At the same time.
"Sniff... Wuwu... Sniff wuwu!"
In another building, Liu Qingyue watched the interaction between her young mistress and Su Cheng, especially when Ji Qingyi shouted "Let's go back to how things were before." Tears welled up in her eyes, and a sense of pride swelled in her heart—like watching a child finally grow up.
"I'm sorry, young mistress. I shouldn't have secretly called you a 'stubborn, cowardly tsundere' behind your back. I was too thoughtless."
Liu Qingyue took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. She had expected her mistress to stick to her usual "textbook tsundere" behavior, but now, Ji Qingyi had bravely taken this step forward—and it even seemed romantic and happy.
As they say, one small step for Qingyi, one giant leap for the heart.
How could she not cry tears of joy?
How could she not be happy for her young mistress?
However, the two beside her showed no signs of happiness. For instance, Li Guanqi stood stiffly to the side, her usually bright eyes now dim and clouded with unspoken negativity.
Unconsciously, she even glanced at the ring on her finger—but unexpectedly, it no longer brought her the same satisfaction or joy. The special emotions and significance it once held had faded, leaving only a hollow sense of loss.
She also realized that Su Cheng treated everyone this way. She had mistaken his kindness for something unique, projecting her own feelings onto him. She had misinterpreted his actions, spun them into false emotions, and even gotten excited over nothing. Now, this disappointment wasn’t accidental—it was inevitable.
Meanwhile, Gu Ruoxue stood just as still, her gaze fixed on the two figures on the distant rooftop. Her eyes were unblinking, cold enough to send a chill down one’s spine. Her lips pressed into a thin line, stern and severe, like an ice queen ready to issue ruthless commands at any moment.
An icy aura radiated from Gu Ruoxue, dropping the surrounding temperature by several degrees. The air itself seemed to thin under her presence.
Fortunately, her rationality and self-control were formidable. This state lasted only a few seconds before she regained her composure, calmly analyzing the situation and predicting possible future developments.
"I’m really grateful to both of you."
After wiping away her tears, Liu Qingyue returned to her usual sly and astute demeanor. She nodded at the two women, her face filled with genuine appreciation.
Hearing this, both slowly turned their eyes toward her.
"We didn’t do anything," Li Guanqi replied flatly, shaking her head.
"Exactly. That’s why I’m thanking you." Liu Qingyue’s meaning was clear—she was grateful they hadn’t interrupted the moment between Su Cheng and Ji Qingyi. Otherwise, it might have turned into one of those cliché shoujo manga scenes where the leads are interrupted at a critical moment.
This was also why Liu Qingyue had deliberately invited them to this rooftop, even at the risk of exposing the "balloon incident." If she hadn’t given them a heads-up or simply ignored them, who knew how things might have ended?
Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue didn’t respond further, instead turning their attention back to the distant rooftop.
Liu Qingyue, aware of their sour moods, tactfully changed the subject to divert their attention. "You know, Su Cheng never used to keep a diary. But just now, when he went back to his room, he started writing in one with unusual seriousness. Isn’t that strange?"
She tilted her head with a playful smile and asked, "Any idea why he’s writing a diary now?"
At this question, the two women reacted differently—Li Guanqi most noticeably. Her dull eyes suddenly flickered with a strange light before returning to their usual indifference, as if the matter didn’t concern her at all.
Gu Ruoxue, however, fell into thought before finally asking, "Are you suggesting he’s writing it for someone else?"
"Mhm—" Liu Qingyue drew out her reply teasingly. "So, who do you think it’s for?"
Li Guanqi also turned to Gu Ruoxue, waiting for an answer.
"The recipient isn’t the main point. What matters is what’s written inside."
Gu Ruoxue frowned slightly, her tone meaningful. "Lately, he’s been acting just like you—doing things that make no sense."
"Easier to see clearly from the sidelines than in the thick of it."
Liu Qingyue leaned lazily against the railing, arms crossed, looking back and forth between Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi with the air of a seasoned observer. "Honestly, I think both of you already have an inkling of the answer. Why pretend otherwise? As for me, I’m just here to enjoy the show."
"What makes you say that?" Gu Ruoxue shot her a sidelong glance.
"It’s simple."
Liu Qingyue smirked knowingly. "First, you already have a ring, so he wouldn’t give you another. Second, given his fairness policy, it’s your turn next."
"Why not you?" Gu Ruoxue pressed, intrigued. "Don’t you want it at all?"
"Right. Maybe it’s for his dear senior."
Li Guanqi seized the chance to add salt to the wound.
Though neither said it outright, the implication was clear—everyone had something except Liu Qingyue.
But instead of getting angry, Liu Qingyue only smiled bitterly, a hint of self-mockery in her voice. "I’m just a servant. The fact that you’re treating me as an equal says more about your kindness than my worth."
Li Guanqi’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected Liu Qingyue to say something like that.
"Senior..."
She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, though she couldn’t help worrying about Liu Qingyue’s mental state.
Gu Ruoxue, however, kept her gaze fixed on Liu Qingyue, waiting for an explanation.
With a soft sigh, Liu Qingyue murmured, "Truth is, I was always meant to be the villain—the one who stirs up trouble. So I know my place. I don’t expect much. I’ve given up on competing. I’m content just watching from here... watching my young mistress find happiness."
Having said that, she stretched lazily and returned to her usual carefree tone. "Let’s head back. If the young mistress notices we’re gone, it’ll be trouble."
She started walking ahead without waiting for a response.
Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi followed, though not before casting one last glance at the rooftop where Su Cheng and Ji Qingyi were releasing a sky lantern. Then, without lingering, they left.
"Keep tonight’s events a secret. In exchange, I’ll make sure the young mistress is closely supervised tonight—no slip-ups."
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
