Chapter 89: The Girl with No Way Out

The girl watched Chen Qi with caution, remaining silent, her expression torn. On one hand, she was genuinely curious about his intentions in seeking her out. On the other, she had no idea what he was really after. Truthfully, she had little liking for men who approached girls so casually.

“Rest assured, I mean no harm,” Chen Qi said, seeing her reluctance. He was about to say more when a voice, both surprised and delighted, called out from the side.

“Chen Qi?”

Chen Qi’s heart skipped a beat. Nervously, he turned his head. Could it be? Was he really running into someone he knew here?

“Are you Chen Qi?” Nearby, two young women, arms linked, looked at him in disbelief, their eyes bright with excitement.

“Uh… I am not,” Chen Qi replied solemnly. He was in the middle of serious business! Yet as he spoke, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Their enthusiasm made it clear they must be fans of “Never Expected.”

“No, you are!” The two girls, recognizing him, jumped up excitedly. “Only someone as shameless as you could lie with your eyes open.”

Chen Qi: “…”

Shameless? Was that how he was portrayed online?

“Can we take a photo with you?” They beamed at him. Though it sounded like a request, they gave him no time to refuse. One girl quickly took her place beside him, while the other stepped back, phone in hand, to find the perfect angle.

“….” Chen Qi, half amused and half exasperated, obliged.

Beside them, the singing girl stared in astonishment. After a moment, she pulled out her phone and searched for Chen Qi’s name.

She read his biography. She learned he was the creator of the wildly popular “Never Expected,” its writer and director, that he owned his own studio…

After skimming through these facts, she looked up “Never Expected” and saw the glowing reviews from viewers.

Reading these, her eyes gradually brightened, her heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably—not with joy or excitement, but with the desperate hope of someone clutching at a lifeline in the face of despair.

She glanced at Chen Qi. Her breathing grew rapid.

“Thank you~” The two girls, photo taken, waved goodbye to Chen Qi, who smiled and waved in return, then turned back.

The girl who had been watching him spoke directly: “Did you produce ‘Never Expected’?”

Chen Qi nodded.

“You have your own studio?”

He nodded again, his gaze tinged with curiosity. How could she seem so different after just a photo?

“Are you thinking of signing me?” she suddenly asked, her whole demeanor tense.

Chen Qi smiled. “To be honest, I do have that intention, but the specifics—”

“Three hundred thousand!” she interrupted, eyes reddening. “If you give me three hundred thousand, I’ll agree to any condition!”

Chen Qi’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, though he showed little surprise. Just as he’d guessed, she was desperate for money.

If he was right, she must have reached the end of her rope; otherwise, she would never say such a thing to a stranger.

He remained silent, simply observing her.

The girl was so nervous her breathing quickened. Her hands were clenched together so tightly the skin had turned pale. That sentence had likely consumed all her courage.

“You need money badly?” Chen Qi asked.

At this, tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. She hastily wiped them away, nodded vigorously, and repeated, “If you give me three hundred thousand, I’ll do whatever you ask!”

Her tone was resolute.

She knew that this young man before her might be her last hope. She was ready to risk everything.

If she could raise the money, she would sacrifice face, dignity, and even things far more precious.

All she wanted now was money.

Three hundred thousand.

Chen Qi gave her a look full of hidden meaning.

Any condition…

Those words carried a weight that was almost terrifying.

Clearly, she truly had nowhere else to turn.

“Alright,” he nodded.

The girl’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you… are you serious?”

“Pack your things and come with me,” Chen Qi said.

She stared at him for a few seconds, still hesitant, as if some concerns lingered. But recalling the facts she had just read, deciding he could be trusted, she gritted her teeth and quickly packed up her belongings.

While she gathered her things, Chen Qi glanced around. Nearby, a coffee shop seemed quiet enough for a serious conversation.

Once she was ready, he simply turned and walked toward the café.

The girl followed, dragging her small suitcase, anxious and uneasy.

She had never felt so nervous or afraid.

For a long time now, she had been exhausted in her efforts to raise money. Only in this period had she truly understood the meaning of “illness descends like a mountain.”

She had thought of every possible way to raise funds, but now, she could think of nothing else. Her fear was overwhelming, greater than anything she had ever experienced.

She had never been so afraid of tomorrow.

She was exhausted, in a way words could not describe, yet she could only grit her teeth and persevere, never daring to relax for a moment. Because she was their only hope.

They were her everything, and she was theirs.

She had never considered giving up, nor dared entertain the thought. The doctor said her father’s illness was completely curable, if only she could raise enough money.

She believed there would always be a way.

But reality was so cruel. Only today had she realized she truly had no options left.

She was miserable, and deeply aggrieved.

If it had only been a matter of hardship and difficulty, she would not complain. But it was not. Such a large sum, no matter how much she suffered, she could not gather it in time.

This profound sense of powerlessness left her in unprecedented despair.