Chapter 45: Feeling Unwell

Lu Qiqi shook her head firmly, saying, “No, I won’t go home.” Her gaze was resolute and bright.

Si Qinyu looked at her, a trace of helplessness flickering in his eyes, yet his smile remained gentle. He gently withdrew his hand and turned his gaze toward the window. After a moment, he looked back at Lu Qiqi. A sly glint appeared in his eyes, and a tender curve lifted the corner of his lips as he spoke slowly, “I’m quite interested in the project you’re leading. How about I join you in working on it?”

His voice was low and magnetic, as if each word stirred ripples in the air. Lu Qiqi met his eyes and saw the steadfast confidence shining there, accompanied by a self-assured smile. She furrowed her brows slightly, a flicker of confusion mingled with doubt, and softly asked, “Why the sudden interest in my project?”

Under the flickering candlelight, her eyes sparkled like twin stars, shimmering with curiosity. Si Qinyu smiled gently, his gaze filled with warmth and determination. “I don’t want you to be so exhausted.” He reached out, placing his hand lightly over hers resting on the table. Leaning in slightly, he said, “Let me help carry some of the burden, alright?”

Lu Qiqi smiled softly. “Okay, but I have one condition.”

Si Qinyu’s eyes instantly lit up like two small flames, glowing with anticipation and affection. “Name it,” he said happily.

A mischievous gleam danced in Lu Qiqi’s eyes as if an intriguing idea had just occurred to her. Her lips curved upward subtly, her gaze sharp and playful, like a cat ready to pounce on its prey. She spoke slowly, “I want shares in your company.”

The moment the words left her mouth, the air seemed to freeze.

Si Qinyu was momentarily stunned, then a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. His brow furrowed lightly, the depth of his gaze reflecting a firm resolve. Slowly shaking his head, his voice deep and resolute, he said, “That’s not possible, Qiqi. The company isn’t mine to decide alone. I can’t just give you shares without consultation.”

He gently withdrew his hand from hers and straightened his posture.

Outside, the moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a cold hue on his profile and lending him a more austere air. Lu Qiqi’s sly expression faded, replaced by confusion and a trace of melancholy. She pressed her lips together as if wanting to say more but ultimately sighed, her gaze drifting back to the table. The candlelight cast a lonely shadow across her face.

Biting her lower lip softly, her eyes revealed a blend of stubbornness and determination. She lifted her head again, meeting Si Qinyu’s eyes as if trying to peer into his thoughts. “I had a stake in this company from the start. Isn’t it only fair that I get those shares now?”

Her eyes shimmered with complex emotions in the candlelight.

Si Qinyu sighed softly, his brows knitting together like a small mountain. His tone brooked no argument. “You don’t understand how things work in the company. I can’t give you shares.”

His words hit like a cold wind in winter, dropping the warmth in the room abruptly. Lu Qiqi sprang to her feet, fists clenched tightly, eyes shining with resolve and unwillingness to yield.

“Then I won’t share my project with you either. This is my own hard work; I’ll see it through myself.”

Si Qinyu shook his head helplessly, a subtle pain hidden deep in his eyes. “You shouldn’t be so concerned about my company. What I want is just the port project. It’s crucial for both of us. I only want to help you shoulder some of the load.”

His brows tightened further, his gaze deep as the night sky, imbued with unyielding determination. He stood and took deliberate steps toward Lu Qiqi, each step seeming to press against the taut strings of her heart.

“I’m only doing this for your own good,” his voice low and forceful, each word squeezed out between clenched teeth. “You can’t handle this project. The interests involved are tangled, and without experience, you’re bound to stumble.”

His tone carried a hint of reproach, and his eyes shone with an unchallengeable firmness.

Standing before her, his tall figure enveloped her entirely, the atmosphere thick with tension and restraint.

Lu Qiqi smiled faintly, “That’s my business, and it has nothing to do with you.”

Her smile was tinged with stubbornness, her eyes gleaming with a defiant spirit.

Si Qinyu’s words were tender yet firm, carrying an undeniable weight. “I don’t want you to suffer so much.”

He spoke softly, his gaze deep and filled with tenderness. Slowly, he reached out to brush her furrowed brow, attempting to smooth the creases in her heart.

Suddenly, Lu Qiqi clutched her abdomen, her brow furrowing tightly, a forced smile tugging at the corner of her lips, as if enduring an unspeakable pain.

“I’m not eating anymore. Let’s go home.”

Her voice was as delicate as a whisper but clear enough to reach Si Qinyu’s ears.

His expression tightened, a flash of anxiety crossing his eyes as he hastily steadied her unsteady frame. The flickering candlelight illuminated her trembling lashes and the faint moisture at the corner of her eye.

Si Qinyu’s heart clenched in response. He quickly grabbed a coat nearby.

His voice was fraught with concern as he draped the coat over Lu Qiqi’s fragile shoulders and cautiously wrapped an arm around her waist, careful not to hurt her.

“I’ll take you to the hospital to get checked.”

His words were gentle yet urgent, his gaze resolute and unwavering.

Lu Qiqi shook her head slightly, her face pale as paper, but she forced herself to say, “No need. It’s probably just a stomach ache. I’ll rest at home, and it’ll be fine.”

Without allowing any protest, Si Qinyu lifted her into his arms effortlessly and strode toward the door with purpose.

His figure appeared exceptionally firm, each step radiating an unyielding determination.

The moment Lu Qiqi found herself securely held in Si Qinyu’s strong embrace, she struggled, her voice tinged with stubbornness and urgency. “Let me go! I can walk myself.”

Her hands pressed against his chest, fingertips burning with his warmth, her eyes flashing with a mixture of resolve and helplessness.

Si Qinyu’s steps didn’t falter; his gaze locked firmly ahead. “Don’t push yourself. You need to rest now.”

Her resistance was feeble against his strength, barely causing a tremor.

In his arms, Lu Qiqi’s voice rose again, faint but firm: “Take me back to the company. They have medicine there.”

Si Qinyu hesitated briefly, his eyes deep as he regarded her. He sighed softly, then nodded, turning toward the car with long strides.

As Si Qinyu gently placed her on the sofa in the company’s lobby, before she could catch her breath, Julian came rushing out of the office, phone clutched tightly in hand, her expression anxious and tense.