Distance and Proximity Unknowable: Heaven and Man

"How... how can it be you?!" Su Cheng was stunned.

The girl before him was unmistakably the one in white from the garden. Though she now had her back to him, denying him a glimpse of her face, he could never mistake that white dress or her uniquely cold and aloof demeanor.

Yet, there was something different—her aura now felt deeper, as though she had transcended the mortal world only to descend upon it once more, like an immortal fairy.

Su Cheng's heart churned, his mind replaying the moment at noon when he had told her he was the Ji Family's son-in-law.

At the thought, his cheeks burned crimson. He lowered his head, wishing he could vanish into the ground.

"Please, sit." The girl's voice was calm and distant, seemingly oblivious to his discomfort.

Su Cheng cautiously lifted his gaze, stealing a glance at her. Her expression was indifferent, her raven-black hair cascading loosely, her eyes detached—as if nothing in the world held her interest. Only when her gaze occasionally flickered toward him did a flicker of vitality appear.

Why was she even more enchanting now, yet also more distant? Su Cheng felt this girl was entirely different from the one he had spoken to at noon. Though their auras were similar, they were worlds apart.

If the girl at noon had left him awestruck, the one before him now resembled a goddess, lofty and untouchable, her every movement exuding an ethereal grace that made her seem destined to stand above the clouds—far beyond his reach.

"I know you're confused. Let her explain."

The girl's voice had barely faded when a door beside them opened, and a figure stepped out. Su Cheng's expression froze in shock, his mouth agape but unable to form words.

"Junior, the one you met in the garden at noon was me." Liu Qingyue smiled at him, a flash of mischief in her eyes before she casually removed the long, straight black wig from her head, letting him see clearly.

"Senior, why...?"

Su Cheng was utterly bewildered, unable to believe the girl in the garden had been Liu Qingyue. If that were true, everything made sense—yet he still couldn't fathom the reason.

"Because from the moment you signed the agreement, your evaluation had already begun."

Liu Qingyue replied leisurely, as if she had anticipated his reaction. With a faint smile, she added, "I hope you understand, Junior. We simply wanted to assess your character."

Su Cheng was stunned. "So that's how it is."

He fell silent.

So... all of this had just been a test—to see if he would exploit the Ji Family's influence, bully the weak, or rely on others for personal gain.

"Leave us." The white-clad girl, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice carried a chill that could freeze one's soul, like a thousand-year-old glacier.

"Yes." Senior Liu and Senior Li behind her bowed respectfully in unison before withdrawing and closing the door.

Now, only Su Cheng and the mysterious girl remained in the room.

Silence enveloped the space, the air so thick it felt solid. Su Cheng was unbearably awkward, left with nothing to do but stare at the girl's elegant back.

She sat by the table, motionless as a statue, shrouded in an enigmatic aura that obscured her true self and made her thoughts inscrutable.

The tea set on the table emitted a soothing blend of herbal and tea fragrances, refreshing the mind.

"There’s no need to be reserved. Please, sit." The girl spoke again, her voice gentler than before.

"Ah, yes." Su Cheng's heart raced as he hurriedly nodded and took a seat beside her. He tilted his head slightly, hoping to observe her up close—only to be left breathless by the sight of her flawless profile, especially the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, which sent ripples through his heart. The faint fragrance drifting from her only made his throat dry.

It was worth noting that she possessed an exceedingly rare attribute, one that could rival—even stand toe-to-toe with—the head of the Practice Department.

The girl seemed to sense Su Cheng's gaze and turned to look at him calmly.

Su Cheng hastily averted his eyes, his pulse pounding. His face burned with embarrassment—he had never felt so shy before.

"Would you like some tea?"

The girl suddenly asked.

"Uh... ah..."

Su Cheng blinked, then nodded instinctively.

The girl lifted the teapot, her slender hand tilting slightly as a wisp of steam curled upward. Every movement was executed with an elegance that seemed like an art form in itself.

She poured a cup of tea and slid it toward him. The liquid shimmered, its clear hue carrying an alluring blend of herbal and tea aromas that instantly invigorated Su Cheng.

"Thank you." He carefully accepted the cup, blew lightly on it, then took a small sip. A sweet flavor spread across his tongue, washing away his fatigue.

"What kind of tea is this?" he asked curiously.

"Green tea."

The girl replied flatly, her eyes unreadable.

A warmth blossomed in Su Cheng's chest. Though she hadn’t said it outright, he knew this tea had been prepared specifically for him. Gratefully, he said, "Thank you for taking care of me all this time. I don’t know how to repay you. If there’s anything you need, I’d be happy to do my best."

The girl neither accepted nor refused his offer. Instead, she gazed out the window in silence before turning back to him and parting her lips slightly. "You may address me as President."

Their eyes met for the first time, and Su Cheng found himself unable to look away from her breathtakingly beautiful yet impassive face.

"Ahem..." Su Cheng cleared his throat awkwardly, regaining his composure before asking, "Then, President, is there anything I can do for you?"

"I am merely fulfilling my duties as per the agreement." Her tone remained unhurried, even carrying a hint of languidness—yet beneath that calmness lay a sharp, domineering edge that sent a shiver down his spine, making it hard to meet her gaze.

Her meaning was clear: there was no personal connection between them. Everything was strictly by the agreement, so she required no repayment.

"This tea is quite mild, though I don’t know much about it."

Hearing this, Su Cheng took another sip, his brow lifting slightly as he turned to her. "But I can taste hawthorn and herbal notes. Hawthorn is known to alleviate my symptoms."

"You’re quite observant. Correct."

The girl’s praise made Su Cheng’s face heat up again. He quickly stood, his voice brimming with gratitude. "It’s clear you’ve gone out of your way for me. The agreement never stipulated this. To me, it’s a kindness—and if you dismiss it as nothing, then drinking this tea would feel like a thorn in my throat."

Su Cheng’s words carried his own message: Ji Qingyi claimed there was no personal connection between them, that her assistance was purely contractual. If so, then what was the meaning of this tea?

How could he accept such generosity without question?

More importantly, he wanted her to know that favors beyond the agreement were a burden he couldn’t repay—they would weigh on him like a mountain. He only hoped she would retract any kindness outside the contract and refrain from offering him further help.

"Sit down first."

Ji Qingyi raised a slender finger, tapping the table lightly. The sound was crisp and clear.

"Yes." Su Cheng had no choice but to sit back down.

Faced with such a situation, he wouldn’t shy away. Repaying kindness was the most basic principle, and so he met Ji Qingyi’s indifferent yet beautiful gaze with composure, waiting for her to continue.

Ji Qingyi’s deep black eyes lingered on Su Cheng for a long while, making him uneasy, before she finally spoke slowly: "In that case, the agreement to revive the flower at noon still stands."

"Understood. If I succeed, I’ll hand it over to Senior Liu."

Su Cheng nodded solemnly. Since the noon encounter had been a test, the agreement could have been dismissed—after all, the person involved wasn’t real, and thus no obligation remained.

Yet now, she deliberately brought it up, likely for his sake. How could he disregard her intentions?

"Hand it to me."

Her response took him by surprise. Her tone dropped several degrees, carrying a hint of anger and coldness that sent a chill down his spine.

"But what about Senior Liu…?"

"Disregard her."

"Yes, President."

His heart uneasy, he answered cautiously, unsure what had provoked her displeasure.

"Hmm."

Ji Qingyi took a sip of tea with practiced elegance before setting the cup down. "Though it wasn’t me at noon, I’m fully aware of what transpired."

Then, her tone shifted abruptly as she glanced at him. "Since you call yourself the ‘Hand of Life,’ it should live up to its name. Do not disappoint me."

Hearing this, Su Cheng straightened with reverence, lowering his head solemnly. "I won’t fail you."

"Hmm."

Ji Qingyi gave a slight nod before falling into silence again, as still as a statue, the only sound being the rustling of grass outside in the breeze.

The quiet grew oppressive. Su Cheng hesitated, unsure whether now was the right time to make his request. Logically, the groundwork had been laid—it was time.

But her temperament was too unpredictable. Where Liu Qingyue had been as changeable as water, this young woman before him was like ice—aloof and untouchable. It made him shrink back, reluctant to overstep and shatter the fragile peace between them.

Yet the thought of being constantly monitored spurred him on. Steeling himself, he picked up his teacup and drained it in one go before setting it down firmly.

"I…"

Before he could finish, she interrupted.

"I’ll consider your wishes and relax the surveillance on your movements and status. However…"

She broke the silence, then reached out gracefully to refill his cup, her voice cool yet carrying a hint of softness. "The wristband must stay on at all times. Except for charging, you are never to remove it under any circumstances."

"How did you know I was going to ask about this?"

Su Cheng was stunned, taking a moment to recover from his shock.

"She mentioned it to me."

Ji Qingyi retrieved a redwood box from her robes and handed it to him. "These are heart-saving pills. Take them if you feel unwell—they’ll buy time until help arrives."

Su Cheng stared at her for a long while, emotions swirling. He couldn’t fathom why she treated him so well, granting his request without refusal. One thing was undeniable: she genuinely cared for him.

The box still carried her body warmth.

She must have kept it close, waiting to give it to him.

"Th… thank you."

The words came out strained as he clutched the box, its weight suddenly feeling heavier.

The kinder she was, the more conflicted he became.

He’d assumed this was all an act, that they’d go their separate ways afterward. He’d even considered behaving poorly to earn her disdain. But now, her actions…

They unsettled him, making him instinctively want to reciprocate her kindness—even if it was just part of their agreement.

"There’s one thing I don’t understand."

Su Cheng pressed his lips together before voicing his confusion.

"Speak."

After a pause, he asked, "You could easily dissolve the engagement without wasting time or effort. So why observe me? What’s the reason?"

"I have patience for you—and interest."

Her detached voice drifted through the room, ethereal. Her calm gaze remained fixed on Su Cheng as she continued, "I want to see how far you can go. Whether you can surprise me further."

"How far? Surprise you?"

Su Cheng blinked. "What kind of surprise?"

Ji Qingyi shook her head, taking a sip of tea. "Perhaps we can revisit this once you’ve revived the peony."

"Understood, President."

His response carried a trace of disappointment, but his tone remained respectful. She was beyond his comprehension, so he dared not press further.

Silence settled between them once more.

"What will my activities in the club entail?"

Unable to curb his curiosity, Su Cheng broke the quiet, his nerves showing. He’d promised Cornelia he wouldn’t touch archery. If Ji Qingyi expected him to, he’d plead health concerns.

After all, this was the Archery Club—avoiding bows entirely would raise eyebrows. But Cornelia had claimed his archery talent was peerless, even declaring with dramatic flair: "If archery were divided into ten parts, Su Cheng would possess a hundred, leaving the world indebted by ninety."

He hadn’t even known he was that exceptional!

If she was already interested in him without witnessing his skills, what would happen if he displayed them? She’d never let him go.

That couldn’t happen.

For the first time, he realized just how magnetic he was.

"Conversation. Tea."

Ji Qingyi lifted her eyes slowly, studying him as if seeing through him, her voice steady and cool.

"That’s all?"

"I’d prefer if you weren’t so restrained."

She raised her cup, a faint smile playing at her lips. "You may treat me as an ordinary friend—or someone you trust. Given our engagement, we can interact as equals for now."

"Friend…?"

Su Cheng fell silent for a few seconds before shaking his head. "I’m sorry, I can’t. You’re too perfect, President. I feel unworthy to even aspire to friendship."

Ji Qingyi’s eyes darkened slightly. She took a sip of tea, her tone tinged with weariness. "If there’s one thing I ask of you, it’s this…"

"Please speak freely, President. If it’s within my power, I won’t refuse." Su Cheng hurriedly assured her.

"I hope that in our time together, we can be playmates, mentor and student, confidants… and family."