Extra Story: It Seems Everything Is Heading Towards a Bland Plot

Sister Qin's words held both a playful tone and an admonishing heart. Her wise eyes lingered on each person, seeming to see right through their thoughts.

What she said to each individual struck at the core, forcing them to re-examine their own choices.

"In the current situation, we still have a chance to compete, right?" Xuan Ying asked eagerly.

"The key lies in how much loss you can bear."

Sister Qin said meaningfully.

Zhao Yan furrowed her brow: "Sister Qin, from what you're saying, it seems they are actually unwilling to abandon their past efforts?"

"That's one point of my confusion as well."

Ling Ning slowly fanned herself with a folding fan. "With their intelligence, they wouldn't fail to understand the principle of cutting losses in time."

As her words fell, the two turned their gazes to Sister Qin, hoping she could unravel the confusion in their hearts.

"Actually, just look at the problem from a different angle." Sister Qin smiled slightly. "It's not that they don't understand, but rather they are competing with others, and even with themselves."

"Competing?"

"You mean they refuse to back out just to win a contest?"

Sister Qin's words made them gasp.

"Each of them is a proud daughter of heaven..." Sister Qin commented lightly, yet each word carried immense weight: "So naturally, they are unwilling to admit defeat easily. In this situation, Su Cheng's personal character has instead become a secondary factor. If truly unsatisfied, they can deal with it after winning."

"Now, connect this to the rumors circulating about Su Cheng at school. Aren't they essentially saying: If I cannot claim this trophy, how will the world know I am superior, that I am invincible?"

Xuan Ying and Ling Ning exchanged a glance, nodding thoughtfully. Thinking of it this way, everything seemed to make sense.

After all...

To have the opportunity to step on so many outstanding individuals in one particular aspect, the sense of accomplishment would be no small thing.

"It seems my plan for tonight must continue," Xuan Ying said anxiously. If she missed this chance, it would likely be difficult to get close to him again in the future. That would be a lifelong regret for her.

"Of course it must continue!"

Sister Qin said resolutely. "You must overcome the shadow of past failures and regain your vitality!"

"What plan?" Ling Ning looked at them puzzled.

Zhao Yan explained softly: "Tomorrow is Xuan Ying's birthday, so tonight's gathering will turn into her birthday party. At that time, Xuan Ying will invite Su Cheng to dance."

"Such a plan..."

Ling Ning frowned, feeling something was off.

Zhao Yan, as if seeing through her thoughts, whispered: "If we don't do this..."

"This is my birthday wish!"

Xuan Ying interrupted her, saying excitedly: "If I can share just one dance, I'll die without regrets!"

Her voice was filled with excitement and longing, even carrying a hint of a sob.

Seeing this, Ling Ning asked no more.

"We still need to prepare for tonight's event."

"Senior Ling, we'll take our leave now."

"Wait." Ling Ning called out to the three who were about to leave.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Although she already had an answer in her heart, she still wanted to hear them admit it personally.

"Once the primary contradictions are balanced, secondary contradictions may very well develop into new primary ones." Sister Qin gave a slight nod: "So, Miss Ling, I also wish you a triumphant victory!"

"Thank you!"

"Sister Qin, didn't you say you were going to dress me up to perfectly match Su Cheng's preferences? When are we going for the makeover?"

Xuan Ying urged.

"Don't worry, tonight I will absolutely make his gaze lick you from head to toe."

"Sister Yan, do you want to undergo Sister Qin's makeover with me?"

"Don't impose your lovestruck brain on me!"

The three departed, leaving Ling Ning standing alone on the balcony.

A long time later, she slowly closed her folding fan.

"This world is truly sick and twisted," she murmured to herself, her gaze turning towards the banquet hall as if trying to see through everything.

She first saw Gu Ruoxue in the corner of the banquet hall.

Just as she remembered, she sat alone in a corner, her expression cool and detached, like a white lotus blooming quietly, undisturbed by external matters.

Interestingly, what she held in her hand was not a literary work, but a fashion magazine, the kind commonly found on tables in the banquet rest area.

She flipped through the pages quickly, finishing it in no time.

Ling Ning's gaze fell on her ethereal beauty, a trace of envy flashing in her eyes. She sighed inwardly, thinking that this person's every move seemed to carry a world-class sense of artistry.

"To have such a person as a rival is also an honor." Just as she was sighing with emotion, Gu Ruoxue suddenly glanced in her direction, the look fleeting.

But with that one glance, Ling Ning felt as if her inner thoughts had been seen through. She collected herself and shifted her gaze away.

Next, she noticed the two other women accompanying Su Cheng. At the moment, they were surrounded by a group of younger schoolmates, becoming the focus of attention in the room.

Some said these two were Su Cheng's elders.

But Ling Ning didn't think so.

Because she knew one of them was Ji Qingyi.

Appearance can be disguised, but temperament cannot be faked.

As she continued searching for other "rivals," she couldn't find the other two figures no matter how hard she looked.

Especially Li Guanqi, who was simply untraceable.

"By the way, where is Su Cheng?"

She couldn't help but mutter.

"He went to the entertainment room with that blonde girl." Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded.

Ling Ning snapped out of her thoughts, turning to see Si Jing approaching leisurely with a wine glass.

"Senior Si, you're quite attentive to him."

"He still owes me a game of chess."

......……

Meanwhile.

At the dessert area.

Li Guanqi stood gracefully by the pastries, an array of various sweets laid out before her, but her gaze was firmly locked on the traditional pastries, as if weighing which one to choose.

Cornelia didn't like the atmosphere of the banquet, so Su Cheng took her to the entertainment room to play games. Now, Li Guanqi could only come to the dessert area alone to forage.

But there were simply too many sweets; she could only sample them lightly, which plunged her into indecision. After all, Su Cheng had made an agreement with her: only two sweet treats per week.

Soon, she extended her fair hand and picked up a white pastry. Her other hand elegantly covered her mouth as she brought the pastry to her lips, savoring it carefully, enjoying the sweetness between her teeth.

With one pastry down, her beautiful eyes curved into crescents, revealing a satisfied smile.

Unfortunately, no one was there to appreciate her charming demeanor at this moment.

After finishing one pastry, she still craved more.

Because there were three flavors of the same pastry; she had only tried one, with two more left untasted.

So, she picked up another piece.

No more this week.

"Mmm..."

Another piece entered her mouth. Although she still craved more, she didn't dare eat another. Otherwise, if discovered, she might get a scolding from a certain someone. Thinking this, she shook her head.

But then it occurred to her: using the cakes Su Cheng bought for her as a standard, these two pastries, whether in sugar content or portion size, didn't even add up to half of a normal cake...

Perhaps she could eat two more pieces?

That would equal the amount of one sweet treat.

Otherwise—

Her stomach, skilled at calculations, might throw a tantrum!

Finally, she convinced herself. Unable to resist, she reached out again, picked up a piece of pastry, and delivered it into her small cherry mouth.

"Mmm..."

At that moment, her brows and eyes relaxed, a pleased smile blossoming on her exquisite face, making her look exceptionally happy.

She glanced around, making sure a certain someone wasn't there, then lowered her right hand that had been covering her mouth and stretched out her slender, jade-like fingers towards the last piece of pastry...

However, this time, just as her hand touched the pastry, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Her movement froze instantly. She turned her head abruptly to see Su Cheng standing behind her with an expressionless face. His handsome features made her heart inexplicably race.

"Is there something you need?" Flustered by guilt, Li Guanqi instinctively used a polite form of address.

Su Cheng didn't answer, merely opening his mouth: "Let me taste..."

"Oh, alright..." Li Guanqi was taken aback for a moment. Seeing no one else around, she directly fed the pastry into his mouth.

"Cloyingly sweet." Su Cheng frowned, as if finding it too sweet, but still chewed it carefully.

"I saw Senior Si Jing earlier. She seemed quite concerned about your whereabouts," Li Guanqi attempted to change the subject. "I have a feeling she'll finish that chess game with you at the banquet."

"Don't worry," Su Cheng mumbled, lowering his head to look at her legs. "I have a surefire plan."

"Is that so?" Li Guanqi pondered for a moment, then regained her composure. "Then I'll wait and see."

"Mhm..." Su Cheng nodded, then picked up another sweet from the plate and offered it to Li Guanqi, asking, "Want more?"

"Is that okay?"

Li Guanqi hesitated, yet anticipation flickered in her eyes.

"How many have you eaten already?"

Su Cheng's soul-searching question snapped her back to reality.

She hurriedly said, "No, no more."

"How many pieces?"

Su Cheng pressed again.

"J-just three..."

Li Guanqi weakly held up three fingers, her gaze full of longing as she looked at the pastry in Su Cheng's hand.

"Such sweet stuff, I can't believe you can eat it."

Su Cheng clicked his tongue but didn't say more. Instead, he placed the pastry into her hand. "You have it."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Overjoyed, Li Guanqi quickly took the pastry, holding it in front of her with both hands like a little squirrel, and eagerly popped it into her mouth, savoring it carefully.

"By the way, where's the gift you prepared for Xuan Ying?"

Su Cheng stated the purpose of his visit.

Hearing this, Li Guanqi stopped chewing and looked up at him seriously, as if trying to discern any hidden meaning in his words.

"I happen to have some time now, so I can sign the autographs while I'm at it."

Seeing her silent, Su Cheng explained.

Li Guanqi had prepared a set of chibi figurines as a gift.

But that alone wasn't sincere enough; each one needed to be signed.

"You want to give her the gift early?" Li Guanqi swallowed the pastry and asked curiously, "Is this what you meant by taking the initiative? What's the specific plan?"

It's not easy to avoid hurting Xuan Ying while also not offending others, balancing both at once.

How to achieve the best of both worlds?

"Nothing gets past you."

Su Cheng readily admitted, looking at Li Guanqi with a chuckle. "Actually, it's very simple. Just make it clear to her when giving the gift. No need to make it so complicated."

The greatest truths are the simplest; brevity is the soul of wit!

"Such an obvious point, and I actually didn't think of it." Li Guanqi suddenly understood, looking at Su Cheng with admiration. "Seems I was worrying over nothing. It's just..."

"Just what?" Su Cheng asked.

"Won't the plot be a bit too bland this way?" Li Guanqi voiced her concern. "After all, with both the male and female leads gathered and all the characters who can appear present, the lack of the beloved 'battle royale' scenario... Such a peaceful development might be a bit dull?"

"Doesn't she have a strategist on her side?" Su Cheng said dismissively. "Who knows what kind of trouble they might stir up again."

"That's true too."

Li Guanqi sighed. "I'm starting to worry again."

"You're like a fussy old woman."

"Then you're the old man."

"No, I am the Vastly Blessed, Cultured, Sagely, and Martial..."

"Shut up."

Li Guanqi covered his mouth, then glanced guiltily at Hoshino Mirai chatting with friends not far away. Seeing she hadn't noticed, Li Guanqi sighed in relief and looked back at Su Cheng. "I'll have Uncle deliver the gifts. We can go pick them up together in a bit."

Su Cheng nodded, then picked up another pastry and, under Li Guanqi's longing gaze, asked, "Still want some?"

Seeing this, Li Guanqi nodded obediently.

"Then I'll feed you." Su Cheng popped the pastry into his own mouth, picked up the plate, turned, and walked away without a hint of hesitation.

"Huh?" Li Guanqi stared blankly at his retreating back, utterly confused. "Didn't you say you'd feed me?"

But soon, she understood the true meaning of "feed."

Written as "feed her," interpreted as "punishment."

She saw Su Cheng, carrying that plate of pastries, sit down beside Gu Ruoxue with a smile, push the plate towards her, and say kindly, "Xiaoxue, try some of these pastries."

Li Guanqi grasped a truth in that moment.

That is—

Jealousy is a bitter pill to swallow, and so is eating humble pie.