Chapter Seventeen

"What's going on here?"

"Ah, I'm gonna die!"

Su Cheng watched as Gu Ruoxue spoke such adorable words with a completely serious expression, his eyes widening as if he had just witnessed the cutest thing in the world.

In his mind, he was screaming!

If the cuteness level of an average person was rated at 100, then Gu Ruoxue’s cuteness had just skyrocketed, breaking all limits and reaching a staggering 1000.

"Awsl!" (A slang term meaning "Ah, I'm dead!" often used to express overwhelming cuteness or excitement.)

Su Cheng muttered inwardly again.

The cutest person in the world—this had to be it.

Gu Ruoxue noticed his reaction and frowned slightly, puzzled.

Why did Su Cheng make such an exaggerated face after hearing her words?

Seeing her confusion, Su Cheng instinctively brought his hands to his mouth and blew on them, looking guilty as if caught red-handed. He quickly changed the subject: "Uh… should we walk and drink?"

Gu Ruoxue tilted her head slightly, her suspicion of Su Cheng growing stronger, but she didn’t press further. She nodded and stood up, ready to leave with him.

Just as Su Cheng thought the matter was about to be forgotten, a customer walked into the milk tea shop and ordered from the staff: "One pearl milk tea, extra sugar, please."

Hearing this, Su Cheng froze, his expression shifting instantly. He hurriedly said to Gu Ruoxue, "I need to use the restroom first."

Because he saw that Gu Ruoxue had noticed too!

Without waiting for her response, he dashed toward the nearby restroom.

"Pearl milk tea…?"

Gu Ruoxue sat back down, staring at the "bubble milk tea" in her hands, momentarily confused.

Pearl milk tea…

Bubble milk tea…

The former sounded more accurate.

After a moment’s thought, she decided to stay and observe the difference between the customer’s "pearl milk tea" and her "bubble milk tea."

A few minutes later…

The customer walked out of the shop holding the exact same "bubble milk tea" as hers.

Only then did she realize Su Cheng had tricked her.

What "bubble milk tea"? What nonsense!

And so—

A few minutes later.

Su Cheng returned from the restroom, looking awkward, only to find Gu Ruoxue sitting calmly as if nothing had happened.

Relieved, he assumed she had ordered a different flavor with differently colored pearls and tried to change the subject again: "Shall we keep walking?"

"Mm."

Gu Ruoxue stood up, her expression neutral as she held her milk tea. But just as Su Cheng turned away, she suddenly said, "You forgot your pearl milk tea."

She held her own drink in one hand while pointing at the cup left on the table.

Su Cheng stopped in his tracks, slowly turning back to face her. His expression twisted slightly at the sight of her terrifyingly beautiful face—her lips curled in a mocking, knowing smile. He stammered, "Th-that’s… in Taiwan, they call it bubble milk tea."

"Oh~ I see."

Gu Ruoxue nodded lightly, her smile growing even more pronounced—a chilling mix of amusement and menace. She gestured to the seat across from her and said coolly, "Sit. I’d like to finish drinking before we go."

Hearing this, Su Cheng’s heart sank, but he obediently sat back down.

Gu Ruoxue took a sip of her milk tea, savoring it as if it were the most exquisite drink in the world.

Except Su Cheng could clearly see her eyes fixed on him the entire time, that same infuriating smirk on her face.

It made him extremely uncomfortable.

Finally, after about ten seconds, he couldn’t take it anymore. "Hey, if you’re gonna punish me, just get it over with!"

"Seems like you’re eager for punishment."

Gu Ruoxue let out a soft hum, placing her milk tea on the table before looking back at him. "Tell me a story."

"Huh?! Let’s save it for later."

Su Cheng shook his head, refusing without hesitation.

This was a crowded place—he wasn’t about to embarrass himself here. Even if she didn’t care, he certainly did.

"You don’t have the right to refuse."

Gu Ruoxue continued staring at him with that same knowing smile. She leisurely took another sip of her milk tea before adding, "Are you going back on your word? Besides this one, you owe me two more stories. You have one minute to think."

With that, she began tapping her fingers rhythmically on the table, patiently waiting for Su Cheng to begin.

"Ugh… fine."

Su Cheng took a deep breath. He had promised, after all. Steeling himself, he nodded.

Glancing around to confirm no one was paying attention, he prepared to tell a short, simple fairy tale.

But before he could start, Gu Ruoxue saw right through him and made another demand: "An ordinary story seems too lenient. To make sure you remember this lesson and stop playing tricks on people, I want a story where the protagonist has similarities to me."

"……"

Su Cheng’s face darkened. Telling a story in public was already humiliating enough, but now she was pushing it. He grumbled, "There’s no story like that. Besides, I only teased you a little—no need to be so harsh, right?"

Gu Ruoxue blinked, then lightly licked her lips, still wearing that infuriating smirk. She said nothing.

Su Cheng fell silent.

After a long pause, he sighed. "Alright."

"Mm."

Gu Ruoxue pulled out a small notebook from her bag, ready to take notes.

Su Cheng checked his surroundings again, ensuring no one was watching, then lowered his voice. "I’ll tell you the story of Little Red Riding Hood."

Truthfully, Gu Ruoxue’s demand was just a way to see how Su Cheng perceived her.

"Go on."

She nodded, playing along.

And so, Su Cheng began narrating the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.

As he spoke, Gu Ruoxue jotted down the protagonist’s traits in her notebook.

『Adorable and beloved by all.』

『Kind-hearted, cheerful, and optimistic.』

『Innocent, pure, and clear about good and evil.』

『Weak at discerning deception.』

Gu Ruoxue looked at the notes she had taken, feeling she now understood exactly how Su Cheng saw her.

As for his earlier prank…

Though she had been slightly annoyed at first, hearing the story now filled her with delight.

No woman dislikes praise, and she was no exception.

As for the "weak at discerning deception" part?

She interpreted it as her unwavering trust, encouragement, and support for him despite knowing the risks.

Gu Ruoxue was secretly pleased, but she kept her expression cold, listening quietly until he finished.

Finally, she nodded in approval. "You pass. Don’t let it happen again."

But just as she was about to put away her notebook, she glanced at Su Cheng—and her pupils shrank.

There he was, sitting stiffly, his gaze fixed intently on her chest.

Snap!

The sound of her pencil breaking echoed sharply.

"Wait, I’ll owe you another story—no, two! Three! Stay back! Don’t come any closer!"

Gu Ruoxue abruptly stood up from her seat. Under Su Cheng’s terrified gaze and flustered words, she didn’t hesitate to throw a light punch toward his abdomen with her small fist.

Though she had only used thirty percent of her strength, it was still more than an average man could withstand.

In an instant, Su Cheng clutched his stomach, his face twisting in pain as if struck by divine wrath, and he slumped over the table.

"Every body is unique. Size doesn’t define worth. I hope you’ll never make such a humiliating gesture again."

Gu Ruoxue delivered her warning with an icy tone and an expressionless face before sitting back down.

"I’m going to go die over there for a bit."

Clutching his stomach, Su Cheng forced himself up, trying not to draw attention from passersby. He hurried into the restroom, leaning against the doorframe as he gasped for breath, his handsome face now pale from the searing pain radiating through his organs.

Meanwhile, Gu Ruoxue coldly glanced in his direction before sipping her milk tea.

Su Cheng had genuinely wounded her pride earlier, and only a good beating could quell the resentment in her heart.

"Little Red Riding Hood’s grandma got eaten by the wolf."

So, no more grandma, huh?

Under the guise of storytelling, Su Cheng had mocked her.

What a petty man!

A minute later, a female customer in the milk tea shop walked over with a golden retriever in tow. Gu Ruoxue, who feared dogs, immediately stiffened, instinctively pressing herself against the back of her chair.

But as if sensing her fear, the golden retriever barked at her a few times before playfully attempting to lick her black-stockinged leg. Terrified, she nearly cried out—

"Su—"

Before she could finish, a hand clamped over the dog’s snout and yanked it several feet away from her.

Su Cheng, his face still pale, forcefully held the dog’s mouth shut and addressed the woman absorbed in her phone: "Please keep your dog under control."

Without waiting for her stunned reaction, he returned to his seat.

Gu Ruoxue exhaled in relief and looked up at him. "Thanks… By the way, any reaction this time?"

"Nope."

Su Cheng shook his head. "Probably because I was nearby."

They were referring to a system task.

Noticing his pallor and the cold sweat on his temples—clear signs he was still suffering from her punch—Gu Ruoxue hesitated before pulling a tissue from her bag. Leaning slightly forward, she gently dabbed the sweat from his forehead and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"

"Huh?"

Su Cheng froze.

This woman was a paradox—swinging between violence and tenderness—and now this sudden intimacy almost made him forget he’d brought the punch upon himself.

But as a transmigrator who prided himself on unyielding resilience, he refused to show weakness. He scoffed, "With those tiny fists of yours? Mere flesh and blood could never challenge the might of a transmigrator."

The only thing hard about Su Cheng right now was his mouth. Gu Ruoxue paused mid-wipe, amused by his stubbornness, but continued cleaning his sweat nonetheless.

The faint fragrance of her and the gentle touch of her fingers made his heartbeat stutter. But as someone who refused to concede defeat, he couldn’t let this stand.

As the saying goes: Retreat by an inch, and the enemy advances by a foot—a slow but certain demise.

So, in true tit-for-tat fashion, as Gu Ruoxue withdrew her hand, Su Cheng pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped her forehead in return. Meeting her slightly startled gaze, he feigned nonchalance and murmured, "Sorry for mocking you earlier. But really, you’re so scared of dogs you break into a cold sweat, yet you don’t even wipe it off yourself?"

"R-Really?"

Gu Ruoxue averted her eyes but didn’t stop him.

"Of course! Look at this tissue." Su Cheng adopted a lecturing tone. "If you’re this afraid of dogs, what’ll you do when I’m not around?"

With that, he stuffed the tissue—now bearing her scent—into his pocket before storing it in his system inventory, not giving her time to react.

"Let’s go."

Su Cheng stood, his expression serious as he proposed, "There’s a pet shop ahead. You should try facing your fear and interacting with some dogs."

If he ever lost his memories, he wouldn’t be able to rush to her aid. So, helping her overcome this phobia was now his top priority.

And with a pet shop conveniently nearby, this was the perfect opportunity.

But Gu Ruoxue resisted, even bowing her head to hide her expression as she muttered, "I’m not going."

Though her voice was soft, the refusal was unmistakable—and it grated on Su Cheng’s nerves.

"Not even the bare minimum of effort…"

He lowered his head, suppressing his frustration, before looking up and mimicking her tone, expression, and even her words: "Does running away solve anything?"

The moment those words reached her ears, they echoed deep in her heart, sending a shudder through her.

After a brief pause, Gu Ruoxue suddenly lifted her gaze to Su Cheng, then sighed quietly.

"Fine."

With that, she stood, her face resetting to its default state—the Gu Ruoxue who confronted everything head-on, the one who never yielded.

"Good. Let’s go."

"Mm."

After finishing their milk tea, the two headed to a nearby pet shop they’d passed earlier.

It was a high-end pet store, one of the most luxurious in the county. Though usually bustling with customers, today was a weekday, leaving it unusually quiet.

Upon entering, they were met with rows of cages housing large breeds of dogs. Glass display cases along the walls held cats and smaller dogs, while shelves were stocked with pet supplies.

The shop was divided into three sections: boarding, grooming, and retail, with about seven or eight staff members around.

A male employee in uniform approached them with a welcoming smile. "Welcome! How can we assist you today?"

Notably, Gu Ruoxue had taken several deep breaths outside, psyching herself up to face her fears bravely.

But the moment she stepped inside and saw the large dogs in cages, she instantly shrank back, clutching Su Cheng’s sleeve like a timid, frail creature, her shoulders hunched and back curled in fear.

Ignoring her state, Su Cheng asked the employee, "Can we look around and pet the dogs?"

"Of course! Feel free to explore."

The staff member remained smiling. Since Gu Ruoxue kept her head lowered, he hadn’t gotten a clear look at her striking beauty—otherwise, he would have surely been stunned and utterly captivated by her delicate, pitiable demeanor.

Leading the two to the pet section, the staff introduced them to a well-behaved, adorable little Bichon Frise before turning away to attend to other tasks.

"Hey."

Noticing the staff had walked off, Su Cheng nudged Gu Ruoxue and urged, "Try petting it."

"Ah… okay."

Startled by his call, Gu Ruoxue suppressed her fear, took a deep breath, and then crouched in front of the Bichon. Extending her slender, pale hand, she tentatively reached out to stroke its fur.

The Bichon, sensing a stranger, instinctively lifted its head. The sudden movement made Gu Ruoxue flinch so hard she nearly toppled backward.

Fortunately, Su Cheng swiftly caught her soft, fair hand and reassured her, "Don’t be scared. It won’t bite. It just wanted to sniff you."

Their hands hovered mid-air, Su Cheng’s grip over hers—an intimate, almost ambiguous gesture that sent an electric jolt of discomfort through Gu Ruoxue.

She tried to pull away, but Su Cheng only tightened his hold, flustering her further. "Let go… let go of me…" she stammered in panic.

"At this point, you’re still trying to run?"

Su Cheng’s intense gaze bore into her. "Avoiding things won’t solve anything. Don’t you remember telling me that yourself?"

Each word pierced her like a needle, lodging in her heart, leaving her more ashamed than embarrassed.

Gradually, her stiff hand relaxed under his guidance, and she let him lead her fingers toward the Bichon. Yet, just as they were about to touch its fluffy head, she reflexively shut her eyes.

But instead of the expected pain, she felt only the softness of its fur.

"See? Isn’t it nice?"

Gu Ruoxue opened her eyes at his words, meeting Su Cheng’s face, now impossibly close.

His eyes brimmed with encouragement and hope.

For a moment, despite the surrounding barks of other pets and the chatter of staff, it was as if everything had stilled—the world reduced to nothing but the sound of their breaths.

Then—

Both forgot to breathe, locked in that silent, unwavering gaze.