She's Crazy, I Love Her - Chapter 19

Pei Man asked, “Did the young lady offend you?”

Qi You replied, “She’s the same age as me.”

Even though Pei Man knew Qi You was changing the subject, she was briefly surprised. “The same age? I never would have guessed.”

The two followed the restaurant manager outside. The night had already fallen, and the city lights glittered brightly. Valet staff stood quietly waiting by the entrance.

They had arrived separately in their own cars, but Pei Man hesitated. After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t resist asking, “Should we wait for Miss Chi?”

Qi You placed her hand on the car door and glanced at Pei Man.

Pei Man cleared her throat and explained, “I just think that after what happened earlier, leaving a young woman alone might make her a target for misplaced anger.”

“She’ll be fine,” Qi You said.

Pei Man nodded, but she knew Miss Chi would definitely be feeling terrible.

Qi You asked, “Do you think I’m targeting her?”

More like threatening her, Pei Man thought.

They weren’t close enough for such bluntness, so Pei Man simply shrugged. “Who knows? I have no idea what happened between you two.”

Qi You fell silent, withdrawing her gaze and sliding into the car. She closed the door.

Had she targeted Chi Yue?

No, she had already shown her remarkable tolerance.

At this hour, the city center’s traffic was a nightmare. Red taillights formed a long, serpentine line, snaking through the steel jungle.

As the green light flashed, Qi You braked, her eyes fixed on the countdown numbers blinking above the intersection.

The countdown.

Her longest life had lasted until she was twenty-six. At that time, the two protagonists were celebrating a grand wedding. Emerald lawns, ornate arches, and vast expanses of pink and white petals transformed the scene into a dreamlike fairy tale.

The bride, radiant in her white gown, faced the groom and began her heartfelt vows, but the words caught in her throat.

Then, without warning, the world shattered like glass—cracking silently, fracturing, and dissolving into dust.

Her shortest life had lasted only a few minutes.

She wondered where this countdown would begin.

The green light reappeared, starting a new cycle.

The private car started, carrying an invisible layer of smog as it plunged into the bizarre and dazzling night.

Chi Yue called her several days later, on a weekend. Qi You was in the archery room at the time.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass, bathing the clean wooden floor in warmth. Qi You stood sideways, legs apart, clad in dark sportswear and protective gear. Her left hand held the bow steady, while her right hand gripped the string. Her arm remained unwavering as the string slid through her fingers, the veins on the back of her hand bulging with tension, stretching all the way to her wrist.

The phone buzzed on the table, the sound amplified in the empty room.

Yet she seemed oblivious, her dark eyes fixed on the bullseye. The curve of her cheek was shadowed, motionless as marble—no breath, no heartbeat—until the bowstring was fully drawn, poised to release.

Twang!

The arrow sliced through the air and struck the bullseye, its fletching quivering.

“Wow!” Zheng Yue exclaimed from the doorway.

Qi You lowered the bow, her shoulders already stiff from the monotonous repetition. Ignoring Zheng Yue’s curious peeking, she turned and walked to the table.

The incoming call displayed an eleven-digit number, indicating it was the caller’s first attempt to reach her.

But Qi You already knew the number by heart.

Without surprise, she slowly removed her finger guard and pressed the answer button.

For a moment, there was no sound from the other end, only the deliberately muffled sound of breathing.

Qi You paused for a few seconds, then spoke before the caller could change her mind: “Miss Chi.”

“…President Qi.”

The voice sounded like an overstretched string, trembling slightly.

Qi You leaned back against the desk, her long legs stretched out lazily.

Chi Yue asked, “Do you have a moment?”

Qi You replied, “Go ahead.”

Chi Yue said, “I… there’s been an emergency at home, and I urgently need money. Could you lend me…”

Qi You asked, “How much?”

Chi Yue said, “Two hundred thousand.”

Qi You said, “Alright.”

Chi Yue said, “Thank you, President Qi. I’ll definitely repay you.”

Qi You said, “No need to repay me.”

Chi Yue fell silent for a full ten seconds before finally murmuring a soft “Mm.”

Qi You asked, “Is there anything else?”

Chi Yue replied, “No, that’s all.”

Qi You said, “Alright.”

Qi You said, “I’ll be in touch.”

Qi You transferred the funds and put down her phone.

Zheng Yue, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, tiptoed into the room while Qi You was still on the phone. She even reached for the longbow propped in the card slot.

Qi You was still using a 24-pound recurve bow, but for a little girl, that strength was already considerable. Even when Zheng Yue gripped the bow with both hands and strained to draw it, she could only manage to pull it back a few shaky centimeters.

Qi You watched for a while. Even when the girl’s hand was struck by the string due to improper release, causing her to grimace in pain, she didn’t get up.

It wasn’t until Zheng Yue yelped softly from the pain and hastily returned the bow to its place that she finally turned around.

Zheng Yue saw that Qi You had already hung up. A fleeting hint of embarrassment crossed her small face, but she quickly regained her composure.

“I was just touching it! I wouldn’t break it!”

Qi You stood up.

Zheng Yue quickly scooted aside at her movement.

But Qi You, in a rare moment of consideration, asked, “Do you want to learn archery?”

Zheng Yue pursed her lips, carefully observing Qi You’s expression before answering, “Just a little.”

“Then I’ll have someone find you a teacher,” Qi You said.

Zheng Yue, who had recently been learning piano and was already growing tired of her teacher due to her heavy workload, immediately shook her head. “No way!”

Qi You glanced at her sideways.

Zheng Yue shrank back, tucking her chin into her neck.

Ignoring her, Qi You picked up her bow again.

Archery required intense concentration, and for a long time, Qi You had relied on this sport to help her control her focus.

Arrow after arrow.

She banished the noise, fear, destruction, trembling, and anxiety, repeatedly suppressing them in nearly motionless movements. She forced herself to concentrate, to be still, calm, and restrained, until the final moment of release—

How good she had been to her.

She hadn’t hurt her at all.

She had made her endure, merely using the plot to push her forward.

This was the female lead’s predetermined fate.

Whether she wanted it or not, the plot would always drive her to this point.

The only difference was whether it would be her or Pei Yi.

Qi You’s face seemed to freeze over as she stared coldly at the riddled bullseye. Her fingers loosened the string.

The arrow flew.

Chi Yue took the water cup, her fingers pale as if drained of bl00d, the tips trembling slightly.

Sun Zhiping had poured hot water, but the glass barrier made it barely warm. Still, a sharp sting lingered on her fingertips.

“See how decisive President Qi is?” Sun Zhiping said, sitting behind his desk, his face flushed. “Twenty thousand yuan is life-saving money for you, but to her, it’s nothing.”

“Xiao Chi, let me be clear: it’s not that I won’t lend you the money, nor am I stopping you from asking others. I know you’ve earned the company some money over the years, but that’s not the point.”

“You’re holding onto your pride and offending people. What then? The ICU is a money-burning furnace. If I lend you the money today, great, but can you keep borrowing forever? And how would you repay it?”

“President Qi has a temper, right? Otherwise, would she have ruined Zhao Ming like that? And you? Are you any better off than Zhao Ming? You’ll end up with no job, no family, and nowhere to even cry.”

“It’s not shameful to bow for three measures of rice. Who doesn’t do the same? Just get along well with President Qi…”

The middle-aged man was being incredibly noisy.

Chi Yue finally snapped out of the persistent ringing in her ears. She set her water glass on the table and stood up.

Sun Zhiping immediately asked, “Where are you going?”

“To the hospital,” Chi Yue replied.

Sun Zhiping offered eagerly, “I’ll take you! I’ll take you!”

“No need,” Chi Yue said.

“It’s no trouble, I’m…” Sun Zhiping insisted.

Chi Yue met his gaze. “No need.”

Sun Zhiping finally stopped. “Alright, alright, I won’t go. I wouldn’t want to bother you. I’ll have Xiao Min drive you. Is that okay?”

It was as if he had been replaced by a completely different person. Just half an hour ago, he had been dripping with sarcasm and mockery, but now he was suddenly kind, considerate, and polite.

Chi Yue silently got into the car.

Her grandmother had fallen at home. He Hongmei had been in the kitchen at the time, but sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t prevent the inevitable.

Chi Yue rushed back, but her grandmother had already been admitted to the intensive care unit.

The doctor explained that the brain hemorrhage was relatively mild, but due to her advanced age, underlying health conditions, and severe complications, the elderly woman required life support from various medical devices.

Chi Yue had entered the entertainment industry before turning eighteen. Was she famous? Certainly, she had some recognition; even the attending physician mentioned that his daughter had her posters in her room.

But was she wealthy? Absolutely not.

After paying the medical bills, her bank card only had enough funds to cover three days of her grandmother’s ICU stay.

Her contract with Ji Mei Entertainment, with its 90/10 revenue split, a ten-year term, and a staggering breach-of-contract penalty exceeding a hundred million yuan, kept her firmly trapped.

Liu Yifang had bluntly stated that company resources were limited, and those who were willing to go the furthest would get them.

Chi Yue’s debut had been her peak, and after that, she had plummeted into obscurity.

She had almost given up entirely. She never truly belonged in this industry; she lacked connections, backing, and the social grace needed to navigate its treacherous waters. Even her passion seemed to be fading day by day.

Chi Yue’s hometown was Meihe, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Sicheng. Despite their administrative ties, the two cities were worlds apart in terms of urbanization. It took her nearly three hours by car to reach Meihe Hospital.

After topping up the hospital account, Chi Yue sat on a chair outside the ward.

“Did you add the money?” He Hongmei asked.

Chi Yue removed her mask and smiled. “Yes.”

He Hongmei sighed in relief. “Being a celebrity really pays well. You’re so young, yet you’re already the breadwinner for your family. Unlike my son, who’s in his late twenties and works his butt off for two months just to cover one day’s hospital stay.”

Realizing her words sounded inappropriate, she quickly corrected herself. “Phooey, phooey, phooey, this isn’t exactly a good place to be.”

Chi Yue remained silent.

After a moment, He Hongmei continued, “Your grandmother really scared me this time. I’m most afraid of—”

Sensing where this was going, Chi Yue quickly interrupted, “Aunt He, I know you’re exhausted running between the hospital and home. I can pay you more. Otherwise, I really can’t manage this alone.”

“It’s not just about the money,” He Hongmei’s voice gradually softened. After a long pause, she sighed. “Ah, I know you’re having a hard time too. A young girl like you, with no family and so thin the wind could blow you away…”

Chi Yue clenched her hands, listening silently as if she had lost the ability to speak.