Take off, here comes the finisher, smash it

Su Cheng's Home

In the living room at this moment...

Cornelia sat on the sofa, her sweet, soft white-stockinged feet dangling slightly above the floor, her cheeks flushed and her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling as she stared blankly at Su Cheng, who was busy cooking in the kitchen.

After her relentless efforts, Su Cheng had finally shown no more signs of wanting to end his life. Yet, she felt an inexplicable emptiness.

Why was that?

Because even after everything that had happened, Su Cheng still hadn’t confessed to her.

She truly couldn’t understand it.

Their feelings for each other were so obvious!

Sure, Su Cheng was usually a bit tsundere, but not to this extent!

This was the perfect moment for a confession—so why wouldn’t he take the initiative?

Did he really expect her, a girl, to confess first?

"What a hopeless black-haired fool."

Cornelia glanced at Su Cheng bustling in the kitchen and couldn’t help muttering under her breath.

Then, her gaze landed on the unopened bottle of "Eight Walnuts" milk that Ailiya had left behind.

She licked her lips, narrowed her eyes, and hopped off the sofa, making her way to the coffee table. She reached out and grabbed the bottle of walnut milk.

"So, why won’t he confess?"

Staring at the bottle in her hand, Cornelia voiced her confusion once more.

Perhaps this bottle of walnut milk would give her the answer she sought.

Click—

She opened the bottle and took a sip.

The familiar aroma and taste instantly filled her mouth, sending a wave of excitement through her nerves.

Whenever she needed to think deeply, a sip of walnut milk would spark countless ideas in her mind.

This time was no exception.

Gulp, gulp—

After finishing the bottle, Cornelia closed her eyes, immersing herself in the changes unfolding in her mind.

As she lost herself in the sensation, she suddenly felt as though she could perceive the vastness and grandeur of the universe. Her body seemed to float upward, higher and higher, until it became transparent—dissolving into a wisp of smoke that drifted gently into her own mind...

[William Henry Cornelia]

[Intelligence: 4.8]

[Intelligence: 4.9]

...

[Intelligence: 6.9]

[Intelligence: 7.9]

[Intelligence: 8]

"What... is this?"

Cornelia felt as though she were in a dream—everything around her was pitch black, yet she could somehow see everything clearly. Her thoughts became razor-sharp, as if she had gained infinite wisdom.

For a moment, she even felt like a god in this world—capable of recreating history, altering the past, glimpsing the future, transcending time and space, sharing thoughts, and unraveling the mysteries of existence.

Just as she was lost in this surreal experience, she heard a voice.

"Senpai, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

The voice was gentle, warm, and achingly familiar—the very words she had longed to hear.

Cornelia’s heart trembled violently. Her legs instinctively took a step forward, but in the next moment, the scene around her shifted abruptly. The darkness vanished, replaced by the steps of Flame City Private Academy, surrounded by a crowd of students whispering among themselves. Most of them wore mocking smiles, their eyes filled with schadenfreude.

Cornelia froze, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest.

The owner of the voice stood clearly before her—a young man whose gaze was fixed intently on her.

It was Su Cheng, on the day of the opening ceremony.

Just as she was about to accept him without hesitation, a voice—eerily similar to her own—suddenly rang out from beside her, dripping with scorn.

"Being confessed to by you is so embarrassing! Just go away!"

Cornelia turned in disbelief, only to see another version of herself standing there, clad in the school uniform, her face flushed with humiliation and anger as she spat those words.

She reached out to stop her, but her hand passed right through.

Then, she looked around at the students—their jeering faces, their laughter, their fingers pointing and whispering.

Finally, her gaze fell on Su Cheng, who stood with his head bowed, silent.

Back then, she had never once considered his feelings after saying those words.

Now, panic surged in her chest as she realized just how devastated Su Cheng must have been—his body trembling faintly under the weight of the humiliation.

Being publicly rejected like this... it must have shattered his pride.

"I’m sorry."

After what felt like an eternity, Su Cheng finally lifted his head. His voice was choked with emotion as he forced out those two words with all his strength. Then, he turned to leave.

"Su Cheng!"

"Wait!"

"Su Cheng!"

"I accept! Come back!"

Cornelia lunged forward, reaching out to grab his arm—but her hand passed right through him.

Su Cheng didn’t seem to notice. His lips pressed into a tight line as he walked away, and Cornelia could almost feel the despair and heartbreak radiating from him. She tried to chase after him, but something held her back, rendering her powerless.

All she could do was watch helplessly as his figure disappeared from sight.

Then, she turned back to the scene—the sneers, the mocking stares, the hushed gossip.

A chill ran down her spine.

Su Cheng had been publicly humiliated by the very person he admired...

Maybe...

This was why he refused to confess now?

She looked at her past self again, arms crossed, wearing an arrogant expression before turning to leave.

The crowd erupted in laughter and ridicule.

Scanning the faces, she spotted a few familiar ones—Li Guanqi standing expressionless in a corner, watching Su Cheng’s retreating figure as if deep in thought.

And Gu Ruoxue, also in a corner, head bowed as she scribbled something in a notebook.

"A lowly commoner thinking he can reach for the stars?"

"Why doesn’t he take a look at himself in the mirror?"

"Hey, if he succeeded, he’d skip decades of struggle."

"As if that would ever happen!"

"Even if it did, do you think it’d last? Senpai Cornelia is British nobility! Since when do nobles fall for commoners?"

"Hahaha..."

The voices of ridicule gradually faded, replaced by the sound of shattering glass. Then, the crowd vanished, as if nothing had ever happened, and the world plunged back into darkness.

For a moment, Cornelia felt dazed.

She had finally found the reason Su Cheng refused to confess—and why, despite her obvious feelings (she might as well have worn a sign saying "I like you"), he still acted oblivious.

The truth was...

She had overlooked the gap in their status all along.

Even if they did get together...

Would her parents ever approve?

Absolutely not!

So, Su Cheng understood this?

Which means, even if she confessed, he wouldn’t agree?

Let alone her taking the initiative to confess?!

Now…

Although she had returned to the past and gained clarity on many things, she couldn’t change anything. But she knew one thing that could transcend time, space, and even the future—love!

And this was something only she could give.

Cornelia stood in the pitch-black darkness, her only desire now to return to Su Cheng, to comfort him, apologize, and tell him she had grown up—no longer the little girl who cared about others’ opinions.

Then, she would solemnly confess: she liked him.

Just expressing her feelings would be enough!

Once she gained the power to control her own destiny, they could become a couple.

At this moment, her thoughts were crystal clear.

But she wanted to go back.

Yet she remained trapped in this endless darkness.

There was no way to return.

Gritting her teeth, Cornelia shouted, "Let me out! I need to get out!"

But no matter how loud she screamed, the voice lingering in her ears remained indifferent. A sense of prolonged loneliness washed over her…

Panicked, she clutched her head, shut her eyes, and let out a desperate scream.

Yet it was futile. Just like in her memories, she had no control—utterly lost, flailing her fists in the dark but hitting nothing but air.

Then, suddenly, she noticed glimmers of light in the darkness. They grew closer, brighter, until she could see them clearly.

This…

Were fragments of shattered mirrors, each reflecting moments between her and Su Cheng—every conversation, every glance, every shared meal, every game they played together.

Like a kaleidoscope of memories, their joy, sorrow, and every emotion unfolded before her. But she was merely an observer, unable to touch the flood of feelings surging before her.

In the next instant, something strange happened—

The fragments rearranged themselves, rapidly forming three enormous letters:

SOS

"What is this…?"

Staring at her memories morphing into the word "SOS," Cornelia froze.

"A distress signal?!"

Her brows furrowed as an ominous feeling crept over her.

This was unsettling.

Her own memories were calling for help?!

The moment this thought crossed her mind, Cornelia felt an invisible force push her forward. Then, her eyes snapped open—she was back in Su Cheng’s home.

[Intelligence: 4.9]

"Time to eat. Finish up and head back soon."

Su Cheng walked out of the kitchen carrying dishes and called out to her when he noticed her.

Seeing him, Cornelia felt an overwhelming urge to throw herself into his arms. But she held back, simply nodding. "Okay."

What did that SOS mean?

Never mind—food first!

It had been so long since she’d tasted his cooking. She’d eat her fill, then confess!

"Mhm."

Hearing her response, Su Cheng acknowledged it with a hum and began serving rice. She sat at the table, accepted the bowl, and quietly started eating.

"Don’t choke."

Noticing her wolfing down the food, Su Cheng handed her a carton of Eight Walnuts.

Cornelia’s heart raced as she took it, gulping it down without hesitation. After finishing, she licked her lips, savoring the taste.

But then, those three letters—SOS—echoed relentlessly in her mind.

"Why does this pop up when I’m about to confess?"

She rubbed her temples, baffled. What did this distress signal mean?

Her gaze lingered on Su Cheng, unsure what to do.

Noticing her stare, Su Cheng looked up. "What’s wrong? Something on your mind?"

"N-no, nothing."

Cornelia shook her head hurriedly, but then blurted out, "Actually… if I confessed to you, would you reject me?"

Su Cheng’s spoon paused mid-air.

The sudden directness caught him off guard. He stared at her for a long moment before asking, "How did you know?"

So it was true…

Su Cheng had already considered this. That’s why he never confessed!

Just then, her phone buzzed loudly from her pocket, startling her. She fumbled to pull it out.

The caller ID made her pupils shrink.

Her mother!

"What do I do?!"

Cornelia panicked, glancing between her phone and Su Cheng, who had already turned away. Biting her lip, she answered.

"Mommy! What’s up?"

"Why aren’t you home yet?!"

The sharp reprimand made Cornelia’s face flush.

"I’m having dinner at Ailiya’s place," she mumbled.

"Ailiya is right beside me!"

Her mother’s voice rose sharply. Cornelia’s heart dropped. "I… I… I—"

"Lying now, are we? If I hadn’t run into Ailiya, were you planning to stay out all night?!"

Her mother’s anger erupted. Cornelia bit her lip, silent.

"Your cousin mentioned you’ve been getting close to some shady boy. Seems it’s true!"

Cornelia stiffened. Before she could respond, Su Cheng reached out, gesturing for the phone.

Startled, she handed it over without thinking—Su Cheng always knew how to handle her mother.

But this time, she was wrong.

Su Cheng took the phone and spoke politely, "Hello, ma’am. I’m Su Cheng from Flame City Private Academy, Class 1-2. We’re currently at XX Apartment, Unit 201-404, having dinner together."