Watching her back, Su Cheng was momentarily stunned before he lifted his feet to follow. The two walked in silence until they reached a row of student lockers.
She opened one of the lockers, revealing an assortment of neatly arranged bags inside. Some were tightly wrapped, while others were more loosely packed.
Su Cheng was still puzzled about why Li Guanqi had brought him to the lockers and couldn’t help but ask, “What are you…?”
“Giving you something.”
Li Guanqi’s expression remained calm as she lightly unzipped one of the bags and pulled out its contents.
It was another small pillow.
But this time, it was a U-shaped neck pillow.
“If you’re resting, I think this will be more convenient and comfortable.”
After saying this, Li Guanqi handed the pillow to Su Cheng and turned to walk toward the classroom.
However, after taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and glanced back at Su Cheng before continuing on her way.
Su Cheng wasn’t sure what that look meant, but he instinctively lowered his gaze to the U-shaped neck pillow in his hands.
The pillow emitted a faint, elegant fragrance, even stronger than the previous one.
It seemed this was a pillow Li Guanqi used for her own rest.
Moreover, carrying this was indeed more convenient and less conspicuous than the previous pillow. Before, carrying a pillow had drawn quite a bit of attention from his classmates.
Now, with this one, simply draping it around his neck seemed much more reasonable. It also allowed him to rest while sitting, without affecting his arms.
Perhaps Li Guanqi had noticed him carrying the pillow without actually sleeping and decided to replace it with this one.
After this realization, Su Cheng held the pillow and headed toward the classroom.
As soon as he entered, he noticed her replenishing her “Guanqi energy” with the pillow. She held it in her arms, her head tilted toward the wall, her cheek resting against the pillow.
Her sleeping posture exuded a sense of peace and tranquility, as if everything around her was irrelevant, and no one could disturb her. It was a scene of quiet beauty.
For a moment, Su Cheng felt a little dazed.
This was the first time he had seen Li Guanqi asleep.
Her eyelashes were slightly lowered, her lips gently pursed, as if she were deep in thought or dreaming. It was a serene and beautiful sight.
After a few glances, he averted his gaze and took his seat. Behind him, Wang Guancong was still making noise, and Su Cheng, worried it might disturb Li Guanqi, placed the pillow around his neck and pretended to sleep.
Soon, the noise from the back row quieted down.
But even with his eyes closed, Su Cheng couldn’t fall asleep. Despite the pillow’s calming effect, he remained wide awake.
He maintained this feigned sleeping posture for over half an hour until the bell finally rang.
He opened his eyes and looked toward Li Guanqi, who was already awake and packing her things.
Her movements were slow, but as if sensing his gaze, she looked up at him. Their eyes met, and she softly uttered three words: “See you tomorrow.”
After saying this, she picked up her student bag with one hand and held the pillow with the other, walking out of the classroom.
Eventually, she disappeared from his sight.
Su Cheng snapped out of his thoughts and began packing up as well, preparing to head to the training hall. He didn’t remove the pillow, keeping it around his neck as he walked toward the hall with an umbrella in hand.
“What’s wrong with your neck?”
A surprised voice suddenly rang out.
Su Cheng turned to see Yang Xin, holding an umbrella in one hand and a drink in the other, staring at his neck with a puzzled expression.
“Uh…”
Su Cheng glanced down and awkwardly replied, “I’ve got a stiff neck. This helps ease the pain.”
“I see.”
Yang Xin nodded thoughtfully and added, “Seems like it won’t interfere with training.”
“Right.”
Su Cheng nodded, and the two entered the training hall’s changing room to get ready.
“What time are you planning to head home today?”
Yang Xin casually asked.
With the upcoming competition, time was incredibly tight.
Since club activities only lasted two hours, everyone was using their personal time to train.
“Probably late. I’ll practice archery after the rain stops.”
Su Cheng answered after getting dressed.
“Alright, I’ll stay as late as you do. We can share some tips.”
Yang Xin suggested.
Su Cheng paused, then said, “I’ll leave at six.”
If Yang Xin trained as much as he did, he’d probably end up in the emergency room the next day.
That’s why he said six, but in reality, he planned to return after dinner and practice all night.
“The competition’s almost here, and you’re only training an extra hour?”
Yang Xin sounded almost exasperated. “That’s not enough.”
“How long are you planning to train?”
Su Cheng asked curiously.
“Eight, at the earliest!”
Yang Xin replied, then added, “I’ve decided to train at least three extra hours these days. There’s nothing to do at home anyway.”
“Got it.”
Su Cheng responded and didn’t say more, heading toward Ji Qingyi’s private training hall.
*Knock knock~*
Su Cheng rapped on the door and, upon hearing a “Come in,” pushed it open. Inside, he saw Ji Qingyi sitting by the rain-soaked window.
Beside her was a table with burning incense and tea, the fragrant smoke swirling in the air, creating an almost intoxicating atmosphere.
The scent of the incense, tea, and the pillow’s subtle fragrance blended together, calming his mind and soothing his mood. For a moment, he felt drowsy.
But soon, the adrenaline in his body surged, dispelling the drowsiness and replacing it with intense excitement.
The calming effect of the pillow vanished in an instant.
It felt as if his body had awakened, amplifying the sensation.
“What the…”
Feeling the sudden surge of energy, Su Cheng nearly cursed out loud.
He quickly adjusted his breathing, taking deep breaths to calm himself.
However, Ji Qingyi noticed this. She put down her tea set, frowned, and seemed to sense something was off.
“How peculiar.”
Ji Qingyi glanced out the window, then stood and walked toward Su Cheng, her tone probing. “What exactly have you done to make your body react like this?”
“…”
Su Cheng remained silent.
How could he answer that?
Used a skill card?
So he chose to say nothing.
He removed the pillow from his neck, placed it aside, and looked out at the archery range. The range was open-air, and the rain had turned the area into a dense, misty expanse.
Yet, in his heart, an inexplicable urge was growing stronger—an impulse to strip off his clothes, run into the rain, and shout “Youth!” It was becoming harder to control.
“Su Cheng?”
Ji Qingyi called softly after he remained silent for a while.
“Huh?”
Su Cheng snapped out of his thoughts, turned to look at her, then quickly lowered his head. “I… I was just lost in thought.”
But as he looked at her, another urge surged within him.
The confession mark on Ji Qingyi’s head made him feel restless, as if he were being bewitched. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed back the words he wanted to say.
Ji Qingyi’s gaze swept over him, naturally discerning his thoughts. But she didn’t call him out directly, simply watching him. She could sense Su Cheng’s turmoil and saw him struggling against his emotions.
Su Cheng kept his head down, his face flushed and neck taut, his hands gripping the seams of his pants tightly, clearly in discomfort.
“Sit down first.”
Ji Qingyi gestured to a chair.
Su Cheng took a deep breath and sat down.
“Close your eyes.”
Ji Qingyi instructed as she sat beside him.
“Okay.”
Su Cheng nodded and obediently closed his eyes, but the excitement within him was hard to suppress.
It was agonizing. All he wanted was to escape home, afraid he might do something foolish.
“Focus on the rain.”
Ji Qingyi spoke again.
“Mm.”
Su Cheng nodded, shifting his attention to the rain. The sound of raindrops and the rustling of leaves in the wind echoed in his ears.
“The rain falls gently, soothing and enchanting in its own way.”
Ji Qingyi murmured softly, her voice low but clear in the quiet training hall.
Su Cheng's attention gradually focused on the rain, but he still couldn't suppress the restless emotions stirring within him.
"Don't open your eyes. Let me loosen your collar for you."
Ji Qingyi suddenly spoke up.
Hearing this, Su Cheng's body trembled slightly, unsure how to respond.
He kept his eyes closed but could feel Ji Qingyi's fingertips gently brushing against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.
Then, as her fingers withdrew, a cool sensation swept over his body. For a moment, the sound of the rain and the gentle breeze seemed to extinguish the restlessness within him.
But the next second, an even more intense and burning emotion surged through him, as if a fiery thread were dancing across his mind, scorching every inch of his skin. He couldn't help but gasp sharply.
"Pick up the teacup."
Ji Qingyi, noticing his state, spoke again.
Su Cheng opened his eyes and looked toward her. The club president sat beside him, her hair cascading down, yet her beauty remained undiminished. The tear mole at the corner of her eye added an air of unparalleled elegance.
However, her usually frosty eyes now seemed heavy with concern, as if she were facing a difficult situation.
He slowly picked up the teacup, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip.
"Close your eyes, take a big gulp, and hold it in your mouth."
Ji Qingyi instructed once more.
Su Cheng complied, closing his eyes and taking a large sip before setting the cup aside. The bitterness of the tea instantly spread across his lips and teeth, startling him. But soon, the bitterness was replaced by a sweet and mellow aftertaste.
"Swallow it slowly in nine parts."
Ji Qingyi said.
Su Cheng followed her words, carefully swallowing the tea in small sips. Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi poured him another cup and said, "Continue. Repeat this three times, swallowing a total of twenty-seven times."
After swallowing the tea in nine parts, Su Cheng picked up the cup again, took another sip, and repeated the process. Ji Qingyi poured him a third cup, and he swallowed the tea nine more times, totaling twenty-seven swallows. Though his restlessness had been somewhat subdued, a lingering excitement remained.
He opened his eyes to find Ji Qingyi playing the guqin, her slender and pale fingers dancing across the strings.
The music that reached his ears was both mellow and serene, yet clear and far-reaching.
Su Cheng listened, gradually becoming immersed in the melody.
His heart calmed, but in the next moment, the restlessness surged again, growing even more intense.
As the song ended, silence fell between them.
Ji Qingyi set the guqin aside, stood up, and walked over to the rain curtain. She gazed at the downpour outside, her hands clasped behind her back, her thoughts unreadable.
After a long while, Su Cheng finally couldn't hold back and asked, "I really can't seem to calm down."
"I can see that."
Ji Qingyi turned around and continued, "I've exhausted all my methods, but it seems to have backfired."
Su Cheng felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, President, for troubling you."
"It's my lack of ability."
Ji Qingyi replied indifferently.
"Please don't blame yourself, President. This is my problem..."
Su Cheng sighed. The restlessness within him grew stronger, and he felt like roaring at the sky to release the pent-up frustration.
He closed his eyes, trying to overcome the emotions and calm himself, but it was no use. Finally, he looked up at Ji Qingyi.
"President, can we talk?"
He attempted to shift his focus.
Ji Qingyi turned to him. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Do you have anything you like?"
Su Cheng looked up at her.
Ji Qingyi remained expressionless and silent.
Su Cheng smiled. "I was just asking casually. If you don't want to answer, that's fine."
She studied him for a long moment, noticing that Su Cheng seemed both nervous and expectant, as if he had momentarily suppressed his restlessness.
What was he expecting?
Ji Qingyi was puzzled.
Then, she suddenly said, "Does food count?"
"Huh?"
Su Cheng was taken aback, looking at her in surprise before nodding. "Of course, it counts."
"Glutinous rice balls."
Ji Qingyi sat down, gazing out at the shooting range in the rainy night, her tone casual.
"I see."
Su Cheng nodded, also looking toward the shooting range. His restlessness returned, and his expression grew uneasy. He even considered going to the hospital for a sedative.
"What are you thinking about now?"
Ji Qingyi sipped her tea, her tone nonchalant.
"I want to confess my feelings to you and figure out how to repay you."
Su Cheng spoke honestly, knowing she could detect lies.
"Having feelings of admiration is natural, but actions driven by ulterior motives can be off-putting."
Ji Qingyi's tone was calm, but her words carried a warning.
Essentially, she was telling him not to seek rewards from her.
"I understand what you mean, President."
Su Cheng said, pausing before adding, "I'm mainly thinking about how to repay you."
Ji Qingyi continued to stare at the rain outside.
After a long silence, she spoke slowly, "Your repayment holds no meaning for me."
She set down her teacup and continued, "In the past, even if you didn't win championships, you at least achieved good rankings. It wasn't a wasted effort."
Her meaning was clear: in his current state, he might be eliminated in the first round of the competition.
"You might as well enjoy your remaining time."
Ding ling ling~
The club bell rang at that moment.
Su Cheng remained silent for a moment, then stood up and said, "Thank you, President. I'll head back now."
With that, he turned and walked toward the door. Pausing at the threshold, he added, "I'll try to calm myself down."
Then, he picked up his pillow, opened the door, and left.
He was determined to confess his feelings—a Grade A confession!
As Su Cheng's figure disappeared through the door, Ji Qingyi retracted her gaze and turned to look at the spot where he had been sitting, her expression inscrutable. "I hope so."
With that, she rose from her chair and walked over to the windowsill.
The rain enveloped the entire school, and the air was filled with the scent of damp earth.
She extended her hands, letting the raindrops fall onto her palms.
She murmured softly, "This person is truly stubborn. Despite having such intense desires, he insists on controlling himself with reason. How peculiar."
She didn't believe Su Cheng could calm himself down on his own—it was unrealistic.
But if he truly could...
Ji Qingyi's eyes flickered momentarily before returning to their usual calm.