Use Yi Fist on Me

Su Cheng lowered his eyes upon hearing this and remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "I thought that particular one was too unflattering, so I assumed the president wouldn’t mind much and took it away."

His words were tactful yet candid.

After all, lying would be pointless—Ji Qingyi would see right through it.

Ji Qingyi gave a slight nod, her voice as composed as ever. "I remember every photo taken during our outings. To me, each holds its own significance."

At this, Su Cheng inwardly scoffed. She was generalizing, deliberately avoiding any mention of how much she cared about that particular "unserious group photo." Instead, she claimed all photos were equally important.

But unfortunately for her, he hadn’t taken just one.

He’d taken two.

One was the "unserious group photo," and the other was an ordinary landscape shot.

Her claim was a lie!

She hadn’t memorized every single photo after all!

Clearly, Ji Qingyi cared deeply.

Seeing no way out, Su Cheng took a sip of tea, set down his cup, and retrieved the hidden group photo from his pocket, placing it on the table.

Ji Qingyi extended her slender, pale fingers, picked up the photo, examined it briefly without a flicker of emotion, then slid it into a kraft paper envelope before setting it aside.

Her movements were graceful and precise, a clear sign of how much she treasured these photos.

"Um, President, there’s actually something else I wanted to discuss."

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Cheng decided to bring it up—the recent encounter with Aino Marui.

"Hm."

Ji Qingyi acknowledged him with a glance.

"Well… I have this friend…"

Su Cheng carefully chose his words. "She’s caught in a misunderstanding with someone. If they just sat down and talked, it could easily be resolved. But neither is willing to meet or even exchange a single word—it’s been years."

He trailed off, stealing a glance at Ji Qingyi’s expression.

"I see."

Ji Qingyi’s response was indifferent, giving nothing away.

"So, you see," Su Cheng nodded emphatically, "isn’t that just maddening? I really want to help, but I… I…"

Before he could finish, Ji Qingyi cut him off.

"Drop the act."

She fixed him with a penetrating gaze, her tone calm but probing, as if she could see straight through him.

"Uh…"

"You’re talking about Aino, aren’t you?"

"……"

Su Cheng stiffened, caught off guard.

He’d underestimated her perceptiveness.

"I ran into her on my way here," he admitted with a sigh. "I asked her to come with me, but she bolted."

Ji Qingyi shook her head lightly. "There’s no need for you to force it. Nor should you trouble yourself over her affairs. So, don’t let it weigh on you."

"But—"

"That’s all."

With that, Ji Qingyi stood, gathered the photos, and turned away. "If there’s nothing else, I have matters to attend to."

"Alright then."

Su Cheng quickly rose to his feet.

Her stance was clear—she wouldn’t intervene, nor would she seek out Aino Marui.

She’d already done enough.

The rest was up to Aino herself.

With a resigned sigh, Su Cheng left.

Once alone, Ji Qingyi settled at her desk, flipping through the photos before retrieving a brand-new album from a drawer—purchased in advance to give them a "home."

Her slender index finger guided each photo into place, her movements meticulous and tender despite her impassive expression.

After arranging them all, she took out a frame and carefully mounted the "unserious group photo" before placing it on her desk.

For a long moment, she studied it, adjusting its position slightly before returning to her book.

Knock, knock, knock—

The sudden rapping at her door made her swiftly tuck the frame back into the drawer, restoring her composure in an instant.

"Come in," she said coolly.

The door creaked open, revealing Su Cheng once more.

"President."

He greeted her respectfully.

Ji Qingyi regarded him with detached curiosity. "Something else?"

"I’ve decided to help Aino Marui."

Su Cheng took a deep breath, his voice resolute.

On his way out, he’d remembered Ji Qingyi alone in the clubroom, playing High Mountains and Flowing Water.

The piece’s meaning struck him—finding a kindred spirit.

He considered himself hers.

But now he’d joined another club, leaving her solitary. He couldn’t bear the thought of her spending her days in isolation.

So, he resolved to bring Aino—her childhood friend—back into her life, even if just for occasional companionship.

"Do as you please."

Ji Qingyi’s response was neutral, her face unreadable.

"Then I’ll take my leave."

Relieved, Su Cheng smiled and hurried out.

Silence reclaimed the room.

Ji Qingyi resumed reading, her gaze fixed on the pages yet distant, as if lost in thought.

She debated whether to retrieve the frame again.

After a pause, she decided to.

Just seeing it brought back the emotions of that moment.

So, she took it out, placed it back on the desk, and immersed herself in her book.

But barely a few minutes passed—

Knock, knock, knock.

The familiar sound sent her scrambling to stash the frame once more. Only after ensuring everything was in order did she call out, "Enter."

Her tone, however, had cooled noticeably.

Su Cheng stepped in again, scratching his head awkwardly. "President, sorry to disturb your work."

"Hm."

Ji Qingyi acknowledged him, waiting.

"Actually, I just realized the deeper meaning behind your stance. This is something she must overcome herself. Only by facing it head-on can she truly grow. If I interfere, it’ll just be a temporary fix. The real change has to come from within her."

Su Cheng spoke earnestly.

Ji Qingyi arched a brow, studying him. "For you to grasp that is rare. Well done."

She’d always held Su Cheng in high regard, and this newfound insight only deepened her approval.

"Thank you, President."

Su Cheng bowed slightly.

"Go on, then."

"Right."

With that, he departed for good.

After confirming that Su Cheng had truly left, Ji Qingyi finally pulled open the drawer, took out the photo in her hand, and placed it on the desk.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

The familiar knocking sound came again. A vein throbbed on her forehead, and her grip unconsciously tightened, nearly snapping the book in her hand. She quickly returned the photo frame to its original spot and shut the drawer.

"Come in!"

This time, she spat out the word coldly.

The office door swung open, and Su Cheng walked in yet again, his expression unusually serious. "President, I just realized I accidentally took two photos earlier, not one. So I came back specifically to return this one to you."

Ji Qingyi's face stiffened.

She hadn’t expected Su Cheng to have taken two.

Didn’t that just prove she cared way too much about that "unserious group photo"?

Her expression darkened further, her voice turning rigid.

"How could you be so reckless?"

Seeing the president’s increasingly stormy expression, Su Cheng hastily placed the photo on the desk and prepared to bolt.

But to his surprise, Ji Qingyi was faster. In one fluid motion, her fair, jade-like hand shot out and clamped onto his arm.

Su Cheng froze, his arm trapped in her grip, unable to move.

He turned his head, putting on an innocent face. "President, is there anything else you need?"

"Having fun?"

Ji Qingyi’s voice was colder than an ice cellar.

"N-no, not at all."

Su Cheng shook his head frantically.

In this situation, he wouldn’t dare admit to any amusement. He obediently denied it.

The current dynamic was this: Ji Qingyi knew Su Cheng’s intentions, and Su Cheng knew that Ji Qingyi knew his intentions.

So, with both fully aware, the atmosphere was now unbearably awkward.

Su Cheng had confirmed Ji Qingyi’s fixation on the "unserious group photo."

And Ji Qingyi didn’t want him to know she cared about it.

Today’s victor—Su Cheng.

His goal had been achieved.

But who would’ve thought this guy would have the audacity to come back and gloat about it?!

The air grew increasingly frigid…

Noticing this…

"President, could you punch me? Just to see if it hurts…"

Su Cheng raised a fist, his expression unshakably determined, and added solemnly, "Hit me with a Qingyi Punch!"

His will was indomitable. He desperately wanted Ji Qingyi to throw a punch, to vent her frustration and resentment.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Su Cheng proactively offered himself up as a punching bag—partly to let her blow off steam, but also to test his own endurance and gauge the difference between their physical stats.

What better way to kill two birds with one stone?

The moment the words left his mouth, his body instinctively braced for impact. But since his arm was still trapped—and because he genuinely wanted to experience it—he made no attempt to dodge or resist.

The next second, Ji Qingyi’s right hook landed squarely on his abdomen.

It wasn’t a full-force blow, just a casual, effortless swing—yet it was enough to leave Su Cheng utterly stunned.

Because—

"Ghk—"

Am I dying?

Su Cheng gasped in pain, doubling over as he clutched his stomach, his face twisted in agony. His mind even flashed through his entire life like a slideshow.

That light, almost playful punch had somehow triggered his life flashing before his eyes, leaving him utterly shaken.

Just as Ji Qingyi reached out to help him up, he weakly waved her off, gritting his teeth. "A measly little punch like that is nothing. Next time, I hope you’ll go all out—no holding back! I’ll take my leave now."

With that, he forced himself upright.

Ji Qingyi didn’t stop him, simply standing by and watching silently.

Putting on a brave front, Su Cheng casually brushed off his now-wrinkled uniform, straightened his posture, and strode confidently toward the door.

BANG!

The door slammed shut behind him with a resounding crash.

Ji Qingyi’s lips twitched. She leisurely returned to her desk, took out the photo album, and studied the picture of Su Cheng—wearing the same expression as he had moments ago. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

……………………

The second he stepped out of the Archery Club, Su Cheng couldn’t hold it in anymore. He slumped against the wall, clutching his stomach and rubbing it furiously.

"Ugh… that really hurt!"

Gritting his teeth, he internally ranted, The gap between us is ridiculous… If she’d gone all out, would I have just dropped dead on the spot?!

But just then, his sharp eyes caught sight of three familiar figures approaching from a distance—Zhao Yan, Xuan Ying, and Li Guanqi, returning to the school building after lunch.

Panicking, he forced himself to straighten up, schooling his expression into something calm and collected.

"Su Cheng."

Zhao Yan was the first to greet him.

Xuan Ying and Li Guanqi flanked her, standing silently on either side.

Su Cheng nodded at each of them in acknowledgment, forcing a smile. "What a coincidence. Just getting back from lunch?"

Li Guanqi’s gaze lingered on Su Cheng’s abdomen for a few seconds, while Xuan Ying fidgeted beside her, fingers nervously twisting together.

"Yeah," Zhao Yan replied, eyeing him with concern. "By the way, have you eaten yet?"

Her tone was warm, as if speaking to a close friend.

"Ah, not yet. I was just about to grab something," Su Cheng quickly lied, hoping to use this as an excuse to escape.

But Zhao Yan frowned slightly. "Class is about to start. If you go to the cafeteria now, you’ll be late. How about…"

She trailed off, rummaging through her bag before pulling out a small box of cookies and offering it to him. "Here, have these to tide you over."

Inspired by her gesture, Xuan Ying also began digging through her own bag—only to fish out a single stick of gum. Her face instantly flushed with embarrassment. "S-sorry, this is all I have…"

She looked up at Su Cheng apologetically.

Su Cheng waved it off. "It’s fine, really. I’m not that hungry anyway."

"Don’t be so polite. We’re classmates, after all."

Zhao Yan insisted, pressing the cookies into his hands before clasping hers behind her back, leaving him no room to refuse.

Meanwhile, Xuan Ying bounced forward eagerly, holding out the gum with utmost seriousness. "This is my favorite flavor. I hope you’ll accept it."

After both girls had handed over their offerings, their eyes subtly flicked toward Li Guanqi, who had yet to make a move.

When Li Guanqi remained still, the two exchanged a glance, mischief dancing in their eyes.

They knew Li Guanqi—the refined, scholarly daughter of an intellectual family—would never carry snacks.

In fact, they’d never even seen her eat junk food!

They were certain she must be feeling awkward right now.

Su Cheng also glanced at Li Guanqi’s impassive face. Just as he was about to step in and save her from the awkwardness by returning the snacks—

She moved.

Just as the two girls assumed her bag contained nothing but books, they were proven wrong…

In the next second, both of their pupils constricted in shock.

To their astonishment, Li Guanqi pulled out a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread from his bag.

For a moment, Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying were left speechless.

"How could you possibly have these things with you!?"

They spoke in unison, their voices laced with disbelief.

Li Guanqi replied calmly, "It's just a habit."

His tone was composed, as if carrying food around was the most natural thing in the world, nothing out of the ordinary.

Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying were momentarily at a loss for words.

He placed the bread and milk into Su Cheng's hands and said in the same even tone, "This should be enough to fill your stomach. We’ll head back to the classroom now."