The bell rang, signaling the end of class. He declined Wang Guancong's invitation to the bathroom, ensuring no one was paying attention to him before he took out the letter.
The handwriting on the letter was elegant and forceful, the characters neatly formed.
He recognized this handwriting.
It was Li Guanqi's.
【To repay you for yesterday's rescue, I have prepared a sumptuous lunch to treat you.】
Seeing the mention of yesterday's rescue, he couldn't help but recall the incident at the pool...
"Why are you making me remember that embarrassing moment again!"
Su Cheng couldn't help but complain inwardly.
To save the beautiful girl from being violated by strange liquid, he had no choice but to use his own body as a shield...
He had just barely managed to forget about it, only for it to be brought up again. His face felt hot, and a wave of shame washed over him.
He looked up and glanced at Li Guanqi in the corner, only to find that she was also looking at him.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
She was as usual, holding a book in her hand, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her fair skin, clear eyes, and delicate features. The only flaw was her expressionless face, which seemed cold and unchanging.
Yet, for some reason, she exuded a special charm.
There was a subtle elegance in her presence that made anyone who interacted with her feel immersed in a peaceful atmosphere, as if everything was so natural and meant to be.
She gave off the impression of a virtuous and nurturing wife.
It even felt like no matter what unreasonable request he made, she would accept it.
Li Guanqi nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, and then mouthed silently, as if saying, "Meet me at the usual place."
…………………………
Noon
The usual grassy spot where Li Guanqi often stayed.
After he returned from the bathroom, he saw a blanket laid out on the grass, with two glasses of milk and some food placed beside it.
Li Guanqi was skillfully spreading sauce on a piece of bread.
When she noticed Su Cheng approaching, she stood up, not saying a word, but pointing to the empty spot on the blanket, indicating he should sit.
"Okay."
Su Cheng glanced at the empty space next to her black stockings, hesitated for a moment, then sat down. As soon as he sat down, Li Guanqi handed him a piece of bread she had just prepared.
Su Cheng took it and didn't hesitate to take a bite.
The taste was excellent, soft and sweet.
The sauce inside was also perfect, not too sweet, so it didn't feel greasy.
Just as he was about to take another bite, he noticed Li Guanqi handing him a glass of milk out of the corner of his eye.
"Thank you."
Su Cheng took the milk and took a sip.
Yesterday, he had indeed helped Li Guanqi, so he couldn't refuse her goodwill in wanting to thank him.
Just like how he would go out of his way to repay a favor, he understood this feeling very well. He knew Li Guanqi wanted to express her gratitude.
So the two of them sat there quietly.
Li Guanqi continued skillfully preparing other things beside him.
Su Cheng sat on the blanket, quietly drinking milk and occasionally taking a bite of bread.
Not a single word was exchanged.
At that moment, it felt like the world had gone silent.
Just as he finished the last bite of bread, Li Guanqi finally spoke her first words of the day: "You should eat properly."
Her voice was as calm as ever, but this time he could hear a hint of concern.
Su Cheng looked up at her expressionless face, his heart slightly startled, then he lowered his head and continued drinking his milk quietly.
"Okay."
After he responded, Li Guanqi handed him another piece of bread.
He took it and started eating again.
After finishing, Li Guanqi handed him another piece.
But this time, the bread had clearly been loaded with extra sauce.
It was a bit too rich for him, and he could only manage two-thirds before he couldn't eat anymore.
He set it aside, planning to finish it later, then turned to look at Li Guanqi beside him.
She was lowering her head and using a fruit knife to peel an apple, extremely focused.
The apple peel didn't break.
It was as if there was a bet involved, and she was intensely focused.
It looked like a battle of wills with the peel.
After a while, Li Guanqi handed him an apple, freshly peeled, with the unbroken peel neatly stacked on the paper on the ground.
"Thank you."
Su Cheng took it and thanked her.
Li Guanqi didn't say anything and picked up a book to read.
This so-called sumptuous lunch came to an end.
For him, it was indeed quite lavish.
Usually, during lunch, he would only eat a one or two dollar bread and a cheap bottle of milk.
Today, although it was still bread and milk, it didn't look expensive.
But it was nutritious whole wheat bread and full-fat pure milk, plus a sugar-core apple with a sweetness level of 15%.
Li Guanqi was from a wealthy family, so the things she was exposed to were naturally different.
Like Ji Qingyi's ink stick, or the seal paste used by the student council.
They were all items of equivalent value to gold.
Although he didn't need them and didn't quite understand their value, he wouldn't ridicule them as being extravagant.
Because it was purely that he hadn't reached the level where such things were necessary.
"Get some rest."
As Su Cheng was daydreaming, Li Guanqi spoke her second sentence of the day.
He turned his head to find that Li Guanqi had taken out a small pillow from somewhere, which made him slightly stunned.
He instinctively tried to find a place on Li Guanqi's person where she could have hidden it, his first glance falling on her slender black stockings.
Her stockings were opaque, wrapping her legs tightly.
Unlike Xuan Ying's, which could faintly reveal the white skin underneath.
Stockings were a strange product.
Unlike other items, those of high quality generally sold poorly, while those of low quality sold well.
Even those with large holes were widely sought after.
However, he saw a backpack behind Li Guanqi, so it was no surprise that the pillow had come from there.
But, the next moment, Li Guanqi's tone carried a hint of anger: "You need to rest."
"I heard you, thank you."
Su Cheng took the pillow, his voice soft.
After all, he had been caught peeping, so he felt a bit guilty.
"Mmm."
Li Guanqi calmly withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and began reading, seemingly unconcerned about Su Cheng's reaction.
Soon, Su Cheng placed the pillow on the blanket and lay down to sleep.
Perhaps it was the sense of security he felt beside Li Guanqi, but he fell asleep quickly.
Li Guanqi read quickly, finishing the remaining pages in no time. Then, she turned to look at Su Cheng, finding him already asleep, his eyes closed.
She stood up to clean the remnants on the blanket, ready to throw them away, but noticed a piece of bread Su Cheng had left unfinished.
As someone from a scholarly family, she abhorred wasting food.
She glanced at Su Cheng, then picked up the bread and directly put it in her mouth without hesitation.
After finishing, she wiped the corner of her mouth and looked at Su Cheng.
His sleeping posture was comfortable, his arms wrapped around his chest, lying flat on the pillow, though he didn't seem to be sleeping very soundly.
It was midday, and the sun was quite strong, making the weather hot.
Li Guanqi's gaze lingered for a few seconds before she stood up and threw the trash into the nearby bin.
After doing all this, she sat back down on the other side of the grass, where she could block some of the sunlight.
Then, she took out a small fan from her bag and gently waved it to cool Su Cheng while she read her book, very intently.
……………………
Afternoon
It was Friday.
He had already planned his schedule for Saturday and Sunday.
Su Cheng strolled slowly toward the Archery Club.
He arrived early, so there were few people in the club.
The journey was undisturbed, and he enjoyed the peace.
Entering the Archery Club, he dressed in his gear and headed toward the private dojo. Before he even got close, he caught the scent of tea wafting through the air, which instantly refreshed and invigorated him.
No doubt, his Ice Sculpture Club President was again brewing tea.
From what he had gathered so far, Ji Qingyi's hobbies were fourfold.
Calligraphy, reading, tea brewing, and archery.
But he had never seen Ji Qingyi's true archery skills, so he had no idea how formidable the legendary champion actually was.
"Knock knock knock~"
When he reached the dojo door, he stopped, knocked, and held his breath.
Yesterday, Ji Qingyi had warned him, so today his strategy was to practice his archery without looking at her.
"Enter."
The cold, emotionless voice rang out.
He pushed the door open, not even glancing at Ji Qingyi, and began respectfully greeting: "Club President, good day."
After speaking, he continued practicing archery on his own, never once glancing at Ji Qingyi the entire time.
Because he was afraid that once he saw the system mark on her head, he would be tempted to make a move again.
After all, she had warned him yesterday, telling him not to come back if he kept looking.
However, he didn't realize how cocky his greeting and walking style had been just now, as if he were provoking someone.
Ji Qingyi's gaze landed on his face as she lifted her head and moved her lips slightly: "Su Cheng."
"Hmm?"
Hearing Ji Qingyi's call, Su Cheng immediately put down the bow in his hand, lowered his head, but then realized it might seem rude, so he looked at Ji Qingyi's chest.
Small, tiny, clearly from a wealthy family.
"President, is there something you need from me?"
He spoke, his face showing a humble expression.
"Look up."
Ji Qingyi said these three words indifferently.
Su Cheng didn't dare disobey and raised his head as instructed, meeting her lifeless eyes, though his peripheral vision still caught the confession mark.
"Today, your behavior was very arrogant."
Ji Qingyi's gaze lingered on Su Cheng's face for a moment before continuing.
Su Cheng's voice lowered, tinged with guilt: "Because whenever I see President, I get an uncontrollable urge to confess my feelings."
"Oh?"
After hearing this, Ji Qingyi's expression remained unchanged, but Su Cheng clearly felt the air around him drop several degrees.
"And the other day?"
Ji Qingyi continued, her tone carrying a hint of coldness that sent shivers down Su Cheng's spine.
Upon hearing this, Su Cheng was momentarily stunned, then instantly realized.
Ji Qingyi was referring to the days when his confession had failed.
Finally, Su Cheng clenched his teeth, thinking he had nothing to lose, and blurted out: "Because after men are exhausted, they enter a special period called 'Sage Mode.' And a few days ago, I had expended a lot of energy, so my body needed time to recover from fatigue."
At this point, he paused and continued: "Yesterday, my body had already achieved metabolic balance, energy accumulation, and sufficient hormone replenishment, so I regained my desires. During this period, men's fatigue and desires temporarily disappear, and mental exhaustion accumulates. That's why I didn't have those desires a few days ago."
Then he looked up and concluded seriously: "In science, this is called 'Post-Depression' or 'Male Refractory Period' and 'Male Indifference Period.'"
Throughout, Ji Qingyi kept her gaze on various parts of Su Cheng's face, noting that his expression remained unchanged and his explanation was clear and logical.
"Hmm, I see."
Ji Qingyi withdrew his gaze and nodded.
"Believe it?"
Indeed, this privileged class has a shy and inherently arrogant attitude towards knowledge about sex education.
This Ji Qingyi doesn't understand anything about this area.
One could even say the level of scarcity is outrageous!