【Host: Su Cheng】
【Intelligence: 7】
【Charm: 8】
【Stamina: 6】
【System: Your reputation has surpassed that of an ordinary person, making you extraordinary.】
【Status: Archery Champion.】
【Club: Archery Club】
【Wealth: 129 yuan】
【System Skills: None】
【System Items: Magical Cigarettes (Hard) 10/pack, Magical Cigarettes (Soft) 17/pack, Ring-Headed Sword, Red Potion, Magical Glasses.】
…………………………
When Su Cheng uttered the words, "I will never confess again," the system underwent a dramatic transformation.
But before he could react, all his bodily functions ceased.
Just as he lost consciousness, the sound of a guzheng echoed in his ears, accompanied by Liu Qingyue's confession…
Instantly, his heart, which had stopped, beat once more, and an indescribable pleasure surged from his core to every limb.
His consciousness returned, and he instinctively turned his head toward the distant rocks.
He wanted to see who it was.
There, in the distance, a graceful figure sat with a qin in her arms, her fingers lightly plucking the strings, producing a clear and melodious tune.
Who was it…?
Su Cheng knew it was this music that had brought him back to consciousness.
Too much had happened in that moment, leaving him no time to think.
The music… then the system, and then…
【Ding——】
【Character Information Loading】
【Character: Ji Yuewu】
【Intelligence: 9】
【Charm: 8】
【Stamina: 9】
【Status: Daughter of a Ji Family Executive, Branch Estate Manager】
【System Description: An all-around beauty. Possesses one-quarter Irish heritage, serves as the head maid of the Ji Family, and is Ji Qingyi's most trusted confidante. However, she is emotionally closed off, overly sensitive, and rational.】
【Character Level: A】
【Sincere expressions of love from the host will grant system rewards.】
【Insincere expressions of love from the host will result in system penalties.】
【Ding——】
【Confession to the host successful】
【System Notification: A-level rewards are not random but are tailored to the host's current needs.】
【Reward successfully distributed】
【Ding Dong——】
Congratulations, host, for receiving the system reward:
【One More Chance】
【One-time skill】
【Effect: Healing】
【System: When the host uses this skill, the system will return the host to the starting point, restoring health and removing any ailments.】
"Use it!"
"Whoosh~"
In the next second, he vanished into thin air. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself splashing in a river, gulping down several mouthfuls of cold water.
He crawled onto the bank, sitting up and gasping for air.
"Where is this…?"
Su Cheng looked around and realized he was by the river in his hometown county—a place he knew well.
This was the same river where he had been rescued when he first crossed over.
Su Cheng stood up, feeling somewhat confused, and stretched his body to assess his current condition.
He noticed that his body was no longer in a state of heightened excitement but had returned to its normal state.
"So… I've respawned at the fountain?"
Su Cheng gazed at the river, his mind still in a daze, feeling both incredulous and amazed. According to the system description, it seemed his heart condition was gone too.
"I remember the system changed…"
Suddenly, Su Cheng realized this and quickly checked the system panel.
"Did the system upgrade itself?"
Su Cheng rubbed his temples, recalling his earlier declaration of "never confessing again."
He hadn't expected the system to update because of it.
But it made sense.
If he wasn't going to confess anymore, the system naturally became obsolete.
However, he hadn't anticipated the system being so user-friendly, even enhancing the host's experience by shifting from active to passive.
Besides, he had always been kind and virtuous, so it was only fair that he got a second chance.
"Ji Yuewu… that's a nice name."
Su Cheng smiled as he read the system logs, murmuring to himself.
Then he looked away, his gaze falling on the familiar yet unfamiliar river, a strange emotion welling up inside him.
He had been prepared to die, yet here he was, alive again.
And he hadn't even gotten a clear look at the figure playing the qin.
Was it Ji Qingyi?
After all, in his memory, only the Ji Family head had ever played the qin.
But his intuition told him it wasn't her.
Finally, the emotions he had been suppressing burst forth. He cupped his hands around his mouth, ready to let out a shout, but then remembered there were residents nearby.
"Ahem."
He coughed lightly, masking his embarrassment, and quickly pulled out his phone to contact others.
After all, to everyone else, he was supposed to be dead.
He needed to reach out to them as soon as possible.
Li Guanqi and Liu Qingyue.
Especially after what happened at the hotel yesterday, when he had inexplicably handed something to Li Guanqi. She hadn't shown any surprise, only worry and fear in her eyes.
That made him realize that Li Guanqi might have already known about his system and his identity as a transmigrator.
But with only a few hours left to live at the time, he hadn't bothered to explain. He simply handed over his items and left in a hurry.
He owed Li Guanqi too much, so he had given her all his system items as a way to repay her kindness.
But he hadn't expected Li Guanqi to seek out Liu Qingyue, who then returned the items to him.
In that moment, he understood something.
Even if he had nothing, there were still people willing to lend him a helping hand.
Perhaps they had initially approached him out of curiosity, but over time, they had become genuine friends who truly cared for him.
…………………………………………
"Out of battery."
Su Cheng muttered as he looked at his phone, then put it away.
He glanced at the starry sky, took in the surroundings, and slowly got up, heading toward the bridge.
After making sure no one was around, he took out some clothes from his system space, changed into them, put on a mask, and continued walking.
……
This was a small county town.
It was also where he had gone to school.
The orphanage was located in a town within this county.
Yesterday, he had transferred all his money to the orphanage's account, leaving only 100 yuan in his phone wallet. Now, he needed to find a store to charge his phone.
The most urgent thing was to return to Flame City.
Because someone was waiting for him.
Su Cheng wandered around the county for a while before finally spotting a small grocery store and walking in.
Inside, a forty-year-old shopkeeper was sitting behind the counter.
He glanced at Su Cheng briefly before returning to his newspaper, the headline of which was about Su Cheng.
A local boy winning a national championship was enough to stir up the entire county, and the newspaper had rushed to print the story overnight. Su Cheng scanned the paper and noticed it even included his photo and a detailed write-up.
"Boss, can I charge my phone here?"
Su Cheng approached the counter and asked.
"Sure."
The shopkeeper looked up at him, replied indifferently, and pointed to an outlet near the door.
"Thank you."
Su Cheng expressed his gratitude, plugged in his charger, and started charging his phone.
A minute later, his phone exploded with notifications.
Missed calls and messages piled up to 99+.
There were calls from the school, local government offices, the orphanage, the Archery Club, the Archery Association, the Sports Association, and many others he didn't recognize.
His messaging app was also flooded with notifications.
He scrolled through them, finding mostly congratulatory messages.
Cornelia alone had sent him dozens of messages.
Mostly berating him for being heartless, saying two boxes of drinks weren't enough to make up for it.
She also asked when he was coming back.
Li Guanqi had sent a message too.
Just one sentence.
Li Guanqi: "Will you come back?"
Reading this, Su Cheng's heart trembled slightly.
And it had been sent just ten minutes ago.
He quickly started typing a reply.
Su Cheng: "I'll be back soon!"
But after waiting a few minutes, there was no response.
He put down his phone, deciding right then and there that he would return immediately!
He only had 100 yuan.
Taking a taxi to the city in the middle of the night would cost several hundred.
He didn't have the money for that.
"Su Cheng probably won't come back to this county town again."
The shopkeeper put down the newspaper, sighed, and shook his head.
"Why do you say that?"
Su Cheng turned around, puzzled, and looked at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper didn't answer immediately, just glanced at Su Cheng.
The newspaper had mentioned that he was an orphan, with no reason to return to his hometown and no place to linger in his memories. How could someone who had gone to an international metropolis ever integrate back into our backward small town?
After saying this, he stood up, took a sip of water from the thermos beside him, and continued, "But even so, he is someone we can all be proud of. For someone from our impoverished countryside to become the top scorer in the high school entrance exam and a national champion—it's truly remarkable."
"He will come back."
Su Cheng remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"How do you know he'll come back?"
The shop owner seemed somewhat displeased by his statement.
Hmm, a negative personality type.
Su Cheng looked out the window, his eyes filled with deep nostalgia and longing, his tone brimming with confidence. "I believe in him!"
"You're so sure?"
The shop owner narrowed his eyes.
"Yes!"
Su Cheng nodded emphatically, then turned to the shop owner. "By the way, I'm actually Su Cheng. I need 300 yuan to get back to the city. Once I return, I'll pay you back double, no, I promise to pay you back double!"
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
The shop owner scoffed.
But the next second, his expression froze, his pupils contracting in disbelief as he stared at Su Cheng, who had just removed his mask. He quickly glanced at the newspaper photo of Su Cheng, rubbed his eyes several times, and finally confirmed that the familiar face before him was real.
"How do you look so much like him?"
*Clink~*
Su Cheng tossed his ID card over.
The shop owner's breathing quickened as he took the ID. "You... you're really Su Cheng?"
"Of course."
Su Cheng nodded calmly.
"You... you... you're really him?"
The shop owner stuttered, his eyes filled with disbelief as he looked at the familiar face, name, and address on the ID.
"Yes, of course."
"This can't be..."
The shop owner muttered, "It shouldn't be possible... You were still competing six or seven hours ago. How could you be here? Even if you flew, you couldn't have made it in time!"
"As soon as the competition ended, I took someone's private jet here."
Su Cheng spoke with a straight face, fabricating a story, then continued, "Right after I landed, I ran into some really bad people. They stole my wallet. I need your help—300 yuan via WeChat to buy a ticket back to Flame City. You get what I mean? I salute you!"
As he said this, he saluted and then winked at the shop owner, making a funny face.
The shop owner stared at Su Cheng in shock for a long moment before slapping his thigh. "Good heavens!"
He then stood up, his face filled with excitement as he grabbed Su Cheng's hand. "No problem! I'll drive you to the city and take you straight to the airport. I guarantee you'll get there within two hours. How's that?"
"Sure, that works for me."
Su Cheng nodded and followed the shop owner out of the store to where his car was parked.
Once they were in the car, Su Cheng kept replying to messages and chatting with the shop owner.
Liu Qingyue and Li Guanqi still hadn't responded.
At the moment, only those two knew he was in trouble.
Two hours later, they indeed arrived in the city.
After getting out of the car, Su Cheng took a photo with the shop owner, signed autographs, hugged him, and exchanged contact information. The shop owner also promised to keep it a secret.
Since Su Cheng planned to sneak onto the plane, he no longer needed to borrow money.
Flying requires real-name verification, and his sudden appearance in his hometown would be too shocking and hard to explain.
"Mr. Liu, thank you so much this time!"
"You're the most outstanding person I've ever met."
"Heh, I'll head off now. Next time I come back, I'll visit you!"
"Alright, I'll be waiting!"
Su Cheng waved, grinning, then turned and quickly ran toward the airport.
A few minutes later, he walked out of the airport again.
Finding a secluded spot, he took out his ghost blade, turned invisible, and re-entered the airport.
After confirming the flight to Flame City, he began to wait.
After a while, the boarding announcement came on. He hid invisibly at the back and followed the crowd onto the plane.
Then, he quietly slipped past the ticket check and security.
He successfully boarded the plane.
Achieving a feat never before accomplished: sneaking onto a plane.
On the plane, Su Cheng was on edge, afraid someone might hear or discover him.
Finally, two hours later, he arrived at Flame City's airport.
He went to the restroom to put away the ghost blade, then walked out of the airport and headed straight to the taxi stand.
On the way, he stopped by a breakfast shop to buy some soy milk and fried dough sticks.
"Driver, please take me to XX neighborhood."
Su Cheng got into the taxi and spoke to the driver.
"Sure thing!"
The driver replied cheerfully.
During the ride, Su Cheng continued to play on his phone.
The two girls still hadn't replied, and his heart grew heavier.
He was afraid something had happened to them.
The car sped along, and soon they arrived at the neighborhood entrance.
…………………………………………
Su Cheng's Home
Bedroom
On the desk, there was a book. Every item on one of its pages had been checked off, except for the last one—'Immortality Law,' which had been checked and then crossed out.
On the bed lay a girl. She wasn't asleep, but her eyes were unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Her lips were pale, her face ashen, and her eyes utterly empty, as if she had lost interest in everything. Her mind seemed to be in a state of disconnection, as though her soul had left her body, leaving her devoid of all thought.
Her body trembled incessantly, her hands shaking uncontrollably, and her tears had soaked the entire bedsheet.
It was clear that she had already weathered a storm of emotions.
Now, all that remained was a numb, hollow calm.
*Clang~*
Suddenly, the sound of a key turning in the lock outside made her eyes flicker violently, her entire body shuddering.
………………………………
Su Cheng took a deep breath and used his spare key to open the door. His pupils contracted as he saw a figure standing in the doorway.
It was Li Guanqi.
Li Guanqi's eyes widened as she stared at Su Cheng at the door.
She wanted to speak, but her throat seemed blocked, unable to utter a sound. She could only gaze at him, her expression blank, though her eyes and body trembled.
Seeing the girl in such a haggard state, Su Cheng felt a surge of inexplicable emotion.
"I'm back."
Su Cheng spoke slowly.
"Wel... welcome back."
Li Guanqi's voice trembled as she forced out the words.
They didn't embrace like in the movies. Instead, they simply gazed at each other, their conversation as plain as usual, yet both knew the depth of the other's feelings.
"I... I'm back..."
Su Cheng repeated.
"Yes, welcome back."
Li Guanqi responded softly, her voice low and hoarse, barely audible.
Su Cheng reached out and took Li Guanqi's small hand in his. Their fingers intertwined, feeling the warmth passing between them as they silently gazed at each other.
"Will you leave again?"
Li Guanqi held Su Cheng's hand and pressed it against her cheek, feeling the warmth from his palm.
"No, I won't leave."
Su Cheng shook his head and smiled. "Have you eaten?"
Li Guanqi shook her head.
"Let's eat together?"
As he spoke, Su Cheng magically produced breakfast, then led Li Guanqi to the dining table, dividing the food into two portions.
Li Guanqi was slightly startled but nodded and sat down beside Su Cheng.
Su Cheng then casually conjured a glass of milk and placed it in front of her. Li Guanqi didn't question or express any confusion, simply lowering her head and silently eating her breakfast, though a glimmer of happiness and contentment shone in her eyes.
Su Cheng didn't explain either, as both of them already knew the truth. There was no point in hiding it anymore; it was better to face it openly, making things easier for both of them.
Honesty and openness made everything feel more natural.
"Was it because of Senior Liu?"
Li Guanqi looked up at Su Cheng.
"She was the MVP, but it wasn't just her."
Su Cheng turned his head. "And you. And one more person—I couldn't see who it was."
Li Guanqi blinked, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Really? Can you describe them?"
"Tall figure, graceful posture while playing the guzheng, very beautiful, but unfamiliar—I don't think I've seen her before."
Su Cheng frowned, trying to recall, then answered.
Li Guanqi nodded, beginning to sift through the people she knew.
After a moment, she said, "The only person you don't know who plays the guzheng well and knew you were in danger is one person."
"Really?"
Su Cheng squinted slightly, "Who?"
"Gu Ruoxue."
Li Guanqi uttered the name and then continued eating her breakfast.
"Her?"
Upon hearing this, Su Cheng's eyes widened instantly: "Why would she help me? I don’t even know her!"
Li Guanqi looked up: "I’m not sure either, but among the people I know, she’s the only one who fits the description."
"Could she know my secret too?"
Su Cheng frowned.
"That’s not impossible."
After a few seconds of silence, Li Guanqi added, "Now that you’re back, you can go to school and ask her directly."
…………………………………………
"Aren’t you coming to school with me?"
Su Cheng, dressed in his school uniform, stood at the door, looking at Li Guanqi.
Li Guanqi shook her head, walked over to Su Cheng, and stood on tiptoe in her black stockings. She raised her slender, fair hand to adjust his tie, speaking softly, "I don’t have a magic bag, so I need to go home and change into my uniform first. Someone will come to pick me up later, so don’t worry about me."
Her voice was gentle.
Watching Li Guanqi carefully straighten his clothes, Su Cheng’s gaze softened, and a hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes. He said, "Alright, I understand."
With that, he turned and walked out the door.
Li Guanqi stood by the door for a while, then turned and headed toward Su Cheng’s bedroom. She walked over to the desk, checked off the last item on a list with a pen, put the notebook into her bag, and then placed the keys to Su Cheng’s house into her backpack as well. Finally, she made her way to the door.
…………………………………………
Su Cheng rode his bicycle toward the entrance of the neighborhood, passing many residents along the way who congratulated him on his victory, giving him thumbs-up. He smiled and acknowledged each one.
But when he reached the entrance, he couldn’t hold it together anymore—his embarrassment skyrocketed.
Because there, hanging at the entrance, was a large red banner.
【Congratulations to Su Cheng, resident of Unit 314, for winning the National Archery Championship!】
What the heck is this?
Su Cheng’s face turned bright red in an instant. This was way too embarrassing, way too over-the-top!
And judging by the looks of it, it had just been put up recently.
There were traces of firecrackers on the ground, and a few security guards were carrying ladders back to the security office. Some property management staff were also standing nearby.
"Hey! Hey!!"
Su Cheng panicked and shouted, "Wait a second, hold on!"
The security guards and property staff were startled at first, but then their eyes lit up, and they all crowded around him, looking both excited and proud.
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"Our champion!"
"Can you take the banner down, please?"
Su Cheng got straight to the point.
"Huh? Wasn’t this your idea?"
One of the property staff members looked confused.
Su Cheng’s face froze as he suddenly realized this might be Wang Guancong’s doing. He quickly explained, "No, it wasn’t me! I’m heading to school now, so please take it down!"
With that, he pedaled his bicycle furiously and dashed out of the neighborhood.
"Eh?"
"Why’s he in such a hurry?"
The property staff sighed.
"Maybe he’s shy?"
"But this is such an honor, something worth showing off!"
"Ah, forget it. All that work for nothing."
The staff sighed in unison, and then one of them pointed to the security guard and said, "Old Liu, could you take it down again?"
…………………………………………
On the road, Su Cheng pedaled his bicycle at full speed. Finally, at a bus stop, he spotted a familiar figure—a girl who was talking to someone inside the bus.
He stood up on his bike, pedaling harder, and suddenly accelerated. Just as he reached the bus stop, he executed a sharp, stylish skid, stopping not far from the girl.
"We’re going to be late, get on!"
He then gave her a thumbs-up, flashing a fearless, protagonist-like smile, his white teeth gleaming under the sunlight.