The Past and Future of Him and Her Intertwine, Drawing to a Close.

Su Cheng left the restaurant and planned to ask the waiter.

Meanwhile, at the table, Gu Ruoxue took out the phone given by Su Cheng and opened the cat pictures she had carefully collected and downloaded from the hotel website before.

These so - called "cat pictures" were actually pictures of cute little kittens with special effects and filters, looking extremely adorable.

On the other side, Su Cheng was asking the waiter, "Excuse me, have any celebrities ever come to this restaurant?"

"As the only mid - to high - end Michelin - rated Italian Western restaurant in the county, there is a constant stream of diners every day. Of course, many celebrities and wealthy people have dined here. May I ask what kind of celebrities you're referring to?"

The waiter replied politely.

Su Cheng thought for a moment and said, "The kind that are rather special. For example, those who weren't famous when they came but became well - known soon after."

"Ah."

The waiter suddenly understood. "I see. You're talking about Su Cheng?"

Hearing this name, Su Cheng was taken aback, then exclaimed in surprise, "Has he ever been here?"

"Yes."

The waiter nodded and continued, "I heard from the senior who used to work here that he came once a few years ago."

"Who did he come with?"

Su Cheng asked eagerly, even holding his breath subconsciously.

Because this piece of information was very crucial.

The waiter shook his head. "Sorry, I only heard about it. I'm not clear about the specific situation."

Su Cheng continued to press, "Can you still contact that senior?"

"He quit his job last month and I haven't been in touch with him since."

"I see... Thank you."

Su Cheng felt a bit disappointed and turned away.

He was already certain that he had been here before, and it was very likely that he had come with Gu Ruoxue.

However, he couldn't understand.

He would never have come to a place like this for a meal. The food here couldn't fill one up, the process was so cumbersome, and most importantly, it was expensive!

As a student, it was impossible for him to spend money here.

Leaving aside the money issue, even if he had the money, he wouldn't have come here.

He wasn't the type to act beyond his means.

However...

The environment and lighting here were quite suitable for a date...

But he would definitely not consider it.

Moreover, Gu Ruoxue wasn't the type to demand someone to take her to a place like this to spend money.

So, why did he come here to consume before?

This was something that Su Cheng just couldn't figure out no matter how hard he thought.

It wasn't until he reached the sink area that he suddenly saw a golden flower placed beside the sink. All of a sudden, he seemed to understand something.

He thought of Cornelia.

Assuming he was going on a date with Cornelia, the first place he would consider would definitely be a Western restaurant.

So, was it possible that Gu Ruoxue was a mixed - race?

If so, it was indeed possible that he would consider a date in a Western restaurant.

Su Cheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Then he frowned again.

Because the system description didn't mention this point.

It seemed that the system also hadn't said that Cornelia's family had produced a prime minister. The background of the characters had never been fully revealed.

But...

How could the mayor's wife be a foreigner?!

"Stop thinking about it."

Su Cheng decided to ask in person. Although Gu Ruoxue wouldn't tell him about the past, if he asked her about things not related to himself, she would basically not refuse to answer.

Soon, he came to the door of the private room and knocked.

"Come in."

Gu Ruoxue put away her phone, straightened her back, and sat upright.

The door opened, and Su Cheng looked inside at Gu Ruoxue.

He looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "There's something I'd like to know. It might be a bit presumptuous, but I hope you can answer me."

Gu Ruoxue stood as still as an ice sculpture. "Go ahead."

"Is your mother from Flame Country?"

Su Cheng asked earnestly.

Gu Ruoxue remained unchanged. "No."

As those words left her lips, all of Su Cheng's earlier doubts suddenly fell into place.

"So you're mixed-race after all..."

He mused silently before flashing a bright smile, as if seeing her in a new light. "I knew it. There’s something uniquely striking about your beauty—an air of distinction."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Gu Ruoxue tilted her neck slightly, the faint, refreshing scent of her perfume making Su Cheng’s mind wander for a fleeting moment.

Her half-lidded eyes and expressionless face gave off an inexplicable aura of noble simplicity and serenity.

"I see you got your answer from the waiter."

She rose from her seat. "Since there’s nothing else, let’s go."

With that, the two left the restaurant. Gu Ruoxue led the way, and this time, Su Cheng didn’t ask where they were headed—he simply followed behind her.

Night gradually fell, and the city lit up in a dazzling display of lights.

The evening breeze brushed past them, refreshing the senses.

Su Cheng savored this rare moment of peace and tranquility.

But Gu Ruoxue suddenly stopped in front of a stray cat. She crouched down, opened a can of cat food, and placed it to the side—keeping her distance, as if aware of the cat’s potential aggression—before continuing forward.

Su Cheng said nothing. Seeing the stray ignore the food and dart away instead, he decided not to let it go to waste and stored the can in his system space before catching up with her.

"If you like cats, why not keep one?"

Su Cheng broke the silence as he walked beside her.

Gu Ruoxue replied flatly, "I already have one."

"You mean the chubby cat at the convenience store?"

The words slipped out before he could stop himself.

"It has a name."

Her tone sharpened, as if issuing a subtle reprimand.

"Orange Cat’s health is seriously at risk."

Su Cheng couldn’t help but sigh.

Gu Ruoxue fell silent at that. She lowered her long lashes, lips pressed together, as if she’d long been aware of the issue.

"I’ll take it back with me this time."

After a long pause, she spoke softly.

Su Cheng blinked in surprise.

He looked at her and joked, "Need help? I can teach it how to do a backflip."

But Gu Ruoxue didn’t respond. Instead, she walked ahead without another word.

Su Cheng hesitated, wanting to say more, but ultimately kept quiet and followed.

Their path eventually led them to a nearby park.

Under the cover of night, the park buzzed with activity—vendors selling toys, drinks, snacks, and more lined the pathways.

"Huh… even an archery booth?"

Before Su Cheng could take a closer look, he noticed Gu Ruoxue entering the park and settling in a secluded corner of a pavilion.

Just as he was about to join her, he spotted a tabby cat lounging on a bench in the adjacent pavilion. Strangely, it didn’t seem afraid of strangers, staying put even as he approached.

No collar.

A stray.

"Found a cat."

Su Cheng picked up the cat without hesitation and hurried toward the pavilion where Gu Ruoxue was waiting.

However, Gu Ruoxue frowned. "You shouldn’t hold it."

"Huh? Why not?"

Su Cheng gave her a puzzled look, lifting the cat with both hands as if to show her. "It looks adorable."

Gu Ruoxue shook her head, then took the fearless feline from him, stroking its soft fur. "Because I want to hold it."

Su Cheng: "…"

He sighed in resignation. "Then why did you bring me to the park for a walk?"

"I just couldn’t resist coming in to take a look."

Gu Ruoxue set the cat down and pulled a can of cat food from her bag, offering it to the creature. The moment it caught the scent, the cat pounced on the food, nibbling eagerly before even licking Gu Ruoxue’s fingers.

"This cat… is very well-behaved."

She bent slightly, gently petting its head as she spoke in a soft voice.

Su Cheng glanced at the happily eating cat, then back at her, unable to hold back his suggestion. "This one seems like a stray too. How about I give it a name?"

"What name did you have in mind?"

"Flame Country’s Greatest Legend and Most Ferocious Tiger! The Pure and Innocent Dingyi Cat!"

"You’re going to be disappointed. That cat belongs to the dancing auntie over there." Gu Ruoxue completely ignored his naming attempt, shaking her head as she stood up. After one last reluctant glance at the cat, she turned to leave.

Su Cheng was taken aback. "How did you know?"

Before he could press further, a loud voice boomed from behind them. "Hey! That’s my cat!"

"Let’s go."

Gu Ruoxue tugged at Su Cheng’s sleeve and strode out of the park without another word. Su Cheng, slightly embarrassed, quickened his pace to catch up.

Once outside, the two fell into an eerie silence, the tension between them thick enough to suffocate. But Su Cheng knew—this was just the calm before the storm.

He could feel her body trembling, as if she was desperately holding something back.

That suppressed emotion made it hard for him to breathe.

And just as he feared, the inevitable happened.

They passed by a small grocery store.

Su Cheng glanced inside—the owner had once helped him by driving him to the city’s airport.

But more importantly, not far from here was a river.

Whether it was crossing over or being reborn, everything was tied to that river.

It might as well have been a revival point.

So now, standing here, Su Cheng’s emotions were a tangled mess.

Was this the final destination of his return?

Exactly as he expected, the two stopped on a small bridge over the river, situated beside the highway. The area was desolate, with only a few scattered houses nearby and hardly any people around.

He gazed down at the shimmering water below, taking a deep breath.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gu Ruoxue’s black hair swayed slightly, framing her delicate profile as she turned to him. Her voice was cold and composed.

"I’m wondering why you brought me here."

Su Cheng met her frosty gaze, voicing the question in his heart once more.

Gu Ruoxue looked at the flowing water beneath the bridge, her words as icy as her name. "Sometimes, words have no meaning at all."

Su Cheng noticed that the other party didn’t answer directly but instead changed her usual attitude, uttering something inexplicable, which instantly put him on high alert.

“What do you mean…?”

Gu Ruoxue looked at Su Cheng. “No matter what answer I give, the current you won’t be able to accept it. Words alone can’t stir your heart, nor can they change your mind.”

“So… you’re trying to make me recover my lost memories?”

Su Cheng vaguely guessed something, but he found it hard to believe.

Gu Ruoxue gazed at him, her eyes gradually becoming clear and transparent. “Yes, this is something I once promised you.”

Her voice carried a slight tremble, yet her expression remained calm—only her gaze grew more resolute.

However, Su Cheng noticed that though she was looking at him, it felt as if she was seeing someone else. It gave him the impression that she was peering through him at the ‘him’ of the past.

“Don’t worry. You two are one and the same.”

Gu Ruoxue suddenly added another remark that left him stunned.

“Hey, don’t just casually read my mind like that!”

Su Cheng, having his thoughts exposed, couldn’t help but blurt out in protest.

Yet, the moment he finished complaining—

Gu Ruoxue smiled faintly and said, “Though you are him, in a way… you’re not him yet.”

Her voice abruptly softened. “So, are you ready?”

Su Cheng froze, unsure how to respond.

His expression shifted slightly as he lowered his head, staring at the lake beneath the bridge, murmuring to himself, “If I recover my memories… will it affect the ones I have now?”

Gu Ruoxue tilted her head slightly, watching him on the bridge, and replied slowly, “That’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself.”

Su Cheng lifted his gaze, meeting Gu Ruoxue’s eyes, and said seriously, “What if I refuse?”

“Then pretend I never mentioned it.”

Gu Ruoxue turned her back to him, her voice turning cold. “You’re free to leave anytime.”

Her demeanor was like that of a sulking child—wanting something but deliberately acting indifferent.

Such a tsundere.

Seeing her like this, Su Cheng found her oddly endearing, though it also made him sigh inwardly.

Still, the reason he had followed Gu Ruoxue back to her hometown was precisely for this matter. Now that he knew he had lost his memories, he had to reclaim what belonged to him.

After all, it was a part of who he was.

Only by recovering his memories could he truly feel a sense of belonging. Li Guanqi had once told him that only by understanding the truth could one wholeheartedly pursue what they desired.

Su Cheng looked out over the water. The silvery moonlight spilled across the lake, shimmering on the rippling surface, making it appear exceptionally serene and beautiful.

After a long silence, he exhaled softly, a trace of melancholy in his expression as he stared at his reflection in the water—as if confiding in someone long gone beneath a tombstone—and murmured, “Alright.”

Gu Ruoxue turned back to him, her gaze brimming with complex emotions, though the most prominent were anticipation and hope.

“Mm.”

She gave a slight nod, then conjured a guzheng out of thin air, cradling it in her arms. Su Cheng recognized it—the broken-stringed guzheng from the club. Yet now, it had been repaired, looking flawless once more.

Gu Ruoxue fetched a stool and sat down gracefully, adjusting the strings before slowly closing her eyes, as if steeling her emotions.

Su Cheng stood quietly by, watching her, waiting to see what she would do next.

After a long while, she finally reopened her eyes, her gaze settling on Su Cheng. "Jump," she said.

"Eh? Do I really have to jump into the river?"

"No, but I can tell you want to."

Su Cheng: "……"

"Fine, I’ll jump. Since it all started with this river, then let it begin again here. A sense of ceremony is important too."

Su Cheng took a deep breath, stashed his phone and money into his system space, then climbed over the railing and plunged into the water.

"Plop!"

As the water splashed, he was swiftly carried away by the current. At that moment, Gu Ruoxue extended her slender fingers and plucked the strings of her guzheng a few times, like a fleeting breeze, as if playing rippling melodies upon the soul.

The serene and graceful music drifted through the desolate expanse, as though descending from the heavens above.

Then, the melody grew rapid and fierce, like a sudden storm, a powerful surge of energy sweeping outward, the wind cutting like blades against the skin. The water’s surface trembled with layer upon layer of ripples.

Gu Ruoxue plucked the strings twice more—until they snapped with a sharp twang.

"Zheng—!"

A piercing, discordant note echoed across the sky. The guzheng shattered into countless cracks, crumbling into splinters before vanishing into nothingness.

Yet Gu Ruoxue paid it no mind. She simply stood and hurried toward the riverbank…