She's Crazy, I Love Her - Chapter 3
The flames devoured her.
Chi Yue watched numbly as the fire raged out of control, its shattered tongues licking at her eyeballs. A parched, burning sensation surged from her throat, throbbing violently.
Everything before her was consumed by the inferno, finally revealing a figure stumbling out of the flames.
Was that still a person?
The fiery embrace enveloped her, the flames dancing joyfully over her body, shoulders, and hair, ceaselessly shrieking and writhing, tearing away her clothes and melting her skin.
The figure turned to look at her through the blaze.
No—!
Chi Yue wanted to scream, but her mouth wouldn’t open. She tried to rush forward and pull her out, but her feet were rooted to the ground.
She couldn’t even make an expression, forced to watch in silent horror.
Flesh peeled away, revealing stark white bones. The bones crumbled into ash.
The world gradually dissolved into orange-red blocks, collapsing one by one, crashing to the ground, exploding, shattering, and vanishing along with her.
Chi Yue slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was dim, her head heavy and foggy, as if filled with thick smoke. It took her a long moment to regain her senses, and she gasped for breath.
Her lungs, which had been struggling to breathe during the nightmare, gradually returned to normal. She sat up, clutching the blanket, and gasped for air.
As her surroundings came into focus, the strange sensations in her body and the memories flooded her mind, vying for control of her nerves. Chi Yue’s face paled.
She tried to stand, but sank back down. She lifted the blanket to glance at her body, then quickly covered herself again. She looked around, intending to turn on the light, but her arm froze mid-air.
She felt utterly lost.
Suddenly, she remembered: had that person left?
The bedroom door was ajar, letting in a sliver of dim light. The air was still, save for the hum of the ventilation system.
Unable to find her clothes, Chi Yue wrapped the thin blanket around herself and, enduring her discomfort, got out of bed and opened the door.
An icy chill permeated the hotel suite. The living room was empty, the furniture illuminated by cold, linear lights.
Her gaze fell immediately on her dress, draped elegantly beside the sofa.
More and more images surged through her mind.
Before she could react, her body felt pinned by an unseen gaze. She turned her head and saw Qi You leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window, smoking.
Qi You was wearing a bathrobe, clearly having just showered, but her hair was still wet, dripping water. The morning light was just beginning to break outside, casting the world in a deep, hazy blue, punctuated by fine rain. The glass was mottled, and the blurry reflection gained color from the tiny spark between her fingers.
Their eyes met.
Chi Yue paused for a moment before speaking, her voice hoarse beyond recognition. “I… I thought you had left.”
Qi You didn’t reply, withdrawing her gaze. The silence radiated an indescribable gloom and intensity.
Sensing her coldness, Chi Yue felt her heart plummet uncontrollably, sinking into an icy abyss.
The suite was on a high floor with no balcony, and even the windows couldn’t be fully opened. Qi You had cracked the window open a few inches to smoke, letting in a damp night breeze.
After standing there for a while, Chi Yue retreated.
Qi You stubbed out her cigarette, tossed the butt into the trash, went to the bar, washed her hands, and rinsed her mouth.
By the time she returned to the bedroom, the central air conditioning had already cleared out the smoke, leaving only the hotel’s signature floral fragrance.
Chi Yue was still sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapped in the duvet, her head bowed, lost in thought. Her thick, long curls cascaded down, completely obscuring her exposed skin.
A lamp on the bedside table cast a cold, pale light across her.
“Are you crying?” Qi You asked.
“No,” Chi Yi replied reflexively, her voice stiff. “I’m not crying.”
Qi You tilted her head to look at her, then stepped closer and lifted Chi Yi’s face.
Chi Yue recoiled, but was forced to meet Qi You’s gaze. She closed her eyes, but the tear tracks on her cheeks couldn’t be concealed.
“Don’t cry,” Qi You said.
Chi Yue couldn’t hold back any longer, and her tears flowed even more freely.
Qi You wiped away the tears with the pad of her thumb. Sensing Chi Yue’s attempt to turn her head away, she pressed her fingers firmly against her soft cheek, the tips sinking slightly into the flesh.
“What are you crying about?” Qi You asked, pausing before adding, “Do you think sleeping with me is a disadvantage?”
The pinching made Chi Yue grab Qi You’s wrist. She struggled briefly but couldn’t break free, forcing her to open her eyes, which were filled with hurt and panic.
Completely pinned down by Qi You, she could only say, “No.”
Qi You stared intently at her, as if confirming she truly didn’t think that way. Then she stood up, pulled two snow-white tissues from the box on the bedside table, and handed them to Chi Yue. “Wipe your face.”
Chi Yue took the tissues and roughly wiped away the tears.
Neither of them spoke.
Qi You walked to a nearby table, twisted open a bottle of water, and handed it to Chi Yue.
Chi Yue took the bottle, her wrist bearing a distinct red mark that stood out starkly against her pale skin.
Qi You glanced at the mark on her wrist.
Unaware of his gaze, Chi Yue took a sip of water and looked up, her eyes meeting Qi You’s. His almond-shaped eyes were long and alluring, yet his pupils were as dark and deep as a bottomless lake.
Her complexion was far from good. Her hair was still damp, water dripping from the ends. The bathrobe was loosely draped around her, her face weary, dark circles prominent beneath her eyes.
Qi You suddenly asked, “Should we call the police?”
Chi Yue’s expression changed instantly.
Leaning against the bedside table, Qi You calmly recounted the night’s events: “Illegal drugs, violation of a woman’s will, rape—”
“Miss Chi, out of respect for our shared intimacy, if you choose to report this, I’m willing to testify on your behalf.”
Chi Yue opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. After a long pause, she finally managed to say, “I won’t report it.”
“I—I can’t report it. My profession…” Chi Yue’s voice trembled uncontrollably. “I can’t do it…”
Qi You lowered her gaze to Chi Yue, who looked terrified, as helpless as a little white rabbit.
A panicked rabbit might bite, but Chi Yue remained soft and clingy.
Perhaps it was because she was a woman.
“If you’re not reporting it to the police, what do you plan to do?” Qi You asked.
Chi Yue’s face went blank. After a long pause, she finally said, “At worst, I’ll just retire from the industry.”
It was clearly an impulsive, petulant remark.
Qi You’s lips twitched, a flicker of mockery in her eyes.
Chi Yue hadn’t entered the entertainment industry out of passion, but out of financial necessity. She hadn’t even finished college.
With no money, no education, no connections, and unable to take risks due to personal obligations, yet blessed with striking beauty, it was obvious that Liu Yifang had carefully calculated her plan to exploit Chi Yue for profit.
Another long silence stretched between them.
Chi Yue finally spoke, “President Qi, thank you for today.”
Her words were polite, but inwardly she thought, How absurd. I have to thank her?
“You’re welcome,” Qi You replied matter-of-factly. Pausing as she saw Chi Yue about to lower her gaze again, she added, “And then?”
“What do you mean, ‘and then’?” Chi Yue asked.
Qi You said, “Miss Chi, do you think a simple ‘thank you’ is enough for something like this?”
Chi Yue froze, confused.
Does someone like Qi You really expect me to take responsibility?
Qi You glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. “It’s 5:43 AM now. I brought you back here at 10:30 PM. Excluding rest time, we’ve been… occupied in this room for at least four hours.”
“Don’t tell me you were unconscious the entire time, Miss Chi.”
The words, dripping with sarcasm, felt like a hook.
Chi Yi wanted to protest that she had been unconscious, but the words caught in her throat. Even the calm tone of Qi You’s voice sent a wave of uncontrollable tremors through her body.
This reaction filled her with shame.
Qi You’s gaze drifted to Chi Yue’s exposed calves. Her figure was exquisite, her legs long and slender, her ankles delicate as porcelain, easily encircled by a single hand. When spread, her flexibility was remarkable—
Barefoot, her toes curled slightly, retreating as if sensing the scrutiny.
Qi You lifted her gaze, noticing Chi Yue’s discomfort.
She rubbed her fingertips together, breaking the silence.
“I don’t like beating around the bush. Since it’s happened, we can’t pretend it didn’t.”
“Miss Chi is very beautiful. I like her very much.”
“I can arrange for you to terminate your contract with Ji Mei Entertainment. Afterward, whether you want to sign with Wenhui or another company, I can help you.”
“In exchange, you’ll become my lover.”
Chi Yue froze for a moment, then abruptly stood up, the thin blanket nearly slipping off her shoulders. She quickly sat back down, stammering, “President Qi, I… I’m not… You’ve misunderstood. Today was an accident.”
Qi You raised her eyelids slightly, a shadow of displeasure darkening her face.
Chi Yue’s voice grew softer. “I… I’m not a lesbian…”
Qi You asked, “Has Miss Chi ever had a boyfriend?”
“N-no,” Chi Yue stammered, then quickly added, “But… but I don’t want to be your lover! I… I wasn’t even willing today! I—”
“Really?” Qi You interrupted mercilessly. “Miss Chi didn’t sound so unwilling when she was begging me.”
The color drained completely from Chi Yue’s face.
Qi You asked, “Miss Chi doesn’t think she can sleep with me for free, does she?”
Chi Yue pressed her lips tightly together.
Qi You let out a cold laugh.
Silence descended upon the room, yet the sky gradually brightened. A sudden gust of wind swept through, causing the sheer curtains before the floor-to-ceiling windows to sway.
Chi Yue felt her fingertips growing numb. She couldn’t understand—she was the victim here, the one who had been taken advantage of.
She wanted to argue, but her conviction faltered. She hadn’t done anything to Qi You, but hadn’t she touched him? Kissed him?
She had even… even rubbed against his leg.
Qi You watched Chi Yue’s head slowly droop. Though seated, she curled into herself like a quail, her limbs drawn inward.
She must be in agony right now, Qi You thought, both physically and emotionally.
“With unspoken rules like these, once there’s a first time, there’s always a second. If Miss Chi is wise, she’ll know what the optimal solution is.”
Qi You straightened up and said, “Miss Chi can take her time to consider her answer.”
Chi Yue remained silent, but a large tear suddenly splashed onto the back of her hand resting on her knee. Startled, she quickly wiped it away with the blanket.
Qi You pretended not to notice and rose to fetch her a bathrobe.
“Go wash up.”