The silent wife


Shen Chi Yan's face was carved from stone as they drove home. The moment the car stopped at the villa, he stormed inside, leaving Gao Kunlun scrambling to catch up.


"Fifth Master, please," Gao Kunlun called after him, worry etched across his features. "The Young Madam—she only acts this way because she loves you so deeply."


Shen Chi Yan whirled around. "So her love for me justifies hurting Qiuqiu?"


"The Young Madam didn't exactly—" Gao Kunlun began hesitantly.


"Didn't what? She served Qiuqiu inedible food and you're telling me that's nothing?"


Gao Kunlun winced, remembering the taste. It had been worse than plain boiled water—barely fit for human consumption. The fact that Lin Qiu Tong had managed to eat so much of it was nothing short of heroic.


Inside the villa's living room, Song Qi Nian had just come downstairs after spending two hours on her illustrations. She sat cracking walnuts for Song Jia Shu, convinced that they would help sharpen his mind for the upcoming college entrance exams. The peaceful scene—Song Qi Nian and Zhang Qiaoqiao watching a variety show while working through the pile of nuts—shattered the moment Shen Chi Yan entered.


His presence commanded the room like an emperor's, setting everyone on edge. Zhang Qiaoqiao jumped to her feet, her voice wavering. "Young Master... welcome home?"


Shen Chi Yan's icy gaze fixed on Song Qi Nian as he slammed the hospital food container onto the table. "Did you make this for Qiuqiu?"


Song Qi Nian glanced at it and nodded simply.


Her calm admission, paired with that look of innocence, only stoked his fury. "When I asked you to bring her food, you deliberately made it inedible? She's sick from eating this. Are you satisfied now?"


A sharp pain constricted Song Qi Nian's chest. Just because Lin Qiu Tong felt slightly unwell, he had rushed home in such a state to confront her.


What exactly did she mean to him?


Zhang Qiaoqiao stood frozen, not daring to approach Shen Chi Yan. "Young Master, you—"


Before she could finish, Song Qi Nian cut in, her patience clearly spent. [I didn't make it bad intentionally. This is just how my cooking is.]


"Is that so?" Shen Chi Yan's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Yet somehow the food you make for your precious brother is delicious. But for Qiuqiu, it's inedible. Isn't it because you're trying to punish her? Because you think I like her? Because your father went to prison because of her?"


"That's not true!"


Even Zhang Qiaoqiao, who usually cowered before Shen Chi Yan, couldn't bear to watch him misunderstand any longer.


"Young Master, I'm the one who cooks for Jia Shu. The Young Madam is hopeless in the kitchen. She can't cook to save her life. But when you insisted she make something for Miss Lin herself, she spent over three hours trying."


Zhang Qiaoqiao's voice cracked. "It's scorching hot, and she went to deliver food to her rival because you ordered it, knowing the Lin family might humiliate her. And now you come home just to attack her? How could you?"


She'd never dared speak to Shen Chi Yan like this before. But watching Song Qi Nian suffer in silence broke something in her.


Song Qi Nian felt her heart shatter. What was the point of explaining? He wouldn't believe her anyway. Her eyes brimming with tears, she fled upstairs.


The living room fell deadly quiet. After a long moment, Shen Chi Yan asked, his voice tight, "You're telling me the truth?"


"I wouldn't dare lie to you!"


Confusion and frustration warred on Shen Chi Yan's face. He turned toward the stairs, but Zhang Qiaoqiao's voice stopped him.


"Young Master, the Young Madam loves you desperately, but you keep wounding her. What if one day her heart breaks completely and she leaves you? What will you—"


Zhang Qiaoqiao's words died under Shen Chi Yan's arctic stare. She busied herself gathering the walnuts from the table.


At 11:15 p.m., fresh from his shower and done with work, Shen Chi Yan lay sleepless. Song Qi Nian's tear-filled eyes and pale face haunted him, making him toss and turn. What unsettled him most was realizing how much power her every action now held over his emotions.


At 1 a.m., Song Qi Nian's bedroom door whispered open as a tall figure stepped inside. Her bedside starry night lamp transformed the room into a miniature galaxy, stars scattered across every surface.


The starry night lamp she always left on bathed her in its gentle glow. She lay there peacefully, the projected stars scattered around her like a protective circle.


Something about the scene made Shen Chi Yan's stern expression soften.


Then he heard it—a quiet sob from Song Qi Nian. He moved closer. She was curled up tight, her eyes squeezed shut, her brows drawn together in distress. Her nose and cheeks were flushed red.


She looked so small, so hurt.


When a tear slipped down her cheek, Shen Chi Yan reached out to brush it away. Suddenly, Song Qi Nian grabbed his hand in her sleep, clutching it to her chest as she continued to cry softly.


He watched her lips move, reading the word they formed: Dad.


After leaving her room, Shen Chi Yan made a call. "It's me... Tomorrow morning, tell Song Qi Nian..."


Song Qi Nian woke with a pounding headache. After getting ready, she went downstairs to find Shen Chi Yan at the dining table. Since it was the weekend, he was home from work.


He wore a simple white T-shirt, looking more approachable than his usual formal self. His military background showed in his perfect posture as he ate with precise movements. The sight of him was striking, even now.


"Young Madam, I made your favorites—millet porridge and pickled vegetable buns. Come eat."


Song Qi Nian sat across from him without meeting his eyes. She managed only a few bites before stopping.


"What's wrong? Is my presence that unappetizing?"


She pressed her lips together and shook her head slightly.


Her phone rang—unusual enough that she answered immediately.


"Miss Song Qi Nian? This is 305 Prison Hospital. Your visitation request has been approved..."


She sat there stunned after hanging up, overwhelmed by unexpected joy.


Shen Chi Yan's cold voice cut through her daze. "Who called to make you so happy?"


Afraid he might stop her from going, Song Qi Nian quickly hid her smile and signed nervously, [Just someone selling insurance.]


She dreaded more questions, but Shen Chi Yan only made a small sound of dismissal.


The thought of seeing her father soon made her ravenous. She finished her porridge and two buns.


Watching her sudden enthusiasm, Shen Chi Yan felt a flicker of irritation...