The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 172: I’m here

Two days later.

Qi Jianyi adjusted a few strands of hair in her rearview mirror, smoothing them down with meticulous care. She had just arrived at the He family mansion for Grandpa He’s birthday banquet, her heart oddly steady despite the flutter of nerves stirring beneath the surface.

Two days ago, she had promised everyone that she would return and stay in the capital. And she had kept her word. For the past two days, Qi Jianyi had gone to Miss Qi’s residence in City A—not to linger, but simply to sort things out.

She had taken a look around, packed up the belongings and documents connected to Miss Qi’s publishing company, and left the rest untouched. With everything she needed in hand, she rushed back to the capital without delay. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

Before she left for City A, He Zeqing had made a promise. He assured her that no matter what, Song Chengfeng would attend the banquet. That promise had weighed on her thoughts the entire time.

Though Qi Jianyi wanted to believe him, a small voice inside her held lingering doubts. After all, from what Miss Qi had told her, He Zeqing had long severed all ties with Song Chengfeng.

Still, she had faith.

Qi Jianyi believed that Song Chengfeng would show up at this banquet. And if she was wrong—if he didn’t come—it didn’t matter. There would be other chances.

After all, if time was what she lacked seven years ago, now she had an abundance of it. Enough time to search for him. Enough time to love him.

Taking a deep breath, she gave herself one final look in the mirror before stepping out of the car. The air was fresh, a little chilly, but it did nothing to dull the warmth rising in her chest.

She entered the familiar He mansion with steady steps, following the housekeeper’s guidance toward the back garden where the celebration was taking place.

As soon as she stepped into view, her eyes were immediately drawn to the people seated at the long table. The Qi family was there, chatting comfortably among themselves. Directly across from them sat the He family, similarly engaged in warm conversation. Laughter, wine, and the clinking of cutlery filled the air.

Qi Jianyi paused, observing the joyful scene in quiet appreciation. But what she didn’t realise was that the atmosphere had shifted the moment she appeared.

The lively chatter dulled into murmurs. One by one, heads turned. To the guests, her appearance was like seeing a rare and distant star unexpectedly return to the night sky.

Miss Qi—cold, aloof, elusive—was not one to show up often. She rarely attended family banquets, and when she did, it was more out of formality than sentiment.

Moreover, her decision to move to City A had all but cut her off from everyone. She had lived there quietly and independently, leaving her relatives with only fading impressions and occasional updates.

Now, seeing her step into the banquet with such calm poise left many surprised. They couldn’t help but wonder—what had changed?

Grandma He noticed the sudden hush that fell over the garden and instinctively turned her gaze toward the entrance. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Qi Jianyi standing there, looking a little unsure of herself.

A warm smile bloomed on Grandma He’s face as she stood from her seat. Without hesitation, she waved at Qi Jianyi, gesturing for her to come closer.

Seeing Grandma He’s welcoming expression, Qi Jianyi quickly pushed aside the awkwardness in her chest and made her way over.

"Jianyi, you’re here," Grandma He greeted warmly, her voice soft and filled with affection.

Qi Jianyi flashed a sheepish smile and greeted everyone politely. Her eyes then turned to the main character of the day, and with a soft tone, she said, "Happy birthday, Grandpa. I wish you a very long and healthy life."

Grandpa He, who sat proudly at the end of the table, beamed with joy upon receiving Qi Jianyi’s heartfelt wish. His eyes softened as he nodded his head, reaching out to clasp Qi Jianyi’s hand with both of his, gently patting it in a grandfatherly show of affection.

And of course, he didn’t forget to subtly show off to his old friends sitting nearby.

Seated close to him were Grandpa Qi and Grandpa Song. The former glanced over at Grandpa He with thinly veiled envy, clearly jealous of the attention being showered on him. The latter, Grandpa Song, however, remained quiet and unreadable.

"Jianyi, did you just arrive? Did you rush to get here?" Grandpa He asked, his voice full of concern now that he had finished basking in his moment of pride.

Qi Jianyi shook her head and responded gently, "I didn’t rush, and nothing happened. There was just a traffic jam for a while, so I arrived late."

"It’s good if nothing happened, then. You must be hungry. Go and take a seat—let Jinlu get you some dessert," Grandpa He replied, clearly satisfied with her answer and not wanting to press further. He motioned for her to settle down in the empty seat beside Mrs. Qi, his tone warm and caring.

Qi Jianyi nodded and followed Grandpa He’s words. Sitting down beside Mrs. Qi, she could immediately feel the woman’s body stiffen at her presence.

For a moment, Qi Jianyi found herself uncertain, unsure how to respond to the sudden tension. She understood very well—Mrs. Qi likely hadn’t fully come to terms with everything yet.

And Qi Jianyi had no intention of rushing her into accepting this new reality, let alone forcing her to treat her like a daughter.

Turning toward Mrs. Qi, Qi Jianyi hesitated. She found herself caught in a quiet dilemma—how should she address her? What would be appropriate, and what would feel right?

After a moment’s pause, she took a calming breath, and with a composed expression, softly uttered, "Aunt He."

Her voice was barely above a whisper, just enough for Mrs. Qi to hear her greeting. After careful thought, Qi Jianyi chose to call her "aunty." She didn’t want to create awkwardness by calling her "mom," nor did she want to pressure Mrs. Qi into a bond that had yet to be rebuilt.

What Qi Jianyi didn’t know was that, upon hearing her quiet words, Mrs. Qi’s body trembled ever so slightly. She felt a wave of confusion, hurt, and something deeper—fear. A fear that, just like her own daughter, Qi Jianyi might also push her away and refuse to let herself be loved.

Qi Jianyi didn’t notice Mrs. Qi’s anxious eyes, but her husband, Mr. Qi, did. Glancing at her with concern, he reached out and gently asked what was wrong.

Not wanting her husband to worry, Mrs. Qi shook her head and brushed off his hand softly. She forced a faint smile before turning her attention back to Qi Jianyi and asked, "Jianyi, have you settled everything in City A?"

This time, it was impossible for Qi Jianyi not to hear the slight hesitation in Mrs. Qi’s voice. However, she didn’t comment on it and simply gave a quiet nod.

"I got what I need and will go back with you later," she responded lightly, her tone casual, masking any underlying tension.

Mrs. Qi didn’t pursue the topic further. Their brief exchange ended there, fading away without lingering.

Qi Jianyi accepted the cupcake that Qi Jinlu handed to her and began eating quietly. As she glanced subtly around the garden, her gaze moved from one familiar face to another.

However, there was no sign of Song Chengfeng anywhere. Though she tried to hide it, a faint trace of disappointment flashed through her eyes. Still, she didn’t let her mood show on the surface.

Composing herself quickly, she focused instead on the conversations around her. From time to time, she joined in when someone spoke to her, keeping a light and pleasant expression.

Half an hour passed in that easy atmosphere. All the guests had already come forward to greet Grandpa He and present their birthday gifts.

When it was Qi Jianyi’s turn, she stepped forward and offered a set of elegant calligraphy she had picked with care. Though it wasn’t particularly rare or luxurious, Grandpa He beamed with joy upon receiving it.

In truth, even if she had come empty-handed, Grandpa He would still be just as pleased. The gift didn’t matter—her presence alone was enough to make the old man happy.

"Jianyi, are you going back to your parents’ house later? Why don’t you sleep over at Grandpa’s house today?" While thanking his granddaughter, Grandpa He didn’t miss the opportunity to invite her to stay the night.

Qi Jianyi thought for a moment and decided it might be better to spend the night at the He mansion. She figured it would be too awkward to return to the Qi residence right now—after all, she still didn’t know how to properly interact with Mr. and Mrs. Qi.

Given the complicated emotions involved, staying with her grandparents seemed like the more comfortable choice for now.

"Okay, I’ll bring my luggage in later," she nodded, accepting Grandpa He’s offer with a gentle smile.

Upon hearing her agreement, Grandpa He burst out laughing, his eyes crinkling with joy. Wasting no time, he called for the housekeeper and ordered someone to prepare and clean Qi Jianyi’s room.

"Give your car keys to Zeqing and let him get your things," Grandma He added, clearly delighted by Qi Jianyi’s decision as well.

Without hesitation, she waved her hand at He Zeqing, volunteering him for the task.

Resigned to his fate, He Zeqing shook his head and stood up. Outside, he was a man of status—respected, serious, and feared in the business world. But within the He family? He held the lowest rank and no one thought twice about bossing him around.

Seeing the defeat in He Zeqing’s expression, Qi Jianyi let out a soft chuckle. She was clearly enjoying the sight of the usually serious and composed He Zeqing being ordered around.

Her laughter was light and genuine, and when it spilled from her lips, her entire face seemed to brighten with warmth. Her sudden laughter, so infectious and rare, drew the attention of everyone present.

The quiet joy she radiated lifted the mood around the table. One by one, smiles broke out across the gathering, and soon everyone was laughing along—most at He Zeqing’s expense.

But no one laughed louder than Grandpa He. And as for the poor President He himself, he simply accepted his fate with a resigned sigh. If being teased and bossed around could bring happiness to his family—even just for a moment—then it was worth every bit of it.

However, the cheerful atmosphere didn’t last long. As everyone basked in the light-hearted moment, the sound of steady, unhurried footsteps echoed from the garden entrance.

At once, the laughter faded. Conversations halted. Every head turned toward the source of the sound, the air shifting into stillness.

Qi Jianyi, slightly puzzled, glanced over her shoulder.

She wondered who could silence an entire crowd with just their presence.

And then she saw him. Standing tall at the edge of the garden was the man who had haunted her thoughts and dreams for the past seven years.

Qi Jianyi froze.

Her breath hitched in her throat.

Her eyes widened slightly, overwhelmed by a wave of emotion that surged all at once.

There he was—Song Chengfeng.

Time had changed him. His features remained familiar, but his entire presence had deepened, become colder, more distant. There was a solitude in his eyes, in the way he carried himself, that made him feel unreachable.

And no one dared to reach out.

Qi Jianyi’s lips parted slightly. She wanted to speak, to call out to him immediately—but her voice caught. The fear that he wouldn’t recognise her—or worse, wouldn’t want her—gripped her.

Across the garden, Song Chengfeng stood motionless.

He had noticed her presence instantly. At first glance, he thought it was Miss Qi.

But something in the way she looked at him—soft, vulnerable, expectant—gave him pause.

It wasn’t her.

It was Qi Jianyi.

His Qi Jianyi.

For a moment, Song Chengfeng doubted his own senses. She wasn’t supposed to be here. She didn’t belong in this world.

And yet, the sight of her, standing just meters away, pulled at the deepest part of him.

The disbelief in his eyes battled with a hope he hadn’t dared to feel in years.

While he remained locked in that turmoil, Qi Jianyi found her strength. She stepped forward.

"Song Chengfeng." Her voice cracked slightly, hoarse with emotion, soft but unmistakable.

She called his name like it was a lifeline. Within it were seven years’ worth of yearning, regret, and hope.

Her gaze was steady, and her heart, though trembling, was open.

’I’m here,’ she whispered silently inside her mind. I came back for you.

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