The color drained from Song Qi Nian's face as memories of her birthday crashed over her. That old wound, barely scabbed over, began to throb anew.
A week had passed. Why was Lin Lanxing dragging this up now? Unless... did she know where Shen Chi Yan had gone that night?
Lin Lanxing's lips curved upward as she watched Song Qi Nian's reaction. "You haven't dared to ask Chi Yan, have you? Too scared of what you might learn? Well, let me tell you—"
"Enough." Mu Yuxin cut her off. "What's with this 'Brother Chi Yan' nonsense? Since when did Nian Nian have such a presumptuous sister-in-law?"
"Oh? Don't want Song Qi Nian knowing the truth?" Lin Lanxing sneered. "Because you all know Chi Yan doesn't love her. He couldn't even spare her birthday for her!"
Her voice dripped with satisfaction. "Don't want to hear it? Too bad. My sister woke up that day, and Chi Yan spent the entire night at her bedside."
The words hit Song Qi Nian like a physical blow.
Lin Qiu Tong was awake.
Suddenly it made sense—why he'd never explained his absence that night. But if Lin Qiu Tong had already regained consciousness, why had he come to see her the next day? Why had he been so gentle these past few days, letting her believe she meant something to him?
"He hasn't visited you lately, has he?" Lin Lanxing pressed on. "He's been with my sister, tending to her every need. Face it, Song Qi Nian—now that she's awake, your time is up."
Lin Lanxing savored Song Qi Nian's devastation. After all the times Song Qi Nian had bested her, this revenge tasted sweet.
"Nian Nian..." Mu Yuxin steadied her friend's trembling form. She knew everything—how many times had she urged Song Qi Nian to leave him? But Song Qi Nian's heart wouldn't let go. Seeing her friend's pain now made her own chest ache.
"If you don't believe me, go see for yourself. He's at my sister's hospital room," Lin Lanxing taunted. "And remember—Chi Yan loves my sister so much, divorce papers are just around the corner. If you're smart, you'll clear out of his villa now."
Mu Yuxin fixed Lin Lanxing with a glacial stare. "Do you ever shut up?"
The hallway hummed with activity. Lin Lanxing muttered "peasants" under her breath and stalked away, her heels echoing against the floor.
"Nian Nian... are you alright?"
Song Qi Nian's mind felt empty. She forced a smile, not wanting to worry Mu Yuxin. [I'm fine. Let's go back.]
But that smile only made Mu Yuxin's heart sink further.
Back in her room, Song Qi Nian began to draw, acting as if nothing had happened. She even smiled as she urged Mu Yuxin to take the fruit from the cabinet when she left, saying she wouldn't be able to eat it all.
When it was time to pick up her child, Mu Yuxin hesitated to leave. "Nian Nian, listen—we're friends. Call me if anything happens, even if it's about divorce. Don't face it alone. I'll go with you to file the papers, and if Shen Chi Yan tries anything, he'll have to deal with me first."
[Don't worry. It's not that bad.]
At worst... it would just end in divorce.
The mere thought sent a searing pain through her chest, almost too much to bear.
She couldn't stop thinking about Lin Qiu Tong being awake.
After hours of sitting with her thoughts, she finally gave in. Despite her slight limp, she made her way to Lin Qiu Tong's room.
Through the window, she saw him—Shen Chi Yan, absent these past days. He sat beside the bed, carefully spooning porridge for Lin Qiu Tong.
After three years in a coma, Lin Qiu Tong was conscious. She rested against her pillows, watching Shen Chi Yan with adoring eyes. Though weak, her face held a gentle smile.
They looked lost in their own world.
Song Qi Nian lowered her head as tears welled up.
So he could be gentle. He did know how to care. He just saved it all for Lin Qiu Tong.
Now she understood his panic when he'd gotten that call in her room.
Why he'd ignored all her messages.
He'd been here the whole time.
Of course. Lin Qiu Tong was his "white moonlight," his most precious person. Now that she was awake, why would he spare a thought for anyone else?
Their next meeting would probably be about divorce.
The pain in her chest made it hard to breathe.
Song Qi Nian walked back to her room in silence, her fists clenched tight. That night, she checked herself out of the hospital without telling anyone. Back at the villa, she packed her things methodically, bracing herself for the inevitable conversation about divorce.
...
Shen Chi Yan didn't discover Song Qi Nian had left the hospital until morning. His face darkened with irritation. "The doctor said she needed a month. Who let her leave?"
"The young madam insisted," Gao Kunlun said carefully. "The doctor couldn't stop her, just advised her to rest at home."
Seeing Shen Chi Yan's deepening frown, Gao Kunlun added hesitantly, "She found out about Miss Lin waking up... and that you've been with her all this time."
Already on edge, Shen Chi Yan's expression turned cold. "What, she's jealous? Throwing a tantrum?"
"No, that's not what I—" Gao Kunlun stammered.
"If it weren't for her father, Qiu Tong wouldn't be in this state. If she wants to leave, let her. Don't waste time on her."
With that, Shen Chi Yan dismissed the matter entirely, staying away from home another week.
Meanwhile, Song Qi Nian waited at the villa, expecting him to return and end things. Days passed. He never came.
Once she'd mostly recovered, she decided to go back to work. Just as she was leaving, her phone lit up with a message from Liu Xiaohan.
"Nian Nian... I got a job! Let's have a family dinner to celebrate my first day. Mom's treating!"
Song Qi Nian read the message several times, sure she must be seeing things. But no—it was really from Liu Xiaohan. Her mother's change shocked her, sparked a tiny hope.
"Don't worry about it. Focus on your new job and—"
Before she could finish typing, Liu Xiaohan sent a voice message.
"Nian Nian, we haven't had a proper family meal in so long. You're always working, and Jia Shu's buried in his studies. It's the weekend, and I already talked to Jiashu—he's coming. Please join us?"
Then another:
"Nian Nian, I know I've made so many mistakes. But I'm trying to change. Let's be together as a family and wait for your father to come home, okay?"
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