Boycott Performance

Ding ling ling—

The bell signaling the end of morning classes had just rung. Li Guanqi finished tidying her desk and was about to head to the lawn when she unexpectedly noticed a figure lingering outside the door. She couldn’t help but frown slightly before letting out a soft sigh.

The figure outside was none other than Hoshino Yikui.

This made her sigh inwardly—it seemed like enjoying a peaceful lunch break with Su Cheng was destined to be fraught with obstacles.

"Su Cheng, junior, Minister Gu asked me to come find you directly at noon."

Once the classroom had emptied, Hoshino Yikui walked straight to Su Cheng’s seat, where he was waiting, and spoke while casually pulling out the chair beside him to sit down.

"Mm."

Su Cheng finished organizing his desk and looked up, his expression calm as he asked, "What exactly do you need me to do?"

Hearing this, Hoshino Yikui glanced around the classroom to confirm no one else was present before lowering his voice. "All you have to do is go to the rooftop, stand with your back to her, tilt your head at a forty-five-degree angle to gaze at the sky, and then say to her in a low, husky voice that you’re only leaving for a while and will come back to see her someday."

His tone was unusually serious, leaving no room for jokes.

"That’s it?" Su Cheng asked, slightly hesitant.

"That’s it," Hoshino Yikui affirmed. "After saying that, just pretend to faint."

"By the way, why does it have to be with my back turned? Is there some significance to that?" Su Cheng asked curiously.

"Who knows?" Hoshino Yikui began to grumble. "That damn penguin loves putting on these cryptic airs. If he’s not pretending to be profound, he’s acting all brooding. Honestly, as a mere mortal, I’ll never understand how his brain works."

Su Cheng silently studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "But as for the forty-five-degree angle… I think I get it a little."

With that, he turned to look out the window at the sky, his voice dropping into a low, husky murmur. "I used to gaze at the sky a lot too. It gives me a sense of openness—physically and mentally. It feels infinite and grand, stirring up the beauty and dreams buried deep in my heart."

Su Cheng’s sudden shift in tone and deliberately profound demeanor made Hoshino Yikui rub his eyes in disbelief before leaping up from his seat in excitement. "Yes, yes! That’s exactly the vibe!"

Su Cheng then slowly turned his head back to him and asked, "So, can we go to the rooftop now?"

"Of course, of course!" Hoshino Yikui clapped him on the shoulder enthusiastically. "I believe in you. If you keep up that act on the rooftop, you’ll definitely fool her."

"Let’s go then."

Su Cheng gave a noncommittal nod and stood up.

"How did you pull that off?"

"Didn’t you go to the club for the request yesterday? You emailed the details to Minister Gu, who then told me. So I spent all of yesterday practicing at home."

"You’ve all worked so hard…"

Li Guanqi watched as the two walked shoulder-to-shoulder toward her but made no move to intervene. Just as she was about to see them off, Su Cheng suddenly reached out and brushed his hand against her desk—

And a knife materialized out of thin air.

She stared at the blade in a daze.

She remembered…

Yesterday, she had agreed to help Su Cheng put on a performance.

But how was she supposed to act?

Su Cheng hadn’t told her.

Which meant the direction of this unfolding drama was now in her hands.

Entirely up to her improvisation.

Like the knife before her—it could sever threats or eliminate hidden dangers.

She picked up the blade, gripping it firmly in her palm, before her figure faded into transparency.

She stepped out of the classroom, catching up to Su Cheng and Hoshino Yikui just as they emerged from the restroom.

Clearly, Su Cheng had gone to the bathroom just to wait for her.

"I’ll wait for you here at the stairs."

The two stopped at the foot of the rooftop staircase, and Hoshino Yikui clasped his hands together, adding, "Just stick to the script I gave you. I’m counting on you, junior!"

"Got it."

Su Cheng nodded and began ascending the steps.

Li Guanqi followed silently behind.

Soon, the rooftop door creaked open, and blinding sunlight spilled over their faces, forcing her to squint.

By the railing stood a slender figure, motionless. She was like a lone rose blooming stubbornly in the wind—fragile enough to wither at any moment, yet clinging fiercely to life.

It was Hoshino Mirai.

The sound of the door opening caught her attention, and she slowly turned her head. The exhaustion and pallor on her face dimmed her once-lively beauty, making her look like a delicate patient still recovering from illness. Even Li Guanqi felt a pang of sympathy.

"Su Cheng, junior…"

Hoshino Mirai glanced absently at Su Cheng, then forced a faint smile and murmured, "What brings you here?"

After speaking, she turned her gaze back to the vast expanse of blue sky and white clouds beyond the rooftop, her eyes unfocused, lost in a whirlwind of emotions—anxiety, anticipation, joy, bitterness, frustration, worry, and timidity—so complex that even Li Guanqi, analyzing with full effort, couldn’t decipher them.

Su Cheng didn’t respond. Instead, he walked over and leaned against the railing beside her, tilting his head to gaze upward at the sky.

Li Guanqi stood quietly behind the two, observing Su Cheng’s unscripted performance.

"Just came to see you."

Suddenly, Su Cheng’s usually gentle voice turned deep and hoarse, as if the very air around them had frozen.

Truly a master of improvisation—he slipped into character in an instant.

Hearing that familiar tone, Hoshino Mirai shuddered slightly before slowly turning to look at Su Cheng. The sight of his profile—both familiar and strange—made her eyes shimmer with unrestrained joy and surprise. Her lips trembled as she stammered, "You… how…?"

"Don’t worry."

Su Cheng kept his eyes fixed on the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, his voice low but steady as he spoke calmly. "I’m just leaving for a little while. While I’m gone, I hope you’ll eat well, study hard, stay active, rest properly, and live a vibrant life."

Hoshino Mirai seemed too stunned to react, staring at him in a daze. But then, something happened that made Li Guanqi’s pupils dilate in shock—

Su Cheng turned, raised his hand, and gently rested it atop Hoshino Mirai’s head, stroking her hair with tender care. In a voice brimming with sincerity, he said, "I’ll always be with you."

The moment the words left his lips, Su Cheng swayed like a sheet of paper caught in the wind. His eyes fluttered shut, and he collapsed against the railing, unconscious.

Hoshino Mirai remained frozen, still processing the emotional whirlwind, until his fall jolted her into action. She rushed forward, catching him in her arms, her voice frantic with panic. "What’s wrong? Wake up!"

"Little sister!"

At that moment, Hoshino Yikui burst onto the scene. Seeing Su Cheng passed out in Hoshino Mirai’s arms, he hurried over, feigning concern—though inwardly giving Su Cheng a standing ovation—and exclaimed, "What happened to Su Cheng?"

Li Guanqi took in the entire scene with sharp clarity. Watching Su Cheng lying limp in Hoshino Mirai’s embrace, she tightened her small fist around the hilt of her knife. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. In the end, she chose to slip away from the rooftop without a sound.

She could have exposed this lie right then, using yesterday’s identity as Ji Xueqi to sever the bond between them—after all, this was the very act he had asked her to play along with.

But she didn’t.

Now, she had to head to Lawn 14 to set up lunch.

And wait for Su Cheng to keep his promise.