Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama β I Survive with Acting-Chapter 186: The Sight of You Makes Me Sick
Song Chenglu felt a pang in her heart, stung by the otherβs indifferent gaze.
"Still playing tough!" ππ£ππ²π°πππ§π π§ππ.πππΊ
She shot to her feet, the iron chains CLATTERING.
"Who knows what dirty tricks youβre pulling behind the scenes! You act all pure and innocent, but in reality, youβre sinister and vicious. How are you any different from me?!"
"If youβre done talking, then get out!"
She pointed at the door, her arm trembling violently.
"I donβt want to see you again! The sight of you makes me sick!"
"To this day, I still havenβt told Mom exactly what you did."
She began to speak slowly.
"I only said youβd gotten into trouble and were taken in for questioning."
Song Chengluβs body stiffened slightly.
Song Qingya noticed her reaction and understood, but her face remained impassive.
She paused before continuing, her voice even lower than before.
"But you canβt hide the truth forever. Itβs bound to come out sooner or later."
"And then thereβs Wei Yongde."
She deliberately stressed his name, her eyes darkening as she watched Song Chengluβs expression intently.
The moment she heard the name "Wei Yongde," Song Chengluβs shoulders visibly flinched.
She clenched her jaw, the veins on her neck throbbing, but she forced herself to remain defiant, tilting her head back to feign indifference.
"So what?"
"I have nothing to do with him anymore! This has nothing to do with me!"
Song Qingya saw it all in her expression.
She didnβt say anything else, merely giving her a detached look.
"Iβve said what I came to say. Think it over yourself."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Song Qingya!"
Song Chengluβs shrill cry suddenly came from behind her.
"Donβt think youβve won! This isnβt over!"
She shrieked hysterically, yanking the iron chains until they CLATTERED.
"Iβll get out of here someday! And when I do, Iβll be coming for you to settle this score!"
Song Qingya didnβt break stride, leaving the room without a backward glance.
The iron door slammed shut behind her with a CLANG, as if separating two different worlds.
The sunlight outside was too bright. She raised a hand to shield her eyes.
Then she got into the car heading back to the compound.
The car drove smoothly along a main city road as an old song played on the radio.
She leaned back in her seat, her gaze sweeping over the streetscape through the window.
Pedestrians hurried by, vendors hawked their wares, and the ringing of bicycle bells was incessant.
Just as the car was about to turn, she suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"Please stop here. Iβd like to get out and walk for a bit."
The driver, Old Qin, was a veteran employee and was usually very strict about the rules. He never let passengers get out wherever they pleased.
But today, he caught a glimpse of Song Qingyaβs pale, exhausted face in the rearview mirror. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didnβt ask any questions and slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Song Qingya got out of the car and began to walk slowly along the side of the street.
Old, red-brick buildings lined both sides of the street, their mottled walls covered in climbing ivy.
A few wooden windows were ajar, with laundry hung out to dry swaying in the breeze.
A bus clattered by, emitting a low rumble.
A little girl in a blue cotton shirt was squatting by the roadside playing jump rope, humming an out-of-tune nursery rhyme.
These little fragments of daily life slowly seeped into her, allowing her tightly wound nerves to gradually relax.
As she was walking, a car pulled up beside her.
The window rolled down, revealing Fei Jinβs stern profile.
"What are you doing here?"
He parked the car, walked around to her side, and pulled open the passenger door.
Song Qingya looked up at him, her lips parting as if to speak, but in the end, she only shook her head silently.
"I just wanted to get some air."
Her tone was light, but Fei Jin still noticed the heavy emotion in her eyes.
"Get in. Iβm free today, Iβll keep you company."
He said it casually.
But only he knew that as soon as he got the call from the driver, he had immediately left an urgent meeting and sped all the way over.
Song Qingya fastened her seatbelt and leaned back in the seat, her gaze falling on his resolute profile.
Sunlight streamed through the window, glinting off his epaulets.
Watching him start the car, she suddenly felt a sense of security she hadnβt felt in a long time.
"Wonβt this get in the way of your work?"
she finally asked, a trace of hesitation in her voice.
She knew Fei Jin shouldered heavy responsibilities, and that every minute of his time could be crucial to the affairs of the military district.
She didnβt want to be a burden to him.
Fei Jin glanced at her, the corners of his lips turning up slightly.
"Nothing is more important than being with you."
He said it with conviction, without a hint of hesitation.
A warmth spread through Song Qingyaβs heart, and the uncomfortable feeling that had been weighing on her mostly dissipated.
The car stopped in front of a restaurant.
The red sign with its large, white characters read: "Xingfa Restaurant."
"Time to eat."
He turned off the engine and got out to open her door.
Song Qingya nodded and chose a table by the window.
While they waited for their food, Fei Jin poured her a cup of hot water.
"How was Song Chenglu?"
He sat across from her, his hands on the table, his gaze full of concern.
Song Qingya cradled the cup, her gaze fixed on the scene outside the window.
An old woman slowly walked past, leading her little grandson by the hand. The child was clutching a stick of tanghulu, skipping and laughing.
She watched the childβs smile, and though her own lips twitched, she couldnβt bring herself to smile back.
"Sheβs not doing well,"
she finally answered, her voice low.
"A little suffering is what she brought on herself."
Fei Jinβs tone was calm, devoid of any sympathy.
He knew what Song Chenglu had done, and he knew exactly why she had been arrested.
He didnβt think she was being treated unjustly, but he didnβt want to dwell on it, lest it troubled Song Qingya further.
The food arrived quickly: stir-fried greens, red-braised pork, and a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup.
The dishes were simple, but the portions were generous.
Song Qingya picked up her chopsticks and took a small bite of the greens.
The flavor was ordinary, but in that moment, she felt a profound sense of security.
They had only taken a few bites when a shrill, affected female voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.
"Oh, my, if it isnβt Mr. Fei? I canβt believe Iβd run into you here!"
Song Qingya looked toward the source of the voice, her calm gaze falling on the newcomer.
Qi Yuanyuan was walking toward them, her black leather shoes deliberately clicking with each step.
Her face was wreathed in smiles, her eyes fixed on Fei Jin, not even sparing Song Qingya a sidelong glance.
A flash of displeasure crossed Fei Jinβs eyes as he spoke coolly.
"Doctor Qi."
Qi Yuanyuan stopped right at their table, her hands clasped in front of her, and her voice grew a few shades louder.
"Mr. Fei, you came to eat here too? What a coincidence! I just got off my shift at the hospital and was absolutely starving. I was just thinking of grabbing a bite to eat, and I canβt believe I ran into you!"
Fei Jin cut her off directly.
"Weβve finished eating and were just about to leave."
After saying this, he didnβt spare Qi Yuanyuan another glance.
Instead, he slowly turned his head to look at Song Qingya, his tone instantly softening.
"Are you full? There isnβt much left, but do you want to eat a little more?"
Song Qingya smiled slightly, nodded, and put down her chopsticks.
Fei Jin immediately stood up, moved smoothly behind her, and reached out to pull her chair back.
Being ignored so pointedly, the smile on Qi Yuanyuanβs face instantly froze.
She stood there stiffly for a few seconds before her tone suddenly shifted, and she spoke with feigned concern.
"Mr. Fei, look at her. Does Doctor Song always dress like this? Not a single decent piece of clothing to her name..."
She drawled, her eyes raking over Song Qingyaβs attire.
