Chapter 24
When Shi Ye woke up, it was just dawn.
She stared at the ceiling for five seconds, and the little voice in her head immediately went live: "So last night I dreamt that Qi Jin was wearing a suit and marrying me? That dream was so vivid! I even dreamt of the stained glass windows in the church?! Is my subconscious telling me something? Or is it just because Qi Jin brought up the engagement yesterday?"
She sat up and rubbed her temples. The effects of the medication seemed to have worn off; her head didn't feel so heavy anymore, but her mood... remained stagnant.
The phone vibrated on the bedside table; it was the system's daily morning report: "Good morning, host. Current time: 6:47 AM. Remaining time for the mission: 25 days. Current progress: Qi Jin's affection for Lin Xiaoyu: 51/100; Lin Xiaoyu's affection for Qi Jin: 50/100; Jiang Chen's affection for the host: 38/100. Special reminder: Yesterday's key event, 'engagement proposal,' has not been processed. Please respond as soon as possible."
Shi Ye stared at the words "respond as soon as possible," his lips twitching. "Respond? How should I respond? Say, 'Okay, let's get engaged. Although I can't feel it, you don't care anyway'? Or say, 'I'm sorry, I can't. Although I don't know why, I just can't'?"
She got out of bed to wash up, practicing her facial expressions in front of the mirror while brushing her teeth: "Qi Jin, about the engagement you mentioned yesterday..."
No, that's too formal.
"Qi Jin, I've been thinking about it, we..."
That won't work either; it's too vague.
She tossed the toothbrush into the cup: "Forget it, I'm not practicing anymore! Let's just deal with whatever comes our way!"
The problem is, she has no idea what strategy to use. Accept? Refuse? Delay?
My phone vibrated again. This time it was a message from Qi Jin: "Are you awake?"
Shi Ye stared at those three words, his finger hovering over the screen. What should he reply? Reply "Awake" and wait for Qi Jin to ask about the engagement? Reply "Not awake" and pretend to be dead?
Her final reply was: "I'm awake."
Qi Jin replied instantly: "What are the plans for today?"
Shi Ye thought for a moment and typed: "No."
Qi Jin: "Should we go for a follow-up appointment?"
Shi Ye glanced at the calendar; today wasn't her scheduled follow-up appointment. She replied, "No need, I'll go next week."
Qi Jin: "Then... shall we meet?"
Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat. A meeting? To discuss the engagement? Now?!
Before she could figure out how to reply, Qi Jin sent another message: "It's not about yesterday, I just want to see you."
Shi Ye stared at the sentence, and the little吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical comments) in her mind started dancing again: "'Just want to see you'?! That's even more terrifying than talking about yesterday, okay?! Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious... No, Qi Jin isn't that kind of person. But what exactly does she want?!"
She took a deep breath and replied, "Okay. What time? Where?"
Qi Jin: "Ten o'clock, I'll pick you up. We're going somewhere."
Shi Ye: "Where?"
Qi Jin: "You'll know when we get there."
Shi Ye: "..." Playing coy?! Qi Jin can play coy too?!
She replied with an "okay," then put down her phone and began to think about what to wear. Meeting Qi Jin in an unknown place, possibly discussing their engagement… what could she wear that was both appropriate and not too overly formal?
She stood in front of the wardrobe for ten minutes before finally choosing a simple white shirt and jeans. Simple, natural, and unlikely to give Qi Jin the wrong signal... probably.
It was still early, only 7:30. Shi Ye decided to do something to distract herself. She went downstairs to make breakfast—simple fried eggs and toast—but she burned the eggs.
"Forget it, I'll just order takeout." She gave up on treatment and opened the takeout app.
The doorbell rang suddenly. Shi Ye was taken aback. So early? The delivery was so fast? She walked to the door and looked out through the peephole—it was Jiang Chen.
Shi Ye: "..." Why is he here?!
She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door. Jiang Chen stood outside, carrying a breakfast bag. He smiled when he saw Shi Ye and said, "Good morning. I heard you didn't have any plans today. I was wondering if you had time to chat."
Shi Ye stared at the breakfast bag in his hand, her mind racing: How did Jiang Chen know she had no plans today? Did Lin Xiaoyu tell him? And the way he was acting... was he here to deliver breakfast and chat? Chat about what? About being rejected by Lin Xiaoyu yesterday?
"Come in." She stepped aside.
Jiang Chen walked in and casually placed the breakfast bag on the table: "I bought some porridge and side dishes. I don't know if they'll suit your taste."
Shi Ye looked at the bag; it belonged to a well-known porridge shop nearby. She had casually mentioned wanting to eat porridge from that shop yesterday, and Jiang Chen actually remembered?
"Thank you," she said, "but how did you know..."
“Xiaoyu said so,” Jiang Chen explained. “She’s going to see Professor Wang at school today and said you might be home alone, so she asked me to come and visit you when I have time.”
Shi Ye: "..." Isn't Lin Xiaoyu being a bit too nosy?!
The two sat down at the dining table. Jiang Chen took out the porridge and side dishes, arranged them naturally, as if he had done it many times before.
"Jiang Chen," Shi Ye couldn't help but ask, "did you... confess your feelings to Xiao Yu yesterday?"
Jiang Chen paused for a moment, then nodded: "Mm."
"And then... you were rejected?"
"Yeah." Jiang Chen smiled wryly. "She said she has someone she likes."
Shi Ye looked at him. Jiang Chen's expression was calm, but there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"Then you..." she chose her words carefully, "are you alright?"
"It's alright," Jiang Chen said. "Actually, I expected this result. It's just... I always felt it was a pity not to say it."
Shi Ye nodded. She understood that feeling. Some things, even knowing they're useless to say, you still want to say.
"So..." she asked cautiously, "what are you planning to do next?"
“Wait,” Jiang Chen said. “Wait until she’s with the person she likes, or… wait until she changes her mind.”
Shi Ye: "..." Is today another "Waiting Declaration Day"? Why is everyone saying "wait"?!
"Jiang Chen," she said earnestly, "is it worth it for you to do this?"
"Whether it's worth it or not, we'll only know after we've seen it," Jiang Chen said, looking at her. "Just like President Qi waited for you."
Shi Ye was taken aback. How did Jiang Chen know that Qi Jin was waiting for her?!
“Xiaoyu told me,” Jiang Chen explained. “She said that President Qi has liked you for many years and has been waiting for you.”
Shi Ye lowered her head and took a sip of porridge. The porridge smelled delicious, but she couldn't taste it.
“Shi Ye,” Jiang Chen suddenly said, “can I ask you a question?”
"What?"
Do you like President Qi?
Shi Ye's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the spoon into the bowl. What's going on today? Everyone's asking her this question?!
“I…” she said with difficulty, “I don’t know.”
"Don't know?" Jiang Chen didn't understand. "You either like it or you don't. How could you not know?"
“Because…” Shi Ye closed his eyes, “I can’t feel it.”
She briefly explained her depression. Jiang Chen listened and remained silent for a long time.
"So," he said softly, "it's not that you don't like President Qi, it's that you can't feel his liking?"
"You could say that," Shi Ye nodded.
"Then..." Jiang Chen looked at her, "If one day you can sense it, will you like her?"
Shi Ye stared at the porridge in the bowl, thinking for a long time.
"Maybe," she finally said. "She's so nice, she should like her."
Jiang Chen smiled, but the smile was somewhat bitter: "That's good."
The two finished their breakfast quietly. Jiang Chen cleared the dishes, and Shi Ye offered to help, but was refused.
"I'll handle it," Jiang Chen said. "Go and get ready; aren't you supposed to meet with President Qi?"
Shi Ye was taken aback: "How did you know..."
“President Qi sent me a message,” Jiang Chen explained. “She said she’ll pick you up at ten o’clock and told me not to bother her for too long.”
Shi Ye: "..." Qi Jin sent a message to Jiang Chen?! When did they become so close?!
"You two..." she asked tentatively, "are you very close?"
"It went well," Jiang Chen said. "We talked a lot yesterday while setting up the exhibition. President Qi is a very nice person, very professional, and also... caring about you."
Shi Ye didn't know what to say.
Jiang Chen washed the dishes, dried his hands, and looked at Shi Ye: "Shi Ye, I know I have no right to say anything, but... President Qi is a very good person. If you can give her a chance, maybe... she will be happy."
Shi Ye looked at him and suddenly asked, "Jiang Chen, what do you think of me?"
Jiang Chen paused for a moment, then smiled: "To be honest, I don't know either. At first, I just thought you were pretty and gentle. Later, when I learned about your situation, I felt... heartache. I wanted to protect you and take care of you. But this isn't love, at least... not the kind of love that President Qi has."
He paused for a moment, then said, "So don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble. I just... want to be nice to you, that's all."
Shi Ye nodded: "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Jiang Chen glanced at the time. "I should go now. President Qi will be here soon."
He walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Shi Ye, I wish you a good day."
"Thanks."
After Jiang Chen left, Shi Ye sat in the living room, her mind a jumbled mess. Jiang Chen's words, Qi Jin's waiting, Lin Xiaoyu's secret, and her own illness…
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Qi Jin: "I've arrived."
Shi Ye took a deep breath, picked up his bag, and went out.
Outside the door, Qi Jin leaned against the car waiting for her. Today, Qi Jin was wearing a light gray casual suit without a tie, making him look gentler than usual.
"Good morning," Qi Jin said.
"Good morning," Shi Ye nodded.
The two got into the car. Qi Jin didn't start the car immediately, but instead handed her a small box.
"What is this?" Shi asked.
"Open it and take a look," Qi Jin said.
Shi Ye opened the box, inside was a very thin silver necklace with a small moon pendant.
"This is……"
"A birthday present," Qi Jin said. "Your birthday is coming soon."
Shi Ye was taken aback. Her birthday? The original owner's birthday was... right, next Friday. Qi Jin actually remembered?
"Thank you," she said. "It's beautiful."
"If you like it, that's good." Qi Jin started the car. "Fasten your seatbelt."
The car started moving. Shi Ye held the small box, and that feeling of warmth returned to her heart. Qi Jin was always like this, remembering everything about her and caring about every little detail.
"Qi Jin," she suddenly asked, "where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there," Qi Jin said, keeping everyone in suspense.
After driving for about half an hour, we stopped by a lake. There was a walking path, benches, and a few people strolling along the lake.
"Get out of the car," Qi Jin said.
The two got out of the car and walked slowly along the path. The lake was calm, reflecting the sky and trees. The weather was lovely, the sunlight warm but not glaring.
"Why did you bring me here?" Shi Ye asked.
“It’s quiet here,” Qi Jin said. “It’s a good place to chat.”
Shi Ye's heart began to race again. Here it comes, it's time to talk about the engagement.
The two walked to a bench and sat down. Qi Jin looked at the lake and remained silent for a while.
“Shi Ye,” she began, “you don’t need to feel pressured by what I said yesterday.”
Shi Ye was stunned. She thought Qi Jin would ask about her decision, but instead... he said there was no need to feel pressured?
“When I said I wanted to get engaged to you, I was telling you my thoughts, not expecting an immediate response from you.” Qi Jin turned to look at her. “You can consider it, you can refuse, or you can even… never respond.”
Shi Ye looked at her and suddenly wanted to ask: Why? Why can you wait for me unconditionally? Why can you accept never getting a response?
But she didn't ask. She knew the answer—because Qi Jin loved her.
"Qi Jin," she whispered, "what if... what if I never get better?"
“Then it will never get better,” Qi Jin said. “I’m not waiting for you to get better, I’m waiting for you.”
Shi Ye's nose stung again. Damn it, this medicine is really...
She turned her head to look at the lake, not wanting Qi Jin to see her reddened eyes.
“Shi Ye,” Qi Jin’s voice was very soft, “you know, for me, just being able to sit here with you like this, looking at the same lake, is already very good.”
Shi Ye's tears fell. This time, she couldn't hold them back, nor did she intend to.
Qi Jin handed her a tissue, said nothing, and simply stayed with her quietly.
Shi Ye cried for a while, wiped away her tears, and took a deep breath.
“Qi Jin,” she said, “if I agree to the engagement…would you be happy?”
Qi Jin looked at her, his eyes gentle: "Yes. But if you don't agree, I won't be unhappy. I accept whatever you choose."
Shi Ye nodded and looked at the lake. The lake was calm, just like her heart—calm on the surface, but with undercurrents surging beneath.
She didn't know what to do.
All she knew was that, sitting here with Qi Jin, looking at the lake, she... didn't dislike it.
Perhaps, that's enough.
“Qi Jin,” she said softly, “give me some time.”
“Okay,” Qi Jin said, “It can take as long as you like.”
The two sat for a while longer, then got up and started walking back. The breeze by the lake was gentle and felt very comfortable on their faces.
Back in the car, Qi Jin asked, "Shall I take you home?"
"Mm." Shi Ye nodded.
The car started moving. Shi Ye looked at the scenery rushing past the window and suddenly felt... maybe she could give it a try.
It's not a trial engagement, it's a trial...acceptance.
Accept Qi Jin's waiting, accept her illness, accept... everything.
Perhaps one day, she will be able to truly feel it.
Before that, she could... learn to believe.
Believe in Qi Jin, believe in healing, believe in... the future.
She turned her head and looked at Qi Jin. Qi Jin was focused on driving, his profile soft in the sunlight.
Shi Ye's lips curled up slightly.
Although she couldn't feel it, at least... she smiled.
That's enough.
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