Beside a towering tree, a solitary figure stood quietly under the cold moonlight, her entire being bathed in a silvery glow. The surrounding stream and the chirping of insects and birds did not disturb her in the slightest—instead, they accentuated her aloof and ethereal presence. The scene seemed utterly detached from reality, so much so that anyone who stumbled upon her would mistake her for a celestial being or a fairy rather than a ghost or monster.
Gu Ruoxue gazed up at the starry sky, as if searching for the true answer amidst the dazzling expanse of the Milky Way.
"Crack—"
"Crack—"
The sound of branches snapping underfoot echoed from nearby, sharp and distinct in the quiet of the night.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, her expression flickered through several emotions before settling back into calm indifference, as though she hadn’t noticed anything at all. She remained still, her eyes fixed on the heavens above.
"Tap— tap—"
After a long pause, two figures finally emerged from the shadows and stopped a short distance away from her.
"Ah…"
At last, Gu Ruoxue let out a melancholic sigh. Slowly, she lowered her gaze to the two standing before her—Li Guanqi and Li Zhaohao—and gave them a slight nod in greeting.
"So, is this your answer?" Gu Ruoxue asked Li Guanqi, her voice light and detached.
"Trust and support are the most important choices one can make."
Li Guanqi met her gaze steadily as she replied.
While the two spoke, Li Zhaohao glanced between them, then struck a thoughtful pose reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, nodding to herself as if she had just pieced something together.
"Then there’s nothing more to say. This is your path, after all."
Gu Ruoxue brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, shifting the topic as she turned her eyes back to the stars. "If you ever change your mind, I’ll still be willing to talk."
Those words struck Li Guanqi like a blow to the heart. Beneath their gentleness lay a sharp undercurrent of reproach.
Unlike Ji Qingyi, who had a valid reason to refuse her earlier, facing Gu Ruoxue was different.
If there was a true heroine in this story, Gu Ruoxue would undoubtedly fit the role better than her.
Every time she stood before Gu Ruoxue, Li Guanqi felt an inexplicable sense of defeat, as though she could never gain the upper hand—whether in the past or now. In some ways, she was always the one being suppressed.
"Let’s go."
Just then, Li Zhaohao spoke up, tugging at her sleeve to signal their departure.
Without another word, Li Guanqi cast one last glance at Gu Ruoxue, still absorbed in the night sky, before turning to leave with Li Zhaohao.
Even after the sisters had gone, Gu Ruoxue remained, her gaze fixed on the stars above.
Until—
"Ding-dong—"
A notification chimed from the phone in her pocket.
She reached in slowly and retrieved it, the screen lighting up with a single message:
Gu Ruoxue, do you know something?
The sender was Ji Qingyi.
………………………………
Friday.
Every Friday, the school buzzed with lively chatter as students eagerly discussed their weekend plans—where to go, what to do. But the conversations in Class 1-2 were a little different.
This Saturday, they had a class gathering—though it was far from just a simple meal. The venue alone was a beachfront villa.
"The outfit I had tailored for her will finally come in handy."
From her seat in the corner, Li Guanqi glanced at Su Cheng, who was chatting animatedly with Wang Guancong atop a desk, and couldn’t help but feel a small thrill of excitement.
The first thing she had done upon arriving in class that morning was slip her diary into his desk.
"Class President, is the theme for Saturday a dance?"
A girl’s voice from the front row snapped Li Guanqi out of her thoughts just as she was about to open her book.
The question sent a brief hush over the classroom—especially Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying, who immediately perked up, clearly invested in the answer.
After all, if there was a dance, there would be invitations—a chance to share a dance with the person they liked. For any young girl or boy, the idea was thrilling.
Traditionally, the boys did the asking, but if a girl extended an invitation, the boy wasn’t allowed to refuse!
"Of course not! We have to follow school regulations!"
Class President Li Wen shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "It’s just a casual party with some interactive games and competitions. Though, there are prizes for the winners."
"Ugh, that sounds boring."
"Yeah, I was really looking forward to it."
"Class President, are you sure that’s all?"
"Whew…"
Li Guanqi exhaled in relief. If it had been a dance, Su Cheng might have skipped the event altogether to avoid the hassle.
Her eyes flicked to Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying at the front, but to her surprise, neither looked disappointed. If anything, they seemed… excited?
"Hmm?"
Li Guanqi raised her delicate eyebrows and cast a slightly puzzled glance at the two, wondering if they were up to something again.
However, the thought vanished as quickly as it came—after all, Su Cheng couldn’t dance at all. Even if they invited her, it would be pointless, and she trusted Su Cheng anyway.
If anyone was going to dance with her, it would be Li Guanqi herself.
"Have you ever been to an event like this before?"
Suddenly, Wang Guancong’s voice reached her ears, drawing her attention. She turned to look.
Su Cheng chuckled lightly at the question. "No."
"Is this your first time joining a group activity?" Wang Guancong pressed.
Su Cheng nodded with a smile. "That’s right."
Gao Ye perked up at this. "In that case, I’ll pick you up tomorrow night. Stick with us, and you won’t feel awkward at all."
"Isn’t it just our class?"
"Of course not! Classmates can bring others too. And Chai Hao will be there in the evening."
"Yeah, we’re going to play games. The vice class president’s villa has plenty of indoor entertainment options," Wang Guancong added.
"Can we bring friends?"
"Yes, but only if they’re from the same school."
"Are you planning to invite someone?"
"No, not really."
"You could bring Minister Gu Ruoxue."
"She won’t come. Give it up."
Li Guanqi eavesdropped for a moment before refocusing on the book in her hands. But soon, the bell rang for class. She put the book away and picked up her textbook, only to notice Su Cheng pulling a diary out of her desk drawer.
At the sight, Li Guanqi’s face stiffened, and her heart clenched. After all, she had written her diary entry last night in the usual format—something she still found a bit embarrassing.
But her unease quickly dissipated when Su Cheng suddenly turned her head and flashed a grin, as if saying, "I’m going to read it now."
The look sent a shiver down Li Guanqi’s spine, making her tremble involuntarily.