Volume 1, Chapter 29: Humiliation

Shen Yushu was the heartthrob of the Planning Department. Many girls had a crush on him, and seeing him grow close to Song Qinian only made them dislike her even more.

Song Qinian remained oblivious to all of this, busy as a top spinning every day.

One morning, Song Qinian was almost late, so she was riding her scooter quite fast. As she approached the parking lot, she collided with another girl on an electric scooter. Song Qinian’s arm was scraped, and the other girl gasped in pain. Ignoring her own beloved scooter, Song Qinian rushed over and anxiously pulled the girl up. "Are you okay?" she gestured with sign language, forgetting that the other person might not understand.

"I’m fine, hurry, hurry... there's no time left. If I'm one minute late, I'll lose my perfect attendance bonus for the month."

After parking their scooters, they rushed into the elevator together. They swiped their cards just in time, let out a heavy sigh of relief, and exchanged a smile. It was only then that the girl asked in surprise, "Wait, you’re in the Planning Department too? Are you new?"

Song Qinian nodded. She walked to her desk, picked up a pen, and wrote on a piece of paper: "Hello, my name is Song Qinian."

"Hi there! I’m Miao Zi’ai. I was on sick leave for a week, so I had no idea our department had gained such a beautiful and sweet girl like you."

Song Qinian gave a slight, pure, and adorable smile.

"Xiao Ai..."

Hearing a colleague call her name, Miao Zi’ai smiled at Song Qinian and said, "I'm going to go see what they want." Song Qinian nodded, but frowned slightly when she noticed the unfriendly glares directed at her.

"Xiao Ai, why did you come in with that mute? Do you have any idea what kind of person she is?"

Miao Zi’ai was speechless. "She’s our new colleague. Even if she can’t speak, you shouldn't call her a mute! That’s so hurtful!"

"Oh, look at you, actually defending her. Do you know that in the week you were gone, she already hooked your dream guy?"

Miao Zi’ai’s jaw dropped in shock. "What? She’s with CEO Shen?"

"...Don't you like Shen Yushu?"

Just then, a colleague walked by with a coffee. "Xiao Ai, stop being so naive. If you had arrived any later, you’d be attending her wedding to Shen Yushu."

As they spoke, they saw Shen Yushu walk over to Song Qinian’s desk. Seeing the injury on her arm, he hurriedly fetched disinfectant and a bandage. Although they were friends, Song Qinian didn't like strange men getting too close. She was flustered and trying to refuse when she suddenly heard someone shout, "CEO Shen!"

Song Qinian looked up sharply and saw Shen Chi-yan, who had appeared in the Planning Department at some point. His expression was dark and grim, with Lin Lanxing standing triumphantly by his side.

Song Qinian felt a tremor of fear under Shen Chi-yan’s sharp, icy gaze. In her moment of distraction, Shen Yushu had already applied the bandage to her arm.

By the time Song Qinian realized what had happened, Shen Yushu had already stepped back. After giving her a small smile, he looked toward Shen Chi-yan, as if waiting for orders. With Shen Chi-yan’s arrival, the entire Planning Department felt like it had been plunged into an ice cellar; no one dared to make a sound.

"Get back to work!" Shen Chi-yan left those cold words and walked into Yang Hongbin’s office. Yang Hongbin was terrified, thinking something major had happened, but Shen Chi-yan only sat on the sofa, reviewed a few plans, and left. When he departed, he didn't look at Song Qinian again, and only after he left did the Planning Department return to normal.

Song Qinian looked at the bandage on her arm, feeling a complicated mix of emotions.

After a busy morning, Miao Zi’ai approached Song Qinian during lunch, looking solemn. "Miss Song, are you dating Shen Yushu?"

Song Qinian’s eyes widened in disbelief. Before she could explain, Shen Yushu walked over and playfully tapped Miao Zi’ai on the head. "What nonsense are you spouting? Niannian and I are just friends who occasionally work late and grab a meal together. Who’s been gossiping to you?"

Feeling her face flush from the touch of the boy she liked, Miao Zi’ai asked, "You two really aren't together?"

Shen Yushu replied, "No." Song Qinian also shook her head.

Miao Zi’ai breathed a heavy sigh of relief and became cheerful again. "Then count me in next time! Let’s go eat together."

Shen Yushu smiled gently. "Sure." Seeing them both looking at her, Song Qinian nodded with a smile.

The next second, a distinct notification sound chimed from her phone, and Song Qinian’s heart skipped a beat. In their three years of marriage, Shen Chi-yan had never initiated contact with her, always going through Li Nanxun. She had set a special ringtone for his number after saving it, never expecting him to reach out. Hearing that sound, she felt both surprised and nervous.

She picked up her phone and saw, indeed, a text from Shen Chi-yan: "Come to my office!"

Song Qinian’s heart raced. She apologized to Shen Yushu and Miao Zi’ai, "I’m sorry, I have something to take care of. You two go ahead."

"Ah... our first lunch together, and you're bailing on me already!"

Noticing Song Qinian’s distress, Shen Yushu stepped in to save her. "Niannian has business to attend to. Let’s go eat by ourselves."

Song Qinian gave Shen Yushu a grateful look. Once they were gone, she quietly went to Shen Chi-yan’s office.

"Come here!"

Song Qinian walked toward him step by step. He was wearing a grey tie, and she couldn't read his mood. Standing before the desk, looking at his handsome face, she gestured slowly, "You sent for me... is there something you need?"

"Come here!"

Shen Chi-yan repeated the command coldly. Looking at the desk between them, Song Qinian walked around it to stand before him. The next second, he pressed her firmly against the desk. Startled, she hadn't even reacted when she felt a sudden pain in her arm.

Without a shred of tenderness, Shen Chi-yan tore the bandage off her arm. As it ripped away from her skin, blood began to seep out. He tossed the bandage into the trash with disgust, then held his finger out toward her lips, his cold eyes narrowing. "It’s dirty. Lick it clean."

Song Qinian’s eyes widened in shock, feeling deeply humiliated. Shen Chi-yan didn't wait for her response; he forced his finger into her mouth. She reached out to push him away, but couldn't budge him at all.

Frustrated, anxious, and feeling utterly degraded, tears began to stream down her face. She had thought that by joining the Planning Department, things were finally looking up, but she hadn't expected this...

Shen Chi-yan watched her coldly, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "I underestimated you. You've only been in the Planning Department for a few days, and you're already seducing other men into fawning over you."

"Cough, cough..."

Song Qinian gagged in distress. Seeing her tear-streaked face, Shen Chi-yan’s eyes darkened, and he leaned down to bite her lip...

The desk was hard, and Song Qinian gripped his clothes tightly, gritting her teeth as she endured his fury.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

The office door was suddenly rapped, and Lin Lanxing’s voice drifted in from outside. "Brother Chi-yan, are you in there?"