Strolling Through the Galaxy with a Beauty

Saturday

Su Cheng got up today and, unusually, took some time to dress himself up nicely.

He took off his glasses and put on new clothes, giving off a neat and tidy impression overall.

He was naturally handsome, though he usually didn’t care much about dressing up. But after this little makeover, he had a bit of that fresh-faced, youthful vibe. He fiddled in front of the mirror for a long time before feeling satisfied.

Today was the first date of his life. Su Cheng had thought about how to describe this moment for a long time—

Excited, thrilled, nervous, or maybe hopeful?

Well, he felt all of those.

Yesterday, he had already arranged the details of the date with the president. Although they agreed on the plan, the president made it clear that everything was up to him to organize.

She only said one sentence: Whoever proposes it is responsible for it.

In the end, Su Cheng took full charge of the date, while she would just experience it as an ordinary girl.

Of course, because of his lack of experience, he had specifically asked senior sister Liu for advice.

Considering his limited experience, they settled on a traditional date: just a simple outing of dining, having tea, watching a movie, and shopping.

While traditional dates might seem old-fashioned and unremarkable to seasoned romantics,

both he and Ji Qingyi were first-timers. As senior sister Liu put it, even a young lady from a noble family wanted to experience a normal person’s dating style.

…………

At eight in the morning, Su Cheng’s phone rang.

He hurriedly answered, his voice betraying a hint of urgency: “Hello?”

To his surprise, it wasn’t the president or senior sister Liu on the other end, but a bright and straightforward female voice: “Su Cheng, I’m at the apartment entrance.”

Hearing that voice, Su Cheng was stunned for a few seconds before quickly replying, “Sister Qin?”

“Yeah. Didn’t I say I’d take you out for training this weekend? Wait, you little brat, you didn’t forget, did you?!”

Sister Qin’s voice grew louder, carrying a tone of exasperated disappointment.

“I didn’t forget. Can it be tomorrow instead? I have something very important to do today.”

Su Cheng hurriedly explained.

Sister Qin sounded a bit displeased, her tone somewhat pressing: “What could be more important than your own health?”

“A d-date…” Su Cheng reluctantly managed to say the two words.

“Oh~ so it’s a date.”

Hearing that, Sister Qin suddenly laughed: “Well, if it’s a date, then of course it can’t be delayed…”

But before she could finish, her tone suddenly shifted to shock: “Wait?! Your date isn’t with that Ji Family girl, is it!!!”

Su Cheng was startled by Sister Qin’s outburst but answered honestly, “Yeah.”

There was a brief silence on the other end, then a hopeful yet shy voice asked, “Do you need a driver?”

“No.”

“How about a guide?”

“I’ve already planned everything.”

“Then… I really want to meet this young lady from the Ji Family to see what kind of person she is!”

“No way.” Su Cheng rejected her outright. “She doesn’t like me getting close to other women. Not even an older woman like you, so sorry, Sister Qin.”

“You’re calling me an older woman?!”

Sister Qin flared up: “How am I like an auntie? I’m clearly only 17 years old, okay? And you actually called me ‘auntie’!!!”

Su Cheng’s ears throbbed painfully, struggling to resist the urge to dig at them. “All the more reason not to! A date is supposed to be a private moment for just the two of us. What if this date gets ruined because of that?”

“Tch!” Sister Qin clicked her tongue, pouting. “Such a buzzkill. Well… I’ll come by again tomorrow then.”

After hanging up, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, all that was left was the date!

…………

Morning, nine o’clock.

The weather was clear and bright, and the streets were unusually lively for a weekend morning at nine. A modest yet elegantly designed car pulled up in front of the apartment building.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing a figure inside. This person radiated a noble and graceful aura, moving with calm confidence. Their presence was so magnetic that passersby couldn’t help but stare in disbelief, knowing that a single glance would leave an unforgettable impression.

“President.”

Su Cheng arrived promptly to greet Ji Qingyi.

“Mm.” Ji Qingyi responded softly, lifting her gaze to meet Su Cheng’s. “Since you were the one who suggested this date, I’ll leave today’s plans entirely up to you.”

Su Cheng nodded seriously.

“Then… let’s get in.”

“All right.” The two climbed into the car together, heading toward their destination.

Seated beside Ji Qingyi, Su Cheng couldn’t help but sneak glances at her. Today, she wore a light-colored dress paired with a dark jacket. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her fair complexion. She sat with poised elegance, every inch the embodiment of grace and nobility.

“Do I look nice?”

Ji Qingyi’s soft voice drifted into his ear.

Su Cheng instantly blushed, awkwardly withdrawing his gaze. Yet even as he looked away, the subtle space between them felt charged—though separated by the car’s armrest, the scent of the president seemed to seep into his nostrils with every breath, making his own breathing quicken.

He fought to calm the storm inside and cleared his throat to begin the day’s itinerary. “Ahem, President, how about we go check out the eastern district? It’s a bit quieter during the day, perfect for a date.”

The eastern district was famous for its night market, bustling and lively after dark, but much calmer in daylight—ideal for a peaceful stroll.

“Sounds good.” Ji Qingyi didn’t hesitate.

A brief silence settled over the car.

Trying to break the quiet, Su Cheng ventured, “President, aren’t you curious about where I’m taking you?”

Ji Qingyi glanced at him and replied leisurely, “I trust your plans completely. I have no objections.”

Su Cheng was momentarily speechless but finally blurted out, “Well, you could at least pretend to be curious. Otherwise, I’ll just seem dumb.”

“Oh,”

Ji Qingyi nodded as if suddenly understanding. As she did, her beautiful black hair gently fell, and she tucked a strand behind her ear. “What’s in the east?”

That simple gesture was a deadly temptation for Su Cheng.

“Ahem… well,” he stammered, “I heard from my senior that you like wandering through little shops in small alleys, and the east side has plenty of those.”

"You’re quite thoughtful," Ji Qingyi chuckled softly, then explained, "This little shop doesn’t have that commercial vibe. Compared to the standardized big malls, it better reflects the unique character of the city or region."

Hearing this, Su Cheng let out a relieved breath, quietly glad he hadn’t made the wrong choice, and felt grateful for his senior’s advice. This time, he really wasn’t led astray!

"Then let’s head to the eastern district now."

Su Cheng nodded and looked at the driver ahead. "Please take me there."

"Sure thing, sir," the driver nodded and then slammed on the accelerator. The engine roared as the car sped off.

Yet, the atmosphere fell into silence.

Ji Qingyi turned her head slightly to gaze out the window, seemingly curious about the unfamiliar scenery. The sunlight streamed in, illuminating her profile, and a gentle warmth radiated from the curve of her brow and the corners of her eyes.

Su Cheng watched for a moment, feeling the scene was too beautiful. For a brief second, he was lost in thought, unable to resist pulling out his phone to capture this perfect moment.

But just as he pressed the shutter...

*Click.*

Ji Qingyi turned her head and stared directly at him.

Fortunately, the photo was successfully taken.

Awkwardness hung in the air, and unsure how to handle it, Su Cheng stiffened his neck and forced out a laugh. "Haha, President, it was just so beautiful just now, I couldn’t help but take a picture. Want me to send it to you?"

Ji Qingyi glanced down at the screen and replied softly, "Thank you."

"No problem!"

Su Cheng quickly waved his hand. "Glad you don’t mind!"

Just as he was about to send the photo to her, a familiar sound came from beside him—

*Click.*

Hearing the shutter, Su Cheng turned his head noncommittally, then froze for a second, surprised to see Ji Qingyi also holding her phone, snapping a picture of him.

"I’ll send mine to you too."

Ji Qingyi was fiddling with her phone, explaining as she did, "I heard dating is something for two people, so if you take a picture, it should be in pairs."

"Thanks." Su Cheng was at a loss for words and simply thanked her.

"You’re welcome." Ji Qingyi shook her head gently. "This is my first time dating someone too. I don’t really know what to do, so I’m just copying your moves."

I see... Su Cheng’s mind went a little fuzzy.

"Then I’ll set the photo of you as my wallpaper."

Hearing this, Su Cheng finally understood how this date was supposed to go. His heart fluttered with excitement, and he eagerly nodded.

"President, like this, take a look." Su Cheng held up his phone, the wallpaper just the candid side profile of Ji Qingyi he had taken earlier.

Ji Qingyi glanced at it once, then lowered her head to fiddle with her phone. Minutes passed, and she was still at it.

Su Cheng just kept watching her, waiting patiently.

Gradually, Ji Qingyi’s breathing shifted from calm to heavy, then grew more and more labored.

In the end, she gave up.

Because she simply didn’t know how to set the wallpaper.

No way around it—Su Cheng never taught her.

“Sorry.” Ji Qingyi let out a soft sigh and looked up at him. “I haven’t tried this feature before.”

Her tone was filled with helplessness.

“Boss, I’ll teach you.”

Su Cheng was momentarily stunned, then quickly caught on. He reached out and tapped on her screen, swiftly navigating through the phone’s interface. After a few random taps, the photo she had just taken was set as the wallpaper.

Ji Qingyi learned attentively and got it right on the first try.

Just then, the vehicle gradually came to a stop, having arrived at their destination.

But one thing caught Su Cheng completely off guard—the street wasn’t the quiet, empty place he had imagined at all. Instead, it was bustling with activity, packed with people shoulder to shoulder, and the traffic was heavy. It was nothing like the peaceful scene he had expected.

Su Cheng felt a little lost and embarrassed.

Because the boss was stunningly beautiful, showing up in a place like this would inevitably attract all kinds of stares and secret photos. In such a crowded and chaotic environment, how could they possibly just stroll around?

“Can we stop somewhere with fewer people?” he asked.

“I’ll look.” The driver nodded and began searching.

“Boss, I didn’t expect there to be so many people.” Su Cheng scratched his head in frustration. He knew there would be quite a few, but the sheer number was really surprising.

“I can wear a mask,” Ji Qingyi suggested.

Su Cheng was taken aback. Suddenly, he remembered that the boss probably shouldn’t be seen openly. He quickly said, “Then you’ll have to bear with it and wear a mask for now.”

Ji Qingyi replied, “Don’t worry about me. I can handle this much.”

“Sir, this is the only spot that meets your requirements. Other places won’t work,” the driver explained.

“Then, shall we get off here?” Su Cheng asked.

“Mm.”

The two of them stepped out of the car. Even with Ji Qingyi wearing a mask, her extraordinary aura was impossible to conceal. Every gesture and movement radiated elegance and nobility, drawing frequent glances from passersby.

Some even took out their phones, trying to snap pictures.

Su Cheng frowned and instinctively stepped in front of Ji Qingyi, shielding her tightly.

Unfortunately, while he could block their view, he couldn’t stop the whispers spreading through the crowd, growing louder and more intense by the second.

“Oh my, who’s this girl?”

“Must be a local. Look at that aura…”

“Honestly, compared to her, celebrities and supermodels don’t stand a chance.”

“Probably a wealthy heiress from some prominent family. So refined and elegant.”

“Too bad she already has a boyfriend.”

“Her boyfriend looks pretty ordinary, though.”

…

“No matter.”

Ji Qingyi said calmly, “Don’t pay it any mind.”

Su Cheng grew even more nervous. In this kind of situation, he knew he had to be braver and more proactive. With so many eyes on them, it was only a matter of time before someone careless bumped into Ji Qingyi—and that was something he absolutely didn’t want to see.

With that thought, Su Cheng turned to the boss and smiled. “You said I’m in charge of everything today, right?”

Ji Qingyi nodded. “Yes.”

“Then, give me your hand.”

Su Cheng paused for a moment and said earnestly, "I'll hold your hand and walk with you, so we won’t get separated."

"Alright." Ji Qingyi didn’t hesitate and reached out her right hand, letting him hold it.

Grasping the president’s soft little hand, Su Cheng felt an inexplicable surge of excitement in his heart. He held back from showing it too clearly. Slowly, he led Ji Qingyi forward, carefully avoiding the crowd while attentively identifying the route.

Since the designated activity route was no longer useful, he could only choose paths at random, hoping to come across familiar shops or landmark buildings. That way, he could quickly guide the president through.

Ji Qingyi allowed him to hold her hand, her gaze wandering around. Her expression was calm and composed, looking very poised and collected.

Yet, a hint of pleasure shimmered in her beautiful eyes, clearly showing she enjoyed this kind of companionship.

Before long, Su Cheng found a suitable shop.

It was a general store, filled with all sorts of small items—hardware, stationery, snacks, everything you could imagine.

"President, shall we go in and have a look?" Su Cheng asked.

"Mm."

Ji Qingyi nodded and followed him inside.

The store was bustling with customers, but no one was attending to them directly; it was a self-service setup, and naturally, the prices were quite reasonable.

Ji Qingyi first scanned the shelves, then spotted some hairpins and picked one up to examine it closely.

"What do you think?" Su Cheng asked. "Do you like it?"

Ji Qingyi remained silent, offering no reply.

Su Cheng looked at her in confusion. "Don't like it?"

At that moment, Ji Qingyi’s peripheral vision caught sight of another shelf displaying various fans and fan cases. Her gaze was immediately drawn to them, and she hurried over.

"I’ll just take a look myself," Ji Qingyi said, leaving behind those words as she walked away, leaving Su Cheng standing there dumbfounded, unable to make sense of it.

However, he didn’t just stand there idly. Instead, he began browsing through the small items on the shelves as well and finally picked up a rectangular piece of sandalwood.

He planned to make a comb and a hairpin for the president.

Because hairpins symbolize elegance, and the president’s temperament suited that perfectly. More importantly, the meaning behind it was eternal love.

Besides, the president wore her long hair down every day. If she was willing to use the hairpin he gave to hold her hair up...

Su Cheng secretly imagined Ji Qingyi pinning up her long hair, revealing the smooth, graceful nape of her neck. A sweet warmth surged through his heart, as if a gentle current was flowing inside him, softening his entire being and making his breath feel lighter.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi stood quietly in a corner, holding a blank folding fan, her brows lowered, lost in thought and somewhat absent-minded.

She remembered.

She had once given Su Cheng a folding fan.

Now, giving him another one didn’t seem like a bad idea?

Thinking this, a faint hint of coquettish charm appeared at the corner of her brow.

And so,

The two of them met up, each holding the items they had chosen.

Su Cheng looked at the fan and fan case in her hands.

Ji Qingyi glanced at the piece of wood he held.

For a moment, they both fell into silence.

After a long while, Ji Qingyi was the first to break the quiet. "Why did you choose a piece of wood?"

Faced with this question.

Su Cheng knew very well that the key to a gift was the element of surprise.

So, he lied, “The chair at home just happened to have a broken leg; this will be perfect for fixing it.”

But his lie was too clumsy—it was obvious he was making it up. Yet Ji Qingyi didn’t call him out. Instead, she wanted to keep the anticipation alive. She tilted her head slightly and glanced at him: “Hmm.”

Su Cheng immediately felt a wave of relief wash over him and asked, “What about you? Why did you buy a folding fan?”

“It's been so hot lately; a fan helps to cool down,” Ji Qingyi answered with genuine interest.

They exchanged a knowing look, then headed to the counter to pay and have their items wrapped, each carrying their own purchase as they left the shop.

Of course, they were still holding hands.

Not long after, they came across an automatic drink vending machine. Su Cheng stopped and released Ji Qingyi’s hand. “Boss, want to grab a drink?”

“You decide,” Ji Qingyi replied coolly.

Hearing this, they approached the machine. Su Cheng pulled out some coins and dropped them into the slot, activating the machine.

With a clattering sound, he looked up and gestured, “Pick whatever you want.”

Ji Qingyi nodded, her eyes scanning the selection. After a few seconds, she found a familiar drink.

She reached out and pressed the button—

Su Cheng patiently watched her movements.

In his mind, he couldn’t help but think, so the boss actually knows how to use these street-side gadgets. He had assumed she’d never used one before since, until now, he’d only ever seen her drink tea.

But just as the thought crossed his mind, Su Cheng froze.

“White tea, come out quickly, white tea, come out~” Ji Qingyi intently stared at the glass panel of the machine, repeating the phrase with a serious, focused expression.

The adorable contrast was so striking that he was completely stunned.

Is Awei dead?!

But soon, a breeze brushed down his spine, snapping him back to reality. He forced down the fluttering emotions and quickly looked away.

“Clank~” came the sound as the drink dropped. Ji Qingyi gracefully bent down to pick up the bottle of white tea, then turned to Su Cheng: “What do you want to drink?”

“Cola, just regular cola,” Su Cheng said, pretending to look down for coins so she wouldn’t notice his odd expression.

“Look up!”

However, Ji Qingyi had already caught on.

“Ah? Oh.” Su Cheng hurriedly raised his head, doing his best to act normal.

“Why so nervous?” Ji Qingyi narrowed her eyes, her tone lazy but laced with a hint of danger that sent a chill down his spine.

“N-no reason.” Su Cheng turned his head aside, struggling to come up with an excuse, stammering, “I mean… who taught you how to use a vending machine?”

Ji Qingyi stared at him: “An old friend.”

Su Cheng was stunned. That old friend must be quite bold to mess with the boss like that—truly a role model for us all.

Seriously impressive!

“That old friend must be really close to you, huh?” Su Cheng quickly changed the subject, trying to ease the tension.

"Of course." Ji Qingyi curled her lips into a faint smile and lifted her beautiful eyes to gaze at Su Cheng before her. In that moment, her once still and lifeless gaze sparkled like a vast sea of stars, dazzling and radiant. She softly spoke, "Though unspoken, the thoughts linger constantly."