"Song Qi Nian, where's that boldness you had when you were manipulating everyone? Not so brave now, are you?"
The mere recognition that it was Shen Chi Yan before her, not some specter in the darkness, offered Song Qi Nian a sliver of relief. She clutched desperately at his clothes, trying to form signs with her hands, but the prison's darkness made it futile. Even if she could make out her own fingers, Shen Chi Yan wouldn't be able to read her gestures.
"Playing the innocent victim to win everyone's sympathy. Did you really think I'd fall for that?"
Shen Chi Yan yanked the fox ears headband from her head. "Shen Yu Shu's little gift—you've been wearing it religiously, haven't you?"
No, that's not it at all!
Song Qi Nian's chest tightened with frustration. She hadn't removed the headband simply because it had been placed there without her knowledge—it had nothing to do with Shen Yu Shu.
"Want to know something? Those fox ears make you look repulsive."
His words cut deep. Song Qi Nian's heart contracted painfully—she knew that in his eyes, she was nothing but ugliness personified, inside and out.
She shoved against him, but her resistance only fueled his anger. He forced her down onto the straw-covered floor and crushed his mouth against hers.
As realization dawned on Song Qi Nian about what he intended, horror bloomed across her features, her eyes growing wide with fear.
Had he lost his mind?
To do this here, of all places...
The sudden chime of a bell caught her attention, followed by a cold sensation encircling her ankle—something had been fastened there. With each movement of her foot, the bell tinkled mockingly.
"If you're so intent on being an animal, why settle for fox ears? This bell is far more fitting."
His frigid words ghosted across her ear. As Song Qi Nian struggled beneath him, Shen Chi Yan viciously pinched her waist. When she gasped in pain, he seized the opportunity to claim her mouth in a brutal kiss.
The unsettling blend of carnival music and tinkling bell seemed to ignite something in Shen Chi Yan, driving him to new heights of aggression.
Song Qi Nian found no pleasure in any of it—there was only pain, consuming both body and soul.
That he would degrade her like this, here of all places, despite his phobia of germs—it spoke volumes about the depth of his hatred.
No.
It was worse than that. He didn't even see her as human.
Just a pet to be toyed with and tormented, stripped of all dignity.
Mute and exhausted, Song Qi Nian's initial resistance gave way to a creeping numbness. Her unresponsiveness and the darkness concealing her face only served to anger Shen Chi Yan further, driving him to greater brutality.
Still unsatisfied after leaving the haunted house, he dragged her to a nearby hotel.
In the luxury suite's bathroom, he forced her against the mirror, gripping her chin from behind so she had to face her reflection.
Her cheeks were flushed, eyes glossy with tears.
The sight of her—so thoroughly devastated—only fueled his cruelty.
"If your father saw you like this beneath me, would he still claim his innocence?"
At the mention of Song Guanliang, she bit down hard on her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.
Her small defiance enraged him. He bit down savagely on the nape of her neck. "Open your eyes. I want you to remember exactly how you look right now."
Her palms pressed against the glass, leaving chaotic smears as she moved with his violent rhythm.
The bell continued its mocking song, ringing endlessly throughout the afternoon.
...
When Song Qi Nian made it back to the amusement park, her legs were unsteady and she felt disconnected from her body.
Shen Ke Qin spotted her, noting her change of clothes, and seemed to piece things together. He sidled up to her with a grin and lowered his voice, "Sister-in-law, where's my brother? Did you two patch things up?"
Song Qi Nian wasn't sure if they had reconciled, but Shen Chi Yan's mood had certainly improved by the time they parted.
Just then, Shen Ke Qin noticed the bell on her ankle. "Hey, what a cool ankle bracelet! And it even has a bell! Where did you get it? I want one too."
Shame flickered across Song Qi Nian's eyes as she remembered Shen Chi Yan's threat: "Take it off, and next time it goes around your neck."
"Qiaoqiao..."
Exhausted from the day's activities, Shen Yu Shu was holding Qiaoqiao, but when she saw Song Qi Nian, she held the child out.
Qiaoqiao's presence gave Song Qi Nian an escape. She exhaled in relief, took Qiaoqiao, and bid goodbye to Shen Ke Qin and Shen Yu Shu.
"Qi Nian, you look exhausted. Let me drive you home," Shen Yu Shu offered.
Song Qi Nian managed a smile, shook her head, and carried Qiaoqiao away.
Despite his usual obliviousness, even Shen Ke Qin sensed something was wrong with Song Qi Nian.
"Miss, Mr. Shen is waiting in the car."
When Shen Ke Qin and Wen Ziqian got in, they found Shen Chi Yan in the back seat, working and looking distinctly pleased with himself.
"Brother, come clean. Did you just bully sister-in-law?"
Wen Ziqian chimed in excitedly, "I knew it! That lady Qi Nian is my aunt—she's like an angel. Uncle, you can't be mean to angel-aunt."
Shen Chi Yan was too content to be bothered by the children's chatter.
His attitude irritated Shen Ke Qin. "Brother, I know you have feelings for Lin Qiu Tong, but sister-in-law cares about you so much. Even if you don't return her feelings, couldn't you treat her better?"
Shen Chi Yan's fingers stopped typing. He turned to Shen Ke Qin with a cold stare. "Who told you Song Qi Nian has feelings for me? Did she say that?"
Realizing his slip-up, Shen Keqin coughed awkwardly. "Just a guess. Look at yourself—you're handsome, wealthy, and fit. What woman wouldn't be interested? Right, Ziqian?"
Wen Ziqian gave Shen Chi Yan an appraising look and nodded. "He is pretty handsome."
Shen Chi Yan ignored the two flatterers and turned back to his computer.
"Hey, brother... I mean... if sister-in-law actually does have feelings for you, what... what would you do?"
Shen Chi Yan's mind wandered to Song Qi Nian's tear-stained face, her vulnerable expression.
He slammed his laptop shut with a sharp crack, suddenly agitated. A cold look entered his eyes. "Don't forget how she wormed her way into the Shen family. Have feelings for me? She's not even worth considering."
Shen Ke Qin wouldn't let it go. "Brother, I don't buy that you feel nothing for sister-in-law. You hate crowds, but you still came to the amusement park with Ziqian. Wasn't it because you knew sister-in-law would be here today..."
Shen Chi Yan cut him off with a withering look. "With that kind of imagination, maybe you should give up fashion design and write screenplays instead."
Shen Ke Qin: "..."
Having listened to their exchange, Wen Ziqian piped up, "Uncle, you don't like aunt? Then just divorce her already. When I'm grown up, I'll marry aunt myself."
The words had barely left his mouth before he got smacked on the head.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me? I'm just telling the truth. Aunt is beautiful, and when she smiles she's so sweet and kind, and she wipes my sweat and buys me ice cream."
Completely oblivious to Shen Chi Yan's murderous glare, Wen Ziqian continued, his voice both timid and earnest, "What are you even mad about? Look, when I marry aunt in the future, we'll both take care of you!"
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