Ji Family Mansion
In the study, a young girl sat silently in a chair, her deep and cold eyes flickering with a hint of confusion.
Beside her desk were various books: "On Archery," "The Bridge of Archery," "Southern Expedition Archery," "Arts and Literature," "General Li's Archery," "Wei's Archery," "Horseback Archery in Hu Costume," and "Catalogue of the Four Treasures of the Study: Overview of Horseback Archery," totaling eight types and sixty-nine chapters.
However, after an afternoon of flipping through them, she still couldn't resolve her confusion.
She slightly frowned, when a crisp voice reached her ears: "Miss, dinner is ready."
The maid's voice sounded from outside the door.
Ji Qingyi collected her thoughts and responded lightly, "Mm."
She then stood up and walked out.
The study door was gently pushed open, and the girl stepped over the threshold, heading towards the dining room.
Inside the dining room was a long table, with several maids standing by the table, waiting for her to take a seat.
Seeing Ji Qingyi's arrival, they all bowed in unison.
Ji Qingyi nodded slightly at everyone, then sat down.
The dining room was extremely simple, with several square long tables, each holding a copper basin and a silver spoon, and on the other end, several blue-and-white porcelain bowls and dishes.
At the far left end of the table were a few delicately crafted white jade stools, and to the right were two rows of equally exquisite and luxurious low stools.
Ji Qingyi sat on the left side of the table, looking at the few plain dishes on the table, her expression calm, showing no emotion.
Standing beside her were two women, both dressed in long-skirted maid outfits. They stood silently, their heads lowered, awaiting her orders.
She picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks, chewed them slowly, and indifferently asked, "What’s the schedule for tomorrow?"
One of the maids bowed and replied, "No notifications have been received."
At this, Ji Qingyi frowned, put down her chopsticks, and a maid immediately handed her a handkerchief.
She took the handkerchief, wiped the corners of her mouth, and then another maid offered her a cup of hot tea.
Ji Qingyi took the tea, sipped it, then stood up and walked back to the study.
Today, she had only eaten one leafy green vegetable, and it was very bland.
It was clear that the young lady was not in a very good mood, and the maids all stood in silence, not daring to make a sound.
Ji Qingyi entered the study.
Inside, the same books were still arranged neatly. She picked up the last unread book, flipping through it quickly, until she reached the last page and closed the book.
Then, she took out her phone from her clothes, finding no messages had come in, which made her frown.
Being kept in the dark like this was the first time in her life...
In any case, she was quite curious.
Thinking about it, she put her phone back in its place and walked out of the study.
She sat down in a small pavilion in the courtyard, and a maid brought her a cup of hot tea and several delicate pastries, placing them in front of her.
Ji Qingyi casually picked up the teacup and took a sip, then glanced at the maid and asked coolly, "What do students usually do during vacations?"
The maid replied, "Some rest at home, go out shopping, or attend parties. Others might go sightseeing, camping, or other activities."
"Mm, got it," Ji Qingyi responded, took another sip of tea, and waved her hand, at which the maid left.
Ji Qingyi watched the maid's retreating figure, remaining silent for a moment.
Then she took out her phone again and opened the chat software. Her chat interface only showed two people.
Ji Yuewu and Su Cheng.
And the chat with Su Cheng was still stuck from that night.
She looked at Su Cheng's chat box, hesitated for a while, and finally clicked into it.
She directly typed a message: "Weekends should not be wasted. I will send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning."
After writing it, Ji Qingyi was about to press the send button, but she found that her fingers were trembling and she couldn't press it down.
"Ding dong~"
Suddenly, her phone chimed.
Ji Qingyi was stunned, took out her phone to check, only to find that Su Cheng had just sent a message.
[Not Fond of Oranges]: "Club President, good night!"
"Mm."
Seeing this, she breathed a sigh of relief, then simply replied with an "Mm" and tossed her phone aside.
She then spoke aloud, "Go to Su Cheng's house tomorrow and bring him over."
...
Saturday
If it were an ordinary Saturday, it would usually be a day to relax, indulge, and sleep in.
But Su Cheng woke up early today because he had to go to Li Guanqi's house, so he got up early and began to ponder his clothes and the small amount of money in his phone.
He lay on the sofa thinking; he realized that he still really needed money. After all, it would be rude not to bring a gift when visiting someone's home, right?
Could he just carry a few bottles of Sprite and Coke?
How low would that be!
So he sent a message to Li Guanqi, asking about what her family liked.
After sending it, he lay down again, continuing to think.
Ultimately, he decided to consult an encyclopedia when in doubt.
He searched "How to alleviate awkwardness when visiting a female friend's home and finding no dog?"
It wasn’t that Su Cheng was overthinking, but his background was indeed somewhat special, and even he couldn’t predict it.
That’s why he sought advice from the encyclopedia for a solution.
Otherwise, it would be awkward if he ended up alone in an embarrassing situation.
He clicked into a post.
Reply 1: "Newbies only know how to play with dogs, while experts already know how to act like a dog themselves."
Reply 2: "Woof woof woof."
Reply 3: "Get that old man to bark like a dog!"
Reply 4: "Imagine a little dog and play with it."
Reply 5: "If you're bored, you could lick the whole yard clean."
Reply 6: "Bring your own dog."
...
Seeing the last reply, Su Cheng already had his answer.
So he went to the balcony, planning to take Yaya with him, but looking at the empty balcony, he was lost in thought.
"Yaya was taken away by the duck."
He sighed, patted his forehead, then flopped back onto the sofa in resignation.
After a long time, a phone ring broke the silence within the house.
He looked at the screen and found it was Li Guanqi. He immediately sat up to check the message.
Li Guanqi: "It's just my sister and me at home."
Seeing this message, Su Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly typed: "Okay, I got it."
Li Guanqi: "I'm already on my way. Wait for me at home."
Su Cheng: "Got it!"
He returned to the room, changed into casual clothes, put on a hat and sunglasses, and covered his face with a mask, then headed out.
He planned to wait for Li Guanqi at the door.
"But should I bring something for Li Zhaohao?"
Su Cheng thought as he walked.
After all, it would feel a bit awkward to visit someone's home empty-handed.
"A doll and a rocking horse?"
In his perception, Li Zhaohao seemed to like these two things.
"Hmm~"
Just as he reached the doorway, he heard a low gasp, followed by a nimble golden figure stumbling towards him, almost knocking him over.
Su Cheng quickly extended his arm to steady the person, with an expression of annoyance as he said, "So, what are you doing here?"
The person was none other than Cornelia.
"I'm chasing Yaya," Cornelia said, pointing at the circling crow in the sky, looking very frustrated.
And the crow in the sky also flew down, landing on Su Cheng's shoulder, rubbing its small head intimately against his cheek.
Su Cheng glanced at the crow, then at Cornelia, and reluctantly grabbed the crow on his shoulder, handing it to her: "Here."
"Ouch, be gentler!"
Cornelia cried out, her small fist lightly hitting Su Cheng. But she quickly reacted, hurriedly using both hands to take the crow.
"What, are you waiting here for that woman?"
Cornelia looked at Su Cheng, her eyes full of unhappiness and displeasure.
Su Cheng sighed at her behavior: "Your attitude makes it really easy for me to misunderstand."
"Misunderstand what?"
Cornelia asked in confusion.
"That you like me."
Su Cheng shrugged.
"Who likes you?"
Hearing this, Cornelia immediately bristled, her large watery eyes glaring at him, her face turning red: "Nonsense! Who likes you? I definitely don’t like you, I clearly don’t like you!"
"Is that so?"
Su Cheng pretended to sigh, looking dejected.
Seeing Su Cheng's dejected expression, Cornelia's heart skipped a beat.
She hurriedly explained: "I was just… just…"
"You definitely like me, to the point where you can't even bring yourself to admit it."
Su Cheng suddenly looked up and looked at Cornelia, grinning as he spoke.
"You... you're just spouting nonsense again."
Cornelia's face turned as red as a tomato, and with a stomp of her foot, she turned around, hugged Yaya, and ran forward, shouting as she went: "You're so annoying!"
Su Cheng watched Cornelia's retreating figure, momentarily stunned, because she had run back.
She glared at him angrily, with a crow perched on her shoulder, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at him: "You must come back tonight, or I'll never talk to you again!"
Her mouth opened and closed, as if she had mustered the courage to speak her mind.
"What are you thinking? I’m just going to have dinner and come back."
Hearing this, Su Cheng explained himself.
"Hmph."
Satisfied with the answer, Cornelia snorted and turned away, leaving behind a somewhat arrogant silhouette.
But the next second, Su Cheng frowned.
Because he saw a black minivan pull up in front of him, and a young woman in a suit stepped out.
She looked to be in her mid-thirties, tall and elegant, with a beautiful yet cold face. She wore a tailored professional outfit that was both sharp and graceful.
She approached and directly met Su Cheng's gaze.
"Mr. Su Cheng, our Young Mistress would like to invite you."
The woman said, her expression unchanging.
"Is it President Ji?"
Su Cheng immediately realized who it was, recognizing it was someone from Ji Qingyi.
But he had already made plans with Li Guanqi today, so without hesitation, he decided to decline Ji Qingyi's invitation.
"Wait a moment."
He said and took out his phone to contact Ji Qingyi.
However, another black car also slowly pulled up nearby, and a girl wearing a black beret stepped out. Seeing Su Cheng and the suit-clad woman conversing, she showed a hint of confusion and frowned imperceptibly.
But she didn't stop, instead quietly approaching Su Cheng's side, waiting in silence, unnoticed by anyone.
"Mr. Su Cheng, our Young Mistress would like to invite you."
The woman repeated her earlier words.
"I’ve explained to her that I have something today and won’t be able to make it."
Su Cheng said to the woman, while also putting away his phone, signaling she could leave.
But the woman didn't seem to pay any attention to his actions, and her expression remained serious: "Please come with us."
With that, she took a step to the side and gestured with a 'please' motion, indicating there was no choice but to go.
Fortunately, the next second, another woman in a suit approached her and whispered a few words in her ear, causing her attitude to change.
"Since you have matters to attend to, we won't disturb you any further."
After saying this, the two women got into their car and drove away, leaving only the exhaust fumes in the air.
Su Cheng felt relieved.
Normally, he would have been flattered and gotten into the car without hesitation, but today he had a prior engagement with Li Guanqi and couldn't break his promise.
Thinking of this, he looked down at the message from Ji Qingyi on his phone.
Ji Qingyi: "Alright, then tomorrow."
Seeing this, Su Cheng felt anxious and quickly replied: "Um… I also have plans for tomorrow."
But after waiting for a few minutes, Ji Qingyi didn't send any further replies.
It wasn't clear if she hadn't received it or simply didn't feel like replying.
Feeling helpless, Su Cheng continued to send another message: "President, is there something you needed me for?"
This was the first time Ji Qingyi had reached out to him, making him feel both embarrassed and uneasy.
After all, he had rejected her twice in a row, to the point where it almost seemed like she needed to make an appointment with him in advance.
"Ding Dong~"
Ji Qingyi: "Practice."
Seeing this response, Su Cheng was momentarily stunned.
So it was about teaching him archery.
This made him feel even more embarrassed.
He hadn't expected her to still be thinking about him.
"I understand."
After considering it, he sent this message.
However, after sending it, Ji Qingyi didn't reply again.
He put away his phone and checked the time; it was almost time for his appointment with Li Guanqi.
As he looked around, a familiar female voice came from his side.
"I'm here."
Hearing this familiar voice, Su Cheng was momentarily stunned, then turned to look. There stood Li Guanqi.
Unlike usual, she was wearing a beret on her head today, which gave her a retro, elegant beauty. Even with a blank expression, she emanated a gentle aura.
Su Cheng was taken aback, staring at her blankly.
Noticing Su Cheng's gaze, Li Guanqi adjusted the brim of her hat with her hands and asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing, just that you look really cute."
Su Cheng shook his head and smiled.
"Cute?"
Li Guanqi tilted her head, sounding confused: "Are you talking about the hat?"
Su Cheng shook his head again, saying: "No, I mean you look cute."
Hearing this, Li Guanqi unconsciously adjusted the brim of her hat again with her hands but quickly stopped, her expression remaining neutral as she said: "Is that so? This is the first time I've received such a compliment, thank you."
"Hmm…"
Su Cheng contemplated before continuing: "In any case, you’re adorable today."
Upon receiving Su Cheng's praise, Li Guanqi wasn't sure how to respond. She coughed lightly to cover up the strange feeling inside, saying: "Thank you for the compliment."
Then she looked up to meet Su Cheng's eyes: "Let's go."
She pointed to the car in the distance, indicating Su Cheng to get in.
"Okay."
Su Cheng nodded and followed her towards the car.
After getting in, he and Li Guanqi sat in the back seat, while the driver drove them towards the suburbs.
As the car drove on, they eventually stopped in front of a large courtyard.
This sight made Su Cheng's heart skip a beat, because there were sentry soldiers armed with guns standing at the entrance, and the surroundings were enclosed by very high walls, sealing the gate off completely.
After the car was allowed to enter, what lay inside left him even more astonished.
Inside the imposing walls, there were checkpoints at every entrance to various areas. As they drove in further, he saw dining halls, auditoriums, swimming pools, service centers, clinics and hospitals, kindergartens, and even elementary and middle schools—everything was complete, the environment vast and boundless, with well-planned roads and fully equipped living facilities.
The car drove towards some palace-like buildings, finally stopping in front of an ancient-style gate.
Su Cheng looked at the building, feeling a bit overwhelmed. The gate was made of wood, with red paint and two central pillars. The door was framed with iron leaves and studded with golden nails, with a decoration of carved beasts holding rings. Stone lions, one male and one female, stood on either side of the gate, exuding a magnificent aura.
"Wait… Is this your house?"
After getting out of the car, Su Cheng swallowed hard, his voice faltering slightly.
"My relatives live here."
Li Guanqi replied: "Come with me first."
With that, she led the way inside.
Seeing this, Su Cheng quickly followed.
As soon as they entered, a towering ancient tree greeted them. The tree's trunk was thick and its branches full, with countless birds flying by, their calls filling the air.
As they continued in, he found the place bustling with activity. There were men and women, old and young, mingling together.
"Don't mind this."
Noticing Su Cheng's discomfort, Li Guanqi took his hand, then led him to a courtyard. After stepping inside, the atmosphere contrasted sharply with the lively exterior.
"It's very quiet here." Su Cheng smiled, saying.
"This is my home."
Li Guanqi answered, then proceeded towards a side room. Soon, they reached their destination. Pushing open the door, Li Guanqi led Su Cheng inside.
"This…"
Su Cheng was taken aback.
"This is where I sleep."
Li Guanqi nodded.
"Your bedroom?"
Su Cheng was both surprised and somewhat unexpected. He was surprised that Li Guanqi had directly brought him to her personal space, but what caught him off guard was how simple her bedroom was.
Apart from a bed, a dresser, a desk, a bookshelf, and a wardrobe, there was only a table and a few chairs—nothing else. Even the TV and computer were absent, making it look more spartan than his own room, and quite unlike a teenage girl's bedroom.
The only thing reminiscent of a girl was a Doraemon plushie on her bed, which he had gifted her during their previous meeting.
"Does it surprise you?"
Li Guanqi seemed to have guessed Su Cheng's thoughts and explained, "I feel this is pretty good. Just sit down first."
After saying that, Li Guanqi sat down in the chair, gazing at Su Cheng and blinking her eyes.
"Well, I just feel a bit surprised," Su Cheng nodded and then also walked over to Li Guanqi, pulling a stool to sit beside her.
The two of them looked at each other like that for a while.
After a moment, Li Guanqi took out a kettle from the side and poured a cup of water.
Su Cheng didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the cup and sipped a few mouthfuls.
Li Guanqi also took the teacup and took a light sip.
As for why?
Because there was only one teacup in the entire room.
It was just very reasonable.
"You rest here for a while, I'll go prepare lunch," Li Guanqi put down the cup and stood up to say.
"Let's do it together, I can help too," Su Cheng hastily stood up and said.
"You're a guest, how could I let you do such things," Li Guanqi waved her hand and said.
"It's fine."
"My older cousin will be here later, she said she wants to talk to you about something," Li Guanqi said and then left.
Hearing this, Su Cheng stopped in his tracks and no longer insisted. He sat back in his chair and started spacing out.
Bored, he began to observe Li Guanqi's room. He found that although small, it was very neat, with no messy stuff around, and even the quilt was folded meticulously.
Seems like Li Guanqi has a bit of a mild obsession with cleanliness.
One can only say, no wonder she's a maiden living in such a place.
Although simple, essentials like a toilet and air conditioner were still there. As he was looking around aimlessly, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a sweet female voice: "Su Cheng? Are you in there?"
Hearing this somehow familiar voice, Su Cheng hurriedly got up and opened the door.
The moment he opened the door, he saw a beautiful girl wearing a white dress with a princess cut, standing on tiptoe, peeking inside. At his sudden opening of the door, she was startled and took a step back.
Seeing this form of the Student Council President, Su Cheng was slightly stunned and questioned, "President Li?"
"Mn."
Li Zhaohao's face, which was cute enough to die for, was also very calm. She then said, "I met Guanqi at the door just now and heard you were here. I have something I want to talk to you about."
Somehow, seeing this form of Li Zhaohao made him relax internally but also sparked a mischievous desire to tease her.
"Okay, let's sit inside and talk," Su Cheng then stepped aside to make way for Li Zhaohao.
"Okay."
Hearing this, the beautiful face of Li Zhaohao, with a faint smile, walked into the room.
After entering, she sat on the stool, supporting her chin with both hands: "Have you made up your mind yet?"
After saying that, her sparkling eyes, full of anticipation, looked at Su Cheng, waiting for his answer.
If an ordinary person was stared at by such a pair of eyes, he would surely be hard-pressed to resist, but who is Su Cheng?
An ordinary person!
So, Su Cheng, being stared at by this pitiful and thirsty pair of eyes, inwardly thought, "Damn, can't refuse at all!"
With that, he simply turned his head and said, "I've thought about it, not currently planning to join the Student Council."
"I see."
Hearing this, Li Zhaohao was momentarily stunned, then sank her head, hands propped on her knees, looking very disappointed.
Su Cheng also noticed this scene, immediately feeling a pang of guilt, as if he had done something monstrously evil.
"If you ever change your mind, be sure to tell me."
After a long silence, she looked up at Su Cheng and said.
Her tone was still mild, but the voice sounded sweet and soft, very adorable.
"I will."
"That's good."
After saying that, she stood up and walked towards the door: "Let's go, it's boring to stay in the room all the time."
Saying that, Li Zhaohao walked out the door, and Su Cheng quickly followed.
Li Zhaohao's height was not much different from Li Guanqi's, but her chest was significantly bigger, fitting for a big sister.
After arriving in the courtyard, Li Zhaohao turned her head to look at Su Cheng, then said, "I'll take you to a fun place."
"But..."
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse. After all, staying here was pretty boring.
"Come, it's just nearby," Li Zhaohao spoke, reassuring Su Cheng not to worry, then walked towards another courtyard. After a few minutes, she stopped at a door, pushed it open, and gestured for Su Cheng to follow.
Next, Su Cheng walked into the room and found it was a bedroom.
Why?
Because it had a fragrant scent.
Moreover, this bedroom was much larger than Li Guanqi's and had a completely different style of decoration. It was a room full of girly charm, and the bed was adorned with various different plush toys.
Among them was also the teddy bear he had gifted Li Zhaohao last time from the claw machine.
Su Cheng felt very complicated, uneasy about why the sisters were so casual about showing him their bedrooms.
"Let's play together."
Li Zhaohao sat in front of the TV holding a gamepad, signaling for him to come play games.
Su Cheng: "..."
Looking at the screen showing the game Super Mario, he was momentarily speechless.
So the so-called Student Council President was actually like this in private...
It completely overthrew Su Cheng's previous perception of Li Zhaohao.
Li Zhaohao's beautiful face showed an expectant gaze. After hesitating, Su Cheng eventually took the gamepad and played.
Upon seeing this, a satisfied and happy smile appeared on Li Zhaohao's face.
Her smile was like a catalyst for Su Cheng's soul, making his mood significantly better.
The two played for about half an hour and then ended the game. She stood up, took a beverage from the fridge, and handed it to Su Cheng.
"Thank you."
Su Cheng thanked her and took a drink, but when he tilted his head to take a sip, the corner of his eye caught sight of a silver-white mask beside him.
The mask felt very familiar to him.
Because this was the mask Li Zhaohao wore at school.
Looking from the mask in the drawer to the pure and lovable Li Zhaohao beside him, he swallowed and thought curiously, "What would happen if I suddenly put this mask on her?"
"Hmm?"
Li Zhaohao seemed to have noticed something and turned her head to look at Su Cheng, only to see him staring at her with a fixed gaze.
Upon seeing her look, Su Cheng quickly diverted his gaze but could not help stealing a glance at the mask.
Finally, the combination of impulsiveness and curiosity forced Su Cheng to take it out of the drawer and, with a sudden movement, placed it directly onto Li Zhaohao's face.
"Huh~"
Immediately, her temperament, voice, behavior, and gaze all changed dramatically.
The originally gentle, sweet, lovable girl now exuded a dignified and awe-inspiring aura. Especially her eyes, like those of a falcon, felt piercing, able to penetrate his soul.
"Uh."
Seeing this sudden dramatic change in Li Zhaohao, Su Cheng shrunk his neck and quickly took off the mask, his first time witnessing Li Zhaohao's transformation.
It was truly miraculous.
All this happened in the blink of an eye.
"Sorry, I just couldn't help it."
"It's okay."
Li Zhaohao returned to her youthful, adorable self, shaking her head, and looking at him, said, "It's time to go out for lunch."
Saying that, she took the mask from Su Cheng's hand, put it back into the drawer, and did not blame him for the incident.
"Mm-hmm."
Su Cheng responded, but inside he felt intensely guilty.
Arriving at the living room, little chef Li Guanqi had already arranged the tableware, looking ready.
She untied the apron and said to the two of them, "We can start eating."
The table was already filled with dishes, and the aroma drifted through the air, stimulating appetites.
"Coming!"
Seeing these meals, a satisfied smile appeared on Li Zhaohao's face.
"Mn-hmm."
Su Cheng nodded.
The three of them sat at the dining table.
Starting to eat, due to Li Guanqi's homemade cooking, Su Cheng feasted with great enjoyment.
Li Zhaohao also enjoyed her meal very much.
After finishing the meal, Su Cheng cleared the tableware, and the three of them collectively entered the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Once the dishes were washed, the three sat on the sofa chatting.
Finally, Li Zhaohao proposed to go out shopping and play!
So the three walked out the door, got into the car, and headed towards the city.
He sat in the passenger seat, while the sisters sat in the back.
Li's Family Mansion was not too far from the city center, but due to the road conditions, it still took them over a dozen minutes to get there.
At some mall
On some floor
"Sis, is this where you two first met?"
Li Guanqi asked curiously, looking at the several claw machines in front of them.
"Yes, that day I was trying to catch a doll here, but I just couldn't get it, and then he appeared. He caught a doll and gave it to me," Li Zhaohao said, pointing at one of the claw machines.
However, Su Cheng beside her was feeling extremely awkward, because at the time he had bullied Li Zhaohao and even confessed to her. Now that it was being brought up again, he really felt like he had no place to hide.
Hearing this, Li Guanqi turned to look at Su Cheng beside him, only to find him squirming with embarrassment, immediately realizing that things weren't as simple as they seemed on the surface.
"Um... Do you guys want a doll? I can catch one for you," Su Cheng said, looking for an excuse to escape. Then, he quickly walked over to a claw machine, ready to fish a coin from his pocket to play. But as he was about to insert the coin, he subconsciously turned his head to look around, which instantly left him frozen in place, his face filled with bewilderment and shock.
Because—
At some point, the originally two women had turned into three.