Thus, Ji Qingyi Closed Her Eyes

"For knights, barons, or even princes themselves, marriage is a political act—an opportunity to expand one's influence through new alliances. What matters is the interest of lineage, never personal will."

The scene shifts back to Friday, Su Cheng's birthday.

Ji Family Residence

The moment Liu Qingyue produced a cigarette, Ji Qingyi’s gaze locked onto her, scrutinizing.

"What is this?"

Ji Qingyi frowned, her eyes fixed on the cigarette. It gave her an inexplicable feeling, as if there was some strange connection between her and it.

"A prop from Su Cheng."

Liu Qingyue held the cigarette horizontally beneath her nose, inhaling its scent lightly. "He gave me two. I’ve already used one."

"So, you’ve extracted some information?"

At these words, Ji Qingyi’s expression darkened, her eyes sharp and unwavering as she spoke with gravity.

Recently, the main family held a meeting to discuss matters concerning you, Miss. Among our old acquaintances, some have caught wind of recent events involving you and decided to stir up trouble. After the meeting, the main family’s stance was clear: no additional resources will be provided. If you can resolve this yourself, your resource allocation privileges will be elevated by one tier. But if you fail and lose to the opposing side…

Ji Qingyi’s eyes dimmed for a moment, though she showed no surprise. "How predictably harsh of them…"

Her voice was soft, lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.

"After all, news of your recent closeness with Su Cheng has already reached the main family and the other houses."

As she spoke, Liu Qingyue tucked the cigarette back into the pocket of her maid uniform. "Thanks to your influence, they haven’t investigated or tested Su Cheng yet. But given such an opportunity, they won’t let it slip."

Yet Ji Qingyi remained silent, her gaze lowering.

She wasn’t shocked by this turn of events. As the sole daughter of the Ji Family, this was an inescapable duty.

From birth, her life had never been her own—it belonged to the future of the entire Ji Family.

She had always known who she was and what her purpose entailed. That was why this news neither startled nor panicked her.

Though such antiquated notions seemed absurd in modern society…

So-called noble families still clung stubbornly to these beliefs. It was ingrained, unshakable.

Marriage was an alliance between families, a given in their eyes—tying themselves to powerful, well-connected lineages to safeguard their interests and maintain their lofty social standing.

Born into a feudalistic household, she had been raised on these ideals. She understood perfectly: she was merely a tool to elevate her family’s status.

………………………………

“Has Miss Da ever considered… resisting?”

Seeing her silence, Liu Qingyue ventured cautiously.

"Personal will alone cannot change this."

Ji Qingyi slowly lifted her head, her dark, fathomless eyes fixed calmly on the opposite side of the tea table. Her expression was placid, like still water without a ripple. "I am content with my life as it is. There’s no need for futile struggles."

"But—"

Liu Qingyue was about to bring up Su Cheng, but Ji Qingyi raised a hand to stop her. "I won’t use a friend as a weapon."

Hearing this, Liu Qingyue lowered her head. She knew Ji Qingyi didn’t want Su Cheng dragged into this—because resistance would awaken the family head, a lion still devoid of humanity.

Once that happened, the main family would spare no effort in investigating and testing Su Cheng. If even a hint of his abilities were exposed, not even they could protect him.

By then, the entire Ji Family would descend into madness, imprisoning Su Cheng at any cost, subjecting him to inhumane exploitation and research to extract every ounce of benefit.

"If we leave things to fate, miracles won’t happen."

Suddenly, Liu Qingyue looked up, meeting Ji Qingyi’s gaze. "Besides, do you really think he won’t find out if we don’t tell him?"

Ji Qingyi fell silent.

"When he learns of this, his first reaction will probably be to mock how cliché it is—something straight out of a novel."

Liu Qingyue’s expression shifted subtly as she continued, "But even so, he’ll come to you immediately. He’ll ask if you need help. How will you answer him then?"

Ji Qingyi’s eyes flickered faintly before she shook her head. "He’s intelligent. And this is my personal matter. It has nothing to do with him."

Her gaze drifted momentarily. "I’d like to take a walk."

"But he has every right to interfere."

Liu Qingyue’s words cut through the silence, halting Ji Qingyi in her tracks. She turned her head slightly.

"You called him a friend. Isn’t it only natural to want to save and protect a friend?"

As she spoke, Liu Qingyue’s tone shifted into the familiar cadence Su Cheng knew well. She even placed a hand over her heart.

The gesture made Ji Qingyi waver slightly. She studied Liu Qingyue, then murmured, "You mimic him well."

With that, she turned to leave.

Liu Qingyue followed, speaking to her retreating figure. "At times like these, Miss, perhaps you should rest and wait for good news. I already have a flawless plan—one that ensures he won’t face even the slightest danger."

"I said I won’t use him as a weapon, nor will I gamble with his life!"

A flash of anger crossed Ji Qingyi’s face. "I refuse to let him be harmed. Even the smallest risk is unacceptable!"

Liu Qingyue’s expression stiffened.

“Miss, I don’t agree with your stance. The you from before wasn’t like this. Have you forgotten the family creed? Use others, manipulate others, and when necessary, discard others!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Liu Qingyue noticed Ji Qingyi’s face darken and immediately fell silent.

"So from the beginning, your approach to him was for this very purpose?"

Ji Qingyi turned fully, her voice icy. "For my sake, you’d sacrifice another friend. Is that your resolve?"

"Miss, you misunderstand."

Liu Qingyue lowered her head. "I’m only fulfilling my duty."

Ji Qingyi stared at her, eyes brimming with disappointment. "How would he feel if he heard that? It would pain him, wouldn’t it?"

Liu Qingyue’s voice carried stubborn resolve. "It doesn’t matter. I’ll play the villain. The next act is mine to unfold."

With that, she retrieved a voice recorder, pressed play—and their earlier conversation spilled into the room.

Ji Qingyi’s expression grew colder with every word.

"If necessary, I'll share our conversation with him. As for how he'll react afterward... I can't say for sure. After all, if it comes to this, it means all our previous plans—my plans—have failed..."

Liu Qingyue held up the voice recorder and looked at Ji Qingyi, her face etched with anguish. "Miss, I had no other choice but to resort to this."

It was clear the decision weighed heavily on her. If it came to using the recording, Su Cheng would help the young mistress—but his trust in her would plummet, possibly even turning into resentment. That thought pained her deeply.

Yet, for Ji Qingyi's happiness, she had no other option. Both Su Cheng and the young mistress were irreplaceable to her: the former was her rare refuge of solace, the latter the very meaning of her existence.

Now, she had to sacrifice one.

Besides, she did have a foolproof plan—but it required Ji Qingyi’s approval to proceed.

Ji Qingyi didn’t respond immediately. She studied Liu Qingyue, her emotions tangled. She knew this was her attendant’s way of forcing her to concede.

"Miss, I’ve devised a perfect plan. Please trust me—and trust Su Cheng just once, won’t you? As you once said yourself, he’s a miracle. Why not believe in that miracle now?"

Liu Qingyue’s pleading gaze bore into her, brimming with desperation, making Ji Qingyi hesitate.

"Explain the plan first."

In the end, Ji Qingyi had no choice but to relent. The moment Liu Qingyue produced the recorder, the situation was already beyond salvaging. Even if she refused—even if she snatched it away—her attendant had surely backed it up. And Liu Qingyue would dare hand it to Su Cheng.

"First, I’ll make him curious about the matter. Eventually, he’ll seek out the truth himself. Then, while he’s racking his brains over how to handle it..."

Liu Qingyue took a breath.

"...I’ll arrange for several A-rank women to develop feelings for him within a short timeframe—without their knowledge. With my guidance, they’ll confess to him one by one, until the system rewards him with an item capable of resolving this situation."

On paper, the plan seemed flawless. Su Cheng’s A-rank rewards were tailored to his needs.

But Ji Qingyi’s brows furrowed. A surge of resistance rose in her chest.

"No."

She rejected it outright.

Liu Qingyue sighed. "I know you’re confident, Miss. You believe you can handle this alone. But this is too important—too critical to leave any room for error. All I need is your permission. You won’t even have to show your face, much less ask him for help. Isn’t that ideal?"

Her words dripped with persuasion.

She knew her mistress’s hidden pride and stubbornness—how she loathed admitting weakness or relying on others. This plan accounted for everything.

"Unless..."

Liu Qingyue’s eyes widened as realization struck. She took a step back, staring at Ji Qingyi in shock.

Ji Qingyi met her gaze coolly, offering no explanation.

"The candidates are already selected. To account for potential limitations in his ability, I’ve prepared six options—all A-rank, by my assessment. Su Cheng will reject them and still earn the reward. There’s no emotional manipulation involved. Frankly... he might even enjoy it."

Liu Qingyue smoothly shifted topics, laying out her reasoning.

Ji Qingyi closed her eyes, mentally reviewing the A-rank women in the academy.

Only five fit the criteria.

Then she glanced at Liu Qingyue—and found the supposed sixth.

"Have you accounted for other variables?" Ji Qingyi asked.

"Yes. Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi might interfere, subtly influencing Su Cheng’s judgment. But overall, they won’t overstep. They’re aware that direct involvement would backfire."

Liu Qingyue’s tone remained steady.

Ji Qingyi had considered this too. Yet one issue still troubled her.

"If they interfere, they have motives."

The abruptness of the question gave Liu Qingyue pause—but she had anticipated it.

Gu Ruoxue, from the Social Practice Club, would absolutely seize the opening.

As for Li Guanqi? She’d simply deploy her usual tactics to make Su Cheng lean on her more.

After a long silence, Liu Qingyue met Ji Qingyi’s eyes.

"He might leave the club."

Ji Qingyi’s expression frosted over instantly.

Liu Qingyue pressed on. "If you’re unwilling to let go, Miss, nothing will change. But I guarantee—your friendship with him won’t suffer in the slightest."

Ji Qingyi’s mind raced through scenarios before she finally spoke.

"Minimize Gu Ruoxue’s interference."

The response told Liu Qingyue everything: her mistress refused to let Su Cheng slip into someone else’s hands.

Ever since Su Cheng joined Ji Qingyi’s club, the young mistress had transformed—from initial rejection and aloofness to gradual acceptance, then trust...

The rigid teachings of the Ji Family had softened within her. She’d learned to care for others, to empathize.

The shift had been rapid—but Liu Qingyue had witnessed it all.

She understood exactly what it meant.

"There is another way, Miss."

Liu Qingyue lowered her head, voice subdued.

"Speak."

Ji Qingyi arched a brow, surprised, and waited.

"If you ask Su Cheng for help directly, he’ll move heaven and earth to assist you. No one could exploit the situation. No convoluted schemes would be needed."

Liu Qingyue enunciated each word, then dared a glance upward, scrutinizing her mistress’s reaction.

Ji Qingyi fell silent.

Finally, she shook her head, her voice quiet but resolute.

"I can’t."

"Miss!"

Liu Qingyue pleaded, desperation seeping into her tone. "You’ve mastered the balance between helping and asking for help. Why discard that skill now? Why choose a path you know will lead to regret? How can you bear to push him away?"

Ji Qingyi pressed her lips together, offering no reply.

Liu Qingyue sighed.

It was pride—always pride. She’d never admit vulnerability, no matter who stood before her.

This was Ji Qingyi's most fatal weakness. Without it, figures like Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi would pose no threat whatsoever to her—how could anyone possibly take advantage of her?

Night fell, darkness gradually enveloping the sky as stars glimmered and the moon hung suspended in the air.

Tonight.

Ji Qingyi handed her phone to Liu Qingyue, instructing her to carry out the plan as arranged.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon outside, an inexplicable restlessness rising in her heart. Unexpectedly, her mind felt unsettled, even flustered.

Doubt and hesitation lingered stubbornly in her thoughts.

She couldn’t quite pinpoint where this emotion had come from.

Asking Su Cheng for help was something she would never consider possible.

How could she ever set aside her pride?

Yet, at that moment, a voice inside her whispered: "You must go. Are you really going to let someone else take away the only moments of happiness you have?"

No sooner had those words faded than another thought surfaced: "Even among friends, there exists a clear hierarchy of power. The moment you show weakness, you’ll lose his respect and admiration. Worse—he might even think, ‘So this is all you are? You still need my protection to live freely?’"

These two voices cycled endlessly in her mind, like a nail driven deep into her heart. In the end, she closed her eyes.