At noon, Su Cheng arrived at the Social Practice Club. Since he was early, the enigmatic figure he was looking for wasn't there yet. After waiting for about ten minutes—
Wasn't this woman supposed to be clairvoyant?
Su Cheng glanced through the window into the club, feeling puzzled. Shouldn't she have known he was coming and greeted him with something like, "I've been waiting for you," in a manner that exuded an air of superiority?
Why was she late today?
Was it intentional?
Or did she expect him to make multiple visits, like the story of "three visits to the thatched cottage"?
The more Su Cheng thought about it, the more he felt his speculation was likely correct. Perhaps she had a mischievous streak, which would explain why she played the role of an enigma. Just as he was about to check the time, he noticed a message from Xuan Ying.
Xuan Ying: "I received the gift. I really like it. I'll treasure it. So happy~"
After checking the time, Su Cheng decided to come back later. As he walked and replied to the message, he reached the stairwell.
At that moment, he sensed someone coming up the stairs. He looked up and met a pair of clear, bright eyes.
Su Cheng was momentarily stunned, and his heart began to race uncontrollably.
He had to admit, Gu Ruoxue's charm was definitely a 9.
Why not a 10?
Because some aspects were not as prominent.
At that moment, Gu Ruoxue stood straight on the stair landing. Although she was wearing the school uniform, she radiated an aura as if she were at the center of the world. Her long, elegant legs, though covered by knee-high socks, were still strikingly noticeable.
Her cold and aloof demeanor seemed no different from usual, but Su Cheng had a strange feeling, as if this girl could read his thoughts.
"Senior," Su Cheng greeted her, stepping aside to let her pass.
Gu Ruoxue merely glanced at him, nodded slightly without a word, and began ascending the stairs.
Her coldness didn't bother Su Cheng, but he decided not to speak further. He would just think his thoughts; after all, she could read minds. He also wanted to confirm and test the extent of this ability.
So, he matched Gu Ruoxue's pace, maintaining a distance of two steps behind her as they climbed the stairs.
"Do you... have something to discuss this time?"
Gu Ruoxue's voice reached his ears clearly. Su Cheng, who was behind her, caught a whiff of her fresh scent and nodded, thinking to himself: Yes, there's something.
After a few seconds of silence, Gu Ruoxue stopped at a landing and glanced back at Su Cheng with a puzzled expression.
Seeing this, Su Cheng instinctively nodded again, thinking: Yes, there's something.
After his nod, she took another step forward.
"She really can read minds!"
That single step sent a jolt through Su Cheng, as if his blood had frozen in his veins.
She definitely had the ability to read minds!
What had been uncertain before was now confirmed.
How could anyone handle this?
From now on, he would have to keep his thoughts blank around her!
The two of them entered the club.
"Take a seat."
Gu Ruoxue gestured to the chair reserved for clients and sat down across from him.
Su Cheng nodded, mentally thanking her, and took his seat opposite her.
She picked up a teapot and cups from the side and began arranging them. One of the mugs looked familiar—it was the same one he had used last time.
But he wasn't sure if it was the exact same mug, as he hadn't washed it after using it last time. If it was the same one, then she must have cleaned it herself.
This time, he decided to leave a mark so he could confirm next time whether it was the same mug.
Soon, a steaming cup of green tea was placed in front of him.
Su Cheng took a sip, then discreetly took out a needle and scratched off a tiny bit of the reversible thermochromic ink pattern on the mug, about a millimeter in size. He took another sip and set the cup down, glancing at Gu Ruoxue.
However, Gu Ruoxue's gaze remained fixed on the spot he had just scratched, not moving away.
Crap, I forgot about her ability.
Su Cheng mentally cursed his oversight, but there was nothing he could do about it. He could only awkwardly exclaim, "Great tea!"
Only then did Gu Ruoxue's gaze shift back to him. "You can start explaining now," she said.
Her voice, cold yet slightly husky, had a peculiar allure that made one wonder what her singing voice would sound like.
Su Cheng took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unrealistic fantasies in his mind, and thought: The bulletproof vest you gave me came in handy, so I want to get some information from you. In other words, I want to know more from you.
He then mentally summarized the situation.
Gu Ruoxue rested her chin on her crossed hands, listening quietly.
Seeing her like this, Su Cheng continued thinking: In that case, I'll treat this matter as a formal request.
After finishing his thoughts, he looked up at Gu Ruoxue, waiting for her response.
However, the two of them stared at each other for a good half minute. Gu Ruoxue, who had initially been sitting with her hands crossed, began tapping her fingers on the table, as if deep in thought.
A minute later, Gu Ruoxue finally spoke, her tone laced with displeasure: "Are you here to waste my time today?"
Her voice carried a heavy sense of doubt, as if questioning Su Cheng's sincerity.
"Huh?" Su Cheng was confused. "What do you mean?"
Did she really expect him to make multiple visits?
Gu Ruoxue frowned, her sharp gaze locking onto his, as if her eyes were ropes tightening around his throat. In a low voice, she said, "What do you think?"
Su Cheng gulped.
"........."
Su Cheng couldn't help but twitch his mouth, thinking: Of course, it wouldn't be that easy to get her help.
But since she had made her stance clear, there was no point in staying any longer.
Su Cheng thought for a moment and decided to show sincerity. He abruptly stood up and mentally conveyed to Gu Ruoxue: In that case, I'll take my leave.
With that, he turned to leave the club.
However, from Gu Ruoxue's perspective, his actions seemed like a display of defiance. Her face showed a rare mix of confusion, helplessness, and frustration.
She watched Su Cheng's retreating figure, biting her lip as she swallowed the words she wanted to say. Despite her efforts, the disappointment on her face was unmistakable.
Finally, she turned her gaze to the mug with the scratched-off pattern. A flicker of regret crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by her usual cold expression. She picked up the mug, washed it, and gently wiped it clean.
Then, she walked to a cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a bottle of paint that matched the color of the scratched area. She also retrieved a brush, dipped it into the paint, and carefully touched up the damaged spot.
Her movements were gentle, and every detail was meticulously handled. After the repair, the mug looked as good as new, with no trace of the damage.
Just as she finished, there was a knock at the club door.
She set the mug down, turned, and said, "Come in."
Su Cheng had returned.
………………
As soon as he entered, Su Cheng sensed the strange atmosphere.
The two of them stared at each other in silence, but the air seemed to be filled with an awkward and eerie tension. Gu Ruoxue looked at him, and Su Cheng looked back at her. For a moment, the atmosphere was palpably strange.
"What exactly do you want?"
Finally, Gu Ruoxue broke the silence, her voice tinged with inquiry and confusion.
Hearing her tone, Su Cheng deduced that he still hadn't shown enough sincerity. Since she could read minds, she must know what he was thinking. So, he decided to continue with his approach of demonstrating sincerity.
With that in mind, he locked eyes with Gu Ruoxue, who glanced at him briefly before sitting back down. Su Cheng wasn't in a hurry to speak; he stood in the middle of the club, waiting for her to make the first move.
He knew she wouldn't help him without something in return.
Time passed minute by minute, and after a subtle silence, Su Cheng finally couldn't suppress his inner anxiety and took the initiative to express his thoughts: "What will it take for you to help me?"
After thinking this, he looked up, ready to receive the other party's response.
However, the other party remained cold and indifferent, and at this moment, the distance between them seemed to grow somewhat unfamiliar.
Seeing this, Su Cheng couldn't help but feel a bit flustered.
Because he suddenly realized that the other party might not have any demands, and that his sincerity alone might be enough.
Thinking this, he quickly thought to himself: "Sorry, I was being rude."
After this thought, he turned around and left.
Soon after leaving the club, he leaned against the wall in the stairwell, closed his eyes, and began to anticipate the scene of entering the club for the third time.
He could already imagine that the other party would surely be moved by his sincerity and decide to come out of seclusion to help him.
In the end, Gu Ruoxue would become his fifth pillar of strength, analyzing the "trends of the world" for him, offering far-sighted strategic ideas. Under the guidance of these strategic ideas, he would continuously improve, eventually achieving a "world where everyone is happy," and she would dedicate her entire life to him, serving tirelessly until her death.
Thinking about it carefully, it was quite exciting!
Another ten minutes passed.
He set off again toward the club entrance.
His steps were hurried, as if he feared that being even a moment late would cause him to lose this S-tier talent.
But as Su Cheng approached the club entrance and looked at the sign for the Social Practice Department, it seemed as if the sign had transformed into the words: "Cold and desolate, sincerity required for entry."
So, Su Cheng paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and knocked on the club door.
"Knock, knock, knock~"
The intervals between his knocks were 0.5 seconds, which was the most polite and respectful way to knock.
"Come in."
A cold and hoarse voice sounded.
Su Cheng didn't hesitate and pushed the door open, shouting in his heart: "Please, help me, sir!"
Gu Ruoxue glanced at Su Cheng, who had come for the third time, and immediately closed her eyes, seemingly deep in thought, though her shoulders were trembling noticeably.
This made Su Cheng's heart hang in suspense.
Because he knew she was engaged in an intense internal struggle, and this was a very difficult and arduous task.
So he patiently waited, believing that the other party would surely agree to his request.
However, the facts proved him wrong.
Gu Ruoxue opened her eyes again, looked at Su Cheng, who had been acting strangely today, and spoke with displeasure: "Enough is enough, or I won't mind letting you experience what I just went through."
Her voice was cold, but the displeasure in her words made Su Cheng freeze, unable to react for a moment.
"Huh?"
He blinked in confusion, then continued to ask, puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"You're asking me?"
Gu Ruoxue frowned, then impatiently brushed aside the strands of hair by her ear and said irritably: "Don't you think your actions are foolish? You clearly have something to ask for, yet you act like a child, keeping it to yourself. Do I need to teach you preschool manners?"
"Can't you read my mind?"
Hearing this, Su Cheng's heart jolted, and he looked at Gu Ruoxue in surprise, then hesitantly asked: "Can't you?"
Suddenly, Gu Ruoxue tilted her head slightly in confusion. Though it was somewhat cute, what she said next plunged Su Cheng into such embarrassment that he didn't know how to respond.
"What on earth made you misunderstand so badly, or what kind of thought process led you to fantasize such a ridiculous thing?" Gu Ruoxue shook her head in amusement, then lowered her head and rubbed her temples.
Hearing this, Su Cheng's expression changed unpredictably, and he finally let his hands drop in defeat, but still unwilling to give up, he pressed on: "But last time, I was just thinking in my heart, and you suddenly got angry. How did you do that?!"
Su Cheng's words seemed to sting Gu Ruoxue's nerves, causing a shadow to briefly flash across her otherwise expressionless face before quickly disappearing.
"Please, in the future, when you're thinking disrespectful thoughts, don't let your disgusting gaze wander all over people's bodies," she said word by word, her voice carrying a subtle warning.
"Huh?"
Su Cheng was stunned for a moment before he realized what she meant.
Gu Ruoxue then added: "Also, through your gestures, expressions, and eye movements, I can indeed get a rough idea of your thoughts and emotional changes, but mind-reading?"
At this, she seemed amused and curled her lips into a faint smile, then lowered her head and shot him a very displeased look as she said: "I really don't have that ability."
As she spoke, Gu Ruoxue's gaze swept over Su Cheng before returning to her computer screen.
However, Su Cheng, standing beside her, was extremely embarrassed, his cheeks burning, and he quickly sat down across from her, changing the subject: "The bulletproof vest you gave me has come in handy."
"Has it?"
She continued organizing the documents on the table indifferently, as if this was not unexpected.
Seeing this, Su Cheng became curious and couldn't help but ask: "Did you know something like this would happen, which is why you gave me the bulletproof vest?"
When dealing with such cryptic people, Su Cheng knew that asking directly was the only way to get a straight answer.
Hearing this, Gu Ruoxue's hands paused for a moment, then continued organizing the documents, but she casually said: "When dealing with people who act on whims and don't follow rules, isn't it bound to happen sooner or later?"
"Uh..."
This answer left Su Cheng at a loss. After a moment of contemplation, he tentatively asked: "So, can you help me?"
"Help you with what?"
She raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.
Su Cheng's gaze flickered over the documents in her hands, then he continued: "I feel like something is off about this situation, so I came to consult you."
Hearing this, Gu Ruoxue shook her head and said indifferently: "It's not the right time yet. Come to me for help when you can't solve the problem yourself."
After saying this, she lowered her head and continued organizing the documents.
Her aloof attitude made Su Cheng feel a bit disheartened, but he was also very surprised, because her words implied that he would indeed encounter something he couldn't handle.
But he was still unwilling to give up.
"Since you know, then why..."
"Why should I help you?"
She looked up and stared at him with a strange expression.
Su Cheng was taken aback, then smiled wryly and stood up, saying: "Then why do you only help when I can't solve it myself?"
Su Cheng wasn't stupid, and he knew he was asking a foolish question, but he still asked it.
Gu Ruoxue, hearing this, showed a faint smile, which made Su Cheng momentarily stunned.
Because he felt that she also seemed somewhat helpless?
"Because... only then will you willingly agree to my conditions."
At this moment, Gu Ruoxue suddenly said something that struck Su Cheng like a bolt of lightning.
So the Social Practice Department wasn't offering help for free—they had their own demands.
………………………………
After leaving the Social Practice Department, Su Cheng wandered around the school, but his mind kept dwelling on Gu Ruoxue's earlier words.
Perhaps she couldn't read minds, but she definitely had some kind of prophetic ability...
And he would encounter something he couldn't handle when he went to the Ji family?
He was aware that his attributes surpassed those of ordinary people, and he had many system tools at his disposal. How could he possibly feel helpless?
He now somewhat understood why the master and servant had started arguing. It was possible that they were trying to convey some kind of plea for help to him.
But now he knew the outcome in advance—that even if he went, it would be futile. In the end, he would still have to seek Gu Ruoxue's help.
She had him completely figured out. In the end, he would have to willingly agree to her request.
He was being led by the nose!
No, he absolutely couldn't let her have her way.
Su Cheng took a deep breath, not wanting to waste any more time or follow the path Gu Ruoxue had laid out for him. He quickly made a plan, turned around, and ran off at a brisk pace.
…………………………
Unexpectedly—
The door of the club's practice room was knocked on once again by Su Cheng.
"Come in!"
"Let's not waste any time. I'll agree right now—I need your help."
Su Cheng walked in and got straight to the point, his demeanor decisive and to the point.
Gu Ruoxue widened her eyes in surprise, then rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.
This seemed to be her signature move, something she did instinctively whenever something unexpected happened.
"Although I can guess what you're thinking and know how much you dislike trouble, you're being unusually straightforward today. Why not try to solve it yourself and enjoy the process? How else will you know if you can handle it?"
Gu Ruoxue cut straight to the heart of the matter.
"If there's a perfect solution available, why should I go through the stress and mental gymnastics to solve an unsolvable problem?"
Su Cheng, however, responded with an air of confidence, countering, "By your logic, I'd end up coming to you anyway. So why not skip all the unnecessary drama and humiliation?"
"Aren't you afraid this might be a lie?"
"You saved my life. I trust you."
He spoke each word with unwavering conviction.
"Is that so?"
Gu Ruoxue looked at Su Cheng with a meaningful gaze. Under her stare, Su Cheng felt uneasy, but he refused to back down, meeting her eyes directly.
Her eyes were as clear as ever, as if nothing in this world could taint their purity.
The atmosphere between the two grew subtly tense once more...
After a long pause, she lowered her head to organize some documents. Just as Su Cheng was beginning to wonder what was going on, she casually uttered a sentence that made his pupils shrink, his heart tighten, and his entire body go stiff as if turned to stone. His mind was utterly shocked, as if he had been hit with the surprise of a lifetime.
Because—
"This is the price for having liked you."
[Ding—]