Song Qi Nian's dream twisted from beauty into nightmare.
She stood on a dirt path between golden wheat fields, watching a boy who seemed to have stepped straight from the pages of a fairy tale. His black suit and white shirt were pristine, the red bow tie adding a dash of color. Every feature of his face was perfect, almost too perfect.
The orange-red violin in his hands sang with Tartini's "Devil's Trill Sonata." Song Qi Nian didn't know much about classical music, but the haunting melody captured her completely.
When the music faded, he looked up and smiled. "Nian Nian, come here."
Little Song Qi Nian ran to him, her heart light with joy. But as she reached him, her world shattered. Around his feet lay cats and dogs, their bodies torn open, their blood turning the wheat field crimson.
She jerked awake with a gasp, her nightclothes clinging to her sweat-soaked skin. Her heart hammered against her ribs as reality slowly settled in. Just a dream. Just a dream.
"You're finally awake."
The male voice made her spin around. A man sat in a wheelchair, watching her. His long hair was tied back neatly, and a vintage monocle with silver chains rested on his nose. Everything about him spoke of old money and refined taste.
Song Qi Nian stared at him, her mind blank. She'd never seen this man before in her life.
As if reading her confusion, he said, "I'm Yu Sinian, Shen Chi Yan's friend. You fainted, and since both Chi Yan and I were there, we brought you here."
Song Qi Nian glanced around the hotel room, a question forming on her lips.
Before she could ask, Yu Sinian answered: "With the crisis in the planning department, Chi Yan couldn't stay. He had to handle it personally - he is the CEO, after all."
Song Qi Nian bit her lower lip and cast her eyes down.
"Are you afraid of cats?"
The word "cats" made Song Qi Nian shiver, her face clouding over.
"The cat that frightened you was mine - Little Black. It never jumps on people unless it takes a liking to them." Yu Sinian wheeled closer to the bed, his elegant eyes studying her intently. "Would you tell me why cats frighten you so much?"
Song Qi Nian shook her head, the color draining from her face.
The door swung open. Shen Chi Yan strode in, his expression dark and dangerous.
Seeing Song Qi Nian awake, he turned to Yu Sinian. "It's late. I'll have Gao Kunlun drive you home."
"Alright."
As soon as Gao Kunlun wheeled Yu Sinian out, his phone rang. It was Gong Yuqi.
"Sinian, is that woman really Chi Yan's little mute wife everyone talks about?"
"You knew already, didn't you?"
"Hell no! I got blamed for nothing! How was I supposed to know Little Black would jump on Song Qi Nian of all people? I just helped her up, and Shen Chi Yan looked ready to kill me."
Gong Yuqi's voice grew more indignant. "Did you see his face? The way he demanded I hand her over - Christ, you'd think I'd stolen millions from him!"
Thank god his manager had called right then. Gong Yuqi was certain he'd dodged a bullet by leaving early.
"Hey, what's the deal with Chi Yan anyway? Doesn't he hate Song Qi Nian? Because he sure acts possessive as hell. And I've got to say... she's gorgeous. No wonder Wang Dachui won't shut up about her!"
Yu Sinian, tired of Gong Yuqi's rambling, hung up.
As for Shen Chi Yan... something about him had changed.
Back in the room, Song Qi Nian stared at Shen Chi Yan's murderous expression, not daring to make a sound.
She hadn't expected Shen Chi Yan to be here tonight, let alone witness Yang Hongbin's affair being exposed.
The room felt airless with his presence. Song Qi Nian struggled to breathe. She rose from the bed and signed carefully: "I... should head home."
She had to pass him to reach the door. As she tried to slip by, he grabbed her and threw her onto the bed. A crumpled paper ball landed on her chest.
"Did you write this?"
Song Qi Nian unfolded it. There was no mistake - it was the note she'd written to Yang Hongbin, copying Xie Xueyi's handwriting in lipstick. She'd slipped it onto his table while everyone was busy toasting and Xie Xueyi was in the bathroom.
"And you sent those photos to Yang Hongbin's wife too, didn't you? Made sure she'd catch them together?"
Song Qi Nian's jaw clenched. The blood drained from her face.
How did he know? How did he know everything?
Reading her expression, Shen Chi Yan snarled, "Did you really think you could hide what you did? What about the security cameras? And when Yang Hongbin realizes you set him up, what do you think he'll do to you?"
Song Qi Nian's inexperience showed. She'd been so focused on making them pay, she hadn't considered the aftermath.
"You look like an angel but your mind is poison. I let you work in planning, not cause chaos!"
His words cut deep. She gestured back, hurt and angry: [They started it! They bullied me first!"
"So you think you did nothing wrong?]
Song Qi Nian didn't think she was wrong. If she'd kept quiet, the bullying would have gotten worse.
Her stubborn look only enraged him further. "If Xie Xueyi bullied you, fine - get back at her. If Yang Hongbin protected her, deal with him. But you had no right to drag his family into this!"
"His daughter has a heart condition. When they fought about divorce, she had an attack. They rushed her to the hospital."
Song Qi Nian's face transformed. She grabbed his hand desperately, needing to know if the child was okay.
Shen Chi Yan yanked away from her. "The child survived. You're lucky - you almost had an innocent death on your hands!"
Song Qi Nian crumpled onto the bed, horrified at what could have happened.
"If you can't work properly, take your schemes and get out of Dingsheng. Save me from having to look at you!"
His face twisted with disgust. After he stormed out, Song Qi Nian hugged herself tight, crying uncontrollably.
The next morning at work, Miao Ziai told her Yang Hongbin and Xie Xueyi had left Dingsheng Group.
Seeing Song Qi Nian's pale face, Miao Ziai tried to comfort her: "Nian Nian, you did great. No one will dare bully you now."
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