The rain had been pouring for several days. With Shen Chi Yan paving the way, Lin Qiu Tong's acting career was naturally worry-free.
She successfully signed with Star King Entertainment. That day, Star King officially announced her on Weibo, with a flood of celebrities forwarding the post. Hailed as Star King's current little princess, she genuinely became a sensation online.
Meanwhile, Song Qi Nian was in a sorry state. The kick Shen Chi Yan had delivered to her waist previously had left lingering effects.
Every time it rained or the weather turned cold, her waist would ache.
Recently, it had been the rainy season, and sometimes the pain was so severe she couldn't stand up straight.
It was particularly agonizing while working, making both sitting and standing unbearable.
For the past few days, Shen Chi Yan had been taking Li Nan Xun out. Occasionally, he would come to the company, only to leave in a hurry, treating Song Qi Nian as if she were invisible.
Song Qi Nian's role as an assistant was quite effortless.
She received a high salary with no tasks, only drawing manga.
Fortunately, after the serialization of her manga, it gained considerable popularity. Song Qi Nian earned the appreciation of her editor, and her confidence in her creative abilities grew.
Her phone beeped. Song Qi Nian picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Li Nan Xun.
"Assistant Song, there's a document on the President's desk. Please deliver it to the Imperial Kitchen."
Song Qi Nian was rather pleased to have a task.
At least it made her feel like she wasn't getting paid for nothing.
If there was no one in the President's office, the door was almost always locked.
However, as Shen Chi Yan's President and secretary, both Song Qi Nian and Li Nan Xun could enter her office.
While searching for the document, Song Qi Nian's hand accidentally brushed against the mouse on the desk.
The screen lit up instantly. She instinctively glanced at it and froze.
This screensaver…
It looked so much like her "Starry Night" drawing from her university days.
"Beep beep…"
Her phone rang again.
"Did you find it?"
"Found it, found it!"
Song Qi Nian didn't think much of it. She grabbed the documents and quickly left the office.
Upon reaching the Imperial Kitchen, Song Qi Nian's waist began to ache again.
She had only taken a painkiller that morning. How could the effects wear off so quickly?
Song Qi Nian took out her phone and sent a message to Li Nan Xun, "Secretary Li, I've arrived. Where are you?"
A short while later, Li Nan Xun appeared.
After Li Nan Xun took the documents, Song Qi Nian couldn't help but ask, "Is President Shen alright?"
"Today's partners were quite difficult. President Shen had quite a bit to drink."
Song Qi Nian nodded. Li Nan Xun looked at her pale face and wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.
He nodded at Song Qi Nian and went upstairs with the documents.
Song Qi Nian sighed softly. As she was about to leave, she ran into Lin Qiu Tong, who was rushing in.
Lin Qiu Tong seemed surprised to see Song Qi Nian there. After a moment of surprise, she smiled at her, "Miss Song, long time no see. Are you here to see A Yan too?"
Too?
Did that mean Lin Qiu Tong was here to see Shen Chi Yan?
"Oh, I just received a call from A Yan. He seems to have drunk too much and insisted I come pick him up. Luckily, I was nearby. Otherwise, in this heavy rain, I wouldn't have been able to get here so quickly."
Seeing Song Qi Nian's face as pale as paper, Lin Qiu Tong deliberately said, "If I had known he asked you to pick him up too, I wouldn't have come."
Song Qi Nian clenched her fists tightly, her chest feeling constricted. Coupled with the pain in her waist, she felt a pain all over.
Her husband, drunk, asked his white moonlight to pick him up, not wanting to see his wife.
Song Qi Nian could lose her composure in front of anyone, but she absolutely couldn't in front of Lin Qiu Tong. She curved her lips into a slight smile, gestured with her hand, "Then I'll trouble you with President Shen."
Whether Lin Qiu Tong understood sign language or not, she finished gesturing and turned to leave. However, Lin Qiu Tong called out to her.
"Wait…"
Song Qi Nian stopped and looked back at Lin Qiu Tong.
Lin Qiu Tong smiled at her, "Miss Song, although your father caused me to be in a vegetative state for three years, I heard from A Yan that you were the one donating blood to me during those three years."
Song Qi Nian's body stiffened, her expression growing even more grim.
"I understand A Yan's temper very well. I imagine you haven't had an easy time these past three years. However, I am someone who distinguishes between kindness and enmity. Your father wronged me, and he is in prison to atone for his actions. Since you donated blood to me, I will give you one piece of advice."
The smile on Lin Qiu Tong's face widened, "If you want to live a stable life, divorce A Yan quickly. You should know that A Yan doesn't like you. You rely on the Old Madam's fondness for you to suppress A Yan. Sooner or later, A Yan will rebel, and by then, you won't be able to walk away so easily."
She paused, then continued, "Also, the Old Madam is protecting you now, but if she truly had to choose between A Yan and you, she would definitely choose A Yan. With parents like yours, you will only be a stain on A Yan's life. Unlike me, who will bring brilliance and color to his life."
After speaking, Lin Qiu Tong arrogantly went upstairs.
Song Qi Nian watched Lin Qiu Tong's arrogant and triumphant retreating figure, trembling all over.
Lin Qiu Tong's words were not advice, but a blatant blow and declaration of war.
Yet, she knew with absolute certainty that Lin Qiu Tong's words were all true.
It wasn't due to any external factors that her marriage with Shen Chi Yan couldn't continue. The mere fact that Shen Chi Yan didn't love her was enough to bring about her downfall.
However, she absolutely could not divorce him now. Firstly, it was because she still loved Shen Chi Yan. As long as Shen Chi Yan didn't bring up divorce, she would never initiate it.
Secondly, if they divorced, her chances of seeing her father in the future might become increasingly difficult.
And most importantly, she had to investigate the truth of the kidnapping case during the past three years while she was still in the Shen family, to clear her father's name.
With this thought, Song Qi Nian left the Imperial Kitchen directly.
With the rainy weather and the evening rush hour, it was impossible to get a taxi.
Song Qi Nian stood at the intersection for a long time, but couldn't hail a cab.
Just then, she saw Lin Qiu Tong helping Shen Chi Yan out of the Imperial Kitchen.
Shen Chi Yan had clearly had a lot to drink, leaning heavily on Lin Qiu Tong.
Lin Qiu Tong had one hand on Shen Chi Yan's arm and the other around his waist. As they descended the steps, she gently and solicitously reminded him, "A Yan, be careful."
Once downstairs, Lin Qiu Tong also saw Shen Chi Yan. She deliberately leaned her face into his embrace, appearing to be holding him tightly.
Song Qi Nian felt a tightness in her chest and quickly averted her gaze.
Gao Kunlun drove the car over. After helping Shen Chi Yan into the car, Li Nan Xun sat in the front passenger seat, while Lin Qiu Tong and Shen Chi Yan occupied the back seat.
As the car began to move, Lin Qiu Tong, as if just noticing Song Qi Nian, exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, isn't that Miss Song? She seems to still be waiting for a car. It's hard to get a taxi at this hour. Why don't we give her a ride?"