Gentlemen, I Love War

Afternoon

Club activity time.

Since it was Su Cheng's turn for duty today, he was busy working in Wang Guancong's classroom.

Meanwhile, at the Social Practice Club...

"Knock, knock~"

The door of the Practice Department was tapped. "Is anyone there?" A slightly hoarse voice came from outside, suggesting some past vocal injury.

"Come in."

Gu Ruoxue, seated at the club's workstation, looked up toward the entrance. The door slowly opened, revealing a sweet-looking girl in a school uniform, white knee-high socks, and a baseball cap.

Her skin was fair, her delicate features small and refined, with round, rosy cheeks that gave her an irresistibly charming aura—one that made people instinctively want to draw closer.

"Class 2-1's Chen Wanwan, right? What brings you here?"

Gu Ruoxue immediately recognized her as the girl from the neighboring class. She gestured for her to sit before continuing, "How can I help you?"

"Hello, Gu Ruoxue. I... have a small request," Chen Wanwan said after sitting down. She removed her cap, revealing bright, clear eyes, though her expression was slightly unnatural, tinged with unease. "I’d like to join this club."

Gu Ruoxue didn’t seem surprised, as if she had already guessed Chen Wanwan’s purpose. She shook her head. "We’re not recruiting."

People seeking refuge or joining with ulterior motives were far too common. She had grown accustomed to rejecting them—most had zero interest in the club’s principles or goals. To her, they were nothing but dead weight.

"But..." Chen Wanwan bit her lip, hesitating before finally mustering the courage. Her eyes grew moist as she spoke. "I heard... this club helps with personal troubles..."

"Chen Wanwan, this is the Practice Department, not the entertainment industry. There’s no need for theatrics." Gu Ruoxue’s tone turned stern. "If you have a problem, say it outright. I’ll see if I can help. But don’t put on this pitiful act—it won’t earn you any sympathy here."

The harsh, icy words made Chen Wanwan flinch. She quickly lowered her head, her pretty face flushing crimson.

Seeing her fall silent, Gu Ruoxue turned back to her computer, typing as she spoke. "State your request directly."

Chen Wanwan hurriedly looked up again. "Today, during P.E. class... My horse, 'Black Moon'—the one I’ve been raising for a long time—was somehow taken control of by someone. It stopped obeying me, and that person even renamed it to something awful, 'Rice Bath.' This... hurts me deeply. The time and money I invested shouldn’t just go to waste. So, Gu Ruoxue, could you please help me?"

As she spoke, she placed a slender, pale hand on the desk, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"This case is accepted."

Gu Ruoxue typed a few more lines before responding. "Explain everything in detail—how it started, what happened, and how it ended. After discussing it with the other club members, I’ll give you an answer."

………………………………

"Make sure to ask Senior Gu if she’s still accepting new members."

After finishing their cleaning duty, Wang Guancong reminded Su Cheng before leaving.

Su Cheng nodded emphatically. "Got it."

"Then... I’m off to the club."

"Waiting for good news tomorrow~"

Wang Guancong waved at him.

Walking through the club building, Su Cheng couldn’t help but sigh. Today, there would likely be club activities.

What kind of request would it be this time?

Please don’t let it be another lost cat or dog...

The hallways of the club building were bustling with students engaged in various activities.

The third floor, however, was much quieter, with hardly any students passing through. The few boys who did walk by all shared one peculiar habit—glancing at the Practice Department as they went.

"Hmph. Just cowards peeking at Gu Ruoxue’s beauty."

Su Cheng smirked inwardly at the sight.

"Knock, knock~"

He rapped on the Practice Department’s door.

"No need to knock. Just come in."

The hoarse yet cool voice from inside made Su Cheng frown slightly, but he didn’t dwell on it, pushing the door open directly.

The club’s layout was unchanged from what he remembered. Even Gu Ruoxue was, as usual, busy at her computer.

Though picturesque, she always seemed buried in endless work.

"Had duty today, so I’m late."

Su Cheng offered a brief explanation before taking his usual seat—he wasn’t an outsider anymore.

At that moment, Gu Ruoxue stood up, picked up the nearby kettle, and grabbed a familiar mug from the drawer. She tossed in a random handful of tea leaves and poured hot water over them.

The sight made Su Cheng cringe internally.

He didn’t expect her to be as meticulous as Ji Qingyi, but this was just too careless!

Even he at least rinsed his tea leaves.

"I don’t have time to waste on trivialities." Gu Ruoxue seemed to sense his judgment and responded while brewing the tea.

She placed the mug in front of him, along with a set of keys, then returned to her computer.

"Club keys?"

Su Cheng blinked in surprise.

Gu Ruoxue nodded.

"Got it."

He pocketed the keys and lifted the mug, only to catch an odd scent.

Blowing on it, he took a cautious sip—bitter and pungent.

Not green tea. Bitter melon tea.

Benefits: Reduces bad breath, lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and has antioxidant properties.

So... what was she implying?

Switching from green tea to this couldn’t just be random.

At that moment, Su Cheng seriously considered shaking this seemingly frail girl for a solid hour—no, strapping her to a rocking horse for an entire year!

"How is it?" Gu Ruoxue’s voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Quite... unique."

"Is that so?"

She glanced at the tea in his hand and remarked flatly, "If you like it, I can give you some."

"No need, no need!"

Su Cheng waved his hands frantically.

"There’s a request today."

Gu Ruoxue suddenly massaged her temples, as if easing fatigue. "As a member, you’ll need to help me handle this... troublesome case."

"A request? And a troublesome one?"

"Yes. The situation is quite serious."

Gu Ruoxue's face turned solemn. "This involves mental manipulation, and it's connected to someone at the very top of the school."

"What?!"

Su Cheng jumped up from his chair in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

Mental manipulation?

So, senior sister Liu was right after all!

Joining this club really did lead to strange and unsettling things happening.

Now even mental manipulation was involved!

"Since mental manipulation itself isn't considered a crime—only discussed within criminal contexts—it doesn’t constitute criminal liability unless it infringes on civil rights like bodily autonomy. That’s why we need to handle it," Gu Ruoxue explained.

"Then what does this person with mental manipulation abilities do?"

"Threats, coercion, deception... The victims obey out of fear, helplessness, or deception."

Gu Ruoxue's voice grew heavier as she spoke.

"..."

Su Cheng silently lowered his head, but his sharp eyes burned with anger beneath the gravity.

He had always been someone who drew clear lines between love and hate.

This matter was something he couldn’t tolerate.

Now that he knew about it, he had to teach these heartless scum a lesson.

No evil would escape justice under his watch!

At this moment, Su Cheng—who believed that greater power came with greater responsibility—finally revealed the innate sense of justice buried deep within him.

He couldn’t help but recall the system’s evaluation of him:

"A great vessel bears heavy loads; a swift horse travels far."

The abilities the system gave him had limits, and those limits were defined by responsibility. He would use his power to rid the world of these vile criminals.

Su Cheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"I understand. There’s no time to waste. I can’t just sit around—I’m ready to act anytime!"

As he spoke, an indomitable aura radiated from Su Cheng’s righteous figure.

Wait, is "sit around" even the right phrase here?

Gu Ruoxue gave him a strange look, then nodded. "Then come with me."

"Huh? Aren’t you going to prepare?"

"Prepare what?"

"Like, grabbing that sword behind you, or maybe bringing the zither?"

Su Cheng pointed at the treasured sword on the jade stand behind her, then at the broken-stringed guzheng in the corner.

Gu Ruoxue let out a soft laugh. "No need. Having you here is enough."

Her words, sounding almost like a confession yet filled with trust, made Su Cheng’s heart skip a beat. He was deeply moved.

She actually trusts me this much?!

Without hesitation, he nodded firmly. "This first mission will be handled flawlessly!"

"Good."

Gu Ruoxue stood up. "Let’s go."

"Right."

Su Cheng followed suit, and the two walked out one after the other. Once outside the club, his gaze lingered on her graceful figure—especially those slender legs wrapped in knee-high socks—and he couldn’t help muttering, "Those legs were made for pedaling a tricycle."

Still, today he had discovered something unexpected: despite her usual enigmatic demeanor, she seemed to trust him inexplicably.

It was a strange but not unwelcome feeling.

Well, no matter what, this counts as a pleasant surprise, right?

They maintained a three-meter distance, so they didn’t draw much attention.

All eyes were on the "halo-clad" Minister Gu. To describe her—

She was simply dazzling. Every step she took seemed to stir the wind, making her clothes flutter and her hair dance like a scene from a painting, breathtakingly beautiful.

Gu Ruoxue, accustomed to ignoring others’ gazes, paid no mind to the awestruck murmurs of the male students around her. Instead, she noticed Su Cheng lagging behind and instinctively stopped, turning to look at him.

Seeing her halt, Su Cheng hesitated before stopping as well.

Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she motioned for him to walk beside her. Su Cheng obliged, stepping up to her side.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the middle of the street, they became an eye-catching sight.

A few passersby immediately took notice.

"Wow! Look, it’s Minister Gu!"

"Wait, who’s that guy next to her?!"

"It’s Su Cheng!"

"Don’t tell me Minister Gu is friends with him too?"

"Judging by how close they are and how they’re chatting, it’s pretty obvious!"

"..."

The boys whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with complicated emotions as they stared at Su Cheng.

Envy? Jealousy? Hard to say.

The school didn’t have an official "school belle," but Gu Ruoxue was universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of campus fame—many boys’ dream girl.

Yet now, this untouchable figure was walking side by side with a guy. And not just any guy—Su Cheng.

If any of the students who had received help from her club saw this, their hearts would probably shatter.

Su Cheng also noticed the stares.

Suddenly remembering something, he quickly spoke up, "Hey, is the club still recruiting?"

At this, she rested her chin on her hand, as if pondering who he might be referring to.

After a moment, she shook her head and resumed walking.

Her reaction didn’t surprise him, but he still hurried to catch up and asked about the mission: "Where are we going?"

Gu Ruoxue tucked a loose strand of wind-blown hair behind her ear and replied nonchalantly, "You’ll see when we get there. Whatever happens, you’ll handle it."

"Come on, this is my first mission—I’m nervous! What if something goes wrong?"

Su Cheng played modest, then glanced at her and added, "If anything happens, I’ll be counting on you, Minister."

He activated a man’s innate skill: setting up an excuse in advance in case his bravado backfired.

He knew this wasn’t like playing games with Cornelia, where he could just blame lag for any blunders.

"Oh?"

Gu Ruoxue raised an eyebrow, giving him an amused look. "So, how confident are you against someone with supernatural abilities?"

"Uh… one-to-nine odds?"

"Who’s the one?"

"Me."

Su Cheng awkwardly scratched his head and bent slightly, grinning. "One second of wind-up, nine seconds of him dying nine times."

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Ruoxue’s face twisted into a dry, terrifying smile that sent chills down his spine. He hastily backtracked, "J-Just kidding! Don’t take it seriously!"

Without a word, Gu Ruoxue walked ahead, leaving him behind in silence.

But as the saying goes, fortune is as unpredictable as the weather.

After just two steps, raindrops began to fall from the sky, landing on them and bringing a sobering chill.

Feeling the sudden downpour, Gu Ruoxue’s expression unexpectedly darkened.

Because today was supposed to be clear and cloudless.

And as luck would have it, they were right next to the Archery Club.

It was unclear whether it was intentional or just to spite Gu Ruoxue, but the rain grew heavier and heavier.

To make matters worse, there were many people nearby watching them intently.

"I didn’t bring an umbrella."

Su Cheng glanced subtly at the other bystanders taking shelter, his meaning clear—he couldn’t just pull an umbrella out of thin air.

However, he also noticed how strangely sudden the rain had come, giving him a hunch that this downpour might have been orchestrated specifically for Gu Ruoxue.

Who else would have both the ability and the audacity to do such a thing besides Ji Qingyi?

Gu Ruoxue, of course, noticed the stares around her, but she merely shrugged indifferently. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice rang out from beside them.

"The rain has come—no need to hurry."