CHAPTER 64: I’M HERE

"I’m here," Song Chengfeng responded to her faint call, his voice steady. Even though her words had barely been audible, his sharp hearing, honed from years as a soldier, caught every syllable with ease.

Qi Jianyi glanced away, a flicker of surprise passing over her face. "What a coincidence," she muttered, her tone cool as she turned her back on him. But not before shooting a glare in He Zeqing’s direction.

Unfortunately for her, He Zeqing seemed oblivious to the heated look thrown his way. He was too busy glaring daggers at his so-called friend. The guilt of lending a hand to Song Chengfeng weighed on him, and now that it was done, regret washed over him.

Why did I soften up for this bastard, He Zeqing thought, especially when Song Chengfeng barely even acknowledged his existence?

"It’s not a coincidence. I came here to see you," Song Chengfeng stated plainly, unwilling to indulge in pretense. He wasn’t one to play the fool and act like their meeting was accidental.

He had been waiting for this moment. The only reason he hadn’t sought her out sooner was because he couldn’t stop thinking about her reaction in the hospital ward that day.

Song Chengfeng had replayed that scene in his mind over and over. Qi Jianyi hadn’t looked disgusted by the idea of him pursuing her, but strangely, that indifference stung more than if she was disgusted by him.

Because the way she had looked at him back then was like he was nothing more than an inanimate object, like a doll which haunted him. It was as though, in Qi Jianyi’s eyes, he wasn’t alive at all.

"You’re really straightforward," Qi Jianyi replied, her tone flat, though her eyebrows arched in mild surprise.

Song Chengfeng’s gaze remained steady on her, unwavering. "Why bother with roundabout words when I know you can understand me perfectly?" His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it.

Qi Jianyi tilted her head slightly, studying him. "What exactly do you want, Young Master Song?"

"I am not giving up on you, Qi Jianyi," he declared, his confidence palpable as he stepped closer, holding her gaze with an intensity that made it impossible for her to look away.

For a brief moment, her resolve wavered. She met his eyes, and he stood firm, clearly refusing to let her escape this time.

The air between them crackled with tension, and Qi Jianyi could feel the pressure mounting, pushing her to respond.

"You—"

Before she could finish, He Zeqing’s stern voice sliced through the moment, shattering the charged atmosphere.

"Have you said enough?" He cut in, pulling Qi Jianyi away from Song Chengfeng with a sharp glare directed at his friend.

"We’ve got a filming set to visit. Don’t waste your time on this scoundrel," He Zeqing muttered, his grip on her arm firm. His words carried a possessive edge, though they earned him nothing but a cold, deadpan stare from Qi Jianyi.

"Thirty minutes," she snapped, brushing off his hand with a sharp movement with slight relief escaping her lips. "After that, you send me home."

Though she glared at He Zeqing, she was still grateful for his timely interruption which had given her a chance to escape, just when she needed it.

For a brief moment, Qi Jianyi’s mind went blank, unable to find the right words to respond to the man standing opposite her.

"Let’s go," He Zeqing said curtly, striding past Song Chengfeng without a second glance. His tone was firm, brooking no argument. Qi Jianyi followed in his footsteps, deliberately ignoring the young master that was left behind.

...

"Do you want to read the script?" He Zeqing asked, handing her a thick stack of papers.

Qi Jianyi shook her head, a clear sign of disinterest. She knew herself well—if she read the script and saw what the writers were trying to bring to life, she’d only end up irritated if the main leads failed to deliver. It was easier to stay indifferent, rather than let her perfectionist tendencies get the better of her.

"Who are the main leads for your new film?" Qi Jianyi asked, her voice laced with boredom as she leaned casually against the wall.

Beside her, Song Chengfeng stood unusually close, his presence almost clinging to her today for reasons she couldn’t quite understand.

He Zeqing, flipping through the script in his hands, glanced up briefly. "Gu Weiqi and Xia Ning," he answered in a clipped tone.

Qi Jianyi’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of the latter name. She had almost forgotten about the female lead’s existence. Curiosity sparked within her as she shot a quick glance at her cousin.

"Cousin, are you interested in her?" she asked, her tone teasing but genuinely curious.

"Who?" He Zeqing frowned, his displeasure evident. When has he ever shown interest in a woman? He was entirely unaware of such a development himself.

Qi Jianyi tilted her head toward the woman who had just stepped out of the dressing room. "Her, Xia Ning. Don’t you like her?"

"Who the hell gave you that idea? Which eyes of yours see me interested in her?" He Zeqing’s brows furrowed as he questioned Qi Jianyi, his tone exasperated. Without missing a beat, he reached out and placed the back of his hand on her forehead, as if checking for signs of delirium.

Qi Jianyi swatted his hand away, her expression calm but sharp. "You invested in her drama before. And now, again, you’re backing this film."

"That’s your proof?" He Zeqing let out a scoff. "You’re too naive. I invested, yes, but I didn’t exactly have a say in the casting process. She can act, and she does it well. Why should I care beyond that? As long as the leads perform and the film makes money, I’ll get my investment back—maybe even tripled."

"In business, it’s all about profit. Why should I waste money on someone I’m not interested in? Understand?" He Zeqing lectured her with a tone that implied he was imparting some great wisdom.

Qi Jianyi rolled her eyes, unimpressed. She wasn’t that naive. Normally, if someone kept investing in projects with the same actress, there might be whispers, but she wouldn’t care.

But this was different. She had read the novel where He Zeqing and Xia Ning had been destined to end up together. That knowledge tugged at her curiosity, even now. Despite knowing it was foolish, a part of her still clung to the hope that if the story progressed as it had in the book, maybe, just maybe, she could return to her world.

Yet deep down, Qi Jianyi knew better. She was no fool. The existence of the original Qi Jianyi was proof enough that this was not some fictional narrative playing out in a neatly plotted arc. It was a real world—perhaps another dimension. That was the only explanation that made sense to her now.

Still, the question remained: how had the novel from her world ended up in her hands, and why was she one of its readers? It was a mystery she had yet to unravel.

Her thoughts clouded over as she drifted deeper into these questions, only to be pulled back to reality by a sharp flick to her forehead.

"Stop overthinking," He Zeqing snapped, taking advantage of her distraction.

Qi Jianyi winced, rubbing the spot where he had flicked her, irritation flaring. Before she could respond, he continued, "Stay here with that jerk for a moment. I need to talk to the director."

And with that, he walked off, leaving no room for protest.

"He’s so annoying," Qi Jianyi muttered, massaging her reddened forehead. It felt like the hundredth time today that she had called him annoying, but somehow, it never seemed to lose its meaning.

Qi Jianyi finally understood what her friends in her original world meant when they complained about their overbearing older brothers.

Compared to this, her adorable younger brothers, the twins, seemed like a blessing.

"Does it hurt?" A deep voice cut into her thoughts. Song Chengfeng, ever watchful, saw his chance to talk and took it. His tone was soft, almost tender, which surprised her.

Qi Jianyi froze for a moment, then quickly shook her head. "No, it’s just itchy," she replied quietly.

"Stop rubbing it, or it’ll get even redder," Song Chengfeng said, gently grabbing her hand to stop her from making it worse.

"You’re overreacting," Qi Jianyi snorted as she pulled her hand back, the small flicker of awkwardness masked behind her sarcasm.

Song Chengfeng didn’t seem bothered by her retreat, his calm gaze unwavering. "How are you?"

"I’m fine. Thank you for your concern," Qi Jianyi replied, offering him a polite nod, acknowledging his words with a touch of formality.

He continued to stare at her, his frown deepening in a way that made Qi Jianyi uneasy. After a moment of enduring his intense gaze, she couldn’t take it anymore and asked, "What? Is there something on my face?"

"Nothing," he answered calmly, effortlessly brushing off her doubt.

Qi Jianyi hesitated, studying him in the brief silence that followed. He looked the same as he always had—strong and composed. Yet, there was something different about him now. The cold, detached look in his eyes had softened, especially when he looked at her.

It was so noticeable that even she couldn’t ignore it.

"Why do you want to see me?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Because I just want to," Song Chengfeng replied with his usual confidence, no hesitation in his voice.

"Still sticking with the ’no reason’ excuse?" Qi Jianyi raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

He frowned slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "I like you. I want to see you. There’s no reason for it. If you really need one, then the reason is you. You’re the reason."

A low chuckle escaped her lips. "What you’re saying doesn’t even make sense."

"Does everything have to make sense for you to believe it?"

"Well, maybe?" Qi Jianyi admitted, shaking her head with a hint of hesitation.

If he had asked her that question before, she would have said yes without a second thought. Everything needed to make sense for her to believe it.

But after being thrown into a new world, living someone else’s life, she realised not everything could be explained logically. And yet, here she was, forced to accept the impossible.