Qi Jianyi closed her eyes for a moment, trying to find solace in rest. Despite her desire for sleep, the presence of a stranger beside her made it difficult to relax. Rubbing her tired eyes, she gazed out the window in a daze, attempting to calm her racing thoughts.
"Why were you drinking during the day?" Song Chengfeng's sudden question broke the silence, his voice cutting through the stillness of the car.
She turned her head slightly and shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "I was bored," she replied curtly, avoiding a deeper explanation.
She couldn't exactly admit that her drinking was a way to cope with the overwhelming thoughts of how to return to her real world, could she?
"Aren't you a student?" Song Chengfeng continued, his curiosity evident.
"No classes in the afternoon," she answered.
"Assignments?"
"Not worth doing during the day," she said dismissively, her tone suggesting a lack of concern for the usual academic responsibilities.
An awkward silence fell between them, as neither was particularly fond of small talk. The hum of the car's engine was the only sound that filled the space.
"What were you doing at the bar, anyway?" Qi Jianyi decided to steer the conversation, feeling it was her turn to contribute to the small talk now that Song Chengfeng had initiated it.
As the car approached a red light and slowed to a stop, Song Chengfeng turned to face her. "Meeting a friend," he replied succinctly, his answer brief but clear.
"At a bar, in the middle of the day?" Qi Jianyi asked, her tone tinged with amusement. She found it intriguing that he had been at a bar just as she had.
"And you're one to talk," she teased, enjoying the chance to playfully jab at the man beside her.
"I only went to meet a friend, not to drink," Song Chengfeng clarified, a hint of defensiveness in his voice as he sought to prevent any further misunderstanding.
Qi Jianyi nodded as if in agreement, her tone dismissive. "Sure, whatever."
For a moment, silence settled in the car, the quiet punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine. Qi Jianyi found herself lost in thought, replaying the conversation she'd had at the bar. Specifically, she was troubled by the topic of Song Chengfeng's rumored retirement.
Ji Rui had spoken with such confidence about the gossip, but Qi Jianyi found it difficult to accept. Her respect for soldiers ran deep, and the idea that Song Chengfeng might have been involved in the death of his own comrades seemed unfathomable to her.
"I wonder…hm, never mind," Qi Jianyi began, then abruptly closed her mouth. She had considered asking about the rumors she had heard but decided against it. They weren't close enough for her to probe into sensitive matters.
"What?" Song Chengfeng prompted, curious about her hesitation. He wondered what had sparked her interest.
Qi Jianyi shook her head and offered a small, polite smile. "Never mind."
"What is it?" Song Chengfeng persisted, still puzzled by her reluctance.
"I won't ask you anything. Just focus on the road," Qi Jianyi said, pointing ahead to emphasize her point.
"Is it something personal?" Song Chengfeng inquired after a pause, his curiosity still piqued.
"Kind of," Qi Jianyi replied, her uncertainty apparent.
"Then just ask," he encouraged, his tone sincere.
Despite his encouragement, Qi Jianyi felt it was inappropriate to press further.
"It's fine. I won't ask," she insisted, maintaining her decision.
"I'm giving you permission to," Song Chengfeng said firmly, his desire to clear the air evident.
"I still don't want to," Qi Jianyi repeated, sticking to her decision.
Confused by her reluctance, Song Chengfeng studied her for a moment. Noticing his intense gaze, Qi Jianyi sighed.
"We're not close enough for me to ask, so I won't," she explained, her voice steady but tinged with frustration.
"Then, how close do we need to be for you to speak your mind?" Song Chengfeng asked, caught off guard by his own slip of the tongue.
Qi Jianyi was taken aback by his unexpected honesty, while Song Chengfeng was startled by his own bluntness. The thought had crossed his mind briefly, but before he could dismiss it, he had already spoken his mind. He wondered what was going on with him today.
"Turn left; my house is nearby," Qi Jianyi instructed, subtly shifting the conversation away from the uncomfortable territory. She felt too awkward to continue and pretended not to have heard his last comment, letting the previous topic fade into the background.
Understanding her unspoken intent, Song Chengfeng nodded quietly and refocused on the road. The ride soon lapsed into silence again, with the unspoken words lingering in the air between them.
The car stopped in front of the Qi family home. Qi Jianyi adjusted her hair and turned to Song Chengfeng, her expression softening. "Thank you for driving me home. How about you take my car and leave it at the bar? I'll arrange for someone to pick it up later."
Song Chengfeng nodded, agreeing to her suggestion. "I'll drop your car at Zeqing's company and let him bring it back," he said, offering an alternative plan.
After a moment of consideration, Qi Jianyi agreed. It was more convenient for her that way. "Alright, I'll thank you in advance," she said with a gentle smile as she prepared to get out of the car.
Song Chengfeng gently stopped her and extended his phone. "Give me your number. I'll text you once I've handed the car over to Zeqing."
Qi Jianyi hesitated briefly, her gaze lingering on his outstretched hand before she took the phone and entered her number, handing it back to him without a word.
"Thank you, once again," Qi Jianyi said softly as she opened the car door. This time, Song Chengfeng didn't try to stop her.
He simply nodded, watching as she walked through the gate of her home before driving away. The soft hum of the engine faded into the day, leaving Qi Jianyi alone with her thoughts as she entered her house.