Reflecting on the Present and Remembering the Past

"Ding-a-ling~"

The bell for the third class rang, and Su Cheng could no longer suppress the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind as he stood up.

To him, if they were going to break up, then he had already failed. He couldn’t fathom how disappointed and hurt Li Guanqi must have been to make such a decision.

His dream of creating a world where no one got hurt had now become nothing but a cruel joke.

Because someone had already been hurt.

"A hero falls before his triumph"—this line of poetry fit his current situation perfectly.

He had already found a way to create a world without pain, yet before he could even begin, someone had already been wounded.

In a way, he had already failed.

Su Cheng stood up, and the moment he did, he noticed Li Guanqi’s gaze turning toward him.

Her face remained as expressionless as ever, devoid of any emotion, as if she were a background character with no presence, unnoticed by anyone.

Su Cheng stood there, staring straight at her.

Their eyes met.

Silence stretched between them, as if this were some kind of contest.

After a long pause, Su Cheng signaled with his eyes for her to follow him out of the classroom.

Then, he took the lead, walking toward the door.

As he passed Li Guanqi’s seat, he let out a quiet sigh of relief when he saw her move and follow him.

Once outside, he headed straight upstairs, climbing several flights of stairs until he reached the rooftop door, which was locked. Su Cheng stopped in front of it, his mind racing for the right words to say.

Finally, he found an opening.

"So… how’s Yaya doing?"

But the moment the words left his mouth, he couldn’t shake the absurd feeling that he sounded like an ex-husband asking about their child—awkward and embarrassing.

However, his discomfort didn’t last long, because Li Guanqi didn’t respond.

Su Cheng turned around, only to freeze in shock.

Li Guanqi hadn’t followed him at all.

He had been talking to himself like an idiot, putting on a one-man show.

Su Cheng: "……"

Sighing, he retraced his steps, wondering where Li Guanqi had gone. But as he rounded a corner on the stairs, he nearly collided with her.

"Where did you go?" he asked, looking at her.

"I went to the restroom."

Li Guanqi’s face remained as impassive as ever. She wore the school uniform—a skirt paired with black tights and flat black shoes, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. But her deep, dark eyes were eerily calm, like still water, revealing nothing.

"Are you mad at me?"

Su Cheng met her gaze and suddenly asked the question outright.

"Yes."

To his surprise, she admitted it without hesitation, nodding slightly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Su Cheng: "……"

His expression stiffened, leaving him utterly speechless.

He had expected her to deny it.

After a long pause, he finally found his voice again: "Is it because of what happened Saturday night?"

Li Guanqi didn’t answer, simply staring at him in silence.

Su Cheng didn’t know what to say either.

Maybe he should apologize immediately—say something sincere and remorseful, preferably with a tone of genuine regret.

But he also knew that over-apologizing would come off as insincere, like he was trying too hard to cover something up.

So, actions were needed instead!

"I brought you something delicious!"

At that moment, Su Cheng pulled out a cake from behind him—vibrant in color, topped with fresh fruit, looking irresistibly tempting.

Li Guanqi’s eyes flicked toward the cake.

Seizing the opportunity, Su Cheng pressed on: "This is the most delicious cake I had at the club president’s place yesterday. I wanted you to try it too, hoping you’d like it."

The underlying message was simple: even at the club president’s place, he had been thinking of her.

But Li Guanqi didn’t respond, her gaze still fixed on the cake.

Su Cheng nudged it toward her. "Want a bite? It’s really good."

Yet Li Guanqi remained unmoved.

Seeing this, Su Cheng resorted to his usual tactics, leaning in to whisper: "I know why you’re upset. It’s because I didn’t consider your feelings when I stayed over at the club president’s place. I know that going there was like buying a one-way ticket to disaster."

His voice wavered slightly before he continued: "I’ve been a terrible boyfriend—irresponsible, disrespectful, and failing to give you any sense of security. I’m sorry."

By the end, guilt weighed heavily on him. He lowered his head, staring at his shoes, his heart aching.

"Ding-a-ling~"

Just then, the class bell rang abruptly.

The sound made him flinch.

"I’m going back to class."

Without hesitation, Li Guanqi turned and walked away, not sparing him a single glance as she strode off.

Su Cheng watched her retreating figure before his gaze fell back to the cake in his hands. Despair settled in as he devoured it in two quick bites.

Then, he too headed back to the classroom.

He knew it—by noon, they’d be breaking up.

……

Back at his desk, Su Cheng felt an indescribable sense of loss, mixed with reluctance.

Staring out the window, his emotions were a tangled mess.

He knew their relationship was doomed to end.

But now, a new problem loomed before him.

Though Li Guanqi seemed unshaken, she must have been heartbroken.

If he erased their connection, she would forget him—and with it, her pain.

So—

Severing their ties could no longer wait!

He pulled out his phone and opened the messaging app.

Finding Liu Qingyue’s chat, he typed without hesitation:

[OrangeHater: "Emergency! Get here ASAP, senior!"]

After sending it, he put his phone away and resumed staring out the window. But soon, a reply came. He picked up his phone again to respond.

What he didn’t know was that, from the corner of the room, Li Guanqi’s eyes had been fixed on him the entire time.

The light in her gaze dimmed further.

Because she had also checked her phone—but no message from him appeared.

No group notifications either. At this hour, Gu Ruoxue and Ji Qingyi wouldn’t be online to reply.

Su Cheng never used his phone during class unless it was urgent.

And given how quickly he had received a response, it had to be Liu Qingyue.

As for why she had been so distant with him all morning?

Because she wanted to stop Su Cheng’s plan—by breaking up with him first.

But now it was clear that she had failed—even worse, she might have inadvertently accelerated Su Cheng's plans. This realization filled her with frustration.

Where did this plan come from?

It began when she and Gu Ruoxue shared a car ride after their Saturday outing to the amusement park.

She had asked Gu Ruoxue why she had chosen to share the ring with her. The other girl's response had been dismissive, just a single offhand remark: "It didn’t align with my principles."

Gu Ruoxue could have been the ultimate victor.

But she had given it up.

She had the ring—an object capable of preserving anything related to Su Cheng. Even if Su Cheng made them forget or erased his own existence, she could still use the contents of the ring to remember or restore everything.

Without the ring, she would have been left with nothing—perhaps even forgetting Su Cheng entirely.

Yet Gu Ruoxue had chosen to share it.

This act had shaken her to the core, sending waves of defeat coursing through her.

But she refused to accept it. Even if it meant taking risks, she was determined to do something.

Breaking up was the method she chose.

Unfortunately, her plan had not succeeded.

………………

Morning classes ended.

Su Cheng braced himself for the impending "judgment" at noon.

He remained seated, watching as waves of students filed out of the classroom.

Li Guanqi sat in the corner, quietly organizing her things.

Even when Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan approached her, she merely shook her head politely, her attitude resolute.

Seeing her like this, Su Cheng couldn’t help but wonder—would she be just as firm and unwavering with him later?

He sighed inwardly.

What about him could possibly attract Li Guanqi?

What did she see in him?

What could he even offer her?

He had no idea.

In her eyes, he was probably no different from a scumbag by now.

"Ah…"

He exhaled deeply and stood up—coincidentally, Li Guanqi rose at the same moment.

Their eyes met. Su Cheng nodded in greeting, and the two of them walked toward the door in silence.

Once outside the classroom, Su Cheng quickened his pace to catch up with Li Guanqi. They walked side by side without a word.

After leaving the academic building, Su Cheng finally spoke: "How’s Yaya doing?"

Li Guanqi didn’t stop walking. Her steps remained graceful and poised, her straight legs clad in black stockings making an alluring contrast against the campus’s stone pathways.

But she did slow down slightly, answering briefly: "She’s fine."

"You… don’t need to leave food for Yaya anymore."

Su Cheng hesitated before adding, "She’s a grown crow now. She can hunt for bugs on her own."

Li Guanqi didn’t respond, leaving only a faint, elegant fragrance lingering in the air as she walked ahead.

"I haven’t seen Yaya in so long. Could you bring her out for me? Just for a quick look. And I have visitation rights—you can’t stop me from seeing her."

Su Cheng caught up again, using Yaya as an excuse. Even if they broke up, he could still find reasons to meet Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi stopped—but not because of his words. They had arrived at Lawn No. 14.

Carrying her bag, she stepped onto the grass and walked to their usual resting spot.

She opened her bag, took out a picnic blanket, and spread it across the grass. Then she arranged the food she had brought.

Su Cheng watched, his heart heavy with sorrow.

He knew this might be their last meal together.

Once everything was set, Li Guanqi sat on the blanket and patted the empty space beside her, signaling for Su Cheng to join.

He sat down, the food separating them—jam, bread, milk, and apples.

As soon as he settled, Li Guanqi picked up a knife and began slicing the bread, spreading jam with practiced ease.

Su Cheng’s chest tightened at the sight.

This was how they used to be.

………………

"Here."

Li Guanqi handed him the prepared bread.

"Thanks."

Su Cheng took it and bit into it, the sweetness filling his mouth.

But he had no appetite for the delicious bread she had made.

Next came the milk.

Su Cheng accepted it with a quiet "thank you" and began eating slowly, alternating between sips of milk and bites of bread.

They ate in silence. Halfway through, Su Cheng looked up—only to find Li Guanqi already watching him.

Their eyes met.

"You should eat too."

Su Cheng retrieved a slice of cake from his system space and offered it to her.

Li Guanqi accepted it. "Thank you."

They continued eating in silence.

Finally, when she handed him a freshly peeled apple and he finished it, he knew lunchtime was over.

But Li Guanqi remained silent, the tension unbearable. Su Cheng finally spoke: "I’m ready."

He took a deep breath, steeling himself.

What was coming would come. There was no avoiding it—he might as well face it head-on.

He had prepared for the worst.

Yet, to his surprise, Li Guanqi reached out, gently wiping away a smear of jam from the corner of his mouth with a tissue. The soft brush of her fingers against his skin made him freeze.

"Ready for what?"

Her voice was light, almost curious, as she carefully cleaned his face.

"Aren’t you breaking up with me?"

Her actions confused him, but Su Cheng didn’t shy away—he asked directly.

"Break up? Why would I break up with you?"

Her tone carried genuine bewilderment, even a hint of disbelief. A faint shadow of melancholy crossed her brows, as if his question troubled her.

"Wait—what?!"

Su Cheng’s eyes widened in shock. "You’re not here to break up? But you’ve been so cold to me today!"

"Was I cold?"

Li Guanqi withdrew her hand, crumpling the tissue in her palm. She turned away, her expression sulky. "I was angry!"

Hearing this, the weight in Su Cheng’s chest finally lifted—but he still had to confirm. "Really?"

Li Guanqi stayed silent, her back to him.

She looked utterly furious—unwilling to be appeased.

"Please don’t be mad. I know I messed up. After everything that happened, I’ve realized my mistakes. I’ll do better—I swear I’ll be the kind of boyfriend who never hurts you again."

Su Cheng gazed at her earnestly, his voice sincere and full of resolve.

Li Guanqi trembled violently at the last sentence, turning her head to glare at him with eyes that bore into his soul, as if he had just uttered the most offensive words imaginable.

"What's wrong?"

Su Cheng looked at her in confusion. Li Guanqi's reaction was so peculiar that he felt there must have been some triggering keyword in his words that had angered her further. So, he stared back.

"Nothing..."

Li Guanqi averted her gaze again, desperately suppressing the wavering in her voice. She didn’t dare look at him any longer, afraid she might lose control of her emotions.

"Anyway, your apology is too cheap."

Finally, the restless agitation in her eyes faded, replaced by something unfathomably deep. She gazed silently at the cars outside the school for a moment before abruptly changing the subject: "That thing."

"Go on."

Su Cheng, who had been wallowing in the sting of her "cheap" remark, immediately perked up at her words.

"Why do you think I would break up with you?"

Li Guanqi's voice was hoarse as she repeated, "Why?"

"Because I’ve been thinking a lot this morning. I realized there’s nothing about me that could attract you, nothing worth your affection."

Su Cheng spoke slowly, but every word was deliberate and clear, as if he had thoroughly convinced himself of this truth.

Hearing this, Li Guanqi turned to him without hesitation and retorted sharply, "That’s just what you think. I don’t agree, and I absolutely forbid you to think that way."

Su Cheng’s pupils contracted in shock as he stared at her blankly. After a long pause, the corner of his mouth twitched into a bitter smile. "Just like how I upset you this time. Having a boyfriend like me must be exhausting, right? And I can’t even find a single reason to prove why you’d like me in the first place."

He paused, his voice growing even quieter. "As your boyfriend, I can’t give you the treatment you deserve. All I do is hurt you."

"Do you remember what I was like at the beginning?"

Suddenly—

Li Guanqi asked this seemingly random question.

Su Cheng froze, scrambling through his memories to recall her earliest appearance.

What was she like back then?

An image surfaced in his mind—a girl with long, straight black hair sitting alone on the grass, reading a book, unnoticed by anyone, without friends her age, overlooked no matter what she did.

Back then, she was like an isolated island, forever solitary with her book, unable to blend into the world around her even under the warm sunlight, as if she existed on the other side of reality.

Su Cheng’s lips trembled slightly as he understood Li Guanqi’s meaning—and why she liked him in the first place.

His eyes met hers, those deep, beautiful orbs filled with stubbornness and determination.

Finally, Li Guanqi parted her lips and spoke slowly, her tone unwavering: "You gave my life meaning and purpose. That’s enough."

As she said this, the resolve in her eyes didn’t fade—it only intensified.

Though he had anticipated her words, Su Cheng was still stunned for a moment before warmth flooded his chest, making his entire heart feel aglow.

The two gazed at each other.

"Are you sleepy? I brought a small pillow."

"I want a lap pillow."

"Okay."

On the nearby bench, Su Cheng lay on his back with his head resting on Li Guanqi’s thighs, gazing up at her delicate face, breathing in the comforting scent that was uniquely hers, feeling utterly at peace.

Li Guanqi gently stroked his hair with an affectionate, doting expression, prompting Su Cheng to close his eyes in contentment.

Just then, a breeze swept by, lifting a strand of Li Guanqi’s hair. She reached up to tuck it behind her ear—a small gesture that Su Cheng caught when he opened his eyes. Seeing this, he asked, "Are your legs tired?"

Li Guanqi looked down at him, blinking slowly before shaking her head. "No."

"Not numb?"

"Nope."

Su Cheng hummed thoughtfully, then declared with exaggerated seriousness, "Then I’m going to sleep. If your legs go numb, you’ll have to kiss me awake."

With that, he shut his eyes and pretended to doze off.

Li Guanqi studied his "sleeping" face for a long moment before pinching his cheek.

"You fell for it!"

Su Cheng suddenly sat up, pecked her lips, then leapt off her lap, licking his lips as he savored the fleeting touch.

Caught completely off guard, Li Guanqi flushed slightly but still scowled. "You really haven’t grown up at all."

She pursed her lips, glanced around to confirm they were alone, then added sternly, "If Senior Gu Ruoxue saw you pulling this, even I wouldn’t be able to save you!"

Su Cheng’s expression shifted rapidly as he scanned their surroundings. Only after verifying no one was nearby did he relax with a sigh of relief.

Eventually, he obediently returned to sit beside Li Guanqi. Staring at her impassive face, he couldn’t help but justify himself: "Emotions got the better of me—I lost control. Fine, I’ll just kiss her at the club this aftern—"

Before he could finish, Li Guanqi stomped hard on his foot, making him yelp in pain. She glared daggers at him. "Instead of delusions, why don’t you do something meaningful?"

"Something meaningful?"

Just then, Su Cheng remembered something he had yet to do.

With utmost seriousness, he looked at Li Guanqi and declared, "You’ve gained weight!"

Li Guanqi froze, instinctively touching her stomach before standing up to inspect herself.

Clearly concerned about his assessment, she immediately asked, "Where?"

"Mhm." Su Cheng nodded gravely, standing to scrutinize her from head to toe before settling on her slender, black-stockinged legs. "Everywhere!"

"Then why are you staring at my legs while saying that?"

"That’s not the point! The point is, it’s definitely because of all the sweets we had at the amusement park last Saturday!"

Li Guanqi’s face stiffened. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, silently staring down at her flat stomach.

With her mind preoccupied by Su Cheng lately, she hadn’t checked her weight and had no idea if she’d actually gained any.

"I remember you were 46kg at the last check-up."

Su Cheng suddenly added.

He still had her latest physical report in his possession.

Upon hearing this, Li Guanqi instinctively nodded.

"I happen to have a weighing scale. Let’s see how much you weigh. If you’ve gained weight, I’ll put you through special training this afternoon!"

Su Cheng glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, placed the scale on the floor and pointed at it.

"Alright."

Li Guanqi responded with a grimace, her expression troubled.

The idea of "special training" was just too embarrassing.

She stepped forward, bending down slowly to remove her shoes. In an instant, a pair of petite feet, encased in black stockings, was exposed to Su Cheng’s gaze. Through the sheer fabric, he could faintly glimpse the soft, pink flesh beneath.

He swallowed hard, then averted his eyes—only to watch as she took off the other shoe. Now, both delicate feet rested on the scale, those slender, perfectly proportioned legs swaying slightly in front of him, leaving Su Cheng momentarily dazed.

But he didn’t forget his duty.

Meanwhile, Li Guanqi stood nervously on the scale, awaiting the verdict of the numbers.

『66kg』

Staring at the digits, Li Guanqi furrowed her brows in disbelief. How was this possible?!

Sure enough, when she turned her head, she caught Su Cheng pressing a foot against the scale, trying to make her seem heavier.

"Heh."

Su Cheng chuckled playfully before withdrawing his foot and motioning for her to weigh herself properly.

Li Guanqi turned back to the display. Without Su Cheng’s interference, the numbers confirmed she had indeed gained a little weight, much to her dismay.

Su Cheng, seeing the truth for himself, declared bluntly, "See? You have gained weight. Come find me during free time this afternoon!"

"Got it."

Li Guanqi nodded, slipping her shoes back on before sitting down on a chair. Watching Su Cheng gleefully pack away the scale, a sudden sense of foreboding crept over her. Hesitantly, she asked, "What are you planning?"

"Heh. Guess."