Symmetry exists in all things.

When Su Cheng uttered these words, the atmosphere in the club fell into silence. Ji Qingyi and Gu Ruoxue, unexpectedly, sank into deep contemplation.

Their minds raced, analyzing the sentence from every angle, dissecting hundreds of nuances in an instant, only to realize from the unsaid that the meaning did not lie in the literal words themselves.

…………………………

This sentence bore a striking resemblance to a line from Stray Birds: "We live in this world when we love it," and it carried profound philosophical weight.

But the question was—

Why had he deliberately brought it up just now?

After a moment of thought, Gu Ruoxue quickly understood—Su Cheng must have intended to use this phrase to explain their current predicament.

In truth, Su Cheng wasn’t referring to life itself, but to the choices they faced. Life became more vibrant precisely because of these choices. So, did this mean Su Cheng had already decided?

And was he implying that this choice had reached the level of passion?

At this realization, Gu Ruoxue’s brows furrowed slightly.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi was analyzing something entirely different. Lowering her gaze, she pondered Su Cheng’s words, as if weighing their deeper implications.

Passion exists because there is choice. But if one cannot even control their own choices, then it doesn’t deserve to be called "passion."

The power to choose—to do what one desires and refuse what one doesn’t—is that your stance?

With this thought, Ji Qingyi, too, fell into silent reflection.

Yet, almost as if by unspoken agreement, the two girls simultaneously lifted their heads to look at him—only to find Su Cheng lowering his head and devouring an orange.

What they didn’t know was that Su Cheng was internally panicking like a startled dog, stuffing his face with oranges to mask his flustered state.

Faced with their relentless pressure earlier, he had been at a loss and had simply tried to deflect with a random reference. Never had he imagined they would actually start pondering it!

Do these two never browse the internet?

What do I do now? Help!

Under their piercing gazes, he felt the weight of Mount Tai pressing down on him.

Su Cheng’s nervousness did not escape Gu Ruoxue and Ji Qingyi. They exchanged a glance.

"Since you’ve made your choice, why not share it?"

Gu Ruoxue was the first to break the eerie silence.

"Speak freely," Ji Qingyi added with a nod.

Su Cheng, naturally, understood the art of balance.

So, he had a solution where no one would get hurt.

Swallowing hard, he glanced at the two of them and mustered his courage. "Since the club president has chosen me as her companion for the outing, and since it’s peach blossom season, wouldn’t it be perfect for a spring excursion?"

"A spring excursion?" Gu Ruoxue arched an eyebrow.

"Exactly. The three of us could go together. How about it?" Su Cheng spoke with utmost seriousness before quickly adding, "Minister, you also mentioned accompanying us. Since I’m free this weekend, and President Ji is planning a trip anyway, why not form a group?"

Ji Qingyi and Gu Ruoxue both looked surprised.

"Coincidentally, I know of a peach garden in full bloom. This weekend, we could hold a small ceremony there—no, I mean, we could simply enjoy the scenery together. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?"

Su Cheng mustered the courage to propose this no-harm-done solution. Though uneasy, it was still better than choosing one over the other.

Before he could finish, Gu Ruoxue suddenly spoke. "If it’s a spring outing, then we should prepare accordingly."

Unexpectedly, she didn’t reject the idea.

For her, this arrangement was clearly advantageous. With all three of them going together, Ji Qingyi’s original intentions would be thwarted.

Relieved at Gu Ruoxue’s agreement, Su Cheng cautiously turned to the expressionless Ji Qingyi. "President Ji, what do you think?"

Ji Qingyi remained silent.

Su Cheng’s heart sank. While his proposal avoided hurting anyone, it also nullified Ji Qingyi’s plans.

So he pressed on. "Back in the archery club, President Ji’s guidance was as vast as the heavens. I’ve never known how to repay such kindness. Now that you’ve specially chosen me as your companion, I’m both honored and overwhelmed."

At this point, he set aside his orange, stood up, and bowed deeply. "Please don’t refuse, President. Allow me this chance to repay even a fraction of your mentorship and care."

Though framed as gratitude, it was also an apology—yet Su Cheng delivered it so naturally it radiated sincerity.

After all, Ji Qingyi had indeed treated him exceptionally well.

Finishing his speech, he stole a glance at Ji Qingyi before quickly looking away.

"You certainly know how to talk," Ji Qingyi replied with amusement.

Then, with effortless grace, she adjusted her posture—her black-stockinged legs shifting into an elegant side-sitting position, one leg bent, her upper body poised with regal composure.

She picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and finally said, "Very well."

With her agreement, Su Cheng felt another weight lift from his chest—only for his heart to clench again moments later.

Though she had accepted his proposal…

She suddenly retrieved a phone identical to his from under her skirt, her fingers flying as she typed a message.

Suddenly—

Within seconds, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Her eyes flicked toward him, signaling him to check it.

Hesitant, Su Cheng glanced at Gu Ruoxue, who remained impassive, before pulling out his phone and opening WeChat.

Ji Qingyi: "Transfer: 300 yuan."

?

Su Cheng stared in disbelief at the screen. She had just sent him 300 yuan out of nowhere. His mind blanked.

Since when did she learn how to transfer money?

And what was this payment even supposed to mean?!

He hesitated over whether to return it.

"We could bring some of last time’s dumplings as snacks," Ji Qingyi remarked casually.

Su Cheng blinked, his delayed comprehension finally catching up.

Ah, she wanted him to make dumplings.

But a simple request would’ve sufficed—was the money really necessary?

It felt oddly distant.

Meanwhile, Gu Ruoxue watched this exchange coldly. The matching phones, the strange communication, the way they interacted—it all inexplicably grated on her nerves.

Still, she maintained her icy demeanor and spoke in a detached, professional tone. "If there are no objections, the practice department will handle the weekend arrangements."

"I’ll await the details. I’ll take my leave now."

Ji Qingyi stood abruptly, her long, slender legs unfolding as she strode out of the club.

Su Cheng watched her retreating figure, his heart pounding erratically long after she had left.

Because, in the end, Ji Qingyi had still managed to provoke Gu Ruoxue one last time.

Sure enough, the moment Ji Qingyi was gone, Gu Ruoxue’s frosty gaze locked onto Su Cheng.

"That peach garden you mentioned—is it in Guping?"

Guping is located to the west of Flame City, with steep mountains and dense forests. It is also home to the largest peach orchard in the world. This Saturday and Sunday mark the International Peach Blossom Festival.

Su Cheng nodded. "Yeah."

Gu Ruoxue stared into his eyes before looking away and checking some information on her computer. Then she said, "There are four recommended travel routes in the guide. Have you decided which one to take?"

Hearing this, Su Cheng's heart skipped a beat. The peach orchard was something he had only learned about from a phone notification this morning. Truthfully, he knew nothing about it and had never been there before.

Instead of answering Gu Ruoxue's question, he pretended to remain composed, standing up and walking over to her side. He leaned over to look at the computer screen, feigning expertise as he analyzed the options.

But because he stood too close, their faces were barely a fist's distance apart, their breaths mingling as the temperature between them rose.

The faint, refreshing fragrance emanating from Gu Ruoxue made Su Cheng's throat tighten. He swallowed hard before forcing himself to focus on the screen.

"Ahem."

Gu Ruoxue cleared her throat lightly, putting some distance between them.

Su Cheng chuckled awkwardly and quickly stepped back, pretending to study the guide on the screen. "I suggest the flower and farm tour."

"Reason?"

"Since this is her request, we should naturally cater to her preferences."

With that, he returned to his seat and continued explaining, "Things like cultural tours, leisure trips, or water activities wouldn’t feel fresh to her. But for a chaebol princess, experiencing something like a farm stay would definitely be unforgettable..."

Gu Ruoxue listened to him speak with a faint, dry smile playing on her lips, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. Then she cut him off bluntly, "Are you choosing this route just so you can take the lead?"

Caught red-handed, Su Cheng froze.

He forced a dry laugh. "As expected, nothing gets past you. Well... since it’s my first time planning a trip, I’d rather stick to what I know to avoid mistakes. I also want to show you my reliable side so you won’t think poorly of me..."

As he spoke, he even put on a pitiful expression, as if afraid of being looked down on.

Gu Ruoxue studied him, her gaze sharp at first, then turning slightly lost before settling into a faintly amused skepticism. "Oh? Your reliable side?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Hmph."

After a brief silence, a resigned expression crossed her usually indifferent face, and she shook her head.

Then she ignored him, typing away on her computer without another word.

Half a minute later, she suddenly looked up, her eyes locking onto Su Cheng’s face. "If you really want to prove your reliability, don’t bring any snacks."

"Huh? Why?"

Su Cheng stiffened—here it comes!

Earlier, when she and the club president had discussed the mochi, he thought she hadn’t taken it seriously. But now it was clear she was still bothered.

"The area we’re visiting has a stream for fishing, a legal hunting ground, and fresh vegetables to pick."

She paused before continuing, "This way, your efforts will be fully recognized and rewarding. If you want to demonstrate your competence, nothing beats the tangible experience of hunting in the peach orchard."

Her argument was logical and reasonable.

But Su Cheng knew she only brought this up because of the mochi incident.

He fell silent for a long moment before meeting her gaze solemnly. "After all that labor, we’ll still need sugar intake. So I’ll only bring three servings of sweets."

"Is that so? Understood."

Gu Ruoxue nodded before returning to her work.

Su Cheng let out a quiet sigh of relief—he had made it through.

"We’ll leave at 5 a.m. at sunrise. Inform your club president."

"Got it."

"We’re taking public transportation."

"Understood."

...

After discussing other arrangements for Sunday with the club president, the dismissal bell rang, and Su Cheng packed up to leave.

He and Gu Ruoxue weren’t heading the same way, so they didn’t walk together.

As he reached the parking lot, he checked his phone and noticed an unread message from Zhao Yan.

[Zhao Yan]: "Are you free this Saturday?"

Seeing this, he froze.

Then he remembered—last time, he had run into Zhao Yan in the morning, and she had asked him to meet up to discuss something about Xuan Ying. Just the two of them.

Wait, wasn’t she supposed to go shopping with the other two this weekend?

Suddenly, it hit him.

He recalled Li Guanqi mentioning that the two girls had invited her out for shopping.

So their group outing was on Sunday?

What a coincidence.

A ridiculous thought crossed his mind—what if they ran into each other on Sunday?

He shook his head.

There was no way all three of them would also go to the peach orchard, right?

Besides, girls usually preferred places like aquariums or shopping districts. Why would they go through the trouble of traveling to an orchard?

Were they planning to become sworn sisters there or something?

The thought made him chuckle to himself.

So he replied to Zhao Yan.

[Orange Hater]: "I’m free. You pick the time and place."

After sending the message, he pocketed his phone and was about to push his bike when he spotted two women walking out of the library—a staff member and Xuan Ying.

Seeing this, a trace of hesitation flickered across his face.

In the end, he decided to follow them.

But before he could act, a familiar floral scent drifted by, and suddenly, someone tugged at his sleeve. His heart skipped, and he turned to look.

Li Guanqi was holding onto his sleeve, her clear, striking eyes quietly fixed on him.

"About... this afternoon’s class."

Su Cheng was about to explain that spilling tea earlier wasn’t intentional, but Li Guanqi spoke first. "I know."

"Mm."

He fell silent for a few seconds, his expression shifting from unease to calmness—a gentle calm, mixed with something else.

He realized that between him and Li Guanqi, they had moved beyond petty misunderstandings.

"Still, want to hear my explanation?"

Feeling like something was missing, Su Cheng tentatively asked.

Li Guanqi blinked, as if reading his mind, then covered her ears and shook her head cutely like a rattle drum, saying in her usual flat tone, "I won’t listen, I won’t listen~"

There it was.

Turns out, these silly misunderstandings could be fun too.

He couldn’t help but laugh, though he quickly schooled his expression back to neutrality.

Deciding to return to the original topic, he glanced at Li Guanqi, who remained as expressionless as ever—as if she hadn’t just acted adorably moments ago.