All is ready except for the moon to pour down.

Flame City Private Academy

In a fourth-floor classroom, the space appeared eerily empty—not a single student in sight, only neatly arranged desks. Yet, strangely enough, two individuals were hiding inside in peculiar positions.

Even more bizarre was the presence of a blushing voyeur outside the classroom, all of which underscored just how unusual the situation was.

"Do you have any more questions?"

Inside the classroom, Li Zhaohao skillfully fed Su Cheng pieces of bread, her expression serious and focused as she recounted Li Guanqi's childhood experiences.

"Not for now," Su Cheng shook his head, his gaze lingering on the cake in Li Zhaohao's hand before he closed his eyes, feeling slightly dazed.

Though it had been an illusion, the impact of seeing Li Zhaohao holding something obscured by mosaic earlier had been overwhelming.

The fact that she had even tried to feed him had nearly scared him into activating the Path of Asura.

Just recalling the scene made him cringe inwardly, as if something sacred had been defiled. Now, he couldn't even bring himself to look at Li Zhaohao directly, his guilt making him avert his eyes.

Fortunately, when he said no, she stopped immediately.

He then explained that he needed a ten-minute break before continuing. Once the skill's effect wore off, he resumed eating while asking about Li Guanqi's past, eventually inquiring about the Li family as well.

Li Zhaohao cooperated fully, answering every question with patience and detail.

Li Guanqi...

After hearing everything, Su Cheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He never expected her childhood to have been like that.

But why was it so important to understand Li Guanqi?

Because to help someone, you first needed to know them.

Moreover, the system's rewards were based on his intentions. Without understanding Li Guanqi, it would likely have given him something like a cure for her expressionless demeanor.

But now, he realized that even if he "fixed" that, it wouldn't address the root of her suffering. She would still be left with the loneliness she had carried since childhood.

Those experiences would forever remain her pain, her regrets, her endless sorrow. If those wounds weren't healed, nothing could mend the scars buried deep in her heart.

Now, he had finally found the answer—a way to ensure Li Guanqi could live happily from now on. All he needed was a time-travel item from the system, allowing him to return to her childhood memories.

To intervene. To change everything.

He didn’t care about time paradoxes, chaos, instability, or the butterfly effect. He was even prepared to erase his own existence if necessary—as long as Li Guanqi’s life could be filled with happiness.

Everything was ready. All he needed now was Liu Qingyue.

Every day, he could obtain an A-rank item from her.

Eventually, he would get the one he needed.

……………………

While the two inside the classroom discussed Li Guanqi’s past, Li Guanqi herself stood outside the door, listening to her own embarrassing history. Shame threatened to drown her—this was beyond mortifying.

"Alright, I’ll head back to club activities now."

Su Cheng’s voice reached her ears again, followed by the sound of footsteps. Panicked, Li Guanqi quickly ducked into a nearby restroom.

The footsteps faded until they disappeared entirely.

Only when they returned did she cautiously step out—only to run straight into her cousin.

It was Li Zhao, in her masked form.

The two locked eyes for a moment.

"I see limitless potential in him."

Li Zhao’s brief, indifferent remark echoed in Li Guanqi’s mind.

"R-Really?"

…………………………………………

Having left the school building, Su Cheng’s physical condition had returned to normal thanks to Li Zhaohao’s care, though his face remained slightly pale. Still, he was in high spirits—he had found his answer.

But now, another problem weighed on him.

The upcoming social practice event.

How was he supposed to face Gu Ruoxue?

What expression should he wear?

What should his first words be?

After all, Li Guanqi had gotten angry just because he stayed overnight at the club president’s place. Gu Ruoxue, who shared a similarly close relationship with him, was undoubtedly furious too.

And when this woman was angry, no amount of coaxing would work.

Lost in thought, he walked absentmindedly until he arrived at the Special Building—the club activity center.

Without hesitation, he took light steps toward the club lounge.

But as he climbed the stairs, the sudden rustling of a folding fan caught his attention.

Turning, he saw a girl using the fan to hide her face, revealing only eyes brimming with shame and indignation. She pressed herself against the railing to make way for him, her tall, elegant frame now slightly hunched, her legs clad in black stockings tightly pressed together as if she couldn’t bear the situation.

It was Vice President Ling of the Go Club.

Su Cheng felt equally awkward, unsure how to react to this noble, refined girl who turned into a flustered mess around him.

As his gaze lingered, Vice President Ling panicked further, squeezing her thighs together before fleeing as if terrified she might do something mortifying the next second.

Watching her go, Su Cheng lowered his head, overwhelmed by guilt. He had ruined a flower, tainted a pure maiden.

But in a few days, it would all be over.

Everything would return to normal.

Then his thoughts circled back to Gu Ruoxue.

Thinking carefully…

Though they were close, he had never confessed his feelings or even hinted at liking her. And Gu Ruoxue had never expressed any romantic interest either—their relationship had always been more like ordinary friends.

But time was running out. Should he lay bare his emotions now?

Maybe he could convey them through a story.

Before he knew it, he was standing outside the clubroom. Taking a deep breath, he turned the doorknob.

Click. The door opened.

There she was—Gu Ruoxue, as always.

Like a painting of an immortal, she sat at the computer desk, her eyes fixed intently on the screen.

When he entered, she glanced up briefly before refocusing on her work.

No acknowledgment.

"I got held up. I’m a bit late," Su Cheng explained after closing the door and taking his seat.

Normally, he was used to this distance between them. But now, it felt unbearably vast—perhaps because his time was limited.

Unable to stay still, his eyes kept drifting to her impossibly perfect profile.

An indescribable feeling settled over him.

Gu Ruoxue still didn’t look at him.

The silence was suffocating.

He needed something to do.

Noticing the lack of tea on the table, he stood up and grabbed the electric kettle to boil water.

This time, he prepared a new cup for Gu Ruoxue.

Naturally, it was the panda-patterned cup he had bought at the amusement park.

He poured tea and conjured up a slice of cake, placing both on a tray before walking over to Gu Ruoxue and offering it to her: "Xiaoxue, take a break!"

Gu Ruoxue didn’t react particularly strongly to this.

"Thanks for your hard work."

She turned her head immediately, nodding in acknowledgment. The motion caused her black hair to cascade gently downward, and she gracefully reached up to smooth it before tucking the strands behind her ear.

This unconscious gesture always stirred something in Su Cheng’s heart, leaving him rooted in place, unable to tear his gaze away as he watched her every move.

But Gu Ruoxue didn’t look at him. Instead, she lowered her eyes to the dessert and tea beside her. When she noticed the panda design on the mug, her gaze flickered briefly.

"Do you enjoy standing around drawing attention to yourself?"

Gu Ruoxue still didn’t look at him. Her eyes returned to the screen as she spoke coolly, her voice husky and devoid of emotion.

"Oh, sorry."

Su Cheng quickly snapped out of his daze, hurriedly pulling over a chair and sitting down beside her. Instantly, the scent of her perfume mingled with the fragrance of tea filled his senses.

The distance between them was only about ten centimeters—close enough to feel charged.

But it also put Gu Ruoxue on guard. She shifted her chair slightly, putting some space between them.

Seeing this, Su Cheng quickly spoke up: "Take a break. I’ll tell you a long story while you eat, how about that?"

"You mean you’re going to explain what you just did. Why bother with the theatrics?"

At the word "story," Gu Ruoxue shook her head and set the cup aside, putting on the pretense of listening.

This made Su Cheng exhale in relief. After all, every time he messed up, he had to tell a story.

What he feared most was Gu Ruoxue refusing to listen—that would be the end of it. But now, her willingness to hear him out meant there was still a small buffer between them.

Su Cheng didn’t waste time with pleasantries and began: "Once upon a time, there was a boy named Ma Liang..."

He chose the tale of Ma Liang and His Magic Brush. As he narrated slowly, Gu Ruoxue listened intently.

So intently, in fact, that she didn’t touch her tea or cake. Su Cheng paused deliberately, gesturing for her to eat, and only then did she snap out of her trance, lifting the cup to take a sip.

She had a deep interest in folk literature, and this particular story resonated with her inner world, which was why she became so absorbed.

The tale was long, divided into multiple chapters. When Su Cheng finished the first part, Gu Ruoxue’s disappointment was palpable—but when he started the second, her eyes brightened, and she leaned in attentively again.

The storytelling lasted over an hour.

As soon as he finished, he noticed Gu Ruoxue’s closed eyelids flutter slightly, as if she were savoring the aftertaste.

When she opened her eyes and was about to comment, Su Cheng cut her off: "If you had Ma Liang’s magic brush, what would you draw?"

Seeing her momentary confusion, he added, "Because back in elementary school, one of our essay prompts was: If you had a magic brush, what would you paint?"

Instead of answering directly, Gu Ruoxue turned the question back on him: "What did you write back then?"

"Me?"

Su Cheng hesitated. He had indeed written something like that in elementary school, but it was so long ago that the memory had faded into oblivion.

Maybe he had wanted to draw parents?

In the end, he shook his head. "I don’t remember. What about you?"

Gu Ruoxue thought for a moment before shaking her head as well, refusing to answer: "Seeking realism in fictional stories is the height of foolishness. I don’t care for hypotheticals."

"No!"

Suddenly, Su Cheng stubbornly objected, fixing her with an intense gaze. Though he said nothing more, Gu Ruoxue’s eyes widened, her body stiffening slightly.

Because the look in his eyes unmistakably conveyed—

"I am your magic brush!"

It was as if a stone had been thrown into the tranquil lake of her heart, sending ripples across the surface, stirring waves that refused to settle.

But she quickly regained her composure, shifting her gaze away as she replied in a low voice: "Perhaps, like Ma Liang, I’d use it to help those in need—do some good deeds."

Her answer was vague, avoiding any mention of personal desires, as if she hadn’t grasped the underlying meaning of his words.

Su Cheng couldn’t hide his disappointment.

"Alright, that’s it for today’s club activities."

With that, Gu Ruoxue stood up, her slender legs clad in knee-high socks looking straight and elegant, her demeanor once again cool and detached, as if untouched by mortal concerns.

"Oh, right."

Just then, Su Cheng seemed to remember something. He quickly retrieved a pet outfit from his system space and explained, "I bought this for Orange Cat over the weekend."

Gu Ruoxue stared at the pink pet garment, her expression briefly hesitant.

"It can’t wear this right now."

"After it loses weight," he said.

"You seem quite confident it’ll slim down."

Gu Ruoxue took the outfit and thanked him flatly: "I’ll pass on your regards. But don’t get your hopes up—it won’t fit into this anytime soon."

"No rush. With you taking care of it, it’ll be healthy in no time."

Su Cheng smiled before making another request: "Can I go see it today?"

The sudden question caught Gu Ruoxue off guard, but she nodded.

"Though, it’s at the pet store."

Orange Cat wasn’t at home but boarded at a pet shop—it had grown so overweight that it was prone to sudden health issues. Without supervision, no one would notice if something went wrong.

Su Cheng immediately stood up, following Gu Ruoxue as they walked toward the pet store near campus in silence.

Mostly because Su Cheng didn’t know how to broach the subject. She was an impenetrable fortress, unmoved by soft or hard approaches. If not for the life-and-death experiences they’d shared in middle school, he wouldn’t have believed someone like Gu Ruoxue could ever become his girlfriend.

"Xiaoxue, I..."

The moment they stepped outside the school gates, Su Cheng couldn’t hold back any longer, though he struggled to find the right words.

The sky had turned crimson, the sun burning like fire, casting an oppressive glow.

Noticing his hesitation, Gu Ruoxue asked, "Is something wrong?"

Su Cheng took a deep breath and finally mustered the courage to speak: "How would you define our relationship...?"

"We’re just ordinary club members."

Gu Ruoxue cut him off bluntly, her tone indifferent.

Su Cheng deflated like a punctured balloon, crestfallen and regretful, as if he already regretted asking.

"But we haven’t..."

His words made Gu Ruoxue pause.

"Then we can start now."

Gu Ruoxue spoke up, her tone calm yet distant.

Upon hearing this, Su Cheng immediately wanted to slap himself across the face. What kind of question had he just asked?

"It's nothing. Let's continue to the pet shop," he said, changing the subject and walking ahead of Gu Ruoxue, analyzing the implications of their earlier exchange.

From their brief conversation, it was clear that Gu Ruoxue also felt their current situation was strange—otherwise, she wouldn’t have said, "Then let’s just…" and avoided further discussion on the matter.

This confirmed that they were still in some kind of relationship.

Therefore—

He remained in a superposition of being both a close friend² and someone bound by a contract.

Just from this line alone, one could sense the thick, rosy atmosphere. As the protagonist, he should have been reveling in heavenly bliss, but in reality, the weight of this situation was suffocating him.

And this predicament wasn’t something he had deliberately orchestrated—it was purely an accidental coincidence.

He dubbed this phenomenon "Schrödinger’s Cheng."

……

The two arrived at the pet shop.

Su Cheng noticed that this shop specialized in cats, so without any dogs around, Gu Ruoxue didn’t hesitate before leading him straight into the feline section.

Inside a specially designed, double-sized glass enclosure, an enormous orange cat lay lazily sprawled out.

However, the moment Gu Ruoxue stepped inside, the chubby feline slowly lifted its head.

But surrounding it were several middle school girls in uniform, pointing at the oddly shaped orange cat and hurling insults.

"This cat is so fat!"

"I thought it was a golden retriever at first…"

"Oh, it’s just a pig-cat."

"Why isn’t its face fat?"

"Because it can eat without moving, but chewing exercises the face."

"Ohhh, I see…"

"Who even left it here? The owner is so irresponsible—this poor cat’s heart won’t be able to take it."

"Yeah, when the owner shows up, I’ll give them a piece of my mind! How could they neglect their cat’s health like this?"

"Definitely need to call them out!"

Hearing the chatter and even seeing someone poke the cat’s belly, Gu Ruoxue’s brows furrowed.

Normally, she had her driver handle dropping off and picking up the cat, whether for school or otherwise. But since Su Cheng wanted to see it today, she had come along.

Yet she never expected her beloved orange cat would be treated this way at the pet shop. The discomfort in her heart was palpable.

Just as she stepped forward to lift the cat from the enclosure, Su Cheng gently pulled her back and whispered, "Let me handle this."

With that, he approached the middle school girls and flashed a warm smile. "Please don’t poke it. Even if it can’t lift a paw to fight back."

The girls froze.

"Su Cheng?!"

"Is this your cat?"

Two of the younger students gaped at him, their eyes sparkling with excitement and admiration.

Among the underclassmen, Su Cheng’s popularity rivaled Gu Ruoxue’s among the upperclassmen. To them, he was the epitome of brilliance—both academically and athletically gifted.

Su Cheng nodded slightly. "Yeah."

"Wow!" the other two girls exclaimed.

"As expected of Su Cheng! Even the way you raise cats is so unique. You’re amazing!"

"Right? My cat is so skinny. Can you teach me how to raise such a beautiful, adorable cat?"

From a distance, Gu Ruoxue’s expression darkened. The same girls who had just been criticizing the cat’s owner were now showering Su Cheng with praise.

Truly, human nature was inherently hypocritical!

"Su Cheng, can we get your contact info?"

"Yeah! We’re new to raising cats and have so many questions. We’d love to learn from you!"

The two underclassmen closed in on either side of him, eager to get his number.

"Weren’t you just about to scold me?"

Su Cheng’s sudden question left them stunned, their expressions cycling through embarrassment, shame, and fluster as he exposed their double standards.

"W-well, we were going to reprimand you…"

"But you’re so nice! How could we ever be mad at you?"

"Exactly!"

"We just want to be friends!"

Unfortunately for them, by the time they recovered, Su Cheng had already turned away, carrying the pet carrier as he and Gu Ruoxue disappeared through the door—leaving no room for explanations.

………………

Park

A few kilometers from the school, the park was rarely frequented by students.

Mostly, it was retirees or middle-aged folks with time to kill, along with elderly birdwalkers and pet owners.

But after 7 p.m., the place would come alive with music and bustling square-dancing crowds.

On a bench, Su Cheng and Gu Ruoxue sat side by side, the orange cat curled up peacefully in her arms, occasionally nuzzling against her in quiet affection.

The sight filled Su Cheng with envy. He longed to transform into that cat, to bask in her warmth and fragrance.

And then—a bold idea struck him.

Just how bold?

Become a cat and nuzzle Gu Ruoxue!

All he needed was to obtain a "Transform into Cat" skill card from his senior, and he could greedily indulge in that blissful moment.

"I sense malice radiating from you."

Gu Ruoxue, noticing the dreamy look in his eyes as he stared at her, shuddered and instinctively pulled the cat closer. "Whatever weird thought you’re having—drop it."

Snapping out of it, Su Cheng scratched his head sheepishly and deflected. "Uh… I’ll be right back. Restroom."

He stood and headed to the bathroom, splashing water on his face before checking his phone.

A message from Liu Qingyue:

"My flight lands at 9 p.m. tomorrow. Aren’t you going to pick me up?"