Su Cheng's Speculation

"My soul and body feel so distant. Yet my existence depends so heavily on this world."

The three girls also discovered the words left behind by the "original Su Cheng."

"He quoted Camus... What was he trying to express?" Ji Qingyi murmured before turning to her young maid. "What do you think?"

"I believe he felt both discomfort and envy after seeing the interactions between his 'former self' and Gu Ruoxue," Liu Qingyue said thoughtfully, stroking her fair chin. "And then a strange sense of competitiveness emerged. What he truly wants is for us to treat him the same way Gu Ruoxue did."

"Seems like with your understanding of him, there's no need for further interpretation or analysis," Ji Qingyi remarked, casting a glance at Liu Qingyue before shifting her gaze to Li Guanqi beside her.

She no longer wanted Liu Qingyue to voice her opinions.

At that moment, Li Guanqi suddenly spoke up. "I think this sentence perfectly captures his current state of mind. He’s realized that his existence is full of contradictions."

"Hmm, 'the distance between body and soul' suggests he feels a sense of detachment, no longer viewing his body and soul as one. There’s also a conflicting reluctance—wanting to leave this world yet not wanting to go at the same time."

Ji Qingyi analyzed the words coolly and dispassionately.

Li Guanqi continued, "To summarize, I think he’s somehow realized that he’s an outsider. It’s not just due to his previous memory loss—this feeling stems from something deeper."

"So..." Ji Qingyi pondered for a moment before saying, "Gu Ruoxue clearly knows the whole truth, yet the way she treats him isn’t as an outsider. Instead, it’s more like..."

She paused, searching for the right words.

"...Like an old friend?"

"Mm. This book was borrowed by two people that same day," Li Guanqi said, her expression as unreadable as ever, though her tone grew heavier. "From this, it seems both his past self and Senior Gu knew in advance about the memory loss."

"So, just because his behavior before and after is different, he rashly concludes he’s an outsider?"

Since Su Cheng had previously asked Liu Qingyue this very question, Ji Qingyi’s expression turned slightly odd. She furrowed her delicate brows and continued, "If we connect these two things... and consider his perspective in the worst possible light, then we can understand why he left these words behind—he believes that since the original host knew about the memory loss in advance, he would’ve definitely left a contingency plan."

"He’s afraid of being replaced by the original host, so before leaving, he told us about it." Li Guanqi nodded. "This reasoning fits his logic perfectly. After all, someone like him would always prepare for the worst."

"Judging by the fact that he left this message, if that’s truly the case, he would choose to resist—though he can’t guarantee success." Ji Qingyi spoke slowly. "If even his own special items and abilities can’t ensure victory, then the contingency plans left by Gu Ruoxue and the 'former Su Cheng' must be far superior in his eyes."

"So you’re saying..." Li Guanqi hesitated before continuing, "We actually have the means to help him escape this predicament."

Ji Qingyi answered without hesitation. "It’s the reward, isn’t it?"

"Right. If someone rated A-tier by the system confesses to him, he’ll receive a reward—an item or ability he currently needs."

Li Guanqi pursed her lips at this point, leaving the rest unsaid. The implication was obvious, and even without spelling it out, both Ji Qingyi and Liu Qingyue understood.

However, this statement effectively excluded Ji Qingyi.

Because she was S-tier.

Yes, A-tier had that kind of privilege!

And in a situation like this, while she could still step forward and confess, there was a risk that instead of a reward, it might trigger a penalty.

So, she didn’t dare act recklessly.

There was also a high chance that Su Cheng’s speculation was wrong.

After a brief silence, Ji Qingyi turned to Liu Qingyue and said directly, "Then, you should go see him."

Liu Qingyue wore a thoughtful expression but ultimately shook her head. "I was the one who went last time. Wouldn’t it be too frequent if I went again? And this time, it’s based on his flimsy speculation. The margin for error is too high."

Everyone understood that "error" meant punishment.

"He’s really given us a difficult problem," Ji Qingyi muttered, a rare trace of irritation crossing her face as she massaged her temples.

To dismiss his "former self" just based on behavioral differences?

That was a bit too absurd.

"Cornelia is at the orphanage," Li Guanqi suddenly interjected.

"Cornelia doesn’t know about the system’s existence, and she’s also A-tier. With some guidance, we might be able to secure the reward."

"C-Cornelia..."

At the mention of the name, Ji Qingyi’s expression turned peculiar.

The last time they visited the orphanage, Cornelia had hidden away, refusing to meet them—as if deliberately avoiding contact.

"This won't work."

Liu Qingyue shook her head. "There are no more markers left."

She and Su Cheng had previously discussed this issue—after all the recorder pen rewards were obtained, the system indicators above Cornelia's head had completely disappeared.

"As for Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan..."

Liu Qingyue pondered for a moment before sighing. "They don't meet the criteria."

Hearing this, Li Guanqi lowered her head and fell silent.

"Actually, I do have some confidence, but..."

Liu Qingyue raised her gaze and continued softly, "The problem is, he isn’t trying to obtain rewards. That wasn’t his intention at all..."

As she spoke, she took the book from Li Guanqi’s hands, flipped through the table of contents, and pointed at the words he had left behind.

"His goal is actually very simple... just like this..."

With that, she picked up a pen and lightly drew a ✔️ at the end of the sentence.

"Hmm."

Ji Qingyi nodded. "This really is just us interpreting things based on his way of thinking."

She then took the pen from Liu Qingyue and also marked a ✔️ at the end of the sentence before adding, "Just as I told him from the beginning, no matter what, I won’t stand by and do nothing. Even if it’s wrong, I’ll still help him the way he wants."

"Yes, that does match his mix of maturity and childishness."

Li Guanqi gazed at the words he had left in the table of contents and murmured, "No matter what, this part of the story shouldn’t be left for us to complete."

After saying this, she too drew a ✔️ at the end of the sentence.

"See? He’s already won against himself."

Liu Qingyue looked at the ✔️ marks after Su Cheng’s words—far surpassing the 'old' Su Cheng—and smiled playfully. "What he wanted was really this simple, nothing more. Still, this whole thing is a bit odd. He’s gotten into a fight with himself. We can tease him about it later—his reaction will definitely be priceless, don’t you think?"

She took the book and placed it back in its original spot before suddenly adding, "He’s already gotten what he wanted. But, Young Miss, someone else had the same idea as you—except they want to give him even more."

Ji Qingyi naturally understood what she meant by "even more," especially since Li Guanqi had already left the library ahead of them.

And the words she had left behind were particularly thought-provoking.

The ending of this story shouldn’t be completed by 'us.'

It should be done by her alone.

Almost as if she was afraid Ji Qingyi would send Liu Qingyue to confess first.

Ji Qingyi didn’t show any surprise, however. Instead, she calmly asked, "So, does she have a way to help Su Cheng obtain the reward?"

"Perhaps." Liu Qingyue chuckled softly. "Or maybe she’d rather risk making a mistake than do nothing at all."

Ji Qingyi raised an eyebrow but quickly regained her composure. "In that case, I’m curious—how exactly does she plan to do it?"

Liu Qingyue blinked, her expression tinged with amusement. "Well then, Young Miss, should I try to beat her to it?"

Ji Qingyi shot her a sidelong glance. "If she’s confident, there’s no need for unnecessary actions. Our priority is ensuring Su Cheng gets his reward."

"Let’s go."

Liu Qingyue followed behind her, replying cheerfully, "Alright~ Though it’s also possible she just wants to tell Su Cheng that his worries are completely unfounded."

The two of them walked out of the library one after the other.

However, instead of finding Li Guanqi, they spotted Su Cheng sitting at a small food stall by the roadside, eating a bowl of rice noodles in a secluded corner.

At the moment, he was hunched over, focused entirely on his meal. To avoid being recognized, he kept his head down the entire time.

The master and servant pair stopped at a distance.

Finding Su Cheng was enough.

Just then, Su Cheng finished eating, wiped his mouth, put on a face mask, and prepared to leave.

But before he could take more than a few steps—

"Hey, you with the mask! You haven’t paid yet! Got no shame, trying to skip out on the bill?"

A burly, bald man stirring a wok suddenly shouted at him.

Instantly, all eyes in the vicinity turned toward Su Cheng.

"Boss, I remember him paying earlier..."

A kind-hearted bystander tried to speak up, but before they could finish, the furious stall owner glared them into silence.

"......"

Su Cheng froze for a moment before looking up at the man.

He distinctly remembered paying for the noodles while waiting.

But he only hesitated briefly before saying nothing further. After glancing at the bald man, who spat on the ground, he silently scanned another ten-yuan payment and walked away.

This scene prompted a discussion between the two observers.

"Young Miss, Su Cheng’s frown just now clearly showed he’d already paid. So why did he swallow his pride and pay again?"

Liu Qingyue mused with a faint smile. "You know Su Cheng well too—what do you think his reason was?"

"Perhaps he knew what was coming next, and compared to that, this current matter was nothing worth fussing over. That’s why he now exuded a sort of lofty, almost condescending tolerance toward the mundane world?"

Ji Qingyi wore a thoughtful expression before slowly adding, "Or maybe he just couldn’t be bothered to waste time arguing?"

"No, no, no."

Liu Qingyue shook her head. "You’re still seeing him too superficially. He’s actually quite stubborn..."

Before she could finish, she motioned for Ji Qingyi to keep watching the late-night food stall and whispered, "Miss, I suggest you don’t blink."

Following her gaze, Ji Qingyi saw the bald boss stir-frying noodles in his wok—until suddenly, the next second, the wok seemed to be struck by some unseen force. It flipped into the air, crashed onto the ground, and split open with a gaping hole.

Noodles and oil splattered everywhere.

Just as everyone turned to the boss in bewilderment, a ten-yuan bill from the cash box on his table stood upright for a moment before vanishing into thin air.

"Did you all see that? The wok just flew off by itself?"

The boss’s baffled and awkward voice reached everyone’s ears.

This was Su Cheng’s act of invisible revenge.

The scene froze Ji Qingyi’s expression, while Liu Qingyue covered her lips with a light chuckle. "See? If he didn’t get his payback, he’d definitely lose sleep over it tonight."

"But now I’m the one feeling uncomfortable."

"Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll contact the fire department, food safety inspectors, commerce bureau, environmental protection, sewage control, city management, quarantine, labor department—everyone—to pay him a visit."

……………………………………

"Hmph, charging me for two bowls of noodles?"

In a secluded corner, Su Cheng stuffed the reclaimed ten-yuan bill into his pocket and turned toward his hotel.

Earlier, when he’d scanned the QR code to pay, he’d even politely told the boss, "Payment sent." The man had nodded and said, "Got it."

But after finishing his meal, the boss had suddenly bellowed at him loud enough for the whole street to hear. What if someone had recognized him on the spot?

Still, smashing the man’s livelihood and reclaiming his ten yuan had soothed his mood. After all, he wasn’t one to hold grudges—just a sleep-conscious young man who didn’t want to lose sleep over petty matters.

It was nearly six in the evening, dusk creeping in.

The sky was still a dim gray, and the street-side food stalls had already opened for business. Yet Su Cheng strolled leisurely until he reached a street just a hundred meters from his hotel. There, he paused and pulled out his phone.

A message from "Ordinary Chess Player" had just arrived.

Li Guanqi: "Are you free? I’d like to meet you."

Su Cheng blinked at the time—still twenty minutes until seven. He typed back: "Sure, where are you?"

Li Guanqi: "Fireflies."

Those two words on the screen made him pause. After a few seconds, he replied with a simple "Got it," locked his phone, and turned toward the place she meant—the secluded suburban path lined with fireflies, where he’d walked her home last night.

Ten minutes later, he sprinted down the empty country road, lungs burning, until he finally reached the firefly-lit area.

"Phew… made it…"

Bent over and panting, exhaustion written all over him, he still managed a smile.

"I’m here."

He lifted his gaze toward the depths of the alley—and there she was. A slender figure standing amidst the dim glow.

But the glow wasn’t warm. It was green.

Fireflies surrounded her, their soft bioluminescence painting her silhouette in dreamlike hues. Against the encroaching dusk, Li Guanqi stood motionless, clad in black, her features blurred as if veiled in mist.

Then—

Su Cheng’s pupils shrank.

Li Guanqi, who had been holding her hands behind her back, suddenly stretched them forward, arms open in a silent plea for an embrace.

Without hesitation, Su Cheng rushed forward and pulled her into his arms.

"You came~"

She nuzzled against his neck like a clingy child, her voice sweet yet tinged with grievance.

The tenderness in her tone melted his heart instantly. "Yeah, what’s wrong?"

"Because you hugged another girl earlier."

Her words carried a faint sulk.

"..."

Su Cheng stiffened. After a long pause, he managed a dry reply: "You… saw that?"

"I did," she answered matter-of-factly.

They stood there, wrapped in silence, until Su Cheng cautiously ventured, "So… you’re jealous?"

"Mm."

Li Guanqi admitted without hesitation, then slightly rose on her tiptoes to nuzzle her cheek affectionately against his neck.

Feeling the warmth of her skin, the softness of her touch, and the faint, distinctive fragrance that lingered around her, he could sense Li Guanqi’s reluctance to let go and her deep dependence on him.

Yet this didn’t feel like an accusation.

Instead, it carried a tone of longing and attachment.

He guessed that she had seen the words he left in the library and understood their meaning.

"Su Cheng…" she murmured his name in a low voice, her tone laced with indescribable emotion. "You…"

Su Cheng tightened his embrace around her waist and reassured her gently, "You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll handle it."

As he spoke, he buried his face against the curve of her neck.

"No."

Li Guanqi suddenly lifted her head, meeting his gaze as she explained, "What I meant was… the ‘you’ from before and the ‘you’ now are the same person."