Song Qi Nian felt the air grow thick and heavy in Shen Chi Yan's presence. Each breath seemed harder than the last.
Unable to bear it any longer, she turned to Qiaoqiao, her hands moving in gentle gestures: [We can go out and get you another one, okay?]
"But my idol bought this cake for me," Qiaoqiao protested, her voice small but insistent.
Song Qi Nian faltered. She rarely followed celebrity culture and hadn't grasped how deeply fans could connect with their idols. But when she imagined someone she truly admired giving her such a gift, understanding dawned. She gave a quiet nod.
Steeling herself, she began carefully packing away the cake. All the while, she felt Shen Chi Yan's gaze boring into her - dark, cold, unrelenting. Her skin prickled under his scrutiny, every movement feeling forced and unnatural.
Just as she finished and turned to leave with Qiaoqiao, Shen Chi Yan's voice cut through the tension: "Stop!" The word cracked like ice breaking.
Though Song Qi Nian wanted nothing more than to keep walking, her legs betrayed her, rooting her to the spot.
"So this is how it is now?" His voice dripped with fury. "You'll just ignore me without saying a word?"
Qiaoqiao shrank against Song Qi Nian's side, fingers digging into her hand, seeking protection from his anger.
Song Qi Nian's mind raced. Wasn't he the one who'd made it clear he didn't want to see her? Why was he demanding her attention now?
When she remained silent, Shen Chi Yan's rage intensified. "Speak!" he commanded.
Song Qi Nian drew in a slow breath. She turned to face him, her expression carefully blank as her hands formed the words: [I'm mute. I can't speak!]
Shen Chi Yan froze.
His thoughts crystallized into a single realization: she was finally showing her teeth. This woman who once cowered before him now dared to bite back. The thought both infuriated and intrigued him.
Dismissing Song Qi Nian entirely, Shen Chi Yan turned to Qiaoqiao. "So you're a fan of Gong Yuqi?"
Qiaoqiao tensed. Every encounter with Shen Chi Yan left her uneasy - he always seemed so distant, so cold. To her, he was just Song Qi Nian's boss; she had no idea he was actually her husband. Worried that any wrong move might cost Song Qi Nian her job, Qiaoqiao managed a timid nod.
"He and I are close friends," Shen Chi Yan said. "I know everything about him - even where he lives."
Qiaoqiao's expression shifted from fear to confusion.
A slight smile played on Shen Chi Yan's lips as he pressed on. "His birthday's coming up next month, isn't it? Would you like to go to his party? I could arrange that."
Song Qi Nian watched as Qiaoqiao's eyes grew wide with excitement. The scene before her was unsettling - Qiaoqiao's innocent eagerness against Shen Chi Yan's calculated manipulation.
"Qi Nian..." Qiaoqiao turned to her, hope written across her face. "I'm still a bit hungry. Maybe we could stay and eat some more?"
Just like that, Song Qi Nian felt her earlier defiance crumble. Shen Chi Yan had played this perfectly, targeting Qiaoqiao's deepest desire. And really, what harm could come from letting a young girl celebrate her idol's birthday?
The frustration built in Song Qi Nian's chest, leaving her trapped between staying and going.
"Qi Nian..." Qiaoqiao tugged at her hand again, her voice taking on that pleading tone that was impossible to resist.
Song Qi Nian let out a long breath. Fine. It was Qiaoqiao's birthday after all - she deserved to be the priority today. Whatever she wanted, she should have.
Besides, after all this effort to make her stay, Song Qi Nian couldn't help but wonder what Shen Chi Yan actually wanted to say to her.
So they remained three at the table, though now Shen Chi Yan had taken the place of their earlier companion.
He watched Song Qi Nian tending to Qiaoqiao, the way she carefully served the food, and something in his gaze shifted, grew gentler.
The thought struck him unbidden - she'd make a wonderful mother. He could picture their daughter, taking after her, sweet-faced and lovely. And their son would-
Shen Chi Yan caught himself, swearing quietly. What was wrong with him? Here he was, fantasizing about having children with Song Qi Nian.
Trying to shake off these unwanted thoughts, he addressed her with forced detachment. "Have you been taking your medication?"
Song Qi Nian looked up at him, confusion and discomfort plain on her already pale face.
His guilt surfaced as irritation, making his voice sharp. "The medicine I told you to take - what else would I mean?"
Understanding dawned on Song Qi Nian's face as she realized his true question. Her complexion went even whiter.
He wasn't asking after her health - he wanted to know if she was taking her birth control pills.
The pain that lanced through her chest drew a bitter laugh from deep inside. What was he so afraid of? That she'd try to trap him with a pregnancy, force him to stay married to her?
[Don't worry. I know you don't want me having your child. I take the pills every time.]
Shen Chi Yan's face darkened instantly. "Is that so?" he let out a harsh laugh. "How very dutiful of you."
The words came out laden with anger. Here she claimed to love him, yet she so readily took those pills.
Song Qi Nian stared at the storm brewing on his face, completely at a loss. What did he want from her?
He wasn't satisfied when she defied him.
He wasn't satisfied when she complied.
What did he actually want from her?
Even Shen Chi Yan couldn't answer that question. All he knew was the frustration burning inside him.
"With all those pills you're taking, aren't you worried about fertility problems later?"
Song Qi Nian stared at him, caught off guard by this apparent concern for her wellbeing.
The irony wasn't lost on her. He'd demanded she take the pills, and now he was questioning it?
Shen Chi Yan seemed to catch himself. "Never mind," he said coldly. "Don't bother answering. Your future means nothing to me."
Song Qi Nian hadn't planned to respond anyway. Getting through each day was hard enough—the future felt impossibly distant.
And children? If they would be his, she wanted no part of it.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Mu Yuxin:
"Honey, I'm stuck working late tonight and can't join you and Qiaoqiao. Could you drop her off at my place?"
"Sure."
After Mu Yuxin sent her address, Song Qi Nian left with Qiaoqiao. This time, Shen Chi Yan let them go.
Walking away, the reality of what had just happened hit her. All that manipulation, just to check if she was taking her birth control. The lack of trust stung.
At Mu Yuxin's building, Qiaoqiao knocked. A woman in her fifties opened the door.
The moment she laid eyes on Song Qi Nian, her face twisted with disgust, her glare openly hostile.
Song Qi Nian barely had time to process this when the woman yanked Qiaoqiao inside.
"Grandma, you're hurting me!"
Song Qi Nian's hands rose to sign something, but the door slammed shut in her face.
She stood there, stunned. What had just happened?
Did Yuxin's mother have something against her?
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