Chapter 44
In the few seconds after sending the message, Shi Ye felt as if her heart was being gripped by an invisible hand, suspended in mid-air, neither rising nor falling. The screen went dark, revealing her own expressionless face, but with eyes that screamed, "I'm courting disaster."
She stared into the darkness, her mind racing, imagining Qi Jin's possible reactions: a cold "we'll see"? A direct rebuke of "you're doing it again"? Or simply ignoring her message?
Time stretched on endlessly. The living room was so quiet that you could hear the hum of the refrigerator compressor starting up, and her own slightly rapid heartbeat.
Then, the phone screen lit up.
Qi Jin's reply was simple, consisting of only two words: "What time?"
It's not a question, it's a statement. It's like they've already decided to go, but just need to know the specific time.
Shi Ye stared at those two words, stunned for several seconds. Just like that… she agreed? No questions? No counter-questions? No “Why are you asking me on her behalf?”
This doesn't fit Qi Jin's character. At least, it doesn't fit the Qi Jin she knew—the perceptive, suspicious person who was already wary of her (Shi Ye's) matchmaking efforts.
unless……
Unless Qi Jin sees through her intentions and decides to play along? Or... does Qi Jin simply not care whether this is matchmaking or not, and she just wants to support Lin Xiaoyu's competition? Or has Qi Jin sensed something else?
Countless guesses flashed through Shi Ye's mind in an instant, each one sending chills down her spine. She felt like she was dancing on a field strewn with landmines, every step of which could explode and shatter her into pieces.
She took a deep breath and typed with slightly stiff fingers: "I'll ask Xiaoyu for the exact time and then I'll let you know."
Qi Jin: "Mm."
The conversation ended.
It was dry and lifeless, like two robots exchanging information in the least efficient way.
Shi Ye tossed her phone aside, slumped onto the sofa, and stared at the chandelier on the ceiling. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting patches of light on the lampshade, which swayed gently in the breeze outside.
"System," she cried out weakly in her mind, "Was that operation just now considered 'active matchmaking'?"
[Behavioral Analysis: The host proactively conveyed Lin Xiaoyu's expectations and successfully prompted Qi Jin to respond positively (agree to attend). This behavior aligns with the mission strategies of 'creating shared experiences' and 'increasing attention'. Qi Jin's favorability towards Lin Xiaoyu is estimated to have a slight potential for increase.] The system's electronic voice was calm and even carried a hint of satisfaction at her potential. [Please continue to maintain this level of composure and seize the opportunity at the competition venue to further enhance the atmosphere.]
Slight potential for improvement? Shi Ye wanted to sneer. She could almost picture the competition: Qi Jin sitting in the audience with a cold face, Lin Xiaoyu stammering nervously on stage, and her, the "matchmaker," caught in the middle, feeling utterly helpless. That atmosphere wasn't "romantic," it was more like a "terminal ward of awkwardness."
But... isn't this exactly what she wanted? To push this matchmaking effort into an obvious, ridiculous failure?
She picked up her phone again and opened Lin Xiaoyu's chat window. Lin Xiaoyu had already sent several messages, all about her dilemma regarding what shoes to wear to the competition, what accessories to pair them with, and whether or not to wear light makeup, interspersed with countless exclamation marks and emojis.
Shi Ye skipped over those details and went straight to the point: "Xiaoyu, what day of next week is your rematch? What time does it start? Where is it held?"
Lin Xiaoyu replied instantly: "Next Wednesday at 2 PM! In Hall 3, Building B, City Art Center! Sister Shi Ye, are you coming?! [Starry-eyed]"
Shi Ye: "Yes. Qi Jin might go too."
After the message was sent, there was a few seconds of silence on the other end.
Then, Lin Xiaoyu called directly.
Shi Ye answered the phone, and Lin Xiaoyu's low but excited and nervous voice immediately came through: "Sister Shi Ye! Really?! Senior is really coming?! How did you convince her?! Oh my god, I'm so nervous! Senior is such a great person coming to watch my competition, what if I mess it up?!"
"You won't mess it up," Shi Ye offered a dry reassurance. "Just do your best."
"No, no! I need to work even harder!" Lin Xiaoyu's voice was full of fighting spirit. "I need to optimize the presentation plan again! I also need to memorize my defense speech perfectly! Sister Shi, could you help me take a look at it later? And senior... it would be great if you could give me some advice if you had time..."
As Shi Ye listened to her expectant voice, a wave of guilt washed over her again. She had taken advantage of this naive girl's trust and adoration.
"I'll ask her if she has time," she heard herself say, her tone so calm it felt unfamiliar even to herself.
"That's great! Thank you, Sister Shi! You're my lucky star!" Lin Xiaoyu cheered. "I'll go revise the plan now! Love you!"
The call ended.
Shi Ye stared at the now silent phone screen, which reflected her pale face.
Lucky Star?
She's probably Lin Xiaoyu's nemesis.
She stood up, her soft slippers making no sound on the floor. She walked to the window and pulled back a corner of the curtain. The street below was bustling with traffic and pedestrians hurrying by; everything seemed so normal, so… methodical.
She alone was trapped in this absurd mission, like a clumsy actress performing a play destined to fall apart.
The sunlight was a bit too bright, so she squinted.
In my mind, the system was still dutifully "optimizing" the prompts:
[It is recommended that the host communicate with Qi Jin in advance to understand his schedule on Wednesday afternoon and ensure that he can attend on time. It is advisable to mention Lin Xiaoyu's hard work and nervousness in preparation for the competition to evoke Qi Jin's protective instincts and admiration. At the competition venue, the host can guide the conversation to allow Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu more opportunities for natural interaction.]
Shi Ye lowered the curtains and walked back to the living room.
She didn't contact Qi Jin immediately. Instead, she walked to the few paper bags that weren't completely packed, squatted down, and took out the last item from them—an exquisitely packaged, flat box.
She opened the box.
There were neither clothes nor shoes inside.
It's a necklace.
It's a very simple design, with a thin silver chain and a small, gracefully curved moon pendant made of a warm, lustrous jade-like material. Next to the moon is an even smaller, almost invisible star.
There were no cards or messages in the box.
But Shi Ye knew that it was a gift from Qi Jin.
Like a pair of well-fitting shoes, soft clothes, and a bowl of warm tomato and egg noodles.
Qi Jin was being kind to her in her own way, silently and stubbornly.
Even though she kept pushing her away, even though she had just been "actively" trying to match her up with someone else.
Shi Ye picked up the necklace. The chain was cold, but the moon pendant seemed to have a slight warmth in her palm.
She looked at the small moon, and many images flashed through her mind: Qi Jin's profile as he fed the cat in the rain (although she had never seen it in person, there were photos in Qi Jin's diary), the little things Qi Jin had kept about her, the way Qi Jin ruffled her hair in the dark, the look in Qi Jin's eyes when he asked her, "Will you regret it?"
The barren, frozen land in my heart seems to be slowly and steadily melting away by something unfamiliar and scalding hot.
Something is breaking through the ground.
It was neither sharp pain nor empty nothingness.
It was a kind of... subtle, but very clear, throbbing sensation.
Like an ancient well that has been silent for many years, a small pebble was thrown in, and finally a ripple spread out.
She held the necklace and sat on the living room carpet for a long time.
She slowly stood up and walked to the dressing mirror only when her legs started to feel numb.
The woman in the mirror was wearing a beige knit sweater and khaki pants. Her face was still pale, and she had dark circles under her eyes, but there seemed to be something different in her eyes.
It is no longer a complete numbness and emptiness.
There was an added trace of... struggle.
She picked up the necklace, unfastened the clasp, and awkwardly tried to put it on. Her movements were stiff, and it took her several tries to fasten it.
A small moon hung below her collarbone, its warm glow reflecting off her pale skin in an unexpected harmony.
She stared at herself in the mirror, wearing the moon necklace, for a long time.
Then, she picked up her phone and opened Qi Jin's chat window.
This time, she didn't mention Lin Xiaoyu or the competition.
She was just typing, very slowly, but very carefully:
"The necklace is beautiful. Thank you."
Click send.
The message vanished like a stone thrown into a deep pool.
She waited.
This time, the feeling of waiting was completely different from before.
It's no longer about scheming, no longer about testing.
Rather, it was a complex expectation that even she herself couldn't quite explain.
Qi Jin replied quickly.
It's also very simple:
"I'm glad you like it."
Shi Ye looked at those four words, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upwards slightly.
A very shallow arc.
Almost invisible.
But in the eyes of the pale woman in the mirror, there seemed to be a faint glimmer of light.
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
Shi Ye looked away from the mirror, glancing towards the door with some confusion. Who could it be at this hour? Wasn't Lin Xiaoyu at the library?
She walked to the door and looked out through the peephole.
A strange young man stood outside the door, wearing the uniform of a certain brand of courier service, holding a large bouquet of... sunflowers?
The brilliant golden color stood out starkly in the dimly lit hallway.
Shi Ye frowned and opened the door.
"Hello, are you Ms. Shi Yeshi?" the deliveryman asked politely.
"I am."
"Your flowers, please sign for them." The deliveryman handed over a huge bunch of sunflowers that he could barely hold, along with a small card.
Shi Ye accepted the flowers; they were heavy, and their rich fragrance wafted towards her. She signed the papers, closed the door, and carried the flowers back to the living room.
She placed the flowers on the coffee table and picked up the card.
The card had only one line of printed text, without a signature:
Congratulations on being shortlisted. Good luck! — From a friend who's happy for you.
The handwriting is printed and it's impossible to tell who it is.
A friend who's happy for you?
Shi Ye looked at the bunch of sunflowers that were blooming so brightly yet foolishly, and quickly ran through the possible candidates in his mind.
Qi Jin? Unlikely. Qi Jin's style is simple and practical; giving clothes and shoes is understandable, but such a large, flamboyant bouquet of sunflowers… is unlikely. Besides, Qi Jin just gave away a necklace.
Lin Xiaoyu? She was just agonizing over the details of the competition, so it's possible. But Lin Xiaoyu knows her address; she could just come directly. There's no need to send flowers anonymously.
Jiang Chen? He might be, but his tone doesn't quite sound like it.
Qin Ming? ...Forget it, that guy probably wants to kill her and Qi Jin right now, he'd rather send her chrysanthemums.
Who is that?
A hidden "friend" who knows about Lin Xiaoyu's competition and is happy for her (Shi Ye? or Lin Xiaoyu?)?
Shi Ye stared at the bunch of golden sunflowers, then looked at the warm moon necklace around her neck.
The crazy plan in my mind about "correcting mistakes" seems to have become even more shrouded in mystery.
Meanwhile, deep within her consciousness, the system silently updated a record:
[Unknown gift-giving behavior detected. Source analysis in progress... Data analysis stalled. Correlation unknown. Temporarily recorded as 'external interference factor', under continuous observation.]
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