The discussion between Director Tang and Qi Jianyi concluded smoothly, with both parties parting ways with smiles of satisfaction. He Zeqing, standing by as a silent observer for most of the eting, felt an overwhelming sense of pride watching his cousin’s poised deanor.
For soone he believed to be taking her first official step into the professional world outside of academic projects, Qi Jianyi had exceeded all expectations. She exuded a level of professionalism and self-assurance that made it difficult to believe this was her first eting of such significance.
She voiced her opinions with clarity and conviction, leaving no room for ambiguity or exploitation. Director Tang, seasoned as he was, could only respect her strong stance.
"Director Tang, I am looking forward to a successful collaboration," Qi Jianyi concluded with a polished air, rising gracefully from her seat. She extended her hand for a final shake, her movents deliberate and assured. "And please, don’t hesitate to reach out if you encounter any issues with the manuscript or production process. I’ll do my best to assist you within my capacity."
Director Tang, still sowhat taken aback by her adept handling of the discussion, found himself nodding eagerly. Her composure and fluency in navigating a professional conversation were leagues ahead of what he had anticipated. What’s more, her calm yet authoritative deanor made it clear she wasn’t soone who could be trifled with.
"It’s truly an honor to collaborate with you on your debut manuscript, Miss Qi," he replied, his tone tinged with admiration and a hint of flattery. "I assure you, I will spare no effort to et your expectations and those of President He."
Qi Jianyi smiled politely, her expression steady and unreadable. She wasn’t particularly swayed by such flattery—comnts like these were to be expected, given her dual identity as a writer and a mber of the influential Qi family.
Still, it was better to leave things on a pleasant note, and she offered him a cordial nod.
On the other hand, He Zeqing, who was well-accustod to the flowery words of those seeking favor, remained largely indifferent to Director Tang’s words. He busied himself with the next task at hand which was escorting the director out of the eting room and to the elevator.
After ensuring Director Tang was on his way, He Zeqing returned to find Qi Jianyi lounging in one of the swivel chairs, idly spinning herself in slow circles.
"Do you want to send you ho?" he asked, coming to a stop beside her. Without waiting for a reply, he began gathering the scattered docunts on the table, neatly stacking them. It was a rare sight to see the president of a company tidying up a eting room himself.
Qi Jianyi stopped spinning her chair and leaned back, her dark eyes scanning him lazily. "Aren’t you busy?" she asked, her tone tinged with mild curiosity.
He Zeqing shook his head. "No etings scheduled for the rest of the day," he replied succinctly, his hands still busy organizing the papers.
It was rare for He Zeqing to have any free ti, and his willingness to offer her a ride only reinforced how much he prioritized her. Qi Jianyi, however, simply tilted her head, considering his offer.
"Thank you, but I drove here, so there’s no need for you to send ho," Qi Jianyi replied after a brief pause. Her tone was polite, her gaze steady as she reached for her handbag and prepared to leave.
"That’s fine, then. Let at least walk you to the parking lot," He Zeqing offered, his tone light and nonchalant.
His suggestion was simple, so Qi Jianyi saw no reason to refuse. She gave him a small nod and fell into step beside him as they exited the eting room. However, as the pair waited for the elevator to arrive, Qi Jianyi suddenly paused, her steps faltering.
"Cousin," she called out casually, her voice calm but firm enough to catch his attention. He Zeqing turned to look at her, his brows raising in slight question.
"I need to stop by the washroom first," she continued, her tone as composed as ever. "You go ahead and wait for in the lobby."
He Zeqing didn’t think much of it. There was nothing unusual about her request, and his trust in her was implicit. Nodding, he gestured for her to go. "Alright. Don’t take too long—I’ll be downstairs."
As soon as he disappeared into the elevator, Qi Jianyi’s composed deanor wavered. Her hurried steps took her to the nearest washroom, her movents quick and deliberate. Entering one of the stalls, she shut the door firmly behind her and leaned back against it, her breath coming slightly uneven.
Her handbag, which had been hanging loosely from her shoulder, slipped and fell onto the floor with a soft thud as her hands flew to cover her mouth.
The cough she had been suppressing for what felt like an eternity broke free, sharp and ragged as it echoed in the small cubicle. Her slim fra trembled slightly with each strained breath, the facade of calm she wore so effortlessly now replaced with a vulnerability she refused to let anyone see.
For a few monts, Qi Jianyi remained there, her back pressed against the cold surface of the door, her hand gripping the edge of the small counter beside her for support. It wasn’t the first ti her health had taken a toll on her like this, but it didn’t make it any easier.
She could feel a faint, bitter taste spreading across her tongue, sharp and tallic, and it made her stomach churn. Lowering her trembling hands from her mouth, she glanced at them briefly before looking away, as though refusing to acknowledge the truth.
They were wet. She didn’t need to look long to know it wasn’t saliva.
It was blood.
Once again, she had coughed up blood.
The sight didn’t shock her as much as it should have—this wasn’t the first ti, after all—but a cold heaviness settled in her chest. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she steadied herself, trying to ignore the dull ache that flared with every breath.
Her gaze flicked toward the tissue in her bag. Grabbing it swiftly, she dabbed at her lips and palms. The sharp, bitter taste remained stubbornly on her tongue, but she swallowed hard, forcing herself to suppress the discomfort.
Her body had betrayed her yet again, but Qi Jianyi wouldn’t let it show. Not here. Not now.
She took a deep breath, though it scraped painfully against her throat, and straightened her posture. The flickering doubt in her eyes was extinguished as her expression returned to its usual composed calm.
"Pull it together," she whispered to herself, her voice soft but firm, a quiet reminder of the image she couldn’t afford to tarnish.
Everyone around her was concerned about her health. Their worried glances and subtle questions were impossible to miss. Yet Qi Jianyi knew she couldn’t afford to let those worries grow—not again.
Especially not now.
She had co to terms with the truth behind her weakened body, a truth she had shared with no one except Song Chengfeng. The two of them carried this secret in silence, bound by the weight of knowledge that others couldn’t comprehend.
Her family, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaware. They were still puzzled, their concern rooted in confusion. After all, the results of her last physical examinations were clear: there was nothing dically wrong with her. The doctors had assured them she was perfectly healthy.
But she wasn’t.
And she couldn’t bear to shatter their illusion of peace.
The least she could do now was to keep up the façade, to pretend that everything was fine.
With her hands now clean and her breathing under control, she smoothed down her clothes, picked up her handbag, and exited the stall. She carefully rinsed her mouth, erasing the tallic taste of blood. Leaning over the sink, she splashed cool water onto her face, the chill grounding her montarily as she fought to compose herself.
With practiced precision, she inspected her reflection in the mirror, ensuring there were no traces left—no smudges on her lips, no crimson streaks on her hands. Satisfied, she dabbed her face dry with a paper towel and adjusted her expression to one of calm indifference.
No one could know.
After a final glance to confirm everything was in order, she straightened her posture, picked up her handbag, and stepped out of the washroom.
By the ti she stepped out of the washroom, Qi Jianyi was, once again, the picture of poise and elegance, as if nothing had happened.
When Qi Jianyi stepped into the lobby, He Zeqing noticed her right away and stood up from his seat. His expression stayed calm, showing no sign of doubt or suspicion. It seed he completely believed her excuse about needing to use the washroom.
Seeing his usual composed look, Qi Jianyi felt a wave of relief. She had been worried that his sharp eyes might catch on to sothing, but thankfully, her act had worked.
He Zeqing was known for being sharp and quick to notice things, so fooling him wasn’t easy. But today, her mask held steady, and he didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.
"You’re quick," He Zeqing said casually.
"I didn’t want to keep you waiting," Qi Jianyi replied, her voice steady and calm.
He gave her a small nod and gestured toward the exit. Together, they walked out, and Qi Jianyi made sure her steps were even, hiding any trace of her earlier struggle.
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