Song Qi Nian's consciousness surfaced slowly, her thoughts still clouded with sleep. She couldn't even remember getting into bed the night before. Her eyes drifted to the desk where the small doll of Shen Chi Yan sat, its grumpy expression making her fingers itch to poke it one last time before tucking it away in the drawer.
This month would be different, she told herself. She'd get that perfect attendance bonus no matter what.
Her determination carried her downstairs, only to falter at the unexpected sight of Shen Chi Yan at the dining table, calmly eating breakfast. Her lips pressed together instinctively. Better to avoid him entirely - she'd head straight to work instead.
"Young Madam, you're not eating breakfast?" Zhang Ma's concerned voice stopped her.
Song Qi Nian's hands moved in response. [No, I might be late. I'll get something near the office.]
"Come here." Shen Chi Yan's voice cut through the air like ice. When she hesitated, his tone deepened, a warning threading through his words. "Come eat breakfast. Don't make me say it a third time."
The morning air grew thick with tension. Zhang Ma, ever the peacekeeper, leaned close to Song Qi Nian. "Young Madam, please eat something before you go. It won't take long."
Every glimpse of Shen Chi Yan brought back his words to Liu Xiaohan, words that had been churning in her mind for days. Though facing him was the last thing she wanted, defying him seemed even worse.
She sat, and Zhang Ma rushed to serve her breakfast. Shen Chi Yan watched her pick at her food, his expression darkening with each reluctant bite. "What's wrong? Is the food here somehow inferior to someone else's bread?"
Song Qi Nian froze, confusion written across her face.
"You and Shen Yu Shu seem quite close."
Understanding dawned. He knew about that day she'd skipped breakfast, ended up hypoglycemic at the hospital, and accepted Shen Yu Shu's bread. But how had he found out?
Had he seen it himself? The thought crept in - was he actually jealous?
"Don't forget that your body isn't just yours anymore," Shen Chi Yan's cold voice cut through her speculation. "You're not leaving for work until you finish everything on your plate."
Song Qi Nian's grip tightened on her fork. She almost laughed at herself. Of course she'd been overthinking again. Shen Chi Yan wasn't concerned about her eating breakfast - he just needed her healthy enough to keep providing blood transfusions for Lin Qiu Tong.
She forced down every bite, mechanical and joyless. Shen Chi Yan watched her, his irritation building with each robotic movement.
Before he could speak, she was on her feet. Her hands moved in curt gestures: [I'm done. I'm leaving.]
As she walked away, something dangerous flickered in Shen Chi Yan's eyes. He'd waited all morning, and not only had she failed to give him the doll, she'd acted like she couldn't stand the sight of him. What game was this woman playing now? Playing hard to get? He almost sneered. Such a childish tactic.
The breakfast delay had cost precious time. Song Qi Nian couldn't shake the suspicion that Shen Chi Yan was deliberately trying to sabotage her perfect attendance bonus. Still, if she pushed her electric scooter hard enough, she might make it.
But when she reached the garage, her heart sank. The power cord lay on the ground, her scooter completely dead. She distinctly remembered plugging it in last night. When had it come unplugged?
Of course everything would go wrong at once. With no time left and a dead scooter, was she destined to lose her attendance bonus again this month?
She rushed to the door, frantically pulling out her phone to call a ride.
Just then, Shen Chi Yan's car pulled up beside her, and Gao Kunlun emerged from the driver's seat. "Young Madam, Zhang Ma mentioned your scooter died. Let me give you a ride."
Song Qi Nian's eyes darted to the back seat, her feet rooted to the spot.
Gao Kunlun stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I heard about last month's attendance bonus. A thousand yuan - gone. You can't afford to miss it again this month."
He pulled open the back door, waiting.
Song Qi Nian chewed her lip, weighing the choices in her mind: a thousand yuan versus enduring a silent car ride with Shen Chi Yan.
Money won out. She slid into the backseat.
The ride passed in thick silence. Shen Chi Yan caught glimpses of her in the mirror, but she kept her face turned to the window, deliberately showing him only the back of her head. His forehead creased with tension.
That doll she'd made him - why hadn't she given it to him yet? Was she waiting for him to ask? He scoffed internally. Keep dreaming.
As they neared the Dingsheng Group building, Song Qi Nian suddenly reached forward, tapping Gao Kunlun's shoulder.
He met her eyes in the rearview mirror. "Young Madam?"
[I'll get out here.]
"We're still quite far from the office."
[It's fine. I'll run.]
Their marriage was a secret - only Li Nanxun and Lin Lanxing at the company knew the truth. If Shen Chi Yan wanted to keep her hidden, the last thing he'd want was for people to see them arriving together.
Gao Kunlun glanced at Shen Chi Yan, who remained silent. Taking that as permission, he pulled over.
As Song Qi Nian reached for the door handle, Shen Chi Yan's hand shot out, catching her arm.
She turned to find his face hard and cold. "Song Qi Nian, don't you have something to tell me... or give me?"
Song Qi Nian stared at him blankly before shaking her head, genuinely confused.
Shen Chi Yan's anger flared. He released her hand with a sharp motion. "Get to work. One minute late and I'll dock triple your pay!"
Song Qi Nian stood frozen. What was his problem? Had he woken up on the wrong side of the bed?
The truth was, she had thought about giving him a gift. But knowing how he'd likely react - with disdain, maybe even mockery - she'd decided against it. Besides, she'd been swamped lately, and when she finally remembered the doll she'd made him, it had vanished. She'd searched everywhere, but it was gone.
These days, Shen Yu Shu was keeping intense hours, splitting his time between work and the hospital. With no time for proper meals, he'd taken to asking Song Qi Nian to bring him breakfast.
She'd fallen into a routine of having Zhang Ma prepare an extra portion, dropping it off to Shen Yu Shu on her morning commute.
It didn't take long for the office gossip to start up again.
"Look at her, bringing Shen Yu Shu breakfast again. Isn't she laying it on a bit thick?"
"Well, Shen Yu Shu's sweet to her, doesn't treat her like she's broken because she can't speak. No wonder she's hanging on him."
"Right? The keychain, breakfast, coffee, tidying his desk - it's so obvious she's throwing herself at him."
When Miao Ziai overheard this chatter, she jumped to Song Qi Nian's defense. "What are you talking about? Nian Nian and Yu Shu are just friends. Stop spreading rumors!"
"Please. Pure friendship between men and women? How naive can you be? That mute isn't your friend - she's just using you to get closer to the man you love!"
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