Volume 1, Chapter 40: It Was Shen Chiyan Who Started It

After taking Shen Yushu to the hospital, Song Qinian took the opportunity to visit his grandmother as well.

Shen Yushu and his grandmother lived in an old-fashioned residential complex without an elevator. The elderly woman had been careless while descending the stairs and had tumbled all the way down. Fortunately, she had instinctively protected her head during the fall, but she had still suffered several fractures and required hospitalization.

After completing the admission procedures for the old lady, Shen Yushu walked Song Qinian to the hospital entrance.

"Niannian, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, I don't know when I would have been able to get a taxi."

Song Qinian smiled faintly. "Everyone faces difficulties sometimes. We’re friends; we should help each other out."

"Right. I'll treat you to a meal another day."

Song Qinian rode away on her bike, and Shen Yushu watched her retreating figure with a smile. Although Song Qinian was mute, she worked harder than anyone else. She was diligent at her job, loved life, and never complained about its unfairness.

When Song Qinian returned home, the sky had already darkened.

"Young Mistress, you're finally back."

Song Qinian nodded with a smile and removed her helmet. Zhang Qiaoqiao took it from her and whispered, "The Young Master is home. He told me to have you come to the study to see him after you've eaten and showered."

Knowing that Shen Chiyan was waiting, Song Qinian dared not delay. She quickly ate, showered, and headed to Shen Chiyan’s room.

She had never entered his study before. She knocked a few times, and receiving no response, she pushed the door open and stepped inside cautiously. Despite her light footsteps, the bell on her ankle still made a distinct sound as she moved.

Shen Chiyan was standing at the desk practicing calligraphy. Hearing the bell, he didn't look up from the desk, but his handsome brows rose slightly, and the stroke of his brush wavered. Once he finished the final stroke, he set the brush down and cast a dark, lingering glance at Song Qinian’s ankle.

"You’re quite sensible."

Song Qinian had put the bell back on immediately after her shower, fearing that Shen Chiyan might give her trouble for having taken it off. Shen Chiyan was temperamental; if he decided to punish her, she wouldn't be able to go to work tomorrow.

Seeing Song Qinian standing at a distance, Shen Chiyan beckoned her over. "Come here."

Song Qinian approached and saw what he had written: *“Snow presses upon the pine and osmanthus groves before the courtyard; lanterns hang in rows beneath the corridor.”*

Shen Chiyan was clearly an experienced calligrapher; his brushwork was forceful and elegant. Suddenly, Song Qinian’s phone rang. Just as she was about to look at it, Shen Chiyan’s voice cut through the air. "Give it to me."

Song Qinian was stunned. What did he want with her phone? Was he checking up on her? She handed it over, but Shen Chiyan didn't even unlock it; he simply placed it on the desk.

Then, he pulled Song Qinian toward him and pressed her down onto the desk. The ink on the calligraphy was still wet, and the scent of it was somewhat intoxicating. Shen Chiyan gripped her chin and loomed over her. Song Qinian held her breath, not daring to make a sound.

"I heard you’ve been doing a little side job at the office, drawing portraits for money?"

Song Qinian’s heart skipped a beat. How did he know about that? Was he going to use this as a pretext to fire her? No! She couldn't lose this job over something so trivial. Just as she started to gesture with her hands, Shen Chiyan pinned them above her head.

"I hear a lot of people have been adding you on WeChat recently. How about this: for every person who adds you, we’ll do it once. If ten people add you, we’ll do it ten times."

Shen Chiyan spoke with chilling nonchalance, but Song Qinian felt a tremor of fear. She could already feel a dull ache in her waist.

"Someone just added you, so... let’s begin."

Song Qinian had no room to resist. She could only pray that no one else would add her that night. However, before the first time was even over, her phone rang again...

"Two times..."
"Three times..."
"Five times..."
"Seven times..."

Every time Shen Chiyan counted, Song Qinian’s heart trembled. He seemed to be in a very good mood, savoring her look of shame, anger, and helplessness.

The next morning, when the alarm woke her, Song Qinian felt as if she had been run over by a truck; her entire body was sore and weak. She reached out to turn off the alarm and struggled to sit up, but a powerful arm pulled her back by her slender waist.

Her body stiffened as memories of the chaotic, frantic night flooded back. They had gone from the study to the bathroom, and somehow ended up in Shen Chiyan’s room... and she had woken up in his bed. Since he had been the one to initiate it yesterday, he wouldn't blame her for "crawling into his bed," would he?

She turned her head to see if he was still asleep, hoping to slip away, but he suddenly rolled over and pinned her down. Song Qinian looked at him in disbelief, her hands gesturing anxiously, "I'm going to be late for work..."

"Your phone rang once more after you fell asleep last night."

Song Qinian: "..."

"Whatever you start, you must finish. Do you understand?"

She understood, but if she was late, she would lose her perfect attendance bonus! "Can we leave it for next time... please?"

Shen Chiyan curled his lips faintly. "No. What can be done today must be done today."

Song Qinian: "..."

After being tormented by Shen Chiyan again early in the morning, Song Qinian was physically and mentally exhausted. With only half an hour left, she didn't care about anything else; she scrambled up, washed her face, and rushed to the company.

When Shen Chiyan went downstairs and didn't see her, he asked, "Where is she?"

"The Young Mistress has already left."

Zhang Qiaoqiao, being sharp, immediately picked up the packed breakfast and said to Shen Chiyan, "Young Master, the Young Mistress left in such a hurry she didn't have breakfast, and she's feeling weak. Could you take this to her for me?"

"Do I look like someone who delivers breakfast?"

"I'm sorry, I overstepped."

Song Qinian rushed to the company, but she was still late. Standing in front of the time clock, she looked wilted, feeling as if she had lost a fortune.

"Niannian, it's okay. The bonus is only five thousand. You've been earning quite a bit from your drawings lately, just consider that your bonus."

Miao Ziai’s attempt at comfort only made things worse. As Song Qinian turned to head to her desk, her vision suddenly went dark. Between the exhaustion from the night before and skipping breakfast, her anemia and low blood sugar finally took their toll on her frail frame.

"Niannian... what's wrong?"

Miao Ziai caught her, and hearing the commotion, Shen Yushu ran over immediately. Seeing Song Qinian’s face deathly pale, he said anxiously, "It must be low blood sugar. Xiao Ai, go get some glucose water."

"Right, right!"

As Miao Ziai ran off, Shen Yushu helped Song Qinian into a chair. After they fed her some water, he took a piece of bread out of his bag. "Here, eat this."

Song Qinian was so hungry and dizzy she didn't hesitate, taking the bread and eating it immediately.

When Shen Chiyan arrived at the office, he saw Song Qinian and Shen Yushu sitting together. She was eating bread, and Shen Yushu was holding a bottle of milk, offering it to her from time to time. Song Qinian would occasionally smile at him, the atmosphere appearing warm and harmonious.

*Thump.*

The breakfast box in Shen Chiyan’s hand was tossed ruthlessly and coldly into the trash can nearby.