Song Qinian initially did not know she would be going to the cat and dog rescue station.
When they arrived at the destination and she saw the five large characters "Cat and Dog Rescue Station" and the painted images of cats and dogs above it, her expression instantly turned unpleasant.
Seeing this, Ju Honglan pretended to be concerned and ran over, "Niannian, why is your face so pale? Are you okay?"
Upon hearing this, the old lady also walked over to Song Qinian and tenderly took her hand, "Niannian, what's wrong?"
Song Qinian smiled and shook her head, signaling to the old lady that she was fine.
A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Ju Honglan's eyes, then she smiled, "Mom, everyone is waiting. Since Niannian is fine, let's go in."
"Okay, Niannian, let's go."
Song Qinian nodded and walked in with the old lady.
The cats and dogs at the rescue station were all stray animals that had been abandoned. Whether it was because there were too many people and they were startled, or because they were too excited, each and every one of them barked with incredible vigor.
To Song Qinian's ears, those sounds were like deafening demonic music.
Her mind was filled with those long and handsome hands, strangling the cat's neck. No matter how pitifully the cat cried, no matter how she cried and begged, he was utterly unyielding.
A living creature ended in his palm, and he did not even spare the corpse, using a knife to disembowel Mao Mao.
"Ugh..."
A wave of nausea surged, and her stomach reacted physiologically.
Song Qinian covered her mouth and ran directly to the restroom.
Watching Song Qinian run out, Ju Honglan's lips curved into a triumphant smile.
In the restroom.
Song Qinian's hands were on the washbasin, dry-heaving in pain for a long time, tears streaming down her face.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was as pale as a ghost, and she looked utterly drained.
So much time had passed, and she still couldn't see cats, couldn't go near them.
That person had made her remember him in such a tragic way, cruelly and terrifyingly.
She washed her face with ice water and rinsed her mouth, only then feeling a little better.
The restroom was outside. When Song Qinian walked out, everyone else hadn't come out yet. She didn't want to see those cats and dogs again, so she decided to wait for them outside.
There was a chair outside for people to rest on. Just as Song Qinian was about to walk over to rest for a bit, she suddenly heard a cat's meow.
"Meow~ Meow meow~~"
Her body instantly tensed up, and Song Qinian froze in place.
The painful cry of a kitten, she was too familiar with it.
Song Qinian painfully covered her ears.
An illusion, it must be an illusion!
But even though she covered her ears, that sound, which seemed like a plea for help yet full of pain, still poured into her ears ceaselessly.
Song Qinian gritted her teeth in despair.
Why?
Why did she still have to hear such a sound!
Listening to the increasingly tragic cries of the kitten, Song Qinian couldn't help but move towards the source of the sound.
The horrifying scene she imagined did not occur. The kitten was not killed or dissected, but was trapped under a stone slab.
Perhaps a kitten that had secretly run out had accidentally been crushed by a fallen stone slab.
Song Qinian's first reaction was to save it, but she was too afraid of cats.
Even though the cats had never harmed her, they were too fragile, and she dared not touch them.
"Meow~~~"
Seeing Song Qinian, the cat cried even louder.
Song Qinian's heart pounded rapidly, her emotions a mix of nervousness and fear.
She looked around and finally found a relatively sturdy wooden stick.
She picked up the stick, cautiously approached, and then used the stick to push the stone slab, wanting to move it aside and save the cat.
But the stone slab was a bit heavy. Song Qinian tried several times but couldn't move it. A fine layer of sweat broke out on her forehead.
Just then, a staff member ran over.
"Hey, what are you doing!"
Her voice was loud, immediately attracting everyone who had just finished their interviews.
Seeing Song Qinian holding a stick and the kitten crying in pain, the media, without a second thought, started taking pictures.
At this moment, the staff member rushed over and rescued the cat from under the stone slab. After checking the cat's injuries, she glared angrily at Song Qinian, "Are you even human? How could you abuse a kitten here?"
This statement caused a huge uproar, and Song Qinian was instantly surrounded by cameras and microphones.
Song Qinian dropped the stick in her hand in horror.
No!
She anxiously gestured with her hands, wanting to explain to everyone that she wasn't abusing the cat, but trying to save it.
But no one was willing to watch her gestures, nor did they understand.
"So she's mute. I heard that people with physical defects are prone to developing psychological abnormalities. No wonder she would abuse small animals."
"How did such a malicious person get into the Hongou Foundation?"
"Old Mrs. Shen has been doing charity work for most of her life, and now she encounters something like this. It's truly exasperating."
Each hurtful remark pierced her ears. Song Qinian felt both hurt and helpless.
Seeing those pairs of eyes filled with accusation and contempt, she felt an extreme sense of despair.
Someone save me!
Ju Honglan and Xi Ruxue had just come out, supporting the old lady, when they heard about the situation.
The old lady gave Ju Honglan a look. Ju Honglan understood and immediately said to the reporters, "Everyone, we will investigate this matter thoroughly today and provide an explanation."
Meanwhile, Xi Ruxue immediately walked up to Song Qinian and led her trembling form out of the crowd.
Good deeds are not widely known, but bad deeds travel a thousand miles.
Coupled with the deliberate incitement by some malicious individuals, the video of Song Qinian abusing a cat was instantly posted online.
She instantly became the target of public condemnation by "netizens."
And at the same time, in a high-end, luxurious Western restaurant.
A melodious and soothing piano piece, "Mysterious Garden," played softly, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere in the restaurant.
It was rare for the two of them to have dinner alone, so Lin Qiutong had specially worn a pink dress and put on exquisite makeup.
Compared to her elaborate attire, Shen Chi'an remained in his classic black, white, and gray suit, shirt, and tie.
But just looking at him made Lin Qiutong's heart race with excitement, and she couldn't help but swoon.
She even wanted to hug him, kiss him, and do all the most intimate things with him.
Shen Chi'an, by nature, possessed an innate air of nobility, and every movement he made was elegant and handsome.
To spend more time with Shen Chi'an, Lin Qiutong specially ordered a bottle of wine.
"A'yan, it's a blessing from heaven that we can still sit here and eat and drink together. To the present and to the future, let's toast."
Shen Chi'an raised his glass and clinked it with Lin Qiutong's, not forgetting to remind her, "I remember you don't have a high tolerance for alcohol, so drink a little less."
Lin Qiutong smiled playfully, "With you here, what do I have to fear?"
After they had a few drinks, Lin Qiutong took out an exquisite box from her bag and smilingly handed it to Shen Chi'an, "This is for you."