Song Qi Nian's heart shattered as she bit her lip. The pain cut deeper knowing Shen Chi Yan was fully aware of her feelings, yet here he was, speaking tenderly to Lin Qiu Tong on the phone right in front of her. The cruelty of it twisted like a knife.
"Ah Yan, do you have plans this weekend?" she managed to ask.
"Why?"
"I... I should be walking normally by then. I wanted to take you out for a meal."
She dropped her head, trying to hide her face from him. Her attempt at concealment seemed to irritate him.
His fingers caught her chin, forcing her gaze up to meet his. A soft smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Sure. Where would you like to go?"
The smugness and arrogance dancing in his eyes sparked something in her - a surge of hurt mixed with defiance that coursed through her body.
Without warning, she shoved him backward into the hanging chair. The sudden movement made the chair creak in protest.
"Ah Yan?" Lin Qiu Tong's worried voice came through the phone. "What was that? Are you alright?"
Before he could answer, Song Qi Nian wrapped her arms around his neck and straddled his lap. As she leaned in to kiss him, his hand shot up to her throat, holding her back.
"Nothing to worry about," Shen Chi Yan spoke into the phone, keeping Song Qi Nian at arm's length. "Just a reckless little cat jumping on me."
"Oh? Did you get a pet?"
"No..."
Lin Qiu Tong started to say something else, but Shen Chi Yan cut her off. "Qiu Tong, it's late. You should get some rest."
"...Goodnight, then."
The moment the call ended, he tossed his phone aside and roughly pushed Song Qi Nian away. Caught off balance, she nearly hit the floor.
She caught her balance and shot him an angry glare, turning to leave. Before she could take a step, Shen Chi Yan was on his feet, pinning her against the balcony railing.
"Angry because I wouldn't let you kiss me?"
Her face burned - from rage, from humiliation. Only she knew how much courage that moment had cost her, only to be completely shut down.
[Let go!]
She pushed against him with all her strength, but he didn't move an inch.
His cool hand caught her cheek, and she froze at the sound of his deep, magnetic voice.
"Song Qi Nian, you say you like me. Prove it. How much do you like me?"
The question caught her off guard, leaving her speechless.
"What's wrong? Too difficult to answer?"
She shook her head, her heart racing with nerves and anticipation. Her hands moved deliberately as she signed, [Very much. I like you very, very much!]
His expression darkened with dissatisfaction. "How much is 'very much'?"
How much did she like Shen Chi Yan?
From the moment she first saw him, no one else could compare. She loved him - loved him enough to humble herself, enough to border on desperation.
They say true love means being able to let go, but she couldn't. Even knowing his heart belonged to Lin Qiu Tong, she couldn't make herself walk away.
If there was even the tiniest chance, she would hold onto it with everything she had.
When she remained silent, Shen Chi Yan released her.
She looked up at him, confused. Had he really just let her go that easily?
In the next moment, Shen Chi Yan tilted his head and began loosening his tie. His long fingers worked at the knot with a casual grace that made her pulse quicken. She couldn't help herself - he was simply overwhelming.
"You claim you like me, but won't even explain how much. Why should I believe you?"
Song Qi Nian barely registered his words, distracted by the sight of his exposed throat and collarbone. He always left marks on her, and she'd wanted to bite him back but never dared.
Until…
"Fine then, prove it," he said coldly. "Jump down from here, and I'll believe you like me that much."
The words snapped her out of her trance. She stared at him in shock.
His suit jacket and tie now lay discarded on the sofa. Standing there in just his white shirt, cigarette held between his fingers, he looked every bit the sophisticated gentleman. But his words were ice cold.
The balcony hung over a lotus pond below. Even from the second floor, would she survive the fall?
Shen Chi Yan leaned against the wall, fixing her with a frigid stare. "Didn't you say you like me? You can't handle something this simple? Or were you lying about your feelings?"
She shook her head frantically. She wouldn't dare lie to him, not even if she had a hundred lives.
"Go on then... prove how much you like me."
Song Qi Nian's hands tightened into fists as understanding dawned. He'd been angry all along. Just because he hadn't exploded in the car didn't mean he would let this go. Yet she still didn't know what had triggered his anger today.
This wasn't really about proving her feelings. It was his excuse to punish her.
She knew with absolute certainty - if she refused to jump into that lotus pond, she wouldn't make it through the night unharmed. Worse, he might take it out on Jia Shu.
She couldn't risk angering him now. Not at such a crucial moment.
She loved him so much that death itself didn't scare her. How could this?
Taking a deep breath, Song Qi Nian realized she couldn't reach the balcony ledge. She dragged over a chair, climbed onto it, then onto the ledge.
She shut her eyes, steadied herself, and jumped.
"Song Qi Nian!"
Shen Chi Yan lunged for her, but only caught the edge of her shirt.
She hit the lotus pond with a loud splash.
Cursing, he dove in after her without hesitation.
Damn it…
He'd expected her usual timidity to kick in, thought she'd hesitate even if she meant to jump. He never imagined she'd leap without warning, without a moment's doubt.
After pulling her from the water, he jabbed a finger at her face. "I tell you to jump and you just jump? If I told you to die, would you do that too?"
Song Qi Nian trembled from the cold. He carried her back to the room and threw her into the bathroom.
His hands tore at her wet clothes, his actions frenzied with a mix of fading fear and something else - something that burned through his self-control.
Unable to speak, Song Qi Nian could only endure in silence.
The truth was, she'd been terrified too. In the dark water, who knew what dangers might have been waiting?
"Song Qi Nian, you're insane! Completely insane!"
Shen Chi Yan felt his grip on reason slipping. He hadn't known - hadn't understood just how deep her love ran.
And somewhere inside, he couldn't quite hate it…
His angry words dissolved into a brutal kiss, teeth catching her lip hard enough to draw blood.
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