Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 129: Don’t Leave Me

"What’s going on? Did you say the relationship repair progress has stalled?"

Song Qingya had just woken up, her mind still a little foggy.

She then shifted her consciousness into the virtual space where the system resided. Looking up, she saw it starkly displayed: 59%.

The system immediately began to pull up analytical data and search for the cause.

"At first, during your time in Qi City, the recovery progress fluctuated between 55% and 58%. But ever since you went back to visit your family, the value hasn’t increased at all."

"Then can you extrapolate from the previous data? Based on normal development, what level should we be at by now?" Song Qingya pressed.

"It should have at least broken through 60% to be meaningful. But strangely, it’s stuck at 59%, not budging at all." The system’s tone carried a hint of confusion.

Logically speaking, after learning about the female lead’s childhood experiences, the male lead should have been filled with a mix of complicated feelings, his emotions fluctuating intensely.

If a man truly likes or loves a woman, his affection should deepen once he learns how tragic her past was, making him feel heartbroken for her.

Normally, in a situation like this, the affection value shouldn’t just stagnate; it should accelerate.

But the current situation was abnormally reversed, as if the entire mission had ground to a halt.

The system was utterly confused and couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

If only its clearance level were a little higher, perhaps it could have discovered the crux of the problem.

In fact, the progress bar hadn’t simply risen slowly from 55% to 59%.

There had once been a monumental leap.

After Fei Jin learned of Song Qingya’s tragic childhood, the value had once shot up to 65%!

But for some unknown reason, the value later mysteriously dropped, eventually falling back to 59%.

What exactly had gone wrong?

As a newly activated junior system, its functions were still in their preliminary stages, and its thought patterns were quite rigid.

"Host, I don’t think you’re crying enough. You should act more fragile and win the male lead’s favor by appearing wronged. That way, the affection level will rise quickly."

The system suggested this in her mind with a deadpan seriousness, completely unaware of how infuriating its words were.

’Stop giving me stupid advice. Your job is to watch the progress bar. Leave the rest to me.’

Song Qingya was already used to the system’s occasional erratic behavior and didn’t plan on paying it much mind.

Song Qingya leaned against the bed, lost in thought as she slowly surveyed her surroundings.

Soon, she noticed a soft, warm blanket draped over her.

However, after glancing around a few more times, she realized that Fei Jin, who had been sitting in the room earlier, was gone. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He had left without a sound, not even closing the door tightly behind him.

Song Qingya got out of bed, straightened her clothes, and decided to go find him.

The moment she stepped outside, a cool breeze brushed against her face, carrying the faint, fresh scent of grass and trees.

She looked up, scanning the courtyard, and her eyes quickly locked onto a familiar figure.

In the courtyard, a man was engrossed in his work, his strong, muscular torso bare. Sweat trickled from his shoulder blades down to his waist.

The midday sun was just right, its rays spilling over the man’s skin and casting a faint golden glow upon him.

The man was focused on the task at hand, his lips pressed together and his brow slightly furrowed. Sweat had already soaked his temples, but his expression remained intent, completely unaware of the curious eyes secretly watching him from behind.

He was even less aware that Song Qingya had silently approached him.

Just as he swung a hammer to knock the last brick tightly into place, the air behind him stirred.

The next moment, a pair of soft arms wrapped around his waist.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself? Didn’t you just promise you’d rest with me?"

Song Qingya hugged him, her eyes full of mirth.

Hearing her words, Fei Jin’s steady, powerful movements paused, and his back trembled slightly.

He didn’t turn his head, only saying softly, "Couldn’t sleep."

Song Qingya blinked, a trace of confusion and heartache on her face.

"Even if you can’t sleep, you don’t have to work the whole time."

She said, her voice tinged with a slight complaint, as she reached for a soft handkerchief. "Just lying down for a bit is also a form of rest. Look at you, you’re drenched in sweat."

As she spoke, she stood on her tiptoes, gesturing for Fei Jin to lower his head so she could wipe away his sweat.

Fei Jin complied, lowering his head and gazing down at her familiar, warm face, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.

Under that intense and focused gaze, Song Qingya’s heart fluttered.

’He’s starting to have doubts again.’

’The Song Qingya of today... is she really being good to me?’

’Are her words and actions sincere?’

’What are her true feelings?’

But the words from those old letters were still like a thorn lodged deep in his heart.

’I really don’t like the smell of his sweat after he trains. Every time I smell it, I just want to get away... I still prefer Shuli’s type. He looks so gentle and clean when he’s just sitting there quietly, writing.’

Fei Jin kept his head down, then turned his face away, taking the small, flower-embroidered handkerchief she offered him. "I can wipe it myself."

Song Qingya, however, sharply caught his subtle avoidance. She couldn’t help but tilt her head, her expression one of inquiry.

’Is this guy deliberately avoiding me?’

She had never been a passive person, especially when it came to matters of the heart; she was always the one to take the initiative.

Just as Fei Jin was about to look away, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him from turning away.

"Ajin, what’s bothering you?"

she asked in a low voice, her soft tone laced with a hint of worry. "Can you tell me?"

"It’s nothing,"

he replied flatly.

"Trying to brush me off, are you? I’m not falling for it!"

The corners of her lips lifted in a smirk as she huffed.

"You always keep yourself busy when you’re upset—training, working, things like that. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?"

Hearing her say this, Fei Jin sighed inwardly.

’That’s right. This girl... she really is smart and considerate enough. That’s the most captivating thing about her.’

’But that’s also precisely why it’s so hard for me to hide my own feelings and thoughts.’

He had once been a man who was used to burying his emotions deep, never letting his joy or sorrow show on the surface.

But ever since he met her, it was as if everything had fallen into disarray. Even the once-impenetrable walls around his heart were crumbling away, piece by piece, under her gentle gaze.

At this thought, he softly called her name. "Qingya."

Then, he suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as if terrified she would vanish the very next second.

"Promise me that no matter what happens in the future, you won’t leave me. Okay?"

His voice was a little hoarse.

Song Qingya was clearly taken aback. Her body stiffened for a moment before she looked up at him. "Did something happen? Why are you suddenly saying this?"

"I just want to hear you promise me."

"Qingya, I need you to say it yourself. I need you to say that you’ll always be with me."

He wasn’t usually someone who let his emotions show so easily.