Volume 1, Chapter 66: Waiting for Shen Chiye to Mention Divorce to Her

Song Qinian’s expression turned somewhat unsightly. The mere thought of her birthday caused those unpleasant memories to rush back, filling her with unbearable agony and distress.

Nearly a week had already passed since that incident; why was Lin Lanxing bringing it up now?

Could it be that she knew where Shen Chiyan had gone?

Watching Song Qinian’s reaction, the smile on Lin Lanxing’s lips grew even wider. "You didn’t dare ask Brother Chiyan, did you? Because you are afraid to know the truth! And the truth is..."

Before Lin Lanxing could finish her sentence, Mu Youxin interrupted, "Are you ever going to shut up? Calling someone else's husband Brother Chiyan this and Brother Chiyan that—how is it that I don't remember Niannian ever having a sister-in-law like you who shows her zero respect!"

"You're probably afraid Song Qinian will find out the truth too, haha! Because you both know Brother Chiyan doesn't love Song Qinian. Even on her birthday, there was zero chance Brother Chiyan would go looking for her!"

Lin Lanxing looked thoroughly triumphant and arrogant. "You may not want to hear it, but I'm going to tell you anyway. Because that day, my sister woke up, and Brother Chiyan stayed by my sister's side in the hospital the entire night."

Lin Lanxing’s words struck Song Qinian’s mind like a heavy hammer.

Lin Qiutong had woken up!

No wonder he never mentioned why he hadn't kept his appointment that night.

Since Lin Qiutong had woken up on that very day, why did he come to see her the next day, and why had he been so gentle with her over the past few days, leading her into the illusion that he cared about her?

"Brother Chiyan hasn't come to see you these past few days, has he? He has been staying right by my sister's side, caring for her with meticulous tenderness. Song Qinian, now that my sister is awake, your good days are coming to an end."

Seeing Song Qinian’s pale and stricken face, Lin Lanxing felt a thrill of intense satisfaction. After being outmaneuvered by Song Qinian several times before, she had finally found her chance for revenge.

Mu Youxin supported the unsteady Song Qinian, her expression full of worry. "Niannian... are you alright?"

Mu Youxin knew almost everything about Song Qinian's situation. It wasn't as though she had never advised Song Qinian to leave Shen Chiyan, but Song Qinian loved him so deeply and refused to turn back, leaving Mu Youxin with nothing more to say.

Yet seeing Song Qinian in this state, her heart ached beyond measure!

"If you don't believe me, you can go check my sister's hospital room. Don't say I didn't warn you—Brother Chiyan loves my sister so much, he will definitely divorce you immediately. If you know what's good for you, pack your bags and get the hell out of Brother Chiyan's villa!"

Mu Youxin glared at Lin Lanxing with fury, gritting her teeth as she snapped, "Are you ever going to fucking finish?"

With numerous people walking back and forth through the corridors, Lin Lanxing let out a light hurl of contempt, cursed Mu Youxin as a "commoner," and clicked away on her high heels.

"Niannian... how are you feeling?"

Song Qinian’s mind was entirely blank. Not wanting to worry Mu Youxin, she forced a smile, shook her head, and said, "I'm fine. Let's go back."

That smile looked far worse than weeping to Mu Youxin.

Back in the hospital room, Song Qinian immediately began to paint. She seemed completely unaffected and even smiled as she asked Mu Youxin to take all the fruit from the cabinet home with her, claiming she couldn't finish it all by herself.

With the time to pick up Xiaoqiao drawing near, Mu Youxin had no choice but to leave. "Niannian, we are friends. If anything happens, you must call me, understand? Even if it comes to a divorce, you mustn't be afraid. I'll go with you to the civil affairs bureau myself, and if Shen Chiyan dares to bully you, I'll fight him to the death."

"Rest assured, things aren't as serious as you think."

The worst possible thing... was only a divorce, after all!

Yet just the thought of it made Song Qinian's heart feel as though it were being slowly carved apart, aching uncontrollably.

Her mind was entirely consumed by the fact that Lin Qiutong had woken up.

After lingering in her hospital room for a very long time, she finally couldn't help herself, hobbling over to Lin Qiutong's room.

Standing outside the doorway, Song Qinian peered through the glass window and saw Shen Chiyan, who had been missing for days. He sat beside the bed, holding a porcelain white bowl in his left hand and a soup spoon in his right, feeding porridge to Lin Qiutong.

Lin Qiutong, who had been in a coma for three years, had finally awakened. Leaning against the mattress, she gazed at Shen Chiyan with adoring eyes. Although she still looked frail, a soft and gentle smile lingered constantly on her lips.

The atmosphere between the two of them was both warm and sweet.

Song Qinian lowered her gaze slightly as her eye sockets grew red and hot.

So, it wasn't that Shen Chiyan was incapable of gentleness or attentiveness; it was simply that the person in question wasn't Lin Qiutong.

No wonder he had rushed out with such anxious agitation after receiving a call in her hospital room that day.

She had sent him so many messages, yet he hadn't replied to a single one.

As it turned out, he had been with Lin Qiutong the entire time.

Of course. Lin Qiutong was the white moonlight cherished in the deepest recesses of his heart. Now that his white moonlight had awakened, how could he possibly still pay attention to her?

The next time they met, would he bring up the subject of divorce?

A sharp, wave-like pain constricted her chest, making it feel as though she were suffocating.

Song Qinian clenched her fists tightly and silently returned to her own room.

That very evening, Song Qinian discharged herself from the hospital without permission, took a taxi back to the villa, packed all her belongings, and waited for Shen Chiyan to bring up a divorce.

...

Shen Chiyan did not learn that Song Qinian had left the hospital until the following morning. His brows furrowed deeply. "Didn't the doctor tell her to stay in the hospital for a month? Who authorized her to discharge herself?"

Gao Kunlun replied, "It was the young madam herself who insisted on leaving. Seeing that they couldn't persuade her to stay, the doctors let her go home to recuperate."

Noticing Shen Chiyan's gloomy and dark expression, Gao Kunlun spoke with cautious hesitation, "It seems the young madam has learned that Miss Lin has woken up, and also knows that you have been keeping watch by Miss Lin's side this entire time."

Shen Chiyan was already deeply annoyed, and Gao Kunlun's words only added fuel to his fury. "So she's just jealous and throwing a tantrum at me?"

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant..."

"Hmph, if it weren't for her father, would Qiuchiu have ended up like this? If she wants to leave the hospital, let her leave. Pay her no mind!"

Shen Chiyan's decision to "pay her no mind" resulted in another week of not returning home.

Song Qinian kept waiting for him to come home and mention a divorce, but the moment never came.

Once her physical recovery was nearly complete and she was just about to head to work at the company, she suddenly received a WeChat message from Liu Xiaohan.

"Niannian... I've finally found a job. To celebrate my first day of work, our family is going out for a proper meal, and Mom is treating today."

Song Qinian wondered if her eyesight was playing tricks on her. After rereading the message several times and confirming it truly came from Liu Xiaohan, she felt a mixture of shock and the realization that Liu Xiaohan had finally come to her senses.

"There's no need for that. Since you've found a job, just focus on working hard..."

Before Song Qinian could finish typing her reply, Liu Xiaohan sent another message—this time a voice note.

"Niannian, our family hasn't eaten together in a long time. You're busy with work, and Jiashu has a heavy study load, but today is the weekend. I've already called Jiashu and he agreed. You'll come too, right?"

Immediately following that, another voice message arrived.

"Mom knows she made a lot of mistakes in the past, but she has truly turned over a new leaf. Let's have our whole family wait properly for your father to come out and reunite with us, alright?"