Shen Chi Yan's eyes narrowed as his fingers drummed against the sofa armrest. "Oh?" he said softly. "How exactly did you hurt her?"
"I punched her," one servant volunteered eagerly. "Pinched her flesh, kicked her in the stomach and thigh."
The other servants, sensing no immediate anger from their master, burst into a chorus of competitive confessions:
"Sir, Song Qi Nian didn't eat last night, so I held her down and force-fed her."
"Me too! I held her shoulders and kneed her waist."
"I stuffed dried longan and red dates into her mouth!"
They spoke with a disturbing sense of pride, completely oblivious to the horror of their actions. In their twisted minds, they believed the more brutally they had treated Song Qi Nian, the greater their reward would be. Some even looked disappointed they hadn't been more cruel.
Shen Chi Yan casually extended his hand. Instantly, the room fell silent. Every servant looked up, a mix of anticipation and excitement flickering in their eyes.
Then he smiled.
It was rare for Shen Chi Yan to smile, but when he did, it was mesmerizing. Age and gender became irrelevant—everyone found themselves captivated by his charm. Some servants had even fantasized about becoming Mrs. Shen.
"How disgusting," he said softly. "You're all disgusting."
"But sir, this is what we're supposed to do—"
Shen Chi Yan cut off the servant mid-sentence, turning instead to Gao Kunlun.
Gao Kunlun, already seething from the servants' confessions, moved with swift, brutal precision. He grabbed the slightly plump servant and dislocated both of their arms in one merciless motion.
The servant's scream tore through the living room—a high, keening sound like a wounded animal.
Shock rippled through the space. Servants' legs buckled, and as Shen Chi Yan stood, they shrank back in terror.
Wait—weren't they supposed to be rewarded?
Shen Chi Yan's eyes cut across the room, razor-sharp and unforgiving. His voice dropped to a whisper that made everyone's spine go cold.
"Song Qi Nian is my wife," he said quietly. "Even if she's not favored, she's still mine. Who are you to lay a hand on her?"
In the business world, Shen Chi Yan was legendary—the King of Hell, known for his merciless decisions. At home, he was typically distant but not cruel to his staff. But this? This was unforgivable.
The servants dropped to their knees, trembling. "Sir, we were wrong! We'll never do it again!"
Shen Chi Yan's laugh was ice. "You touched my wife. Now you'll face the consequences." He turned to Gao Kunlun with a sharp nod. "They're yours. Just clean up quietly."
---
Three days. That's how long Song Qi Nian lay in the hospital, drifting in and out of consciousness. When she first woke, she was certain she'd died. Only later did she learn Shen Chi Yan had brought her here.
But he never visited. Not once.
In her most desperate moments, she wondered if her death might somehow ease his hatred, might make him slightly happier.
Doctors and nurses repeatedly urged her to file a police report. Each time, Song Qi Nian would offer her trademark gentle smile and decline. Her injuries? Just an accident, she insisted.
And what a smile it was. Soft, sweet—the kind that could melt the coldest heart. Male doctors found themselves involuntarily softening whenever she looked their way. Who could resist such vulnerability?
The news of her hospitalization reached Old Madam Shen, who unleashed a verbal storm on Shen Chi Yan. Her order was absolute: bring Song Qi Nian home tonight.
In their world, everyone bowed to Shen Chi Yan—except one woman. Old Madam Shen was the sole person who could make him bend.
Knowing escape was impossible, Shen Chi Yan arrived at the hospital.
Before he even reached the door, he saw a male doctor entertaining his wife. Song Qi Nian's eyes were bright, her laughter ringing out. For a moment, she looked utterly alive, utterly beautiful.
Shen Chi Yan's face hardened. A murderous rage began to simmer just beneath his skin.
Song Qi Nian felt a sudden chill, an invisible wave of anger washing over her. Her body tensed involuntarily, her heart skipping a beat.
She glanced towards the door, but saw nothing. Dropping her eyes, she buried her sadness deep inside.
Shen Chi Yan hadn't visited during her first days in the hospital. Now, almost recovered, she knew he was even less likely to come.
"Hey," a doctor's voice broke through her thoughts, "why do you look so down? Your health depends on staying positive. Negative emotions can really drag you down."
The female nurse chimed in, "Miss Song, your smile is so healing. Please, smile more. It gives us energy even on tough days."
The room was full of medical staff, though the female nurse stood quietly in the corner, nearly invisible from the doorway. Everyone knew Song Qi Nian was mute, and despite her lack of visitors, her kindness had won over the hospital staff.
Song Qi Nian gestured her thanks.
Gao Kunlun arrived to discharge her soon after. As she prepared to leave, the hospital staff gave heartfelt advice.
"Don't let anyone treat you badly," they warned. "There are more bad men in this world than blades of grass. If this one doesn't work out, the next might be better."
She silently thanked the universe that Shen Chi Yan hadn't heard these words.
The car waited at the hospital entrance. Gao Kunlun opened the back door. Song Qi Nian nodded her appreciation and had just settled in when she saw Shen Chi Yan—his cold profile, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line.
Her breath caught. Her body went rigid.
Shen Chi Yan was here to pick her up?
The car door closed with a soft click that seemed to echo through her entire body. The space felt suddenly smaller, the air thinner.
As the car started, Shen Chi Yan focused on his documents, not sparing her a glance. Song Qi Nian sat motionless, afraid to disturb him.
The silence was absolute.
Finally, Shen Chi Yan's voice cut through—low, cold, dripping with sarcasm: "A mute who can't speak, you're quite good at seducing people. Just can't resist loneliness, can you?"
Song Qi Nian stared at him, bewildered.
Was he talking to her? She was mute, yes. But when had she ever seduced anyone? When had she ever been desperate for company?
Shen Chi Yan noticed her staring. He closed his document with a sharp movement, turning to look at her.
Her deer-like eyes were pure confusion—as if she couldn't comprehend his words.
Song Qi Nian was beautiful in a soft way. Her face wasn't the sharp, angular type popular now, but had a gentle fullness. Her appearance was harmless, almost deceptively cute—no wonder the hospital staff had been so charmed.
"Listen carefully," Shen Chi Yan said coldly. "I married you out of necessity. I don't love you. But you're my wife. Stay in line. If I ever discover you've been unfaithful—or even thought about it—I'll make sure your death is ugly."
0 Comments