Rose petals blanketed the floor and bed. Song Qi Nian stood barefoot among them, the bell anklet he'd given her tinkling softly against her slim ankle.
She wore only an oversized white shirt - his shirt. The hem barely reached mid-thigh, and the top buttons hung open, exposing the graceful line of her neck and one pale shoulder.
Shen Chi Yan's gaze darkened at the sight. He grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Who put you up to this?"
Her heart hammered in her chest. After hours of searching online for ways to seduce him, this was the best she could come up with - wearing his clothes. It seemed simple enough, intimate enough.
She'd slipped into his room earlier, hands trembling as she selected the crisp white shirt.
Though he claimed not to care for her, his desire was undeniable. Their nights together stretched until dawn, his appetite for her seemingly endless.
But now his reaction wasn't following the script she'd read online. Where was the passionate embrace, the desperate need she'd been promised?
Fighting back her nerves, Song Qi Nian gently removed his hand from her chin and pressed her lips to his palm.
Shen Chi Yan's eyes turned to midnight. In one fluid motion, he shoved her away.
The table caught her hard across the lower back. She gasped at the sudden pain, but before she could recover, his voice cut through the air like ice.
"How bold you've become. Using Ke Qin against Qiu Tong, manipulating them while you watch from the shadows."
His words dripped with contempt and mockery.
"Think these cheap tricks will make me forgive you? You believe sleeping with you changes anything? What makes you think you're worth that much?"
Song Qi Nian fought against the pain in her back and the tightness in her chest as she signed desperately, [I never used Ke Qin…]
"You know what you did. But hear this - try any more schemes against Qiu Tong, and I'll make sure you join your father behind bars."
After Shen Chi Yan stormed out, Song Qi Nian crumpled to the floor, shaking. She knew these weren't empty threats - he meant every word.
His love for Lin Qiu Tong only fueled his hatred for her.
She stared at the room she'd arranged so carefully, feeling utterly foolish. Nothing she did would ever make Shen Chi Yan look at her differently.
She'd failed at seduction and only managed to humiliate herself.
Using the table for support, she pushed herself up to clean away the evidence of her pathetic attempt. But before she could move, Shen Chi Yan burst back in, throwing her onto the bed.
His kisses were brutal, leaving no room for resistance or even breath. Without warning, he ripped the shirt from her body.
This was punishment, she realized. As he'd promised, there would be no mercy.
The tenderness he showed Lin Qiu Tong was matched only by the cruelty he saved for her.
She didn't remember losing consciousness.
Shen Chi Yan's internal clock never failed him.
No matter when he went to bed, six AM meant his morning run. But today, something else woke him - uncomfortable heat.
Irritated, he opened his eyes to find Song Qi Nian curled against him, radiating warmth.
Something felt wrong. When he touched her forehead, she was burning up.
"Damn it..."
He bolted upright, flooding the room with light from the bedside lamp.
Her face was flushed deep red, her breathing hot and shallow with fever.
"Wake up!" He patted her face urgently. "Song Qi Nian, wake up!"
But she was out cold, lost to the fever.
Shen Chi Yan swore and moved to get up for medicine. Before he could leave, her fingers caught his in a desperate grip.
Looking back, he saw her face twisted in pain and fear, caught in some dark dream.
"Let go! You're burning up - I need to get medicine!"
But she only held tighter, clinging to him like he was her last anchor to the world.
His expression hardened. Usually, he wouldn't think twice about pulling away.
But tonight, seeing her like this made something in his chest constrict painfully. Despite himself, he felt his resolve weakening.
Still, his voice stayed sharp. "Song Qi Nian, let go or I'll throw you out the window!"
She flinched at his words, curling into herself, but her grip never loosened.
This infuriating woman - useless at everything except looking pitiful.
The marks he'd left on her skin made him feel an unfamiliar stab of guilt. He leaned in close, softening his voice. "Qiqi, be good. Let me go get the medicine. I'll come right back."
To convince her, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
Maybe hearing his promise to return was enough - she finally released him.
Outside the room, Shen Chi Yan pressed his hand to his head and cursed. Was he losing it?
Getting her to let go was one thing, but that kiss…
It had happened before he could stop himself. By the time he realized what he'd done, it was too late.
This woman was poison.
Refusing to deal with her anymore, Shen Chi Yan sent Zhang Qiaoqiao to give Song Qi Nian the medicine.
When Zhang Qiaoqiao emerged from Song Qi Nian's room looking troubled, she found Shen Chi Yan on the sofa, smoking, his expression murderous.
She approached carefully. "Did she take it?" he asked, his voice ice-cold.
"No..."
Seeing his face darken, Zhang Qiaoqiao rushed to explain. "The young madam - she couldn't handle the taste. She spat it out as soon as it touched her tongue. I tried, but..."
"Let her burn to death then!"
Shen Chi Yan had never shown any kindness to Song Qi Nian before, but something in his tone now made Zhang Qiaoqiao burst into tears.
"Shut up!" he snapped.
"But the young madam..."
Without another word, Shen Chi Yan stormed into Song Qi Nian's room, face like thunder.
Zhang Qiaoqiao followed quietly, worried. If he tried anything, maybe she could stop him from hurting the young madam.
Through the doorway, she watched him put two pills in Song Qi Nian's mouth.
Just like before, Song Qi Nian grimaced and spat them out.
"Song Qi Nian! Spit these out one more time and I'll ship your entire family to Africa!"
Zhang Qiaoqiao's heart stopped. This was it - the young master had finally snapped. He was going to do something terrible to the young madam!
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