Song Qi Nian could only stare at Shen Chi Yan, speechless. The gentle man she'd witnessed in Lin Qiu Tong's hospital room had vanished, replaced by someone she barely recognized—cold, distant, merciless.
His gaze fell to her bandaged fingers, contempt etching his features. "You seemed to have plenty of strength when you pushed Qiu Tong. Who are you trying to fool with this fragile act now?"
Her chest constricted as she fought for breath. The truth was that Lin Lanxing's sudden move had caught her completely off guard—she never meant for Lin Qiu Tong to get hurt. But here was Shen Chi Yan, condemning her without even attempting to understand what had happened.
Despite the doctor's warning about her injured fingers, she couldn't bear his misunderstanding. Fighting through searing pain, she raised her hands to sign: [Lin Lanxing sabotaged my brother's college entrance exam.]
The movement sent waves of agony through her nerves, cold sweat beading on her skin.
"And whose fault was that?" he snapped. "If Lin Lanxing hadn't told your brother to come save you, your hands would be useless by now! Instead of showing gratitude, you came here to cause trouble and hurt Qiu Tong!"
Her hands shook violently—from rage, from pain, from everything. Through gritted teeth, she managed to sign: [If she truly wanted to save me, she could have called the police. Do you know my brother missed an exam? He might not get into college because of this!]
"So what?"
Those two words struck her like physical blows. She stared at him, stunned by his callousness.
"Your brother missing college—that's all it is. But Qiu Tong just woke up. She hasn't recovered fully, and now because of you, she's hurt again. Are you trying to put her back in a hospital bed for another three years? Song Qi Nian, how cruel your heart is!"
The pain in her fingers seemed distant now, overshadowed by the weight of his words. The realization hit her hard: in his eyes, Lin Qiu Tong's minor injury outweighed the devastation of Jia Shu's lost future.
What had she been hoping for? Why had she pushed through such pain to explain herself? She'd harbored feelings for him for years, and when he hadn't immediately mentioned divorce after Lin Qiu Tong's awakening, she'd allowed herself to hope—foolishly, she now realized—that perhaps he felt something for her too.
She'd thought his aversion to touch meant something—that when he kissed her, held her, shared intimacy with her, it had to be meaningful. Someone as reserved as Shen Chi Yan wouldn't do those things without feeling something, surely.
How foolish she'd been.
She was nothing to him. Everything about her paled next to Lin Qiu Tong.
The fight drained out of her. She couldn't bring herself to communicate with him anymore. Looking away, she let her hands drop to the blanket and turned to the window, shutting him out.
Her withdrawal only darkened his expression. "What? Can't handle hearing the truth?"
Pain wracked her body as she trembled, teeth clenched against her lip. The hurt went deeper than physical—disappointment and injustice cutting to her core.
Her nose burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let him see her cry.
Her silence stoked his anger. His voice turned to ice. "Get up. You're going to apologize to Qiu Tong."
Apologizing was the last thing she wanted. She couldn't face the Lin family—couldn't face him. She stayed put, eyes closed.
Her defiance caught him off guard. The normally compliant Song Qi Nian was refusing him, and it infuriated him. He'd clearly been too soft, if she felt bold enough to dismiss his words entirely.
"Song Qi Nian, this is your last chance. Get out of bed and apologize to Qiu Tong!"
She bit down harder on her lip, remaining still.
In one swift motion, he seized her wrist and pulled her from the bed. The sudden movement nearly sent her sprawling, but he caught her, his eyes hard and cold as he stared her down.
"Wrong is wrong. Whether you want to or not, you're apologizing to her today."
Without another word, he dragged her from the room, forcing her along beside him.
His grip crushed her bandaged hand, the pain so intense it left her whole body numb. Looking at his back, she felt her chest constrict with a deep, raw ache.
Outside, Guan Ming Xu tried repeatedly to get back into the room after Gao Kunlun had forced him out. When he couldn't overpower him and grew worried about what Shen Chi Yan might do to Song Qi Nian, he called Shen Ke Qin. A patient's complaint about the noise forced him to retreat to the emergency stairwell to make the call. When he returned, the room was empty—no sign of anyone, including Gao Kunlun. His mind jumped to the worst, and he sprinted toward Lin Qiu Tong's room.
Shen Chi Yan shoved Song Qi Nian through the doorway. Inside, Lin Qiu Tong sat with a bandage on her forehead, looking fragile while Lin Lanxing peeled grapes beside her. Both women startled at their entrance.
Lin Qiu Tong's eyes flickered between Song Qi Nian's pale face and Shen Chi Yan. "Miss Song... Ah Yan... What's happening?"
"Apologize!" Shen Chi Yan's voice cut like steel.
Song Qi Nian had always known how to keep peace, how to handle difficult situations. She'd never deliberately provoked Shen Chi Yan before. But today, something in her refused to bend. Even knowing the consequences, she wouldn't bow to Lin Qiu Tong.
Understanding dawned on the Lin sisters' faces. Lin Lanxing's expression brightened with barely concealed satisfaction, but Lin Qiu Tong touched Shen Chi Yan's arm with a gentle smile.
"Ah Yan, it's just a small injury. Please, let it go. Miss Song doesn't look well—she should rest."
Lin Qiu Tong's graciousness only highlighted Song Qi Nian's apparent pettiness. Lin Lanxing, seizing her chance for revenge, pressed harder.
"Brother Chi Yan, it's clear Miss Song has no intention of apologizing!" She paused for effect. "She repays kindness with spite and attacks my sister. We're lucky it was just a mild concussion and some bruising. If it had been worse..."
Shen Chi Yan's patience snapped. He grabbed both of Song Qi Nian's hands. "You're mute, not incapable. Sign the apology!"
She wrenched away from him. "Song Qi Nian!" He raised his hand, but she just stared back, face blank, hands still.
Go ahead, hit me.
She wouldn't apologize to the Lin sisters even if he killed her for it.
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