The night deepened, swallowing the sky in darkness.
Li Guanqi cradled Su Cheng’s head against her chest, her jade-like fingers gently stroking his hair, over and over, as if soothing a fragile child.
She poured all her tenderness into the gesture, yet words failed her when it came to comforting his wounded soul. She knew that even the slightest solace she could offer now might ease the tension between them.
A soft, intimate atmosphere enveloped the two, safe and warm, as though time itself had slowed, allowing their souls to intertwine.
It wasn’t just the faint milky fragrance clinging to the girl, nor the warmth of their pressed skin—these sensations transcended language, etching themselves indelibly into his heart.
Su Cheng slowly lifted his head, meeting Li Guanqi’s gaze.
Her clear, spring-like eyes mirrored his reflection, and for a fleeting moment, his expression turned blank, as if all his worries had dissolved.
But in the next breath, he stiffened, holding his breath as he pushed her away abruptly. He knew that letting this continue would only spiral out of control.
Indulging further would hurt others—especially his fiancée, Ji Qingyi. The thought filled him with shame.
Caught off guard, Li Guanqi stumbled back a few steps before steadying herself.
Her eyes never left Su Cheng, brimming with confusion and concern. She sensed that his retreat wasn’t solely driven by guilt—there was something deeper, something he refused to confront.
"You know I’m taken, yet you still cross the line," Su Cheng said, brushing off his clothes as he put distance between them, his brow furrowed. "Since when did you get the idea that I’m running away because of you?"
Li Guanqi remained silent, her fists tightening imperceptibly.
She was aware that ever since discovering their shared past in the exam papers, her feelings for Su Cheng had grown beyond mere curiosity. But she didn’t know how to navigate this tangled situation, so she buried her emotions, afraid of complicating things further. Now, she needed to hear the truth from him—even if it shattered her.
When Li Guanqi didn’t respond, Su Cheng sighed and continued, "I told you, my reasons for avoiding you go beyond that."
He paused, then added, "And the effect you have on me—one conclusion I’ve drawn is that keeping my distance is the only way to resist your scent. That scent must be your special ability, right? It has nothing to do with me."
"You promised me," Li Guanqi insisted, her tone unyielding. She remembered clearly—Su Cheng had vowed to tell her everything about his dream when he woke up that morning.
"Right, I did. But I never said when I’d tell you," Su Cheng replied, his expression turning cold and distant as he turned to leave. "I’m not in the mood right now. Besides, there are people looking for me. I need to go before things get messy."
"I want to hear it now," Li Guanqi demanded, brandishing her dark-bladed dagger with unwavering resolve. "The way you are now is my fault. Unless you speak, I’ll follow you—every step of the way."
Her uncharacteristic stubbornness made Su Cheng halt.
Was it guilt over owing her? Shock at her defiance? Or dread of her relentless pursuit? Perhaps all three.
Regardless, Su Cheng abandoned his escape for now, turning back to face her. "Fine, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise never to pester me again or mention tonight to anyone. Otherwise, our friendship ends here."
"I promise," Li Guanqi agreed without hesitation.
Su Cheng pressed his lips together, then began speaking slowly.
Li Guanqi listened intently, not uttering a word.
"What I saw in my dream wasn’t a future—it was the future!" Su Cheng’s answer was startling.
Not a future, but the future?
Did that mean there were two different futures?
"Could it be...?" Li Guanqi’s eyes widened, as if she’d guessed something unbelievable.
"Exactly—our shared future," Su Cheng said, covering one eye with his hand, his voice strained with pain. "The dream was long and vivid. It felt less like a dream and more like I’d traveled forward in time. There, I witnessed things beyond comprehension."
"What’s wrong with your eye?" Li Guanqi asked, alarmed by his gesture.
"Ever since I woke up, my eyes—one has been fixed on the future, the other gazing at the present." Su Cheng's voice was low and hoarse, his exhaustion unmistakable, as if he had witnessed too many unspeakable things.
"What do you see right now?" Li Guanqi pressed.
"I see myself burning to ashes, my life consumed in flames." At this, Su Cheng suddenly lifted his head, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "And I see... you learning the truth of this world. Your smile—every joy and sorrow you've never shown—unfurls before my eyes."
Li Guanqi froze, the black blade in her hand clattering to the ground with a sharp, metallic ring. Her mind went blank; her blood seemed to turn to ice.
"You mean... my face can heal? I’ll be able to smile again?" Her voice trembled, betraying the turmoil within. Frantically, she bent to retrieve the blade, but shock made her fingers clumsy—it slipped from her grasp again and again.
"Yes. By then, you’ll have regained your memories." Su Cheng nodded, his smile faint but knowing.
Li Guanqi finally seized the blade and straightened, locking eyes with him. "Then what should I do to—"
"Faith can trade for opportunity. Wisdom can seize achievement. Struggle can win the future. But tell me—what must one sacrifice to glimpse the truth of this world?"
Su Cheng cut her off, offering no answer, only another question. Li Guanqi fell into thought, while he seized the moment to turn away once more.
As she stood absorbed in contemplation, Su Cheng quietly pivoted and strode off. By the time Li Guanqi snapped back to awareness, his figure was already receding into the distance.
Her eyes widened abruptly, a voice inside her screaming the obvious answer—
It was Su Cheng himself.
"Now it’s your turn to keep your promise."
Su Cheng raised a hand in farewell without looking back, his tone weary, almost self-mocking. "Like that unsheathed blade in your grip, my heart no longer has a home. Perhaps... this is simply our fate."
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
