The Young Miss Refuse To Love
Chapter 38: Is there something going on between us?

Chapter 38: Is there something going on between us?

"Do you know how to ride?" He Zeqing inquired, steering the conversation away from Qi Jianyi’s recent avoidance of going home.

"A little," Qi Jianyi replied, feigning nonchalance. "I’m waiting for a coach to brush up on my skills."

It was a lie. Although she barely knew how to ride, the original Qi Jianyi had some experience, though not much.

"And your horse?"

"I just bought one," she answered, keeping her tone light.

He Zeqing furrowed his brow. "Why buy a new one? Don’t you already have one at home?" His father, Qi Jianyi’s uncle, had once gifted her a white horse for her birthday.

But instead of using that horse, Qi Jianyi had purchased another. She paused, then quickly offered a sheepish smile.

"Well, you know that horse is at home. I’m too lazy to go back." The truth was, Qi Jianyi had forgotten she already owned a horse.

"Too lazy or too stubborn to return?" He Zeqing’s eyes narrowed, probing deeper.

"Cousin Zeqing, I have my reasons. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going." Qi Jianyi deflected, noticing Manager Li came out from his office and using the opportunity to escape.

He Zeqing stood as she did, determined. "No need to call for a coach. Manager Li, I’ll teach her myself," he declared, cutting off whatever Manager Li was about to say.

Qi Jianyi shook her head, resolute. "Don’t trouble yourself. Manager Li, where’s the coach?"

"It’s no trouble," He Zeqing interjected, his tone firm, casting a sharp glance at Manager Li.

Caught between the two, Manager Li hesitated, unsure whose side to take. Offending either was not an option.

"Manager Li, where’s the coach?" Qi Jianyi repeated, ignoring He Zeqing’s insistence.

"This..." Manager Li stammered, unsure how to respond.

"Where’s your new horse? Let’s go," He Zeqing ordered, taking Qi Jianyi by the arm and leading her away, leaving Manager Li alone.

Irritated, Qi Jianyi glared at him, pulling away. "Why are you so pushy today?" she snapped.

He Zeqing met her gaze, unflinching. "Why are you so stubborn?"

Tired of the back-and-forth, Qi Jianyi turned to Song Chengfeng, who had been watching in silence. "You know how to ride, don’t you? Teach me," she demanded, leaving him with no choice but to comply.

Suddenly dragged into the argument between the two cousins, Song Chengfeng couldn’t help but smile. The smile only broadened as he caught He Zeqing’s annoyed glare.

"Why do you need him to teach you? I’m right here, I can teach you," He Zeqing retorted, clearly dissatisfied. He reached out and pulled Qi Jianyi’s hands away from Song Chengfeng’s arm.

The more he stared at her hand resting on Song Chengfeng, the more irritated he became. A flicker of skepticism crossed his mind—since when had Qi Jianyi and Song Chengfeng become close enough to touch each other so casually?

"No, I don’t want you to teach me," Qi Jianyi refused without hesitation, her annoyance with He Zeqing growing. Every interaction with him felt like a sharp reminder of the reality she was trying to avoid in this world.

She preferred to engage with someone who wasn’t mentioned in the novel—a way to keep from reopening the wound that was still festering within her.

"Why?" He Zeqing asked, his frustration evident as he gritted his teeth.

Turning to her cousin, Qi Jianyi shot him a sharp look. "Because I don’t like you!" she replied, her tone a mix of sincerity and playful defiance.

Without giving him a chance to respond, Qi Jianyi tugged Song Chengfeng’s arm and walked swiftly toward the stable, determined not to let He Zeqing interfere any further.

As they left the lounge behind, Song Chengfeng finally spoke, his voice gentle but curious. "Aren’t you afraid that Zeqing will be hurt by your words?" He glanced at her hand, still holding onto his arm.

Although Song Chengfeng’s question seemed like a concern for He Zeqing, his tone carried a subtle smugness. It was clear that the young master was pleased, almost prideful, that Qi Jianyi had chosen him over He Zeqing.

Qi Jianyi narrowed her eyes, catching the hint of satisfaction in Song Chengfeng’s voice. "You seem pretty happy about that," she remarked, her doubt evident.

"Anyway, Zeqing won’t take my words seriously," Qi Jianyi added, brushing off the topic with a casual wave.

Song Chengfeng smiled, an amused glint in his eyes. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I’m with you, and he hates that. He’s more likely to be annoyed by seeing us together than by anything I said. He won’t dwell on my words and he’ll probably just chase us down here," Qi Jianyi explained, her tone confident.

"Why would he hate seeing us together?" Song Chengfeng asked, his fingers gently stroking the grey horse he assumed belonged to Qi Jianyi.

Shrugging, Qi Jianyi mirrored his actions, running her hand along the horse’s mane. "How should I know? Maybe he thinks there’s something going on between us."

Song Chengfeng turned to look at her more closely. Qi Jianyi, dressed in black sportswear with her hair tied in a high ponytail, stood under the scorching sun. A light pink tint had crept onto her fair cheeks from the heat.

"And is there something going on between us?" The question slipped out before Song Chengfeng could stop himself, surprising even him.

Qi Jianyi’s hand paused on the horse’s coat, but she quickly regained her composure and turned to face him.

"As far as I recall, there’s nothing between us," Qi Jianyi replied, her voice steady and truthful.

Upon hearing her answer, Song Chengfeng silently stared at her, his sharp gaze lingering on her face. His eyes roved over her features, as if searching for something hidden behind her calm exterior.

Noticing his intent gaze, Qi Jianyi raised her face, meeting his eyes directly, as if trying to decipher the thoughts concealed behind his cold expression.

For a few moments, the two stood under the shade of the large tree, the grey horse between them, locked in a silent exchange. It was as though they were communicating without words, each trying to understand the other’s thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity, nearly five minutes passed before Song Chengfeng finally looked away. He swallowed and cleared his throat before speaking. "Why don’t you go home?"

"I just don’t feel like it," Qi Jianyi replied, unsurprised by his sudden mention of her home. It wasn’t exactly a secret that she had been avoiding home lately. If He Zeqing knew, Song Chengfeng was bound to as well.

"I heard your family’s worried about you," Song Chengfeng continued, offering his hand to help her climb onto the horse.

Rolling her eyes, Qi Jianyi accepted his help but glanced at him with a hint of disdain. "Young Master Song, I’m an adult. I didn’t run away from home. Why would they be so worried? Am I in any danger living at the dormitory?"

Song Chengfeng frowned, clearly irritated by her nonchalant attitude. "You’re a girl. It’s not safe to live alone without telling your parents where you are," he said, his voice cold.

With a snort, Qi Jianyi shot back, "I think you haven’t seen enough of the world. Go explore while you still can, Young Master Song. In today’s world, women are more than capable of taking care of themselves. I live in a dorm with hundreds of other women, for heaven’s sake."

She despised people who clung to the outdated idea that women were fragile, needing to be protected like delicate porcelain. In her experience, such views only led men to underestimate and control women—a notion Qi Jianyi held in complete contempt.

Song Chengfeng, oblivious to the damage his words had caused, was taken aback by the look of disdain on her face. Realising his mistake, he quickly tried to explain. "That’s not what I meant. I know you can take care of yourself. I just meant your family’s concerned. It’s best to let them know you’re fine. After all, you haven’t officially moved out."

Qi Jianyi’s expression softened, but her disdain lingered. "Funny, coming from you, the one who actually ran away from home," she teased, her voice light but pointed.

"My situation is different," Song Chengfeng argued.

"Is it? We both left home. The only difference is that I told them where I’d be. You, on the other hand, ran off like a child," she countered with a wry smile.

"I didn’t run away," he insisted, his tone growing defensive.

"Of course not," Qi Jianyi replied, nodding mockingly. "You just ’moved out.’ Completely understandable."

Song Chengfeng clenched his jaw, biting back a retort. Silently, he guided the horse into a slow walk, knowing that arguing further would only give her more ammunition.

"Your grandfather can’t be much different from mine," Qi Jianyi murmured softly, her voice taking on a more reflective tone. "They’re old. It’s pitiful, really, to see them begging others to coax their grandchildren home."

Her words stirred something in him, but Song Chengfeng remained silent. She was right, and he knew it. But his situation was more complicated than he could explain. He hadn’t left home out of defiance, but guilt—a weight that had driven him away from his family, especially his grandfather.

For a while, they continued in silence, the horse’s gentle steps the only sound between them. Finally, when they reached the edge of the arena, Song Chengfeng broke the quiet. "You owe me dinner," he said abruptly.

Qi Jianyi tilted her head, puzzled by the sudden shift in conversation. She shrugged. "Sure, let’s have dinner after this."

But Song Chengfeng wasn’t satisfied. He turned to face her, his tone firmer as he repeated, "You owe me dinner." This time, he emphasized the last word, as if trying to make a point.

Qi Jianyi raised an eyebrow, confused by his insistence. "I heard you the first time. I’ll treat you to dinner," she said, still unsure what he was getting at.

Before she could dwell on it, she noticed a familiar figure approaching. "Oh? He’s coming," Qi Jianyi remarked, pointing toward He Zeqing, who was briskly making his way over. She wasn’t sure why it had taken him so long, but he had finally arrived.

She turned back to Song Chengfeng with a look that said, I told you so.

Seeing his friend’s hurried approach, Song Chengfeng’s annoyance was evident. "Treat me to dinner—alone," he added softly, ensuring He Zeqing wouldn’t overhear.

He had no interest in sharing a meal with that guy—a third wheel in his eyes.

"Sure," Qi Jianyi agreed, still somewhat puzzled by Song Chengfeng’s insistence, but she decided not to overthink it.

Let him do as he pleases, she thought.