Today was different - Shen Chi Yan wasn't wearing his usual tie, leaving Song Qi Nian unable to read his mood by this familiar signal.
The car ride passed in heavy silence. Words built up in Song Qi Nian's throat, but with his gaze fixed straight ahead, she couldn't bring herself to speak them.
At home, Shen Chi Yan carried her to her room with a gentleness that made her feel like spun glass. But the storm brewing behind his cold expression had her heart pounding, waiting for his anger to break.
When he turned to leave, panic seized her. She grabbed his arm before she could stop herself.
His icy stare cut through her.
She jerked her hand back as if burned, but thoughts of Song Jia Shu steeled her resolve. Her fingers moved quickly: [About my brother... I'm truly sorry. Please, just this once, forgive him.]
A harsh laugh escaped him. "You're only worried I'll keep your precious brother from taking his college entrance exams, aren't you?"
Song Qi Nian's lips pressed into a thin line, her face darkening.
Without another word, Shen Chi Yan strode out, leaving her heart twisting with anxiety in the silence.
Minutes later, he returned holding a bowl with two freshly boiled eggs. Song Qi Nian stared at him, bewildered.
His voice was winter-cold as he pointed to the bruise on his face. "Your brother left this mark. If it's gone by tomorrow morning, I'll let it go. If I can still see it then, your brother..." He let the threat hang unfinished in the air.
Understanding crashed over her immediately. She snatched up the eggs and began peeling them with trembling fingers. Afraid he might vanish if she didn't act fast enough, she tugged him down to sit beside her on the bed.
Earlier, when she'd treated her brother's face with the egg, her mind had been perfectly clear, focused only on helping him.
But treating Shen Chi Yan was entirely different.
They sat close enough that his subtle, intoxicating scent overwhelmed her senses, making her heart race. His dark eyes never left her face, and under that intense stare, her nerves frayed.
Her hands started to shake, and without thinking, she caught her upper lip between her teeth.
Shen Chi Yan's expression shifted instantly. His thumb pressed against her mouth as he ordered in a low, rough voice, "Stop that."
[What?] Song Qi Nian met his gaze, confused.
His thumb traced her lip slowly. "This spot - only I get to bite it."
Her face blazed crimson.
The air between them grew thick with tension. She tried to pull away, but his hand caught the back of her neck, drawing her closer until their noses nearly touched and their breaths mingled.
She saw raw want in his eyes. Panic flashed through her as she remembered her injury, and she shoved against his chest.
[The doctor said no strenuous activity for a month,] she rushed to explain, afraid of his reaction. [Can we wait until I'm healed?]
His handsome features hardened. He'd had certain intentions, yes, but her expression - like she was facing some wild animal - cut deep.
A cold smile crossed his face. "Song Qi Nian, aren't you overestimating yourself? You think you're some kind of prize? A few compliments and suddenly you're an angel, a goddess?"
She said nothing, just shook her head and went back to rolling the egg across his bruise.
Something dark and angry coiled in his chest. With her brother, she'd been all gentleness and care. But with him? All he got was this beaten-down submission.
"Stop!" he snapped.
He knocked her hand away. The egg hit the floor and cracked open, yolk spreading across the tiles.
Just like that, the brief warmth between them frosted over.
Song Qi Nian didn't understand what she'd done wrong. Before she could sign a word, he was gone, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
She wanted to follow, but her back screamed in protest at the slightest movement.
By the time she made it out of her room, Zhang Qiaoqiao told her Shen Chi Yan had already left the villa.
The afternoon crawled by. She couldn't shake her fears about the bruise on his face. What if it was still visible tomorrow morning? What would that mean for Jia Shu?
Evening came, and still no sign of Shen Chi Yan. She lay in bed, turning over possibilities. If he really did block Jia Shu from taking the college entrance exams, what then?
The only answer she could find was sending Jia Shu abroad to study. But that took money - money she didn't have. And knowing her brother, he'd refuse anyway, preferring to work instead.
Song Qi Nian let out a heavy sigh, feeling trapped.
Her phone buzzed with a WeChat message from Jia Shu: "Sis, is Shen Chi Yan giving you trouble?"
He'd attached an angry emoji, ready to fight Shen Chi Yan at a moment's notice. Having a protective little brother who kept butting heads with the man she cared about most - it was exhausting.
[No, everything's fine. Focus on studying,] she wrote back.
Then came a message from Shen Ke Qin: "Sister-in-law, I heard my brother brought you home. You okay? If he's bullying you again, tell me! I'll get Grandma to sort him out!"
Shen Ke Qin's unwavering support touched her heart. After responding, she opened her contacts and stared at Shen Chi Yan's number.
Should she message him?
At 11 p.m., she was still wide awake when her bedroom door burst open. Before she could reach for the lamp, strong arms yanked her into an embrace.
The sharp smell of alcohol mixed with his familiar cologne told her it was Shen Chi Yan before he spoke a word.
She tried to sit up, but his voice came cold and sharp against her ear. "If you don't want your back to heal, by all means, keep moving."
His threat froze her in place.
She braced herself for the worst, but all he did was bite the back of her neck once before holding her close and drifting off to sleep.
Trapped against him like a body pillow, sleep stayed just out of reach. Even when exhaustion pulled her under, fear jolted her awake again and again.
The bruise still consumed her thoughts. As soon as the first gray light of dawn crept in, her eyes snapped open and she searched his face.
Her heart sank.
The bruise had faded some, but not enough - it was still clearly visible.
No. She couldn't let him see it like this.
Then an idea hit her. Her eyes brightened as she carefully lifted his arm and slipped out of bed...
0 Comments