Shen Yu Shu's position as deputy director of the Planning Department made him quite the catch. While female colleagues fawned over him, his growing closeness to Song Qi Nian only fueled their resentment toward her.
Oblivious to the office politics swirling around her, Song Qi Nian threw herself into her work each day, barely coming up for air.
That morning, running later than usual, she rode her scooter harder than normal. Just as she approached the parking lot, she collided with another woman on an electric bike. The impact left Song Qi Nian with a nasty scrape on her arm, and the other rider was clearly in pain.
Ignoring her own scooter lying on the ground, Song Qi Nian rushed to help the fallen woman. [Are you okay?] she signed frantically, then realized the stranger wouldn't understand.
"I'm fine," the woman winced. "But we need to hurry – one minute late and we can kiss our perfect attendance bonus goodbye."
They rushed to park their bikes and squeezed into the elevator together. After barely making it to clock in on time, they exchanged relieved smiles.
The woman did a double-take. "Wait – you're in Planning too? Are you new here?"
Song Qi Nian nodded and walked to her desk. She grabbed a pen and wrote: [Hello, I'm Song Qi Nian.]
"Hi! I'm Miao Ziai," the woman brightened. "I've been out sick for a week. Had no idea our department got such a lovely new colleague while I was away."
Song Qi Nian responded with a gentle, innocent smile.
"Xiao Ai!"
At the sound of her nickname, Miao Ziai turned. "Just a sec," she told Song Qi Nian with an apologetic smile.
Song Qi Nian nodded, but her brow furrowed as she noticed the hostile stares from the group calling Miao Ziai over.
"Xiao Ai, why were you hanging around with that mute? Don't you know what she's really like?"
"Hey," Miao Ziai cut in, "she's our colleague. Just because she can't speak doesn't mean you should call her that. It's cruel!"
"Oh wow, you're actually defending her? While you were out sick, she's been putting the moves on that guy you like."
Miao Ziai's jaw dropped. "What? She and Director Shen are together?"
"I thought you had feelings for Shen Yu Shu?"
A colleague walking past with coffee chimed in, "Don't be so naive, Xiao Ai. If you'd been gone any longer, you might've gotten their wedding invitation."
As they spoke, Shen Yu Shu approached Song Qi Nian's desk. Noticing the wound on her arm, he quickly grabbed some disinfectant and a bandage.
Song Qi Nian instinctively recoiled from his touch – she never felt comfortable with unfamiliar men getting too close. Her protests were cut short by someone calling out "Director Shen."
She turned to see Shen Chi Yan standing in the doorway of the Planning Department, his expression dark. Beside him, Lin Lanxing wore a self-satisfied smirk.
Song Qi Nian froze under Shen Chi Yan's ice-cold stare. In her moment of paralysis, Shen Yu Shu managed to apply the bandage to her arm.
By the time she snapped back to reality, Shen Yu Shu had already stepped away. He offered her a smile before turning to Shen Chi Yan, awaiting instructions.
The temperature in the Planning Department seemed to plummet with Shen Chi Yan's arrival. Nobody dared make a sound.
"Get back to work!"
Shen Chi Yan's words cut through the silence before he strode into Yang Hongbin's office.
Yang Hongbin braced himself, expecting the worst. But Shen Chi Yan merely sat on the sofa, reviewed a few project proposals, and left.
He didn't spare Song Qi Nian a second glance on his way out. Once he was gone, the office slowly returned to life.
Song Qi Nian stared at the bandage on her arm, her thoughts a tangled mess.
After a hectic morning, Miao Ziai cornered Song Qi Nian during lunch break. "Miss Song, are you dating Shen Yu Shu?"
Song Qi Nian's eyes widened in shock.
Before she could respond, Shen Yu Shu appeared. He gave an exasperated sigh and ruffled Miao Ziai's hair. "What are you talking about? Qi Nian and I are just friends. We sometimes work late and grab dinner together, that's all. Who's been spreading rumors?"
Miao Ziai blushed at his touch. "You really aren't together?"
"No," Shen Yu Shu stated firmly.
Song Qi Nian shook her head as well.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Miao Ziai's mood instantly lifted. "In that case, why don't we all grab lunch together?"
"Sounds good to me," Shen Yu Shu said with a warm smile.
As they both turned to her expectantly, Song Qi Nian nodded with a small smile.
Just then, a distinctive notification tone cut through the air, making her heart skip a beat.
In their three months of marriage, Shen Chi Yan had never reached out to her directly, always sending messages through Li Nanxun instead.
She'd set a special ringtone for his number after saving it, though she never really expected him to use it.
Now that it was actually playing, her stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and dread.
She checked her phone. Sure enough, it was from him:
"Come to my office!"
Her pulse quickening, Song Qi Nian turned apologetically to Shen Yu Shu and Miao Ziai. [I'm sorry, something's come up. You two go ahead without me.]
"What? You're bailing on our first lunch together?"
Seeing Song Qi Nian's discomfort, Shen Yu Shu stepped in. "Qi Nian's got something to handle. Let's just go, the two of us."
Song Qi Nian shot him a grateful look before slipping away to Shen Chi Yan's office.
"Come here!"
Song Qi Nian approached his desk cautiously. He wore a gray tie, his expression unreadable.
Standing before his desk, she studied his striking features as she signed, [Did you... need something?]
"Come here!"
His cold command made her glance at the desk separating them before slowly circling around to stand before him.
In one swift motion, he pushed her back against the desk. Before she could process what was happening, pain shot through her arm.
Shen Chi Yan yanked the bandage off her arm without warning.
The adhesive clung to her skin, and when he tore it away, fresh blood welled up from the wound.
He tossed the bandage into the trash with disgust, then pressed his finger against Song Qi Nian's lips. His eyes were cold as ice. "It's filthy. Clean it."
Song Qi Nian stared back at him, stunned by this humiliation.
Before she could react, he forced his finger into her mouth. She tried to push him away, but he was immovable.
The tears came instantly – a response to her anger, her fear, her shame.
She'd thought her transfer to Planning was a step forward. Instead...
Shen Chi Yan watched her with cruel amusement. "I underestimated you. Only a few days in Planning and you've already got men falling all over themselves."
"Cough–" Song Qi Nian gagged, her face wet with tears. Seeing her distress, something dark flickered in his eyes, and he bent down to bite her lip.
The desk dug into her back as she clutched at his clothes, enduring his anger in silence.
"Knock knock knock."
Lin Lanxing's voice carried through the door. "Brother Chi Yan, are you in there?"
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