The ten balls lay perfectly still across the green felt, untouched by the cue ball's path. Instead, with almost surgical precision, it found its mark - right between Shen Qiwen's legs.
His face contorted in agony, the pain too intense for words.
The room erupted in laughter. Even Shen Qiwen's own followers couldn't contain their amusement, though they quickly fell silent under his icy glare.
Shen Ke Qin was practically doubled over, gasping for air between fits of laughter. Jian Mubai steadied her with a gentle pat on the back.
"Oh god, sister-in-law," she wheezed, "I hereby declare you the national billiards champion - that shot was absolutely perfect!"
"I'm crying!" Guan Ming Xu could barely speak through his laughter, stamping his foot in delight. "My Xiao Nian Nian, you're absolutely brilliant!"
Shen Qiwen's face darkened with rage. He jabbed a finger at Song Qi Nian. "You did that deliberately!"
Song Qi Nian's face was the picture of innocence as she turned to Shen Ke Qin, her hands moving in distress. [Ke Qin, I really don't know how to play billiards.]
"It doesn't matter!" Shen Ke Qin wiped tears from her eyes. "Who cares if you win or lose!"
"But it does matter!" Guan Ming Xu protested. "If we lose, she'll have to be his date - absolutely not happening!"
He bounced over to Song Qi Nian like an eager puppy. "Xiao Nian Nian, if you don't know how to play, let me teach you! I'm excellent at billiards - here, I'll guide your hands..."
Before he could finish, Shen Ke Qin shoved him aside. "Stop trying to take advantage! I'll teach my sister-in-law myself!"
She pulled Song Qi Nian away from the others and lowered her voice. "Sister-in-law, you really don't know how to play?"
Song Qi Nian nodded. She'd never even set foot in a billiards hall before today.
"Don't worry about it," Shen Ke Qin grinned. "Just forget about the balls - aim for Shen Qiwen!"
"But what if I lose?" Song Qi Nian asked.
"Then just deny everything!"
Song Qi Nian blinked in surprise. Could she really do that?
Shen Ke Qin caught her expression and clicked her tongue. "You've never been devious before, have you? Look, keeping promises is important and all, but with someone like Shen Qiwen? Take every chance you get to mess with him!"
The bitterness in Shen Ke Qin's voice made it clear she'd fallen for Shen Qiwen's tricks more than once. "Besides, do you honestly think he'd keep his word if he lost? That he'd do whatever you asked? Please! He'd run for the hills. So don't feel guilty - just do what you need to do!"
The moment Song Qi Nian had recognized Shen Qiwen, she'd decided he wouldn't get off easy. If he hadn't crashed into her on that overpass, she wouldn't have gotten hurt, and Shen Chi Yan wouldn't have destroyed her beloved scooter over a misunderstanding.
So for the next round, every time Song Qi Nian took her shot, the cue ball seemed to find Shen Qiwen no matter where he stood. As an artist, her spatial awareness and calculation skills were perfect. She might be clueless about love, but she'd always excelled academically.
By the end of the first game, Shen Qiwen had won - but he was bruised all over.
He wiped blood from his nose, glaring at Song Qi Nian. "Sister-in-law, you sure don't look like someone who doesn't know how to play!"
She might have missed every ball, but she'd hit him every time.
Song Qi Nian looked down, gesturing helplessly. "I lost."
"You-"
"Shen Qiwen, it's best of three. Two rounds left - are you playing or not?"
Just as Shen Qiwen was about to say "play," his phone rang. His expression shifted when he saw who was calling. He stepped away to answer. "Dad..."
"Get home right now!"
The line went dead, leaving Shen Qiwen's face darker than before.
Seeing him standing there clutching his phone, Shen Ke Qin yelled, "Hey! Are you coming back or not? If not, today's bet is off!"
Shen Qiwen shot one last venomous look at Shen Ke Qin and Song Qi Nian before storming off.
"Did you see that?" Shen Ke Qin howled with laughter. "That's what happens when you mess with the wrong person!"
Guan Ming Xu took the cue from Song Qi Nian's hands. "Xiao Nian Nian, you must be tired after playing so long. I brought you some juice - let's go sit down."
The moment Shen Ke Qin saw him doting on Song Qi Nian again, she rushed over. She wasn't about to let some flirt make her brother look like a fool.
"Sister-in-law, come sit with me instead! The view's better over here!"
They each grabbed one of her arms, nearly pulling her apart.
By the end of the day, Song Qi Nian was utterly drained - even more exhausted than after her longest workdays.
Since their trip was planned for two days, they stayed overnight at the Yan Mountain hotel.
Back in her room, Song Qi Nian barely managed to shower before collapsing onto the bed.
Her mind drifted to Shen Qiwen, wondering if he could have helped frame her father in the Lin Qiu Tong incident. But he didn't seem smart enough - would Lin Qiu Tong really trust him with something like that?
Her thoughts grew foggy as exhaustion took over.
She woke to the feeling of someone's touch. Hands were unbuttoning her pajamas…
Fear jolted her awake. Song Qi Nian tried to shove the person away, but they caught her wrists, pinning them above her head. Then she felt teeth graze her lower lip.
Song Qi Nian gasped at the sharp sting. That's when she caught his scent - clean and familiar.
Shen Chi Yan?
What was he doing here?
When she stopped fighting, Shen Chi Yan made a low sound in his throat. "Recognized me now?" His deep voice was pure seduction.
He didn't sound angry. Unable to speak or sign, Song Qi Nian could only lie still.
"I didn't give you enough credit. Even Shen Qiwen - you played him like a fiddle."
Song Qi Nian's heart dropped. Was that why...?
Had Shen Chi Yan come to defend Shen Qiwen? Even though Shen Qiwen was just his second uncle's illegitimate son, he was still family - and Lin Qiu Tong's faithful servant. Of course Shen Chi Yan would take his side.
Before she could process her fear about Shen Qiwen, Shen Chi Yan switched gears.
"You seem to enjoy Guan Ming Xu's attention. Feeling proud of yourself? What, planning to ditch that massage parlor owner your mother picked out and chase after Guan Ming Xu instead?"
Song Qi Nian shook her head desperately. The darkness hid his face, leaving her heart racing with dread.
"Right. Guan Ming Xu might be infatuated with you, but even if we divorce, the Guan family would never accept someone else's leftovers."
The words "someone else's leftovers" hit her like a slap. Rage flooded through her and she fought against his grip, but Shen Chi Yan easily overpowered her.
By morning, Song Qi Nian could barely move. After what Shen Chi Yan had done to her all night, she felt hollow, her body and spirit completely spent.
When Shen Ke Qin saw her state, she blurted out, "Sister-in-law, you didn't sneak off last night to cheat on my brother, did you?"
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