Shen Keqin originally wanted to pull Song Qinian to take a few photos alone. Seeing Lin Qiutong approaching, she immediately pushed Song Qinian to Shen Chi'an's side.
“Brother, come, let me take some photos of you and sister-in-law.”
Before Shen Chi'an could speak, Lin Qiutong's delicate voice rang out, “A'yan…”
Seeing that Lin was indeed pale and weak, looking as if she could collapse at any moment, Shen Chi'an felt a pang of guilt.
He hadn't entertained her much today.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Seeing Shen Chi'an’s concern, Lin Qiutong was secretly pleased. What if Shen Chi'an slept with Song Qinian? At this moment, the person in Shen Chi'an’s heart was her!
“Mmm, I feel a bit dizzy, my legs are a little weak, and Xingxing has wandered off somewhere. My parents also left early for something. Can you… can you take me home?”
As she spoke, Lin Qiutong seemed to remember something and deliberately said to Song Qinian, “Miss Song, I’m really not feeling well. If A'yan takes me home, you won’t mind, will you?”
Song Qinian's expression was grim. Lin Qiutong wasn't asking for her opinion; she was clearly trying to make things difficult for her.
If she refused, she would appear petty and might even anger Shen Chi'an.
If she agreed, wouldn't that be admitting defeat?
Shen Keqin detested Lin Qiutong’s two-faced nature. Thinking that she had been slapped by Shen Chi'an last time because of her, Shen Keqin snorted coldly, “Miss Lin, are you alright? If you want to leave, there are plenty of people to take you. Why must it be my brother? My brother needs to accompany my sister-in-law; he's busy!”
Shen Keqin was straightforward and never understood "subtlety." Song Qinian knew that Qinqin was defending her and was even more worried, fearing she would anger Shen Chi'an like last time.
At this moment, the old madam walked over.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing that her support had arrived, Shen Keqin immediately recounted what had just happened to the old madam.
Seeing Shen Chi'an looking at her coldly with a warning in his eyes, she stuck out her tongue at him from behind the old madam.
Hmph, with Grandma here, she feared no one.
The old madam’s astute eyes swept over Lin Qiutong, Shen Chi'an, and Song Qinian one by one. Then, she smiled and said to Lin Qiutong, “Qiutong is a guest. If you’re not feeling well, Chi’an should naturally take you home…”
Lin Qiutong felt as if joy had rained down on her, an unreal sensation washing over her.
Heavens, had the old madam finally realized that she was more suitable to be A'yan’s wife than Song Qinian?
It made sense. Song Qinian, a woman born into a common family, was not worthy of Shen Chi'an in terms of family background, connections, or upbringing.
Especially in a setting like this, she was completely out of place.
Moreover, she was mute. Because of her, Shen Chi'an was almost becoming a topic of gossip.
The next second, the old madam's words sent her crashing back into hell.
“It’s just that there are too many guests today, and Chi’an needs to entertain them with Niannian. I’m afraid he can’t take you.”
Lin Qiutong felt as if her face had been slapped several times; the pain was burning.
She clenched her fists, deeply unwilling, but there was nothing she could do.
She immediately nodded at the old madam, looking very sad but unwilling to speak, “I’m sorry, it was thoughtless of me.”
“It’s alright. I’ll have someone take you back.”
Just then, the old madam saw Guan Mingxu walking over in a daze and said to him calmly, “Mingxu, Qiutong isn’t feeling well. Can you take her home?”
Guan Mingxu's chest ached terribly. Seeing Song Qinian and Shen Chi'an only made him feel worse.
“Old madam, I’m not feeling well either, so I can’t take her. Whoever wants to take her can.”
Shen Keqin gave Guan Mingxu a thumbs-up from behind the old madam. As expected of her brother, he handled it perfectly.
Lin Qiutong felt like she had become universally disliked, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Seeing her biting her lower lip, looking sad and at a loss, Shen Chi'an walked directly to Lin Qiutong's side and supported her. “Let’s go, I’ll take you home.”
The old madam's expression instantly turned cold. “Chi’an…”
“The banquet is almost over. There are no more guests I need to entertain.”
Lin Qiutong looked at Shen Chi'an with affection, her voice laced with anxiety, “A’yan, maybe I should just take a taxi home myself. You…”
“Let’s go!”
Shen Chi'an didn't even glance at Song Qinian and directly left with Lin Qiutong.
As Lin Qiutong left, she glanced at Song Qinian. Seeing her pale face, a smug curve appeared on her lips.
In the end, she had won, hadn't she?
Guan Mingxu’s fists clenched in anger as he witnessed this scene. Damn Shen Chi'an! One moment he was kissing Song Qinian, and the next he abandoned her. What did he take her for?
Others also looked at Song Qinian cautiously. Song Qinian felt immense pain in her heart. As expected, Shen Chi'an could sleep with her, but he could never love her.
She didn’t want to worry them, so Song Qinian could only pretend that nothing had happened and smiled at the old madam and Shen Keqin. “I’m fine, Grandma, Qinqin. Let’s go take photos.”
In the car, Shen Chi'an’s expression was extremely grim. The moment Lin Qiutong saw him, she recalled the scene in the conference room. She imagined herself as Song Qinian, and her body uncontrollably grew warm.
She cautiously moved a little closer to Shen Chi'an. “A’yan, I’m sorry. Did I make things difficult for you?”
“No, don’t overthink it.”
“I don’t know what I did to make the old madam dislike me so much, but I sincerely wanted to wish her a happy birthday today.”
Shen Chi'an frowned slightly. If he remembered correctly, didn’t the old madam like Qiūqiu quite a bit when they were children?
Why was her hostility towards Qiūqiu so great now?
Could it be because of Song Qinian?
Thinking about it, Song Qinian loved him so much, and the one he loved was Qiūqiu.
Song Qinian must have seen Qiūqiu as a rival, become jealous, and said something to Grandma.
She couldn't speak well, but she was quite active in complaining.
Seeing Shen Chi'an’s silence, Lin Qiutong felt a sense of unease.
When they reached the entrance of the Lin family’s house, Shen Chi'an helped Lin Qiutong out of the car.
Lin Qiutong saw Shen Chi'an’s absentminded look and gritted her teeth. “A’yan, the day after tomorrow is my elder brother’s death anniversary. Can you accompany me to visit him?”
Lin Qiutong’s elder brother was named Lin Feichi. He was once the pride of the Lin family, but he died eight years ago while saving Shen Chi'an.
Before Lin Feichi died, he entrusted his two younger sisters to Shen Chi'an. This was also the fundamental reason why Shen Chi'an hated the Song family after Lin Qiutong became a vegetable.
It was also why Shen Chi'an repeatedly forgave Lin Lanxing whenever she courted disaster, out of consideration for Lin Qiutong and Lin Feichi.
“Alright.”
Lin Qiutong smiled slightly. “Okay, you must be tired today. Go back and rest early. I should go in too.”
“Mmm.”
Lin Qiutong turned and walked towards her house. Halfway there, she suddenly turned back, ran over, and threw herself into Shen Chi'an’s arms.
She didn't say anything, just hugged him tightly for a moment before letting go and running back into the house.
Shen Chi'an looked at the Lin family’s house and irritably lit a cigarette…