Climbing Inch by Inch, Yet Unable to Ascend Further

"Everyone, leave us." Ji Qingyi commanded, then walked alone toward Su Cheng. Her expression was complex as she extended a slender finger, carefully tilting his chin up to examine him closely. After a long moment, she frowned and asked, "What on earth happened?"

Su Cheng obediently let her inspect him.

Liu Qingyue also leaned in, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Her fingers even twitched as if she wanted to pry open his bathrobe to peek inside, but Su Cheng swiftly intercepted her.

"Senior, stop fooling around. Be serious," Su Cheng said firmly, pushing her hand away with a composed tone. "This is a long story. Let’s sit down and talk properly."

"Miss, he didn’t even finish changing his clothes. I suspect something strange happened in the bathroom," Liu Qingyue whispered into Ji Qingyi’s ear, lowering her voice. "You keep him occupied while I investigate. There might be clues."

"Enough!" Su Cheng finally snapped. "I finally had a chance to look cool and impressive, and here you are, trying to ruin it. Liu Qingyue, can’t you show me a little respect?"

Ji Qingyi signaled for Liu Qingyue to stop messing around and gracefully took a seat on the sofa, her tone calm but firm. "Explain. What exactly is going on?"

Liu Qingyue stood behind the sofa, eyes locked on Su Cheng, looking eager to pounce at any moment—as if waiting for the slightest slip-up to go hunting for some "hidden treasure."

In truth, after Su Cheng had endured the terrifying ordeal of shedding skin and losing teeth, his body had miraculously regenerated within minutes, growing new skin and teeth. He could even feel his internal organs, bones, muscles, and tissues strengthening beyond imagination.

Even more astonishing was the surge of energy coursing through him, like a primordial force ready to burst forth.

He knew this was the effect of the medicine. But its power was beyond comprehension—transforming a heart patient’s body tenfold and granting incredible regenerative abilities.

"You might find this hard to believe," Su Cheng began carefully, choosing his words. "Last night, I had a dream. Several celestial maidens appeared and told me I was the reincarnation of the 'Sun God Dongjun.' They placed a tiny sun in my arms. When I woke up, my body had completely transformed."

"What kind of god?"

"One worshipped in my hometown from another world."

At his words, Ji Qingyi and Liu Qingyue stared at him blankly, clearly seeing through his lie and disappointed by his evasiveness.

Liu Qingyue didn’t even bother hiding her disdain, scrutinizing him from head to toe, studying the changes in his body.

Under their gazes, Su Cheng lowered his head awkwardly. He had no choice but to lie—because these two were also aware of the "life elixir." If they learned the truth, it would only add to their worries.

Besides, hadn’t they kept things from him too? They knew about his amnesia and his ex-girlfriend’s existence but never mentioned it. While he didn’t mind, it still left a slight sting. No one liked being kept in the dark.

"Seems you’ve got quite a few secrets," Ji Qingyi said coldly, clearly displeased.

Just as Su Cheng was about to respond, a cool voice suddenly came from the doorway: "I suggest you save your anger for later."

The three turned to see Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi standing side by side, stepping into the room.

Ji Qingyi and Liu Qingyue exchanged a glance before fixing their attention on the newcomers, their eyes flickering with deep contemplation.

Had Li Guanqi regained her memories and secretly given him the hidden elixir, bypassing surveillance?

Though their minds raced, their expressions remained unreadable.

Su Cheng, meanwhile, was completely captivated by Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue. He had thought it would take time for the four of them to gather, but his own situation had accelerated their reunion.

Soon, all eyes were back on Su Cheng.

"Su Cheng, you just claimed to be the reincarnation of the 'Sun God Dongjun'?" Li Guanqi asked softly, her tone neutral but carrying a faint trace of anticipation.

"Exactly!" Su Cheng nodded solemnly, meeting her gaze. "I am the Sun God!"

In truth, the "Sun God Dongjun" was a deity worshipped by the director of his hometown orphanage.

As for why he chose this lie?

Because it perfectly matched his current state—his hometown was in the east, and he felt like a miniature sun burned inside him. Most importantly, it symbolized what this god represented.

Unfortunately, this deity didn’t exist in this world—it was from his pre-reincarnation life.

As a child, he’d seen the director pray devoutly every day, and he’d even mimicked the ritual.

But the god had never answered.

Never truly manifested.

Eventually, he stopped praying to any deity.

If he were to worship anything now, it would only be himself.

If gods couldn’t bring light to the world, then he would take their place. He would become this world’s "Sun God," answering the prayers of those who longed for hope and light.

The idea might sound childish, but it was a genuine ambition burning in his heart.

"According to ancient texts, He is the Sun God, symbolizing hope and light," Li Guanqi murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "It’s said He was born where the sun rises..."

"How do you know that?" Su Cheng’s eyes widened in shock, cutting her off.

Then he noticed the probing gazes from Ji Qingyi, Liu Qingyue, and Gu Ruoxue, making him squirm.

"Hope and light?" Gu Ruoxue repeated thoughtfully, her piercing stare making Su Cheng uneasy.

"Seems Junior Li has uncovered something extraordinary," Liu Qingyue suddenly said with a playful smile. "Junior, you didn’t just blurt out that god’s name on a whim, did you? Care to share your real plans?"

Her question drew everyone’s attention back to Su Cheng.

"No," Su Cheng said after a pause, his voice measured. "The truth is, my dream was far more than what I described. In it... I also saw the future."

"The future?" Ji Qingyi’s brows furrowed.

This time, Su Cheng wasn’t lying.

"Yes, the future from the dream," Su Cheng confirmed, slowing his speech as if recalling vivid details. As he spoke, the expressions of those present grew increasingly grave—especially Gu Ruoxue and Ji Qingyi’s group—because the future he described was unmistakably real!

It bore an uncanny resemblance to the future once experienced by the "Su Cheng from outside"!

Hearing this, the three girls fell into silence.

This wasn’t any of their doing—it was as if "Su Cheng" himself had orchestrated this entire act!

Yet, Li Guanqi remained utterly lost.

Judging from the reactions of Ji Qingyi and the others, Su Cheng's claims about the future didn’t seem like mere delusions.

She hadn’t regained her memories yet. Early this morning, it was Yaya who came to deliver the news, prompting her to rush over in a hurry. Along the way, she coincidentally ran into Gu Ruoxue, and the two traveled together.

Who could have imagined that Su Cheng’s body would undergo such a shocking transformation? It was as if he had become an entirely different person!

Of course, this alone was enough to startle her. But what truly left her reeling was the record of the "Sun God Dongjun" in Chapter One of The Fundamental Laws of Web Novel Heroines. When she first read that chapter yesterday, she had been puzzled by the extensive references to divine beings. Only now did she grasp the hidden truth behind it all.

Turns out, The Fundamental Laws of Web Novel Heroines was the Book of Fate—the prologue to the script!

The book’s preface stated that she could only read one chapter per day, with seven chapters in total.

Chapter One was essentially a character profile of the "Sun God Dongjun," complete with poetry and related biographies. The entire chapter overflowed with such lavish praise for the Sun God that it practically dripped off the page. It gave the impression of a narcissist shamelessly singing his own praises—equal parts exasperating and oddly endearing.

"President, please revert the competition date to the original schedule," Su Cheng said. The room fell into silence.

Ji Qingyi, Liu Qingyue, and Gu Ruoxue exchanged glances, all choosing to remain silent. Li Guanqi, meanwhile, continued to stare at Su Cheng without a word.

"My physical condition is completely different now. I’m brimming with energy—more than I know what to do with! So, President, there’s no need to worry about me anymore." Seeing Ji Qingyi hesitate, Su Cheng grew impatient and pressed further.

After a long pause, Ji Qingyi finally spoke softly, "Neither your word nor mine is final. The doctor has the final say. So, you’ll have to undergo a full medical examination with me. Only if there are no illnesses or hidden risks will I even consider it."

"But I—" Su Cheng hesitated. His current physical state defied any explanation modern medicine could provide.

After careful consideration, he slowly replied, "Well… my body has been enhanced by a celestial being. You can’t measure my physical condition by ordinary standards. I’m healthier than anyone else—surely you understand, President?"

"Cut the nonsense! Do you take us for fools?" Liu Qingyue scoffed, clearly dissatisfied with his evasion. "If you’re serious about competing, then cooperate with the examination!"

"Right now?"

"Yes!"

"Fine, I’ll go change first." After Su Cheng left, only the four girls remained in the living room, none speaking a word. The air was thick with tension.

"Seven days… again, seven days…" Ji Qingyi murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible.

Liu Qingyue naturally understood what her mistress meant. The only one left in the dark was likely Li Guanqi.

"So similar, yet so hauntingly familiar…" Ji Qingyi stood up and cast a pensive glance at Gu Ruoxue. The latter also raised her head, their gazes meeting in the air.

"If history repeats itself, do you have a way to save him?" Ji Qingyi suddenly asked.

"No," Gu Ruoxue answered without hesitation.

"What about you, junior?" Liu Qingyue turned to Li Guanqi.

"Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re talking about," Li Guanqi pressed her lips together. Though she vaguely sensed the gravity of the situation, the specifics eluded her, and she shook her head.

"I hope I’m wrong." Ji Qingyi’s eyes swept the room before landing on the blooming peony on the balcony. An indescribable sorrow welled up in her heart.

Half an hour later, inside the Ji family’s private hospital.

The four girls stood outside the door, waiting in silence for Su Cheng’s examination results. The atmosphere was so heavy you could hear a pin drop.

Suddenly, several doctors in white coats rushed out in a frenzy, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

"Miss Ji!" The lead doctor clutched a test report and hurried over to Ji Qingyi, his tone grave and urgent. "The young master’s condition is… unprecedented! It’s extremely, extremely unusual!"

"How unusual?"

"This is his blood sample."

The doctor signaled a nurse to hand over a vial of blood. To everyone’s astonishment, the blood inside the glass tube seemed alive—boiling and bubbling, emitting faint pink froth!

The four girls were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

Ji Qingyi’s voice trembled. "Out with it!"

"The young master is in critical danger!" The doctor took a deep breath to steady himself before continuing. "The cells in his body are dying and regenerating at a rate twenty times faster than a normal person’s!"

"What’s causing this?"

"Based on our preliminary analysis, his body has been invaded by an unprecedented virus!" The doctor frowned. "This new virus has forced his cells into an accelerated cycle of decay and regeneration. For now, the regeneration rate is slightly ahead. But if the virus isn’t expelled soon, the extreme metabolic strain will rapidly deplete his cells’ regenerative capacity, leading to acute organ failure—and ultimately…"

He didn’t finish, but everyone present understood the unspoken implication.

If no immediate action was taken, Su Cheng would die!