The date had been settled. Su Cheng left the Archery Club with mixed emotions, stepping out the door.
He actually talks in his sleep?
This thought bothered him more than he expected.
Just then, he noticed a familiar figure in the corner of the hall—Liu Qingyue!
She leaned against the wall, earbuds in, eyes lightly closed as if immersed in music.
Su Cheng paused, then walked over curiously. "Senior, what are you doing here?"
"Listening to crosstalk," Liu Qingyue opened her eyes, removing an earbud. "Seeing if there are any interesting skits today."
"You expect me to believe that?" Su Cheng deadpanned, calling her bluff. "This is right outside the club president’s office. You were eavesdropping on my conversation with her, weren’t you?"
"Hehe."
Liu Qingyue didn’t even feign embarrassment. Instead, she adopted a tone of mock surprise. "I’m in charge of the young mistress’s security, including your supervision. Why would I need to eavesdrop?"
"Fine, whatever." Su Cheng shook his head, deciding not to press the issue. He cut straight to the point. "Was it you who handled the aftermath of the incident at the equestrian club last time?"
Instead of answering, Liu Qingyue stepped closer and pressed her ear against his chest, as if diagnosing him. Then, with a knowing smile, she said, "Your mental state is unstable. Sleeping on the young mistress’s lap for the first time caused pre-sleep stress, making it hard to fall asleep. But because the sedatives kicked in, you slept anyway—though your speech center never fully shut down."
Adopting the air of a professional doctor, she delivered her verdict with precision. "You must’ve planned this all along. That’s why you talked in your sleep!"
Su Cheng froze.
Good grief, she was spot on!
He had indeed intended to call the club president "tsundere" earlier that afternoon.
But that wasn’t what he’d asked about!
"Senior," Su Cheng took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to retort, and spoke as calmly as possible. "I was asking about the equestrian club, not my sleep-talking."
"I couldn’t make Gu Ruoxue cooperate with us, so she must’ve handled it herself." Liu Qingyue straightened up, reinserting her earbud before glancing at him. "Anything else?"
"Not for now." The answer left Su Cheng unsettled, unsure how to respond. He shook his head. "I should get back to class."
………………
That afternoon, during free time in P.E. class.
Su Cheng sat alone in the shade, mulling over his relationship with Li Guanqi.
Liu Qingyue had mentioned that Li Guanqi’s family was close to Gu Ruoxue’s, but that didn’t necessarily mean the two girls were friends—let alone proof that Gu Ruoxue had sent Li Guanqi to approach him.
Still, one thing nagged at him.
After the equestrian club incident, everyone else had left the Practice Department—except Li Guanqi. That seemed suspicious.
But according to Zhao Yan, Xu Tianyi had gone looking for her?
At that thought, maybe he could ask Xu Tianyi for details.
Su Cheng stood and began searching for her.
He checked every sports area but found no trace of her, so he headed toward the library.
Someone like Xu Tianyi would probably be there, right?
Yet before he reached the library, he spotted her in a pavilion—playing a board game with someone.
But the person across from her...
This girl radiated a sinister, gloomy aura, her messy hair framing a face obscured by shadows. The air around her felt heavy, almost suffocating.
Su Cheng froze, staring.
She looked familiar...
Ah, right—the mysterious girl he’d seen outside the club president’s office last time, the one who’d "bonked" him when his view was blocked!
Who knew Xu Tianyi was close with someone like her?
As Su Cheng puzzled over their connection, the gloomy girl suddenly looked up at him.
Though her face remained hidden behind her hair, her pale chin and neck were just visible.
Xu Tianyi, mid-move, noticed her reaction and turned. Spotting Su Cheng, she adjusted her glasses in surprise. "Su Cheng? What brings you here?"
"I wanted to discuss something with you."
Su Cheng stepped forward, tearing his gaze from the gloomy girl to glance at the board. Feeling awkward, he scratched his head. "Sorry, I’ll come back later."
Xu Tianyi looked at her companion, who nodded, seemingly intrigued.
This only confused Su Cheng further.
He’d said he needed to talk to Xu Tianyi—so why was this girl acting like she wanted to listen in?!
"It’s fine, I’ll wait over there."
Su Cheng turned to leave.
"You can pretend I’m not here," the gloomy girl rasped, her voice eerie, as if she might lunge at any moment.
"I’d prefer to speak with Xu Tianyi alone." Su Cheng frowned. "Senior, please understand."
"I told you, you can pretend I don't exist." The girl was unusually stubborn, showing no intention of backing down, as if she had no concept of tact or courtesy.
"Su Cheng."
Seeing this, Xu Tianyi interjected, "Senior Sister Si is obsessed with chess. To her, if a player suddenly leaves or plays absentmindedly, the game loses all meaning."
"Oh, I see."
Su Cheng suddenly understood and nodded apologetically at Senior Sister Si. "Senior, then I’ll just say it directly?"
"Go ahead." Xu Tianyi motioned for him to continue.
"About the incident at the riding grounds the other day," Su Cheng said seriously, "after you left the Practice Department, I heard Li Guanqi stayed behind alone, and then you went looking for her?"
"Yes," Xu Tianyi replied plainly. "Is there a problem?"
"I wanted to ask—what did Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue talk about at the time?" Su Cheng cut straight to the point.
"Well..."
Xu Tianyi fell into thought before shaking her head. "To be honest, I don’t know the specifics. They seemed to be discussing something, but they stopped talking when I arrived."
"I see."
Su Cheng was visibly disappointed. It seemed he wouldn’t get any useful information from Xu Tianyi. So he shifted his approach. "Then, what’s the relationship between Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue like?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how abrupt the question sounded and quickly added, "I don’t mean anything by it—I’m just curious about their dynamic."
"Oh."
Xu Tianyi didn’t seem bothered by his tone. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "I don’t know much about their family ties, but they did interact in the past. From what I’ve observed, though, they haven’t been close in recent years. Aside from being schoolmates and seniors, they barely have any connection."
Su Cheng felt slightly relieved upon hearing this.
Xu Tianyi seemed to notice his change in mood and added, "If anything, Senior Gu doesn’t seem to have any close relationships at all. Unless it’s club-related, she’s practically a loner in daily life."
"She doesn’t need friends?"
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"It’s more like her personality keeps her from having any," Senior Sister Si suddenly spoke up, breaking her silence.
"Beautiful yet terrifying," Xu Tianyi added. "I’ve never seen her act intimately with anyone. She’s like an icy cliff—no matter how the wind and waves batter her, she never melts."
"Indeed, she’s someone who stays true to her principles," the gloomy girl said with fervor. "Her logical thinking is impeccable, and her willpower is extraordinary. She’s a living treasure, drawing people to her whether she intends to or not. I’m no exception—I admire her greatly."
Su Cheng fell silent.
Hearing such praise, he suddenly felt as though Gu Ruoxue transcended ordinary people—steadfast in her convictions, unwavering on the path of righteousness.
If she was truly as they described, would she really resort to underhanded tactics to get close to him?
"Thank you, Seniors."
Setting aside his thoughts for now, he expressed his gratitude before leaving.
He hadn’t wanted to dwell on Gu Ruoxue. After all, this woman had claimed he’d lost his memory, making her seem like a villain.
But now, Su Cheng considered another possibility—only to dismiss it immediately.
If Gu Ruoxue knew what he was like before his transmigration, then to her, the current him really would seem like he’d lost his memories.
"No, impossible. She’s a city girl—how could she have ever been to the countryside, let alone known the original owner of this body?" Su Cheng shook his head, rejecting the idea.
Still, the descriptions from Xu Tianyi and Senior Sister Si were completely at odds with what Ji Qingyi and her attendants had said about Gu Ruoxue. This gave him a new perspective on the woman and stirred an urge to uncover the truth.
Yet in the end, he suppressed that impulse. Right now, the most pressing issue was Li Guanqi—not Gu Ruoxue.
"Guess I’ll have to set this aside for now," Su Cheng muttered helplessly before turning to leave the pavilion.
Before departing, his gaze drifted toward the Archery Club, and Ji Qingyi’s figure surfaced in his mind once more.
The thought of their upcoming "date" filled him with an inexplicable nervousness.
"What should I even prepare?" he mused aloud as he walked away.
A few minutes later—
Su Cheng sat quietly on the steps, watching the distant sunset as it dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of crimson.
Memories flooded back.
The first time he’d met Li Guanqi.
Back then, he’d disturbed her on the lawn before passing out for some reason—only for her to extend a helping hand.
At that time, his relationship with Ji Qingyi hadn’t been settled yet, so at the very least, Li Guanqi’s kindness had been genuine then.
He’d hoped Xu Tianyi could provide answers about her, but even now, he couldn’t tell whether her goodwill had been part of a plan or sincere.
He couldn’t tell. He really couldn’t!
Su Cheng let out a sigh, gathering his scattered thoughts. Whenever he found himself at a crossroads, he would resort to a childish yet oddly effective method—leaving the decision to fate, much like the ancients who sought divination from the heavens. Though it seemed naive, it always helped him uncover his true feelings.
"If I can land this in the trash can, it means I’ve wronged Li Guanqi," he muttered, picking up a discarded soda can from the ground and tossing it toward a nearby bin.
Clink—clatter—thud.
The can hit the rim of the trash bin, bounced off, and landed right back at his feet.
Su Cheng froze, staring blankly at the can lying beside the bin, unable to process what had just happened.
"Littering isn’t allowed, you know." A calm, familiar voice broke the silence.
Su Cheng looked up, his gaze tracing a pair of slender, fair legs before rising to meet the figure of Li Guanqi, dressed in athletic wear with her hair tied in a high ponytail. She bent down, picked up the can, and dropped it into a recycling bag slung over her shoulder.
Clink. The can landed neatly inside the recycling bin.
The sound snapped Su Cheng back to reality. He studied her face—still as composed as ever, save for a faint flicker of emotion in her dark eyes.
"Want some juice?" Li Guanqi held out a bottle she’d just bought from a vending machine, her tone gentle and soothing, carrying an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
"No, thanks," Su Cheng replied politely but distantly, already turning to leave. At that moment, he had no idea how to face her, so escape seemed the only option.
"Tuanzi," Li Guanqi called out just as he took a step away. He spun back to look at her, finding her eyes brimming with expectation.
"You promised me tuanzi today."
Her voice carried a hint of urgency and disappointment, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
Su Cheng’s mind went blank.
Right. He had promised her tuanzi. But...
He’d forgotten. Again.
"Seems like you forgot to bring them," Li Guanqi murmured, her lashes lowering as her tone dripped with resignation.
Su Cheng’s heart clenched. "I was busy yesterday. How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow’s the weekend," she said, lifting her gaze to meet his, her eyes tinged with melancholy.
"Ah—right. I forgot again." Su Cheng smacked his forehead, cursing his terrible memory.
No. A promise was a promise. He couldn’t keep putting it off.
"Give me your address. I’ll deliver them tonight."
"Actually, there’s no need to trouble yourself," Li Guanqi shook her head, though a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes. "I can come pick them up tonight. Just tell me the time and place."
Su Cheng was about to agree when Ji Qingyi’s warning echoed in his mind, sending a chill down his spine. Having another woman visit his place was pushing it—who knew if she’d turn out to be another Cornelia? For both their sakes, it was better to keep some distance.
"Given my... unique circumstances, it might not be appropriate for you to come over. How about this?" He pulled out his phone and showed her the location of a nearby café. "Let’s meet here between 6:30 and 7:00. Does that work?"
Li Guanqi frowned, leaning in to check the address before retrieving her own phone. "This spot, right? I might forget, so could you send me the location?"
"Sure." Without hesitation, Su Cheng added her as a contact and shared the details.
......
At 6:30 p.m., Su Cheng finally finished making the tuanzi, wiping the sweat from his brow with a relieved sigh.
He headed to the café as agreed.
The moment he arrived, he spotted Li Guanqi standing outside the shop, clad in all black with a crossbody bag, her expression reserved and serene—like a freshly minted widow.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here’s the tuanzi. If you’re not eating them right away, store them in the fridge—but don’t keep them too long." Su Cheng handed her the box and was about to leave when Li Guanqi tugged at his sleeve.
"You went through all that trouble. Let me treat you to coffee—and take a break."
u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
u serious?" Chen Feng watched helplessly as his painstakingly trained disciple, fresh off a championship victory, publicly abandoned him. "You had your chance, but you didn’t appreciate it. Now, face the consequences of your choice!" Chen Feng possessed the "Master System," a treasure trove of supreme martial arts techniques, capable of molding ordinary individuals into peerless prodigies. "Legs like yours? A shame not to train in the Crippling Kick." "Ever heard of a palm strike that descends from the heavens?" "Auntie! I see extraordinary bone structure in you—a martial arts prodigy, one in ten thousand." The once-defiant senior disciple, now watching her juniors rise to fame one after another, dominating the internet, was consumed by endless regret.
