"I want to understand her better—understand Li Guanqi!"
The moment Su Cheng mustered the courage to say these words, his face twisted in horror, his heart pounding violently.
Because—
This woman had taken advantage of his speech to bend down, pick up the mask, and decisively put it back on her face.
[Target: Li Zhao]
[Intelligence: 9]
[Charm: 9]
[Stamina: 8]
Instantly, the soft, angelic demeanor of Li Zhao vanished, replaced by an imposing aura of authority.
Especially her eyes—they gleamed with a piercing light, as if capable of piercing through the darkness to perceive the very essence of the world, evoking fear and dread.
At this moment, cold sweat dripped from Su Cheng’s forehead.
So this was her idea of playing fair?
Earlier, he had only managed to remove her mask through a sneak attack. But now that she was on guard, pulling off another ambush would be next to impossible—especially given her absurdly high stamina.
"This is the first time I’ve witnessed someone so brazenly defy authority and justice within this school."
After a brief silence, Li Zhao spoke, her voice icy and stern, brimming with sacred and unassailable dignity.
At this moment, the figure standing before Su Cheng was no longer just Li Zhao—she embodied the highest authority of the entire academy. Her very presence symbolized order and fairness.
Su Cheng froze for a second before regaining his composure. Meeting her gaze steadily, he said, "I only want to learn about your sister from you. Nothing more."
Yet in the next instant, Li Zhao moved to subdue him. Unexpectedly, Su Cheng seemed to have anticipated this, swiftly retreating and forcing her to abandon the attempt.
"Your ability is... intriguing."
Li Zhao stared at Su Cheng, a flicker of interest and approval in her eyes, though her tone remained frigid and severe.
"But don’t you think acting solely on impulse is far too reckless?"
Adopting the stance of an unyielding authority, she continued, "Perhaps there are those around you who tolerate your temperament—even shield you from your mistakes. But there are also those who won’t. This world doesn’t grant you everything you desire, nor will anyone submit entirely to your whims."
Su Cheng’s expression darkened at her words. The implications ran deep, too complex to dissect in the moment, but on the surface, it was clear—Li Zhao had no intention of yielding easily.
"Now that things have strayed from your expectations, what will you do next?"
Li Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on Su Cheng, her tone indifferent, as though everything unfolded according to her design.
"I just want to know about her from you—that’s all. My earlier offense was unintended, and I apologize."
Though unease flickered in Su Cheng’s eyes, he held his ground, all the while scrambling for a solution.
He had assumed removing the mask would settle everything. Never had he imagined Li Zhao would willingly put it back on!
This was beyond his expectations.
As he calmed down, a question arose in his mind.
Did Li Zhao not want to tell him either?
Otherwise, why would she reapply the mask so readily?
This seemed the most plausible explanation.
Now, he was trapped—unable to leave, unable to argue. Even if he tore off her mask again, what guarantee was there she wouldn’t just don it once more?
His only option was to persuade Li Zhao herself.
But persuading her?
That was nothing short of delusional.
Still, Su Cheng wasn’t entirely without bargaining chips.
"What will it take for you to tell me?"
Su Cheng took a deep breath, steadying himself. What he sought wasn’t just knowledge of Li Guanqi—he wanted to understand everything about her.
And only Li Zhao held those answers.
Only by uncovering the truth could he fulfill his duties as a boyfriend, bringing everything to a proper conclusion.
"To gain something, one must offer something of equal value."
Li Zhao’s voice remained detached, her pristine uniform amplifying her aura of sanctity and command.
She lifted one leg, clad in white stockings, and stepped closer, as if relishing his distress and panic.
"What do you think?"
She tossed the question back at him, yet her eyes bore into him with scrutiny, as though seeing straight through his intentions.
Under her gaze, Su Cheng felt an overwhelming helplessness. His so-called bargaining chip suddenly seemed worthless.
His leverage—joining the student council—now felt trivial.
Beneath that piercing stare, he felt stripped bare, utterly exposed.
Sure enough—
"She is my sister. As her elder sibling, it’s only natural I concern myself with her affairs. Wouldn’t you agree?"
Li Zhao’s tone was light, yet the pressure in her words was undeniable. She was demanding he justify himself—reveal his true motives and desires. Otherwise, she wouldn’t divulge a single scrap of information.
This only deepened Su Cheng’s frustration.
Now, the distance between them was minimal.
Staring at Li Zhao’s silver-masked face, Su Cheng felt his blood boil, an inexplicable surge of impulse rising within him.
He decided to tear off the mask again—or even destroy it.
This time, he’d channel all his energy into speed.
Even if Li Zhao refused to cooperate, facing her was preferable to dealing with this relentless, hyper-rational monster!
Yet, in the next instant—
Just as he tapped into his last reserves of energy, activating his explosive speed, Li Zhao anticipated his movements, analyzing his joints and predicting his trajectory with eerie precision.
By the time Su Cheng’s speed broke the sound barrier, Li Zhao had already sidestepped several meters away, watching him calmly, her eyes filled with an odd glint.
As if to say—got you.
Su Cheng’s full-force strike met only air, leaving him crumpled on the floor like a deflated balloon, drained of all strength, his vision blurring as if on the verge of collapse.
Witnessing Su Cheng’s sudden frailty, Li Zhao seemed momentarily surprised, but she made no move to assist.
Indeed, unleashing such explosive potential in an instant came at a steep cost.
Now, Su Cheng resembled someone who hadn’t eaten or drunk for days—weak to the point of near-unconsciousness.
"Such a tremendous sacrifice, yet entirely wasted."
Li Zhao shook her head, her voice devoid of pity, still cold as ever. "But I won’t soften for this."
With that, she turned and walked away.
At the doorway, she glanced at Li Guanqi, signaling her to tend to her foolish boyfriend. Without hesitation, Li Guanqi rushed inside—
But then, an utterly feeble voice echoed from the classroom, freezing both women in place.
"Wait… just…"
Su Cheng slumped weakly on the floor, raising his head with great effort to look at Li Zhao, his voice strained as he uttered, "She..."
Hearing this, Li Guanqi froze in her steps, her heart trembling, though she remained leaning against the wall outside. Yet the worry and anxiety in her eyes were unmistakable, her slender legs tensing tightly together.
Li Zhao cast a glance at her sister’s expression before turning back to Su Cheng, her tone indifferent as she asked, "What do you want to say?"
She wanted to see what meaningful words Su Cheng, who looked half-dead, could possibly offer.
Su Cheng’s face was as pale as paper as he spoke, each word deliberate: "She... is my close friend. I want to understand her."
"What exactly do you mean by 'understand'?"
Li Zhao’s voice remained detached, as if their relationship were nothing more than that of strangers.
Beside her, Li Guanqi clenched her fists. Though she couldn’t see Su Cheng’s condition inside, the weakness in his voice alone told her just how terrible he must be.
Her heart ached unbearably.
What...
What is he trying to do?
Why, even in this state, is he so determined to understand her?!
Just then, Su Cheng’s voice broke the heavy silence between the three of them.
"Understand everything about her."
His words grew increasingly feeble, each syllable a struggle, yet he forced them out: "Understand her core essence... her attitude toward everything, her methods, her past... No... not just that... so much more..."
At this, he suddenly stopped, as if all his strength had drained away. He collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath, on the verge of passing out.
Outside, Li Guanqi’s heart wrenched in pain. Tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, and she could no longer suppress her emotions. She moved to rush inside—
But Li Zhao’s hand shot out, firmly gripping her shoulder to stop her. Coldly, she continued interrogating Su Cheng: "Why do you suddenly want to understand her today? Tell me—what is your real reason?"
"Lift your head and answer me properly."
Li Zhao’s voice was icy and unrelenting.
Li Guanqi, meanwhile, stared at her sister in shock, feeling as though she were seeing a stranger. She had never imagined Li Zhao would treat Su Cheng like this.
Not that Li Zhao was unjustified. Ever since learning that Li Guanqi’s date with Su Cheng last Saturday had also included Gu Ruoxue—
She had lost all goodwill toward Su Cheng.
As an older sister, she could not tolerate this!
Of course she wanted her younger sister to be happy.
And now, Su Cheng had betrayed that expectation!
How could she let this slide?
She was acting in her role as a sister.
Su Cheng, lying on the floor, had no strength left to rise. Even keeping his eyes open was a monumental effort, let alone responding to Li Zhao’s questioning.
The last shreds of his rationality told him he could use cigarettes to force himself to answer—but he quickly dismissed the thought.
Because the words he needed to say next—
He had to speak them himself!
His hand inched toward the leg of a nearby table, fingers grasping weakly. But even this small movement drained him completely. Standing up was impossible.
So—
"System, activate Hungry Ghost Path."
Even if it meant enduring agony worse than death, he would say it.
After speaking, he could just jump out the window and hide—then everything would be fine!
[Ding—]
[Hungry Ghost Path transformation effect activated]
[Classification: Outer Obstruction Ghost]
[Duration: Ten minutes]
Outer Obstruction Ghost: Unable to eat, its stomach never full. Its legs are painfully thin, like brittle twigs on the verge of snapping, unable to support its weight—forcing it to crawl. Even when it sees food, it can only stumble forward clumsily. To its eyes, food transforms into inedible objects, and drinks become filthy liquids.
This state was eerily similar to Su Cheng’s current condition.
Fortunately, the Hungry Ghost’s baseline state was slightly better than his!
At least it could still stumble forward!
Though his body remained unchanged, the moment the skill activated, Su Cheng felt a sliver of strength return. He could rise—but only barely.
Summoning his willpower, he lifted his eyelids, pushed himself up with trembling arms, and raised his head to meet Li Zhao’s gaze. His lips quivered as he spoke, voice frail but resolute, pouring out his deepest feelings.
"I want to make her smile from the heart... I want her to have many friends... I want her to be happy, truly happy... So... please, help me!"
With that, Su Cheng mustered the last of his courage, gritting his teeth and raising his voice in a final, desperate declaration: "This means everything to me!"
He knew no words could fully convey his emotions—some things simply couldn’t be expressed through language alone.
Yet even so, he chose to speak his truth, laying bare his heart and his stubborn reasoning in one breath, cutting off any retreat.
As his words hung in the air, both Li sisters were stunned into silence.
Li Guanqi covered her mouth, her heart overwhelmed. Su Cheng’s confession struck her like a revelation, clarifying his true intentions at last.
So that’s it...
The realization only deepened her sorrow.
This fool...
Meanwhile, Li Zhao, standing at the doorway, met Su Cheng’s gaze—filled with defiance and sincerity—and felt an inexplicable stir in her heart.
Su Cheng wasn’t lying. There wasn’t a trace of deceit in his words. She could see it clearly in his expression, in his eyes—the sheer determination, the unwavering resolve, and the profound love behind them.
If she was acting in the name of sisterhood—
Then right now—
Su Cheng was acting in the name of love, backed by every action he had taken.
………………
Su Cheng kept his eyes fixed on Li Zhao by the door.
Her gaze remained cool, sharp—as if nothing could escape her notice, as if she had already seen through everything.
Li Zhao studied Su Cheng’s pitiful, bitter smile for a long moment before hesitantly extending her fair, delicate hand toward her mask.
After a brief silence, her low, solemn voice finally echoed through the room.
"Fine."
A single word, heavy with unspoken meaning.
But the next second—
Su Cheng’s pupils dilated violently, his heart skipping a beat as disbelief washed over him.
Because Li Zhao had reached up and removed her mask—
And smiled.
Majesty and sweetness intertwined on her face, creating a mesmerizing contrast.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, her unveiled beauty stood at the doorway, radiant with an otherworldly charm.
Then, her voice—light and sweet—floated through the air once more.
"But first... how about something to eat?"
She darted over like an angel descending, immediately crouching beside Su Cheng’s scattered belongings from her bag, intending to pull something out to feed Su Cheng first.
While Su Cheng was still lost in the intoxicating mix of authority and gentleness radiating from Li Zhao’s presence—
The next second—
His face twisted into an expression of sheer horror as he watched Li Zhao pull out a lump of something indistinct, pixelated even, and move to shove it straight into his mouth!
“NO!!!”