"Qi Jianyi, I will protect you," Song Chengfeng murmured, his words gentle and unwavering.
He didn't know what—or who—was haunting Qi Jianyi, but the way she had acted earlier made it clear that whatever it was had shaken her deeply, something too heavy for her to accept and even harder to face.
Without pressing her for answers, Song Chengfeng simply held her, his hand softly brushing over her head. His embrace was steady, despite his own stiffness, a quiet attempt to lend her strength.
Qi Jianyi, caught off guard by his comforting presence, felt an unfamiliar ache rise within her. She told herself she was fine—that her anger was aimed at the original Qi Jianyi alone.
Yet, the more Song Chengfeng whispered his reassurances, the more her own composure began to crumble.
