Lin Qiutong didn't have a high tolerance for alcohol. After just a few drinks, she was already tipsy.
They say alcohol can drown sorrows, but why did drinking only make her feel worse, making her want to cry more?
Why?
She met Shen Chi Yan first, she liked Shen Chi Yan first. Why did Shen Chi Yan fall in love with Song Qi Nian and not her?
She picked up the bottle to pour more wine, only to find her glass empty. Seeing a bottle on the next table, she stumbled over to grab it.
Just as she poured herself a drink and was about to take a sip, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. "Tong Tong, you're drunk."
Lin Qiutong turned to see Shen Qi Wen and fiercely shook his hand away. "Mind your own business!"
She continued to drink, as if she had no regard for her own life.
He clenched his fist and said coldly, "You're a celebrity now. You need to mind your image. If people see you drinking like this at your own sister's wedding, those who know you will say you're happy for your sister's marriage, but those who don't might think you don't want me to marry Lin Lan Xing."
"Don't talk nonsense. How could I be upset about you getting married? I just..."
Lin Qiutong couldn't finish her sentence, because as soon as she thought of Shen Chi Yan, tears started streaming down her face.
Hearing Lin Qiutong say she wasn't upset about him marrying Lin Lan Xing, Shen Qi Wen's heart was pierced. All along, he had never been in her heart.
With the waitstaff clearing tables and other guests scattered around, it wasn't a place to talk. Shen Qi Wen helped Lin Qiutong up. "You're drunk. I'll take you to rest."
Shen Chi Yan brought Lin Qiutong to a hotel room. She had drunk a lot and was crying and making a scene.
"Everyone's laughing at me! They all say I'm not as good as that mute Song Qi Nian behind my back! Heh heh... The way they look at me is like they're looking at a loser! I'm such a failure!!!"
Lin Qiutong angrily smashed things in the room. It was her only way to vent her rage.
Seeing Lin Qiutong in distress, Shen Qi Wen immediately rushed over and hugged her without hesitation. "Tong Tong, don't be like this... You still have me. I've always been by your side!"
Lin Qiutong punched Shen Qi Wen repeatedly, tears of despair falling. "But I don't want you! I've always wanted Ah Yan! I want Ah Yan, I love him... Mmph..."
Shen Qi Wen fiercely kissed Lin Qiutong's lips. He couldn't stand hearing Shen Chi Yan's name from her mouth again, or he would go mad!
Even drunk, Lin Qiutong still had some awareness. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she struggled to push him away.
However, the difference in their height and strength, coupled with her drunkenness, made her no match for Shen Qi Wen.
In her anger, Lin Qiutong bit down hard on Shen Qi Wen's lip. He cried out in pain and pulled his mouth away, but he didn't let her go. Instead, he carried her directly to the bed.
Lin Qiutong sprang up from the bed, pushing against Shen Qi Wen's body as he pressed down. "Shen Qi Wen, what are you doing?"
Shen Qi Wen untied his bothersome tie and gently kissed her hand. His dark eyes stared at her deeply, as if she were his entire world.
"Tong Tong, you want Shen Chi Yan, don't you? Look at me. Aren't we a little bit alike?"
Both being of the Shen family bloodline, Shen Qi Wen did bear a slight resemblance to Shen Chi Yan in his features. But compared to Shen Chi Yan's innate nobility and handsomeness, he was far inferior.
Seeing Lin Qiutong hesitate, Shen Qi Wen coaxed her softly, "Can I call you Qiu Qiu too? Be good... Today, I'll make you forget all your troubles."
Shen Qi Wen lowered his head and kissed Lin Qiutong's lips. Lin Qiutong froze for a few seconds, then forcefully pushed him away. "No, I can't... You're Lan Xing's husband now!"
"You can! Everything of mine is yours, including my body and myself."
Thinking of something, Shen Qi Wen smiled slightly. "Shen Chi Yan left with Song Qi Nian. At this time, they might be busy making love too. Only you are sad. Why do you suppress yourself? Why don't you vent all your anger?"
Lin Qiutong's mind flashed back to the scene in the conference room when she saw Shen Chi Yan holding Song Qi Nian and doing that. She was consumed by hatred and deep resentment. Her eyes changed, and she threw her arms around Shen Qi Wen, who bore a slight resemblance to Shen Chi Yan, and kissed him fiercely.
They tore at each other's clothes like wild beasts.
Lin Qiutong's tears blurred her vision. She endured everything Shen Qi Wen did, constantly murmuring "Ah Yan" in a daze.
Shen Qi Wen didn't want to hear those two words, so he covered her mouth with his hand.
Outside, the snow fell heavier and heavier, while inside, there was only a scene of wild indulgence.
Meanwhile, perhaps because Shen Chi Yan was there, Song Qi Nian slept soundly without dreams until morning.
When she woke up again, Shen Chi Yan had already prepared breakfast.
For the next few days, Shen Chi Yan stayed with Song Qi Nian. He moved his work to Qili Xiangdu, only making things difficult for Li Nan Xun, who had to commute between the company and Qili Xiangdu.
Song Qi Nian didn't know what to do about Shen Chi Yan staying in Qili Xiangdu. She didn't ask him to leave, so he moved in shamelessly and even had Gao Kun Lun bring all his preferred clothes to Qili Xiangdu.
Sometimes when Shen Chi Yan went out, she would ask Zhang Qiao Qiao or Shen Ke Qin to keep Song Qi Nian company, ensuring Song Qi Nian was never alone at home.
"Sister-in-law, do you know what my brother has been up to lately?"
Song Qi Nian shook her head. Shen Chi Yan had been quite mysterious lately, and she didn't know what he was up to.
"Hey, I know! Do you want to bribe me to tell you my brother's whereabouts?"
Song Qi Nian raised an eyebrow and slowly gestured with her hand, "I'm not that curious about where he went?"
Shen Ke Qin pouted. "Ah, why aren't you playing by the rules? My brother has been living here recently. Haven't you two...?"
Shen Ke Qin gave Song Qi Nian an ambiguous look, causing Song Qi Nian, who had just taken a sip of water, to nearly choke.
Actually, she had been sleeping in the same bed as Shen Chi Yan lately, but it was strictly for sleeping, and nothing more.
Song Qi Nian didn't know what their current relationship was.
They were supposed to be divorcing before. Then so many things happened. After returning, she didn't know how to bring up divorce, and Shen Chi Yan never mentioned it.
They had never formally discussed getting back together, yet they were living together like this.
Moreover, she had been feeling extremely fragile lately and didn't want to be alone. Shen Chi Yan wanted to stay, and she hadn't refused.
This couldn't go on. She had to make a decision: either separate completely or trust Shen Chi Yan one more time.
"Alas, even though you're not curious, I still want to tell you about my brother's recent activities. He recently hired two chefs to learn cooking, one for Chinese cuisine and one for Western cuisine."
Song Qi Nian was taken aback; she was quite surprised.
The image of Shen Chi Yan standing at the stove, tossing a wok, suddenly appeared in Song Qi Nian's mind. She rubbed her forehead, her heart a complex mix of emotions.