Royal Son-in-Law, Step Closer for a Detailed Look.

"Huh?"

Su Cheng widened his eyes at the words, releasing Li Guanqi before gripping her slender shoulders with both hands and giving her a light shake. "Is the information reliable?"

"Mm," Li Guanqi nodded. "Not entirely precise, but at least more credible than your analysis."

"Care to share your thoughts?" Su Cheng's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Let me gather my thoughts first..."

Li Guanqi paused briefly, organizing her words before explaining: "First issue. Behavioral habits can absolutely change over time and due to external influences. Not to mention, Senior Gu Ruoxue is someone who speaks her mind. In such circumstances, you might very well be swayed by her words, leading to self-reflection and other shifts in mindset. It’s entirely possible you’d shed some of your old bad habits. Second issue—"

However, Su Cheng froze at the first point, because it did seem true. Lately, Senior Gu had occasionally given him a look of exasperation, as if disappointed in his lack of progress, and would then proceed to make all sorts of demands.

How did it feel?

Like having a mother when he didn’t even have one—frankly, it was pretty uncomfortable!

Hypothetically, if he had really been with Gu Ruoxue in the past, she might have altered some of his habits, maybe even aspects of his personality.

After all, human adaptability knows no bounds. No one’s personality or habits remain static forever.

And let’s not forget—love is an incredibly powerful force.

Enough to change a person!

But...

This wasn’t absolute.

So, he lifted his head, signaling for her to continue with the second point.

Li Guanqi’s lips twitched slightly before she nodded and resumed her analysis: "Second issue, and the most critical one. You mentioned that Senior Gu understands you deeply, even knowing everything about you. If things were truly as dire as you imagined, how could that book have ended up in your hands?"

Su Cheng frowned, mulling it over before suddenly realizing.

Right.

If this were some conspiracy theory as he’d assumed, Gu Ruoxue—being far more intelligent—would never have made such a foolish mistake as leaving an obvious clue.

Especially since Gu Ruoxue knew Ji Qingyi and the others were coming. Would she really let him prepare in advance just to secure some kind of reward for outmaneuvering her?

If anything, he was the one who’d gotten carried away and failed to think it through properly.

Well, it was all the fault of the ‘original’ Su Cheng anyway!

"The most crucial..."

Before Li Guanqi could finish, Su Cheng eagerly cut in, "There’s more?"

He hadn’t expected his own speculation to be riddled with so many holes, completely falling apart under scrutiny. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks.

"Ahem." Su Cheng faked a cough to mask his embarrassment before adopting a serious tone. "What’s the most crucial point?"

"Senior Liu and President Ji both disagreed with your theory. In fact, they seemed almost amused by it."

Su Cheng’s face darkened. "..."

If even Liu Qingyue—a master strategist—dismissed his reasoning, didn’t that mean his entire analysis was pure nonsense?

Realizing this, Su Cheng awkwardly shook Li Guanqi a little before regaining his composure. "Hearing you say that, I guess I was just overthinking things."

As for why shaking Li Guanqi helped him calm down?

Because as he did so, her fragrance drifted into his nose like a gentle breeze.

Yet Li Guanqi remained silent. Even after being shaken, her clear, dark eyes remained fixed on him, as if trying to etch his current appearance into her memory—as though engraving him deep into her heart.

Su Cheng blinked in surprise, his own heart beginning to race. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Li Guanqi hadn’t asked him here just to discuss this matter.

The Li Guanqi he knew was a composed and introverted beauty, someone who never revealed her thoughts through expressions or actions—especially when it came to emotions.

Just as the system description stated: Serene and unadorned, possessing remarkable empathy. Dignified yet unyielding, principled yet composed, with sharp reasoning and clear distinctions between love and hate.

But now, Li Guanqi was acting like a lovestruck girl, clinging to him and even nuzzling affectionately. Her usually indifferent face was tinged with a soft pink, appearing both enchanting and alluring, while her deep eyes shimmered with a delicate, crystalline glow.

Yesterday, he’d learned that Li Guanqi was, after all, a woman—one who could feel worry, fear, insecurity, sorrow, and all sorts of negative emotions.

Sure, he’d given her some reassurance that day, but as time passed, she’d grown increasingly unsettled.

Truthfully, Su Cheng also understood what Li Guanqi was afraid of.

Given the current circumstances, it seemed he and Gu Ruoxue had never actually broken up!

If his memories returned...

Then he’d suddenly have...

Heh heh heh...

Wait, no—this was a serious problem!

Eventually, he’d have to make a choice!

Of course, everyone knew wings came in pairs.

Losing one would make soaring through the skies impossible!

So... Hug one in each arm and declare, "You’re both my wings!"?

But realistically, such a scenario was impossible. And soon, he’d be facing the ultimate showdown—a romantic battlefield of epic proportions!

There was no running from it. He had to confront it head-on.

And Li Guanqi was well aware of this!

Just the thought of being forced to choose between two people was enough to make anyone’s head spin. And as the one caught in the middle, the situation was all the more complicated and delicate, requiring careful consideration.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated Su Cheng became.

Still, he resolved to say something...

But before he could speak, he noticed Li Guanqi’s lips part slightly, her soft, plump tongue darting out to moisten them.

It reminded him of that night—under the moonlight, with crows as their witnesses—and the fleeting kiss they’d shared on horseback.

So...

Should they go for a proper, grown-up kiss now?

Su Cheng swallowed hard, his gaze involuntarily drifting away, only to find Li Guanqi staring back at him with tender affection, as if that teasing gesture had been nothing but a figment of his imagination.

Then, her slightly husky, bashful voice reached his ears.

"Um... After this is settled, could we go on a date?"

A date?

Hearing the word, it struck him that he’d never actually been on a proper date with Li Guanqi—or at least, not a formal one.

But at the same time, he understood.

This was the answer Li Guanqi wanted.

So he gave a gentle nod. "Sure!"

With that, he leaned in, ready to seal the deal with a proper kiss.

Li Guanqi seemed to anticipate his move, tilting her head up slightly and closing her eyes.

But just as he mustered his resolve—

A bizarre narrative trope suddenly kicked in.

Kisses must always be interrupted.

"Wow, the fireflies here are so pretty~"

A playful, out-of-place feminine voice rang out.

Both of them jolted, eyes snapping open as they turned toward the source. In the distance, Liu Qingyue and Ji Qingyi were strolling leisurely in their direction.

The two had no choice but to halt their intimate moment. Su Cheng turned and nodded politely at Ji Qingyi. "President Ji."

"What about me? What about me?"

Liu Qingyue leaned in excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she stared at him.

Su Cheng, however, completely ignored her.

"Ah, has my junior already started treating me as invisible? Even the respect you once had for your senior seems to have vanished~" Liu Qingyue feigned a sigh of disappointment, the air around her practically dripping with exaggerated melancholy.

"I have things to do. You two chat—I won’t get in the way."

Su Cheng glanced at his phone and saw it was already 6:50. He had to hurry back.

As a master of time management, there was no room for delay!

With a quick farewell, he swiftly left.

"Hey, junior, don’t run away~"

Liu Qingyue called after his retreating figure, which was practically a blur from how fast he was moving, but all she got in return was the sight of him walking off without a care.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi’s attention was captivated by the fireflies fluttering around her. Watching their tiny lights flicker and scatter in the air, she murmured softly, "Fireflies…"

"The species is Ji Hongying," Liu Qingyue chimed in, well aware of why her mistress was lost in thought. She added, "They also have another name—Zhao Ye Qing—which happens to resemble the young miss’s name quite closely."

Ji Qingyi lowered her gaze and whispered, "It’s a shame they’re so sensitive to their environment. The slightest pollution makes them disappear."

Her words carried a weight that silenced both Liu Qingyue and Li Guanqi, who had just approached. Though she spoke of fireflies, the underlying implication was impossible to miss.

"If the young miss wishes, they could be cultivated anywhere," Liu Qingyue said. Then, turning to Li Guanqi with a playful smile, she added, "Speaking of which, these insects have quite fascinating habits. When a firefly spots another, it flies close and flashes its light to win their favor. But if multiple males gather around a single female, they’ll compete by glowing—though, interestingly, the brightest isn’t always the one she chooses."

Hearing this, Li Guanqi remained expressionless but caught the subtle insinuation. She responded in kind, "Indeed. Some female fireflies rarely fly—some species can’t even fly at all. They simply perch on cliffs or hide in grass, emitting light to attract males."

As she spoke, two fireflies, clinging to each other, drifted past the trio. Li Guanqi continued, "Usually, a flightless firefly meets a solitary end."

"I don’t consider that a tragedy," Ji Qingyi suddenly interjected.

"True," Liu Qingyue agreed, shaking her head. "After mating, fireflies die within a day or two. Compared to a fleeting existence, a longer life seems the better choice."

"Perhaps that’s the happiest ending. It’s why fireflies appear here every year," Li Guanqi remarked, her tone calm.

Liu Qingyue couldn’t help but clap in admiration. "Well said! Though, in a few months, construction crews will start developing this area. By then, the fireflies here will vanish."

The moment her words fell, an eerie silence settled over Ji Qingyi and Li Guanqi.

Though no more was said, as the three walked toward the town, Liu Qingyue suddenly spoke up again. "Young miss, there’s an open-air traditional opera performance at 6:30 tonight. Xuan Ying and the others have already gone to watch. Would you like to join?"

Ji Qingyi paused mid-step. "Hm?"

Liu Qingyue continued, "The troupe features professional actors specializing in dan (female roles), xiaosheng (young male roles), and hualian (painted-face roles), performing classic and local folk operas right on the streets."

"Student Li, are you interested?" Ji Qingyi turned to the quiet Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi blinked, then nodded. "Yes. Experiencing the charm of traditional opera culture sounds worthwhile."

"I see." Ji Qingyi responded indifferently before asking Liu Qingyue, "Any famous plays?"

"Some well-known ones like The Execution of Chen Shimei and The Conspiracy of the Cat for a Prince, as well as local folk productions," Liu Qingyue explained.

"The Execution of Chen Shimei…" Ji Qingyi murmured, then smirked. "Chen Shimei and Su Cheng share some similarities…"

"Yeah, they both have Cheng in their names," Liu Qingyue quipped, tossing out an unexpected pun.

Ji Qingyi shot her a sidelong glance before turning back to Li Guanqi, her tone cryptic. "What do you think?"

"Well, both Cheng Shimei and Su Cheng possess remarkable perseverance. Su Cheng spent years overcoming obstacles to finally enroll at Flame City Private Academy," Li Guanqi answered methodically.

Ji Qingyi nodded, glancing at Liu Qingyue before asking Li Guanqi again, "That’s it?"

"That’s it."

With that, the three fell into silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they continued toward the town.

Soon, an open-air stage came into view.

Colorful lanterns adorned the space, and rows of chairs surrounded the platform, creating a lively, bustling atmosphere.

A crowd had already gathered in front of the stage, eagerly awaiting the performance. Before the three women could even get close, a powerful, resonant voice boomed from the speakers—a familiar, dramatic line from the opera:

"Step forth, Royal Son-in-Law, and behold the truth!

Herein lies Qin Xianglian, aged thirty-two,

Who accuses the imperial consort of crimes most cruel—

Deceiving the emperor, betraying his vow,

Taking a new bride while his first wife he’d disavow!

Slaying his own kin, his conscience long dead,

And driving Han Qi to his doom at the temple’s stead!"

(PS: Taking a day off due to writer’s block. Next update on Thursday.)