At the same time.
Inside a panda souvenir shop,
Gu Ruoxue was intently browsing through the souvenirs, her expression one of deep contemplation, completely unaware that Li Guanqi had quietly stepped up behind her.
Li Guanqi wore a black-and-light-colored dress, exuding an elegant and dignified aura. Every movement carried a distinct scholarly grace, giving her a classical charm.
She stood silently behind Gu Ruoxue, waiting for her to finish her selection.
Though many people stole glances in their direction, the two women’s presence was so extraordinary that it was clear they were no ordinary individuals—thus, no one dared approach them.
"Senior."
After a long while, Li Guanqi called out softly.
"You came too."
Gu Ruoxue didn’t turn around at the sound of her voice, continuing to examine the gifts carefully before asking in a quiet tone, "Did you bring the camera we talked about yesterday?"
"Yes, I did."
Li Guanqi retrieved a sleek, silver-gray, compact camcorder from her crossbody bag.
This was the camera she had borrowed from the Publicity Department before—originally used to record various aspects of Su Cheng’s school life and friends in case he lost his memories.
Later, she ended up purchasing the camera outright.
Only then did Gu Ruoxue slowly turn around, her gaze settling on the camcorder in Li Guanqi’s hands.
"May I take a look?"
"Of course."
Li Guanqi handed it over.
Gu Ruoxue took it and immediately pulled up the videos inside, but the next moment, she was slightly surprised.
There were only two clips—one from the day before Su Cheng returned to his hometown to recover his memories, and the other recorded late last night.
The first was meant for an amnesiac Su Cheng, while the second was for an amnesiac Li Guanqi herself.
"It seems you’ve prepared for the worst."
After briefly watching Li Guanqi’s self-recorded message in the video, she spoke softly.
Li Guanqi didn’t deny it. She nodded, her expression solemn. "Please keep this safe for me, Senior."
As she spoke, her eyes drifted to Gu Ruoxue’s chest, as if she could see right through her clothes to the rusted ring resting there.
A spatial ring.
Both women were well aware of how powerful Su Cheng’s system was—capable of influencing the world and reality itself.
However, no matter how formidable something was, it always had a weakness. The system had one major flaw.
It could not affect itself.
Thus, the system’s abilities had no power over system-related items, making anything stored inside the spatial ring especially crucial.
No matter what Su Cheng did to alter reality or the world, the contents of the spatial ring would remain untouched.
They both knew Su Cheng’s personality well—and the consequences that would follow if they forced him to make a choice. Yet, despite this, their principles and moral boundaries left them no room for compromise on this matter.
So, they could only make thorough preparations in advance to avoid future complications.
After all, if Su Cheng wanted to, he could easily find an A-rank target at any time and obtain whatever item he desired.
Whether it was changing the world or reshaping reality—
These were things Su Cheng was fully capable of doing.
Of course, even if he altered the world, he would never choose to harm anyone but himself.
To sum it up in a way that matched his eccentric personality—
"Only through individual suffering can the world achieve true fulfillment."
Naturally, this was merely their speculation about how things might unfold. Nothing was set in stone.
…………………………………………
"Even so, you still have plenty of time to record more. There’s no need to rush."
Gu Ruoxue handed the camcorder back to Li Guanqi, her voice gentle.
Li Guanqi didn’t respond directly. Instead, she said dejectedly, "But his intention was for everyone to be happy. He wouldn’t want us following him around with a camera."
"You’re right. But isn’t the next project called ‘White Cat Class President Rescue Mission’?"
Gu Ruoxue asked softly, "I don’t know the details. How does it work?"
"This one is more suited for boys. Basically, you sit in a two-seater open-top police car. There are two guns mounted on it, and as you drive, various mouse enemies appear. Visitors have to shoot at the ‘enemies’ around them."
Li Guanqi explained in one breath before pausing briefly, then continued, "Each ‘enemy’ taken down with the sensor gun earns you points, displayed on the car’s scoreboard. The final challenge is to quickly defeat the ‘Cat-Eating Mouse’ that’s about to harm the ‘White Cat Class President’ to clear the stage. There’s no intense physical activity involved, so it’s suitable for all ages."
"Two seats and a score…?"
Gu Ruoxue murmured, then lifted her eyes slightly. "What’s the purpose of the score?"
"If you reach one million points and defeat the ‘Cat-Eating Mouse’ to save the ‘White Cat Class President,’ you’ll receive an exclusive ‘White Cat Class President’ plushie—not available for sale otherwise."
Hearing this, Gu Ruoxue froze slightly, as she couldn't help but recall a childhood memory while watching "Black Cat Sheriff"—
The loyal, brave, and dutiful "White Cat Squad Leader" who would rather die than surrender was brutally killed by the Cat-Eating Rat.
This was the most unforgettable scene from her childhood.
A trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes.
What made it worse was that the breed of the "White Cat Squad Leader" was the same as her own orange tabby.
"Are these two conditions really that hard to meet?"
Gu Ruoxue frowned slightly and asked again.
"Since opening, fewer than a hundred White Cat plushies have been given out. Because the Cat-Eating Rat and the White Cat Squad Leader appear randomly in different locations."
Li Guanqi added another explanation: "So even if you replay this attraction repeatedly, it won’t help. Not to mention, this is a popular ride—just the queue alone is a headache."
"In that case..."
Gu Ruoxue pondered for a moment before suddenly looking up at Li Guanqi and saying, "For this attraction... I’ll sit in the seats behind you and record your playthrough with my camera."
As she spoke, she raised the camera in her hand and gently added, "Don’t overthink it. You can consider this the winner’s privilege."
"..."
Li Guanqi fell silent for a few seconds before finally nodding. "Thanks, senior."
"Let’s go then."
Gu Ruoxue tucked the camera into her bag, and the two headed out of the shop.
Soon, they ran into Su Cheng walking toward them, his arm looped through a shopping basket like a grandma at the market.
What stood out was how full the basket was.
Naturally, both girls’ eyes were drawn to its contents.
A neatly packaged cute outfit.
A set of brooches.
A mug printed with the "Xiangxiang" character design.
A disposable retro film camera.
And some pastries and candies with adorable designs.
"I was just looking for you two."
Su Cheng smiled when he saw them.
In response, the girls simply nodded and stood quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Feeling awkward, Su Cheng cleared his throat and suggested, "Shall we move on to the next attraction?"
As he spoke, he stole a nervous glance at Gu Ruoxue, afraid she might refuse.
Hearing this, the two girls exchanged a glance before nodding in unison.
Su Cheng let out a relieved sigh. The three then paid for their items and left the shopping arcade, handing everything over to a staff member to be delivered to their VIP lounge—except for the brooches and some snacks, which Su Cheng kept.
"You haven’t eaten since noon. Want something?"
As they walked toward the next attraction, Su Cheng suddenly pulled out a few mung bean cakes from his pocket and offered them to Gu Ruoxue.
"...I’m not really hungry right now, but thanks."
Though she shook her head, Gu Ruoxue still reached out and took one, slipping it into her pocket.
After all, these cakes were likely bought specifically for her—he knew she had a sweet tooth.
Seeing this, Su Cheng’s tense expression finally relaxed. He then pulled out a handful of candies and handed them to Li Guanqi with a grin. "Here."
Li Guanqi glanced at the candies, then at Su Cheng, before shaking her head with an apologetic smile. "I can’t eat any more."
Her sugar cravings had been satisfied by the dessert buffet at lunch.
"Alright then."
Su Cheng pocketed the candies again before cheerfully asking, "How about we try the 'White Cat Squad Leader Rescue Mission'?"
"Sure, but I’ll just follow behind you two and record it."
At that moment, Gu Ruoxue suddenly pulled out her camera and casually mentioned.
"Huh?"
This left Su Cheng utterly confused. "Why record it?"
"Didn’t someone specifically pick this attraction to show off their heroic charm? Since that’s the case, why not indulge him and document it?"
Gu Ruoxue’s tone was cool and faintly teasing, her words so offhand that Su Cheng was left speechless.
"What are you talking about?"
Realizing what they meant, Su Cheng couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. "You don’t actually think I can clear it perfectly, do you?"
"You can’t?"
"Isn’t marksmanship your specialty?"
The two girls were taken aback, their expressions puzzled.
"A gun is a gun, a bow is a bow—they’re completely different. Forget whether I even have the skill..."
Su Cheng sighed in exasperation, spreading his hands. "Besides, I just wanted to enjoy the experience, not play under pressure or with some goal in mind."
Hearing this, the girls were surprised by his mindset but didn’t press further. They simply exchanged a glance and nodded.
Before long, the three arrived at the "White Cat Squad Leader Rescue Mission."
To their surprise, the atmosphere here stood in stark contrast to the cheerful energy elsewhere—the entire venue radiated frustration, exhaustion, gloom, and oppression.
Some children who had just finished the attraction walked away with their heads drooping, visibly dejected.
Their faces were filled with a sense of defeat, and some were even wiping away tears.
Online reviews showed that this was the only attraction in the amusement park with more negative feedback than praise.
Yet, despite the criticism, it remained a popular ride.
Everyone wanted to redeem the gray regrets of their childhood. But unfortunately, the difficulty of achieving a perfect clear was simply too high.
"Mom, can we save the white cat?"
Just then, a timid little boy not far ahead of the trio tugged at his mother's sleeve, pointing inside the attraction with hopeful eyes.
Hearing the question, his mother’s face softened with pity before she shook her head. "I only promised to bring you here to play. I never said we could save that cat."
At these words, the light in the boy’s eyes instantly dimmed. He lowered his head, no longer daring to look inside, and muttered under his breath, "Then let’s not play."
His mother sighed, unsure how to comfort him, and eventually turned to leave with her child in tow.
But before they could take more than a few steps, they ran into Su Cheng and his two companions entering the area.
"It’s the Princess and the Prince!"
The boy suddenly exclaimed in delight, his face lighting up as he broke free from his mother’s grip and ran toward Su Cheng. "The Runaway Princess and Prince!!"
In an instant, all eyes in the vicinity turned toward them.
"No wonder they’re so pretty—they’re staff members!"
"Wait, are they here to play or work on their day off?"
"Does this count as leisure or duty?"
The surrounding visitors whispered among themselves with amused smiles. Even the usually composed Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment.
This was the same mother and child they had seen earlier at the parade!
Before Su Cheng could react, the adorable child wrapped his arms around Su Cheng’s leg, looking up at him with big, pleading eyes like black grapes. "Please, can you save the white cat? With the Princess and Prince here, you can definitely do it!"
The boy’s plea immediately stirred a commotion. After all, those who managed to save the white cat were rare—maybe one in a whole year.
And even then, past successes were mostly flukes—players who got lucky with a random shot. None of them could replicate the feat if they tried again.
So, no one in their right mind would claim they could guarantee saving the white cat before even attempting the challenge.
The final stage was notoriously brutal. Someone online had even conducted a scientific analysis:
The average human reaction time—from perception to cognition to muscle response—is 240 milliseconds. But to achieve a perfect clear, you’d need to act within 40 milliseconds.
An absurdly demanding requirement.
Even a cat’s reaction speed is only 50-70 milliseconds.
This just proved how impossible it was to save the white cat.
Now, the pressure was entirely on Su Cheng.
A flicker of discomfort crossed his face. Forget whether he had the skill—just the thought of holding a toy laser gun and entering some hyper-focused trance to shoot mice was mortifying enough!
Meanwhile, the two girls seemed entertained by the situation, both watching Su Cheng with expectant smiles to see how he’d respond.
Fortunately, the boy’s mother quickly intervened, pulling her son back. "Don’t bother the big brother and sisters. Let’s go play something else!"
She then politely apologized to the trio. "I’m so sorry. My child doesn’t know any better."
"No!"
The boy only clung tighter to Su Cheng’s leg, raising his voice. "The Princess and Prince can definitely save White Cat Class President!"
His declaration was resolute, leaving no room for doubt.
Su Cheng rubbed his temples in exasperation. Thankfully, the mother managed to drag her son away before things escalated further.
Watching the boy glance back repeatedly as his mother led him off, Su Cheng murmured with a tinge of admiration, "What a kind-hearted kid. I hope his wish comes true someday."
"Let’s go."
Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi offered no comment, simply moving ahead into the attraction without another word.
Soon, the trio entered the 360° panoramic dark tunnel using their VIP passes.
Before them stretched a line of police car-shaped ride vehicles, linked together like a rollercoaster—ten cars in total, each seating two people.
Thanks to their passes, Gu Ruoxue took the last car alone to set up her camera, while Su Cheng and Li Guanqi settled into the second-to-last car.
But to everyone’s surprise, the mother and son were seated in the car right in front of them.
The moment the boy spotted the trio, he perked up excitedly, even standing up to wave his tiny fists at them. "I knew you’d come to save White Cat Class President!!!"
His mother promptly yanked him back down and covered his mouth—lest he draw the attention of every other visitor in the vicinity again.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than the child began shouting again, drawing the attention of all the tourists around.
Su Cheng and Li Guanqi exchanged glances, with Su Cheng wearing an awkward expression as he muttered, "Why do I feel like playing this game comes with the responsibility of saving the world?"
"Who told you to show off in the first place?"
Gu Ruoxue, sitting in the last row while adjusting her camera, responded coolly.
Clearly, she was complaining about his careless remarks earlier—calling them princesses and himself a prince.
Hearing this, Su Cheng sighed and obediently fell silent.
He and Li Guanqi boarded the police car ride, which featured a joystick allowing it to spin 360 degrees. The car also had a score display screen and two toy sci-fi laser guns mounted on it, complete with red dot sights.
As the two took their seats, the broadcast played the voice of Black Cat Sheriff, explaining the mission stages and gameplay.
However, throughout this, the child in front kept turning around to say a few words, adding to Su Cheng’s stress. He could only lower his head and fiddle with the laser gun, trying to get familiar with it.
Beside him, Li Guanqi seemed to sense his unease and gently patted his shoulder, reassuring him, "Just play normally and do your best. Don’t pressure yourself."
Su Cheng took a deep breath and nodded.
Meanwhile, Gu Ruoxue raised her camera to capture their interaction. Once they settled, she turned the lens toward the child.
The child was still staring at Su Cheng with hopeful eyes, even though the self-proclaimed "prince" was now avoiding his gaze.
Truthfully, she understood the child’s emotions. The storyline was that White Cat Sergeant had been brutally killed by the "Cat-Eating Mouse" while protecting a key, clutching it tightly even in death.
Sacrificing for justice—this was an incredibly impactful moment for young children just starting to watch educational cartoons.
So, she focused her camera on the child, seeing a reflection of her younger self in him.
Just then, the game began. The surroundings transformed into a stormy scene with thunder, lightning, and strong winds. Shadows of cartoon mice flickered across the scenery before vanishing in an instant.
The ride car moved steadily and slowly, emitting a rhythmic click-clack sound.
"Ahhh! Kill those darn mice!"
The child in front stood up excitedly and bravely, gripping his laser gun and firing wildly at the fleeting shadows.
Clearly, his young heart was filled with hatred for these mice!
Following his lead, the other tourists also picked up their laser guns, shooting at the sudden appearances of cartoon mice.
Su Cheng and Li Guanqi joined in, aiming and firing at the mice. Each successful hit made a mouse slowly collapse and disappear, while the score on the car’s screen increased by 10,000 points.
One mouse equaled 10,000 points.
Su Cheng played just like the other passengers, with no difference in his shooting speed or accuracy.
As they progressed deeper, the number of mice increased, but Su Cheng was starting to grow bored—the gameplay was too repetitive. He glanced down at Li Guanqi’s score.
170,000.
She had only hit 17 mice.
Su Cheng, meanwhile, had 260,000.
"How are you feeling?" Su Cheng asked Li Guanqi.
She nodded slightly. "It’s alright. I’m just too slow—many mice disappear before I can react."
"Prince!"
Suddenly, the child in front turned around, holding a laser gun in each hand, and shouted at Su Cheng, "Please take care of the ‘Cat-Eating Mouse’ later! Save White Cat Sergeant!"
The sheer trust and anticipation shining in his big eyes were enough to move anyone.
Soon, other young children in the front rows also turned around, their hopeful gazes fixed on Su Cheng as they pleaded, "Prince, please help us save White Cat Sergeant!"
"Prince… please help us."
"Prince, we’re counting on you."
With just one minute left before reaching the final stage—the map where they had to rescue White Cat Sergeant—the children’s emotions were running high.
They weren’t aiming for a perfect score or a prize; they simply didn’t want to relive the heartbreaking scene of Black Cat Sheriff weeping over White Cat’s lifeless body.
Meanwhile, some confused adult tourists murmured among themselves, "Who is this guy? Why are they calling him a prince? Which country’s prince is he?"
"Maybe the game developers added a hidden easter egg or special storyline?" one passenger guessed.
"No way! Does that mean our car might get a perfect ending?"
"Possibly…?"
"If so, I’ll have something to brag about when I get back!"
A loud conversation between a couple quickly spread excitement through the car. The next moment, the couple stood up and cheered, "We have to save White Cat!"
Hearing the intense shouts around him, Su Cheng immediately lowered his head, not daring to meet anyone's gaze. Even his hands, gripping the gun, trembled slightly.
He truly couldn’t understand how his joking words had led to such a situation. Panic set in—how could he possibly save the White Cat under these circumstances?
If it were a bow and arrow, he might have had some confidence.
But this was a gun—an entirely different matter.
Even entering a focused state of mind seemed like an impossible challenge right now.
In short, Su Cheng was utterly frustrated.
Just then, Li Guanqi beside him reached out with a pale, gentle hand and steadied his grip on the laser gun.
"Relax."
Her voice was soft, like a spring breeze dispersing the turmoil in Su Cheng’s heart, filling him with a comforting warmth.
Su Cheng turned his head and saw Li Guanqi gazing at him with tender eyes, her head slightly tilted.
Just as he was about to calm his mind and enter a shooting-ready state amid the encouraging cheers—
"Su Cheng."
Suddenly, Gu Ruoxue’s voice called his name from behind them.
Su Cheng turned to look at her.
She held up a camera, smiling as she spoke to him deliberately, word by word:
"Your Highness, please unleash your boundless power and rescue that White Cat."
The moment she finished speaking—
The Su Cheng captured in Gu Ruoxue’s camera seemed to undergo a sudden transformation. His hands gripping the laser gun slowly rose, and he even muttered some obscure, incomprehensible words.
"Though I wield a gun for the first time, its might shall rival the sharpest arrow!"
The next second, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, he stood up and took the second laser gun from Li Guanqi, now holding one in each hand.
"Prince, you must save White Cat Squad Leader!"
The children shouted at the top of their lungs.
"You must save White Cat Squad Leader!"
The voices flooded Su Cheng’s ears, making it seem as though the entire world was chanting in unison. His heart trembled before settling into an eerie calm.
"I happen to be somewhat skilled in mounted archery."
Su Cheng murmured these words softly, and as soon as he finished speaking, he raised both laser guns and began wildly swinging them around, leaving the crowd utterly dumbfounded.
At least with a bow, you had to draw the string—this required none of that. His movements grew faster and faster.
So fast that afterimages blurred, dazzling the onlookers.
Most astonishingly, every time a rat peeked out, it was instantly obliterated in a hail of laser fire. It was as if he could predict their movements—the precision of his shots was nothing short of unbelievable.
"Holy shit!"
"Is this even humanly possible?!"
"No way, is this some kind of magic trick?"
"Definitely a staff member—those are clearly special effects projections!"
The adults were practically gaping in shock, while the children stared in awe, cheering excitedly.
"The 'Cat-Eating Rat' is coming up!"
Someone ahead suddenly announced.
At that moment, whether it was the utterly stunned tourists or the children on the verge of screaming in excitement, everyone fell silent, their hopeful gazes fixed on Su Cheng.
He slowly ceased his wild firing, then aimed both guns in one direction. Mimicking White Cat’s tone, he shouted, "Not a chance!"
The instant he spoke, the figures of the Cat-Eating Rat and White Cat Squad Leader materialized before the crowd. But before anyone could get a clear look, two laser holes appeared in the rat’s head, and its body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Gasps of disbelief erupted throughout the tunnel.
"It was obliterated in seconds!"
"Oh my god!"
"That was amazing!"
The children’s eyes sparkled with excitement as they stared at Su Cheng, as if beholding a true hero, their emotions barely contained.
Immediately after, the tunnel lit up with festive multicolored lights, and the broadcast played the voice of Black Cat Sheriff: "You’ve saved White Cat—you are a true hero!"
Even the visitors waiting in line outside stopped in their tracks, craning their necks in disbelief toward the vibrant tunnel. A commotion broke out—everyone knew this meant someone had achieved a flawless victory.
…………………
"Prince, you’re amazing! You saved White Cat."
Fortunately, the other adult tourists assumed Su Cheng was a staff member, so they didn’t swarm him with congratulations. Just as he was about to leave after collecting two figurines, a child suddenly rushed up and hugged his leg excitedly.
"No, you’re the one who saved her."
Su Cheng shook his head, then placed the figurine in the child’s hands with a smile. "Here, this is for you."
With that, he and the two women headed toward the VIP exit. The other tourists, seeing them take the special passage, became even more convinced they were staff.
But the actual staff members stared at the trio as if they’d seen ghosts—after all, they had witnessed everything on the surveillance feed.
"This White Cat figurine…"
Su Cheng scratched his head awkwardly. With two women beside him and only one figurine left, he wasn’t sure who to give it to.
Should he let them fight for it?
Who would get it if they lost?
"I already have a blue cat."
Li Guanqi noticed his hesitation and shook her head, indicating she didn’t want it. She already had a blue plushie Su Cheng had given her during the archery competition.
"Then… Department Head, you take it."
After a moment’s thought, Su Cheng handed the white cat plush to Gu Ruoxue.
Gu Ruoxue, who had already put away her camera, hesitated as she stared at the plush, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long pause, she finally spoke. "This is your trophy from today. Keep it as a memento."
She shook her head.
"To me, the most important thing was the moment you saved the white cat earlier."
With that, she pulled out her camera from her bag and waved it, signaling she had captured the scene.
Su Cheng’s face immediately paled, and he instinctively reached to snatch the camera.
The sudden movement startled Li Guanqi, who grew anxious at the thought of him discovering its contents.
Fortunately, Gu Ruoxue seemed prepared. Before Su Cheng could grab it, she swiftly tucked the camera back into her bag.
"Can you delete the recording?"
Having missed his chance, Su Cheng could only force an awkward smile as he made the request.
To him, using a toy gun to shoot at mice was beyond embarrassing—mortifying enough to make him roll around in bed in shame. He wouldn’t even dare watch the footage if given the chance.
Relieved, Li Guanqi let out a quiet sigh.
Gu Ruoxue looked at him, raised the camera again, and said, "You should give up on that idea."
Su Cheng sighed in disappointment, then turned to Li Guanqi. "Fine, let’s go to the next attraction."
"Just the two of us?"
Li Guanqi tilted her head slightly, blinking in confusion.
"Yeah."
Su Cheng nodded, then jerked his thumb toward Gu Ruoxue behind him. "The next one is the Grizzly Gulch roller coaster. Since someone here prefers filming, she can stay below and record us having fun. It’s not like she’d dare ride anything thrilling anyway."
His words made Gu Ruoxue frown in displeasure. "What are you implying?"
"I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to ride it, right?"
Su Cheng shrugged, turning to face her.
He was doing this on purpose.
Since Gu Ruoxue had footage of his embarrassing moment, he planned to record her terrified screams later—fair’s fair.
Gu Ruoxue’s expression darkened. "Don’t you think it’s common courtesy to ask someone directly instead of using such an obvious, childish provocation? It’s idiotic."
Clearly, she had seen through his scheme.
But now that he’d said it, whether she rode or not, she couldn’t back down without swallowing her pride.
"Alright, then. Do you want to join us?"
Su Cheng spread his hands nonchalantly.
"No."
Gu Ruoxue refused outright.
"See? Pointless question."
Su Cheng smirked, as if he’d expected this. "You’re much cuter when you’re not forcing yourself."
This inexplicably irked Gu Ruoxue, who let out a cold snort.
Watching their bickering, Li Guanqi suddenly spoke up. "Actually, I can’t go. I’m wearing a skirt, so it’s inconvenient. Sorry, I’ll have to sit this one out."
Su Cheng spun around in shock. "What?"
"Yeah."
Li Guanqi nodded. "I’ll wait here for you."
Deflated, Su Cheng slumped his shoulders. "Fine, let’s pick something else."
"No need. You and Senior Gu go ahead."
With that, Li Guanqi walked over, took the camera from Gu Ruoxue, and gave her a reassuring nod before turning to Su Cheng. "You two go on. I’ll film you boarding and getting off."
Gu Ruoxue hesitated, wanting to refuse, but under the expectant gazes of both Li Guanqi and Su Cheng, the words died in her throat.
Seeing her silent acceptance, Su Cheng couldn’t hide his delight.
"Then let’s go!"
With that, the three headed toward the roller coaster area.
Soon, they entered the ride’s boarding zone through a special access path. Unlike a traditional roller coaster, this one resembled an old-fashioned wooden mine cart.
"Are you really okay?"
As they approached the cart, Su Cheng noticed Gu Ruoxue’s legs wobble slightly, nearly making her stumble. Concerned, he asked again.
"I’m… fine."
Gu Ruoxue turned her face away, forcing composure.
"Honestly, I’ve always been curious about this."
Su Cheng’s words made Gu Ruoxue tense, her gaze dropping to the ground as she exhaled softly. "I had a bad experience as a child."
"I see."
Su Cheng nodded but didn’t press further, instead asking, "Ever thought about overcoming it?"
Hearing these words, Gu Ruoxue stiffened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and replied indifferently, "I haven't thought about it."
Before he could ask again, however, staff members hurried him onto the ride.
The moment Gu Ruoxue stepped inside, she seemed like a completely different person, gripping the handrail so tightly it nearly deformed under her fingers.
"Don’t be afraid. Your prince is here."
At this point, Su Cheng abandoned his initial plan of recording and instead focused entirely on Gu Ruoxue. If she kept squeezing the rail like that, it might snap. Gently patting her shoulder, he comforted her, "It’s okay. I’m right here with you."
Then, he began searching for a way to ease her fear.
As the ride slowly started, her grip only tightened further, and a pained expression flickered across her face.
Su Cheng’s heart ached at the sight. "It’s alright, don’t be scared. I’m here," he reassured her.
Gu Ruoxue turned to him with a self-deprecating smile. "Seems I’m really terrified of this."
Su Cheng reached out and took her small hand in his, soothing her. "We can talk to distract you from the fear."
"Mm, okay."
She gave a slight nod, not minding his hand—his touch did bring her some calm. The two began chatting idly.
But soon, the ride climbed a steep slope before suddenly lurching backward, making Gu Ruoxue gasp in fright.
Before she could recover, it plunged downward, forcing her eyes shut as she screamed, her face turning deathly pale. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
"Uh… let’s go back to what we were talking about earlier?"
Seeing her terrified, Su Cheng quickly steered the conversation elsewhere to divert her attention.
"Whew—"
Gu Ruoxue exhaled shakily and opened her eyes. "What were we talking about?"
"I said I bought a little outfit for Orange Cat."
"An outfit?"
She blinked, recalling the clothes in Su Cheng’s shopping basket earlier, then remarked, "She can’t wear anything right now. It’d just restrict her movement and make her even lazier."
Su Cheng nodded. "I know. I was planning to give it to you so she could wear it after losing weight—"
Gu Ruoxue arched a brow, cutting him off. "So you believe I can actually slim her down?"
"Yep!"
Seeing her return to her usual self, Su Cheng grinned and nodded eagerly.
But the moment of relief was short-lived. The ride suddenly jolted forward at high speed, startling even Su Cheng—let alone Gu Ruoxue.
She shrieked, squeezing her eyes shut as her body trembled.
In her panic, her foot accidentally knocked against something, and she felt her shoe slip off. Once the ride slowed slightly, she tried feeling around the floor with her foot to find it—only for another sharp descent to send it flying upward, right to nose level between them.
The good news? Su Cheng caught it midair.
The bad news? He immediately hid it behind his back.
"Thanks. Give it back."
Gu Ruoxue sighed in relief before holding out her hand.
"Shoe? What shoe?"
Su Cheng feigned ignorance, blinking at her innocently.
His act made her temples throb. She exhaled in exasperation. "The one I just lost."
"No idea what you’re talking about."
He kept up the charade, and her frustration mounted. Even as the ride accelerated again, she barely noticed, too busy glaring at Su Cheng. "I saw you hide it!"
Su Cheng was secretly pleased—his experiment worked. Anger had completely overridden her fear of heights. This was a breakthrough! Now he knew how to help her overcome her phobias, whether heights or dogs.
Still grinning, he played dumb. "You must’ve imagined it. Why would I hide a shoe?"
He was deliberately provoking her, hoping to keep her distracted in case the handrail gave way.
"You’re still denying it?"
Not even the ride’s violent jerking could dampen her irritation now. Her sharp gaze zeroed in on the floor near Su Cheng.
"I didn’t hide anything. You’re mistaken."
He shook his head, scooting his feet back slightly.
That only fueled her anger. This guy was absolutely doing this on purpose!
But before she could retort, the ride returned to the starting point and came to a stop.
Li Guanqi approached, camera in hand.
To his surprise, Gu Ruoxue wasn’t trembling in fear as expected—instead, she looked downright furious.
"Don’t push your luck. Hand it over now!"
She issued her final warning. "I saw you hide it with my own eyes."
"You’re mistaken. That was my new teacup I tucked away!"