Chapter 23
Shi Ye stared at the system message on his phone for a full minute, the little voice in his head going through the whole process from shock to numbness to accepting reality.
"So Jiang Chen's favorability towards me increased by 3 points? Because he saw me cry? Or because he thinks I'm fragile and need protection? Does this guy have some kind of 'savior complex'?!" she thought frantically. "And Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu's favorability only increased by 1 point each?! I worked hard all day, gave a speech in public, and almost got besieged by the media, and all I got was 1 point?! Isn't this task system too stingy?!"
She tossed her phone onto the sofa and slumped into it. The medication was still taking effect; she felt exhausted and sleepy, but couldn't fall asleep.
The living room was quiet, save for the ticking of the clock. All traces of the exhibition had been cleaned up, as if nothing had happened. But Shi Ye knew it had. She had spoken before everyone, she had faced the media, she had cried in front of Qi Jin…
His phone vibrated again. Shi Ye assumed it was another system notification and lazily picked it up to check—it was a voice message from Lin Xiaoyu.
"Sister Shi! Have you seen the news?!"
Shi Ye frowned and replied, "What news?"
"Our exhibition has been featured in several media outlets! I'll send it to you!"
Immediately afterwards, several links were sent over. Shi Ye clicked on the first one, which was a report from a local art media: "The solo exhibition 'Time Memories' by emerging designer Lin Xiaoyu was successfully held, showcasing a creative dialogue between tradition and modernity."
The report included several photos of the exhibition, including close-ups of the exhibits, photos of Lin Xiaoyu explaining the exhibits, and... a photo of Shi Ye giving a speech. The photos were well taken; she stood in front of the podium, looking serious, and seemed quite professional.
The article states: "...In her opening remarks, Ms. Shi Ye, a guest speaker at the exhibition, said that the exhibition made her reflect on forgotten memories and emotions; her words were sincere and thought-provoking..."
Shi Ye stared at the words "thought-provoking," her lips twitching. She had only said a few polite words casually; how could it be "thought-provoking"?
The second link leads to a report from another media outlet, which takes a more gossipy angle: "Qi Jin, president of the Qi Group, appeared to support a new designer, and is suspected of having a close relationship with Shi Ye, a guest at the opening ceremony."
The accompanying photo shows Qi Jin standing next to Shi Ye, the two very close, with Qi Jin slightly turned to the side as if protecting her. The photo is very clear, and you can see the concern in Qi Jin's eyes.
The report stated: "...Qi Jin accompanied the couple throughout the visit, not only personally driving them around but also intervening to answer questions from the media. Their interaction was natural and intimate, suggesting that the previous engagement rumors might not be unfounded..."
Shi Ye sighed, rubbing his forehead. These media outlets really... dare to write anything.
The third link surprised Shi Ye even more—it was a report from a financial media outlet: "Qi Group is supporting emerging artists across industries, or may be expanding into the cultural and creative industries."
The article analyzes Qi Jin's business intentions in supporting Lin Xiaoyu's exhibition, suggesting that the Qi Group may take this opportunity to enter the cultural and creative industry, and also predicts possible future development directions.
"What is all this nonsense..." Shi Ye muttered to himself.
The phone vibrated; Lin Xiaoyu had sent another voice message, her voice almost cracking with excitement: "Sister Shiye! Did you see that?! We're on the news! Three media outlets! And a financial media outlet too! My company is going to enter the cultural and creative industries!"
Shi Ye replied in a voice message, his tone helpless: "Xiaoyu, that article in the financial media... is clearly an overinterpretation."
"I know, I know!" Lin Xiaoyu said, "But this is a good thing! Exposure is a good thing! And my senior did say that she could consider investing in cultural and creative projects! Maybe I can really get investment!"
Shi Ye was taken aback. Qi Jin wanted to invest in cultural and creative projects? Because of today's exhibition?
"Did Qi Jin tell you that?" she asked.
"My senior just messaged me!" Lin Xiaoyu said. "She saw the exhibition and felt that the cultural and creative industry has potential, and we can talk about cooperation! Sister Shiye, my luck is about to change!"
Hearing Lin Xiaoyu's excited voice, Shi Ye felt that physical warmth return to his heart. Lin Xiaoyu's dream might come true, which was indeed a good thing.
"Congratulations," she said sincerely.
"Thank you, Sister Shi!" Lin Xiaoyu said. "Without you and my senior, none of this would be possible! I must thank you properly! Oh, and Senior Jiang Chen also helped a lot, so I want to thank him too!"
Mentioning Jiang Chen, Shi Ye recalled the system notification that his favorability rating had increased.
"Xiaoyu," she hesitated for a moment, "did Jiang Chen... say anything to you today?"
"Jiang Chen?" Lin Xiaoyu thought for a moment, "He said a lot! He praised the exhibition, praised my design for being creative, and even asked if I needed any follow-up help... Oh right, he also asked about you, Sister Shi Ye."
Shi Ye's heart tightened: "What are you asking me?"
"I'm asking if you're tired today and how you're feeling," Lin Xiaoyu said. "Your senior really cares about you!"
Shi Ye: "..." Sure enough.
“Xiaoyu,” she said seriously, “Jiang Chen and I…it’s impossible.”
"I know, I know!" Lin Xiaoyu said, "Sister Shi Ye, you like Senior Jiang Chen! Although you can't feel it now, you definitely will in the future! Don't worry, I'll explain it to Senior Jiang Chen!"
Shi Ye wanted to say that wasn't what he meant, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. Let Lin Xiaoyu interpret it however she wants.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Lin Xiaoyu said she needed to organize media reports and hung up the phone.
Shi Ye put down her phone and slumped back into the sofa. Her mind was still preoccupied with the news reports, Qi Jin's investment in the cultural and creative projects, and Jiang Chen's inexplicable increase in affection…
The doorbell rang suddenly.
Shi Ye was taken aback. Who could it be so late? She glanced at the time: 8:30 PM.
She walked to the door and looked out through the peephole—it was Qi Jin.
Why is she back again?
Shi Ye opened the door, and Qi Jin stood outside, carrying a bag in his hand.
"I forgot to give you this." Qi Jin handed her the bag.
Shi Ye took the bag, opened it, and saw that it contained medicine. Various kinds of medicine, with detailed instructions for use on the boxes.
"Your medicine is almost finished, isn't it?" Qi Jin said. "I had someone prepare a new one according to the prescription."
Looking at the medicine, Shi Ye felt that pang of sadness welling up inside him again. Qi Jin even remembered something like that.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome." Qi Jin looked at her. "Are your eyes still swollen?"
"I should be... feeling better." Shi Ye subconsciously touched his eyes.
"Let me see." Qi Jin walked in naturally, closed the door, then lifted Shi Ye's face and examined him carefully. "It's still a little swollen. Did you apply ice?"
"No..." Shi Ye said honestly.
Qi Jin sighed and pulled her towards the kitchen: "Are there any ice packs in the refrigerator?"
"There should be..."
Qi Jin opened the refrigerator and found ice packs. She asked Shi Ye to sit on the sofa, then skillfully wrapped the ice packs in a towel and gently placed them on Shi Ye's eyes.
"Apply it for fifteen minutes," Qi Jin said. "Don't move."
Shi Ye sat obediently, feeling the cool touch coming from her eyes, which was very comfortable. Qi Jin sat next to her, taking out his phone to deal with work emails.
The living room was quiet, save for the sound of Qi Jin typing and the ticking of the clock. Shi Ye had her eyes closed, but her mind was wandering.
Why is Qi Jin so good to her? Just because he likes her? But can someone who likes another person really go to this extent? He remembers all her preferences, cares about every little detail about her, even realizing her medicine is almost finished…
“Qi Jin,” Shi Ye suddenly spoke.
"Um?"
Why...are you so good to me?
Qi Jin paused in his typing: "Do I need a reason?"
“Yes, I need to,” Shi Ye said. “Otherwise, I’ll feel…unreal.”
Qi Jin put down his phone and turned to look at her—though Shi Ye couldn't see him with her eyes closed.
“Shi Ye,” Qi Jin’s voice was calm, “Do you know that I had a cat when I was a child?”
Shi Ye was taken aback. The topic had changed rather abruptly.
“I picked up that cat by the roadside. It was very thin and afraid of people,” Qi Jin continued. “I took it home, fed it, bathed it, and played with it. But it was always very wary and wouldn’t let me get close. It would run away if I touched it.”
Shi Ye listened quietly.
“I took care of it for three months before it finally let me touch it,” Qi Jin said. “After another three months, it started jumping onto my lap to sleep.”
"And then?" Shi asked.
“Then it stayed in my house for ten years until it died of old age,” Qi Jin said. “I was very sad when it passed away. But I don’t regret spending so much time and patience waiting for it to accept me.”
Shi Ye understood Qi Jin's meaning.
"You mean..." she whispered, "that I am the cat?"
“No,” Qi Jin said, “You are you. But the principle is the same—some things are worth waiting for. Some people are worth the effort.”
Shi Ye's nose stung again. Damn it, this medicine was really making her emotions unstable.
“But,” she said with difficulty, “the cat eventually accepted you. But what if I… can never accept you?”
“Then I’ll never accept it,” Qi Jin said. “I’m waiting for you, not to wait for you to accept me. I’m just waiting, nothing more.”
Shi Ye didn't know what to say. Qi Jin's unconditional waiting made her feel even more guilty.
It's time for the ice pack. Qi Jin removed the ice pack and looked at Shi Ye's eyes: "Feeling better."
"Thank you," Shi Ye said.
"Shi Ye," Qi Jin suddenly said, "did you see those reports today?"
"I saw it." Shi Ye nodded. "Xiao Yu sent it to me."
What do you think?
"What do you mean, what do you think?"
"The rumors about...our engagement."
Shi Ye was silent for a moment: "The media is just making things up, don't worry about it."
“What if…” Qi Jin paused, “…and it wasn’t just random writing?”
Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat.
“I mean,” Qi Jin looked at her, “we can really get engaged if you’re willing.”
Shi Ye's eyes widened: "But...wasn't the engagement already arranged?"
“That was a business marriage,” Qi Jin said. “I’m talking about a real engagement. Not a transaction, not a partnership, it’s just… I want to be with you.”
Shi Ye's mind went blank. Was Qi Jin proposing? Even though it was just an engagement, the meaning was similar, right?
“Qi Jin,” her voice trembled slightly, “you know my current situation…”
“I know,” Qi Jin interrupted her. “I know you’re undergoing treatment, I know you can’t feel it, I know you may never feel it. But I don’t care.”
She held Shi Ye's hand: "All I care about is you. Whether you can respond or not, whether you can feel it or not, you are you. That's enough."
Looking into Qi Jin's serious eyes, Shi Ye felt like he was about to suffocate—physiologically.
"I..." She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
"You don't need to answer now." Qi Jin released his hand. "I'm just telling you my thoughts. You can consider it, you can refuse, you can... never answer."
Shi Ye lowered his head and looked at his hands. The place where Qi Jin had just held his hand still seemed to be warm.
“Qi Jin,” she said softly, “this is not fair to you.”
"There's no such thing as fairness or unfairness in relationships," Qi Jin said. "It's only a matter of willingness."
Shi Ye had nothing to say.
The two remained silent for a while. Qi Jin stood up: "I should go."
Shi Ye also stood up and saw her to the door.
"Shi Ye," Qi Jin stopped at the door, "I respect whatever decision you make. But there's one thing I want you to know—"
She looked into Shi Ye's eyes: "For me, you are the only choice. Not the best choice, not the most suitable choice, but the only choice."
After saying that, she turned and left.
Shi Ye closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.
The little ranter in my head has crashed, replaced by a jumbled mess.
What did Qi Jin just say? The only choice? That's even heavier than "I like you," okay?!
My phone vibrated; it was a system message: "Critical plot point detected: Qi Jin proposes a real engagement. This event may significantly impact the mission's outcome. Please choose carefully."
Shi Ye stared at the words and smiled bitterly. Choose carefully? What choice did she have? Accept? She couldn't give a response. Refuse? Qi Jin would say, "It's okay, I'll wait for you."
She felt like an animal trapped in a cage, unable to escape no matter how hard she struggled.
My phone vibrated again. This time it was Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shi Ye! Breaking news! Senior Jiang Chen just confessed to me!"
Shi Ye: "..." What day is it today? Why is everyone confessing their love?!
She replied, "Confess my feelings to you?"
"Yes!" Lin Xiaoyu sent a voice message, her voice panicked. "He just called me and said he's liked me since freshman year, but he's never dared to say it! He asked if I could give him a chance!"
Shi Ye was stunned. So Jiang Chen likes Lin Xiaoyu? Then what about his feelings for her?!
"System!" she cried out in her mind, "Didn't Jiang Chen confess to Lin Xiaoyu? Then what about his 38 points of affection for me?!"
"Data analysis: The character can develop feelings for multiple people. Jiang Chen's feelings for Lin Xiaoyu are the result of long-term accumulation, while his feelings for the host are recent. The two do not conflict."
Shi Ye sighed, rubbing his forehead. So Jiang Chen had been secretly in love with Lin Xiaoyu for two years, while simultaneously developing feelings for her after only knowing her for two days?! What kind of nonsense is this?! Can feelings develop simultaneously?!
"So what was your reply?" she asked Lin Xiaoyu.
“I…I rejected him,” Lin Xiaoyu said. “I told him I have someone I like. Although I haven’t told that person yet, I can’t accept Jiang Chen.”
Shi Ye recalled what Lin Xiaoyu had said before, "I have someone I like, but it's not the right time to say it." So Lin Xiaoyu really does have someone she likes, but it's neither Jiang Chen nor Qi Jin.
"Then the person you like..." Shi Ye asked tentatively.
"We can't say!" Lin Xiaoyu said immediately, "The time isn't right yet!"
Shi Ye: "..." This kid really has a lot of secrets.
"What was Jiang Chen's reaction?"
“He said he understands, but he won’t give up,” Lin Xiaoyu sighed. “He said he will continue to wait for me until I’m with the person I like, or… I change my mind.”
Shi Ye: "..." Is today some kind of "Waiting Declaration Day"? Why is everyone talking about waiting?!
"Sister Shi," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly remembered something, "did she say something to you too? When I saw her leave today, she seemed very serious..."
Shi Ye hesitated for a moment, then said, "She asked me... whether I really wanted to get engaged."
Lin Xiaoyu gasped on the other end of the phone: "Really?! Senior finally said it?! What did you say?"
“I didn’t say,” Shi Ye said. “I didn’t know how to say it.”
“Sister Shi,” Lin Xiaoyu said earnestly, “I know you can’t feel it right now, but… I really love you. It’s not just liking, it’s love. I can see it.”
Shi Ye remained silent.
“So,” Lin Xiaoyu continued, “even if you can’t respond right now, at least… don’t push her away. Give her a chance, and give yourself a chance too. When you get better, maybe everything will be different.”
Shi Ye hung up the phone and sat in the dark living room.
The city lights outside the window were dazzling, but she only felt cold.
Qi Jin's love, Lin Xiaoyu's care, Jiang Chen's affection, the system's mission, and her own illness...
All of this was like a net, trapping her tightly.
She didn't know what to do.
All she knew was that the medication was about to take effect, and she needed to take it.
She stood up, went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and took out the new medicine that Qi Jin had just delivered.
Looking at the pills, she suddenly thought: If these pills really work, if she can really get better, if she can feel emotions...
What will she do?
She didn't know.
All she knew was that she had to take her medicine now.
She swallowed the pill and took a sip of water.
Then I went back to my room and lay down on the bed.
Tomorrow will be another new day.
She has to continue tomorrow.
Taking medicine, receiving treatment, facing Qi Jin, facing Lin Xiaoyu, facing Jiang Chen, facing the mission...
Everything must go on.
She closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to come.
Before she lost consciousness, a thought flashed through her mind: What if... what if we really got engaged?
Then she fell asleep.
In her dream, she was wearing a wedding dress, standing in a church. Opposite her was Qi Jin, dressed in a suit, looking at her tenderly.
The priest asked, "Are you willing?"
She opened her mouth, wanting to say "yes," but no sound came out.
Then she woke up.
It was still dark.
She stared at the ceiling and smiled—a smile tinged with bitterness.
She couldn't even say it in her dreams.
This is her.
This is reality.
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