Chapter 8
Shi Ye lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, the little voice in his head that was complaining started dancing again.
"So what's going on with me now? I'm living in the house of the villain who has a crush on me, I've learned about the old story of my mother's murder, and I've even been confessed to that he'll wait for me forever?" She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. "Can't this plot be a little more normal?! What happened to the lighthearted and silly stuff?! How did it turn into a tragic and heart-wrenching romance?!"
The pillow carried Qi Jin's scent, a faint, cool fragrance. Shi Ye took a deep breath, then abruptly raised his head.
"No, no, I can't smell it! It's addictive!" She sat up, scratching her head. "System, is it too late for me to run away now?"
"Recommendation: Staying with Qi Jin offers the highest safety. Probability of encountering danger when going out alone: 78%"
Shi Ye sighed. "Fine, for the sake of my life, I'll stay here for now."
She got out of bed and walked around the room. The guest room was large, with a private bathroom, a desk, a sofa, and even a small balcony. The bookshelves were full of books, and Shi Ye walked over and randomly picked one up—it turned out to be "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Plants," with handwritten annotations inside.
“Qi Jin’s handwriting.” She recognized the slender, strong strokes. “She likes plants?”
"Data records: There are 37 potted plants in Qi Jin Apartment, covering 12 families and genera. Saturday mornings are the fixed maintenance time," the system added.
Shi Ye put the book back and then picked up a few more. There were economics books, literary novels, and even a few comic books—wait, comic books?!
She opened the book "Attack on Titan," and the title page said it was purchased in 201X, when Qi Jin should still be in middle school.
"The icy villain read shonen manga in middle school?" Shi Ye imagined the scene of a teenage Qi Jin hiding under the covers reading comics and couldn't help but laugh out loud. "His character is completely ruined."
She put the books back and went to the balcony. The balcony faced the green belt inside the community, offering a beautiful view. Downstairs, elderly people were taking a walk, and children were playing; everything was as peaceful as a normal weekend.
If we ignore those potential threats.
Shi Ye leaned against the railing, her mind replaying the conversation from the living room. Qi Jin's expression when he said "I'd do it for a lifetime" was so earnest it was heartbreaking.
"But am I really worth it?" she muttered to herself, "an empty shell that can't even feel its own emotions..."
"Whether it's worth it or not is a subjective judgment," the system suddenly interjected. "If Qi Jin thinks it's worth it, then it's worth it."
Shi Ye raised an eyebrow: "When did you learn to comfort people?"
"Data is a statement, not a comfort."
Shi Ye smiled, turned, and went back inside. She glanced at the time: 3:30 PM. There was still some time before dinner; what should she do?
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shi Ye! I just saw a dress while shopping, it would suit you perfectly! [Image.jpg]"
The photo shows a light blue dress with a simple design but a unique cut.
"Does it look good? Does it look good?" Lin Xiaoyu pressed. "I think you'll look absolutely stunning in it! Your senior will definitely be unable to take her eyes off you!"
Shi Ye: "...Why can't you take your eyes off Qi Jin?"
"Because love needs visual stimulation!" Lin Xiaoyu said matter-of-factly. "Although my love for you is deep, a little surprise now and then is all it takes to keep our relationship fresh!"
Shi Ye sighed, rubbing his forehead. Where did this kid get so many theories about love?
“I don’t need it,” she replied. “Besides, I can’t get out right now.”
“You can have your senior buy it!” Lin Xiaoyu replied instantly. “She’ll definitely be willing! Or I can buy it and send it over? Consider it a gift to celebrate you moving into your senior’s house!”
Shi Ye's lips twitched as he looked at the words "moved into his senior's house." This wording...it sounded a little strange.
"No, thank you," she declined. "I really don't need any more clothes."
"Okay then..." Lin Xiaoyu sent a wronged emoji, "By the way, Sister Shi Ye, what do you think of Senior Sister?"
Shi Ye was taken aback for a moment: "What do you mean, how?"
"So... do you have feelings for your senior?" Lin Xiaoyu asked directly. "I know she likes you, but do you like her?"
This question left Shi Ye speechless. Did she like it? She didn't know. She didn't even know what "liking" felt like.
"I don't know," she answered honestly.
"That means there's potential!" Lin Xiaoyu sent an excited emoji. "If you have absolutely no feelings, you'll just say 'I don't like it.' 'I don't know' means you're hesitating, thinking, and...getting excited!"
Shi Ye: "...Where did you get that conclusion?"
"Rhapsody Novel Law #38: When the protagonist answers 'I don't know,' he's already fallen for her, he just hasn't realized it yet!"
Shi Ye wanted to throw her phone away. She shouldn't have discussed relationship issues with this kid!
"I have to go now," she said, making an excuse. "Talk to you later."
"Okay, okay! Go for it, Shi Ye! Win over that ice queen senior soon!"
Shi Ye put down her phone and collapsed onto the bed. Win over Qi Jin? What a joke. She couldn't even manage her own emotions, how could she possibly manage someone else?
A knock came at the door.
"Come in." Shi Ye sat up.
Qi Jin pushed open the door and came in, carrying a tray with fruit and snacks on it.
"I was thinking you might be hungry." She placed the tray on the small coffee table. "It's freshly cut."
Shi Ye looked at the fruit—the strawberries had been stemmed, the oranges were peeled, and even the grapes were washed until they shone.
"You..." she said, somewhat speechless, "You don't need to be so thoughtful."
"Just something I did." Qi Jin sat down on the sofa. "What are you doing?"
"Just spacing out," Shi Ye said honestly. "Bored."
Qi Jin thought for a moment: "Would you like to watch TV? Or play games? I have a game console in my study."
Shi Ye's eyes lit up: "What game?"
"I have both PS5 and Switch," Qi Jin said. "But I'm very busy and don't play much, so I don't have many games."
"Shall we go play now?" Shi Ye jumped out of bed. "I want to play Animal Crossing!"
Qi Jin was stunned for a moment: "...You play Animal Crossing?"
"Is that not allowed?" Shi Ye raised an eyebrow. "Do I not look like the type of person who would play this kind of retirement game?"
"No," Qi Jin smiled, "I just didn't expect it. Let's go."
The two entered the study. The study was larger than the guest room, with one entire wall lined with books, another wall featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, and a huge solid wood desk in the center. A game console sat on a shelf next to the desk, and a large television was also nearby.
Qi Jin turned on the device and handed Shi Ye a controller: "You play by yourself, I'm taking care of some work."
"Okay." Shi Ye took the controller and skillfully opened Animal Crossing. As the loading screen appeared, a question suddenly occurred to her: "Wait, is this your island?"
"Hmm." Qi Jin had already sat down at his desk and turned on his computer. "I haven't played in a long time, it's probably quite desolate."
When Shi Ye entered the game, sure enough, the island was in chaos, overgrown with weeds, and the little animals were all complaining that the island owner didn't come home.
"You..." she looked at the screen, "How long has it been since you last logged on?"
"Half a year?" Qi Jin didn't even look up. "I can't remember."
Shi Ye started weeding. While weeding, she mentally complained, "Qi Jin's game character is actually a little bear in a pink dress?! That's such a huge contrast to her real self! And this island name… 'Jin's Island'? So blatant?!"
She played for about half an hour, clearing away the weeds in the main area. The little animals circled around her, each one looking pitiful and saying they missed her.
Shi Ye glanced at Qi Jin. Qi Jin was looking at documents, his brows slightly furrowed, so focused that it seemed as if nothing around him existed.
“Um…” Shi Ye began, “Your little animals are talking to you.”
Qi Jin looked up: "Hmm?"
“In the game,” Shi Ye turned the screen towards her, “they miss you.”
Qi Jin looked at the group of cartoon animals on the screen, his expression somewhat subtle: "...Oh."
"Would you like to come over and say hello?" Shi Ye asked.
Qi Jin hesitated for a moment, put down the file, walked over, and sat down next to Shi Ye. Shi Ye handed her another handle.
"Press A to start a conversation," she instructed.
Qi Jin did as instructed. The little bear on the screen walked up to a deer, and a dialog box popped up: "A-Si, long time no see! Where have you been? We miss you so much!"
Qi Jin stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the buttons.
"Go back to him," Shi Ye nudged her.
Qi Jin pressed A. Little Bear said, "Sorry, I've been very busy lately."
Little Deer: "No matter how busy you are, remember to come home! We'll always be here waiting for you!"
Qi Jin fell silent. Shi Ye turned to look at her and noticed that her eyes were somewhat complicated.
"You..." Shi Ye asked tentatively, "Did you remember something?"
Qi Jin shook his head: "It's nothing. It's just that... it feels a bit strange to be concerned about by a bunch of data."
“But they are really waiting for you,” Shi Ye said. “Although it’s just a game, the waiting is real.”
Qi Jin turned to look at her, his eyes deep: "Just like I've been waiting for you?"
Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat. She looked away: "...It's different."
"What's different?"
“They are programs, you are a real person.” Shi Ye stared at the screen. “Programs don’t get disappointed, but people do.”
Qi Jin was silent for a moment, then said softly, "I won't be disappointed."
Shi Ye didn't respond. She didn't know how to respond.
The two sat there, one continuing to work, the other continuing to play games. The study was quiet, save for the sounds of keyboard clicks and game effects. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting bright patches of light on the floor.
While playing around, Shi Ye suddenly felt that the scene was a bit... cozy? Like a typical weekend routine for a couple.
"Stop!" she warned herself. "Don't overthink it! We're just friends killing time!"
But she couldn't help stealing glances at Qi Jin. Qi Jin was very focused when working, his lips pressed into a straight line, his eyelashes casting a light shadow under his eyes. Sunlight shone on his profile, making his skin appear almost translucent.
"Beautiful." These two words popped into Shi Ye's mind, then she shook her head violently, "No, no, no, it's not what I thought! It's the original owner's lingering aesthetic sense!"
“Host,” the system suddenly spoke, “the original owner’s aesthetic preferences were sunny and energetic, which does not match Qi Jin’s type.”
Shi Ye: "...Mind your own business!"
She forced herself to focus back on the game, but her eyes couldn't help glancing at Qi Jin out of the corner of her eye.
Qi Jin seemed to notice her gaze and looked up: "What's wrong?"
"No!" Shi Ye immediately lowered his head. "It's just... have you finished your work?"
"That's about it." Qi Jin glanced at the time. "It's almost five o'clock, time to prepare dinner."
"Let me help," Shi Ye said, putting down the handle. "We can't just eat and stay for free."
Qi Jin thought for a moment: "Okay. Then... should we wash the vegetables?"
"OK."
The two went to the kitchen together. Qi Jin took the ingredients out of the refrigerator, and Shi Ye took charge of washing them. The tap was running, and Shi Ye thought to herself as she washed the vegetables: What kind of old married couple vibe is this?
"Shi Ye," Qi Jin suddenly called her.
"Um?"
"If..." Qi Jin was cutting meat, his knife skills were practiced, "If you feel bored, you can invite your friends over to play. Lin Xiaoyu, or other friends."
Shi Ye paused for a moment: "You don't mind?"
“I don’t mind,” Qi Jin said. “This is your home, you can do whatever you want.”
Shi Ye nearly dropped the vegetables in her hand into the sink. "Your house?" That's such a casual remark!
“This, this is your home,” she corrected.
“Since you live here, this is your home,” Qi Jin said matter-of-factly. “At least for now.”
Shi Ye was speechless. She continued washing the vegetables, but her mind was racing with complaints: "What's wrong with this person? Where's his sense of boundaries? Where's his social distancing? Although we're officially engaged, we've only known each other for a few days! How did he start calling it 'your home'?!"
"The vegetables are washed." She handed the washed vegetables to Qi Jin.
Qi Jin took the knife and began to slice. Her knife skills were truly excellent; each slice was evenly thin. Shi Ye watched her slender fingers grip the knife handle and suddenly thought of a question: "When did you learn to cook?"
"Middle school," Qi Jin said. "We have a chef at home, but sometimes I want to cook for myself."
"Why?"
Qi Jin paused for a moment: "It feels... down-to-earth."
Shi Ye blinked. This answer was a bit unexpected. She thought Qi Jin would say it was for independence or hobbies or something like that.
"The warmth of everyday life..." she repeated the word, "Do you like it?"
"Hmm." Qi Jin nodded. "It's too cold at home. It feels more like a place for people to live when there's some warmth and life around."
Shi Ye recalled Qi Jin's ridiculously large yet desolate apartment, which resembled a show flat. Indeed, he was very wealthy, but it didn't feel like home.
"Do you feel the warmth and liveliness of this place now?" she asked.
Qi Jin turned to look at her, his eyes softening: "I've got it."
Shi Ye's heart started pounding again. She quickly turned around and said, "I...I'll go check if the food is ready."
The rice wasn't ready yet. Shi Ye stood in front of the rice cooker, watching the indicator light flicker, while the little voice in her head screamed again: "Oh no, oh no, this conversation is too ambiguous! If this keeps up, I'm really going to fall for it! But I really can't feel it! This body is beating its heart, but my mind is completely calm! What is this?!"
"Shi Ye," Qi Jin called her again.
"Huh?" Shi Ye turned around.
"Sweet and sour pork ribs, do you prefer them sweeter or more sour?"
"Moderate is fine."
"good."
Shi Ye continued to stand there, lost in thought. Watching Qi Jin's busy figure in the kitchen, she suddenly felt a sense of unreality. This woman, who was a force to be reckoned with in the business world, was now wearing an apron and cooking for her. This man who had secretly loved her for so many years was willing to wait for her a lifetime.
And she, a soul from another time, a patient with numb emotions, could offer nothing.
"System," she thought to herself, "am I being really pathetic?"
"Definition of 'scumbag': Intentionally hurting others' feelings to gain benefits. The host's current behavior does not meet this definition."
"But I accepted her kindness, yet I couldn't reciprocate."
"Accepting protection is a necessity for survival. Emotional response is a personal choice. The two are not necessarily related."
Shi Ye sighed. He said it so casually.
Dinner was quickly prepared. It consisted of three dishes and a soup: sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, Mapo tofu, and tomato and egg soup. It was very home-style, but the presentation was exquisite.
The two sat down in the restaurant. Shi Ye took a bite of the ribs and his eyes lit up: "Delicious!"
Qi Jin's lips curled up: "I'm glad you like it."
"Do you cook often?" Shi asked.
“Occasionally.” Qi Jin put some food on her plate. “I’m busy with work, so most of the time I eat takeout or attend business dinners.”
Looking at the food in the bowl, Shi Ye suddenly thought, "So... have you turned down a lot of work these past few days?"
Qi Jin paused for a moment: "Some unimportant things were turned down, and the important things were dealt with at home."
"Because of me?"
"Because you are more important."
Shi Ye's chopsticks froze in mid-air. Can this person please stop saying things like that?!
She lowered her head and ate, no longer speaking. Qi Jin didn't say anything either, only occasionally putting food on her plate.
The meal was eaten quietly, but the atmosphere was not awkward. Shi Ye noticed that Qi Jin was very focused while eating; he didn't use his phone or talk, he simply enjoyed the food.
"You eat so intently," she couldn't help but say.
Qi Jin looked up: "Eating is an important matter, we should take it seriously."
Shi Ye laughed: "What kind of theory is this?"
“My grandfather said that only those who can eat well can live well.” Qi Jin said, “He said that only those who can eat well can live well.”
Shi Ye thought about it and realized it made sense. She herself often ate carelessly, either looking at her phone while eating or just shoveling down a few bites.
"What kind of person was your grandfather?" she asked.
Qi Jin's gaze softened: "He's very serious, but he cares about me a lot. He taught me fencing, he taught me how to do business, and he also taught me... that if you like someone, you have to be serious."
Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat: "He...knows you...?"
“I know.” Qi Jin nodded. “I told him three years ago. He said, then go for it, but don’t force it.”
"He..." Shi Ye carefully chose his words, "...doesn't mind that I'm a woman?"
Qi Jin laughed: "He said, liking someone is liking someone, regardless of gender. The Qi family doesn't need to rely on marriage alliances to maintain itself. If I want to marry... I want to marry someone I like."
Shi Ye was stunned. It was rare to find such an open-minded elder in such a seemingly traditional wealthy family.
"Then he..."
"He passed away last year." Qi Jin's voice was calm, but Shi Ye could detect a hint of suppressed sadness. "Heart disease."
"……Feel sorry."
"It's nothing." Qi Jin shook his head. "He passed away peacefully. Before he died, he told me that I must win you over."
Shi Ye didn't know what to say. She looked at Qi Jin and suddenly felt a strong urge to hug her—a thought that startled her.
"I'm full." She put down her chopsticks. "I'll wash the dishes."
"No need," Qi Jin said. "We have a dishwasher."
"……oh."
Qi Jin was clearing away the dishes when Shi Ye sat there, lost in thought. Many images flashed through her mind: Qi Jin's grandfather, Qi Jin's childhood, the years Qi Jin had secretly loved her…
"System," she asked, "in the original world, was there anyone who liked me like this?"
"Query the host's original world social records... None."
Shi Ye nodded. Sure enough, there wasn't.
She stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Night fell, and the city lights gradually came on. This unfamiliar world, this unfamiliar body, these unfamiliar people…
But it gave her...attention that she had never received before?
"Shi Ye." Qi Jin's voice came from behind.
Shi Ye turned around. Qi Jin was standing at the restaurant entrance, holding a box in his hand.
“This,” Qi Jin walked over and handed her the box, “is for you.”
Shi Ye took it and opened it. Inside was a set of keys and an access card.
"This is……"
“The house key,” Qi Jin said. “The access card can be used for all permissions. That will make it easier for you to come and go.”
Shi Ye looked at the bunch of keys, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Giving away the keys—the gesture was so symbolic.
"I..." She didn't know whether she should answer.
"Take these," Qi Jin said. "You live here and will need them."
Shi Ye gripped the key tightly, the coolness of the metal seeping through her palm. She looked up at Qi Jin, whose gaze was calm, as if he were talking about something utterly ordinary.
"Qi Jin," she said softly, "why... are you so good to me?"
Qi Jin thought for a moment and answered very seriously, "Because I want to be good to you."
"that's all?"
"That's it." Qi Jin nodded. "No reason needed."
Shi Ye lowered her head, looking at the keys in her hand. She suddenly felt a stinging in her eyes—it was a physiological one.
"Thank you," she said. "I will...keep it safe."
Qi Jin smiled: "You're welcome. Go and rest, you must be tired today."
"Um."
Shi Ye returned to her guest room and closed the door. She leaned against the door, looking at the key in her hand. Under the light, the key gleamed.
“System,” she said, “I think I’m… in a bit of trouble.”
"What trouble?"
"I might... owe her for the rest of my life."
The system was silent for a moment, then said, "Data shows that Qi Jin does not consider this a 'debt'. She sees it as a 'giving,' and giving itself brings a sense of satisfaction."
Shi Ye walked to the bedside and sat down, placing the key on the bedside table. Next to it was the plant guide he had taken from the study.
She opened the book, and the handwritten annotations came into view. Qi Jin's handwriting was beautiful, neat yet distinctive. The annotations were very professional, some even containing Latin scientific names.
“She really knows a lot,” Shi Ye said softly.
She continued flipping through the book and saw a line of small print on the last page: "I hope that one day, I can see all these plants with someone I like."
The date is three years ago.
Shi Ye's fingers traced the words. Three years ago, when Qi Jin wrote those words, what was he thinking? Was he thinking of her?
She closed the book and lay down on the bed. The chandelier on the ceiling was exquisite, its crystals refracting a warm yellow light.
“System,” she asked, “what does it feel like to like someone…?”
"According to the data description: increased heart rate, improved concentration, enhanced pleasure, and desire to get closer to the other person. The host's physical signs partially match, but subjective feelings are missing."
"So my body enjoys it, but my heart doesn't?"
"That's one way to understand it."
Shi Ye closed his eyes. What was this? Separation of mind and body?
She remembered the expression on Qi Jin's face when he said "I'd be willing to spend a lifetime with him," the back of Qi Jin cooking in the kitchen, and the natural way he gave her the key.
Little by little, like fine sand, it slowly accumulates.
Perhaps one day, these grains of sand will pile up into a mountain, enough to touch her numb heart.
Maybe.
Until then, she could only wait.
Waiting for time, waiting for change, waiting for a miracle.
Or wait for Qi Jin to give up—but she knew Qi Jin wouldn't.
Shi Ye's phone vibrated. She picked it up and saw a message from Qi Jin: "Goodnight."
She stared at those two words for a long time before replying, "Goodnight."
After thinking about it, I added a sleeping cat emoji.
Qi Jin replied instantly with a picture of a cat covered with a blanket.
Shi Ye smiled. She held the phone to her chest, feeling her heart beating steadily.
Once, twice, three times.
Although you can't feel it, it is indeed beating.
Just like her feelings for Qi Jin, although she couldn't feel them, they were definitely there.
It grew slowly, at a pace she couldn't perceive.
That's fine too.
Slower, slower.
Perhaps the slowest speed is eternity.
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