Shen Chi Yan pulled Song Qi Nian from the bathroom to the bed with an urgency that left her powerless to resist. Outside, rain had begun to fall, its gentle rhythm a stark contrast to the intensity within. Under his touch, Song Qi Nian lost herself completely, caught between pleasure and pain as the rain tapped against the windows.
When she awoke the next morning, sunlight was already streaming through the windows.
Recognition dawned slowly – she was in Shen Chi Yan's bedroom. Fear jolted through her and she sat up abruptly, only to gasp as pain shot through her body. Her skin bore evidence of their night together, marked more thoroughly than before.
The room was empty. Song Qi Nian knew she couldn't stay, but her clothes lay in tatters, destroyed in last night's passion. With no other option, she took one of Shen Chi Yan's shirts from his closet. It hung like a dress on her frame. Her fingers trembled as she fastened a few buttons, leaving the top ones undone in her haste to escape.
Just as her hand touched the doorknob, the door swung open. Shen Chi Yan stood there, and Song Qi Nian's body went rigid. She backed away instinctively, her expression making him furrow his brows – she looked at him as if he were some fearsome predator.
His gaze fell to his shirt draped over her small frame, then to the exposed skin at her collar. The marks he'd left on her neck the night before were stark against her pale skin – evidence of his savage passion. The sight stirred something in him, an unwelcome heat that frustrated him even now.
Though Song Qi Nian wasn't tall, her legs were slender and pale beneath the white shirt, the sight more alluring for what it concealed than revealed. Shen Chi Yan's lips curled into a sneer. "Dressed like that this early – who exactly are you trying to seduce?"
She hadn't expected him to still be home at this hour. Memories of the previous night flooded back, making her tremble. His eyes narrowed at her obvious fear. "What are you standing there for? Get out!"
His dismissal surprised her. After sharing his bed, she'd expected worse from someone so obsessed with cleanliness. But she wasn't about to question her luck – she fled before he could change his mind.
Her relief was short-lived. Standing at the basement door, her heart sank. Her former living space was now cluttered with boxes and furniture, her bed and desk buried beneath the mess. Had Zhang Qiaoqiao done this on Shen Chi Yan's orders? So this was his real intention – not letting her go, but forcing her out of the villa entirely.
As despair settled over her, Zhang Qiaoqiao appeared. "Young madam, are you looking for something?"
Song Qi Nian could only shake her head, her face a portrait of misery.
Zhang Qiaoqiao's expression brightened with understanding. "Ah, you see, the basement is too damp and dark – it's not good for your health. The young master wants you to move to the guest room on the second floor."
Joy surged through Song Qi Nian – he wasn't throwing her out after all. But the relief quickly soured as realization set in: his kindness wasn't for her sake, but for her blood, for Lin Qiu Tong. The thought sat like a stone in her chest, heavy and painful.
"Come with me to the second floor."
Song Qi Nian followed Zhang Qiaoqiao to the guest room with quiet steps. "There are skincare products and cosmetics on the table," Zhang Qiaoqiao explained, then walked to the wardrobe and pulled open its doors. "And these clothes were custom-made for you. If you need anything else, just let me know."
Song Qi Nian stared at the cabinet filled with clothes and expensive products, uncertain how to feel about such luxury. Her phone chimed – a WeChat message from Shen Ke Qin.
[Sister-in-law, how are things with my brother? Did he bully you last night? Did you try acting cute with him?]
After thanking Zhang Qiaoqiao and asking for privacy, Song Qi Nian sat on the bed to respond. [Your brother didn't bully me, but acting cute... didn't work.]
[Didn't work? That's impossible! Nobody can resist when you act cute! What's wrong with my cousin?]
Song Qi Nian's fingers hesitated over the keys, her lip caught between her teeth. [He doesn't like me!] Acting cute was pointless when someone simply didn't care.
Shen Ke Qin's reply came quickly: [Don't worry, even ancient warriors had thirty-six strategies. We'll take it slow. Don't be sad – let me think of a better plan.]
Song Qi Nian started to tell her not to bother, but her phone died. After charging it, thoughts of repaying Gu Zhiyan's money pushed Shen Ke Qin from her mind.
At three that afternoon, Gu Zhiyan sat in the makeup room after an event, elegant in a black fitted dress with thin straps. Her assistant handed her an envelope. "Ms. Gu, this is a letter from President Shen."
Gu Zhiyan barely lifted her gaze, her cool eyes settling on the pink envelope. "Chi Yan?"
"Yes."
She paused. Her son would call if he needed something – he'd never send a letter, especially not in a pink envelope. Someone was using Shen Chi Yan's name, but who?
"What's inside?"
"It feels like a card."
"A card?"
"Open it and see."
The assistant pulled out a silver card and a piece of gradient green paper from the envelope.
She passed the paper to Gu Zhiyan, who immediately noticed the elegant, flowing handwriting:
"Dear Ms. Gu,
I wanted to call you 'Mom,' but sensing you might not be comfortable with that, I hope you'll understand why I'm addressing you as Ms. Gu instead.
The card contains the twenty million you gave my mother. The password is your birthday.
I want to apologize for my mother's behavior. I'm truly sorry, and I promise she won't trouble you again.
One last thing, if I may - please take care of yourself during filming. Make sure to get enough rest."
At the bottom of the note was a small smiley face - Song Qi Nian's signature touch whenever she finished writing or drawing. She probably didn't realize how Gu Zhiyan's eyes lingered on that simple doodle for several long moments.
"Ms. Gu, about this card..."
"Keep them both together," Gu Zhiyan said, handing back Song Qi Nian's note to her assistant.
The assistant tried to hide her surprise. In all her years working for Gu Zhiyan, she'd never seen her accept anything from fans or others. Yet here she was, making an exception.
Though the assistant hadn't read the note herself, Gu Zhiyan's reaction told her enough - whoever sent this must mean something to her.
As Gu Zhiyan sipped the coffee her assistant had prepared, she thought about Song Qi Nian's timid behavior whenever their paths crossed.
Her daughter-in-law, it seemed, wasn't quite as fragile as she appeared.
Song Qi Nian must be cleverer than she'd given her credit for - after all, this letter would never have reached her if it hadn't come through Shen Chi Yan.
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