A few minutes later, Su Cheng, wearing headphones, finally emerged from the bushes. He glanced left and right to make sure no one was around before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
But before he could even relax, he turned his head and saw Ji Qingyi sitting in a nearby pavilion, her gaze fixed directly on him.
His breath caught in his throat: "President, what are you doing here? What a coincidence."
However, Ji Qingyi simply extended her pale, slender fingers and pointed to a spot beside her.
Su Cheng understood immediately and sat down across from her.
He then removed his headphones and earplugs, but his eyes darted around nervously, fearful that someone with a mark on their head might pop out to confess their love to him.
Ji Qingyi just watched Su Cheng, saying nothing.
"What's wrong, President?"
Ji Qingyi shook her head and said simply, "Trouble?"
"Yes."
Su Cheng nodded.
"Explain."
After hesitating for a moment, Su Cheng decided to spill the beans.
After Ji Qingyi listened, she fell silent.
Su Cheng waited, anticipating her reaction.
"The trouble... isn't small."
Ji Qingyi lifted her eyelids to look at Su Cheng, her gaze revealing a hint of something unusual.
Su Cheng hurriedly made an exaggerated gesture: "Exactly! This trouble is huge."
Then he pointed to his headphones and earplugs, making it clear that this was his only option.
Ji Qingyi was silent for a moment before saying, "I can help you."
Su Cheng was stunned, then overjoyed: "President, do you have a good solution?"
"I'll give you some insurance."
Ji Qingyi's casual remark left Su Cheng completely baffled. Insurance?
"Y-yes, President... what kind of insurance are you talking about?"
Su Cheng swallowed, realizing something was up.
...
"Hey, look, isn't that Su Cheng?"
"Right, my younger brother in elementary school idolizes him a lot. I was planning to ask for an autograph."
"I actually just want to be friends with him. The way he plays has already captured my heart."
On the school path, a group of younger girls gathered, discussing Su Cheng as he emerged from the woods.
Then, after exchanging glances, they prepared to approach him.
"Wait!"
One of the girls, a sweet-looking beauty, suddenly grabbed her companions and looked seriously, cautiously at the figure behind Su Cheng. The other two girls also froze immediately, no longer daring to move.
Standing there was a tall, graceful figure with an exquisite beauty and an icy aura that made a cold chill seem to emanate from her.
She stood quietly beside Su Cheng, like a deity detached from the mortal world, radiating brilliance that made it impossible to look directly at her.
Ji Qingyi seemed to have sensed their gazes; she turned her head slightly and glanced at the girls, her eyes cold.
The girls trembled and quickly averted their eyes, scattering in different directions.
"President, you didn't need to go that far."
The two walked side by side toward the club building, Su Cheng awkwardly scratching his head.
The scene he had just witnessed was naturally not lost on him.
"It's fine. I was heading to the club anyway."
Ji Qingyi glanced indifferently at Su Cheng before looking ahead again and continuing to walk.
"Look, Su Cheng and Ji Qingyi are walking together!"
"They're in the same club, though."
"But even if they are in the same club, it's unusual for them to walk so closely. I've never seen her walk next to anyone like this before."
"Somehow, I have a feeling that something is not quite right."
"Could they be dating?"
"Shh, don't say that!"
"But excluding their reputations, they do make a pretty good couple. Both of them are champions!"
...
As Su Cheng and Ji Qingyi walked side by side down the path, their presence drew a lot of attention, with many students stopping to marvel at the sight.
They had never seen Ji Qingyi get this close to anyone before.
While everyone speculated about the scene unfolding before them, Su Cheng and Ji Qingyi walked on, their shoulders just three fists apart, their expressions businesslike, saying nothing to each other.
Though outwardly calm, Su Cheng's heart was racing. He hadn't expected Ji Qingyi to go this far.
Certainly, this act provided him with "insurance."
By midday, gossip about his relationship with Ji Qingyi would certainly spread throughout the school.
Even if someone wanted to approach him, they would have to think twice, weighing the consequences, as the stakes were too high.
What made Su Cheng feel most guilty was the fact that Ji Qingyi was willing to put herself at risk of rumors for his sake.
With elegance, Ji Qingyi strode forward, her every step under the gaze of the students, heading to the club building with Su Cheng.
At the club entrance:
"President, I..."
Su Cheng wanted to express his gratitude, but Ji Qingyi shook her head slightly to interrupt him: "Between honest friends, there's no need for thanks. This is just the most basic form of mutual help among friends."
With that, she paused and then walked into the archery club.
Staring at Ji Qingyi's disappearing figure, Su Cheng muttered to himself, "Honest...friends?"
Honest friends—referring to friends who are candid, speak their minds, and offer constructive criticism.
"It's quite fitting."
Su Cheng found that he and Ji Qingyi mirrored the relationship between a stern teacher and an honest friend, supporting each other without ever crossing the line.
As for why Ji Qingyi considered him a friend...
He didn't quite understand.
Nevertheless, he decided to ask his senior later.
For now, he was off to the Social Practice Club to track down his savior:
Gu Ruoxue.
"I hope she's around this time."
Su Cheng thought inwardly.
As he climbed the stairs of the club building, a strange sound came from a music player in a corner: "Archer!"
"Your body is under my command; my fate is on your bow."
"Answer the summoning of the Holy Grail, obey this will, this reason, and respond to me!"
"I am the one who fulfills all good deeds..."
"Crazy!"
Upon hearing this bizarre incantation, Su Cheng bolted, fearing that a moment's hesitation would land him in a time-wasting encounter with the Hero Club's resident nerds and lunatics.
Last time, they had treated him like a hero; this time, they were going full "Servant" mode!
The worst part was that this club included girls with marks on their heads.
If any of them declared their love, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Su Cheng quickly escaped the scene, arriving at the door of the Social Practice Club. He took a deep breath and knocked on the locked door.
After several seconds, there was still no response.
He peered through the round window, noting that the room's layout was the same as before, with various instruments neatly arranged, and a sword placed prominently in the center.
However, as his gaze landed on the guzheng in the corner, his pupils contracted sharply.
All its strings were broken!
His suspicions were confirmed.
Given the tremendous force and speed he had heard during the tempo, plus the high pitch and expert-level playing techniques required, it was no surprise that this had happened.
He clearly remembered that the sound of the guzheng had pulled him back from the brink of death, forcibly bringing him back to consciousness to regain life.
As he stood there observing the room through the window, a graceful figure descended slowly from the stairs. Her beauty was stunning, with long black hair cascading down her waist.
She was like a snowy lotus, cold and elegant, untouchable to the common men who could only admire her from a distance.
Upon spotting Su Cheng, she approached him with long strides, exuding an aura of cool restraint, her expression unreadable.
"Su Cheng, are you looking for me?"
She stood before him and spoke softly, her voice chilly and sultry, like clear spring water flowing into Su Cheng's ears.
"Huh?"
Startled, Su Cheng looked up and realized that the person standing before him was Gu Ruoxue, leaving him at a loss for words.
After all, his behavior had been rather abrupt: sneaking around and getting caught red-handed.
"Yes, Senior Gu."
Eventually, Su Cheng regained his composure and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mmm."
Gu Ruoxue gave a barely perceptible nod, then opened the door to the club, stepping aside to let Su Cheng in.
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment before quickly stepping through the club entrance.
"Senior Gu, thank you. If it weren't for…"
As they reached the center of the club, Su Cheng stopped and offered his thanks to Gu Ruoxue, who had just entered.
"You're welcome. Have a seat first."
Gu Ruoxue glanced at Su Cheng indifferently before turning her attention to a hot water dispenser, beginning to boil water for tea.
Su Cheng watched her graceful silhouette, momentarily lost in thought, surprised that she had admitted it so straightforwardly.
However, seeing that she was busy, he looked around and took a seat on the sofa nearby.
Should he ask about the past?
While Su Cheng was pondering this, Gu Ruoxue had already brewed a cup of tea, gently sliding it in front of Su Cheng: "Please, enjoy a cup of tea."
"Thank you, Senior Gu."
Su Cheng took the disposable tea cup, discovering it was just ordinary black tea. After taking a sip, he found the taste quite pleasing.
Her tea-making method was entirely different from Ji Qingyi's.
It was simple—just placing leaves and pouring hot water.
No extra steps, just straightforwardly simple, much like his own approach.
After handing over the tea, Gu Ruoxue seated herself at her desk and began processing documents, never raising her head again.
"?"
Su Cheng was dumbfounded.
This isn't right. Shouldn't she be asking him why he's here?
What's with this oblivious, sudden transition into work mode?!
He had no idea what she was thinking, but since she was busy, he decided to wait, in case she was dealing with something important.
So he held the warm tea and sipped it slowly.
Ten minutes passed.
Su Cheng's toes were curling with awkwardness.
Who just invites someone in and then dives into their own work, ignoring the guest like this?!
"Um…"
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Su Cheng broke the silence: "Senior Gu, I…"
Gu Ruoxue stopped flipping through the documents, propping her head with her hand, her beautiful eyes locking onto Su Cheng.
"Uh. Can I ask you some personal questions?"
Despite feeling his questions might be a bit presumptuous, Su Cheng still voiced them.
"I refuse to answer."
To his surprise, Gu Ruoxue merely looked at him and directly refused.
"But…"
"If there's nothing else, you may leave."
With that, Gu Ruoxue returned to her documents.
Her tone had shifted from slightly warm at the beginning to a cold, distant indifference.
Su Cheng opened his mouth, then glanced at the guzheng before saying, "Thank you very much, Senior Gu. If there's anything I can do, please let me know."
Gu Ruoxue still didn't look up, giving only an almost imperceptible nod.
"I'll take my leave now."
Su Cheng said, standing up to leave.
Only after Su Cheng turned away did Gu Ruoxue glance up, her gaze flickering towards his retreating figure before she sank back into her work.
………………………………………………
Su Cheng made his way to the club's rooftop. He wasn't feeling disappointed; today he had merely come to express his thanks, and if Gu Ruoxue didn't bring it up, he wouldn't press the matter.
"Huh, what's this?"
As soon as he stepped onto the rooftop, Su Cheng noticed a penguin statue on the club building's rooftop, leaving him momentarily amazed.
The penguin statue was vividly detailed, identical to the one on the rooftop of the Heroic Campus building.
Su Cheng crouched down to gently pat the statue's head, then glanced at the blue sky dotted with clouds, his heart swelling with admiration.
Because of that incident last time, Hoshino Mirai had apparently turned him into an object of worship. What a burden.
"Sigh…"
Su Cheng let out a soft sigh, then composed himself, sitting down on a nearby chair and pulling out his phone. He was about to call Liu Qingyue.
Su Cheng: "Senior Liu, your young mistress has made me her confidante."
In less than half a minute.
Liu Qingyue: "Congratulations, Junior Su, for becoming her only male friend."
Su Cheng: "You're making it sound like that adds some sort of pressure. Still, I'd like to ask why she treats me as a friend?"
Liu Qingyue: "Well… She believes you're very similar to her."
Su Cheng: "Really… Is there any truth to that?"
Liu Qingyue: "Yes. She’s one who, once she makes a promise, will always fulfill it. No matter what happens, she will see her vow through to the end. That's her nobility."
Seeing these words, Su Cheng was momentarily stunned. Before he could react, a figure with long, straight black hair appeared at the entrance of the rooftop, watching him as he played on his phone.
"Su Cheng Junior?"
"Huh?"
When he heard his name, Su Cheng looked up and saw a girl wearing the badge of a Disciplinary Committee Member standing in front of him. Recognizing her, Su Cheng immediately put his phone away and stood up.
"Senior Hoshino, is there something?"
"No, it just feels a bit coincidental that we'd meet here on the club rooftop."
After saying that, Hoshino Mirai seemed to recall something, her tone altering slightly as she added: "Oh, by the way, congratulations on winning the championship."
There was genuine happiness in her voice.
"Thank you, Senior Hoshino. Are you here for anything urgent? If you need any help, please let me know."
"No need; I was just coming up to take a break."
Hoshino Mirai shook her head.
"Alright. Then I'll take my leave, Senior Hoshino."
Su Cheng nodded, bidding farewell to Hoshino Mirai before quickly leaving.
But halfway down the stairs, he took out his ghost blade, activated invisibility, and returned to the rooftop.
He found Hoshino Mirai seriously wiping the penguin statue with a tissue, the act mildly surprising him.
It seemed she paid attention to such details.
Reprimanding herself for neglecting the dust on his statue.
The next second, however, he couldn't hold back his complete breakdown—
"What are you doing?"
Su Cheng stared in horror as bottles and jars emerged from Hoshino Mirai's school bag, stirring incense.
Suddenly, the fragrance of the incense burner was lit, the Buddhist prayer envisioned by Montoro.
Yes… he was being venerated, feasting on incense offerings…
This could lead to an early ascension!
The last person bequeathed to the famous castrator.