Tripartite Talks

Noon

Su Cheng headed straight towards Gu Ruoxue's club as soon as class ended.

Throughout the morning, he had already gathered a fair understanding of Gu Ruoxue's club philosophy and rules from Wang Guancong.

Her club provides help to others free of charge.

No matter how hopeless a person might be, if they wish to be saved, she will extend her hand.

This is her club's philosophy.

Although she generously helps others, this is not done without reason. Her actions are free-spirited, rigorous, orderly, and there are lines she will never cross.

12:30 PM.

Su Cheng stopped in front of the door to the Social Practice Club. He noticed that someone was inside this time, as the sound of typing could be heard coming from within.

He glanced at the sign above the door that read "Social Practice Club" and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

"Come in."

A cool, slightly hoarse voice replied.

Su Cheng pushed the door open and entered.

Inside, Gu Ruoxue was seated at her desk. Sunlight slanted in, casting a hazy glow over her. Dust motes danced in the light, creating an atmosphere of tranquility that seemed to have always existed.

Gu Ruoxue stood up, her gaze falling on Su Cheng. There was no emotion on her face, just a calm indifference that carried a hint of detachment.

Dressed in her school uniform, her skin was pale, her figure slender. Her black thigh-high socks accentuated her long legs, and her chest was as impressive as Ji Qingyi's. Her black hair cascaded down her back.

"Senior Gu..."

Before Su Cheng could finish, Gu Ruoxue picked up a thermos from the side and calmly made a cup of tea, placing it on the seat across from her. She then said, "Sit first."

Su Cheng: "... "

Looking at the tea on the table, he paused for a moment before sitting down.

For some reason, he felt like this woman could sense his thoughts.

"Drink tea."

"Thank you."

Su Cheng picked up the teacup, blew on it to cool it down, and took a sip. Hmm...

It was very ordinary.

Ji Qingyi had spoiled his taste for tea.

"The details of the request."

Gu Ruoxue's indifferent voice spoke again. Her gaze was on the computer screen in front of her, and her hands were typing on the keyboard.

Su Cheng: "... "

He hadn't even spoken, yet she was already processing his request.

"How did you know I was here as a client?"

Finally, Su Cheng asked the question that had been troubling him.

Gu Ruoxue looked at Su Cheng, not saying a word, but with a clear look of "are you stupid?"

Under that gaze, Su Cheng felt extremely uncomfortable. Then he realized the obvious: everyone who came to this club was a client.

"Well..."

Su Cheng began, then looked back at Gu Ruoxue, who leaned against her chair, appearing to attentively listen.

So he continued, "I want to ask you to help me investigate the details of my ex-girlfriend."

Gu Ruoxue remained expressionless, silently watching him.

Looking into her eyes, Su Cheng suddenly felt like he was being seen through, an inexplicable awkwardness creeping in...

However, at this point, he could only grit his teeth and continue, "I lost my memory before, but I remember having an ex-girlfriend. I want you to help me find her."

Gu Ruoxue still didn't speak.

Su Cheng clenched his teeth and continued, "Is this request acceptable?"

Finally, Gu Ruoxue rubbed her temples and spoke at last.

Her voice was soft, "I accept the request."

After saying that, she began typing on the computer.

Client: Su Cheng

Request Content: Find his 'ex-girlfriend' who he lost memory of.

Solution: Root cause resolved.

Result: Su Cheng has no ex-girlfriend.

103rd request completed.

………………

"You don’t have an ex-girlfriend."

Gu Ruoxue looked at Su Cheng calmly.

"Hmm?"

Su Cheng was dumbfounded.

Seeing his stunned expression, Gu Ruoxue shook her head slightly and continued, "Your request has been completed."

"............"

Su Cheng's mouth twitched involuntarily. The implications of her words were overwhelming.

He didn't have an ex-girlfriend?

Was Gu Ruoxue just brushing him off?

He frowned, pondering for a few seconds before asking, "Am I really without an ex-girlfriend?"

Gu Ruoxue glanced at him briefly, then lowered her eyes and continued working.

Seeing this, Su Cheng could only be quiet.

Liu Qingyue had told him his ex-girlfriend was Gu Ruoxue. Yet, Gu Ruoxue claimed he had no ex-girlfriend...

At this moment, Su Cheng felt like his brain was burning...

Senior Liu couldn't have been lying.

So was this Gu Ruoxue just messing with him?

But it was said that she never lies, and she was incredibly meticulous with her requests...

So then...

Could it be that Gu Ruoxue and he never broke up?

Thinking about this possibility, his gaze fell on Gu Ruoxue's face. Indeed, she was very beautiful, so much so that he found it hard to look away.

"Su, this request is over now. Do you still have other matters?"

Gu Ruoxue lifted her head and glanced at Su Cheng, her tone still cool.

"I'd like to inquire about the reasons for my amnesia or events before my memory loss."

Su Cheng pursed his lips and said.

"No comment. You may leave now."

Gu Ruoxue averted her gaze, her voice cold.

"!!"

Upon hearing this, his pupils shrank sharply. She certainly knew something.

If she didn’t know, she would have just said so.

But she said "No comment!"

He tried probing a few more times, but she remained cold and dismissive.

Finally, he took a deep breath, suppressing his curiosity and trying to calm his emotions. "Thank you for this request."

Saying that, he turned to leave.

But just then, her voice came from behind again.

"The club is recruiting new members."

Gu Ruoxue’s words made Su Cheng halt in his tracks.

What did she mean by that?

He turned back to look at her, but she was still looking down, typing on her keyboard as if she hadn't spoken at all.

"Can I join your club?"

Gu Ruoxue lifted her head and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

In the end, however, Su Cheng walked out of her club, sighing. He didn’t plan to join the club of riddles.

If only they weren’t estranged and she wasn’t his savior...

He’d have grabbed her by the shoulders and shaken her, begging her to tell him everything.

But, sadly, he didn’t know her at all.

She knew about his amnesia, and she was also his savior.

It could be deduced that she knew everything about him. Yet, she remained silent about his past, no matter how he prodded her.

If Gu Ruoxue knew everything about him, she must be aware of his system. Was she unafraid of him using any tools?

Or did she understand him so well?

Was she certain he wouldn’t use any?

Or did she simply not fear him?!

His ex-girlfriend claimed he had no ex-girlfriend?

It was all so confusing...

Her club recruiting?

Perhaps the key was joining the club...

But he had paid so much club dues for the Archery Club, and the club leader was so kind to him. Could he really betray them and join this club?

All these questions had his head spinning.

Noon

He told Li Guanqi about what had just happened.

"Senior Gu never lies."

Li Guanqi looked at Su Cheng seriously.

Hearing this, Su Cheng felt a little uneasy.

"Could it be possible... that we never broke up?"

Su Cheng swallowed and looked at Li Guanqi, who was frowning deeply. He asked tentatively.

Li Guanqi looked at him, her gaze growing profound. "It seems Senior Liu didn’t investigate thoroughly enough. This possibility exists."

"Since your jump off the bridge and Senior Gu’s sudden departure, it could easily lead people to think you couldn’t handle the pain..."

Li Guanqi continued, then shifted her tone, "But there’s also a possibility that you never were in a relationship, just like our current relationship!"

…………………………

Afternoon

Today was his cleaning duty.

With Wang Guancong.

But Wang Guancong forgot and went straight to his club.

He didn’t mind though, being alone actually made the task more relaxing, allowing him to think better.

After cleaning up, as he walked towards the club, he spotted a mysterious masked woman.

It was the student council president—Li Zhao.

Her imposing presence was still intimidating.

Even getting close felt overpowering, making it hard to breathe.

If there were other students around, greetings would undoubtedly be constant, but unfortunately, there was only him nearby.

She seemed to be waiting specifically for him, her gaze fixed on the window. The white mask and white stockings gave her an aura of sanctity and nobility, making her seem unapproachable and untouchable.

Nonetheless, her powerful presence still radiated an intimidating, commanding air that one could feel without her even speaking.

Yet, when Su Cheng glanced at her, he couldn't help but recall Li Zhao from their previous encounter with the kiddie ride.

This thought alone made his expression turn peculiar.

After all, it was too incongruous.

It was impossible to reconcile the two images in his mind.

"No way, I'll have to ask Li Guanqi what's up with his cousin tomorrow."

Su Cheng thought to himself. Just as he was about to pass by Li Zhao, she suddenly turned her head and looked directly at him.

Her eyes behind the mask still carried that same majesty and dominance, making Su Cheng freeze in place. His legs involuntarily shifted to the side before he managed to greet her, saying, "Nice to see you, President."

"Think about the application, and give me your answer by Saturday," Li Zhao said calmly, looking at Su Cheng, before withdrawing her gaze and slowly walking down the stairs.

Su Cheng was momentarily stunned.

Saturday?

"I think I'm supposed to go to Li Guanqi's house on Saturday…"

……………………………………

In the Archery Club, Su Cheng was sitting together with Ji Qingyi, sipping tea. However, Su Cheng kept zoning out while staring at something, and Ji Qingyi said nothing, merely quietly drinking her tea.

After a long while, she finally broke the silence, asking, "Having trouble?"

Hearing this, Su Cheng snapped back to reality.

"Yeah."

Su Cheng nodded, not hiding anything, "Yes, it's about Gu Ruoxue. It seems she knows everything about me."

Ji Qingyi set down her teacup and glanced at Su Cheng.

"You'll have to handle this yourself."

She said nonchalantly, "But… in my opinion, she must have her reasons."

Su Cheng was puzzled by her words, his eyes flickering with confusion.

"Reasons?"

Ji Qingyi nodded, "Although I don't know what happened between you two, the fact remains that she saved you, which means she harbors no ill intentions toward you. On the contrary… I feel you're quite special to her."

"Special…"

Su Cheng repeated the word twice, his confusion deepening.

"Yes, based on my understanding of her, she'll likely give you a chance. If you seize it, she'll be willing to clear your doubts."

Su Cheng fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

Afterward, he said, “She mentioned her club is recruiting new members.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingyi picked up her teacup, took a sip, and grew silent, saying no more.

“Captain…”

Su Cheng called out to Ji Qingyi, but she kept her head low, sipping her tea without paying him any attention.

Su Cheng persisted, "Captain, I really don't want to leave the club.”

Ji Qingyi then lifted her gaze to look at Su Cheng, "Well, there's not much more I can teach you now.”

I’d like to ask, why does the sound of your arrow shooting have a 'bang' sound?

Su Cheng looked at Ji Qingyi with anticipation in his eyes, a desire for strength evident.

Since Ji Qingyi still had ways to help him improve his stamina, he felt his club fees were not a waste.

Ji Qingyi slightly frowned, then set her teacup down and calmly explained, "The answer to that is simple; it’s because of raw strength."

“I’d like to experience Captain’s strength.”

With that, Su Cheng extended his hand on the table, assuming a stance for an arm-wrestling match. The rubber band on his wrist became visible as his eyes full of eagerness fixed on her.

Ji Qingyi was momentarily surprised, her eyes revealing a flicker of astonishment at his unexpected request.

She looked expressionlessly at Su Cheng’s hand, as if puzzled, her lips slightly pursed before her eyes narrowed in thought.

Seeing this, Su Cheng sensed a change in Ji Qingyi and hurriedly retracted his hand, feeling a bit anxious.

He assumed Ji Qingyi was unwilling.

After all, arm wrestling seemed rather rude.

It was too forward of him.

"Alright."

To his surprise, the next moment Ji Qingyi nodded and extended her hand, her fair, delicate fingers clasping around Su Cheng's fist and squeezing lightly.

Instantly, Su Cheng’s body reacted instinctively, but disregarding the pain, he steeled himself.

Yet, the next second –.

"Shit! Fuck!"

In an instant, Su Cheng’s face twisted in agony; cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and tears almost burst out from the excruciating pain.

He gritted his teeth, his gaze toward Ji Qingyi shifting in awe.

This strength!

What a muscle queen!

He felt as though he'd just been run over by a steamroller.

Ji Qingyi released his hand, calmly looking back at him, while Su Cheng shook his right hand continuously, his face pale.

"Satisfied now?"

She asked indifferently, her eyes slightly downcast.

"*Cough, cough.*"

Su Cheng's face flushed red as he glanced at his own hand, biting his lip to bear the pain, then nodded.

Is this what a stamina level 8 feels like?

“How does Captain train her strength?"

Su Cheng attempted to glean her training methods, which had been the biggest mystery to him.

Because outwardly, Ji Qingyi had no visible muscle…

She looked like a delicate woman who could be blown over by the wind…

Clearly appearing devoid of strength, yet possessing an astounding stamina of eight.

And he too aspired to become a true man with stamina level eight.

Ji Qingyi turned her gaze toward Su Cheng, pondering for a moment before explaining, "In scientific terms, it’s because my muscle elastic fiber genes are stronger than average."

"Hmm?"

Su Cheng was taken aback, then realized what she meant, exclaiming, "Inborn strength?"

“You can understand it that way.”

Ji Qingyi finished, and Su Cheng swallowed hard, contemplating the revelation.

"So is Ji Yuewu the same?"

Ji Qingyi nodded.

No wonder…

Su Cheng gulped down the rest of his tea in one go, the shock slowly subsiding. He then said, "Captain, last night, I texted you on my phone; what did you retract?"