Revealed

As his words fell, the air grew still.

A rare trace of embarrassment flickered across Ji Qingyi's face before she quickly regained her usual icy composure. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and deliberately savored the tea as if to mask her reaction, then spoke leisurely, "That’s not the case."

Su Cheng feigned sudden understanding.

He nodded solemnly and said, "I thought so. The senior must’ve been teasing me again. There’s no way the club president would do something so beneath her dignity."

Ji Qingyi’s lips twitched imperceptibly as she struggled to maintain her cold expression. She replied indifferently, "This ability of yours—if backed by sufficient knowledge—can indeed help eliminate personal bias and emotional influence, allowing for a fair assessment and understanding of things. However, precisely because of this, it’s also more susceptible to the limitations of information and subjective interpretation. So, relying solely on an objective perspective doesn’t necessarily lead to the correct conclusion."

"President, you’re absolutely right."

Su Cheng immediately clapped in admiration, then adopted a troubled expression. "But the problem is, my system panel still has the title of XXXX..."

"The contract was torn up, but its effects remain. You have nothing to worry about." Ji Qingyi’s expression remained unchanged as she continued calmly, "It will fade with time, and then the title will disappear."

"Mm."

Su Cheng nodded, took a small sip of tea, and fell silent again, as if lost in thought.

Ji Qingyi, too, sank into contemplation, her delicate profile tensing slightly, clearly troubled.

If Su Cheng wasn’t lying to her, then this move was far too unusual—he had revealed everything to her.

If his other ability truly granted absolute objectivity, then Su Cheng must already know everything: the actions of Gu Ruoxue and the others, as well as the schemes between her and her servant.

So…

Why?

Why would he tell her everything?

What could have happened to make Su Cheng suddenly change his stance and lay bare all his secrets?

This was like playing cards with his hand exposed.

Either he was utterly confident he would win no matter what, or he no longer cared about winning or losing—as if defeat meant nothing.

What had happened to him?

It seemed she would have to discuss this thoroughly with Ji Yuewu.

A deep sense of confusion and bewilderment welled up in Ji Qingyi’s heart, but with no answers in sight, she suppressed the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind and opened her eyes.

Her gaze landed on Su Cheng, who was refilling her tea.

He was bent over, focused intently on pouring the tea, his movements practiced and efficient. Sensing her stare, he paused and looked up at her.

"President, aren’t we playing Go?"

Holding the teapot, he asked curiously.

Ji Qingyi was momentarily taken aback before giving a faint nod.

……………………………………

While the two were engrossed in their game, on the rooftop of a nearby school building, a slender figure stood by the railing, gazing into the distance. Her glossy black hair cascaded down to her waist, but her expression was one of frustration.

Staring into the distance, she muttered with a frown, "Was my brother right? Was it just lying to me yesterday?"

At this thought, she lifted her small leather shoe and stomped petulantly on the edge of the railing. She was Hoshino Mirai, and she had already been waiting on the rooftop for half an hour—yet the Penguin Prince still hadn’t appeared.

Yesterday, it had told her to wait here at the same time, but there was no sign of it.

Her heart grew heavy. After all, she had confessed her feelings to the Penguin Prince yesterday. Today should have been the day for its response—otherwise, why would it have specifically told her to wait here before leaving?

Just thinking about how bold she had been yesterday made her cheeks burn. She covered her flushed face with both hands and grumbled, "Why isn’t it here yet? Seriously."

"Little sis, hasn’t it come yet?"

A soft voice called from the rooftop entrance—it was her brother, Hoshino Yikui, who was standing guard outside.

"No. Should we wait until class starts?"

Hoshino Mirai reined in her emotions and replied.

"You haven’t eaten lunch yet. Why don’t you grab something first and come back later?"

Hoshino Yikui urged from outside. In his eyes, the Penguin Prince wasn’t coming. Yesterday’s situation had clearly been a lie to escape his sister’s clutches.

Bringing others to the rooftop?

Impossible.

Just yesterday at noon, his little sister had even mistaken Ji Qingyi’s orange cat for the Penguin Prince, causing quite a scene.

Truly, love makes fools of everyone.

The ever-clear-headed Hoshino Yikui sighed inwardly before advising patiently, "Little sis, look at you—you’re not thinking straight. Did you forget your promise with it?"

Hoshino Mirai froze at his words. She blinked her almond-shaped eyes in confusion before slapping her forehead. "I really am out of it!"

She remembered now—the Penguin Prince had once told her to eat lunch on time.

Maybe that was the reason it hadn’t shown up.

With that, she walked to the entrance and said to her brother, "Then could you go buy some cake and milk for me? I’ll keep waiting here. If I leave and miss it, that’d be worse."

"Sure, no problem!"

Hoshino Yikui nodded in relief. As long as she was willing to eat, that was good. He had been afraid she’d stubbornly wait all afternoon without a bite.

"I’ll be right back."

He turned and dashed down the stairs—only to halt abruptly at the corner when an intoxicatingly sweet fragrance drifted past him. His face twisted in surprise.

"Huh?"

He glanced around but saw no one.

That scent just now…

He turned his head left and right, but there was nothing—as if the fleeting aroma that had soothed his senses had been an illusion.

"Something wrong with my nose?"

He sniffed the air carefully, but the scent had already vanished. Shaking his head, he dismissed it and continued downstairs.

"I hope it shows up once I’m full."

On the rooftop, Hoshino Mirai leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance as she silently prayed.

Then, suddenly, the door behind her creaked open.

"Brother, you’re back already?"

She instinctively turned—only to find nothing there. The door swung shut on its own, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.

"There wasn’t any wind just now…"

Her face was blank with bewilderment. Why had the door opened and closed by itself? It made no sense.

"So, you’re the little girl?"

A calm, low female voice spoke out of nowhere beside her ear, making her jump in fright.

"Who’s there?!"

She instinctively shouted.

"Weren’t you the one who wanted to persuade me?"

The voice came again, this time from her left.

Hoshino Mirai stiffly turned her head—but there was nothing. Not even a shadow.

She swallowed hard, recalling that Penguin Prince had promised to bring her... Could this person be...

"Penguin Prince, are you there?"

Hoshino Mirai mustered her courage and shouted.

"Only I am here today."

The calm yet indifferent voice echoed again, making Hoshino Mirai feel an inexplicable pressure. She instinctively took a few steps back, pressing herself against the railing as she warily scanned her surroundings.

However, this time, she caught a faint whiff of a woman’s delicate fragrance, as if it had drifted over from beside her.

"Penguin Prince, I know it’s you! You’re pretending to be a woman to make me give up, aren’t you?!"

Hoshino Mirai began yelling loudly.

"Foolish."

The same flat, low voice responded again.

"Foolish?!"

Hoshino Mirai fumed. "I can’t even see you! You must be using a voice changer, you big liar!"

"If you keep making a scene, I’ll leave immediately."

The composed voice carried an air of authority, as if angered, yet its tone remained completely unruffled.

Hoshino Mirai froze, her face gradually twisting with hesitation and conflict. Finally, she raised her arm in a pleading gesture and muttered weakly, "You... could you be... Ji Xueqi?"

The moment those words left her lips, the air grew still.

A few seconds later, the calm, low voice replied, "Whether I am or not, what does it matter to you?"

But there was an inexplicable edge to those words, a hint of something biting—though she couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination.

"I..."

Hoshino Mirai faltered, pouting in frustration. "I was just asking. It’s not like it costs you anything."

"Hmph."

The icy voice let out a soft scoff.

"Miss, can I ask why Penguin Prince didn’t show up?"

She lifted her head, scanning the area as she spoke tentatively.

Though she still suspected this person might be Penguin Prince in disguise, if she kept pushing, they might vanish entirely. Not only would she fail to get any answers about Penguin Prince, but she’d also risk angering them further.

"He doesn’t need to appear."

The indifferent voice stated flatly.

Hoshino Mirai’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Doesn’t need to appear? What does that mean?"

"Because I don’t allow it."

The calm, low voice continued, but before Hoshino Mirai could respond, it added, "Now that the message has been delivered, I’ll take my leave."

"Wait! Let’s talk some more!"

Hoshino Mirai called out urgently, but the only reply was the sharp slam of a door. The rooftop fell silent once more.

Gritting her teeth, she stomped her foot in frustration. "You’re just messing with me. I won’t believe you!"

"By the way."

Just then, the composed voice spoke again, cutting through her thoughts. She instinctively responded, "What?!"

"He won’t be appearing again."

"Why?"

"That’s what he asked me to tell you."

The detached voice lingered in the air, growing fainter until it disappeared entirely, followed by the sound of the rooftop door closing firmly.

"Wait!"

"Tell him to come and say it to my face!"

But after several minutes of waiting, no one answered.

They were truly gone...

"He won’t appear anymore?"

Hoshino Mirai repeated the words softly, her face clouding with desolation. A deep sense of loneliness welled up inside her, plunging her into despair.

Whether it had been Penguin Prince or Ji Xueqi just now, those words—"won’t appear again"—left her utterly lost, as if something precious had been torn away from her.

"Little sis, I’m back with the groceries."

Her brother’s voice came from beyond the door, but she didn’t respond, standing motionless on the rooftop in a daze.

"Little sis, what’s wrong?"

Receiving no answer for a long while, Hoshino Yikui knocked on the door, his brow furrowing with concern.

When there was still no response, he pushed the door open—only to find his sister slumped on the ground, her eyes vacant, lips slightly parted and pale, her entire being like a hollow shell.

His pupils contracted in alarm. Dropping the snacks in his hands, he rushed to her side, shaking her shoulders urgently.

"Little sis! Little sis!"

Unbeknownst to them, Li Guanqi watched everything from the shadows of the rooftop corner. Her lips pressed together slightly, her gaze flickering with unreadable emotions.

"If it were you, how would you handle this?"

She murmured the question to herself.

Perhaps—

This was the reason Su Cheng wanted to erase his own existence.

But compared to the path Su Cheng had chosen, this pain was fleeting, insignificant.

With that thought, she tightened her grip on her sword and slipped away silently.

……………………

Much later, she arrived at the Archery Club.

Only after more than ten minutes did Su Cheng finally appear.

She followed him.

Once they reached the school building, she stepped forward and tapped him with the hilt of her sword. He stopped and turned, leading the way to a blind spot free of surveillance.

"It’s done, just as you asked."

Li Guanqi materialized, her expression as calm as ever, and handed her sword to Su Cheng.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Su Cheng accepted the sword with deep gratitude.

"If it were you, how would you have handled it?"

Li Guanqi countered with a question of her own.

"Maybe... I’d have chosen another white lie?"

After a brief pause, Su Cheng offered his answer.

"I see."

Li Guanqi nodded but said nothing more, simply turning to leave.

"Wait."

Su Cheng reached out and caught her shoulder.

"What is it?"

She turned back to look at him.

"You haven’t eaten yet, have you?"

Su Cheng conjured a box of cream cake out of thin air and handed it to her. "Have something to eat first."

"...Alright."

After a brief hesitation, Li Guanqi accepted the cake. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear gracefully, she began eating small, delicate bites.

Su Cheng watched her quietly before producing a carton of milk, opening it, and passing it to her. "Here, drink this."

"..."

Li Guanqi took the milk without a word, sipping once before handing it back and continuing with her cake.

Silence settled between them, the atmosphere abruptly still.

After a long while, Li Guanqi suddenly looked up.

"Your explanation—where is it?"

"What do you want to know from me?"

Su Cheng scratched his head in mild frustration.

"I don’t want this to be a test."

Li Guanqi met his gaze squarely, her meaning clear—she wanted Su Cheng to come clean on his own, not for her to pry answers out of him.

"Right. Understood."

Su Cheng nodded, but just then, the school bell rang, snapping them both back to reality.

They exchanged a glance. Su Cheng pulled a tissue from his pocket and gently wiped the corner of Li Guanqi’s mouth before storing the remaining cake back in his system space.

"Let’s go to class. Tomorrow at noon, okay?"

"Fine."

Li Guanqi nodded, her beautiful eyes still fixed on Su Cheng's gaze, her tone as calm as ever as she continued, "As it happens, I have something to give you."