At the airport, as Shen Chi Yan moved to exit the car, Song Qi Nian caught his arm. His piercing gaze cut through her, cold and sharp.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to sign: "Are we... still playing the happy couple?"
"Why else would I bring you along?" His words came out harsh, leaving Song Qi Nian wondering what she'd done to deserve his anger.
Still, joy bubbled up inside her. After today, she'd never again have the chance to hold his hand or feel his embrace. One last performance as lovers – the thought made her heart leap.
Taking a steadying breath, Song Qi Nian reached for his hand, gripping it firmly. His palm felt cool against hers, a welcome relief in the summer heat, like pressing her skin against chilled glass.
Then her eyes went wide with horror.
He wasn't wearing his gloves.
She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, holding her in place. Song Qi Nian froze, her pulse racing. Shen Chi Yan was actually holding her hand of his own accord.
Then came his smooth, cultured voice: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith..."
Song Qi Nian's heart sank. Of course. He'd only grabbed her hand because he'd spotted the Smith couple – a quick save to maintain their charade.
The moment they left the airport, Shen Chi Yan dropped her hand as if it burned him, his demeanor turning glacial. Like a one-night stand pretending not to recognize their partner in daylight.
Song Qi Nian stared at her empty hand, feeling the hollow echo in her chest.
Their pretense at love ended as abruptly as it had begun.
Lin Lanxing was at the airport picking someone up when she spotted Song Qi Nian and Shen Chi Yan. At first, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
She rushed forward, and when she confirmed it was indeed Song Qi Nian in Shen Chi Yan's embrace, rage darkened her features.
Wasn't Shen Chi Yan supposed to be in love with her sister? Why was he holding Song Qi Nian? Had his feelings changed?
When she saw Song Qi Nian gazing up at Shen Chi Yan, her face lit with joy and eyes brimming with adoration, Lin Lanxing's blood boiled.
That shameless whore!
No. This couldn't happen. Even if her sister never opened her eyes again, she wouldn't let Song Qi Nian stake her claim on Shen Chi Yan.
Lin Lanxing pushed through the crowd, but by the time she reached their spot, they had vanished.
"Damn it!" She stomped her foot, swearing Song Qi Nian would pay for this.
After learning Shen Chi Yan had placed Song Qi Nian in the Planning Department, Lin Lanxing arrived at Dingsheng Group early Thursday morning.
In Shen Chi Yan's office, she fixed him with a pleading look. "Brother Chi Yan, please let me intern at Dingsheng. I'll do anything you need."
Shen Chi Yan lifted his gaze, regarding Lin Lanxing with disinterest. Despite being sisters, she and Lin Qiu Ting looked nothing alike.
"You should listen to your father."
"I don't want to," Lin Lanxing protested. "If I work at our company, Dad will just give me some cushy position. Everyone will kiss up to me because I'm the boss's daughter, and I'll never learn anything real."
Seeing Shen Chi Yan unmoved, she played her final card. "If only my sister were awake... she would help me."
"Which department do you want?"
Lin Lanxing's eyes brightened - of course, mentioning her sister always worked on him.
So he did still have feelings for her sister. It was just that conniving little Song Qi Nian trying to seduce him.
"The Planning Department," she said.
Within a week, the department had two new faces.
On her first day, Lin Lanxing swept in wearing luxury brands, distributing expensive perfumes to everyone in Planning.
Everyone except Song Qi Nian.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Miss Song. I didn't realize there was one more person here, so I didn't bring enough. You don't mind, do you?" Despite her apologetic words, Lin Lanxing's smirk made it clear - this was no accident.
Song Qi Nian hadn't expected Lin Lanxing to show up at Dingsheng, let alone in her department. She'd have to watch her step now.
She offered a slight smile, waved off the slight, and went back to work.
Lin Lanxing watched her with cold satisfaction. "Song Qi Nian, your easy days are done."
Song Qi Nian, strapped for cash, had brought everyone homemade cookies. The contrast was stark.
Next to Lin Lanxing's expensive gifts, Song Qi Nian's offerings looked cheap and pathetic.
Lin Lanxing made sure everyone knew she was the Lin Group heir, and they all scrambled to get on her good side.
She spread rumors carefully, and soon the office had turned - everyone adored Lin Lanxing and looked down on Song Qi Nian.
"You really can't judge people. Who would've thought Song Qi Nian's father put Miss Lin's sister in a vegetative state? Yet Miss Lin is still so kind to her."
Lin Lanxing sighed, her voice heavy with false sympathy. "Her father's crimes aren't hers. No matter how much I hate him, I can't blame her."
"Miss Lin, you're too good!"
"Right? After what happened to President Shen's love because of her, how dare she show her face here?"
"Shameless people have no limits. She just uses that pretty face to manipulate everyone."
Everyone turned to Song Qi Nian's desk, where male colleagues had clustered around her, their faces bright with laughter as they chatted about something.
Seeing her plan working, Lin Lanxing's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "It doesn't matter what she's really like. One look at that innocent face and everyone thinks the world's been unfair to her."
Lin Lanxing had deliberately stoked the female colleagues' resentment, and that afternoon, they seemed to move as one, bombarding Song Qi Nian with requests.
"Miss Song, could you make three copies of this important document for me?"
"Miss Song, I'm swamped - would you mind summarizing these materials?"
"Miss Song, I'm working late. Could you grab me a coffee?"
As the newest member of Planning, Song Qi Nian wanted to fit in, so she rarely said no.
But when she returned with the coffee, she found an empty office and a mountain of unfinished work on her desk.
Finally, it hit her - they were using her.
"Miss Song, still here?"
She turned to find Shen Yu Shu, one of the department's young men, walking toward her. His refined features caught the dim office light.
Song Qi Nian wrote quickly: "Mr. Shen, why are you still here?"
"Still working. And please, just call me Yu Shu."
She nodded.
"Working late too?"
Another nod.
"Good to have company," he smiled. "Let's power through together."
Song Qi Nian had bought extra coffee anyway, so she offered him a cup.
Over the next few days, she found herself staying late almost every night, not leaving until nine or ten. Being new meant double the workload of senior staff.
But Shen Yu Shu was always there - sharing lunch, asking her to teach him sign language, staying late with her. Their friendship grew quickly.
Soon enough, the office gossip mill began to turn.
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