Su Cheng rose from the seat beneath the tree, a gentle smile gracing his face as the breeze softly fluttered his clothes.
He looked every bit the perfect young gentleman—handsome, refined, and unmatched.
If the girls who liked Su Cheng could see this scene, who knows how excited they’d be.
Yet at this moment, Ling Ning had no mood to admire any of it. Sitting astride her horse, she pressed her cheek against its back, desperately trying to suppress the wild thoughts swirling in her mind.
Even if she were foolish, she now understood why she had been brought here by the horse. Reflecting on the recent chain of events, it was clear that Su Cheng had painstakingly crafted a trap for her to fall into.
“You really went to great lengths to trick me into coming here,” Ling Ning said, her voice strained but laced with anger and humiliation.
Sure enough, Su Cheng must have known about the strange symptoms she experienced after their last Go match at the club.
Otherwise, today’s entire setup wouldn’t have happened.
It was all deliberately planned to ensnare her.
Now everything made sense.
Luring her to this place—
Wasn’t it all just to take advantage of her?!
Seeing through Su Cheng’s despicable scheme, Ling Ning felt as if something was choking her chest.
Everyone at school said Su Cheng was talented in both academics and sports, upright in character, humble and kind, with a clean background—a perfect boyfriend material.
But who would have guessed that beneath this angelic exterior lay such a vile and despicable heart?
Beneath the surface, he was filthy to the core!
Having figured it all out, Ling Ning now only hated herself for being so careless back then, allowing Su Cheng to succeed in his scheme.
“The last game was unfinished. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I went to great lengths to invite you to play again today,” Su Cheng approached step by step, speaking as he walked closer. “Last time, since you weren’t feeling well, we had no choice but to call it a draw. It’s truly regrettable and frustrating.”
“Cut the act!” Ling Ning suddenly lifted her head and bit down on her own tongue fiercely, forcing herself to stay clear-headed. The sharp, piercing pain made her tremble uncontrollably, but her mind gradually cleared. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Startled by her stubbornness, Su Cheng hadn’t expected the elegant and poised Ling Ning to be so resolute.
“When I left the riding ground, someone was already following us…”
Ling Ning was about to warn Su Cheng that they wouldn’t be alone for long, but he cut her off mid-sentence: “Sorry, Senior, I was too forward.”
With that, he waved his hand at the Flame City Emperor, commanding, “Send Senior back.”
No sooner had he spoken than the horse turned and galloped away, swiftly disappearing from Su Cheng’s sight.
Ling Ning sat frozen on the horse’s back for a long while.
She couldn’t understand Su Cheng’s intentions behind this move.
Was this a calculated tease?
Such an elaborate setup—
And yet, he let her go so easily?
Could it be that she had misunderstood?
Recalling Su Cheng’s troubled and guilt-ridden expression earlier, Ling Ning suddenly began to doubt her previous suspicions.
“He’s not the kind of person you think he is.”
At that moment, a cold, clear voice suddenly sounded nearby. She jolted awake and immediately turned her head, only to see a young girl who had somehow appeared right behind her.
……………………………………………
Su Cheng sighed deeply and sat back down at his seat.
Originally, he had wanted to cultivate the image of a gentle, refined gentleman. Now look at him—he’d become a perverted fiend!
“Could it be that I can’t accomplish anything on my own?”
Su Cheng looked up to the heavens, asking, but no one answered.
His emotions were a tangled mess—anger, helplessness, mixed with a hint of resignation and fear.
The fear stemmed from the fact that his actions would undoubtedly become known throughout the entire school. Ling Ning’s expression and tone just now had made her thoughts painfully clear.
If this matter were to be exposed, he would become a disgrace, scorned by everyone at school.
What would Li Guanqi, Gu Ruoxue, and Ji Qingyi think if they found out?
They would surely guess he was after some kind of reward.
He had even taken the afternoon swimming class off on purpose. His plan was flawless—he wanted to trap Ling Ning with no chance of escape or evasion. But in the end, he had underestimated her stubborn nature.
As expected—
“No one with A-level talent is ever ordinary.”
Just as he sighed and prepared to pack up the chessboard and leave, resigned to his fate, he suddenly heard footsteps rustling through the grass ahead.
He stopped in his tracks, eyes fixed intently on the source of the sound. A graceful figure with long, flowing hair cautiously peeked out from the bushes, revealing a stunningly delicate face.
It was Ling Ning, returning after all.
Su Cheng was taken aback, surprised that she had come back.
“Senior, you…”
He tried to ask why she had returned.
But before he could finish, Ling Ning interrupted him.
“Su Cheng, I just want to ask you one question.”
Her delicate face was filled with resolute determination, as if she had made up her mind: “Are you aware of the changes in my body?”
Her voice was low and controlled, clearly suppressing a strange emotion within. Her cheeks were flushed, evoking all kinds of thoughts.
“Yes, I know.”
At this moment, Su Cheng no longer pretended to be a gentleman and could only admit the truth honestly.
Hearing this, Ling Ning’s slender body trembled violently. She instinctively tightened her long, beautiful legs, tears welling up in her eyes as if biting her tongue to bear the pain.
“Why?”
Ling Ning lowered her head, steadying herself with a nearby tree. Her tone was a mix of anger and bitter disappointment: “I have nothing to do with you, no grievances or favors between us.”
“With your qualities, even if you pursued me properly, I might have wavered. But you chose to use such despicable means…”
Her last words were squeezed out through clenched teeth, filled with deep sorrow. Ling Ning lifted her head, eyes bloodshot but still struggling to maintain composure, and through gritted teeth spat out: “A shameless hypocrite without any bottom line!”
“Well… actually, I didn’t mean to do it on purpose.”
Faced with Ling Ning’s accusations and complaints, Su Cheng wore an innocent expression and weakly defended himself, “At the time, I didn’t even realize how I ended up locking eyes with you.”
Hearing this, Ling Ning’s pupils contracted, a flicker of recollection flashing in her eyes as if she was recalling the scene from that moment.
She remembered clearly—it was indeed her who had taken the initiative to meet his gaze!
But she still refused to believe it, glaring at Su Cheng as she questioned, “How does that even work?”
“Hmm… or rather… I can try to explain.”
Su Cheng pondered for a moment before letting out a wry smile. “My eyes have a kind of special ability. I don’t really understand the mechanism, but whenever I look someone in the eye seriously, it causes a strange negative effect on them.”
Upon hearing this, Ling Ning hurriedly looked away from him and then closed her eyes.
Although it sounded ridiculous, such special abilities were not unheard of in this world. Someone in her class had hyperthymesia, and even she herself possessed strange powers that science couldn’t explain—abilities ordinary people simply didn’t have.
“Is there a way to fix it?”
Ling Ning asked the most crucial question.
“This… it’s the first time someone’s been affected.”
Su Cheng raised a finger to his cheek, feeling a little embarrassed. “I’m not sure if it can be undone, but I think I can try.”
“So, this is why you went through so much trouble to get me here?”
Ling Ning lifted her head, her eyes filled with hope and anticipation. If Su Cheng wasn’t lying, then all his actions now made perfect sense.
At that moment, Su Cheng felt a strange warmth stir somewhere deep inside as he looked into the hopeful eyes before him.
Because her gaze clearly showed she wanted him to be the one to help her with this strange condition, not to have some ulterior motive. She hoped he was a decent guy.
At that moment, Su Cheng decided to tell a lie.
A well-intentioned lie.
At least, from his perspective, it was true.
For both of them, it was.
So, he nodded slowly. “Yes, a while ago, senior ran away whenever she saw me. And since this kind of thing isn’t something outsiders should know about, I had no choice but to bring you to this deserted place.”
Hearing this, Ling Ning breathed a sigh of relief. She lifted her head again, her cheeks flushed but her tone carrying a hint of apology. “I misunderstood you, junior. I’m truly sorry. I apologize and hope you won’t take it to heart.”
“No, since it’s my fault, senior trusting me is already a great kindness.”
Su Cheng shook his head gently, then glanced around before continuing, “Senior, where’s my horse?”
“To avoid the instructors and classmates worrying and coming after us, I went back once, then returned here alone.”
Ling Ning gently brushed her hair away from her temple, her voice tinged with an unhidden torment and shyness.
“Why did you dare to come back alone?”
“Because I believe that, as Gu Ruoxue’s friend, you wouldn’t stoop to such despicable acts. Besides, they don’t have the same symptoms I do.”
Ling Ning took a deep breath, trying her best to calm her racing heart, though her ears burned hotter by the second.
Because the woman she had longed for day and night, the one who often appeared in her dreams, Su Cheng, was now right in front of her, so close she could almost reach out and touch him.
“I understand.”
Su Cheng let out a sigh of relief. He had to admit that Gu Ruoxue’s reputation was well-deserved, and it made perfect sense that Ling Ning chose to trust him.
With that thought, a gentle smile curved on Su Cheng’s lips as he said, “Since that’s the case, would you be willing to hold on a little longer and cooperate with me?”
Ling Ning nodded in response. Instinctively, she reached into her pocket to pull out her folding fan, only to realize she was dressed in equestrian attire and hadn’t brought her fan with her. A pang of frustration flickered across her face.
After all, having the fan to shield her face would have spared her from revealing her expressions to Su Cheng, easing some of the awkwardness.
But now, that was impossible.
She forced herself to suppress the flush of embarrassment blooming within her, casting her gaze toward Su Cheng. Unexpectedly…
Su Cheng seemed to read her thoughts perfectly. He bent down and pulled a folding fan from the nearby shoulder bag.
“Senior, you can borrow this one for now.”
He tossed the fan over, which traced a beautiful arc through the air before landing precisely in Ling Ning’s palm.
“Thank you!”
Ling Ning gave a gentle nod of thanks, then opened the fan. Four characters came into view, their strokes both dignified and lively, commanding yet elegant. A strange sense of familiarity stirred within her.
Then it hit her.
This was Ji Qingyi’s handwriting!
“President Ji’s calligraphy?” Ling Ning glanced at Su Cheng with surprise. Rumor had it that he and President Ji shared meals and spent a lot of time together, their relationship unusually close. Now, it seemed that familiarity was genuine.
“Good eye. Yes, it was a gift from President Ji,” Su Cheng confirmed.
He sat back down and motioned for Ling Ning to take a seat.
Seeing this, Ling Ning didn’t hesitate, though her legs felt stiff as she walked over, struggling to maintain a poised and ladylike demeanor, which felt nearly impossible.
Finally seated, she gracefully raised the fan to partially cover her face, leaving only half exposed. Her bright eyes fixed intently on Su Cheng, waiting for his next instruction.
But only she knew the strange sensations coursing through her body when facing Su Cheng.
Meanwhile, Su Cheng took a bottle of mineral water from his bag and opened it. Then he pulled out a small red jar, poured a few drops of a red liquid into the water, shook it gently, and placed it next to Ling Ning.
“Drink this.”
Ling Ning froze. Her hand clutching the fan tightened involuntarily, and her delicate face flushed crimson.
There was no mistaking it—Su Cheng was drugging her!
He was actually doing it right in front of her!
And he wanted her to drink it!
Her eyes darted to the mineral water beside her and saw the liquid had turned a suggestive shade of pink, confirming her suspicions—Su Cheng was definitely slipping something into her drink!
She was already like this, and yet he still wanted to drug her?
Was he testing how much she could endure?
“Se… senior brother… you…”
Ling Ning bit her lip, trembling as she pointed at Su Cheng. “W-what… is this… stuff?”
“Senior, you’ve misunderstood. I have no ill intentions—I’m simply trying to help you recover.”
Su Cheng’s expression remained calm and composed as he said, “Senior, this is a potion I developed. It might help alleviate your symptoms.”
Earlier, Su Cheng had noticed blood trickling from Ling Ning’s mouth, so he wanted to use the red potion to assist with her treatment.
Hearing this, Ling Ning felt a bit reassured but still didn’t completely let her guard down.
“What do I need to do?” she asked.
Su Cheng replied, “It’s simple. Just take a sip, hold it in your mouth for a few seconds, then swallow.”
Ling Ning hesitated for a moment before biting her lip.
She picked up the bottled water, tilted her head back to expose her red neck, and took several gulps. Following his instructions, she closed her eyes, waiting for the medicine to take effect.
The next second, Ling Ning realized that the sharp pain on her tongue, which flared with the slightest touch, had significantly faded after drinking the potion. In its place was a soothing sensation, as if her entire skeletal and meridian system had been cleansed.
But at the same time, an odd feeling that had been suppressed by the pain surged up like a tidal wave, sweeping through her entire body. Her whole frame suddenly went limp, nearly causing her to collapse.
Su Cheng reached out to steady Ling Ning, but the moment he did, his pupils constricted sharply, and he quickly withdrew his hand in alarm.
Ling Ning’s entire body flushed a deep red, and then she stretched out her hands, trying to tear off her own clothes, gasping heavily.
“Senior!” Su Cheng called out, trying to stop her, but the moment his voice rang out, Ling Ning’s head began to move erratically.
Her eyes glowed with heart-shaped pupils, and an intoxicating aura radiated from her whole body.
Suddenly, she sprang up and lunged at Su Cheng, her entire being twisting and winding like countless alluring vines, wrapping around him as she started tearing at his clothes. Low moans escaped her lips—half yearning, half agony.
“Senior?!”
Su Cheng didn’t dodge. He hadn’t forgotten his purpose. The next second, he firmly grasped Ling Ning’s struggling delicate arms and said gravely, “This won’t work, Senior. We don’t truly love each other, and besides, you don’t like me. We can’t do this!”
“Like… like… I like you the most!”
【Ding——】