CHAPTER 62: DRAMATIC QI JIANYI

Qi Jianyi closed her laptop after hours of sitting in front of it, her eyes stinging from the strain. She had started this summer break with high hopes, determined to find a way home. But as the days passed, fate seemed to mock her ambitions.

Not only was she stuck without any concrete plans, but her health had worsened as waves of dizziness frequently swept over her.

Frustrated, Qi Jianyi had to admit that her body wasn’t allowing her to chase her goals with the same intensity as before. She sighed, resigning herself to focusing on the only thing she had control over—herself.

In the end, Qi Jianyi temporarily decided to start writing again. Maybe it was her obsession with finding a way home that had clouded her thoughts. Perhaps by losing herself in writing, pouring her energy into something creative, she could clear her mind.

"Jianyi, what do you want to eat for dinner? I’ll let the chef know later," Mrs. Qi asked gently as she stepped into her daughter’s room, her voice soft and motherly.

Qi Jianyi shrugged, flashing a small, innocent smile. "Anything is fine," she replied, her tone light yet distant.

In truth, she didn’t have much of an appetite lately. Her body felt weaker with each passing day, and her mind was preoccupied with the writing she had taken up again. Despite not knowing whether she truly enjoyed it, writing had been a part of her life for so long that it had become a habit, an obsession of sorts. Qi Jianyi knew she couldn’t afford to slack off any longer.

Especially when she realised that her writing had grown rusty, and the realisation bothered her. It annoyed her to no end that what had once been second nature now felt like a chore, like she was dragging the words out of herself.

Mrs. Qi watched her daughter closely, her brow creased with concern. "What have you been doing lately? You’re always glued to that laptop. Didn’t Dr. Li say you shouldn’t push yourself too much and rest as much as possible?"

"Anyway..." Mrs. Qi took a deep breath, as if bracing herself for the question she’d been holding back. She glanced at Qi Jianyi, lips pressed together, hesitant.

Noticing the silence, Qi Jianyi paused and turned her head. "What’s wrong?" Confusion flickered in her eyes as she observed her mother’s struggle.

Mrs. Qi finally spoke, though her voice was barely above a whisper. "You and that Xiao Feng..."

Qi Jianyi raised an eyebrow, sensing the direction this conversation was heading. "What about me and Song Chengfeng?"

Mrs. Qi hesitated again, fidgeting with her fingers. "He hasn’t reached out to you at all since that day?"

A flicker of amusement crossed Qi Jianyi’s face, though it was faint. "Are you really that curious about him, mom?"

Mrs. Qi pursed her lips. "Well... yes, maybe. I mean, after everything he said, I thought he would’ve tried harder. I was sure he’d show up at the door or something. But weeks have passed, and he’s been nowhere in sight."

Qi Jianyi leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms as if to dismiss the topic. "Maybe he realised that no means no."

"But your father called him a coward for giving up so easily," Mrs. Qi said with a slight chuckle, though there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. "After making such bold declarations, and then—poof—he’s gone."

Qi Jianyi’s eyes darkened as she opened back her laptop. "That sounds more like a relief than a problem."

Mrs. Qi sighed, her gaze softening. "You’re really okay with him not trying again?"

"Mom, I’m fine. Song Chengfeng giving up is the least of my worries right now," Qi Jianyi replied coolly, her tone making it clear that the topic was no longer up for discussion.

Mrs. Qi stood up, shaking her head lightly, but she couldn’t hide the lingering concern. "Just... don’t work yourself too hard, okay?" she said, her voice quieter now. "I’ll tell the chef to make something easy on your stomach."

"Thanks...mom," Qi Jianyi murmured without turning around, her mind already drifting back to the lines on her screen.

As Mrs. Qi left the room, Qi Jianyi’s expression faltered. She thought of Song Chengfeng, of the way he’d looked at her with such determination—and how it had faded without a word.

But maybe that’s what she wanted, after all. Less mess, less drama. Less to care about in a world where she didn’t belong.

"Do I even have the time to think about him?" She chuckled, shook her head and focused back on the screen.

...

"Tell me why I’m here again?" Qi Jianyi asked, her voice edged with irritation as she settled onto the sleek leather couch, arms crossed over her chest.

Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the sterile, professional atmosphere of He Zeqing’s office. It wasn’t exactly her idea of an ideal morning. She had just finished breakfast and was fully prepared to retreat into her room to continue writing, when Mr. Qi intercepted her with an unexpected demand. He had asked her to come along, offering no real explanation other than the vague promise of "taking her somewhere."

That ’somewhere’ turned out to be He Zeqing’s company. Without a word of clarity, Mr. Qi had driven her there, practically ushered her out of the car, and then left her with one simple instruction: "Go to He Zeqing’s office."

Now, here Qi Jianyi was, trapped in this office, waiting for something or anything to make sense. She tapped her fingers on the armrest in frustration, muttering under her breath. She could be writing right now, using her time more productively, instead of grumbling in this corporate environment.

He Zeqing hadn’t even shown up yet.

"Seriously, what am I supposed to do here?" she mumbled to herself, glaring at the polished glass table in front of her.

After a whole minute spent questioning her very existence in He Zeqing’s office, the door finally opened. He Zeqing strode in, flanked by his assistant, his expression as unreadable as ever.

"You’re here?" he remarked, his tone casual, not even sparing a glance her way. Meanwhile, his assistant glanced over, more curious than usual—after all, it wasn’t every day the boss’s cousin showed up in the office.

"Where have you been? I’m bored to death." Qi Jianyi shot him a glare before continuing, "And what’s up with your employees?"

He Zeqing paused, turning to actually look at her, eyebrows slightly furrowed. "What’s wrong with them?"

Qi Jianyi shrugged, crossing her legs and leaning back into the couch. "I don’t know. Ever since I walked in, all your female staff have been staring at me like I’m some rare exhibit."

He Zeqing’s lips twitched, the slightest hint of amusement threatening to break through his usual calm demeanor. "That’s because they’re not used to seeing someone like you around here."

"Someone like me?" Qi Jianyi raised a brow, unimpressed.

He Zeqing tilted his head, his tone teasing, "A woman who looks like she’d rather burn the whole place down than step into a corporate office willingly."

Qi Jianyi snorted, rolling her eyes, "You’re not wrong."

Despite the casual exchange between Qi Jianyi and He Zeqing, his assistant—who had been standing quietly at the side—gasped in disbelief. Who would have imagined that the cold, calculating president could actually crack a joke?

As a man who had worked closely with He Zeqing, the assistant had seen his boss command meetings with icy precision and maintain an air of unwavering authority.

Yet, here he was, making a lighthearted remark as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The assistant blinked a few times, trying to process the scene unfolding before him.

’Was this the same He Zeqing?’

His gaze flicked between He Zeqing and Qi Jianyi, wondering if this was some kind of parallel universe. He knew his boss could be charming when needed, but this was different. It was casual, almost... personal. Refused to be stuck between the two of them, the assistant quickly excused himself as soon as he put the document on the table, not forgetting to close the door.

’So this is how he acts around family?’ He couldn’t help but feel like he’d just witnessed something extraordinary, something that would have the entire office buzzing if they found out.

"Anyway, just tell me what I’m supposed to do here. If it’s nothing, then lend me your car. I’ll go back first," Qi Jianyi commanded without a hint of hesitation, as if borrowing He Zeqing’s car was the most natural request in the world.

He Zeqing, however, shook his head and ruthlessly said, "Uncle Qi mentioned you’ve been locking yourself in your room all day. He asked me to get you out and make you do something productive."

Qi Jianyi gasped in disbelief, almost offended. "What do you mean ’locking myself in doing nothing’? I’m doing something, okay!"

She crossed her arms, frowning. She was writing. Writing was something. At least, she believed it was important.

She couldn’t believe it. Her own father had practically thrown her out! Hadn’t he always wanted her to stay at home, away from all distractions? Yet now, it seemed Mr. Qi had completely changed his tune, even having the audacity to enlist He Zeqing in his plan to drag her away.

Qi Jianyi slumped back on the couch dramatically, her thoughts racing. The nerve of that old man! All she wanted was peace and quiet, but apparently, Mr. Qi thought otherwise.