It is Foolish to Plan Only for One's Own Benefit

Li Guanqi caught the keyword "return" in Gu Ruoxue's words and couldn't help feeling surprised. Staring at the bright-eyed crow, she asked in confusion, "Was this crow originally raised by me?"

Faced with Li Guanqi's question, Gu Ruoxue didn’t answer directly. Instead, she lifted Yaya and gestured toward her.

As if receiving some kind of signal, the crow immediately flew around Li Guanqi cheerfully, circling her affectionately, as if very familiar with her.

Li Guanqi was momentarily at a loss but eventually raised her hand, imitating Gu Ruoxue’s gesture. Yaya let out a happy cry and landed steadily on her palm.

It tilted its head, nuzzling her arm and gently pecking the back of her hand. This intimate behavior stirred mixed emotions in Li Guanqi, making her increasingly curious about the memories she had lost.

Seeing this, Gu Ruoxue turned to leave, holding her drink.

Li Guanqi sank into deep thought. After questioning her own conscience, she didn’t believe her previous actions had been wrong. If time rewound, she would still have acted the same way without hesitation.

And so—

"Senior," Li Guanqi called out, stopping Gu Ruoxue in her tracks.

Gu Ruoxue paused and looked back at her, her gaze calm and unreadable.

Li Guanqi gently placed Yaya on the bench, then raised her head and asked cautiously yet firmly, "Can you tell me why all of this is so unfair?"

This question had lingered in Li Guanqi’s heart—an injustice she had personally experienced.

Why was it that, despite everyone being ring bearers, she alone remained ignorant of the truth? Why had Gu Ruoxue even referred to her as some kind of test subject? It was utterly absurd!

"Senior, you really lack empathy," Li Guanqi chided, then abruptly shifted her tone. "I remember you once said this was a 'false stage.' If so, isn’t a stage meant for performance? I conveyed the plot and emotions—what’s wrong with that?"

Her sudden outburst made Gu Ruoxue raise an eyebrow. She watched Li Guanqi silently, as if waiting for her to continue.

Taking a deep breath, Li Guanqi spoke with even greater conviction, "Senior, you care about him too, don’t you? Whether it’s the orange juice in your hand, the orange cat at home, or the fact that you rushed to help despite knowing the card was bait—doesn’t all of that prove your concern for him?"

Faced with Li Guanqi’s accusations, Gu Ruoxue remained silent, though her gaze never wavered.

"Senior, I only acted according to what my heart told me was right," Li Guanqi said, meeting her eyes with unwavering sincerity. "But you—you wrote the script, yet you didn’t follow it completely. Haven’t you violated the basic principles of being an actor?"

Upon reflection, Li Guanqi realized Gu Ruoxue was no impartial, strict judge. On the contrary, she had her own hidden motives. From the moment she dropped the "amnesia" hint at the racetrack to now, traces of her influence were everywhere.

This realization struck Li Guanqi with clarity.

Gu Ruoxue stood like an unyielding rock on the shore, quietly listening. After a moment, she turned and walked away, leaving behind a fading silhouette and a detached remark: "You’ve misunderstood a few things. The script wasn’t written by me, and as for the actors’ roles and actions—it’s not your place to judge."

……

Watching Gu Ruoxue disappear into the distance, Li Guanqi lowered her eyes, her mind now clear: Gu Ruoxue was no ally. She was a formidable opponent, one who played her cards with cunning precision.

Today, she had used Li Guanqi to successfully dismantle the seemingly unbreakable relationship between the Ji Family and Su Cheng.

The thought, oddly enough, brought Li Guanqi a sense of relief.

She believed that from now on, the conflict between the Ji Family master and servant would inevitably be directed at Gu Ruoxue. In this game of chess, though she was merely a pawn, the "general" had already charged forward—effectively shielding her.

Just then, Yaya suddenly flapped its wings and landed on her shoulder, gently preening her loose strands of hair as if to comfort her.

"Thank you, Yaya," Li Guanqi murmured, stroking its little head. Yaya seemed to understand, proudly spreading its wings in a gesture that clearly said, "You’re welcome," leaving Li Guanqi astonished.

"Let’s go home," Li Guanqi said, glancing at the sky. The sun had fully set, and the city lights were beginning to glow.

But the moment the words left her lips, Yaya nodded—then took off into the sky without warning.

"Eh?" Stunned by the crow’s uncanny response, Li Guanqi was left speechless. Before her bewilderment could fade, a sliver of worry crept in: What if this remarkably intelligent bird never returned?

"I hope it went straight back to the estate."

She quickly pulled out her phone and made a call. Soon, a taxi rolled to a stop at the coastal entrance. Behind the wheel sat a young female driver, looking around as if searching for someone.

Li Guanqi stepped forward and lightly tapped the window. The driver, who introduced herself as "Sister Qin," jumped slightly before relaxing into a smile. "Geez, you scared me!"

"My apologies," Li Guanqi said with a polite shake of her head, cutting straight to the point. "Are you Sister Qin?"

"And you’re Li Guanqi?" Sister Qin countered, studying her closely.

Li Guanqi nodded, and the two quickly warmed up to each other.

"That Su Cheng kid didn’t get into any trouble, did he?" Sister Qin asked first, her tone laced with concern. Clearly, she was deeply worried about Su Cheng’s well-being.

"He’s safely back home now. No need to worry," Li Guanqi replied calmly, her expression giving nothing away.

"Seems like Su Cheng’s quite the ladies' man, surrounded by beauties like you," Sister Qin teased, her eyes sparkling with approval. As she spoke, she opened the car door and gestured for Li Guanqi to enter.

"Looking at you, I’d say the same," Li Guanqi said, smoothing her skirt before gracefully settling into the passenger seat. Fastening her seatbelt, she turned to Sister Qin, a playful glint in her eyes.

Inside the car, Sister Qin chuckled and patted the steering wheel. "You’ve got quite the silver tongue! If Su Cheng were half as smooth as you, he’d be unstoppable."

"Not at all, Sister Qin. You flatter me," Li Guanqi replied modestly. "With your charm, you could easily pass for a young beauty yourself."

The two exchanged lighthearted compliments, easing the atmosphere. Seizing the opportunity, Li Guanqi thanked Sister Qin for her advice earlier that afternoon and extended another invitation for her to become her personal driver.

As they spoke,

the scenery outside the window blurred past, fading into the distance.

Though Sister Qin had willingly shared Su Cheng’s whereabouts, Li Guanqi remained cautious. There was no guarantee she wasn’t connected to the Ji Family. In such uncertain company, vigilance was essential.