Suddenly the Snow Melts, Now Quietly Await the Time When the Snow Flies Again.

For Su Cheng, regaining his memories was agonizing.

This pain cut deeper than the torment of being a starving ghost.

Pressure, conflict, inner turmoil, unease, and anxiety—all these negative emotions overwhelmed him, no longer just on an emotional level but...

Well, it was simply indescribable.

Though he had once joked about or discussed such melodramatic plots, those discussions were always from an outsider’s perspective—detached and unburdened.

After all, you’d just pick the prettier one.

But now, as someone caught in the middle, Su Cheng truly understood how unbearable this situation could be.

Choosing Li Guanqi would be a repayment for her devotion and a fulfillment of his responsibility.

Choosing Gu Ruoxue would be staying true to his heart and making amends for the past.

No matter whom he chose, someone would get hurt.

Even knowing this,

he had no way out now.

He couldn’t lie to Li Guanqi—nor could he ever deceive her.

Now, he had to face his choice and bear the consequences of his decision.

…………………………………………

Night deepened, and silence enveloped the world.

By a campfire,

Su Cheng sat on a stone slab, staring blankly at the flames, his gaze unfocused. Fireflies danced around him, swirling as if guided by some unseen spirit.

The fire crackled, sparks flying, some landing on his skin—yet he didn’t even flinch.

Then,

footsteps echoed from a nearby path,

accompanied by hurried breaths.

Whoever it was, they had rushed here.

Soon,

a slender figure emerged from the darkness. She wore a black dress, the same black stockings as always, her long, silky hair cascading freely. Her face, usually calm and composed, was slightly flushed—like she’d had a drink—yet her eyes were piercingly clear.

Seeing her, Su Cheng instinctively schooled his expression and stood up, stepping forward to meet her.

Though only a few hours had passed, it felt like years to him.

He missed her.

Missed her scent.

That delicate, intoxicating fragrance he couldn’t resist.

A day without his "Guanqi energy" left him restless.

As he approached, his gaze softened, burning with warmth as he looked at Li Guanqi. Slowly, he opened his arms, and she stepped into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, whispering tenderly into her ear, "I'm back."

Li Guanqi trembled slightly, burying her face in his chest before rising on her tiptoes to nuzzle his neck, murmuring a soft "Mm."

Her familiar scent, her familiar touch, her familiar voice...

Lost in the moment, he instinctively lifted her by the waist, spinning her around.

Li Guanqi closed her eyes.

For that brief moment, all their worries faded away.

They belonged only to each other.

But alas, the reprieve was short-lived.

Because Li Guanqi suddenly shattered the illusion with a single question: "You wouldn’t lie to me, right?"

Su Cheng stiffened.

"You know exactly what I want to know. Yet you called me here without saying it outright." Li Guanqi lifted her head, pushing away from Su Cheng. Her eyes, sharp and unreadable, locked onto his as she spoke deliberately, "Are you hesitating?"

"......"

Su Cheng lowered his head, silent.

Li Guanqi’s heart plummeted at his reaction. A wave of dread surged within her, her body tensing, palms damp with sweat.

Still, she kept her eyes fixed on him, unwilling to miss even the slightest shift in his expression.

Su Cheng knew exactly what would happen if he told her the truth.

Just as his system had described her—

Dignified, never weak. Unyielding yet composed. Clear-minded, pragmatic. Love and hate, sharply defined.

Most likely,

Li Guanqi would break up with him on the spot.

She would never tolerate this. In fact, their relationship had remained unspoken precisely because of this very possibility.

What should he do?

Should he confess?

His mind was a tangled mess, no solution in sight.

If he were truly capable of fixing this, he wouldn’t be standing here, helplessly watching Li Guanqi suffer.

Right now, he genuinely wished he could create a world where no one got hurt.

But such a thing...?

Sadly, he was only human—not a god.

A god...?

The moment this thought crossed his mind, the long-stagnant gears of fate began turning once more.

[Ding—]

………………………………

Yet, seeing his silence, Li Guanqi’s face paled. Her body swayed slightly, as if she might collapse. Even without words, she already knew the answer in her heart.

She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, yet she seemed numb to the pain, her eyes still locked onto Su Cheng.

Finally, she lowered her head, no longer pressing him. Her voice was hoarse. "I’m tired. I’m going back to rest."

She turned and walked toward the hillside, her figure lonely against the night.

"And one more thing..."

Li Guanqi stood with her back to Su Cheng, her steps halting as she choked back sobs, stubbornly refusing to let her tears fall. She took a deep breath, turned around, and forced a fragile smile onto her face. "I think we should..."

But before she could finish, a pair of large hands suddenly covered her mouth.

"Let me tell you something—we actually met a long time ago."

Su Cheng grinned, his smile warm and boyish, his tone light and cheerful.

Li Guanqi blinked, caught off guard by his sudden, cryptic words. Still, she nodded obediently, signaling for him to continue.

Satisfied, Su Cheng removed his hand and gestured toward a stone by the campfire. "Sit."

Li Guanqi hesitated, eyeing him for a moment before complying. She smoothed her long hair and settled gracefully onto the stone.

"Two years ago, did you call Gu Ruoxue?" Su Cheng asked.

Li Guanqi stiffened, giving him a puzzled look before nodding faintly. "Yes."

"I was the one who answered the first time—and then I hung up on you."

Su Cheng chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head in embarrassment. "You know, back then, I thought you were a guy, so I just..."

The memory of that call two years ago flashed through Li Guanqi’s mind, and she pressed her lips together, falling silent.

A strange, almost fateful sensation welled up inside her, sending ripples through her heart.

But what struck her more was the realization that Gu Ruoxue’s phone had been in Su Cheng’s possession—proof of how close they must have been. A sour, indescribable ache twisted in her chest. No matter how kind, gentle, or understanding she was, love still stirred possessiveness within her.

Noticing her reaction, Su Cheng quickly shifted the topic, cutting straight to the point. "Two years ago, my system’s punishment was harming those around me—even causing natural disasters. The earthquake in the county back then? That was the result of me failing a mission."

The abrupt change in subject, especially to something so grave, left Li Guanqi stunned.

Frowning, she sifted through her memories before tentatively asking, "You mean..."

Su Cheng nodded solemnly. "Yes. Gu Ruoxue helped me when I was on the verge of despair. She made me lose my memories and altered the system."

Li Guanqi’s pupils constricted sharply, her breath hitching.

Those few words painted a harrowing scene in her mind. Her fists clenched involuntarily as she asked in a low voice, "And now...?"

"Now, we’re going to find her—together."

Su Cheng stood, gripping Li Guanqi’s wrist firmly as he met her gaze with unwavering determination. "Because the system... it’s malfunctioning again."