Chapter 14
After Qi Jin left, Shi Ye slumped on the living room sofa for a full ten minutes.
She stared at the ceiling, her inner monologue already launching into a rant: "So what's going on? Qi Jin knows I'm depressed, knows I have no feelings, knows I'm trying to set her up with Lin Xiaoyu—but she's still waiting for me?! What kind of love-struck person is this?! Where did that cold-blooded villain from the original story go?! Has he been possessed by something strange?!"
"System!" she roared inwardly, "Are you sure this world hasn't collapsed?! Is Qi Jin behaving normally?!"
"Data shows that Qi Jin's behavior is logically consistent: long-term unrequited love → learning that the object of his affection has emotional problems → adjusting his strategy to long-term companionship. This aligns with the character's 'persistent' trait."
Shi Ye rolled his eyes: "Being this persistent is practically obsessive, isn't it?! In real life, this would warrant calling the police, wouldn't it?!"
"This world is a fictional world, where the emotional intensity is generally higher than in reality."
Shi Ye sat up from the sofa and picked up the design exhibition proposal. Turning to the last page, Qi Jin's words were still there: "But the one I've always wanted to meet is you."
She tossed the proposal onto the coffee table like it was a hot potato.
"No, no, I can't be soft-hearted," she told herself. "The mission! The mission! The world's survival! The character's disappearance! Think about all that!"
She took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and texted Lin Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, I've finished reviewing the options. I'll choose the second one."
Lin Xiaoyu replied instantly: "Yay! I knew Sister Shi would like the second one! Senior also said it's good!"
Shi Ye: "Qi Jin...did we talk a lot?"
Lin Xiaoyu: "Yeah! My senior was so serious. She asked me so many questions and gave me advice! She said I could try combining modern elements with traditional craftsmanship, which I think is amazing!"
As Shi Ye looked at the message, the progress bar in his mind seemed to light up. Professional exchange! Common topics! Good sign!
"So you two... had a good chat?" she continued to probe.
"I'm so happy! My senior is actually very good at chatting, she just doesn't talk much normally~"
Shi Ye raised an eyebrow. Qi Jin is a good conversationalist? That Qi Jin who's so sparing with words? He's quite the conversationalist with Lin Xiaoyu?
She suddenly felt a little... curious? Yes, just curious, nothing else.
"What did you all talk about?" she asked.
"Let's talk about design, art, and..." Lin Xiaoyu sent a smirking emoji, "...and I'll visit you while we chat!"
Shi Ye's hand trembled, and he almost dropped his phone: "Talk to me? Talk to me about what?!"
“Let’s talk about your childhood! My senior said you were really naughty when you were little, climbing trees to steal bird nests and even dyeing the neighbor’s dog pink!”
Shi Ye: "..." How did Qi Jin know all this?! No, why did Qi Jin say these things?!
"What else did she say?"
"She also said that you, Shi Ye, are actually very kind. You secretly feed stray cats, and on rainy days you give your umbrella to an elderly lady who doesn't have one, walking home in the rain yourself." Lin Xiaoyu continued, "Your expression was so gentle when you said these things~"
Shi Ye stared at the screen, his heart racing uncontrollably again. Damn it, couldn't this body's physiological reactions just calm down for a second?!
"Oh," she replied with a single word, indicating that she was calm.
"Sister Shi," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly asked, "Are you really trying to set me up with my senior?"
Shi Ye nearly threw her phone away. How did this kid know?! Did Qi Jin tell her?! No, Qi Jin wouldn't tell her. It must have been… she figured it out herself?!
“I…” Shi Ye didn’t know how to reply.
"Actually, I figured it out," Lin Xiaoyu sent a laughing emoji covering her mouth. "You always leave me alone with my senior, and you keep asking me if I like her~"
Shi Ye: "..." So she made it that obvious?!
“But Sister Shi,” Lin Xiaoyu’s tone suddenly became serious, “you can’t force feelings. I like you, but it’s like I like an older sister. And you… she clearly only likes you.”
Looking at the message, Shi Ye suddenly felt powerless. So the whole world knew Qi Jin liked her, but she was the only one desperately trying to matchmake Qi Jin with someone else?
“I know,” she finally replied, “but I…”
"Sister Shi," Lin Xiaoyu interrupted her, "do you have some kind of trouble on your mind?"
Shi Ye was stunned. A predicament? Was a system task a predicament? Was the survival of the world a predicament?
“No,” she denied. “I just think…you two are a good match.”
"Whether you're a good match or not depends on what the people involved think," Lin Xiaoyu said. "Anyway, I think you and your senior are the perfect match! One is an iceberg, the other is the sun, a perfect match!"
Shi Ye: "..." Who's the iceberg and who's the sun?! And why is this kid randomly pairing people up?!
"Xiaoyu," she typed, "you really...have absolutely no feelings for Qi Jin?"
"No~" Lin Xiaoyu replied decisively, "And I'll tell you a secret~"
"What?"
"I have someone I like!" Lin Xiaoyu sent a shy emoji. "But it's not the right time to tell you yet~ I'll tell you when the time is right!"
Looking at the message, Shi Ye's last shred of hope for the mission was completely shattered. So Lin Xiaoyu has someone she likes, not Qi Jin. And Qi Jin likes her, not Lin Xiaoyu. This matchmaking mission… it's practically mission impossible!
She put down her phone, collapsed onto the sofa, and covered her face with a cushion.
"System," she said weakly, "can the mission be canceled?"
"The mission cannot be cancelled, but an extension can be requested."
"How long will the delay be?"
"The longest is thirty days."
Shi Ye: "..." What's the point of a 30-day extension?! Lin Xiaoyu will have feelings for him after 30 days?! Qi Jin will have fallen for someone else?! Are you dreaming?!
She tossed the cushion aside and sat up. No, she couldn't give up. Even if the hope was slim, she had to try.
She started brainstorming. Since Lin Xiaoyu didn't have feelings for Qi Jin, then... how about making Qi Jin have feelings for Lin Xiaoyu? No, Qi Jin does have feelings for her, so how do she redirect those feelings? Create a misunderstanding? Make Qi Jin think she likes someone else?
Shi Ye's eyes lit up. That's it! Make Qi Jin think she has someone she likes! That way, Qi Jin will give up, and then she can consider Lin Xiaoyu, right?!
But who should she choose for this "person she likes"? Qin Hao? No, Qi Jin knows she rejected Qin Hao. A stranger? That's unrealistic. Then... should she make one up?
Shi Ye stroked his chin, considering the feasibility. Create a fictional crush, then pretend to accidentally let Qi Jin find out… This idea seems feasible?
She immediately took action. First, she needed to create a persona for a "secret crush." She couldn't be too perfect, or Qi Jin would become suspicious. Nor could she be too flawed, or Qi Jin would think she had poor taste.
“System,” she asked, “did the original owner have a crush on anyone before?”
"Database query in progress... The original owner had a crush on a senior from the same school during middle school, which lasted for three months, but to no avail."
"What's that senior's name? Where is he now?"
"Chu He, 24 years old, is currently studying abroad, pursuing a master's degree in architecture."
Perfect! Studying abroad is far away, so it's less likely to be exposed! And architecture sounds like a very reliable major!
Shi Ye immediately sent a message to Lin Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."
"What is it, Sister Shi?"
"I... want you to help me put on a show."
"Acting?" Lin Xiaoyu sent a curious emoji. "Acting about what?"
“I’m playing someone I like.” Shi Ye typed, “That person is named Chu He, he was my senior in middle school, and he’s studying abroad now.”
Lin Xiaoyu's message displayed "The other party is typing..." several times before finally sending: "Sister Shi Ye, are you... trying to make your senior give up?"
Shi Ye: "..." How can this child be so perceptive?!
"I guess so," she admitted.
"Why?" Lin Xiaoyu asked, confused. "Your senior is so nice and likes you so much, why did you have to push her away?"
Shi Ye didn't know how to explain. Should he mention a system task? Or the fate of the world? He couldn't say any of those.
"I have my reasons," was all she could say. "Just tell me whether you'll help or not."
Lin Xiaoyu replied after a long time: "I can help... but I always feel that it's not right. Deceiving someone's feelings will hurt them."
“I know,” Shi Ye said, “but…it has to be this way.”
"Okay..." Lin Xiaoyu reluctantly agreed, "Then what do I need to do?"
Shi Ye began to formulate a plan. First, she needed to "accidentally" let Qi Jin know about Chu He's existence. Then, she needed to show that she "couldn't forget" Chu He. Finally, she needed to make Qi Jin believe that she truly loved Chu He and could never accept Qi Jin.
“The first step,” she typed, “is to mention Chu He ‘casually’ when you see Qi Jin next time. Just say… say that I’ve been looking through old photos from middle school lately and I get lost in thought when I see Chu He’s pictures.”
"Is this all you need?" Lin Xiaoyu asked.
"Let's test it out first," Shi Ye said. "If Qi Jin asks, just say that Chu He was my senior in middle school who I had a crush on, and that I haven't gotten over him yet."
“Sister Shi,” Lin Xiaoyu suddenly said, “you will regret doing this later.”
Shi Ye stared at the message, her finger hovering over the screen. Regret? Would she regret it? Could someone who couldn't even feel emotions regret something?
"No," she finally replied.
“Okay then…” Lin Xiaoyu said, “I’ve arranged to meet my senior tomorrow to check out the exhibition venue, I’ll give it a try then.”
"Thanks."
"You're welcome... I just hope you really won't regret it, Sister Shi."
After ending the conversation, Shi Ye put down his phone and leaned back on the sofa. The plan was made, the executor was found, and everything was proceeding according to plan.
But why isn't she excited at all?
On the contrary, I feel...very tired.
She closed her eyes, and Qi Jin's face flashed through her mind. The expression on Qi Jin's face when he said, "I can wait," the look in his eyes when he looked at her, the handwriting when he wrote, "But the one I've always wanted to meet is you..."
"No, no!" She patted her face. "Wake up! Mission! The world's survival!"
She stood up, deciding to find something to distract herself. She went to the study, turned on the computer, and began searching for information about Chu He—if she was going to act, she had to act convincingly.
Chu He does exist. He was a prominent figure in middle school—academically excellent, handsome, and the captain of the basketball team. Photos of him still circulate on social media; he certainly has a sunny disposition and fits the "campus heartthrob" archetype.
Shi Ye looked at a few photos and suddenly felt...as if they looked familiar?
Wait, isn't this the senior mentioned in the original owner's diary?! Did the original owner really have a crush on him?!
She quickly pulled out the original owner's diary and skimmed through it. Sure enough, in the diary from her middle school years, "Senior Chu" was mentioned many times—"I saw Senior Chu playing basketball today, he was so handsome," "Senior Chu smiled at me, I was happy," "I heard Senior Chu is going abroad, I'm sad"...
So the original owner really did like Chu He. Then, could her plan... be considered a lucky accident?
Shi Ye continued reading the diary and discovered that the original owner's affection for Chu He only lasted for three months. After Chu He went abroad, the original owner gradually forgot about him. Later, the diary never mentioned him again.
"So the original owner's first love was Chu He, and later she fell in love with Qi Jin..." Shi Ye murmured to himself, "This love line is quite complete..."
She closed the diary, suddenly feeling a little sorry for the original owner. The person the original owner had loved with all her heart was now being used as a tool by her.
"I'm sorry," she said to the air, "I'm just borrowing your first love for a while, I'll return him when I'm done."
She continued to research Chuhe's information, noting down some key details: birthday, hobbies, favorite color, restaurants he frequented... These details would make the "unrequited love" seem more real.
By the time he finished all this, it was already evening. Shi Ye stretched and prepared to go downstairs for dinner.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Qi Jin: "The venue for the design exhibition has been booked. I'll send it to you so you can take a look."
Attached is a photo of a very modern art space with white walls, a high ceiling, and excellent natural light.
Shi Ye replied, "Not bad."
Qi Jin: "Xiao Yu likes it very much."
Shi Ye: "That's good."
Qi Jin's phone displayed "The other party is typing..." for a long time before finally sending: "Have you had dinner?"
When Shi Ye saw the message, his first thought was, "Is she concerned about me?" His second thought was, "No, she's a mission target! I need to keep my distance!"
"Not yet, I'm about to eat," she replied.
Qi Jin: "Okay. Eat more."
Shi Ye stared at those three words and suddenly wanted to ask: Why are you so good to me? You know I don't have any feelings for you, you know I'm trying to set you up with someone else, so why are you still so good to me?
But she didn't ask. If she had, the task would have become even more difficult.
She went downstairs to eat. Shi Zhenghong had already returned, and the father and daughter ate together; the atmosphere was a little better than yesterday.
"Greetings," Shi Zhenghong said, placing some food on her plate. "Is President Qi here today?"
"Yes, deliver the documents." Shi Ye lowered his head and ate his food.
"How did your chat go?"
"That's all there is to it." Shi Ye didn't want to elaborate.
Shi Zhenghong looked at her and sighed, "Dad won't force you, but President Qi... she's really rare."
“I know,” Shi Ye said, “but some things can’t be accomplished just by being difficult.”
"Then what would be acceptable?"
Shi Ye was speechless. What would be acceptable? She didn't know. Perhaps... completing the mission was the only option? Perhaps... Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu needed to be together?
She shook her head and continued eating.
After dinner, she returned to her room and sat by the window, lost in thought. Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle. In the distance, the Qi Group building was brightly lit; Qi Jin was probably still working.
"System," she suddenly asked, "in the original story, did Qi Jin end up happy?"
"The original ending: Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu get married, have a son, have a happy family, and are successful in their careers."
"So...she's happy?"
"Data shows that the happiness index is 92%, which is an extremely high value."
Shi Ye nodded. So if the mission succeeds, Qi Jin will be happy. But being with her doesn't guarantee Qi Jin happiness—because she can't reciprocate.
Thinking about it this way, the mission doesn't seem so bad after all?
My phone vibrated again. It was a message from Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shiye! I told my mom about Chuhe! She said she remembers him and that he used to come to our house to see you often!"
Shi Ye: "..." Wait, Chu He visited the original owner's house?! The original owner's mother remembers?! This is a lot of information!
"What did your mother say?" she asked cautiously.
"She said Chuhe is a good kid, but he went abroad too early. She also asked me if I still liked him."
Shi Ye sighed, rubbing his forehead. Wasn't this acting a little too real?! Even the original owner's mother was involved?!
"Then what do you say?"
"I said I didn't know~ But I did say you've been mentioning him a lot lately." Lin Xiaoyu sent a smug emoji. "How was that? Did I act well?"
Shi Ye: "..." That's too much!
“Hmm…very good,” she replied. “Keep it up.”
"Don't worry! I'll talk to my senior tomorrow!"
Shi Ye put down his phone, a sudden sense of foreboding washing over him. Could something... go wrong with this plan?
But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and it had to be released.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, Lin Xiaoyu would tell Qi Jin that she had a crush on a senior named Chu He for many years. How would Qi Jin react? Would he believe her? Would he give up?
She didn't know.
All she knew was that the mission was continuing.
And her heart seemed... a little confused.
It wasn't an emotional mess—she reminded herself—it was a mess of thoughts.
Yes, that must be it.
She turned over, closed her eyes, and forced herself to sleep.
In her dream, she saw Qi Jin standing in a white mist, looking at her with sorrow in his eyes. She wanted to go to him, but she couldn't reach him no matter what she did.
Then she woke up.
It was still dark. She glanced at the time; it was three in the morning.
She sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and picked up her phone. The screen showed her chat history with Qi Jin, the last message from Qi Jin being "Eat more."
She stared at those three words for a long time.
Then she opened her photo album—her phone contained many photos taken by the original owner. She flipped through the photos from her middle school days and, sure enough, found Chu He.
The boy in the photo was sunny and handsome, smiling brightly. The original owner of this body stood next to him, also smiling happily.
Looking at the photo, Shi Ye suddenly felt... a little envious?
I envy the original owner's ability to feel those emotions, to like people, to be happy, and to be sad.
But she couldn't feel anything.
She put down her phone and lay back down. In the darkness, she could hear her own heartbeat.
Stable, regular, and without any waves.
Just like her life, it was stable, regular, and uneventful.
Perhaps things will be different after the mission is completed?
Maybe.
She closed her eyes and waited for dawn.
Waiting for the plan to begin.
Waiting... for Qi Jin to learn the "truth".
But she didn't know what she was waiting for.
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