Shen Chi Yan's cold words hung in the air as he disappeared into his car. Liu Xiaohan scrambled to her feet, ready to chase after him, but Gao Kunlun blocked her path. Within minutes, security arrived and escorted her roughly from the villa district.
Standing outside the gates, Liu Xiaohan's curses echoed against the walls. "The nerve of that man," she spat. "What kind of wealthy person treats their elders like this?"
Her phone buzzed - a notification from Song Qi Nian. Two thousand yuan had been transferred to her account, followed by a message: "This is all I have right now. Take it. If you have any conscience left, stop gambling and leave the Shen family alone."
The sight of the money initially lifted Liu Xiaohan's spirits, but as she read her daughter's words, rage bubbled up inside her. Three years of marriage to the Shen family, and this was all Song Qi Nian could manage? And still, she took their side.
A darker thought crept in. If Shen Chi Yan despised Song Qi Nian so deeply, surely he wasn't treating her well. The kick that had injured Nian Nian's back was proof enough of his violent tendencies. Her daughter must be suffering frequent abuse.
Yet instead of maternal concern, Liu Xiaohan's mind turned to cold calculation. If Song Qi Nian couldn't win Shen Chi Yan's heart after three years, what was the point of staying? Why let him have her daughter for free if he wouldn't contribute financially? The world was full of wealthy men, and with Song Qi Nian's beauty, surely she could do better.
Meanwhile, Song Qi Nian sat alone, Shen Chi Yan's words echoing in her mind. She had always known he hated her, that he'd never seen her as a true wife. But seeing that icy expression as he delivered his verdict - it felt like being thrown into a frozen lake, the cold seeping into her very bones.
His recent kindness - taking her to the hospital, picking her up after discharge - had planted a tiny seed of hope in her heart. She'd fooled herself into thinking their time together might have softened him, even slightly. Now she saw the truth: she'd been living in a fantasy.
For the next two days, Shen Chi Yan didn't come home at all.
Two days later, Song Qi Nian felt well enough to ride her electric scooter back to work.
Pan Yingying looked up in surprise when she walked in. "Xiao Song? I thought your family arranged half a month's leave for you. Why are you back so soon?"
Unable to speak, Song Qi Nian quickly scribbled a note: [I'm feeling much better, so I came back. Manager, can my leave be canceled?]
"That's fine. But there's an issue with the proposal you and Shen Yu Shu worked on. Both of you need to come to my office."
Song Qi Nian nodded and went to find Shen Yu Shu. In just the few days she'd been away, he looked worse than ever - exhaustion carved deep into his features. Something was clearly wrong. After their meeting, she gestured to him worriedly: [Yu Shu, what's going on? Are you in trouble?]
His bloodshot eyes met hers. He hesitated, then shook his head. "No, everything's fine."
[We're friends. If something's wrong, you can tell me.]
His phone buzzed with a WeChat message. Reading it, his frown deepened.
"Qi Nian, really, I'm okay," he forced a smile. "Don't worry. I just need to use the restroom."
Miao Ziai came looking for Song Qi Nian just then, so she nodded and returned to her desk.
Outside the restroom, Lin Lanxing stood waiting in a sleek black suit, her posture radiating arrogance as she faced the fragile-looking young man. "Well? Have you decided?"
"Qi Nian is my friend," Shen Yu Shu's voice was strained. "I can't hurt her."
"Friend?" Lin Lanxing's laugh was sharp. "How long have you even known Song Qi Nian to call her that? Are you really choosing this so-called friendship over your grandmother's life?"
Shen Yu Shu's fists clenched as he struggled with his impossible choice. His grandmother's fall had led to a hospital visit where they discovered lung cancer. Treatment would cost at least 300,000 yuan.
Despite being a top student and landing a job at a small firm before moving to Dingsheng Group, Shen Yu Shu's finances were stretched thin. His salary at Dingsheng had increased steadily over his two years there, but between supporting himself and his grandmother, he had barely saved anything. Now this 300,000 yuan medical bill loomed over him like an impossible debt.
Lin Lanxing stepped closer to him. "Help me deal with Song Qi Nian, and I'll give you one million yuan."
Shen Yu Shu wasn't naive about workplace relationships. Since joining Dingsheng Group, he'd worked hard to build connections, knowing most were superficial. But Song Qi Nian was different - one of the few people he trusted completely. She was genuinely kind, and the thought of betraying her made him sick.
Lin Lanxing watched his internal struggle with cool patience. "One million," she repeated softly. "Enough to pay for treatment and rent a luxury apartment. Your grandmother worked hard her whole life. Are you really going to watch her die in pain without ever experiencing comfort?"
Shen Yu Shu's fingers dug into his palms as he weighed friendship and morality against family and survival.
"Come on, Shen Yu Shu. You're smart," Lin Lanxing touched his shoulder. "Yes, Song Qi Nian is your friend, but we make many friends in life. She's just passing through yours. Remember - everyone has their price."
Her phone rang, and she answered with a practiced smile. "Of course, I'll introduce you to that handsome guy soon. Trust me, he's exactly your type."
Hanging up, she turned back to Shen Yu Shu. "You know who I am - Second Miss of the Lin Group. I'm surrounded by wealthy heiresses. Play this right, marry one of them, and you'll never worry about money again." Her voice hardened. "Cross me, though, and I'll make sure your life becomes a living hell."
Shen Yu Shu's face darkened as the war inside him intensified.
"An opportunity like this is rare," Lin Lanxing said, turning to leave. "Most people would kill for it."
Before she could walk away, Shen Yu Shu grabbed her arm. His hand shook, his face twisted with pain.
"Oh?"
"I..." He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. The conflict was gone, replaced by naked ambition. "I'll do it."
In that moment, friendship and loyalty vanished from Shen Yu Shu's world as he chose what he believed was his shortcut to success.
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