CHAPTER 162: WHAT IF I CAN NEVER RETURN TO SEE YOU AGAIN?

Qi Jianyi pressed her fingers against her throbbing forehead, massaging the tension that had been steadily building as she stared at her parents seated across from her.

Both Mother Qi and Father Qi wore matching expressions of concern and curiosity, their eyes filled with silent questions they hadn’t yet voiced. But Qi Jianyi didn’t need to hear the words to know exactly what they intended to say.

Before either of them could open their mouths, she lifted her hand, palm facing out, effectively cutting them off.

"Mom, we’ve already talked about this," she said, her voice laced with weariness. "I have no intention of returning to that world. Can we please just stop bringing this up?"

Her tone was heavy, and the fatigue in her eyes made it clear how draining this conversation had become. The issue of returning to Song Chengfeng’s world had been a constant, recurring point of contention that refused to fade with time.

In the beginning, Father Qi had been completely opposed to the idea once he learned the full truth. The thought of letting his daughter leave everything behind to follow a man—especially one from another world—was inconceivable to him.

His firm disapproval had, at the time, given Qi Jianyi a rare sense of relief. At least, she had thought, her father’s solid stance would finally convince her mother to let the matter go.

However, she hadn’t anticipated what might happen behind closed doors. Whatever Mother Qi had said to her husband that night, it had worked. By the following morning, Father Qi’s stance had shifted entirely. Though clearly reluctant, he had softened, offering his support for his wife’s position without so much as a proper explanation.

Noticing the sudden reversal in his opinion, Qi Jianyi had rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. She had once believed her father to be a man of unwavering principle.

Yet here he was, swayed in the span of a single night, bowing his head and yielding to her mother’s persuasion without resistance.

Father Qi noticed the expression flickering across Qi Jianyi’s face and gave a small cough, an awkward attempt to mask his own embarrassment. He clearly remembered how adamantly he had opposed the idea just yesterday.

He was well aware that his sudden shift in attitude had not gone unnoticed. His eldest daughter’s eyes were practically brimming with silent judgment, and rightfully so.

Still, recalling the words his wife had spoken to him the previous night, Father Qi could do nothing but swallow his pride and shamelessly change his stance today.

"Are you sure?" Mother Qi asked calmly, her voice composed and serene, completely disregarding the subtle exchange that had just passed between father and daughter.

Her tone was even and unshaken, as though she would genuinely respect Qi Jianyi’s decision this time—regardless of what it might be.

Qi Jianyi looked at her mother, noting the stillness and certainty in her expression. The word "yes" hovered on the tip of her tongue, ready to be spoken, but she abruptly swallowed it back.

For reasons she couldn’t quite name, she found herself suddenly incapable of giving a clear answer.

How ironic, she thought.

She had never once hesitated to reject her mother’s ideas in the past. Nor had she ever considered entertaining them. To her, the notion of returning to that strange, unfamiliar world—of abandoning everything she had known and built—had always been unthinkable.

By all logic, she should have been able to respond without faltering, to assert her stance with confidence and clarity.

Yet, the moment her gaze met her mother’s composed and serious expression, something within her wavered. Qi Jianyi’s resolve, which once felt solid, now seemed fragile.

It was as though the answer she was about to give would seal her fate, drawing an irreversible line that defined the course of her life.

And with that realization, an inexplicable heaviness settled in her chest.

Naturally, Qi Jianyi’s subtle shift in expression did not escape Mother Qi’s notice. Sensing an opportunity, she seized the moment without hesitation.

"You’re hesitating," she said softly, her words deliberate and clear. Her eyes stayed fixed on her daughter’s face, reading every nuance.

"And why is that?" she added, her tone calm but pointed.

Though the questions were posed gently, they carried a weight that pressed heavily on Qi Jianyi’s chest. One she found herself unable to withstand. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

In the end, she sat there, speechless.

That same question echoed in her own mind. Why did she hesitate? Why couldn’t she deliver the same confident, unshakable refusal she had offered so easily in the past few days?

What exactly was she afraid of?

As Qi Jianyi fell silent, her gaze unfocused and distant, clearly lost in thought, Mother Qi watched her for a moment before shaking her head slightly.

"Jianyi, your father and I would never force you," she said gently. "If you truly believe that you can move on and live a fulfilling life here, then we’ll support you completely. And if you choose instead to go find him, to return to that world... we will support that, too." She paused briefly, and for a moment, a soft cloud of emotion passed through her eyes.

"You’re our daughter. We would never ask you to give up your life or your future just for the sake of being with a man," she continued, her voice growing unsteady with emotion. "Your worth has never and should never be measured by a man’s love."

"But," she went on, a little steadier now, "in that world, you can still live your life with purpose. You can be with him without losing yourself. We know you well enough to believe that. You would never allow yourself to depend entirely on someone else. You’d find your balance...just like you always have."

Qi Jianyi slowly lifted her head and looked at her parents. The affection in their eyes was unmistakably warm, steady, and full of love. And yet, she couldn’t help but feel an ache in her chest.

She didn’t understand how they could speak so calmly, how they could even consider letting her go—possibly forever. How could they love her so deeply and still be willing to lose her?

"What if..." Qi Jianyi whispered, her throat tightening as she struggled to speak. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes, as if doing so might hold back the wave of emotion threatening to consume her. Her voice, fragile and trembling, refused to rise in defiance against her mother’s words. Tears brimmed in her eyes, blurring her vision.

"What if I can never return to see you again?" she asked at last, her voice breaking under the weight of unspoken fear and sorrow. A note of grievance lingered in her tone. An ache, raw and real.

"I love him," she continued, her voice choked with sobs. "But I’m even more afraid of losing you."

Without a word, Father Qi stood from his seat and walked over to her. He gently pulled his daughter into his arms, wrapping her in a comforting embrace as he slowly patted her back.

A few moments later, Mother Qi quietly joined them, settling beside her daughter on the other side.

"Believe," Father Qi whispered softly. "You have to believe that we will see each other again."

"Do you remember," Mother Qi added gently, "the reason you were able to return to us in the first place was because you believed you could? You didn’t give up. You held on to faith—even when everything seemed impossible. You trusted that fate would lead you back to us."

Father Qi nodded, echoing his wife’s words with quiet conviction. "You are the daughter I am most proud of," he said, his voice firm but tender. "Even if the sky were to crumble, you wouldn’t falter. You’ve never given up on anything you set your heart on. So don’t start now. Keep believing. And no matter where you are, trust that we’ll see each other again."

"Accept your life in that world," he continued, his voice softening, "but don’t ever let go of the life you have here. Be greedy, Jianyi. You’ve always given so much of yourself for others. You’ve earned the right to want something just for you."

There was no hiding his reluctance, no denying how deeply it hurt him to say these words.

But in the end, his love for her outweighed everything else. If it were within his power, he would have brought Song Chengfeng into this world—welcomed him into their family, watched him make their daughter happy, and helped her complete the life she deserved.

But Father Qi knew better. He knew it was nothing more than a beautiful, unreachable dream. The mystery behind Qi Jianyi’s ability to exchange souls across worlds remained unsolved.

And he, a man grounded in this reality, with limited knowledge of the unknown, had no way to pull another person from a different world into his own.

Qi Jianyi didn’t say a word. She remained in her father’s embrace, simply listening to her parents’ comforting voices. The tears continued to fall as she cried quietly in his arms—just as she had done when she was a little girl.

"Thank you..." she whispered, her voice soft but clear enough for both of them to hear.

"Thank you for being the best parents I could ever ask for," she added, stretching out her arms to pull her mother into the embrace as well, wanting to hold on to both of them.

"Mom, Dad... I love you so much," she whimpered, her voice trembling with raw emotion.

Mother Qi smiled warmly, her eyes misty with tears as she reached out and gently brushed the hair away from Qi Jianyi’s face.

"Your father and I will always be here," she said tenderly. "Waiting for you, no matter how long it takes."

Qi Jianyi slowly opened her eyes, hesitating before speaking. Her voice faltered. "That... the other Qi Jianyi..." she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

But Mother Qi understood the unspoken worry in her eyes.

"She is also our daughter," Mother Qi said with calm assurance, "even if she’s from a different world. We will love her and treat her as part of our family."

Then her tone grew firmer. "But if her parents in that world refuse to accept you, then you mustn’t feel obligated to stay. Come back to us."

Father Qi nodded in agreement, his expression turning serious. "Exactly. If they don’t want to accept you, then don’t force yourself to accept them either. And if they ever dare to treat you badly—just come back and tell us. I’ll find a way into that world myself and teach them a lesson!" he declared, puffing up with mock bravado.

His bold, exaggerated promise made Qi Jianyi laugh through her tears—a soft, shaky laugh that warmed the air between them.