Concealment

"Like"

The moment these two characters unexpectedly caught her eye, Li Guanqi's breath hitched, her heartbeat quickening as she remained lost in thought for a long while.

—It wasn’t until Su Cheng closed the book that she slowly regained her composure.

"Only one page written?" Li Guanqi averted her gaze, taking a deep breath as if trying to steady herself.

"Yeah..." Su Cheng lay sprawled on the grass, holding the book up toward the sky as he murmured, "But this notebook would be perfect for keeping a diary."

"Who’s writing?" Li Guanqi couldn’t help but press.

"Uh..." Su Cheng propped himself up and pointed at the notebook. "We take turns. You write one day, I write the next."

"Sounds romantic." Li Guanqi nodded, her gaze lingering on the book in his hands before she tentatively asked, "So whose turn is it today?"

"You go first." Su Cheng handed her the notebook before lying back down, resting his head on his arms and closing his eyes.

Without hesitation, Li Guanqi took the notebook.

If they really kept a diary, they could understand each other on a deeper level—sharing joys, sorrows, and precious moments. It would undoubtedly strengthen their connection and mutual understanding.

Provided, of course, they actually wrote in it.

To an outsider, Su Cheng seemed no different than usual, but those who knew him understood the real issue. For now, everyone was treading carefully, avoiding the subject. But Li Guanqi wouldn’t pass up this chance to learn more about him.

She would write with complete honesty, holding nothing back. She only hoped that when Su Cheng’s turn came tomorrow, he would do the same.

"I’ll leave it in your drawer tomorrow morning." Li Guanqi tucked the book into her bag, glancing at the feigning-sleep Su Cheng before reaching for another book to pack.

Just then, Su Cheng suddenly cracked one eye open, spotting the title and teasing, "Oh, she has a copy of The Basic Laws of the Male Lead too."

"Junior Sister Gu?" Li Guanqi’s hands paused briefly before she resumed packing, murmuring, "Seems we have yet another thing in common."

With that, she set her bag aside and looked back at Su Cheng, a faint glimmer of expectation in her eyes.

But Su Cheng simply shut his eyes again, completely forgetting the promise he’d made at noon—to be honest with her.

"Senior Sister Ling Ning said she’d come see me tomorrow," he said suddenly, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Three days ago, I promised her I’d solve her problem within three days."

"Three days ago..." Li Guanqi frowned slightly, recalling that Su Cheng hadn’t yet awakened his new ability back then.

"Do you have a solution now?" she probed.

"Yeah. Do nothing."

"What kind of solution is that?"

"Take from the people, use for the people." Su Cheng opened his eyes, spoke calmly, then closed them again, refusing to elaborate.

Li Guanqi fell into thought.

Take from the people, use for the people?

Did that mean he planned to use whatever solved Ling Ning’s problem to handle the situation?

But something like that...

At the thought, Li Guanqi grew wary. She and the other senior sisters would never allow it!

Then, it suddenly dawned on her.

"Do nothing."

No wonder...

No wonder Su Cheng had said that.

He’d already deduced that they wouldn’t let Ling Ning near him—so tomorrow, she’d never even get the chance to approach him.

"What are you planning to do now?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Guanqi looked up at him and pressed, "Or rather, what do you want to do?"

"Do nothing." Su Cheng shifted into a more comfortable position, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Right now, my only thought is waiting for tomorrow so I can sneak a peek at your diary."

"That doesn’t fit the male lead’s go-getter persona. Is it really worth the anticipation?" Li Guanqi scoffed. "What if I just half-heartedly scribble something?"

"You wouldn’t." Su Cheng shook his head, confident, but then his tone shifted, laced with amusement. "Though, I really do hate this whole male lead setup."

Li Guanqi blinked, caught off guard.

"Why say that all of a sudden?" she asked, puzzled.

Su Cheng rolled onto his side, his back to her, and lazily asked, "What’s the male lead’s role in a novel?"

"Well, if we’re talking function..." Li Guanqi pondered before answering, "Drive the plot forward? Convey the author’s message?"

At that, Su Cheng abruptly sat up, yawned, and opened his mouth as if to speak—only to hesitate, weighing his words.

Li Guanqi grew even more curious, watching him uncertainly. "Something on your mind?"

Instead of answering immediately, Su Cheng took a moment to think before a slow, enigmatic smile curved his lips.

"I just need to hold on. The rest..."

He trailed off, but the words reverberated in Li Guanqi’s mind, leaving her bewildered.

Hold on to what? What is he trying to say?

Questions swirled in her head, unanswered. Because after that pause, Su Cheng met her gaze—his unwavering eyes shaking her resolve.

It took her a while to recover. Then, with a stern expression, she grabbed his shoulders and shook him wordlessly.

Su Cheng swayed dizzily, finally snapping, "Hey! What’s the big idea? Stop shaking me!"

Li Guanqi acted as though she hadn’t heard, her grip tightening as she rocked him harder and harder, like an overwound wind-up toy gone haywire.

Before he could protest again, she fixed him with a dead-serious stare and demanded, "What are you planning? I knew you were hiding something!"

"Ugh, I’m not! Really, I’ve got no grand scheme," Su Cheng defended with a pained smile. "I just... don’t know how to handle the problem."

"But I think you do have an idea. Why won’t you tell me?" Li Guanqi refused to relent, though her shaking finally ceased.

Su Cheng inhaled deeply, seizing the chance to speak. "Right now, I’m not sure what the best move is."

"Then let’s figure it out together. I can help too," Li Guanqi urged gently.

"Uh..." Su Cheng’s lips parted, but the light in his eyes dimmed almost instantly. "I’m not sure you can help with this."

Li Guanqi’s expression darkened, and she slowly released his shoulders.

"You still don’t trust me."

Her voice was eerily calm, but the disappointment ran deep.

Su Cheng hurried to explain, "It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just... if I can’t even handle it myself, I don’t want to drag you into it."

"But I want to share your burden," Li Guanqi insisted. "What’s so difficult about it?"

"Well..."

Su Cheng’s lips moved soundlessly before he ultimately fell silent.

The two stood in a stalemate until, finally, Li Guanqi relented with a quiet sigh.

"Fine. If you don’t want to talk about it, forget it."

Her voice carried a palpable sense of disappointment, the kind that stung especially deep when someone close kept the truth from her.

Su Cheng noticed Li Guanqi’s downcast mood and sat up, softening his tone as he reassured her, "I didn’t mean to hide it from you on purpose. Telling you would’ve just added to your worries, so I chose not to."

"But I’d rather share the burden than watch you carry it alone."

Li Guanqi still refused to let it go. "Can’t you give me even the slightest hint?"

Su Cheng shook his head firmly. "No, I really can’t. This matter is too big—I have to handle it myself."

With a resigned sigh, Li Guanqi stopped pressing him.