. The three of you are high school students, right? You’ll have more in common and can coordinate better together—so you form the third group.”
Quickly, Li Juanjuan jotted down the groups. She led the distressed boy and another girl, while Qin Chuan took Zhao Jinchu and Qi Yan.
Zhao Jinchu’s trio took on the task of collecting mermaid blood, while Li Juanjuan’s trio worked on perfecting the clay mixture.
Li Juanjuan then looked at the three high school students—two boys and one girl. Being young and inexperienced, they didn’t realize any hidden agendas in the grouping; they simply nodded in agreement, happy to be with peers.
Li Juanjuan then asked Zhao Jinchu and Qi Yan, “Jinchu, Zennian, no objections, right?”
Qi Yan, indifferent, was fiddling with Zhao Jinchu’s hair and didn’t even realize she was being addressed.
Zhao Jinchu shrugged. “No objections.”
Qin Chuan glanced at Li Juanjuan and nodded.
The task allocation was swiftly completed.
Li Juanjuan said, “Let’s meet here at this time every day to exchange updates.”
With the discussion over, Li Juanjuan and her group left.
Almost as soon as they stepped outside, the gentle, scholarly expression on Li Juanjuan’s face faded, and the three exchanged glances.
The boy was the first to laugh aloud. “Hey, Qin Chuan’s leading two rookies by himself. Won’t he crack under the pressure?”
Li Juanjuan shrugged. “He agreed to it himself; it’s not our problem.”
The three of them were on their second mission together, having witnessed the harshness of this game during their last one.
To increase their chances of survival, Li Juanjuan had used some tricks to get them all assigned to the same side mission.
Everything that had just happened was an act.
In truth, the real rookies were only Zhao Jinchu, Qi Yan, and those three high school cannon fodder.
Those three high school students weren’t even part of Li Juanjuan’s plans.
They were just expendable pawns, deliberately given the last task so they wouldn’t interfere.
Another girl, chewing gum thoughtfully, asked, “Do you think Qin Chuan and the others won’t fail the mermaid blood task?”
Li Juanjuan replied coldly, “It’d be best if they don’t. But if they do… let’s just say they’ll be paving the way for us.”