What Brand of System Are You

At this moment,

Su Cheng faced a daunting dilemma.

To look or not to look?

It was a maddening question.

He knew Ji Qingyi’s desk had never held a photo frame before.

So, the picture inside was most likely from their recent outing—though which one, he couldn’t be sure.

Still, a single glance would reveal the truth.

But before he could decide,

Ji Qingyi’s slender, jade-like hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.

His entire body stiffened instantly, muscles locking as he turned mechanically to see her face half-shrouded in shadow—her lips curved into a breathtaking yet twisted smile that sent chills down his spine.

It felt as though the slightest movement would make her crush his shoulder with all her strength.

Su Cheng broke into a cold sweat, swallowing hard before forcing out a nervous chuckle. "H-hey, hey, the dango’s here! I, uh... came to deliver them."

"Dango?"

Ji Qingyi’s eerie smile vanished, replaced by an icy stare fixed on the box in his arms. "How thoughtful of you to bring them personally."

Without waiting for a reply, she took the box, then added, "Since you’re here, and it’s lunchtime, you may as well join me at the table."

Su Cheng blinked, instinctively glancing back toward the photo frame—but the sudden pressure on his shoulder forced him to nod.

"Let’s go, then."

Her voice was cool as she released him, though her gaze never wavered from him.

"O-okay."

Su Cheng nodded reluctantly and stepped out, feeling her eyes on his back until he entered the dining room. Only then did Ji Qingyi turn back to the photo frame.

She set the dango aside, then summoned an attendant to swiftly return the frame to her bedroom. Another servant was instructed to fetch an identical frame—this one holding an ordinary landscape photo.

Once the arrangements were made, she strode out, her expression as aloof and regal as ever.

When she entered the dining room, Su Cheng was already waiting. She closed the door behind her and took her seat across from him.

"President, have you taken up photography lately?"

Still burning with curiosity, Su Cheng broached the subject, hoping to pry some answers loose.

"Photography is merely a method of capturing information. I dabble in it casually."

Her tone was flat, devoid of inflection, like stagnant water. "I don’t particularly enjoy it, but I appreciate how photos can convey deeper emotions and memories through light and shadow."

Su Cheng couldn’t resist pressing further. "Then, the photo in your office frame...?"

Ji Qingyi’s brow twitched, but before she could respond, servants entered to serve the meal, then discreetly withdrew.

Her composure returned as she said simply, "Eat."

Her tone left no room for argument.

But Su Cheng, ever the rebellious youth, only grew more determined the more she withheld.

Still, he knew better than to push further—for now. He’d eat first, then try again.

Though he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d forgotten something...

The meal passed in silence. Ji Qingyi ate sparingly, occasionally sipping soup, while Su Cheng adhered to the old adage of "no talking during meals."

Soon, he polished off his bowl, down to the last grain. Wiping his lips with a napkin, he glanced up—only to find Ji Qingyi dabbing her mouth with the same poised elegance.

Their eyes met. Hers were as indifferent as ever; his, inexplicably guilty.

"Can I see it?"

Summoning his courage, Su Cheng finally asked.

Ji Qingyi’s expression didn’t change as she gave him a frosty look.

But instead of refusing, she rose leisurely, napkin in hand, and walked out.

Su Cheng scrambled to follow.

Back in the office, Ji Qingyi gestured indifferently. "Go ahead. It’s just a landscape photo—nothing special."

"Right, just curious."

Su Cheng picked up the frame without hesitation—only to freeze in disbelief.

It was a landscape photo. And not even from their trip.

His shoulders slumped in disappointment.

He’d hoped for a group photo—maybe even the one she’d admitted liking before.

But this? Just scenery.

All that anticipation for nothing.

Still... the delay made him suspicious. Had she swapped it?

So—

"President, you’ve got quite the eye. This photo alone is so moving, it’s almost overwhelming."

Ji Qingyi sat at her desk, observing him with apparent satisfaction at his current reaction, and said slowly, "Hmm, one can truly sense the tranquility and power contained within nature."

"Especially this little stream—the water is clean and clear, flowing neither too fast nor too slow. If given the chance, I’d love to stay here for a while, watching the stream every day, listening to its gentle murmur. It would surely calm the mind."

Su Cheng glanced at the framed landscape photo filled with mountains and casually fabricated a story about a stream.

If Ji Qingyi agreed, it would prove she hadn’t paid attention to the frame herself—or even suggest it had been swapped!

After saying this, Su Cheng deliberately lowered his head, pretending to scrutinize the photo closely so Ji Qingyi couldn’t easily read his expression or eyes for signs of deception.

"President, look, this stream is really quite lovely," he added, feigning admiration.

However, having learned from past mistakes, Ji Qingyi wasn’t fooled. She simply stared coldly at Su Cheng, saying nothing—whether in disbelief or brewing a storm of fury, it was unclear.

Realizing this wasn’t working, Su Cheng gave up and instead prepared to leave. "President, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. I’ll visit again another time!"

Ji Qingyi nodded without stopping him.

"I really like this photo..."

"Go ahead."

"Thank you."

With that, Su Cheng took the frame in hand and walked away.

The moment he left, Ji Qingyi immediately called over the attendant from earlier and asked, "Was there a stream in the photos you prepared?"

"Only mountains and forests. No bodies of water."

……………………………………

Social Practice Club

"Sorry, something came up last minute. I’m late."

Su Cheng pushed open the door, wearing an apologetic and awkward expression.

They had originally planned to have lunch together.

But his curiosity about the photo frame had delayed him by half an hour.

Gu Ruoxue sat at her seat, reading a book. When she saw him arrive, she didn’t scold him further—just turned a page and kept reading.

Su Cheng, seeing this, pulled out a box of dango from his system space as a peace offering and handed it to her. "Alright, don’t be mad. You haven’t eaten yet, right? Have some dango."

Gu Ruoxue paused her reading. The air seemed to freeze, as if time had stretched in that instant.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, glanced at his hand, then at the dango on the table, and suddenly said, "Do you think you’re pacifying a child?"

Su Cheng stiffened, quickly retracting his hand with an awkward laugh. "No, no... I just made extra yesterday."

Gu Ruoxue didn’t press further. She closed the book and set it aside, her expression still cool—clearly, his attempt at appeasement hadn’t softened her mood.

"Full yet?"

Out of nowhere, she asked in an unusually brief manner, completely unlike her usual self.

Su Cheng blinked in surprise.

Shouldn’t it be, Have you eaten?

Or... did she know he’d already eaten at Ji Qingyi’s place?

"Nothing particularly memorable," he answered truthfully.

Gu Ruoxue gave him a look, then stood up.

"Close the door. Draw the curtains too."

"Okay."

Su Cheng turned to lock the door and pull the curtains shut. But when he turned back, his pupils constricted in shock—

What happened next stunned him for the entire year.

Right before his eyes, Gu Ruoxue opened a drawer and pulled out a soup pot with both hands.

She placed the pot on the table, then conjured bowls and chopsticks out of thin air.

Su Cheng stood there dumbfounded, his mind in chaos. He never imagined that watching someone materialize objects from a third-person perspective could be so utterly mind-blowing.

So he just stood there, frozen.

She... has a system space too?

Gu Ruoxue ladled some soup, blew on it twice, then took a small sip, closing her eyes to savor the flavor.

"...What brand is your system?"