Chapter 78: A Mute, Yet Quite Straightforward

Zhang Qiaoqiao stood frozen at the doorway, her hand hovering over the handle. She'd rushed up to protect the young madam from the master's anger, but what she witnessed instead left her speechless: Shen Chi Yan had placed the medicine in his mouth and pressed his lips against Song Qi Nian's.

After a moment of stunned silence, she fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she captured the scene.

Shen Chi Yan's movements were precise and determined as he used his tongue to transfer the medicine. When Song Qi Nian tried to resist the bitter taste, his grip on her jaw tightened, leaving her no choice but to swallow. Without pause, he took a mouthful of water and pressed his lips to hers again, ensuring she could wash away the bitterness.

Only when he was certain she'd swallowed everything did he pull back, his face set in stern lines as he prepared the second pill.

Song Qi Nian's muteness meant her discomfort could only show in the crease of her brows and the tension in her body. Unable to voice her protests, she could only endure.

With unexpected gentleness, Shen Chi Yan dried her chin and wrapped her securely in the blanket. When she tried to kick it off, overwhelmed by the fever's heat, his voice cut through the air: "Move again, and I'll chop your legs off!"

Yet even as the threat left his lips, his hands remained gentle as they wiped the beads of sweat from her face.

Outside, Zhang Qiaoqiao had to stifle her laughter. The young master's harsh words couldn't mask the tenderness of his actions. Though their marriage had been arranged, she could see love taking root.

When Song Qi Nian finally stirred at 4 p.m., her body felt heavy, drained of strength. She reached for the glass by her bed, drinking the warm water without thinking.

The door creaked open, and Zhang Qiaoqiao burst in.

"Young madam, you're awake at last!" She hurried to check Song Qi Nian's temperature. "The fever's gone, thank goodness."

Fever?

Song Qi Nian's confusion must have shown on her face because Zhang Qiaoqiao quickly explained, "You burned up around 4 a.m. The young master personally gave you medicine and stayed up all night cooling your fever. He only left for the office after your temperature dropped."

Shen Chi Yan gave her medicine? Song Qi Nian couldn't wrap her mind around it. Just last night, he'd been ready to end her life—why would he suddenly care about her health?

"I knew you wouldn't believe it, so I came prepared!" Zhang Qiaoqiao whipped out her phone and thrust it into Song Qi Nian's hands. "Take a look yourself. I got photos and videos—everything! And get this—the young master didn't just give you medicine, he did it mouth-to-mouth! Isn't that just the most romantic thing?"

Zhang Qiaoqiao squealed, hiding her flushed face. Finally, she had something real to feed her romantic daydreams.

Song Qi Nian stared at the phone, speechless. There she was, unconscious in bed, while Shen Chi Yan placed the pill in his mouth, parted her lips, and kissed her. Without the evidence right before her eyes, she would have dismissed it all as fantasy.

"You know, young madam," Zhang Qiaoqiao continued, "the young master talks tough, but his heart's soft. He acts all harsh with you, but the moment you're ill, he's beside himself with worry. And think about it—this is a man who can't stand sleeping in other people's rooms, yet he's spent multiple nights in yours. What does that tell you?"

If only Song Qi Nian knew the answer, everything would make more sense. In their three years of marriage, Shen Chi Yan had rarely stayed at the villa. Most nights, she had no idea where he slept. Still, the fact that he'd stayed to care for her during her fever sparked a tiny flame of hope in her chest.

That night, Shen Chi Yan didn't come home. The next morning, Song Qi Nian made him a sandwich and brought it to his office as a thank-you for caring for her.

Li Nanxun told her Shen Chi Yan was in his office, so she knocked.

"Come in."

At his voice, Song Qi Nian clutched the container tighter before stepping inside. Noting his crisp white tie, she approached his desk and set down the breakfast.

Shen Chi Yan looked up, his gaze cold. "What's this?"

Song Qi Nian's hands trembled slightly as she signed, [Breakfast.]

"When Shen Yu Shu was here, you'd bring him breakfast from home. Now that he's gone, you've moved on to me?" Shen Chi Yan's lips curled in contempt. "Don't you think that's a rather tired way of winning someone over?"

Song Qi Nian's hands flew up quickly to sign, desperate to clear up his misunderstanding. [I made this myself. To thank you for taking care of me yesterday.]

"You've got it wrong. I didn't want to take care of you." His voice was flat. "I just didn't want to explain your death to Grandmother. And I certainly don't need the reputation of 'working someone to death.'"

His blunt words caught Song Qi Nian off guard. Her face burning, she turned and fled from the office.

Shen Chi Yan watched her hasty retreat, a mocking smile playing at his lips. But when his eyes fell on the container she'd left behind, his expression shifted. He opened it slowly.

Inside lay a sandwich, cut into the shape of a heart. Even the egg and ham had been carefully trimmed into heart shapes.

"Hmph... A mute, yet quite straightforward!"

She'd never tried to hide her feelings for him.

Later that afternoon at the hospital, Lin Qiu Tong noticed Shen Chi Yan's unusually good mood. "Ah Yan, you seem happy today. Did something good happen?"

Shen Chi Yan gave her an indifferent look. Happy? Was he? Well, he had closed a major deal last week—perhaps that was worth feeling pleased about.

"Work's been going well. That's all."

Lin Qiu Tong wasn't convinced. As CEO of Dingsheng Group, with assets worth over a hundred billion, Shen Chi Yan was known for his emotional restraint. A successful business deal alone wouldn't put him in such high spirits.

"Is that so? Well, that's wonderful. By the way... about what happened at Yan Mountain—did your grandmother give you any trouble?"

"No."

"Qinqin..."

"I gave her a sports car."

A sports car to smooth over a slap—not a bad trade. Though Shen Ke Qin still harbored resentment toward Shen Chi Yan, she decided to keep quiet about the Yan Mountain incident, at least for now.

"What about Song Qi Nian... Did you two have a fight when you got home?"

Shen Chi Yan tensed at the mention of Song Qi Nian. He preferred not to discuss her with Lin Qiu Tong, knowing it would only cause pain.

But Lin Qiu Tong pressed on. "Ah Yan, Lanxing told me why you married Song Qi Nian. Her father hurt me first, and then their family used such underhanded tactics to force you into marriage. And Grandma—she's always loved you most. How could she make you do this?"

Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.

Shen Chi Yan's face darkened. Lin Qiu Tong's words pulled him back to those unbearable memories from three years ago.

His phone's ring cut through the heavy silence. After checking the screen, he stood abruptly. "Something's come up," he told Lin Qiu Tong, his voice flat. "Focus on your recovery. I'll visit again soon."

Lin Qiu Tong watched him leave, anxiety gnawing at her chest.

When Lin Lanxing arrived later, she found her sister staring into space. "Lanxing," Lin Qiu Tong asked, her voice small, "do you think Ah Yan doesn't love me anymore? I've been awake all this time... why hasn't he divorced Song Qi Nian yet?"