Only in Retrospect Does One Realize the Difficulty of the Breakthrough

In a mysterious dining room, a table of exquisite dishes was laid out, among which there was a simple and unremarkable scrambled egg dish that seemed entirely out of place next to the other delicacies. However, someone noticed that this scrambled egg held a hidden secret.

That someone was Su Cheng, a transmigrator whose appearance belied his extraordinary intellect.

He had encountered this dish once before—back when he had been framed, falsely accused of being the one who made it for senior sister Liu.

Now that it had reappeared, he knew without a doubt that this was Ji Qingyi’s handiwork. Faced with this scrambled egg, made by the ever-enthusiastic but unskilled Ji Qingyi, how would he respond?

Ji Qingyi’s slender, pale right hand picked up a piece of greens and brought it to her lips. Covering her mouth as she chewed, every movement carried an air of grace and tranquility, captivating those who watched.

Noticing Su Cheng’s hesitation to pick up his chopsticks, she casually remarked, "Is the food not to your liking today?"

Su Cheng quickly shook his head and stuffed a piece of greens into his mouth. "Not at all."

Ji Qingyi set down her chopsticks, dabbed the corners of her lips with a napkin, and said softly, "Take your time. I’m going for a walk to aid digestion."

"You’re full after just one leaf of greens?" Su Cheng was stunned. He had been agonizing over how to critique the scrambled egg made by the club president, but this time, she didn’t even seem interested in hearing his opinion—almost as if she didn’t care.

For a moment, he even wondered if he had been mistaken. Could it really not be her dish?

But if it wasn’t hers, then the chef responsible for this shell-laden scrambled egg deserved to be drawn and quartered!

Yet, for Ji Qingyi, while Su Cheng’s evaluation mattered, there was something even more important she needed to do now—share and boast.

As the saying goes: The desire to share marks the beginning of affection; the desire to share is the pinnacle of romance.

Right now, she was brimming with pride and satisfaction.

Because Su Cheng had worked so hard for her new image.

This joy had to be shared with others. This urge to share stemmed, at its core, from Su Cheng’s love for her.

At the same time, it was also an expression of confidence—a way to show certain people the stability of their happiness, the unbreakable bond between them.

To display their mutual support and reliance, and to convey an emotion beyond words—love.

"Well, enjoy your meal." Ji Qingyi stood up to leave but paused to add, "I’m heading to the Archery Club to take care of some business."

"Um…" Su Cheng suddenly called out.

Ji Qingyi stopped and turned, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Uh…"

Su Cheng’s face flushed slightly, as if struggling to find the right words, but he steeled himself and spoke. "President, did you make this scrambled egg?"

Ji Qingyi froze for a moment, then glanced at the dish, as if only now remembering its existence.

Seeing her gaze fixed on the scrambled egg, Su Cheng picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece to his nose for a sniff, then popped it into his mouth, savoring it for a few seconds.

Ji Qingyi watched him, seemingly waiting—perhaps even anticipating—his verdict.

Su Cheng closed his eyes, shaking his head slowly before finally opening them again and declaring with utmost seriousness, "Bitter at first, then sweet—just like my life. It was bitter until I met you, President, and then everything turned sweet. Mmm~"

Ji Qingyi smiled without a word, merely tapping his forehead with a slender, pale finger. "Cheeky."

With that, she strode gracefully out of the dining hall.

When she stepped out of her usual domain and into the practice area, the club members, who had been chatting idly during lunch break, fell silent as if struck deaf, staring at her in stunned silence.

After a long pause,

The members chorused, "P-President… good afternoon."

Ji Qingyi gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

But she didn’t linger, continuing her exit with each step seeming to echo in their hearts until she was gone.

"Did you notice something different about the President today?"

"I felt it too."

"Yeah, normally I wouldn’t dare look her in the eye, but today I stared for a good few seconds."

One member whispered, "D-Did the President seem… gentler than usual?"

"Are you blind? Can’t you see she changed her look?" another member scoffed, shooting them a disdainful glance.

"Oh, right, right." The first member slapped his bald head in realization. "No wonder she seemed more approachable today."

"But… why did the President change her image?"

They exchanged glances, expressions turning gossipy as they began whispering among themselves.

Leaving the Archery Club, Ji Qingyi walked through the campus, occasionally passing a few students.

In the past, people would either avoid her from afar or bow respectfully to let her pass. But today, these passersby stopped to stare for a moment before greeting her politely. "Good afternoon, President Ji."

Ji Qingyi nodded in courteous reply.

The contrast surprised her—who knew a new hairstyle could have such an effect?

But the thought lasted only a fleeting moment before she continued on her way.

Eventually, she arrived at the club building entrance.

The Archery Club was on the third floor, but she stopped on the second.

Compared to the liveliness of other floors, this one was eerily quiet and empty.

Yet she didn’t feel like she had taken a wrong turn. Instead, she began scanning the floor, searching for her target.

Soon, she stopped outside the Social Practice Club.

Peering through the round window on the door, she spotted a slender figure inside, sitting at a desk and organizing materials.

As if sensing her presence, the figure slowly looked up. When her eyes met Ji Qingyi’s through the glass, her hands stilled for a moment before she calmly set down what she was holding and stood up, meeting Ji Qingyi’s gaze with a cool voice. "Do you need something?"

But instead of answering, Ji Qingyi turned and walked away, leaving behind only a resolute and indifferent silhouette.

Gu Ruoxue: "……?"

She blinked, utterly baffled.

Still, she sat back down, replaying the scene in her mind. Something felt off—when the other girl turned, she had noticed a slight difference from usual.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, the club door swung open again. Ji Qingyi strode in with elegant steps, making her way to the desk and seating herself across from Gu Ruoxue.

"It’s been so long since I last visited that I forgot where the Archery Club was."

Ji Qingyi offered the explanation as she settled in. "Since I happened to pass by, I thought I’d ask for a cup of tea."

"The Archery Club is on the third floor, Room 302," Gu Ruoxue replied, then shifted her tone. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll have to ask you to leave."

Her dismissal was clear, but Ji Qingyi showed no intention of moving. Instead, she conjured a cup of hot tea out of thin air, took a sip, and remarked idly, "In that case, there’s something I’d like to ask you."

Gu Ruoxue frowned.

"Recently, there seems to be a minor issue between me and my boyfriend," Ji Qingyi said lightly, taking a sip of tea. "So I wanted to consult with Minister Gu."

"As the saying goes, even an honest official can't settle family disputes. Therefore, our department does not, in principle, handle consultations on conflicts arising from personal matters. Please don’t force the issue. However, I can offer you a personal suggestion: in such situations, either at least one party is at fault, or the two are simply incompatible. More communication is needed."

Gu Ruoxue didn’t seem particularly surprised by the provocation. She merely picked up the teapot, poured herself a cup, and replied in her usual businesslike tone.

Ji Qingyi raised an eyebrow. It seemed merely knowing their current situation wasn’t enough to unsettle the other woman. But she wasn’t about to give up. "Oh? And what if I insist?"

"Well, then you might as well remember this: drink more hot water, try rebooting; if you like it, buy it; if it doesn’t work, break up. I believe most problems can be solved by following these principles."

Faced with Ji Qingyi’s aggressive persistence, Gu Ruoxue suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.

The sharp retort wiped away much of Ji Qingyi’s initial good mood. She suppressed the anger rising in her chest. "What a sharp tongue! I suppose you’ve honed it by watching others live in perfect harmony while you can’t eat or sleep at night!"

"My time is precious. I have no interest in playing a childish game that’s doomed to fail. Though it seems some people are enjoying themselves."

"Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit—that’s respect for the opponent. Besides, even if she knows what cards I hold, so what? She lacks the ability to mobilize resources to solve real problems, the opportunity to heal or save anyone, and the power to help others grow. What can’t be solved will remain unsolved. So why shouldn’t I have a little fun?"

Seeing Ji Qingyi on the verge of flipping the table, Gu Ruoxue sighed, set down her cup, and signaled her disinterest in continuing. "I can see you’re having a great time."

Ji Qingyi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and steadied her emotions before finally posing the main question: "That thing Li Guanqi pulled out at the arrow-throwing competition the other day—it was from you, wasn’t it? I can see you’re not exactly on her side. What’s your game?"

"Nothing much. I just took the opportunity to see what kind of person she really is."

"Judging by your tone, your evaluation isn’t very high. I know she didn’t use what you gave her on Su Cheng—she probably used it on herself to recover her memories. And doing so lowered her in your esteem, didn’t it?"

Based on surveillance and reports from Liu Qingyue and others, Ji Qingyi knew Gu Ruoxue wasn’t pleased with Li Guanqi’s actions. This conversation confirmed she had no intention of using Li Guanqi against her. So her focus must be elsewhere.

"Her family, especially her sister, has been under immense pressure while caring for her all this time. It hasn’t been easy.

If she could recognize the value of their sacrifices, understand that they’re the ones who’ve cared for her the longest, and at least ask about them—or her sister’s well-being—before using that thing…

Instead of meeting some guy and, within months, becoming convinced he’s the one who cares for her most, betting everything on him without a thought for anyone else around her.

Then I might’ve given her a higher evaluation. As it stands, as an observer, I’m quite curious how her family will react when they learn what she’s done."

Gu Ruoxue nodded. Her original intention was to use this staged yet real scenario to test ideas she’d previously lacked the means to execute, gathering firsthand feedback. At the same time, she wanted to reassess the people and events surrounding Su Cheng, identifying who was beneficial and who were unstable factors—not just for individuals, but for society as a whole.

"It seems you’re thinking of the chaos caused by that elder from the Li family years ago. Do you think Li Guanqi will be the second?"

"Not to that extent, but they’re still haunted by it. They wouldn’t dare gamble on it."

The exchange reminded Ji Qingyi of the incident decades ago. During wartime, a Li family elder had fallen for someone of dubious origins. That alone might’ve been tolerable, but while holding critical intelligence, they defected to the enemy.

The Li family demanded the elder cut ties, but she refused and fled to the other side. Left with no choice, the family head personally led a team to eliminate all involved, then set an example by taking the lead in battle. Only then was the Li family barely preserved—though the repercussions linger to this day.

Li family members must work twice as hard to prove their worth, and they’ve developed a phobia of free love, especially with those of unclear origins or abilities.

Thinking of this, Ji Qingyi’s mood, soured by Gu Ruoxue, suddenly improved.

"Fine. Let’s end it here for today. If you change your mind and want to join the game, I’ll be ready. After all, a match is only exciting when the opponents are well-matched."

"Take care. I won’t see you out."

With the sound of the closing door, Ji Qingyi disappeared from Gu Ruoxue’s sight. The latter merely shook her head and turned her attention back to the unfinished work on her desk.