The office door was closed, leaving only Song Qinian and Shen Chiyan inside.
They looked at each other, neither moving toward the other.
It wasn't that they didn't want to be close, but rather a feeling of helplessness, wanting to approach yet afraid to.
The last time they saw each other was in the forest. Shen Chiyan was burning with fever and unconscious, and Song Qinian was utterly exhausted.
When she returned with water and found Shen Chiyan and Lin Qiutong missing, her first thought was that they might be in danger.
But after she was rescued, she repeatedly wondered if Shen Chiyan and Lin Qiutong had deliberately abandoned her.
Then again, if Shen Chiyan were so heartless as to wish her dead, why would he have come to Qingjiu Village to find her, and why would he have risked his life to save her?
Suddenly, Song Qinian remembered what Shen Liubai had said as he left. She subconsciously glanced at the back of Shen Chiyan's hand and saw a faint blue mark, a trace left after the needle was removed.
Although she didn't know what had happened these past few days, she was already content that Shen Chiyan was alive and standing before her.
She slowly extended her hand. "You..."
As she made a gesture, Shen Chiyan suddenly rushed toward her, holding her tightly in his embrace.
His strength was considerable, and as he held her close, his body trembled.
They were pressed tightly together, not an iota of space between them.
Song Qinian's hand twitched, hesitating whether to return Shen Chiyan's embrace. In the end, she followed her heart and wrapped her arms around Shen Chiyan's lean waist.
Shen Chiyan buried his head in the hollow of Song Qinian's neck, remaining silent for a long time.
After a few seconds, Song Qinian's body stiffened abruptly. She felt a warm liquid trickle down her neck.
Was Shen Chiyan... crying?
Song Qinian found it hard to imagine what a crying Shen Chiyan would look like. She wanted to see him, but Shen Chiyan held her tightly, refusing to let go.
They held each other tightly, one with a mouth that didn't speak, the other with a mouth that couldn't speak.
But at this moment, a hug could convey more than a thousand words.
After a long while, Shen Chiyan seemed to have composed himself. He reluctantly released Song Qinian, his dark, red-rimmed eyes gazing deeply into hers. He cupped her small face in his hands and pressed a kiss onto her rosy lips. "Qiqi, I love you."
Song Qinian's heart skipped a beat. She had expected Shen Chiyan to ask where she had been all these weeks and why she had only appeared now.
She hadn't expected him to say this.
"Don't scare me like this again. I nearly lost half my life."
Song Qinian's heart was a jumble of emotions, complex and tinged with an inexplicable feeling.
Her nose burned, but she forced herself not to cry.
"Are... are you okay?"
"No, not at all. If you hadn't appeared, there would probably be no Shen Chiyan in this world anymore."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Chiyan, after experiencing such extreme joy and sorrow, felt dizzy again and leaned against Song Qinian's shoulder.
Fortunately, Shen Liubai entered the room as if he had anticipated this, and Shen Chiyan was taken to the hospital again.
However, all the way, Shen Chiyan held Song Qinian's hand tightly, not letting go even when he fell unconscious.
It was as if even death wouldn't be able to separate them.
News of Song Qinian's return quickly reached the Shen family. The elderly matriarch, Gu Zhiyan, Xi Ruxue, and others rushed to the hospital.
They all took Song Qinian's hands and showered her with concern.
But seeing Shen Chiyan still holding Song Qinian's hand, they smiled with relief.
The elderly matriarch stroked Song Qinian's cheek. "Niannian, your and Ah Yan's matters can be discussed after Ah Yan wakes up. You'll likely have to endure the hardship of staying by Ah Yan's side these few days."
Song Qinian then remembered that when she left Jinghua City for Qingjiu Village, her divorce cooling-off period with Shen Chiyan had probably already passed.
She hadn't yet decided whether to remarry Shen Chiyan.
Her thought was simple: she would make a plan after Shen Chiyan's health recovered.
Because at the moment, besides Shen Chiyan's well-being, she couldn't think of anything else.
With Song Qinian's return, Shen Chiyan would no longer try to end his own life with his health. Shen Chiyan had also breathed a sigh of relief.
As the elderly matriarch and Gu Zhiyan were leaving, Gu Zhiyan patted Song Qinian's back. "Niannian, I've never seen Ah Yan lose control like this before. He loved you without realizing it before, and now that he finally realizes he loves you, he definitely won't let go. If you still have even a shred of affection for him, I hope you'll consider it carefully."
In the current situation, Song Qinian couldn't say much, so she could only nod.
Shen Chiyan woke up again a little past ten o'clock that night.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Song Qinian, who was drowsily dozing. The touch in his hand was so real, and his heart finally began to calm down.
He gently lifted Song Qinian's hand and kissed it. The kiss woke Song Qinian up.
Seeing Shen Chiyan awake, Song Qinian immediately withdrew her hand.
"Are you alright? Do you want some water?"
Looking at his empty palm, Shen Chiyan's heart suddenly felt hollow. His expression changed dramatically, and he abruptly sat up, pulling Song Qinian into his arms. "Qiqi, don't leave me. Don't abandon me alone!"
This was the first time Song Qinian had seen Shen Chiyan so insecure. She had decided to let go, yet Shen Chiyan still cared so much about her.
While Shen Chiyan was unconscious, Song Qinian had heard from Shen Keqin how Shen Chiyan had been searching for her like a madman these past few days.
Coupled with what he had done in Qingjiu Village before, it would be a lie to say Song Qinian was not moved at all.
But she had been hurt too much, and she didn't know how long this deep affection from Shen Chiyan would last.
She sighed softly, gently pushed Shen Chiyan away, and then gestured with her hands, "I'm right here. I won't leave."
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Qinian's stomach growled.
During dinner, Shen Chiyan still wouldn't let go. Shen Keqin had wanted to feed Song Qinian, but Song Qinian felt too embarrassed and had asked her to leave first.
She had been hungry ever since.
Shen Chiyan, realizing that Song Qinian had stayed by his side without eating, was both touched and annoyed.
Damn Gao Kunlun, why hadn't he even prepared dinner for Qiqi.
Shen Chiyan immediately called Gao Kunlun, and soon, a special takeout from Yushangfang was delivered to the VIP ward.
Song Qinian was quite hungry and naturally didn't stand on ceremony.
After a few bites, she noticed Shen Chiyan looking at her with a mournful expression. "Qiqi, I'm hungry too."