CHAPTER 66: HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO FOR ME

"Qi Jianyi?" Song Chengfeng’s voice was tense as he reached out to steady her, guiding her swaying form to lean against him. He pulled her close, feeling the weight of her unease settle between them.

His face darkened, worry evident in his gaze as he scanned her pale face.

"Qi Jianyi!" he called again, his voice edged with urgency.

But Qi Jianyi remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the floor, lashes trembling against her cheeks, her skin growing paler by the second.

Minutes passed before her breathing steadied. Slowly, Qi Jianyi gripped Song Chengfeng’s arm, her fingers tightening as she finally looked up at him. Her eyes held a faint panic, her words coming in a breathless whisper.

"Song Chengfeng, take me out of here."

The desperation in Qi Jianyi’s voice startled Song Chengfeng, but he didn’t pause to question it. Taking her hand, he quickly led her away from the filming set, their footsteps hurried and focused.

Neither noticed He Zeqing, who was still in conversation with the director, unaware of their sudden departure.

Qi Jianyi’s head buzzed with the sudden revelation. To think that the novel she’d believed she had transmigrated into was actually created by the original Qi Jianyi. The idea was nearly impossible to grasp.

The more she thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed. How could the original Qi Jianyi have predicted so many events that would later unfold? It wasn’t just that the details felt accurate—they were eerily precise.

For instance, the argument at He Zejin’s birthday party had matched the novel exactly: the location, the timing, even the exact dress Xia Ning had worn. And somehow, the original Qi Jianyi had foreseen that He Zeqing and Xia Ning would encounter each other years down the line.

But that should have been impossible because the original Qi Jianyi had only been sixteen, and Xia Ning hadn’t even entered the entertainment industry yet.

Questions tumbled through her mind, one after another. No matter how she tried to rationalise it, the more Qi Jianyi dwelled on the fact that the novel was written by a sixteen-year-old, the more surreal it felt.

Because, try as she might, it simply didn’t make sense.

"What’s wrong with you?" Song Chengfeng asked quietly as they walked out of the filming set toward the parking lot. His gaze lingered on her, clear concern etched in his expression.

Qi Jianyi shook her head, her voice weary. "Nothing. Don’t mind it."

"It’s obviously not nothing," he retorted, a sharp edge in his tone.

Song Chengfeng studied her pale face, searching her expression for clues. But she remained motionless, giving nothing away.

She took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from her temple with a low, humorless laugh. "You’re observant."

She was clearly trying to lighten the mood, a thin veil over the truth she couldn’t reveal. But the subtle tremor in her body betrayed her.

"You’re hiding something. Qi Jianyi, why don’t you just tell me?" His disapproval was unmistakable, sternly etched on his face.

"You know I’m hiding it. Can’t you just pretend not to notice?" Qi Jianyi replied with a resigned look, her voice tired.

’Why is he so blunt? Can’t he see I don’t want to talk about it?’ she thought in silent frustration.

"How are you feeling?" Song Chengfeng ignored her attempt to deflect. Pretending wasn’t an option for him.

"My head hurts a bit," she admitted honestly.

"What about your chest? I saw you clench it earlier."

"It’s fine. I’m just... a little dizzy." She exhaled, her hands still shaking as she instinctively reached for him for support.

"Sit down for a moment." Song Chengfeng guided her to a nearby bench, helping her ease down.

He walked over to the vending machine by the bench and bought her a bottle of water, twisting the cap off before handing it to her. "Drink this."

Qi Jianyi looked up at him, accepting the uncapped bottle. She took a small sip, allowing herself a moment to gather her strength.

Song Chengfeng didn’t sit beside Qi Jianyi. Instead, he stood in front of her, tall and unmoving, shielding her from the scorching sun.

"Sit down. You’re so tall, and my neck hurts looking up at you." Qi Jianyi made a light joke, glancing up to meet his eyes.

Song Chengfeng didn’t budge, his expression steady. "The sun’s too harsh," he replied simply.

"You’re so caring." She smiled, her head dropping back to rest as her expression softened.

"I like you." In other words, You’re the person I care about, so how could I not?

Taken aback, Qi Jianyi let out a genuine laugh, momentarily forgetting her headache. Even her frustration seemed to melt away.

"Are you really not going to tell me what you’re hiding?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Tell me, Song Chengfeng."

"What is it?"

"How far are you willing to go for me?" She lifted her head, her gaze serious.

"What do you mean?" he asked, wanting her to clarify.

"You said you like me. So I wonder... how far are you willing to go for me because of that?" Her voice was quiet, yet the question hung heavily in the air.

"I don’t understand, Qi Jianyi." Song Chengfeng’s voice was firm, hesitating to answer.

"If I told you there was someone I wanted to kill, would you do it for me?" The words slipped out, unexpected and raw.

Right now, hatred was the only emotion she could feel. She loathed the original Qi Jianyi, though she knew she’d never have the courage to carry out such an act. But picturing it—a small, vicious fantasy—somehow soothed her.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Song Chengfeng’s face turned solemn, startled by her words.

Kill someone? He’d never imagined Qi Jianyi could even consider something like that. Just how deeply had this unknown person hurt her?

"Qi Jianyi, tell me, who is it?" His voice turned cold, and his eyes darkened.

But Qi Jianyi only laughed, a playful glint in her eyes. "Why? If I told you who it was, would you kill her for me?"

"Are you serious?"

"Would you?" She rose from the bench, closing the space between them. Her voice dropped to a murmur. "Would you hurt someone for me, just because you say you like me?"

"How much are you willing to endure for this so-called love, Song Chengfeng?"

"Qi Jianyi, you’re—" he began, his brow furrowing.

"Crazy?" She cut in, her smile thin. "I’m perfectly sane. Don’t worry."

"No," he corrected, his gaze unwavering. "You’re scared."

"Scared?" She scoffed, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

The more she acted indifferent, the more certain he became that something was wrong. Something was haunting her, a shadow he couldn’t quite see. And whatever it was, it had brought her to the edge of reason.

So close, that she might lose herself entirely.

"What am I scared of? Hmm, tell me," Qi Jianyi asked, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.

Song Chengfeng’s expression remained calm, his gaze steady. "I don’t know. What are you scared of, Qi Jianyi?" he asked in return.

She fell silent, his question settling heavily around her. Indeed, what was she afraid of? Was it the original Qi Jianyi’s power to exchanged their lives? Or was it the fear that she might never return to her own world?

The truth was, she didn’t know. She was scared, undeniably so. But what exactly terrified her remained unclear, even to herself.

The reality slowly unveiling before her felt like a shadow looming closer, and the more it revealed itself, the more it chilled her to the core.

Lost in her thoughts, Qi Jianyi felt a sudden warmth envelop her. Before she could react, Song Chengfeng’s arms had wrapped around her, his tall frame shielding her entirely.

"What are you doing?" she murmured, bewildered by the unexpected embrace.

Song Chengfeng stayed silent, his hold tightening, drawing her even closer.

"Song Chengfeng?" she called again, her voice uncertain. She hadn’t expected him to be this bold, and her usual instincts failed her, leaving her standing still in his arms.

With a hesitant hand, Song Chengfeng lifted his arm and gently brushed his hand over her hair. His touch was careful, almost awkward, revealing how unfamiliar he was with such tenderness.

"It’s okay," he murmured, his voice so soft that Qi Jianyi stiffened in surprise.

She had never imagined that this man could speak so gently, his words carrying a warmth that somehow steadied her racing heart.

"I’m fine," she said, lowering her gaze, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. She couldn’t understand why he was holding her so tightly—she was perfectly fine.

"Why are you hugging me?" she asked again, her tone soft but genuinely puzzled.

"Don’t be scared..." he murmured, his hand continuing its gentle caress through her hair, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He didn’t offer more explanation, and somehow, that simple reassurance made her heart stir.

Qi Jianyi looked up, meeting his gaze directly. Standing at just over 1.7 meters, she had to tilt her head to see him clearly. Song Chengfeng, nearly 1.9 meters tall, looked down at her with an intensity she’d never seen before.

Hesitantly, she lifted her hands, pausing just long enough to question herself, and then let them rest lightly around his waist.

"What am I scared of?" she murmured, more to herself than to him. She couldn’t count how many times she’d asked this question, the confusion in her voice deepening each time.