Competition

The car slowly started and sped toward Su Cheng's home.

Gu Ruoxue, Ji Qingyi, and Liu Qingyue sat inside the private vehicle, the air thick with a subtle tension.

It was as if the slightest friction could spark a storm.

Liu Qingyue sat beside Ji Qingyi, separated by a center armrest.

The high-tech features of the car were nothing short of impressive.

With graceful poise, Liu Qingyue reached out and lightly tapped the display on the armrest, causing it to automatically open, revealing an exquisite set of tea utensils—each piece exuding classical elegance.

Just as Liu Qingyue was about to begin brewing the tea, Gu Ruoxue's voice suddenly cut through the air, soft yet cool, like wind chimes in the night: "Let me do it."

The unexpected offer made Liu Qingyue pause mid-motion. She glanced at Ji Qingyi for confirmation.

Ji Qingyi, too, was taken aback by Gu Ruoxue's gesture. She shot her a brief, puzzled look before nodding slightly in assent.

Thus, Liu Qingyue set down the tea set and relinquished the task to Gu Ruoxue.

Gu Ruoxue’s movements, usually straightforward, now flowed with intricate grace, as though she were a master of ancient tea ceremonies.

Soon—

Two steaming cups of rich, fragrant tea took shape, their aroma filling the car and soothing the senses.

"Here." Once the tea was ready, Gu Ruoxue handed one cup to Liu Qingyue and the other to Ji Qingyi.

Ji Qingyi hesitated for a fleeting moment before accepting the cup and taking a small sip.

Her mind, however, was swirling with questions. What could Liu Qingyue have said to provoke such a reaction from Gu Ruoxue?

Despite her confusion, she knew the pressing matter at hand was Su Cheng’s situation.

Suppressing her doubts, she set down the teacup and spoke in a measured tone.

"Now, can we discuss Su Cheng?" Ji Qingyi tried to maintain her composure.

"If by tomorrow we’ve all forgotten his existence, what would you do?"

Gu Ruoxue’s voice was calm, but beneath it lay a deep challenge that stunned both women—especially Ji Qingyi, who blurted out without thinking, "Impossible!"

Yet in the next breath, Gu Ruoxue replied without hesitation, "I’m afraid, based on what I know and past experiences, it’s entirely possible."

Ji Qingyi’s pupils constricted, her expression turning grave. "Has your ring gone missing?"

"It’s still here." Gu Ruoxue lowered her head slightly, raising one hand to clutch at her collar before releasing it—confirming the ring remained in place.

Seeing this, Ji Qingyi exhaled in relief, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Then explain. What nonsense led you to say such a thing?"

Gu Ruoxue remained impassive, as if oblivious to Ji Qingyi’s scorn.

"Because, in his logic, this is the only good ending. He may have obtained an item that can reset all our memories. He wants to escape the consequences of his choices."

Ji Qingyi’s face froze, her eyes clouded with doubt.

Even Liu Qingyue furrowed her brows. They both knew Su Cheng—a man who was both greedy and fragile, reluctant to express his emotions.

So—

Would he really resort to such a method?

Gu Ruoxue lifted her gaze, her eyes distant and profound. "He won’t take back what he gave to you or me. He won’t make any arrangements. He believes this is the perfect outcome..."

"You and... me?" Ji Qingyi stiffened, slowly turning to Liu Qingyue, only to find the maid averting her eyes, looking both guilty and detached.

Clearly—

The matter of the marriage contract had been leaked.

At this realization, Ji Qingyi’s expression turned icy. She fixed her gaze on Gu Ruoxue, her voice sharp with interrogation. "Then why are you so certain it’s today?"

The question hung in the air like an unsolved riddle. Their eyes met, brimming with mutual suspicion and anticipation, waiting for the answer to unfold.

"From the information your loyal maid provided, combined with my observations of his past behavior and personality, one glaring clue stands out—he attended a group event this time."

Gu Ruoxue spoke evenly.

"A group event?" Ji Qingyi echoed, baffled.

"Yes, a group event." Gu Ruoxue nodded and elaborated, "Though he’s changed somewhat recently—something I’m sure you’ve noticed—he still fundamentally resists group activities, even despises them. He usually finds excuses to decline. But this time, he willingly attended a gathering hosted by someone he barely knows."

"And that’s enough for you to conclude this?"

Ji Qingyi countered.

She found it almost laughable—how could Su Cheng’s mere attendance at a birthday party signal that today was the day he’d act?

It seemed far too flimsy.

"Of course, that’s not the only reason."

Gu Ruoxue shook her head. "The key is that he now wants to let things unfold naturally, following their original course."

"Let things unfold naturally..." Ji Qingyi fell silent, recognizing the phrase Su Cheng had often repeated—his reluctance to act, his passivity—exactly as Gu Ruoxue described.

"Are you saying he refuses to make a choice himself and instead expects us to choose him?" Liu Qingyue suddenly interjected, her bright eyes glinting with shrewd insight.

"Precisely." Gu Ruoxue affirmed, a hint of approval in her gaze.

"And what do you think?" Ji Qingyi stared at the two women, irritated by the unspoken understanding between them.

Frowning, she pressed the question directly.

"If we all forget him, one thing is certain—we’ll return to square one." Liu Qingyue mused before continuing, "So I suspect he left the rings and marriage contracts untouched because he wants this to be a competition—to see who remembers him first, who recovers their memories first."

The maid’s speculation plunged the car into silence, so profound that even the sound of breathing seemed audible.

Ji Qingyi's face darkened, her mind racing like an overclocked computer as she analyzed the pros and cons of the situation.

Once, Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue had forced Su Cheng to make a choice. Now, Su Cheng was turning the tables, playing this twisted game of competition. His motive was obvious—to indulge his own perverse amusement, pitting them against each other in a battle for victory.

But why should she participate?

Why?

And on what grounds?

Why should she engage in this sick contest when she had never forced Su Cheng into any ultimatum?

Why should she join Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue in this match, where losing meant losing her memories—perhaps even forgetting Su Cheng forever?

This wasn’t fair!

Liu Qingyue observed Ji Qingyi's expression and dabbed the corner of her lips with a tissue before asking softly, "Young Mistress, what have you decided?"

The moment she saw Liu Qingyue wiping her lips, Ji Qingyi had an epiphany—Su Cheng had given her a chance before, but she hadn’t taken it.

"This is why I sought your cooperation," Gu Ruoxue said slowly, her words laden with meaning as she watched the master and servant pair.

"Cooperate with me?" Ji Qingyi was taken aback, her gaze fixed on Gu Ruoxue in puzzlement.

Gu Ruoxue gave a slight nod before elaborating, "If we work together and all recover our memories simultaneously, there will be no winners or losers. His scheme will collapse."

Her words eased the tension in the car slightly.

Ji Qingyi nodded gracefully, though a faint frown creased her brow as she asked tactfully, "So your plan is to ensure this match has no victor, correct?"

"Exactly," Gu Ruoxue affirmed firmly. "As long as we unite and retrieve our lost memories together, there will be no winners or losers, and his plot will fail."

A rare warmth flickered across Gu Ruoxue's face as she smiled softly. "I know his temperament well. Once he sets his mind on a plan, no amount of persuasion—or even force—will stop him. So rather than focusing on victory, we must prepare for the worst. As for the betrothal letter, you can entrust it to me."

She paused, her gaze shifting between Ji Qingyi and Liu Qingyue before settling on the latter. "What do you think of my plan?"

"I have no objections," Liu Qingyue replied with a light shrug and a smile. "In fact, this is a good thing for the Young Mistress."

"A good thing?" Ji Qingyi arched a brow slightly, as if surprised by Liu Qingyue's words.

"Yes, absolutely," Liu Qingyue answered confidently before explaining patiently, "Because I believe that if the Young Mistress loses her memories of Su Cheng, even if you possess the betrothal letter, you wouldn’t hesitate to call off the engagement. You might even have someone throw this so-called fiancé, Su Cheng, into Flame City Bay as fish food."

Her response seemed to stun both Ji Qingyi and Gu Ruoxue momentarily, the air thickening with silence before all three sank into deep contemplation.

However, it was Gu Ruoxue who eventually broke the stalemate, chuckling as if to say, That sounds just like you.

Though Ji Qingyi's expression remained composed, a subtle shift flickered in her cold, calculating eyes, as if she had anticipated this all along.

"We should verify things before drawing conclusions," she said coolly to Gu Ruoxue. "If what you say is true, I propose we exchange the items."

As Ji Qingyi's words hung in the air, the tension inside the car grew even heavier.