The Next Day
Early morning.
Su Cheng woke up early from his dream.
After discussing with the other two last night, they had decided to visit the amusement park this Saturday. As Gu Ruoxue put it, it would be a "once-and-for-all" solution.
Li Guanqi had no objections.
And even if Su Cheng had any, they wouldn’t matter.
Once the discussion was over, he walked Li Guanqi back home.
Worth mentioning, he had now lost the ability to stick close to Li Guanqi, so the two of them walked in silence the entire way.
After dropping Li Guanqi off, just as he was about to sleep, his senior sent him a message.
She said the club president had been waiting for him.
How could he ignore that?
So, he quickly sent a few messages back.
After exchanging a few words, he finally settled down to sleep.
Tuesday
Su Cheng finished his morning routine early and prepared to head out, as he was returning to Flame City today—and he had one more thing to take care of before leaving.
As he stepped out of his room, he hesitated in front of Gu Ruoxue’s door next to his, wondering if he should knock and say goodbye. But the thought vanished as quickly as it came.
He figured Gu Ruoxue had probably already left.
"Ding dong~"
Just then, his phone buzzed.
It was Li Guanqi.
Li Guanqi: "The three of us are boarding a flight back to Flame City at 9 AM."
Su Cheng froze for a second upon reading the message, then quickly realized the other two must be Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan. He immediately replied.
Su Cheng: "What about the president and senior?"
Li Guanqi: "Their cover identities are locals. So, I don’t know their exact whereabouts."
Su Cheng: "Got it. I’ll be back this afternoon too."
Li Guanqi: "Mm. One more thing—check the class group chat."
"Class group chat?"
Su Cheng blinked, then hurriedly opened it, only for his eyelids to twitch at the flood of @ mentions directed at him.
He skimmed through the tagged messages first.
Gao Ye: "@Su Cheng, Senior Si Jing is looking for you."
Wang Guancong: "@Su Cheng, what the hell are you busy with? Why aren’t you replying? Senior Si Jing came by three times in one day."
Wang Guancong: "@Su Cheng, Holy crap, she just came again—even sat in your seat and snapped a chess piece in half! Scared half the girls in class to tears!"
Gao Ye: "@Su Cheng, answer already! Give us a solid return time, or we won’t even need the AC in class anymore!"
After reading these, Su Cheng’s lips twitched. Only now did it dawn on him that he had stood Si Jing up.
The image of that girl—her long, disheveled hair covering her face—flashed in his mind, followed by memories of her temperament.
Su Cheng gulped.
He quickly replied to Wang Guancong: "Sorry! Tell her I’ll be back at school on Wednesday!"
Wang Guancong: "……I get that you’re probably panicking too, but I’m seriously worried about your safety when you come back."
Wang Guancong: "Also, are Li Guanqi, Xuan Ying, and Zhao Yan with you? Why did all of you take leave at the same time?"
Su Cheng ignored the gossip, deciding to explain everything properly when he returned on Wednesday.
Next, he checked in with Cornelia.
Su Cheng: "You heading back yet? I’m about to leave!"
A few minutes later—
Cornelia: "Yeah, at Snow Sis’s shop right now. She’ll take us to the airport at 10."
Seeing that everyone was preparing to return, Su Cheng let out a sigh of relief—but before he could fully relax, he remembered there was still one more person. So, he reached out to Ji Qingyi.
Su Cheng: "President, I’ll be back this afternoon and back in class tomorrow. What about you?"
But after waiting a while, there was no reply. So, he turned to the troublemaker—Liu Qingyue.
Su Cheng: "You coming back?"
Liu Qingyue: "Guess."
"…"
Expressionless, he locked his phone and stuffed it into his pocket before heading toward the hotel elevator. Clearly, he wasn’t in the mood for games.
Though the hotel served breakfast, he decided to spend his last morning at his usual breakfast spot.
……
It was peak school rush hour.
The streets were packed with students in uniforms, and Su Cheng, wearing a mask, moved through the crowd with calm eyes.
As he walked, he scanned his surroundings, searching for a familiar figure—but unfortunately, he never spotted her.
He did, however, recognize a few former classmates.
Too bad none of them were on good terms with him. Back then, they had all looked down on him.
Su Cheng sighed, lowering his gaze with a hint of melancholy. It struck him that he didn’t have a single classmate in his hometown to share a meal with.
"Tch." He shook his head and kept walking.
His phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw:
Ji Qingyi: "I’m already in Flame City."
He paused for a second, then couldn’t help but think: Having a private jet really lets you do whatever you want, huh?
He typed back: "Did senior come back with you?"
The reply came quickly: "No."
Su Cheng exhaled in relief.
If she had, things would’ve gotten messy again.
Just then—someone tapped his shoulder.
"Why aren’t you replying to my messages?"
A familiar voice spoke from behind, startling Su Cheng so badly he nearly yelped.
He turned to see a short-haired beauty smiling at him—though her tone carried a trace of resentment, like a wife abandoned by her husband.
It was Liu Qingyue.
"Could you at least give me some warning next time?" Su Cheng grumbled.
But Liu Qingyue ignored him, glancing around instead. "Huh. Where’s that troublesome woman?"
"She’s not here. It’s just me," Su Cheng replied flatly.
"Not only do you ignore my texts, but now you’re treating me like this? How cruel."
Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, her expression the picture of heartbreak.
And in the middle of a crowded street, her dramatic act drew plenty of stares—especially from older women and men, who began whispering and pointing.
"I came all the way to your hometown for you…" Liu Qingyue bit her lip, playing the role of a helpless bride stranded in an unfamiliar place, bullied by her in-laws, with only Su Cheng to rely on—who now treated her like a nuisance.
"Fine, fine, my bad. Just stop talking."
Su Cheng’s scalp prickled as onlookers started gathering. He quickly relented. "I’ll buy you breakfast."
"That’s more like it."
Liu Qingyue brightened instantly, then naturally looped her arm through his, as if they were longtime lovers.
The sudden closeness, the familiar fragrance, and the soft pressure against his arm made Su Cheng stiffen—before his face darkened. He immediately tried to shake her off.
If Gu Ruoxue saw this, she’d lose it.
But the more he struggled, the tighter Liu Qingyue clung.
To an outsider, it didn’t even look like he was resisting—proof of just how terrifying her grip strength was.
If she wanted to do something to him, he’d have no way to stop her.
"Let go!"
Su Cheng said sternly.
"Just ten seconds."
"Why?"
"Because in ten seconds, we'll run into that troublesome woman."
"Quick, let go of me. I'm begging you."
Su Cheng's face darkened with exasperation. He had no choice but to look at Liu Qingyue with pitiful, pleading eyes.
"Will you reply to my messages from now on?"
Liu Qingyue blinked innocently, looking as pure and spotless as a white lily—utterly adorable.
"Yes, I'll reply instantly!"
Su Cheng nodded in surrender.
"Mmm, that's more like it." Liu Qingyue smiled sweetly before finally releasing him.
Su Cheng rubbed his sore shoulders, took a deep breath, and glanced around, searching for Gu Ruoxue.
But ten seconds passed, and there was still no sign of her.
Frowning, he asked suspiciously, "She's not here?"
Liu Qingyue shot him a sidelong glance. "If I hadn't said that, would you have agreed so easily?"
Su Cheng: "..."
"Let's go, breakfast time."
Su Cheng sighed, deciding not to dwell on it.
After all, aside from her love of teasing, Liu Qingyue had always helped him. These occasional pranks were still within his tolerance.
"Can you not play these kinds of jokes in the future? Do you have any idea how nervous I was just now…"
"Oh? So you can actually get scared?"
Liu Qingyue deliberately drew out her words.
"No, I was afraid you two would fight. She can tell when I'm being forced." Su Cheng pouted.
"Then, dear junior, whose side would you take?"
"I'd sit back and munch on sunflower seeds."
"In that case, I’d have to punch you."
As they bickered, the two made their way to the breakfast shop.
"So many people!"
Upon arriving, Liu Qingyue couldn’t help but exclaim.
Su Cheng, however, was stunned by the sight of the completely renovated store and the bustling crowd inside.
"Why has this place become so upscale?"
His eyes widened in disbelief as he muttered under his breath.
This used to be a simple, rural-style breakfast joint with just a few tables and chairs.
But now… the roll-up metal door had been replaced with a glass one, the cement floor with tiles, and the walls freshly painted. What was once run solely by the landlady now had several waitstaff, a cashier counter, and even a computer station.
"Some idiot kept eating here, and the place became famous because of him," Liu Qingyue said without hesitation, clearly amused. She then pointed to a wooden table near the entrance. "See that table? It’s always occupied by that same idiot."
Su Cheng followed her gaze. Despite empty seats elsewhere, that one worn-out table was packed, with no room to spare.
"Tsk tsk."
He clicked his tongue, finally understanding. After scanning the area, he and Liu Qingyue headed inside, even finding private booths. They chose one and settled in.
After ordering, Liu Qingyue picked up her spoon and suddenly looked at Su Cheng. "Mind explaining?"
Su Cheng paused, realizing she was referring to yesterday’s incident. He gave a brief summary of his past, seeing no reason to hide it from her—especially since he needed her help.
When he finished, Liu Qingyue’s eyes flickered with thought.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly asked, "But what will you do once this side quest is over?"
Her tone was serious, her expression grave.
Su Cheng fell silent, his emotions tangled.
Even if this was a temporary fix, things would eventually revert—it was only a matter of time.
"Senior, do you have any suggestions?"
He looked up at Liu Qingyue, his eyes a mix of hope, confusion, but mostly determination.
He trusted that his senior had a solution!
"Easy. Just chop yourself into pieces, and the problem’s solved!"
With that, she grabbed a fried dough stick, split it in half, dipped one end in soy milk, and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Cough—"
Su Cheng choked violently.
"Stop joking. I’m seriously struggling here."
He rubbed his temples in frustration.
Liu Qingyue shoved the other half of the dough stick into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "Since you’re only good at running away, why not join the student council? It’s the perfect place to hide."
"Join the student council…?" Su Cheng was taken aback, then shook his head. "I don’t want to work for the school."
"Hmm…"
Liu Qingyue pretended to think before saying, "Fine. Just pick one, and let the author handle the rest with alternate storylines."
"Why did a normal conversation suddenly break the fourth wall?"
Su Cheng couldn’t hold back his complaint. "And you’re ruining the immersion! This isn’t some random novel world."
He’d thought she’d offer constructive advice.
"Oh, so you do realize this isn’t fiction? Everyone here is flesh and blood, full of personality—and stronger than you. What else can you do besides run away?"
Liu Qingyue gave him a look that screamed, "You’re an idiot."
Su Cheng was speechless.
She was right. He could never have it all.
"But then again…"
Just then, Liu Qingyue’s tone shifted, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
Su Cheng immediately grew wary, sensing a trap.
Yet, he had no choice but to play along. Feigning calm, he asked, "But what?"
"Heh~"
Liu Qingyue chuckled softly. "If you can’t solve it, find balance."
Su Cheng blinked, then retorted, "Balance? But I don’t know if more side quests will pop up. If I deliberately influence things, they’ll notice. And then—"
"Idiot."
Liu Qingyue cut him off, rapping his head lightly. "Have you forgotten about your engagement with the young mistress?"
Su Cheng froze, then quickly protested, "But I already tore it up!"
It was true—he and Ji Qingyi did have an engagement, and it was technically still in effect, hence his title as the Ji Family’s son-in-law.
But the contract had been destroyed.
He assumed the title would vanish once Ji Qingyi turned 18.
Seeing his dumbfounded expression, Liu Qingyue sighed in exasperation and took a sip of soy milk.
Setting down her spoon, she looked at him seriously and said, word by word, "Just because it’s torn up doesn’t mean it’s gone. If you ask Ji Qingyi, she’ll definitely cooperate."
She then patted her chest confidently. "When the time comes, I’ll play the villain. I’ll tell them about you and the young mistress."
"Uh…"
Su Cheng felt his head spinning even more.
"Senior, I think you should calm down," he said helplessly. "This is way too absurd. And engagements are serious—you can’t joke about them!"
Liu Qingyue frowned, seemingly considering his words.
"Alright then, when the time comes, just say that the contract you originally tore up was picked up and restored by me."
Su Cheng fell silent for a long moment, giving her a strange look before leaning in with a serious expression. "Did you actually do it?"
Liu Qingyue glanced at him and replied leisurely, "Yes, I restored it."
Su Cheng frowned, hesitating. "Does the president know about this?"
This was exactly the kind of thing she would do.
"It's actually in the young mistress's arms right now. She carries it with her every day and looks at it constantly."
"No way!"
Su Cheng's eyes widened in disbelief. Thinking of Ji Qingyi's prideful, cold, and tsundere demeanor, he couldn't fathom the elegant and dignified president secretly restoring a torn-up contract—let alone carrying it around and looking at it daily.
Impossible!
"Anyway, you should think carefully about this matter yourself." Liu Qingyue shrugged and stopped paying him any attention, continuing with her meal. But halfway through, she added, "Make a decision soon~"
After a long silence, Su Cheng sighed. "I'll consider it."
Gu Ruoxue clearly wanted him to make a choice, while Li Guanqi, understanding his predicament, suggested breaking up.
This situation had clearly touched both of their bottom lines. He didn’t know what would happen after a breakup, but he was absolutely unwilling to accept it.
Back then, saying he wanted everything had been a joke—otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to confess to Li Guanqi and start a relationship.
But now, with his memories restored, he was no longer in control of himself, forced to play the role of a scumbag.
There was no denying it—he was already a complete jerk.
The thought filled Su Cheng with frustration, and he lowered his gaze, silently continuing to sip his porridge.
"Breakfast is done. I have things to take care of, so I’ll head out first~"
Liu Qingyue set down her chopsticks, flashed Su Cheng a bright smile, and strode out of the booth.
"Mm, take care."
Su Cheng waved half-heartedly and kept drinking his porridge.
Still, his senior had given him two decent suggestions.
First: Join the student council and choose no one, treating everyone fairly.
Second: If Liu Qingyue produced the contract, Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue might actually unite against him. Then, instead of making a choice, he’d have no choice at all—successfully shifting the blame and escaping the dilemma.
In short, everything was Liu Qingyue’s fault!
But escaping wasn’t his goal. What he truly wanted was to end this tangled, sorrowful story at a time when the damage to everyone would be minimal—to create a world where no one got hurt.
Yet even with his system by his side, accomplishing this left him exhausted and lost.
He couldn’t just use system items to alter reality and manipulate everyone, could he?
What difference would that make between him and those faceless protagonists from weird anime who hypnotized and stopped time?
Even if he had the ability, he would never do something like that!
He sank deep into thought.
So what should he do now?
If the system really gave him something that could affect reality, the only thing he’d probably do was erase all traces of himself from this world.
That way, he’d be the only one hurt.
Just as he was lost in thought, light footsteps sounded at the door.
Su Cheng hurriedly put on his mask and looked up, only to see Gu Ruoxue stepping inside. Her expression was cold as she stared at him without saying a word.
"Cough, cough!"
Su Cheng quickly stood up, awkwardly greeting her. "Uh… have you eaten?"
"Let’s go."
Gu Ruoxue swept him with an indifferent glance, then shifted her gaze to the used dishes left behind by Liu Qingyue. Her brow furrowed slightly, but she said nothing, turning to leave immediately.
Before she could take two steps, however, the enthusiastic landlady intercepted her in the hallway.
"Oh my! I remember you—you’ve grown even more beautiful! What would you like to eat today? Tell Auntie, it’s on the house!"
The landlady, carrying a tray, beamed warmly. She set it aside and eagerly ushered Gu Ruoxue into the booth, pouring her tea before calling for a menu.
Gu Ruoxue seemed slightly overwhelmed. She forced a polite smile. "Thank you, Auntie, but I’ve already had breakfast. I don’t want to trouble you."
"Ah, it’s been years since you last visited! Why be so formal with me?" The landlady insisted, pressing her into a seat. "You’ve lost weight—you need to eat more."
Helpless, Gu Ruoxue reluctantly sat down, casting a glance toward Su Cheng, who was keeping his head down.
"Oh, and Su Cheng hasn’t been here in years either. This shop’s success is partly thanks to his fame."
The landlady suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence. "Did he come with you?"
Her words plunged the room into an eerie quiet.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the landlady looked up and finally noticed the masked figure sitting with his head lowered. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"This person…"
She studied him closely before gasping. "Could it be—?"
"I’m not him. Just an ordinary tourist passing by for breakfast."
Su Cheng shook his head firmly, keeping his tone steady as he gave a concise explanation.
"Auntie, could I trouble you for a bowl of sweet tofu pudding?" Gu Ruoxue suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Ah, of course!" The landlady snapped out of her daze, casting them both a strange look before stepping out and closing the door.
The moment the door shut, Su Cheng exhaled in relief and turned to Gu Ruoxue. "Where are we going?"
Gu Ruoxue’s eyes lingered on Liu Qingyue’s empty plate before she replied flatly, "Didn’t you say you’d help?"
"With what?"
"The orange cat."
Su Cheng immediately understood—Gu Ruoxue was planning to take the overweight "Mediterranean" cat back to Flame City.
Given its size, carrying that chonker through the streets herself would be downright outrageous.
So she needed him as muscle?
Soon, the landlady returned with a bowl of tofu pudding, a steamed bun, a cup of soy milk, and a fried dough stick, placing them on the table.
The two immediately pretended not to know each other, prompting the landlady to eye them suspiciously once more before finally leaving.
"I can’t eat all this."
Gu Ruoxue kept only the tofu pudding and pushed the rest toward Su Cheng.
He nodded absently, watching as she magically produced a spoon and began eating the pudding in small bites. The scene stirred something nostalgic in him—this had happened before.
Noticing his distraction, Gu Ruoxue glanced up briefly before lowering her head again, continuing her meal.
Snapping back to reality, Su Cheng also began eating.
"Don’t hunch over while eating. It’s unsightly."
Gu Ruoxue suddenly looked up, her expression stern and icy as she lectured him.
"You’re going to nag me about this too?"
Su Cheng responded somewhat reluctantly but straightened his posture nonetheless.
Gu Ruoxue remained silent, continuing to sip her tofu pudding.
The two sat in mutual silence.
Soon after, they finished their meal and left the breakfast shop.
They planned to visit a pet store to buy a crate for their orange cat, making it easier to transport the feline by air back to Flame City.
As soon as they stepped into the pet store,
Gu Ruoxue instantly shifted into her timid-girl persona, clutching tightly at Su Cheng’s sleeve as she cautiously glanced around, as if afraid a dog might suddenly appear.
Su Cheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—after all these years, she still hadn’t shaken off this habit.
“What can I help you two with?”
The store owner, holding a poodle, approached them with a smile.
Gu Ruoxue tensed up and hid behind Su Cheng.
“An airline crate for a large dog,” Su Cheng replied politely.
The owner nodded. “Sure, they’re over there. Feel free to take a look.”
“Thanks.”
With that, Su Cheng led Gu Ruoxue toward the shelves.
“See that big dog? It looks really gentle—want to pet it?”
Su Cheng pointed at a pit bull in one of the cages, recalling his own past experience of being bitten by a dog. He couldn’t resist teasing Gu Ruoxue.
Instantly, her expression darkened. “You’d better behave, or else—”
She raised a hand, ready to pinch his waist.
Su Cheng immediately surrendered, raising both hands. “Okay, okay! I was just joking. I’m the one who wants to pet it—I won’t get bitten again!”
Hearing this, Gu Ruoxue’s expression softened slightly, as she too remembered the foolish things Su Cheng had done in the past.
After purchasing the crate, they passed by a general store, where Su Cheng suddenly stopped.
“I need to buy something,” he told Gu Ruoxue.
She gave him a brief glance and nodded. “Mm.”
Su Cheng entered the store and spent a long time browsing the flashlight section before finally settling on a high-powered anti-harassment flashlight with a charger.
“Is it a gift?” Gu Ruoxue asked casually.
“Yeah,” Su Cheng nodded. After paying, they left the store. Gu Ruoxue didn’t press further and simply headed toward a nearby convenience store.
Once they secured the cat in the crate, they returned to their hotel to pack before heading back to Flame City.
After organizing their belongings, Su Cheng stepped into a nearby souvenir shop.
However, he hesitated at the entrance.
Glancing at the time—already past 10 AM—he figured the person he was looking for might have already left to take Cornelia to the airport. So, he strode inside.
His eyes immediately darted to the corner, but the familiar figure wasn’t there. The shop was closed for business.
“Could you do me a favor?” Su Cheng handed the item in his hand to a clerk from the neighboring food store. “When the owner next door returns, could you pass this to her?”
“Sure,” the clerk accepted the bag, then studied Su Cheng curiously. “What’s your relationship with Xiaoxue? Should I tell her your name?”
“Just say it’s from her little brother. I’ve got to go.”
With a wave, Su Cheng hurried away.
Why a flashlight?
A few days earlier, he’d noticed that Gu Ruoxue often walked home at night under dim streetlights.
Though he now had the means to improve her life, he knew she would never accept anything more from him. A simple flashlight was just right—not too extravagant, yet practical.
He couldn’t change her circumstances, but he could give her a beam of light to guide her way home every night.
It might sound cheesy, but after racking his brain, this was the best gift he could think of.
……
That afternoon,
Flame City.
The moment Su Cheng stepped into his apartment, he was met with a scene of utter chaos—trash strewn everywhere, scattered crow feathers, and a pungent odor hanging in the air.
His anger instantly skyrocketed!
At the doorway, his crow, Ya Ya, stood frozen, nervously shuffling backward on its little feet.
Su Cheng stormed into the living room and yanked open the fridge, only to find it completely empty—just a few plastic bags and empty bottles.
“Did you throw a party in here?!”
His chest burned with fury as he grabbed a broom, ready to whack Ya Ya.
“And you ruined the new clothes Guanqi bought for you too?!”
Noticing the red knitted sweater Li Guanqi had gifted Ya Ya was now torn, Su Cheng pointed the broom at the bird’s head, scolding it relentlessly.
Cowering in the corner, Ya Ya bobbed its head up and down in frantic apology.
Su Cheng gritted his teeth at its pitiful act and scanned the floor for a rolled-up newspaper to whack it with.
Then, he made a shocking discovery—
“You drank alcohol?!”
His sharp eyes caught sight of an opened beer can—one he used for cooking—lying on the floor. He picked it up and shook it, confirming it was completely empty.
Instantly, Su Cheng’s face darkened like a thundercloud. Now he understood why his usually well-behaved crow had turned the apartment upside down.
It had gotten drunk.
Birds were highly sensitive to alcohol.
Furious, Su Cheng hurled the can to the ground and stomped on it repeatedly, venting his frustration. Cleaning up this mess would take hours.
And with the sweater ruined,
how was he supposed to explain this to Li Guanqi?
It had only been a week or two since she bought it!
“Caw—!”
Ya Ya let out a panicked cry and flapped its wings, attempting to flee.
“Go ahead! But don’t you dare come back!” Su Cheng shouted.
Ignoring him, Ya Ya bolted out of the apartment, terrified of being punished.
“Ugh.” Su Cheng slumped onto the couch with a sigh. “I just wanted to take a nap, but now I’ll be stuck cleaning for hours.”
Mimicking Gu Ruoxue’s habit, he rubbed his temples before resigning himself to the task, putting on cleaning gloves and getting to work.
Ding-dong—
Midway through cleaning, the doorbell rang.
He set down the mop and went to answer it. The moment he opened the door, a familiar fragrance wafted into his senses.
Instantly, his energy was restored!
Guanqi Energy—fully replenished!
“You’re… here?”
Su Cheng stared blankly at the girl outside.
Dressed in a sleek black dress with a crossbody bag, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, she stood there expressionless, her gaze fixed on him.
It was Li Guanqi.
Perched proudly on her shoulder was Ya Ya.
Of course—the little traitor had flown off to call for backup.
Ding—
Just as Li Guanqi was about to speak, the elevator chimed, signaling someone’s arrival. Light footsteps followed, and both of them—along with Ya Ya—turned to look.
The moment they saw who it was, their expressions froze in disbelief.