"That’s good to hear. How’s your mother doing these days? It’s been such a long ti since I last saw her," Mrs. Qi asked, her expression softening with genuine curiosity and satisfaction.
Hearing how Song Chengfeng’s mother had sent a bird’s nest for Qi Jianyi, Mrs. Qi couldn’t help but feel reassured. It seed like his mother had silently given her approval of the budding relationship.
However, Mrs. Qi was well aware that her own daughter was still taking her ti, undecided about fully accepting Song Chengfeng’s affections.
"You two can chat for a while. I have so work to finish up. Chengfeng, make sure you stay for lunch today," Mrs. Qi added with a gentle but firm tone as she patted her daughter’s hand.
Her kind eyes lingered on Qi Jianyi for a mont before she rose from her seat, making her way to the study to attend to her tasks.
Without waiting for any acknowledgnt from Song Chengfeng, Mrs. Qi had already left the room, her steps light but purposeful. She left the two young people alone in the cozy living room, with only the faint sounds of a random drama playing on the television filling the silence.
Qi Jianyi kept her gaze fixed on the staircase, watching her mother ascend until she disappeared completely from sight. Only then did she turn to face Song Chengfeng, her expression shifting to one of exasperation.
"Do you seriously not know how to act normal?" she accused, her voice sharp as her narrowed eyes settled on him, brimming with dissatisfaction.
Her pointed glare was enough to make Song Chengfeng slightly stiffen in his seat, though he quickly schooled his expression into one of mild innocence.
Despite her obvious irritation, there was no malice in her words—just the undeniable frustration of soone forced to deal with his frequent, unpredictable behavior.
"Sorry, I forgot about your mom for a mont," Song Chengfeng confessed, his tone sincere as he offered her an apologetic smile, the kind of disarming grin he often relied on to smooth things over.
However, his usual tactic failed miserably this ti. Qi Jianyi’s glare remained unwavering, sharp and stern, her dissatisfaction evident.
"Didn’t I tell you that I’m not just going to disappear as I please? Can you stop worrying so much?" she whispered, her voice low enough to ensure no one else in the house could hear.
The reprimand was firm but carried a touch of gentleness, as though she wanted him to truly understand without escalating the tension.
"I know..." Song Chengfeng murmured softly, his voice barely audible, yet he didn’t elaborate further. His hesitation spoke volus, an unspoken truth lingering between them.
Despite Qi Jianyi’s repeated reassurances, promising that she wouldn’t vanish without notice, Song Chengfeng couldn’t seem to shake the lingering dread. It clung to him like a shadow, quietly gnawing at his peace of mind.
Because the reality was clear to him that neither of them could predict the future. The uncertainty was unbearable. What if one day, Qi Jianyi found a way to return to her world? What if she left without him ever having the chance to say goodbye?
Both possibilities haunted him in different ways. On one hand, the idea of keeping her here, trapped in a world that didn’t feel entirely hers, was a thought he loathed. He understood that forcing her to stay would only stifle her spirit and ruin everything he cherished about her.
But on the other hand, letting her go—watching her disappear forever, with no promise of seeing her again—was a fear that gripped him even tighter.
In the end, all Song Chengfeng could do was swallow those conflicting emotions and cling to the present.
For now, he chose to stay as close to her as he could, cherishing every mont while silently grappling with the fear of an uncertain tomorrow.
"That..." Qi Jianyi began but quickly paused, choosing to ignore Song Chengfeng’s la response as her gaze shifted toward the package resting on the table.
She hesitated for a mont before softly asking, "Did you tell your mother about us?" A faint trace of nervousness seeped into her voice, betraying the calm façade she tried to maintain.
Song Chengfeng followed her line of sight, his eyes settling on the package. A small shrug accompanied his nonchalant response.
"I didn’t. But your cousin did."
Qi Jianyi’s eyes widened in disbelief as her head snapped back toward him.
"He Zeqing was the one who told your mother about ?!" she exclaid, utterly baffled by his revelation.
Seeing her reaction, Song Chengfeng bit back a smirk, carefully schooling his expression into one of seriousness. This was his chance for payback—to let He Zeqing take the fall for being overly ddleso.
Who told that guy to be so noisy? He deserved to be disliked for spilling everything to Mrs. Song.
"My mom ca looking for him, asking about ," Song Chengfeng explained casually, as though the betrayal didn’t bother him in the slightest.
"But apparently, that guy still holds a grudge against and ended up telling her everything about you—and how I got rejected over and over again. My mom, feeling sorry for , gave this bird’s nest and told to use it to win my future in-laws’ hearts."
His tone was light and matter-of-fact, but there was an unmistakable trace of mischief in his words. Whatever He Zeqing’s motives were for telling Mrs. Song, it had ultimately backfired.
Because instead of being angry or disappointed, Mrs. Song had only grown more intrigued by her future daughter-in-law.
The idea of soone who could repeatedly reject her stubborn son yet still manage to capture his heart fascinated her far more than whatever grievances He Zeqing had intended to stir up.
After all, Mrs. Song cared less about her son’s pride and far more about the woman who could finally make him bow his head—and maybe even smile more often.
"And why do you look so happy about this outco?" Qi Jianyi asked sharply, her eyes narrowing as she shot a glare in Song Chengfeng’s direction.
She picked up the bird’s nest package, placing it on her lap with the intention of examining it—though, truthfully, she had no idea what she was looking for when it ca to quality.
Song Chengfeng noticed the way her eyes flicked over the packaging with curiosity. Unable to hold back any longer, the smile he’d been suppressing broke free, softening his usually cold and composed deanor.
"It’s very good quality," he said, his voice unusually gentle as he responded to her unspoken question.
Despite the warmth in his tone, Qi Jianyi wasn’t about to let her guard down. She t his smile with an unrelenting glare, making it abundantly clear that his charm wouldn’t win her over so easily. Refusing to acknowledge his subtle romantic advances, she held her ground firmly.
"Well," Song Chengfeng began, sensing her resistance and deciding to shift the focus, "my mom did ntion that she’d like to et you. But I stopped her since you haven’t accepted yet. So, don’t be nervous. She’s a very easy going person."
His words were ant to reassure her, but they only earned him another pointed glare. Qi Jianyi wasn’t sure if she was more irritated by his nonchalant confidence or by the fact that he seed so comfortable discussing future family interactions when she hadn’t even agreed to anything yet.
"For soone who has been rejected countless tis, you look strangely confident and happy," Qi Jianyi sneered, clicking her tongue in a mocking tease.
Song Chengfeng chuckled softly in response, the sound low and rich, carrying a warmth that was uncharacteristic of his usual aloof deanor.
The deep timbre of his laughter seed to resonate in the quiet room, and Qi Jianyi, almost instinctively, raised a hand to touch her ear as if to block out its effect.
She glanced at him, intending to throw another jab, but found herself montarily stunned. Although she had long beco accustod to his sharp features and striking appearance, seeing him so unguarded caught her off-guard.
The typically composed and restrained Young Master, now relaxed and laughing—albeit softly—stirred sothing unexpected within her.
The subtle curve of his lips as they ford a smile was captivating. His usually furrowed brows were smooth and at ease, and his eyes, crinkling ever so slightly, seed to hold a rare lightness. He lifted a hand to partially cover his mouth, yet his soft laughter escaped effortlessly, clear and unmistakable.
After a mont, Song Chengfeng’s soft laughter subsided, leaving behind a comfortable quiet. Yet, as the silence stretched, he noticed that Qi Jianyi hadn’t said anything for a while.
Curious and slightly worried, he turned to her, only to et her gaze directly—eyes filled with a mixture of emotion he couldn’t quite place. His chest tightened.
"What’s wrong?" he asked, concern slipping into his voice.
His previously relaxed brows furrowed once more, and the lighthearted expression he wore monts ago disappeared, replaced by one of seriousness. He couldn’t help but worry that sothing might be wrong, that perhaps she was in pain but trying to hide it.
Qi Jianyi blinked at his question, startled as if snapped out of a daze. For a fleeting mont, she couldn’t find the words to respond. Why had she been staring at him like that? She chided herself inwardly, but her silence only deepened Song Chengfeng’s concern.
"Qi Jianyi, are you okay?" he pressed, his tone edged with a faint nervousness.
Hearing the slight tremor in his voice, Qi Jianyi quickly shook her head, regaining her composure. She nodded lightly to reassure him.
"I’m fine," she answered softly, brushing her hair back and tucking a stray strand behind her ear in an attempt to cover her wandering thoughts.
But Song Chengfeng wasn’t convinced. "Are you sure?" he asked again, his gaze lingering on her, scanning for any sign of discomfort.
"Yes, I’m just—" she began but abruptly stopped, unsure whether to continue.
"You’re just...?" he prompted gently, leaning in slightly, his tone both encouraging and patient.
Qi Jianyi hesitated, the tips of her ears burning slightly. Finally, after a mont of deliberation, she exhaled quietly and muttered under her breath, "You just look good laughing like that."
Her words were so soft that they could have been lost in the room, but Song Chengfeng heard them perfectly.
Embarrassnt blood on her face as she avoided his gaze, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. It was mortifying to admit out loud that she had been caught off guard by his good looks.
Yet, there it was—her quiet complint lingering in the air.
A slow smile spread across Song Chengfeng’s face, his heart skipping a beat at her unexpected honesty.
"Oh?" he said, his tone teasing yet warm, leaning back slightly as if to savor her flustered state. "Then should I laugh more often for you?"
"Don’t push it," Qi Jianyi snapped, her voice sharp but her expression betraying the faintest hint of a smile.
Reviews
All reviews (0)