She's Crazy, I Love Her - Chapter 18

Chi Yue wanted to say, “No, it’s not,” but before she could open her mouth, Qi You had already walked straight to the sink and placed her hands under the faucet.

The sensor swiftly recognized her presence, and clear water cascaded over her hands.

“What a coincidence, President Qi,” Chi Yue said.

Qi You didn’t look at her. After washing her hands, she straightened up and casually pulled two paper towels from the dispenser beneath the mirror. “Hmm,” she replied.

Chi Yue pressed her lips together.

With just that one word, her heart was already racing, and the myriad thoughts in her mind had tangled into a chaotic knot.

Previously, Sun Zhiping had used her phone to try to contact He Wen, but he had ignored the messages.

And today, hadn’t she been forced to endure these grueling days with the film crew precisely to see Qi You and try to make amends?

Now the woman was right in front of her.

Qi You slowly dried the water droplets from her fingers, her gaze lowered.

Chi Yue gripped the edge of the black porcelain sink, her knuckles turning white from the tension. Her wrists and fingertips were still damp.

After a two-second glance, Qi You tossed the wet paper towels into the trash, pulled out fresh ones, and handed them to Chi Yue.

Chi Yue hastily thanked her, took the towels, and pressed them haphazardly against the back of her hand.

The paper towel was rough, and because Chi Yue was distracted, it easily rubbed her fair, delicate skin a faint red.

Qi You looked up and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Meeting an investor,” Chi Yue replied.

Qi You nodded.

Chi Yue glanced at her and added, “It’s about Hua Fangfei.”

Qi You showed no reaction, merely humming in acknowledgment.

Chi Yue bit her inner lip, wanting to speak but unable to open her mouth. She slowed her hand-drying motions, as if prolonging the moment would somehow make it easier.

The restroom was lavishly appointed, with an exceptionally spacious vanity area. Since no one else had entered, the silence grew more pronounced.

A brief silence hung in the air.

Qi You said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”

As she turned to leave, Chi Yue panicked, dropping the paper towel and reaching out to stop her. “President Qi!”

Qi You paused and looked at her.

“Excuse me,” Chi Yue said, “but do you have any time recently? Our director would like to meet with you.”

Qi You asked, “Is that all you wanted to say, Miss Chi?”

Chi Yue pressed her lips together. “Yes.”

Qi You walked straight out of the restroom.

Chi Yue hurried after her, pleading in a low, urgent voice, “President Qi, I know the crew was wrong. I’m not asking you to do anything specific, just to spare some time for a meeting, a meal, or anything else.”

“Just a meeting?” Qi You’s pace didn’t slow. “Does Zhao Ming know that’s all you want?”

Chi Yue hesitated. “He…”

Zhao Ming obviously wanted Chi Yue to plead with Qi You to show mercy and let him off the hook. But after what had happened, Chi Yue’s mere presence on the set was already due to company pressure, let alone actively helping him mediate with Qi You.

“It seems Miss Chi isn’t particularly eager to film this drama,” Qi You remarked.

“That’s not true at all,” Chi Yue’s voice softened. “Filming would be ideal, of course, but with the crew in its current state—”

Chi Yue lowered her gaze. “My opinion doesn’t matter.”

Qi You tilted her head. Chi Yue’s eyes were strikingly beautiful, with long, thick lashes. When she looked down, the corners of her eyes turned slightly upward, giving them a quiet, alluring charm from Qi You’s perspective.

“Miss Chi is mistaken,” Qi You said.

“If Miss Chi wants to film it, she can.”

Chi Yue was stunned. “What do you mean?”

Qi You replied, “Exactly what you think I mean.”

Chi Yue looked at her, bewildered.

Qi You stopped walking, her gaze fixed on Chi Yue’s face, flushed from the wine. “I’m still waiting for Miss Chi’s answer.”

Answer? What answer?

“I…” Chi Yue’s back stiffened, her voice involuntarily tensing. “I’ve already made myself very clear.”

Qi You acted as if she hadn’t heard, simply asking, “Does Miss Chi have anything else to discuss?”

Chi Yue looked up and realized they had reached the door of a private room. Qi You tapped two fingers against the door, not immediately opening it, but the gesture already carried a clear sense of dismissal.

Panic surged through Chi Yue’s heart, but then Sun Zhiping’s aggressive face flashed in her mind, along with the clinking glasses, rising and falling voices, and general chaos of the banquet.

I don’t need her to spare Hua Fangfei,” Chi Yue thought. “I just want to resolve this quickly. Even if the film can’t be made in the end, it doesn’t matter, as long as Sun Zhiping stops dragging me to these endless banquets.”

After a moment of mental preparation, she tried again, “President Qi, is there really no time at all? Even just a few minutes?”

Qi You lowered her hand, paused, and said, “Come back in half an hour.”

Chi Yue was almost overjoyed. “Okay! Thank you, President Qi. I appreciate your time.”

Qi You pushed open the door, revealing Pei Man alone in the private room.

Noticing Chi Yue’s fleeting presence, Pei Man asked, “Did you run into someone you know?”

Qi You nodded. “Mm.”

Pei Man didn’t press further. She put down her phone, her face lit up with a smile. “I just received a reply from my professor. Guess what she said.”

Qi You replied, “She’s very interested and wants to meet in person.”

Pei Man’s jaw dropped. “You’re that confident in yourself?!”

Qi You leaned back in her chair, neither confirming nor denying.

Pei Man quickly surrendered. “Alright, alright, you guessed right. That’s exactly what she said.”

Qi You’s interest in such matters wasn’t as keen as before, but after a moment’s thought, she advised, “Academician Xu at the Academy of Sciences is the director of the Brain Science Research Institute. Her current experimental project could verify the data in the document. You should contact her first, and once you’ve reached a consensus, invite your professor over.”

Pei Man’s eyes lit up. “Academician Xu, I know her—”

“But,” Pei Man’s tone shifted, suspicion creeping into her voice, “her research group’s work is still confidential, and the data would never be leaked. How did you find out?”

“It’s a secret,” Qi You replied, raising her gaze slightly. “And I’d appreciate it if you kept it that way.”

Pei Man fell silent. After a long pause, her voice wavered slightly. “Does this involve academic misconduct?”

Qi You said, “If dreaming about it counts as plagiarism, then yes.”

Pei Man chuckled awkwardly.

With the serious matters settled, they exchanged a few more casual remarks. Pei Man set down her water glass and asked, “Shall we leave now?”

“I’m waiting for someone else,” Qi You said. “Are you in a hurry? If so, you can head back first.”

“I rarely have such free time,” Pei Man remarked casually. “Who are you waiting for? The person we just ran into?”

“Someone from the film crew,” Qi You replied. “The director.”

Pei Man’s curiosity piqued. “A big-name director? Should I excuse myself?”

“Zhao Ming, he directs TV dramas. You probably don’t know him,” Qi You said, noticing her interest. “But you’re welcome to stay if you want.”

A waiter came to clear the table. Qi You ordered a bottle of red wine, and when the waiter recommended two options, he told him to choose whatever he preferred.

Just as the waiter left, Zhao Ming and his group arrived.

Qi You glanced at her phone—exactly thirty minutes had passed.

Zhao Ming wasn’t alone; Sun Zhiping and Wan Dongqing were with him. Chi Yue trailed behind.

Qi You’s gaze immediately locked onto Chi Yue.

Perhaps their earlier conversation about the topic had triggered a memory in Qi You’s mind. She studied Chi Yue’s head intently: her forehead was full, her crown high and rounded, and the back of her skull was exceptionally well-shaped.

Pei Yi had died, yet Qi You still clung to life.

But if Chi Yue were to die, this world would instantly crumble.

So, as the protagonist, would her brain, when dissected, be the same as an ordinary person’s?

Would her brain be the same as anyone else’s?

“President Qi, what a coincidence to see you dining here with friends!” Wan Dongqing, head of Wenhui Media’s marketing department, stepped forward to play mediator, smiling as he spoke.

Qi You dismissed the fleeting thought from her mind with a nod. “Sit down,” she said.

The group quickly settled into their seats.

Sun Zhiping even made a point of seating Chi Yue next to Qi You.

Qi You didn’t glance at Chi Yue. Resting one hand on the table, she bypassed introductions and cut straight to the chase. “I understand Director Zhao has been trying to reach me?”

“Yes, yes,” Zhao Ming blurted out, leaping to his feet. His expression was now more terrified than obsequious.

Sensing Qi You’s ambiguous mood, he skipped the pleasantries and immediately launched into apologies, confessions, and pleas for mercy.

Qi You listened impassively, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the intricate floral pattern on the tablecloth.

The waiter arrived with a bottle of red wine.

“Open it,” Qi You instructed.

The waiter swiftly poured wine for each person.

Zhao Ming, seizing the cue, rose to his feet. “President Qi, I’ll drink to you first. I’ll finish mine in one go; please drink at your leisure.”

Without waiting for a response, he tilted his head back and drained his glass in a single gulp.

Feeling he had been decisive enough, Zhao Ming set down his glass and even flashed Qi You a glimpse of its empty bottom, but then suddenly froze.

The woman seated at the round table had, unnoticed, produced a medicine bottle with English labeling. After unscrewing the cap, she poured the white pills into her wine glass with a clatter, causing a splash of wine.

More than a dozen pills—

The surrounding group watched, utterly bewildered.

Qi You poured the pills, set the bottle aside, and then, with her slender fingers pressed against the base of the glass, pushed it to the center of the table.

The crystal chandelier overhead cast a brilliant light on the transparent wine glass. Inside, the white pills rapidly soaked, dissolved, and clouded the clear red wine.

A sudden silence fell.

“President Qi…” Zhao Ming’s voice began to falter.

Qi You leaned back in her chair, saying nothing, but merely tilted her chin slightly.

Wan Dongqing, realizing what was happening, was also stunned. He shifted in his seat and couldn’t help but whisper, “President Qi, this is too—”

“It’s just a sleep aid, not poison.”

Qi You placed the medicine bottle on the table with a dull thud.

“Spiked wine,” Qi You said, lifting her eyelids slightly. “Might even taste better. Director Zhao, wouldn’t you like to try?”

Some word seemed to strike a nerve. Zhao Ming jerked his head up, his gaze darting rapidly between Qi You and Chi Yue.

Qi You’s expression remained cold and impassive, but the overly bright crystal chandelier in the room cast harsh shadows across her face, making her features appear sculpted like a statue.

Silent, icy, utterly unyielding.

Zhao Ming’s eyes gradually glazed over. After a long moment, he leaned forward.

“I’ll drink it,” Zhao Ming said, picking up the glass. His throat bobbed with difficulty. “President Qi, Miss Chi, I was blind to your merits earlier and deeply apologize for my offenses. Please forgive me.”

He drained the glass in several gulps.

Just as he set it down, Qi You pushed another glass toward him with her finger.

It was the glass of red wine that had been sitting in front of Chi Yue.

“You haven’t finished your medicine,” Qi You said.

As her words fell, the entire private room became so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Zhao Ming froze for a full two seconds, sweat beading on his forehead.

No one spoke. Qi You’s expression remained unchanged.

Having come this far, there was no turning back. Zhao Ming reached out with a trembling hand, the crimson wine filling the glass and swirling the undissolved pills at the bottom. He raised the glass and swallowed it all in one gulp.

Not a drop remained.

Qi You finally curled her lips into a smile. “Director Zhao has quite the tolerance for alcohol.”

Perhaps it was psychological, but Zhao Ming’s face visibly paled. He set down the glass, his voice trembling slightly. “As long as President Qi is satisfied…”

Qi You ignored his words and turned to Chi Yue. “Miss Chi, are you satisfied?”

Chi Yue’s face was as white as paper. After a long pause, she managed to stammer, “S-satisfied.”

Qi You nodded. “Good.”

“I’ll give Director Zhao’s proposal careful consideration,” she said, rising to her feet. “That’s all for today. I have other matters to attend to. Please excuse me.”

The others stood up as well, but the usual pleasantries were absent. Their faces were grim.

Qi You tossed the medicine bottle into her bag and casually slung it over her shoulder.

As she reached the door, she turned to Chi Yue. “Miss Chi, don’t take too long to decide. My patience is limited, and time is short.”