The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 135: You’re my daughter

"Jianyi, your next semester is going to start soon, right?" Mrs. Qi asked casually as the family settled around the dining table.

Mr. Qi had already left to meet his client, his face still wearing a sullen expression at having to miss dinner with his family. Meanwhile, the rest of the Qi household prepared to enjoy their meal together, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.

Qi Jianyi raised her head at the question, meeting Mrs. Qi’s curious gaze. She tilted her head slightly, as though deep in thought. That’s right! she realized suddenly. A new semester was about to begin, and she had completely forgotten about it amidst everything else happening in her life.

"Hm, next week," she answered vaguely, hoping to mask her earlier lapse in awareness. She forced a small, nonchalant smile, all the while inwardly chiding herself for being so absentminded.

As thoughts of college life crept into her mind, Qi Jianyi found herself remembering Ling Xi, her only friend from school. It had been a while since they last saw each other—longer than she initially realized.

The last time they spoke was about a week ago when Ling Xi had called her from abroad. She had been enthusiastically showing off photos and videos of stunning landscapes, the beauty of which Qi Jianyi had barely paid attention to at the time.

Has she returned? Qi Jianyi wondered to herself, her brows furrowing slightly. But after a brief pause, she shook her head. Ling Xi was the kind of person who would immediately call her the moment she got back.

The absence of updates or messages meant only one thing: her friend was still out there, enjoying her vacation and exploring the world.

"Oh, you only have a week left? Time really does fly," Mrs. Qi remarked, her brows lifting in mild surprise. She glanced fondly at her daughter, a touch of nostalgia coloring her tone. "Is there anything you’d like to do before the new semester begins?"

Mrs. Qi’s question carried a sense of motherly concern, and Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but notice the sentiment behind it. Her mother had always been attentive to her needs, even when Qi Jianyi spent most of her time secluded in her room.

Perhaps it was because of that tendency to retreat that Mrs. Qi felt as though time had sped by. To her, it felt like just yesterday that the semester break had started.

Qi Jianyi blinked, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. "I think... I want to go find some inspiration for my next work," she said, her tone uncertain, as if she wasn’t fully sure of her own words.

Mrs. Qi’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. She looked at her daughter with a mix of admiration and curiosity. She knew that Qi Jianyi was in the early stages of her career as a scriptwriter and that her debut work had just begun production.

Yet, here she was, already thinking about her next project. Mrs. Qi couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in her daughter’s determination, though she also wondered if Qi Jianyi might be pushing herself too hard.

"Where are you planning to go?" Mrs. Qi asked gently, her tone both curious and concerned.

Qi Jianyi shrugged her shoulders and offered a sheepish smile. "I don’t know... I haven’t really thought that far ahead," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassment.

Mrs. Qi couldn’t help but smile at her daughter’s candid response. There was something endearing about how Qi Jianyi openly admitted to having no concrete plans. Shaking her head lightly, she let out a small sigh, her expression softening.

"Well, wherever you decide to go, don’t wander too far," Mrs. Qi said, her voice laced with gentle caution. "And make sure to tell us before you leave, okay?"

Her tone carried the warmth of a mother’s care, and Qi Jianyi nodded obediently. "Got it," she replied with a more confident smile.

...

The next day.

Qi Jianyi carefully packed her bag, double-checking to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything important. Her gaze swept across her bedroom one last time, as if committing its familiar details to memory, before she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out.

When she descended the stairs, she found her parents in the living room. Mr. Qi was seated in his favorite armchair, holding a neatly folded newspaper in one hand and sipping tea with the other. Beside him, Mrs. Qi was perched on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the television as a news anchor reported the day’s events.

The atmosphere was calm and domestic, but the serene moment broke as both parents turned their heads simultaneously at the sound of Qi Jianyi’s footsteps.

"Are you leaving now?" Mrs. Qi asked, her lips curving into a gentle smile as her daughter approached.

Qi Jianyi nodded, her expression calm. "Yes."

"Where are you going?" Mr. Qi’s deep voice interrupted, his sharp gaze fixed on her as he placed the newspaper aside.

"City A," Qi Jianyi replied, meeting his eyes with an easy confidence.

"Alone?" Mr. Qi asked almost immediately, his tone tinged with disapproval.

"Yes," Qi Jianyi affirmed without hesitation.

Hearing her nonchalant response, Mr. Qi frowned, his concern written plainly across his face. He set his teacup down and leaned forward slightly, his voice growing firmer.

"It’s dangerous to go alone. Why don’t you let the driver take you there?"

Mrs. Qi, who had been quietly observing the exchange, nodded subtly in agreement. Though she hadn’t voiced her thoughts, she shared her husband’s concerns. City A wasn’t particularly far, but the idea of Qi Jianyi driving there alone made her uneasy.

Qi Jianyi, however, had to hold back a laugh at her father’s exaggerated worry. Her disbelief was evident in her smile, though she softened her tone to reassure him.

"Dad, City A is only one or two hours away. It’s not far at all," she reasoned. "I can handle the drive on my own. There’s no need to bother anyone else."

Mr. Qi opened his mouth as if to protest, but paused, seemingly weighing her words. His brows furrowed slightly, and it was clear he wasn’t entirely convinced.

"It’s still far," Mr. Qi countered, his tone firm with lingering concern. "You’re not in the best health, after all. What if you suddenly get sick while driving?" Despite his daughter’s reassurances, he remained unconvinced, his worry etched clearly on his face.

Qi Jianyi felt her breath hitch momentarily at his words, but she quickly calmed herself. Taking a deep breath, she allowed a playful smile to grace her lips.

"Dad, my health is fine," she said, her tone light and reassuring. Then, with a hint of mischief, she added, "If I do feel unwell, I promise I’ll stop the car and call you, okay?"

To seal the deal, Qi Jianyi pouted and tilted her head, exaggerating her cuteness just enough to break through her father’s stern demeanor.

As expected, Mr. Qi’s resolve crumbled almost instantly. He blinked, momentarily stunned by his daughter’s charm, before reluctantly nodding. His shoulders sagged slightly, a sign of his surrender.

"Fine," he said at last, though his voice remained soft with fatherly concern. "But be careful. If you feel even the slightest bit unwell, stop driving immediately and call us. I don’t care where you are—we’ll come and get you. Don’t push yourself too hard, and don’t forget that your health is the most important thing, Jianyi." freewebnoveℓ.com

Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but smile helplessly at her father’s words.

"Dad," she said gently, "I’m only going for one day. I’ll be back tomorrow. Why are you acting like I’m moving to another country?"

Mr. Qi narrowed his eyes, his expression a mixture of mock seriousness and genuine affection. "You’re my daughter. Is it wrong for me to be extra cautious about my daughter’s safety?" he retorted, his tone carrying a playful challenge.

Mrs. Qi, who had been silently observing the exchange, shook her head with a faint smile at her husband’s antics. Meanwhile, Qi Jianyi could only sigh and nod in mock resignation.

"Alright, alright. President Qi, You’re right," she conceded, her tone laced with amusement. "I’ll call you the moment I arrive. Happy now?"

Satisfied with her response, Mr. Qi gave her a small, approving nod.

Qi Jianyi stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. Before heading out, she stepped closer to her parents, wrapping her arms around them in a warm embrace.

"Take care of yourselves while I’m gone," she said softly, her voice carrying a subtle warmth that made both Mr. and Mrs. Qi’s hearts ache with a bittersweet feeling.

As they watched their daughter leave, a strange sense of unease settled over the couple. Neither said it aloud, but the house already felt a little emptier without her presence. Mrs. Qi glanced at her husband, who wore a similar expression of discomfort.

"Maybe we’re just not used to her being away," Mrs. Qi murmured, almost as if trying to reassure herself.

Mr. Qi nodded slowly, though his gaze lingered on the door through which Qi Jianyi had just left. "Maybe," he echoed. Still, the nagging feeling remained, stirring faintly in the back of their minds.

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