The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 97: Mother Song

Qi Jianyi gazed at the clear sky, letting the warmth of the sun wash over her for a moment. However, the dizziness creeping into her head made her retreat back into the house sooner than planned.

It had been a week since her discharge from the hospital, and while her daily routine hadn’t changed much, there was a noticeable shift in her family’s behavior. They had become increasingly protective, hovering over her with concern and constantly checking in, just in case she fainted again.

Qi Jianyi couldn’t bring herself to blame them. Truthfully, a part of her shared their apprehension.

The thought of collapsing unexpectedly—perhaps near the pool, or worse, in a place where someone with ill intentions might find her—was unnerving. Her mind often drifted toward worst-case scenarios, even if she didn’t voice them aloud.

Still, what truly troubled her since regaining consciousness wasn’t her physical condition, but the vivid dreams that began to haunt her each night.

In some dreams, she found herself surrounded by old friends, their faces blurry yet familiar. In others, her parents appeared, playing with her as a child, their laughter echoing warmly in her mind.

But most nights, the dreams took a darker turn. They dragged her into the painful fragments of the original Qi Jianyi’s memories—the heartbreak inflicted by her parents, the paranoia that led her to push people away, and the deep loneliness that followed.

Each dream left Qi Jianyi with an unsettling familiarity, as though she had experienced those emotions before. She tried to dismiss it, reasoning that perhaps her body was still processing the trauma of fainting.

Yet, the weight of those memories lingered, refusing to let her rest.

"Young Miss, are you okay?"

The voice of Housekeeper Li broke through her thoughts, grounding her. Turning toward him, she offered a small, reassuring smile.

"I’m fine, Uncle. Don’t worry," she said softly, her tone practiced but genuine.

She had grown used to the constant questioning of her well-being over the past week, and her response had become almost automatic.

Still, there was a warmth in her words, reflecting the gratitude she felt for their care.

Satisfied with her answer, Housekeeper Li gave her a brief nod before speaking again. "Young Miss, Young Master Song is currently in the living room. It seems he’s here to see you. Madam asked me to call you."

Qi Jianyi blinked, surprised. "Song Chengfeng is here?" she asked, turning to face him fully. Her tone carried a hint of disbelief.

Housekeeper Li noticed her confusion and nodded in confirmation.

"What does he want? I just saw him two days ago," she mumbled to herself, though her feet were already moving toward the living room.

The housekeeper trailed behind her silently, a faint smile playing on his lips. Seeing her surprised reaction brought a sense of quiet satisfaction.

She really had changed, he thought. There was a liveliness in her now—a spark in her eyes that had been absent for years.

As someone who had watched Qi Jianyi grow up, Housekeeper Li knew all too well the reasons for her estrangement from her family.

He had seen the distance, the cold walls she had built between herself and her parents. Yet now, those walls were slowly crumbling.

She no longer avoided her parents or ignored the twins. Her laughter and warmth, once so rare, now filled the house more often. It was a transformation that warmed his heart.

For Housekeeper Li, who had stayed by her side longer than her own parents had, Qi Jianyi was like family. He had always wanted the best for her, and seeing her take these small but meaningful steps forward brought him immense joy.

Every time he witnessed her smiling with her family, he couldn’t help but think of the nanny who had raised her alongside him.

Those memories stirred something deep within him, and at times, he found himself tearing up in private.

Yes, Qi Jianyi had changed—and Housekeeper Li couldn’t have been prouder.

Qi Jianyi walked briskly to the living room, curiosity bubbling inside her as she wondered why Song Chengfeng had shown up at her house again so soon.

"Mom," she greeted softly upon entering, making her way to sit beside Mrs. Qi on the couch.

Without giving her mother time to respond, Qi Jianyi turned her full attention to the unexpected visitor. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips curved into a faint, questioning smile.

"What brings Young Master Song to my house again?" she asked, her tone laced with playful skepticism.

She didn’t bother to hide the subtle sarcasm in her words, not caring whether he would pick up on it or feel offended.

But, as expected, Song Chengfeng didn’t seem to notice anything off. His entire focus had been locked on her from the moment she stepped into the room.

"Jianyi?" he murmured, her name slipping from his lips so softly that it resembled a breeze whispering through the air. His tone was tender, almost cautious, as though the word itself might shatter if spoken too harshly.

Mrs. Qi, seated beside her daughter, tilted her head slightly, her brows knitting in confusion at the way he said her name. The tone carried an unspoken weight that she couldn’t quite place.

It was almost as though Song Chengfeng was questioning whether the woman before him was truly Qi Jianyi.

Before Mrs. Qi could voice her bewilderment, Qi Jianyi beat her to it.

"What’s wrong? Why did you call me like that?" she asked, tilting her head, her round eyes brimming with curiosity.

Her casual reaction eased the unspoken tension in the room, subtly dismissing the growing confusion in her mother’s mind.

It seemed even Qi Jianyi herself was puzzled by the tone in which Song Chengfeng had uttered her name.

Mrs. Qi sighed inwardly, quickly concluding that the young man’s behavior must stem from his overwhelming affection for her daughter.

It was likely he was so captivated by Qi Jianyi that he couldn’t help but sound stunned when addressing her. Shaking her head helplessly, she said nothing further.

However, what Mrs. Qi didn’t know was that Qi Jianyi fully understood the meaning behind Song Chengfeng’s tone. She had grown used to it by now.

His careful, almost hesitant way of addressing her wasn’t random. She knew it was his way of assuring himself that he was still speaking to her—the Qi Jianyi he knew, not the one she had told him about.

Ever since she had confessed her secret to him, this cautious behavior had become a new norm. It seemed that revealing the truth to Song Chengfeng had unintentionally planted a deep-seated fear in him.

He now lived with the constant worry that she might leave without warning, vanishing from his life before he had the chance to say goodbye.

At first, Qi Jianyi found his sudden calls, texts, and unannounced visits confusing. Why was he always reaching out, sometimes just to say her name? But it didn’t take long for her to piece it together.

Even though Song Chengfeng had never explicitly admitted it, the truth was clear: he was terrified of losing her.

A mixture of helplessness and warmth swirled in Qi Jianyi’s chest whenever she thought about it. Though part of her felt overwhelmed by his constant presence, another part was deeply moved.

His delicate attempts to stay close to her, his effort to balance his longing without being overbearing—it all touched her heart in ways she hadn’t expected.

Because of this, Qi Jianyi occasionally allowed herself to indulge him. She answered his morning and nighttime calls, letting him ramble about mundane things she never thought he’d bring up. She even agreed to his invitations to spend time together, like she had two days ago.

Still, no matter how much she tolerated or even enjoyed his company, she hoped he would learn to hide his nervousness better, at least in front of her family. If she hadn’t been quick-witted enough to steer the conversation just now, Mrs. Qi might have picked up on something unusual in his reaction.

Letting out a small, exasperated sigh, Qi Jianyi glanced at him again, her eyes filled with a blend of amusement and resignation. This man really had a knack for making things complicated, yet somehow, she found herself allowing it.

And how could Song Chengfeng not catch the subtle warning in Qi Jianyi’s eyes? It was impossible to miss.

He swallowed hard, quickly composing himself. If he dared to show any more strange behavior, Qi Jianyi might actually kick him out this time.

Thankfully, he had already confirmed what he came to find out: she was still the Qi Jianyi he knew. That confirmation alone brought him immense relief, brightening his entire day—as if they hadn’t just spoken this morning.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he explained the reason for his unannounced visit.

"My mom heard somewhere that you haven’t been feeling well, so she sent me with this package of bird nests for you to replenish your health," he said, placing the carefully wrapped package on the table with a gentle tap. His voice was calm and steady now, showing none of the nervousness he’d felt earlier.

Both Mrs. Qi and Qi Jianyi blinked in surprise. Song Chengfeng? Mentioning his mother? That was unexpected, especially considering the rumors that he’d all but "run away" from home and cut ties with his family.

Mrs. Qi, ever the gracious host, quickly stepped in to diffuse the awkwardness.

"So, it seems you’ve been talking with your mother again?" she asked with a kind smile, her voice laced with polite curiosity.

Song Chengfeng nodded faintly. "Yes. She mentioned she’d like to visit you sometime when she has the chance."

The revelation left Mrs. Qi mildly astonished. It wasn’t that Song Chengfeng had miraculously patched things up with his family—far from it. The truth was far more amusing.

This morning, after finishing his daily call with Qi Jianyi, Song Chengfeng had been interrupted by an unexpected knock at his door.

To his shock, the visitor had been none other than his mother, Mrs. Song, who had found him thanks to none other than He Zeqing.

Still holding a grudge against Song Chengfeng for his past antics, He Zeqing had taken great pleasure in spilling the details of his newfound obsession with Qi Jianyi to Mrs. Song, even throwing in his address for good measure.

Mrs. Song had arrived unannounced, completely bypassing any small talk about her son’s well-being. Instead, she thrust a package of bird nests into his arms and demanded to know more about Qi Jianyi.

Her grievances against her son seemed to vanish the moment she learned of his relentless pursuit of someone who had rejected him.

The more Mrs. Song heard about Qi Jianyi, the more intrigued she became. It wasn’t every day her son faced rejection—and persisted nonetheless.

And to think that the object of his affection was none other than the only daughter of the most prominent family in the city!

Mrs. Qi smiled warmly, her expression softening as she processed his words. If Mrs. Song already knew about her son’s feelings for Qi Jianyi, then perhaps this was the start of something significant.

The thought made Mrs. Qi’s heart stir with anticipation. Perhaps one day soon, she and Mrs. Song could meet formally. If nothing else, the two of them might share a laugh or two over the antics of their children.

Mrs. Qi’s eyes twinkled as she glanced at her daughter, who, though composed, was clearly processing the implications of this sudden development.

Oh, how entertaining it would be if their families truly came together. The potential for amusement—and perhaps even mischief—was endless.

Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only