Only When the Moment Arrives Does One Realize the Difficulty

Afternoon

The latest blood test results came in, showing a significant increase in the virus levels in his body. Cross-referencing experiments suggested that the most likely cause was his midday meal intake.

Simply put, all the energy from his lunch had been absorbed and assimilated by the "Elixir of Life." These test results indicated that his metabolic rate had worsened compared to the morning.

"Viral activity... has increased?" Ji Qingyi stared at the test report in her hand, her tone laced with impatience.

She handed the report to Gu Ruoxue, revealing a rare hint of exhaustion. "What do you think?"

Gu Ruoxue took the report, skimmed through it quickly, and then let out a cold laugh. "The timing is too perfect. I think he did this on purpose."

She didn’t mince words. "He’s trying to guilt-trip us into softening up."

"So, Senior Gu is saying this situation was deliberately shown to us?"

Even Li Guanqi couldn’t hide her displeasure. "How could he be so reckless with his own health?"

The doctor who had submitted the test results stood trembling beside them, terrified of provoking Ji Qingyi—the "Princess"—and facing dire consequences.

In his initial tests, he hadn’t detected this issue, which was why he had allowed Su Cheng to eat normally.

But now, things had taken a completely different turn.

"Miss, the substance in the young master’s body may not be purely a virus." Beads of sweat dotted the doctor’s forehead as he cautiously explained. "The energy inside him and the extracted samples might represent two entirely different concepts."

"What do you mean by 'two different concepts'?" Ji Qingyi snapped impatiently.

The doctor flinched, stumbling back a few steps before steadying himself. He spoke carefully, "Life and death. The energy inside him represents life, while the samples we extracted are in a state of death."

"Are you suggesting he should stop eating and drinking?" Li Guanqi asked gravely, her brows furrowed in confusion. This idea went against everything she knew.

"Theoretically, yes."

The doctor shook his head. "The young master wouldn’t even feel hunger. The energy inside him is vast and complex—it can repair his organs and tissues on its own, keeping them in a perpetually active state."

"So, he really doesn’t need to eat or drink?"

Li Guanqi exhaled in relief, but then frowned again. "That... truly fits the concept of a 'god.'"

"During his physical, he referred to himself as the 'Sun,'" the doctor added, glancing hesitantly at the four women before lowering his voice to Ji Qingyi. "So, for now, we’ve tentatively named this energy 'the Sun.'"

"What about his mental state?" Gu Ruoxue suddenly interjected, raising a critical question.

All eyes turned to the doctor.

"Well..." He hesitated for a long moment, struggling to find the right words. Only when Ji Qingyi pressed him did he finally explain in one breath, "Because this energy keeps him in a constant state of activity, he doesn’t need sleep. In other words... he physically cannot sleep."

At this, even Li Guanqi’s pupils contracted in shock.

How horrifying was that?

"Then, if he doesn’t eat or drink and engages in intense physical activity for over seven days, can the virus be completely expelled?"

All signs pointed to this conclusion, but Ji Qingyi, growing weary of the clumsy probing, asked the question perfunctorily.

"That..."

The doctor stammered, unable to give a clear answer.

"What about his mental state?" Liu Qingyue pressed further.

"The young master is still human. The extreme physical activity might affect his brain, leading to a series of negative psychological effects." The doctor sighed. "His mental state will gradually deteriorate, and his behavior may become increasingly erratic, even violent."

He paused before adding, "Most critically, once this energy surpasses a certain threshold, he..."

The doctor trailed off, his gaze drifting toward the door.

This time, everyone followed his line of sight, looking through the window at the man standing in the hallway.

"What will happen to me?" Su Cheng’s calm voice broke the eerie silence in the room.

The doctor froze, surprised that Su Cheng had appeared. He glanced at Ji Qingyi, who waved him off, so he quickly excused himself, leaving the space to them.

"Don’t listen to that doctor’s nonsense."

Su Cheng walked in, heading straight for Ji Qingyi. His eyes locked onto the report in her hands before shifting to the four women. "I overheard everything in the hallway. This is just fearmongering!"

When they remained unmoved, Su Cheng repeated his usual rhetoric. "I’ve told you not to judge me by conventional standards. Modern medicine can’t explain what’s happening to me—because the blood flowing in my veins is divine..."

"Enough."

Ji Qingyi cut off his rambling. "Since you’ve gone to such lengths to force this match, fine. The archery range and training staff are ready. You’ll train day and night. Unless it’s an emergency, you won’t leave until the day of the competition."

"What about you all?"

"You’re the one competing, not us. We’ll visit if necessary."

"Oh."

A steward then escorted Su Cheng out.

Once he was gone, Liu Qingyue spoke up first. "Miss, if his condition is the same as before, there’s still a way to stabilize him."

She was referring to the scent unique to Li Guanqi—an ability many envied.

It could calm Su Cheng’s mind.

But as his fiancée, how could Ji Qingyi allow Li Guanqi to get close to him?

"He seems perfectly stable to me."

Ji Qingyi’s gaze flickered as she said to Liu Qingyue, "Draft an exchange student plan. Swap that troublemaker Cornelia from abroad with Li Zhaohao. Get her in here within two days—let her stir things up for him."

"As you command!" Liu Qingyue bowed respectfully before stepping aside to make the arrangements via phone.

"Why does it have to be my sister? Can’t someone else go?" Li Guanqi protested, unhappy that Ji Qingyi had decided Li Zhaohao’s fate so casually.

Ji Qingyi shot her a glance. "It seems you still don’t fully grasp the consequences of breaking our agreement. This is already a lenient punishment, considering our temporary cooperation. Besides..."

She pointed at the ring on Li Guanqi’s finger.

"You used the item you got from Gu Ruoxue, so you probably already know what your perceived relationship with Su Cheng is. Now take a look at what my relationship with him is—do you still think there’s anything wrong with what I did?"

Li Guanqi bit her lip, unable to find a rebuttal.

With things having reached this point, Ji Qingyi loosened up a little and spoke more candidly, her tone laced with implication. "From what I remember, before you lost your memory, you were always the one actively approaching Su Cheng. I suspect a big part of the reason was that he had something like this potion, something that gave you hope of curing your facial paralysis. That’s why you clung to him so desperately, like a drowning person grasping at the last straw."

Li Guanqi’s eyes widened, speechless for a long moment.

"Exactly, I think so too," Liu Qingyue chimed in, her voice soft but pointed. "Otherwise, given your usual personality, even with a family history like yours, becoming so fixated on a man in such a short time is a bit… unbelievable."

"I…" Li Guanqi’s lips trembled. "I don’t think I’m that kind of person. There must be other reasons!"

"Oh?" Liu Qingyue raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me, from your current perspective, what exactly do you like about him? Is it his self-proclaimed 'godlike' delusions? Or his talent for courting disaster?"

Li Guanqi found herself at a loss for words.

"Not that I blame you," Ji Qingyi sighed. "It’s only human to want relief from suffering."

She fixed Li Guanqi with a steady gaze, enunciating each word clearly. "But you must remember—no matter what, you can’t let yourself become a slave to your emotions. You can’t just keep giving and sacrificing endlessly. Understand?"

"I… understand." Li Guanqi bit her lip again and nodded reluctantly.

"Good." Ji Qingyi smiled in satisfaction. "Then starting now, you’ll work with us to… properly 'take care' of Su Cheng. I believe that as long as we work together, we can keep him alive."

"I understand…" Li Guanqi lifted her head, taking a deep breath as if steeling herself for something.