About Reasons.
People need reasons to justify their actions, to explain their choices, and to provide a rational basis for their decisions.
Similarly, in the absence of clear reasons, one falls back on their principles and values to make decisions.
In other words, they return to fundamental principles.
But what if—
The reasons contradict those fundamental principles?
Shift the conflict.
This is a viable strategy.
When two people face a common enemy, they may temporarily set aside their differences and focus their attention and efforts on confronting that shared threat.
Simply put, shifting the conflict can help break deadlocks and entrenched opposition. It pushes the disagreement between the two aside, as they recognize that the common enemy poses a greater danger.
In such cases, they may seek cooperation and negotiation, sharing intelligence, resources, and capabilities to strengthen their stance against the shared adversary.
Though this shift may only be temporary—lasting only until the common enemy disappears or the threat diminishes—
Even so,
It’s far better than doing nothing at all!
…………………………………
Small County Town
Compared to two years ago, the pace of construction here had accelerated dramatically. High-rises stood tall, streets stretched wide, and traffic flowed endlessly—this was no longer a town shackled by poverty.
Su Cheng and Li Guanqi walked along the road outside the hotel. Despite the late hour, the streets were lively with people strolling and enjoying the night, far from deserted.
The two walked side by side, Li Guanqi maintaining her silence.
She knew exactly what Su Cheng intended.
He wanted to find Gu Ruoxue.
Because the system punishment Gu Ruoxue had resolved before had now changed due to the return of memories.
She wasn’t entirely sure what the change entailed, but once they found Gu Ruoxue, all answers would be revealed.
But she had also considered—what if the old punishment had returned?
The mere thought was terrifying, even despair-inducing.
For Su Cheng, it would be an unbearably cruel torment.
So, in her eyes, this threat surpassed all boundaries and concerns.
They had to solve the problem, no matter the cost—by any means necessary.
Hotel
Gu Ruoxue’s door.
Su Cheng and Li Guanqi stood outside.
After exchanging a glance, Su Cheng knocked.
Knock, knock—
A minute passed, but no sound came from within.
Knock, knock—knock, knock—
He tried again, but the room remained silent.
“Senior Gu probably isn’t here?”
Li Guanqi looked at him.
“Unlikely. Where would she go in the middle of the night?”
Su Cheng shook his head and knocked once more, calling softly, “Senior Gu.”
“Minister Gu.”
“Are you there, Minister?”
Still, no response came.
Su Cheng felt a little awkward and turned to Li Guanqi, who stood beside him—elegant and beautiful, her long lashes trembling slightly as if unsettled.
This unease was hers alone to bear.
She defined herself as the third party. Though they had gotten together without her remembering the past,
Li Guanqi had anticipated this issue.
She had known it was a problem, yet she had chosen to be with him anyway.
And—
Back during the first public lecture, Gu Ruoxue had even warned her.
Flashback—
It was Su Cheng’s first public lecture.
“Junior Li, you seem rather interested in that student beside you.”
Gu Ruoxue’s gaze swept past Su Cheng before settling on Li Guanqi, her voice cool and slightly husky, like the plucked strings of a night breeze.
Li Guanqi met her eyes calmly, neither confirming nor denying.
“Whether it’s true or not, I’m sure you know in your heart. His complexion doesn’t look well—I suggest you remind him to get a medical checkup, just in case.”
………………………………………
At the time, it had seemed like well-meaning advice. Now, it felt laden with warning.
This return to their hometown was, unsurprisingly, Gu Ruoxue finally taking action.
If she didn’t intervene soon, the blossoming flower in her own garden—Su Cheng—would soon be plucked by someone else.
“Guess she really isn’t here.”
Su Cheng shrugged, taking Li Guanqi’s hand and leading her toward the neighboring room. “Let’s rest in my room for now. I’ll try calling her.”
Li Guanqi nodded and followed him inside. After a quick glance around, she walked straight to the sofa and sat down.
“Tired? We’ve been walking a lot today.”
Su Cheng pulled a glass of water from his system space and placed it on the coffee table before sitting beside her—or trying to. Unexpectedly, Li Guanqi shifted slightly away.
“Not really.”
Su Cheng paused, then smiled in understanding.
Though they hadn’t officially broken up, there was still resistance between them.
Well, no more leaning against Guanqi, then.
Ah, what a shame.
But still, better than a breakup.
The two sat in silence on the sofa.
Su Cheng took out his phone and dialed Gu Ruoxue’s number.
Ring… ring…
The call didn’t connect.
Frowning, he redialed.
Still no answer.
Beside him, Li Guanqi watched quietly, her hands folded on her knees, sitting as though they were merely acquaintances.
“No one’s picking up.”
Su Cheng hung up and looked at her apologetically. “How about you rest here? I’ll go look for her outside.”
“Let’s go together.”
Li Guanqi stood.
“No need, just wait here.”
Su Cheng insisted.
He really just planned to keep knocking next door.
After a brief hesitation, Li Guanqi sat back down and nodded.
“Be careful.”
“Will do.”
With that, Su Cheng left the room, closing the door behind him.
The hallway was dimly lit.
He approached the neighboring door and knocked again.
He was sure Gu Ruoxue had to be inside.
Knock, knock, knock…
Knock, knock, knock… knock, knock, knock…
“Xue’er~ Xue’er~”
After several knocks, he even used their intimate nickname, calling out in a coaxing tone.
Then he waited, hoping for a response—for the door to open.
Click—
But it wasn’t the door in front of him.
He turned.
A delicate, familiar face peered out from the neighboring room—Li Guanqi, sticking her head out with a curious, almost teasing look.
“Ahem, well…”
Su Cheng coughed awkwardly, suddenly flustered, an inexplicable sense of embarrassment washing over him.
Li Guanqi blinked at him.
“Is that what you call each other?”
Her question broke the silence.
The tone carried a hint of resentment, laced with a faint trace of jealousy.
Just as Su Cheng was at a loss for how to explain, the rhythmic tapping of sandals against the tiled floor grew louder, approaching from a distance.
Click—
The door before them swung open.
Both of them instinctively turned to look.
Then, a slender figure stepped out unhurriedly.
Gu Ruoxue.
"Minister."
Su Cheng let out a relieved sigh and quickly greeted her.
Noticing this, Li Guanqi also emerged from the room, and their gazes met.
At that moment,
Su Cheng felt as if the very air had frozen solid.
Meanwhile, the two women unanimously ignored the intangible cultural heritage standing between them.
Especially Gu Ruoxue—when she turned slightly, her eyes briefly flickered with something unreadable as she glanced at Su Cheng, though her expression remained as cold as ever.
Then, she looked at Li Guanqi.
Li Guanqi returned her gaze.
Their eyes locked.
"Senior Gu, I apologize for disturbing you so late."
Li Guanqi was the first to break the silence.
"It’s fine. I’d just lain down and wasn’t deeply asleep yet," Gu Ruoxue replied indifferently.
If one were to read between the lines, this could be interpreted as either a veiled jab or self-deprecation.
Light sleep is often psychological—linked to high stress, anxiety, or depression. Excessive tension disrupts autonomic nerve function, leading to shallow sleep.
It suggests an overactive mind, preoccupied with worries.
Hearing this, Li Guanqi lowered her head and fell silent.
You call that "not deeply asleep"?
I was knocking for nearly ten minutes just now!
Won’t come out unless I call you "Xiao Xue," huh?
Su Cheng internally screamed these complaints, but his face remained solemn. "Senior Gu, actually—"
"Come in first."
Gu Ruoxue shot him an icy look at the formal address, then turned her attention back to Li Guanqi.
Li Guanqi nodded, turned to retrieve her room key, closed the door, and handed it to Su Cheng before stepping inside.
Su Cheng followed.
Soon, the three of them were in the room.
The two women sat directly on the sofa, with a coffee table between them.
Gu Ruoxue prepared tea for them using an electric kettle before taking a seat on a nearby chair.
"Thank you," Li Guanqi said politely, lifting her cup for a sip.
"You’re welcome."
Gu Ruoxue shook her head, then glanced at Su Cheng. Though she said nothing, her expectant look made it clear she was waiting for him to speak.
Su Cheng stole a peek at Gu Ruoxue, noting that she had reverted to her usual detached demeanor, patiently waiting for him to explain. He quickly reported, "The side quest… the side quest has reappeared!"
This side quest hadn’t existed in the system after his memory loss.
Only the original system had side quests!
Just how explosive was this?
They both knew firsthand what the punishments used to be like.
[Ding—]
[Side Quest Triggered]
[Prior Engagement]
[Target 1: Gu Ruoxue]
[System: Fulfill the agreed-upon outing to the amusement park with the target or their designated companion.]
[Deadline: Six days]
[Target 2: Li Guanqi]
[System: Fulfill the agreed-upon date with the target.]
[Time Limit: Six days]
[System Reward: Unknown]
[System Punishment: Unknown]
………………………………
As he finished explaining the side quest, the room fell dead silent. Su Cheng looked up and saw both women deep in thought.
Rewards and punishments.
Based on past side quests, the reward was likely just money.
But the punishment…
Remembering the previous penalties sent a chill down his spine.
Even now, neither Gu Ruoxue nor Li Guanqi would dare gamble on it.
The risk was too great.
In other words,
neither woman could easily confess to him and trigger a reward to resolve the situation. After all, whether the punishment had changed remained unknown.
Su Cheng sighed heavily at the thought.
Gu Ruoxue appeared to be weighing the pros and cons, her expression thoughtful.
Li Guanqi, meanwhile, furrowed her brows slightly, lost in contemplation.
A few seconds later, Gu Ruoxue lifted her gaze and spoke with grave seriousness, "I told you before—the system adapts based on your desires."
Then, her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "You’re quite something, aren’t you?"
The moment she said this, Li Guanqi realized—this side quest was something Su Cheng himself had subconsciously wanted?
Both women’s sharp gazes instantly pinned him down.
Su Cheng felt the weight of their scrutiny like a physical pressure, but he admitted it honestly without denial.
Hanging his head in shame, he muttered, "I didn’t know it would lead to this… At the time, I was struggling with so many conflicting emotions, and then I suddenly thought of the system…"
The moment these words left his mouth, Gu Ruoxue’s face darkened completely, a clear sign of her worsening mood.
Now, they were stuck in a "easier to invite the devil than to dismiss him" situation.
"Senior Gu…"
Li Guanqi, noticing her state, quietly called out in concern.
Gu Ruoxue massaged her temples as if battling a headache, her lips pressed tightly together before she seemed to reach a decision.
Her beautiful eyes fixed on Su Cheng.
"When will you ever stop causing trouble?"
Her voice was cold, laced with exasperation.
"I’m sorry."
Su Cheng lowered his head, his expression bleak.
Gu Ruoxue’s long lashes fluttered slightly.
After a long pause,
she took a deep breath and said, "Since things have already come to this, I bear some responsibility for the outcome."
But then, Li Guanqi stubbornly shook her head and interjected, "This matter involves all of us. I’ll share the responsibility too."
"Senior Gu, I’ll help Su Cheng," she added.
"And how do you plan to do that?"
Gu Ruoxue glanced at her, intrigued.
"By fulfilling the agreement first," Li Guanqi answered without hesitation.
"A date?"
Gu Ruoxue’s expression remained unreadable.
Li Guanqi nodded, then glanced at Su Cheng, who sat there fidgeting nervously.
"Then let me ask you this," Gu Ruoxue turned her gaze to Su Cheng, "how do you plan to arrange it?"
As both women shifted the question to him, Su Cheng’s face flushed red. After a long struggle, Time Management Master Cheng finally stammered, "I… I… uh… this Saturday at the amusement park, and this Sunday…"
Here, he glanced at Li Guanqi and trailed off.
The implication was obvious.
Saturday—a fun day with Gu Ruoxue.
Sunday—a fun day with Li Guanqi.
But alas—
Plans are beautiful; reality is often cruel.
"Why waste time like this?"
Gu Ruoxue abruptly cut him off, her tone icy. Then, she turned to Li Guanqi and said, "How about we all go to the amusement park together this Saturday?"