Ji Qingyi's voice grew colder: "Su Cheng, you've always been clever, but today you seem to have lost your senses as if you've taken the wrong medicine. Considering you didn't maliciously spread dangerous items, I'm not pursuing your issue, yet here you are, bumping into this situation to plead for her. It seems I've been too lenient with you, allowing you to become increasingly presumptuous."
"Did you just mention 'wings'?"
Liu Qingyue, listening by the side, couldn't help but tease.
Hearing this, Su Cheng's face stiffened, and he instinctively turned to look at Liu Qingyue, instantly so annoyed he couldn't even vent, and snapped, "Shut up!"
After speaking, he quickly turned his gaze back to the screen at Ji Qingyi, his face full of apologetic smiles: "Uh... President, I wasn't talking about you."
"I'll state it one last time, how she is dealt with, and what happens between her and me, is my right as a member of the Ji family, and it doesn't require the concern of outsiders."
Ji Qingyi stated each word distinctly.
After speaking, she directly turned off the video.
Seeing the disconnected call on his phone, a sense of defeat appeared on Su Cheng's face, but he quickly rallied his spirits, turning to Liu Qingyue: "Well, this woman has caught my attention!"
Hearing this, Liu Qingyue couldn't help but roll her eyes, "You're too naive; she's not the kind of villain that can be swayed by mere words. Besides, your verbal firepower isn't that impressive."
As soon as her words fell, Su Cheng looked at her with a deadpan expression, "Calling your own master a villain?! Where's your professional integrity?! Or are you perhaps a little Karami?"
"Alright, alright, I won't trouble you anymore."
Liu Qingyue sat up straight from the couch, stretching lazily, her snow-white skin barely visible at her waist, utterly captivating.
Then, she stood up, closed her suitcase, and dusted off her clothes, "Though it's the clichéd chauvinism often seen in ACG, getting a close-up view of a real-life show does have its manly appeal."
Liu Qingyue walked towards the door, talking as she went, "Then I'll be leaving first."
"Stop!"
Sitting on the couch, Su Cheng lowered his head and called out to her in a low voice, "Where are you going?"
Liu Qingyue stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, "Obviously, I'm going somewhere else to hide."
"Didn't I promise you could stay at my place?"
Su Cheng also stood up and walked towards her, "You coming to me first must mean you're seeking my help, right?"
After he finished speaking, he added, "Since I've promised, even if the Emperor himself comes, I won't change my mind."
She silently glanced at Su Cheng, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
Su Cheng nodded without hesitation, then looked at her seriously and continued, "But if you need help, you'll have to honestly tell me what happened."
"That's not possible!"
Liu Qingyue didn't even think before shaking her head in refusal, "Don't try to challenge her limits. Understand?"
"Alright then..."
Su Cheng sighed and then nodded in acknowledgment.
Though he was nearly dying of curiosity.
What exactly did he do?
Then, Su Cheng sent a video call invitation to Ji Qingyi.
"You just messed up big time, and you still dare to send her a video? What's the point? It will only make her despise you more."
Liu Qingyue saw that he was still going to proceed and hesitated before reminding him.
"You did something wrong, and I share part of the blame. You still need to apologize properly."
As she finished speaking, the familiar and beautiful face appeared on the video screen. Ji Qingyi's eyes sparkled with a cold light, and her words came out icy, "My patience is very limited."
"President, I'm here to apologize."
Su Cheng's expression was serious as he continued, "This was all triggered by me. If I hadn't given her the props, none of this would have happened. So, I'm here to take responsibility and also to ask you to hear me out."
Hearing this, Ji Qingyi's eyes narrowed into slits, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips. She said coldly, "Fine, say what you want."
"I'm asking you to listen to her defense."
Su Cheng's tone was earnest, so sincere that it was beyond doubt.
Liu Qingyue, standing beside him, frowned upon hearing this.
"To do such a thing and still fantasize about me listening to her defense?"
Ji Qingyi scoffed, her voice cold, "No need to listen, she's just that kind of person. She thinks she's smart, but she doesn't realize that what she's done has completely disgraced the Ji family."
Hearing these words, Su Cheng's face slightly soured, but he couldn't help but sincerely say, "President, I hope you can give her a chance to apologize and explain."
Ji Qingyi looked at him, her gaze as deep as a pool, her tone still cold, "An apology can't fix everything. I know her character very well. Even if I give her a chance... she won't cherish it."
"Sister, start with an apology."
Su Cheng was silent for a few seconds before suddenly speaking up.
After hearing what he said, Liu Qingyue's expression turned ugly, and she stepped back, "Do you really think an apology can make everything go away? Is that what you really think?"
"You're wrong."
Su Cheng shook his head, his expression grave, "If it's a heartfelt apology, I believe many problems can be resolved."
"I think, you and she are the same, you've seen too many strange things and even started to believe in this nonsense."
As Ji Qingyi spoke, she was about to close the video.
Beside her, Liu Qingyue threw her luggage on the ground, her head bowed and fists clenched, her voice filled with anger, "Miss, don't go too far, it was you who pushed me first, I was merely defending myself!"
With that, she suddenly looked up, her eyes burning with indignation, "I've always let you have your way, but today you've gone too far! I can't take it anymore!"
"Too far?"
Ji Qingyi heard this, as if she heard a funny word, and snorted coldly, "I don't think it's too far at all. If this were back at the main house, even this kind of incident wouldn’t have a chance to occur."
"Enough!"
Liu Qingyue shouted.
"After all that's been done, you still mock me? That's too much!"
"Hah!"
Ji Qingyi, upon hearing this, laughed instead of getting angry: "So, have you ever thought about how long you can escape without the Ji family's protection after doing such a thing?"
Liu Qingyue suddenly fell silent, then walked beside Su Cheng, looking at Ji Qingyi on the screen, and whispered, "What do you think?"
Although she said nothing, Ji Qingyi understood her meaning.
She glanced at Su Cheng and then at Liu Qingyue, and chuckled softly, her smile mocking.
"Do you think Su Cheng is your support? Do you think he will help you and stand against me at all costs?"
"Exactly, you guessed right."
Liu Qingyue admitted frankly, then turned her gaze back to Su Cheng, her eyes burning intensely.
Ji Qingyi's expression on the screen became serious, her gaze sharpening as she slowly uttered, "Su Cheng, let me ask you a question."
"Ask."
Su Cheng said expressionlessly.
Ji Qingyi stared at him and asked deliberately, "Am I qualified to be your club president?"
After a moment of silence, Su Cheng nodded: "Of course."
"Then..."
Ji Qingyi's eyes flickered with complex emotions as she slowly continued, "This matter has nothing to do with you. I won't take my anger out on you. So, you should stay out of her affairs, alright?"
Su Cheng's expression shifted slightly.
He looked at Ji Qingyi on the screen, pondered for a long while, then turned to Liu Qingyue and slowly said, "Senior, apologize!"
His voice was clear, each word striking Liu Qingyue's ears like a bolt from the blue, stunning her.
Although Su Cheng said nothing more, it was clear she would never apologize, so the meaning of his words was unmistakable.
Su Cheng would no longer speak for her.
"Impossible."
Liu Qingyue said decisively, her tone firm. Just as she turned to leave with a disappointed look, Ji Qingyi's laughter came from the screen again.
However, the next second, Su Cheng shouted at Ji Qingyi on the screen, "You shut up too!"
His words made both Ji Qingyi and Liu Qingyue on the screen tremble.
Liu Qingyue turned incredulously, staring at Su Cheng's profile, her eyes filled with disbelief.
He actually told Ji Qingyi to shut up?!
How could he do such a thing?!
That was incredibly bold. Was this really okay?
Ji Qingyi on the screen was also stunned, clearly shocked that someone had dared to shout at her like that. She paused for a moment, a shadow crossing her eyes.
"As a man, how can you behave like a woman!?" Su Cheng muttered to himself, then turned to place his phone on the table, adjusted the angle, and suddenly knelt on the ground with a 'thump', pleading towards Ji Qingyi on the phone, "Please give my senior a chance."
Su Cheng bowed his head, his demeanor sincere.
Ji Qingyi's eyes quickly flashed with surprise, her eyes widening in disbelief.
She never expected Su Cheng to do this!
But he did it anyway.
"Get up!"
Ji Qingyi shouted sternly, her tone serious.
A man's knees are his gold, yet here was Su Cheng, acting so out of character.
One could only imagine the shock in her heart.
Liu Qingyue, looking at Su Cheng crouching on the ground, was momentarily stunned, then quickly reacted, shouting at him, "Su Cheng, why would you do this? Get up quickly!"
"Because there are things more important than dignity and gold that I need to protect right now."
After saying this, Su Cheng slowly raised his head, calmly looking at Ji Qingyi on the screen, and said softly, "President, please agree to my request."
With those words, Ji Qingyi suddenly fell silent.
She understood very well what Su Cheng meant by 'protection'—it was the affection and friendship between the two women.
Yet, Su Cheng, an outsider, had chosen to sacrifice for them without any reservations, something she had never expected.
Ji Qingyi looked deeply into Su Cheng's face, which was only visible from the chest up on the screen, and after a long time, she uttered, "Alright, come back."
With that, she abruptly ended the video call.
Liu Qingyue approached the crouching Su Cheng, glanced at him still maintaining his awkward camera angle, and said, "I can't believe you thought of deceiving her!"
"Did I? I was just tired of standing and wanted to squat down."
Su Cheng stood up and stretched his body.
"Really?"
Liu Qingyue glared at him, "Do you know what her reaction would be if she knew the truth?"
"I don't know!"
Su Cheng spread his hands, "But I guess she would be super angry."
Hearing this, Liu Qingyue frowned, feeling that Su Cheng's actions were somewhat foolish, but considering he did it to help her, she fell silent again.
"I don't want this to cause any rift between you."
Su Cheng continued earnestly, "So, I hope you really apologize when you go back!"
"Only an open-hearted apology can solve the problem, and I..."
Saying this, Su Cheng pointed to his face and smiled, "I just played a buffering role."
"You."
Listening to him, Liu Qingyue showed a hint of helplessness in her eyes and finally sighed, deciding not to pursue the matter further.
"Thank you for today."
She extended her hand and grasped Su Cheng's hand in gratitude.
Su Cheng shook his head and withdrew his delicate hand, not forgetting how Liu Qingyue had pressured him to make a choice, his eyes filled with unhappiness, "Next time, please don't force me to take sides. And stop using props on yourself, Miss. I really had no choice today, but if something similar happens again, I won't interfere."
"I understand."
Liu Qingyue nodded seriously, "I won't let your kindness go to waste."
Relieved, Su Cheng sighed.
He was genuinely afraid that Liu Qingyue would continue to be stubborn, which would have made all his efforts in vain.
"Alright, I'm going back to apologize to the Miss now."
Seeing this, Liu Qingyue stood up, waved at Su Cheng, and then dragged her suitcase away.
Su Cheng watched Liu Qingyue's retreating figure, a trace of helplessness flickering in his eyes. Even on her way out, she had to stir up trouble.
One could only imagine what it would be like if she were in Yan City every day...
At that thought, he couldn't help but shiver.
...
Nighttime
After his bath, Su Cheng lay in bed waiting for midnight to arrive, then he would listen to a voice message to receive random attribute points as a reward.
"I wonder if reaching 9 attribute points will unlock new skills?"
Staring at the ceiling, Su Cheng couldn't help but voice his curiosity.
"Ding Dong~"
His phone chimed with a message alert.
Su Cheng hurriedly picked it up to check.
Liu Qingyue: "It's settled, and truly, thank you this time."
Reading Liu Qingyue's message, Su Cheng's lips curved slightly, a touch of relief surfacing in his heart: "You should be thankful."
After replying, Su Cheng then opened Ji Qingyi's chat and typed a few words to send.
Not Fond of Oranges: "President, good night."
A few seconds later
Ji Qingyi: "Hmm."
Eventually, Su Cheng typed out another message and sent it: "President, you knew all along, didn't you?"
His mood then began to waver with anxiety.
One minute later—
Ji Qingyi: "Sleeping."
Not Fond of Oranges: "Thank you."
Then he realized the other party didn't respond anymore.
"Too proud to admit..."
Su Cheng muttered to the ceiling, knowing well that today all three of them were aware, and this was the only way everyone could save face.
Because they all knew that dwelling too much on this matter would only spiral into a vicious cycle, escalating conflicts, and eventually reaching an irreparable state.
With his intervention, both took a step back. The issue was thus smoothly resolved, and all was clear and open.
Finally, he checked the time and saw it was midnight.
He couldn't wait to take out his voice recorder and hit play!
"Su Cheng, I like you!"
【Ding——】