The Moth Flies to the Flame, Willingly Meeting Its Doom

He fell silent, this time longer than ever before.

A heavy, oppressive atmosphere lingered between the two, like the dark clouds before a storm, making it hard to breathe.

Not far away, a broken light bulb flickered to life, casting its glow over them, briefly dispelling the darkness before fading just as quickly.

With one final flash, the bulb died completely, plunging the surroundings back into momentary gloom.

Su Cheng spoke first: "My illness can't be cured."

"Did you see this outcome in the future?"

Li Guanqi lowered her head, her voice tinged with defeat. "But... based on our tests, we've already found a way to purge the energy from your body."

"Follow your arrangements, you mean?" Su Cheng let out a scoff, tilting his head with a self-deprecating smile. "Once the energy is gone, my body will return to its frail state. My talent, my abilities—all of it will vanish. I’ll have to start from scratch, waiting, practicing. Tell me, even if my body recovers, after experiencing this power, this potential... do you really think my heart can be healed?"

"But as long as you're alive, there's hope."

Li Guanqi's voice was gentle, as if coaxing a child. "Every ordinary day we live is a continuous miracle. Look—me, the seniors... we only crossed paths with you because of miracles. Miracles have always been around you."

"No one can convince me."

Su Cheng shook his head, his tone firm and calm. "I made my decision long ago. Rather than clinging to a meaningless existence, I’d rather burn out on my own terms, spending what little life I have left my way. At least then, when I go, I’ll still feel like a transmigrator."

He stood up, locking eyes with Li Guanqi as he delivered his final ultimatum: "I’ll return on the day of the competition. Pass this along—from now on, I’ll consider all of you my enemies. Anyone who comes near me won’t be spared."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Su Cheng turned to leave, but Li Guanqi caught the hem of his sleeve. Instinctively, he swatted her hand away.

Slap.

The sharp sound echoed through the silent night.

Li Guanqi didn’t make a sound, her stubborn gaze fixed on Su Cheng. Even as her hand reddened, even as the pain flared, she clenched her teeth and refused to back down.

"I... I want to help you."

Her voice was soft, but her resolve was unshakable. "At the very least, let me do something for you."

"What can you possibly do?" Su Cheng turned back and saw her still clutching his sleeve, her delicate hand now flushed from his strike.

He sighed, his tone laced with resignation. "You can’t help me. And I don’t need it."

"Sit down first. I can help." Li Guanqi released his sleeve and gave it a light tug, gesturing for him to sit. Despite his doubts, Su Cheng complied. "What exactly can you do?" he asked, frowning.

"I can..."

Slowly, Li Guanqi conjured a small pillow and placed it on his lap. "...let you rest for a while."

"I don’t need rest right now." Su Cheng eyed the pillow dismissively and waved his hand. "Take it away."

"No." She shook her head stubbornly. "The doctor said if you don’t rest and stay in this heightened state every day, your mental health will deteriorate."

"Deteriorate how?" Su Cheng pressed.

"You’ll grow more volatile." Li Guanqi lifted her reddened hand as proof. "The old you might’ve been impatient, but you’d never hit anyone. Yet just now, you..."

Seeing her pitifully holding up her injured hand, Su Cheng’s expression stiffened. The tension in his chest dissolved, and the scent she carried suddenly flooded his senses.

"I’m sorry. I lost control." He carefully took her hand, his voice laced with concern. "Does it still hurt?"

"No." Li Guanqi shook her head. "But seeing you like this—so restless, so angry—it hurts me."

She paused, murmuring under her breath, "I know I’m useless. This is the only small thing I can do. So... I want you to take this pillow with you when you leave. It carries my scent. Maybe it’ll help calm you."

Su Cheng froze for a moment, warmth spreading through his chest. He clasped her small hand gently and blew on the reddened skin. As his breath touched her, the swelling visibly faded, her skin returning to its usual smoothness.

"Rest now, just for a little while."

Li Guanqi blinked up at him with innocent eyes. "Consider it our farewell gift."

With that, she adjusted the pillow on her lap, shifting slightly to the side before patting it, inviting him to lie down.

"Is this... a lap pillow?" Su Cheng hesitated. He hadn’t expected Li Guanqi to suggest something like this.

"No."

She clarified, "It’s just a regular pillow. This way, you’ll sleep more comfortably."

"And if I do sleep... will you all respect my decision?" Su Cheng asked.

"At least I will."

Li Guanqi shook her head, her tone sincere. "But I can’t speak for the others. Please, just rest for now."

Under her earnest gaze, Su Cheng sighed and lay sideways, resting his head on the pillow in her lap.

"Try to sleep. Don’t open your eyes."

Li Guanqi’s voice was tender.

"Got it." Su Cheng closed his eyes.

Silence settled over them once more, each lost in their own thoughts.

Su Cheng focused on ignoring Li Guanqi’s faint fragrance, pretending to sleep, while she remained motionless, her gaze fixed on his face as if she’d forgotten herself entirely.

Several minutes later.

Li Guanqi whispered, "Are you asleep?"

"Not yet."

"Then... can I help you fall asleep?"

She asked timidly.

A long pause.

Finally, Su Cheng replied, "Go ahead."

Li Guanqi reached out, gently stroking his hair as if soothing a child.

And so,

time slipped by, Su Cheng’s breathing gradually evening out, as though he’d truly drifted off.

"Asleep now?" Li Guanqi whispered again.

This time, Su Cheng gave no response—not even a flutter of his lashes.

At the same moment, faint footsteps approached from the path behind them. Li Guanqi glanced back to see Ji Qingyi, Liu Qingyue, and Gu Ruoxue walking toward them.

"Please don’t come closer," Li Guanqi murmured.

The three halted.

"Junior, spending so much time with him seems to have clouded your judgment."

Liu Qingyue frowned. "Stop fooling around."

"I’m not fooling around. I just want him to sleep peacefully." Li Guanqi shook her head, lowering her gaze as she continued stroking Su Cheng’s hair, careful not to disturb him. "Thanks to your earlier advice, Senior, he’s finally calm."

Indeed, during the confrontation between Ji Qingyi and Su Cheng, Liu Qingyue had quietly sought out the invisible Li Guanqi and told her that "scent" could soothe Su Cheng's emotions. It was this reminder that made Li Guanqi suddenly see the light.

"Isn't your distance from him a bit too close?" A shadow flickered through Ji Qingyi's calm eyes. "I don’t like it when others overstep like this."

"I beg to differ." Li Guanqi stopped stroking Su Cheng's hair. Noticing this, Ji Qingyi and her attendant fell silent, careful not to wake Su Cheng, though they maintained a certain distance.

"Are you really risking his life just for the truth and a cure?" Liu Qingyue's words carried a hidden edge, trying to provoke her into revealing her true intentions. "Seems the young lady was right about you."

"That’s not it." Li Guanqi still kept her head lowered, but her voice was unwavering. "I’m not getting close to him for the truth or a cure. I just... want to do what little I can."

"That’s all." Her tone suddenly rose, though she kept her voice hushed. "To those of you who’ve regained your memories and know the truth, Su Cheng might be someone special."

As she spoke, she gently brushed Su Cheng’s hair again, her voice tender yet sorrowful. "But to me, he’s just an ordinary, stubborn boy who often gives me headaches. Weak in constitution, plagued by illness—utterly unremarkable."

"Even though I haven’t figured out why yet, I can’t help but pay attention to him." Her hand paused, and her voice dropped. "Maybe you can’t understand that. Maybe you’ll even resent me for it. But I don’t care. From now on, I’m joining this fight too."

She abruptly lifted her head, tears glistening in her eyes as she stared at the three of them, her expression deadly serious—

"Su Cheng... he’s mine!"