CHAPTER 163: TWO WAYS OF LOVING

"What about Jianning?" Qi Jianyi asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze dropped to the floor, weighed down by the thought of her younger sister’s reaction.

It would be impossible to keep the truth from Qi Jianning for long. After all, there were only the two of them. They had spent nearly every moment together growing up—sharing secrets, laughter, arguments, and an unspoken understanding. Qi Jianning would eventually notice that her elder sister wasn’t quite the same.

Even back then, Qi Jianning had harbored silent suspicions. She had sensed something was off but chose not to voice it. Perhaps she was afraid of confirming her own fears. Her doubts had quietly dissolved when Qi Jianyi returned, seemingly the same as before.

Until now, that girl had no idea she had once called a stranger her sister.

Mother Qi frowned thoughtfully at the mention of Jianning. The question raised a concern she herself had yet to resolve. She and her husband had gradually come to terms with the idea of letting Qi Jianyi go, of allowing her to follow her heart and find happiness in another world.

But Qi Jianning was a different matter entirely. The girl they were talking about admired her sister beyond measure. To Qi Jianning, Qi Jianyi wasn’t just family—she was everything. Her guiding light. Her role model. Someone she respected, admired, and loved without question.

Growing up, Jianning had been endlessly doted on, not just by their parents but especially by Qi Jianyi, who almost never denied her any request.

If Qi Jianning were to discover now that her sister was planning to leave, the fallout would be inevitable. She would protest. She would resist. She wouldn’t understand.

Mother Qi knew her younger daughter’s heart too well. Qi Jianning’s love wasn’t the kind that let go. She clung tightly to what she cherished, refusing to loosen her grip even when it hurt. She would rather hold on until her fingers bled than watch something she loved slip away.

It was a stark contrast to Qi Jianyi’s way of loving—a love quiet, selfless, and often rooted in sacrifice. Her eldest daughter always chose to let go, to step back, even if it broke her heart. The only time she had ever truly fought for something was when she desperately sought a way back to this world, to the family she loved so deeply.

Mother Qi found it quietly ironic. One daughter who had never once considered letting go, and another who never stopped choosing to.

And now, as Qi Jianning’s one and only sister, Qi Jianyi would have no choice but to face her. A long and difficult conversation was inevitable.

Father Qi let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples as if the mere thought of Qi Jianning’s reaction was enough to give him a splitting headache.

"Don’t stress yourself too much over this," he muttered wearily.

Mother Qi gave a small nod, gently placing her hand on Qi Jianyi’s. "Yes, don’t overthink it. Your father and I will speak to her when the time is right," she assured her softly. Then, sensing the heaviness lingering in the air, she decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Jianyi, do you think it’s possible for you to meet that other Qi Jianyi again?" She intentionally shifted the topic—knowing that dwelling too long on Qi Jianning would only lead to anxiety.

If it was bound to be troublesome anyway, why not set it aside for now and revisit it when they had more clarity?

Qi Jianyi lifted her head at the question, a cloud of uncertainty shadowing her face. Doubt flickered in her eyes, making her hesitation painfully clear.

"I... don’t know," she admitted quietly. "I really don’t know if I’ll ever see her again."

After all, the last time they met was when her soul wanted to return to its rightful place. It had happened under extraordinary and terrifying circumstances.

A car accident.

The kind of event no one could plan for, let alone repeat intentionally. She couldn’t just throw herself into harm’s way again. The very thought was reckless and absurd.

"Okay, okay, don’t take your mother’s question so seriously. You’re about to wrinkle your whole face," Father Qi interrupted, his voice lighthearted as he tried to ease the tension. He had noticed the deep furrow forming between Qi Jianyi’s brows and decided it was time to lighten the mood.

"Who really knows how any of this works anyway?" he added, flashing a small smile. "Maybe you’ll run into her again tonight... in your dreams."

His tone was teasing, but there was a warm reassurance behind his words. A gentle nudge to remind her that not everything needed to be figured out right away.

Understanding what her father was trying to do, Qi Jianyi let out a soft laugh. The corners of her lips lifted as she shook her head slightly, the weight on her shoulders easing just a little.

He was right—there was no use in overthinking something so unpredictable. After all, who could possibly explain how this whole soul-swapping phenomenon even worked? It wasn’t something bound by logic or reason.

So instead of forcing an answer that didn’t exist, Qi Jianyi decided to let it go for now. She would keep living her life, one day at a time and simply wait for fate to present another chance, if it ever would.

...

"No! Absolutely not!" Qi Jianning’s voice rang out, clear and resolute, echoing sharply through the room. Her face flushed with a mix of rising anger and helpless fear. Tears welled up in her eyes, shimmering with disbelief as she stared at her sister—her one and only sister—grappling with the crushing weight of reality.

"Do you really want to leave me?" she asked, her voice trembling through sobs.

Her tear-streaked face, twisted in anguish, tugged painfully at Qi Jianyi’s heart. Without hesitation, Qi Jianyi took a step closer to her.

They were alone in Qi Jianyi’s bedroom. After much contemplation and a heartfelt discussion with their parents, she had decided that this conversation had to come from her lips, not theirs.

She wanted Qi Jianning to hear the truth directly, with no filters, no softening. This was something only the two of them could face together.

Qi Jianyi opened her arms, and Qi Jianning collapsed into them without resistance. Wrapping her arms around her sister, Qi Jianyi held her tightly, a soft, wistful smile playing on her lips.

"Jianning," she whispered, her voice gentle, "in this entire world, there’s only you and me. You are my one and only little sister. You know I’ve always tried to give you everything you’ve ever wanted. How could I possibly find it in my heart to leave you behind?"

"But you’re going to another world... for him!" Qi Jianning shot back, her voice cracking as she looked up, fury and heartbreak blazing in her eyes.

"You’re the one who told me we don’t need men in our lives. That we should never rely on them. You said a woman should always leave a path open for herself," she accused, her words sharp and pointed like blades.

Qi Jianyi closed her eyes for a moment, sighing in defeat.

So this is what it feels like—to be struck down by your own words. She thought.

"But I never said I would become dependent on him," she replied, raising an eyebrow with mild defiance. Her voice was calm, but her heart churned with turmoil.

"Then why leave mom, dad, and me just to be with him?" Qi Jianning asked, her gaze unwavering, her words slow and deliberate.

"Is he really worth that much?"

Qi Jianyi looked down, and after a long silence, she finally answered with a bitter honesty, "I don’t know."

She sighed heavily, the weight of everything pressing down on her chest.

"When I left that world, I swore to myself that nothing—absolutely nothing—could ever make me want to return," she began, her voice low and sorrowful.

"I was trapped there, playing the role of someone I wasn’t, surrounded by a family I didn’t know, carrying responsibilities I never asked for. I cried to God to send me back—to you, to mom and dad. I knelt, I begged, I screamed. All I wanted was to come home." Qi Jianyi took a slow step back, her arms releasing her sister as she moved toward the edge of the bed. She sat down, her expression a haunting mixture of bitterness and vulnerability.

"And then, God answered. I came back. I returned to the only place I’d ever called home, to the only people I’ve ever loved. I was happy. I am happy." She looked up, her gaze locking with Qi Jianning’s confused and questioning eyes.

"But it still hurts, Jianning." She whispered. Her voice was so soft it was nearly inaudible. There was a pause before she spoke again, and this time her voice cracked slightly.

"Sometimes... I wonder if I made a mistake by accepting his love. Maybe I was too greedy." She closed her eyes, and a few tears slipped down her cheeks, trailing silently down her face.

"When Song Chengfeng first confessed to me, I turned him down without a second thought. I didn’t have any feelings for him at the time. My heart was still tied up in regrets about Xu Yichen. There was no space in my life for anyone else, especially not in that unfamiliar world."

"But... he didn’t give up."

She paused again, this time taking a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as she steadied her emotions.

"Song Chengfeng is not just any man. He loved me loudly and persistently. He never demanded anything from me. He gave me time, space, and understanding. He was patient. And loyal. He stayed when I gave him every reason to leave." She turned her head and looked at Qi Jianning with a sorrowful smile—one that masked more pain than it revealed.

"Do you know, Jianning? When I finally told Song Chengfeng the truth about myself, about where I came from, he didn’t even blink. He believed me. He trusted me with all his heart. And yet... I still lied to him."

The confession hung heavy in the air, like a storm cloud poised to burst.