She's Crazy, I Love Her - Chapter 15

Qi You wanted to kiss her.

But she ultimately didn’t.

A bl00d vessel in her throat, briefly suppressed by her restraint, swelled, constricted, and spasmed.

The strange sensation was unmistakable.

The car drove into the residential complex. “Cuiying Huating” had a fancy name, but the development was already showing its age. The landscaping was sparse, and private cars occupied most of the pedestrian walkways.

The driver asked, “Is this the building?”

Chi Yue, who had been watching the road, nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

The driver smiled, and the car stopped at the building’s entrance.

Chi Yue didn’t immediately open the door. Her fingers fidgeted at the hem of her skirt, hesitating to speak.

The car remained quiet for a moment, no one urging her to hurry.

“President Qi,” Chi Yue asked softly after a while, “could you wait a little longer?”

Qi You glanced at her. “Mm.”

Chi Yue let out a small sigh of relief before reaching for the door, leaping out quickly, and rushing into the apartment building’s lobby.

She hurried, but it still took several minutes to carefully wrap and pack everything.

With large and small bags in both hands, she struggled to press the elevator button, finally managing to close the doors with her pinky finger.

Chi Yue leaned against the cold metal bar at the back of the elevator car, her gaze fixed on the descending numbers. At this late hour, the elevator’s usage was minimal, and the red digits ticked down relentlessly, one by one, for what felt like an eternity.

Ding—

Chi Yue took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator, where she saw Qi You.

Perhaps having waited too long, Qi You had gotten out of her car and was leaning against the side, smoking.

It was past ten o’clock at night, and few residents or pedestrians were out. The night wind rustled through the air, causing the antique-style street lamps to creak slightly from disrepair, their pale light swaying gently.

Qi You was still wearing the custom-made gown from the banquet, its waistline perfectly tailored to accentuate her figure. Her long, slender neck was bare and immaculate, devoid of any jewelry. The smooth line of her skin stretched from her shoulders down her arms to her fingertips.

When she saw Chi Yue, Qi You straightened up, her arms falling naturally to her sides, the index and middle fingers holding the cigarette slightly parted.

The scene before Chi Yue was stark and striking, its cold sharpness almost overwhelming.

Chi Yue’s heart skipped a beat. The courage she had so painstakingly mustered began to crumble, teetering on the brink of collapse.

She descended the steps and walked over, the hard shell of the designer handbag bumping against her leg with each step.

She couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Qi You asked first, “What are you carrying?”

“These…” Chi Yue forced herself to continue, “These are the gifts you’ve sent me these past few days.”

Qi You lowered his gaze. The handbags jostled against the hem of Chi Yue’s skirt, the logos on the outermost paper bags shimmering as if dusted with glitter, the oversized letters glowing brightly.

Chi Yue said, “I’m joining the film crew soon, and I won’t need these. President Qi, thank you for your kindness, but…”

She chose her words carefully, her voice trembling with anxiety and deference.

“And today’s necklace… it’s too extravagant. I really can’t afford it,” Chi Yue said, pressing her lips together. “The necklace isn’t with me now. I’ll return it to you tomorrow.”

He Wen had delivered all the gifts. When she tried to refuse them, he insisted he was just the messenger and told her to contact President Qi directly.

Chi Yue didn’t dare. She could only stall.

But after tonight, she couldn’t stall any longer.

The last time she’d slapped Qi You, he’d shown no reaction, even sending her gifts and signing her for Hua Fangfei. But what about the future?

She didn’t know what conflict existed between Qi You and Pei Yi, nor why Qi You had acted the way she did. But none of it concerned her.

She didn’t want to be involved, nor did she dare to be.

Chi Yue remained frozen, her delicate fingers pressed against the various straps, leaving red marks where they dug into her skin.

She even assured Qi You, “I won’t breathe a word to anyone about what happened at the Pei Family tonight.”

Qi You’s expression remained impassive, her features so blank it was impossible to discern her mood.

The weight in Chi Yue’s hand grew heavier with each passing second of silence, until it felt like a mountain, making her arm tremble.

After what felt like an eternity—at least ten seconds—Qi You finally moved. She crushed the burning cigarette butt against the gleaming car exterior, turned, and opened the passenger door.

The driver, startled, glanced back at them with surprise.

Chi Yue froze for a moment before realizing what was happening. She hurried forward and piled the items onto the passenger seat. The largest tote bag wouldn’t fit and had to be placed on the floor.

She stepped back.

The car door slammed shut with a resounding thud.

The sound made Chi Yue’s heart clench.

Qi You asked, “Anything else?”

“No, nothing else,” Chi Yue said.

Qi You’s gaze swept over her, as calm as still water, before she opened the back door of the car, got in, and closed the door.

Chi Yue retreated, stepping back until she reached the steps.

The car started, drove straight ahead, turned, and quickly disappeared from sight.

A sudden gust of night wind made Chi Yue shiver.

She slumped her shoulders, finally noticing the numbness in her fingers. She massaged them herself before turning and slowly walking back into the apartment.

Though still uneasy, she told herself it was finally over… right?

The plot has deviated significantly! Host, please correct it immediately!

Qi You heard the familiar warning in her mind the following afternoon.

According to the original storyline, after Pei Yi’s third encounter with Chi Yue, his parents pressured him to go on blind dates and get engaged. Frustrated, he decided to find a girlfriend himself.

He was supposed to draft a contract today, offering Chi Yue protection in exchange for her pretending to be his girlfriend for two years—Chi Yue would agree to this arrangement a month later.

But now, Pei Yi was at home with a cast on his arm, while the Rose Flame necklace already lay on Qi You’s office desk.

Chi Yue had rejected her.

“Actually, I’ve been sending flowers to Miss Chi’s home every day in your name,” He Wen cleared his throat. “At least she hasn’t returned them.”

He Wen’s voice trailed off.

Qi You opened the box. The rare conch pearl, as always, radiated a warm, gentle glow against the black velvet lining.

He Wen looked anxious.

Qi You merely glanced at it for a moment before casually closing the box and tossing it aside.

Confused by her indifferent attitude, He Wen hesitated before asking, “Should we continue sending flowers to Miss Chi?”

“Stop,” Qi You said.

He Wen asked, “What about Hua Fangfei?”

While Qi You’s personal account had been used to send gifts to Chi Yue, the television drama project was being handled under the company’s name. He Wen needed to clarify the situation.

Qi You countered, “Who’s the current supervising producer for Hua Fangfei?”

Without hesitation, He Wen replied, “We came in late, so the supervising producer is still someone appointed by Lanshan Company.”

“Replace them with someone from Wenhui,” Qi You instructed.

He Wen paused briefly, then nodded. “Understood.”

The contract was quickly reactivated, with revised investment amounts, equity percentages, payment methods, a new supervising producer, additional screenwriters, and consultants—the content had been almost entirely overhauled.

These changes finally stirred some dissenting voices within the company. Everyone could see that while the first version of the contract had been purely investment-focused, the second version emphasized active involvement in the project’s execution.

Although both versions listed Qi You as “Vice President,” the difference between holding a nominal title and actively intervening in company affairs was stark, reflecting entirely different levels of authority and responsibility.

Qi You’s office gradually became a hub of activity, with a constant stream of newcomers seeking to curry favor.

Qi You occasionally listened to the others’ boasts to pass the time, and sometimes she expedited approval processes for certain projects to curry favor.

Even more rarely, she would go out with Zhou Wei or other friends.

Zhou Wei had fewer classes recently, and with the new entertainment venues having relocated, she now found Twilight more appealing than Doze Hifi.

Twilight Bar was located near the Jin River, with a prominent city landmark on the adjacent street—a prime location where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. The minimum spending requirement for a single person was five figures or more.

The sky still held the last vestiges of daylight, the sunset painting the horizon in vibrant hues. The roadside was lined with various sports cars, their engines roaring one after another.

Zhou Wei was surrounded by a group of friends, some familiar, others not so much. Their faces flushed with the warmth of alcohol, their voices already tinged with tipsiness.

“This new cocktail is really unique,” Zhou Wei recommended enthusiastically. “You have to try it.”

Qi You picked up the glass and took a sip. It was a white rum-based cocktail, sweet and smooth. In addition to the usual pineapple and lemon juice for a refreshing tang, it featured a layered cucumber syrup for added complexity.

It wasn’t exactly new.

Zhou Wei watched her finish the drink in one gulp and asked with a grin, “Good, right?”

Qi You shrugged off her coat and tossed it casually onto the booth, revealing a black tank top and matching tailored trousers—an outfit that struck just the right balance between revealing and refined.

She nodded, offering a grudging compliment: “Not bad.”

Despite her lukewarm praise, Zhou Wei beamed with pride, pulling her to the bar to sit on high stools and watch the bartender mix drinks.

Multicolored lights cascaded over rows of glass liquor bottles. The bartender, her age impossible to guess, wore a vibrant red dress. Her expression was cool and her movements restrained, lacking the flamboyant, showy gestures common among other mixologists.

She mixed three different cocktails in quick succession, each of which Qi You downed without hesitation.

By the fourth drink, Qi You was starting to feel tipsy. She slowed down, cradling the slender stemmed glass between her fingers and sipping slowly, savoring each sip instead of finishing it in one gulp.

Then came the bar’s signature act: a tall, slender woman suddenly appeared in the center of the dance floor, accompanied by a full band. Her voice, amplified through the surround sound system, soared through the air, a heart-wrenching, earth-shattering song that reverberated through the entire venue.

A frenzied drumbeat erupted, like water sizzling in hot oil, and the entire hall exploded with a feverish energy that threatened to tear the roof off.

Music, alcohol, dazzling lights, and decadent revelry—Qi You didn’t reject this hedonistic atmosphere; she thrived in it, like a fish in water. After all, she had relied on such distractions to get through countless nights in the past.

Spotlights flickered wildly, limbs intertwined and stretched out like branches reaching for light, or like a bizarre pilgrimage—reckless and absurd.

Qi You collapsed onto a deep purple sofa, her body slightly breathless from dancing. The alcohol boiled in her mind, leaving her in a semi-hallucinatory, tipsy state, as if floating among the clouds.

A girl she didn’t recognize sidled up to her, reeking of alcohol and perfume.

“You dance so well,” she said.

“I’m having so much fun tonight!”

“Are you tired? I still want to party. Come with me, please?”

She giggled coquettishly, tugging on Qi You’s arm and pressing her soft body against her shoulder.

Qi You pushed the girl’s hand away, grabbed a clean glass from the table, and poured until it overflowed, the liquor spilling onto the floor.

Qi You raised her hand and offered the glass to the girl. “Want some?” she asked.

Her expression was so serious that the girl’s smile gradually faded. She bit her lip and shook her head.

Qi You withdrew her hand and drained the glass in one gulp.