Li Junshun's hand went empty, and his heart felt hollow too.
He had imagined countless scenarios of reuniting with Song Qinian. He didn't know how to face her, so even after saving her and living under the same roof for over a week, he hadn't dared to see her.
He knew he couldn't continue like this. When Shen Qiwen invited him, he initially didn't want to go, but he knew deep down that he couldn't stay away from her forever, so he accepted Shen Qiwen's invitation.
While talking to Shen Qiwen earlier, he had noticed her and deliberately dropped his handkerchief, hoping she would approach him.
He longed for their meeting, hoping she would recognize him at a glance, just as he could recognize her no matter how many years had passed.
But he hadn't expected to still frighten her. Despite preparing himself mentally, seeing her wary and fearful eyes made his chest ache as if he were suffocating.
He gazed deeply at Song Qinian, as if to brand her image onto his heart, "Niannian, long time no see, are you well!"
Song Qinian had no desire to see Li Junshun. If not for the pain he had inflicted upon her, she wouldn't have been rendered speechless.
She had treated Li Junshun as a good friend, placed all her trust in him, and even introduced him to Hamburger. She never imagined he was such a terrifying person.
A cold-blooded monster who specialized in killing small animals!
Even now, Song Qinian could not forget the sight of him, his hands covered in blood, pulling out Hamburger's intestines and smiling at her, "Niannian, look how beautiful the color is! Shall I preserve it for you to use as paint pigment?"
Later, she discovered that Hamburger wasn't the first cat he had killed. Near the place he often took her to play the violin, there was a large trash can filled with the bodies of small animals he had killed.
Song Qinian did not believe that their relationship had reached a point where they could greet each other after so many years. She gestured coldly, "I don't care what you're doing in Jinghua City. From now on, do not appear before me."
A flicker of hurt crossed Li Junshun's eyes. "Do you hate me that much?"
Song Qinian clenched her fists tightly and was about to gesture when Shen Keqin's voice suddenly came from nearby.
"Sister-in-law... Sister-in-law, where are you?"
Song Qinian turned her head towards the source of the sound. It felt like a lifeline. As she was about to stand up, Li Junshun suddenly pushed her back onto the sofa.
Before Song Qinian could react, he lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers. "Niannian, no matter how you see me, I want to tell you that I've missed you so much these past few years!"
After saying this, he released Song Qinian. Before she could even react, he was already gone.
Song Qinian watched Li Junshun's retreating back, her brow furrowed.
"Sister-in-law... Oh my, sister-in-law, why are you sitting here? I've been calling you for so long, why..."
Shen Keqin's unfinished words turned to immediate concern as he saw Song Qinian's pale and distressed face. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Song Qinian gestured, "I sprained my ankle."
"What? How did you sprain it out of nowhere? No, I need to call my brother."
Shen Keqin immediately took out his phone and called Shen Chi'yan. While it was ringing, he looked at Song Qinian anxiously and said, "Sister-in-law, please tell my brother later that you sprained it yourself by accident. Otherwise, if my brother finds out you sprained your ankle while I was supposed to be looking after you, he'll never let me off!"
Song Qinian was about to say it wasn't that exaggerated when Shen Chi'yan answered the phone.
Upon hearing that Song Qinian had sprained her ankle, Shen Chi'yan asked for the address and hung up.
Not long after, Shen Chi'yan arrived, running.
Shen Chi'yan didn't speak. He lowered his head to look at Song Qinian's foot. Seeing that her once fair ankle was now bruised and swollen, his brows furrowed with concern.
Shen Keqin also saw the shocking bruise. "Oh my, how did it get so bad? Brother, hurry and take Sister-in-law to the hospital!"
Shen Chi'yan directly picked up Song Qinian. As he left, he glanced back at Shen Keqin with a cold look. "Don't even think about getting your New Year's red envelopes from me this year!"
Shen Keqin: "..."
The New Year was approaching, and she had been planning to extort a hefty sum from her fifth brother. To think that her red envelopes had already vanished.
Woe is me!
She would have to scam more red envelopes from Shen Qiwen later!
...
Shen Chi'yan made no effort to hide anything. He walked out carrying Song Qinian in full view of everyone.
Seeing this, the old lady asked Shen Chi'yan, "A'yan, what happened to Niannian?"
"She sprained her ankle. I'm taking her to the hospital."
"Oh, then hurry!"
Song Qinian felt somewhat embarrassed to be carried like a princess by Shen Chi'yan in front of so many people. Suddenly, she saw Li Junshun standing by the window.
With layers of people between them, Song Qinian couldn't see the expression on Li Junshun's face, but his gaze felt incredibly oppressive. Song Qinian's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively leaned against Shen Chi'yan's chest.
Shen Chi'yan mistook her actions for shyness and held her tighter.
It was only a sprained ankle, and hospitalization wasn't necessary. The doctor prescribed some medication for Song Qinian, gave her instructions, and told her to rest at home, advising against strenuous activity or walking for the next few days.
With Song Qinian's injured foot, Shen Chi'yan used the excuse of taking care of her to escort her home.
Song Qinian, whether stimulated by Li Junshun or reminded of past events, developed a fever as soon as she returned home.
Shen Chi'yan noticed this when he was carrying Song Qinian in the elevator. Her breathing was hot. He touched her forehead with his cheek and was startled by her temperature.
He intended to take Song Qinian to the hospital, but she shook her head, clearly indicating that she didn't want to go to the hospital again.
Song Qinian was quite stubborn, and Shen Chi'yan couldn't do anything about it. As soon as they returned to her room, he put her on the bed, then found cold and fever medication from the medicine box and gave it to Song Qinian.
Not long after, Song Qinian fell into a drowsy sleep.
Song Qinian's sleep was extremely restless. She had a series of bizarre dreams, alternating between golden wheat fields, Hamburger's tragic cries, places filled with animal carcasses, and vast expanses of crimson blood.
Shen Chi'yan watched as Song Qinian sweated profusely, constantly wiping her forehead with a hot towel to cool her down.
Song Qinian slept so exhaustedly that when she woke up again, it was already dark. Her throat felt dry and uncomfortable, and she was extremely thirsty.
As she was about to get up to find water, she suddenly realized she was wearing pajamas. Her mind went blank for a few seconds, and then she remembered what had happened during the day...