CHAPTER 61: SUMMER

"Mom, who found me?" Qi Jianyi broke the tense atmosphere in the room, steering the conversation away from Song Chengfeng. She was tired of dwelling on the awkwardness and wanted something lighter to focus on.

Mrs. Qi’s expression tightened at her daughter’s question. "You only ask about this now?" Her voice was sharp but tinged with concern. "If the security guard hadn’t wanted you to move your car to another parking lot, who knows how long it would’ve taken for someone to find you? Do you realise that?"

Qi Jianyi grinned awkwardly, not because she had just remembered, but because they hadn’t given her the chance to ask earlier.

Mrs. Qi exhaled slowly, her tone softening. "Jianyi, if you want to visit Nanny Zheng’s grave again, don’t go alone. Take someone with you—Ling Xi or your brothers. What good are those two brats if not to keep you company? Use them as your bodyguards."

Originally, Mrs. Qi had considered hiring a bodyguard to follow her daughter, but she knew Qi Jianyi would resist the idea. This was the only compromise she could offer.

Qi Jianyi nodded, smiling slightly. "Okay, Mom. I’ll listen to you."

Just as the conversation was settling, the door swung open, and Qi Jinlu’s loud voice boomed through the room, "Sister, we’re back!"

The twins’ arrival instantly brightened the heavy atmosphere, their faces glowing with excitement as if they’d just conquered some grand feat. Qi Jianyi’s heart warmed at their eager expressions; they looked so proud and, to her, impossibly adorable. She couldn’t help but feel the urge to reach out and pat their heads.

Giving in, she extended her hand and ruffled Qi Jinli’s soft, fluffy hair. The teen froze, stunned by the unexpected affection.

"Sis?" Qi Jinli stammered, clearly caught off guard.

Beside him, Qi Jinlu’s smile faltered as he watched the scene unfold. His eyes narrowed in subtle jealousy, feeling a slight sting that his sister had chosen to pat only Qi Jinli.

"Hey... what about me?" he muttered, trying to keep his voice casual but failing to mask the hint of jealousy.

Qi Jianyi noticed his reaction and chuckled softly, realising her unintentional favouritism.

"Childish," she said but still holding out her other hand to pat his head as well.

Qi Jinlu stepped closer, pretending not to care, but the small smile tugging at his lips betrayed his happiness.

"About time," he grumbled, though the light in his eyes showed he was content now that he’d received his share of affection.

The playful moment lifted the weight in the room, drawing them all into a much-needed sense of comfort and closeness.

...

A week had passed since Qi Jianyi fainted. After three days under observation, she was finally allowed to return home, though the doctors were unable to determine the exact cause of her collapse.

Their final conclusion was simple—Qi Jianyi had fainted from exhaustion and lack of food, having not eaten anything the entire day.

While the explanation seemed reasonable, Qi Jianyi knew deep down that it wasn’t the whole truth. It wasn’t just hunger or fatigue. There was something else, something she couldn’t quite put into words, that had overwhelmed her that day.

The days in the hospital had passed slowly, filled with concerned glances from her parents, routine checkups, and a lingering sense of emptiness she couldn’t explain. Everyone had been worried, but Qi Jianyi herself had felt oddly detached, as if her body and mind were moving separately. She had watched everything around her like a distant observer, the buzzing of hospital equipment and the hushed whispers of her family blending into the background.

No matter how disconnected Qi Jianyi felt, she still had to return to her university life. The end of spring had arrived, and with it came the final exams for the semester. Summer was just around the corner, but her mind was elsewhere.

"Jianyi, how are you feeling?" Ling Xi asked with concern, her voice soft yet strained.

Ever since learning that Qi Jianyi had fainted at the cemetery, in front of her nanny’s grave no less, Ling Xi couldn’t shake the guilt that clung to her.

If only she had insisted on accompanying Qi Jianyi that day, things could’ve been different. Qi Jianyi wouldn’t have been alone, wouldn’t have had to endure that moment in isolation. Ling Xi blamed herself for not being there when it mattered most.

Qi Jianyi had been lucky as it was the security guard who found her, a man with a kind heart. But the thought of what could have happened had it been someone less trustworthy haunted Ling Xi. She shuddered inwardly and shook her head as if to banish the chilling thought.

"I’m fine, Ling Xi," Qi Jianyi replied, her voice calm yet distant. "You don’t have to worry about me."

But Ling Xi wasn’t so easily reassured. She could see that Qi Jianyi wasn’t entirely okay—the fatigue still lined her face, and her eyes lacked their usual spark. There was something deeper in her friend’s silence, something she wasn’t sharing, and it left Ling Xi feeling helpless.

"If you ever need someone with you... don’t go alone next time," Ling Xi murmured, trying to suppress the anxious energy rising inside her.

Qi Jianyi gave her a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I’ll keep that in mind," she replied, her words light but holding no real promise.

"Have you studied for the upcoming exam?" Qi Jianyi swiftly changed the topic, steering the conversation away from her fainting incident.

Ling Xi let out an exaggerated sigh and slumped her shoulders dramatically against the table, her frustration evident. "I’ve been studying for days, and I honestly can’t figure out why I chose this course in the first place! I mean, doesn’t this country have enough economists already? Why did I have to throw myself into this chaos too?" she grumbled, her voice full of regret.

Qi Jianyi chuckled at Ling Xi’s response, her mood lightening just a bit. She could completely relate. After all, why had she taken this course herself? It wasn’t like she could even blame the original Qi Jianyi. Back in her real world, she had also chosen economics—whether by fate or folly, she couldn’t say.

"Who knows why?" Qi Jianyi replied, a teasing tone in her voice.

"Maybe we were just destined to learn this subject. Anyway, keep it up! You’ll still be questioning yourself for the next three years." She smirked, recalling a piece of advice from her own university days in her real world, one that had stuck with her.

She remembered her seniors’ joking warnings. "Junior Jianyi," they had said, "when you start questioning why you picked this course, resist the urge. Because trust me, you’ll keep questioning yourself for all four years, right up until you graduate."

At first, she was skeptical. But after her first few classes, she quickly realised they hadn’t been exaggerating. Every lecture, every exam, every mind-numbing theory had made her wonder why she hadn’t chosen something easier, something less... relentless. Why economics, out of all the courses available in the vast sea of university options?

Looking at Ling Xi now, lost in her own spiraling thoughts of regret, Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but laugh a little at the familiarity of it all.

"Trust me," she said, leaning back in her chair, "we’re all in the same boat."

Soon enough, the day of the final exam arrived. With a satisfied sigh, Qi Jianyi closed her textbook, refusing to look at another word. She had studied diligently, revising everything to the point of near memorization. Confidence settled in her chest as she was certain she could ace it.

As she prepared to enter the exam hall, Ling Xi nudged her with an excited grin. "Let’s get hotpot after this," she suggested, almost too casually, as if the heat outside wasn’t unbearable.

Qi Jianyi raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Hotpot? In the middle of this scorching sun?"

She shook her head in disbelief, though a small smile tugged at her lips. Only Ling Xi would come up with such an idea when it was this hot outside.

Once the exam was over, Qi Jianyi handed in her paper and walked out of the hall, stretching her stiff limbs. A dull ache throbbed in her lower back, and she rubbed at it absentmindedly with her left hand. Her right hand moved to her chest, softly patting the spot where an uncomfortable tightness had started to settle.

Ever since that fainting episode at the cemetery, Qi Jianyi had noticed subtle changes in her health. Her energy wasn’t what it used to be, and at night, she often found herself coughing with a tightness in her chest that made breathing hard. There were also times when sudden headaches struck without warning, leaving her dazed and out of focus.

But, none of these episodes were as severe as the day she fainted.

"What are your plans for summer vacation?" Ling Xi asked, linking her arm with Qi Jianyi’s as they strolled toward the parking lot. Her tone was light and expectant, as if she had already lined up a long list of thrilling possibilities.

Qi Jianyi tilted her head slightly, pretending to ponder the question with the weight it didn’t really deserve.

"Nothing much," she answered, her voice flat yet serious. "I plan on being a salted fish until the next semester starts."

Ling Xi blinked, her excitement deflating in an instant. She gave Qi Jianyi a look that screamed dull disbelief. How did I even become friends with this boring woman? she wondered, resisting the urge to sigh out loud. She couldn’t fathom how someone could waste an entire summer doing absolutely nothing.

"What about you?" Qi Jianyi turned the question back, her tone calm as ever.

Ling Xi’s face lit up with excitement again, her energy instantly renewed. "I’m going on a holiday abroad! I haven’t decided where yet, but I’ll pick a place last minute," she grinned widely. "And don’t worry, when I come back, I’ll bring you tons of gifts!"

Qi Jianyi chuckled at her friend’s enthusiasm, the contrast between them as stark as ever. "Well, at least one of us has exciting plans."

But the truth was, Qi Jianyi lied to Ling Xi. How could she do nothing this summer? She had no intention of being a salted fish—far from it. This summer wasn’t just a break from school. It was her chance to find a way home. She couldn’t afford to waste it.

As for Ling Xi’s promise to bring her lots of gifts, Qi Jianyi didn’t even know if she’d still be here to accept them. Would she even be around to smile and thank Ling Xi for her thoughtfulness?