Shen Chi Yan glanced faintly, "What?"
"Open it and you'll know."
Shen Chi Yan took the box and opened it. Inside lay a red braided bracelet with a red agate in the center.
"We've both had our share of misfortunes these past few years. You were in a car accident three years ago, and I was bedridden for three years. I heard that Xiangrui Mountain is quite efficacious. When I went to Xiangrui Mountain before, I specifically prayed for a peace bracelet for you."
Seeing Shen Chi Yan holding the bracelet and lost in thought, Lin Qiu Tong continued, "I know you haven't been sleeping well all this time. This bracelet also has a calming and soothing effect. Wearing it will surely help you sleep better."
Looking at the bright and cheerful smile on Lin Qiu Tong's face, Shen Chi Yan inexplicably thought of Song Qi Nian.
He wondered if that woman was nervously twisting her fingers when she went to the press conference.
"A Yan..."
"Oh, thank you."
Just as Shen Chi Yan was about to put it away, Lin Qiu Tong's eyes flickered slightly, and she said with a smile, "Let me help you put it on!"
"No need, I..."
"You must! You can't let my good intentions go to waste."
Before Shen Chi Yan could refuse, Lin Qiu Tong walked up to him, picked up the bracelet from the box, and began to put it on Shen Chi Yan's wrist.
Shen Chi Yan subconsciously frowned, but he held back.
He wanted to see if he would have an allergic reaction the next time Lin Qiu Tong touched him.
However, Lin Qiu Tong was very careful this time. When she put on the bracelet, she did not touch his skin.
After it was on, Lin Qiu Tong smiled even more happily. "Your usual attire is too serious. Wearing this bracelet will make you appear more approachable."
Serious?
No wonder Song Qi Nian always acted like a mouse seeing a cat whenever she met him.
Immediately after, Shen Chi Yan cursed under his breath. Damn it, why was he thinking of that woman Song Qi Nian again?
His phone suddenly rang.
Shen Chi Yan picked up his phone and saw it was Shen Ke Qin calling.
At that moment, an inexplicable sense of unease surged within him. He immediately answered, "Hello..."
"Brother, sister-in-law is in trouble."
Shen Chi Yan's face changed drastically, and he stood up immediately, "What happened?"
"Someone reported that sister-in-law abused a small animal. The whole internet is scolding her now."
"Where is she now?"
"The press conference has been postponed. Grandma brought her back to the old residence."
Shen Chi Yan said nothing, hung up the phone, and walked out.
Seeing this, Lin Qiu Tong grabbed him, "A Yan, I'll go with you."
"No need..."
Before Shen Chi Yan could finish speaking, Lin Qiu Tong interrupted him, "My mother is a member of the Hong Ou Foundation. She was there today too, and perhaps she can be of some help."
Time was pressing, and Shen Chi Yan was anxious to see Song Qi Nian and didn't know her current situation. He didn't refuse Lin Qiu Tong any further.
In the car, Shen Chi Yan saw the one-sided comments online and immediately made a phone call.
"Within one minute, I don't want to see any more news about Song Qi Nian and the Hong Ou Foundation online."
Shen Chi Yan's expression was extremely grim. Seeing his anxiety and concern, Lin Qiu Tong felt even more hatred.
Damn Song Qi Nian, she managed to have a meal with Shen Chi Yan, and she still managed to ruin it.
Why didn't she just die?
However, the old madam detested animal abusers the most. After this incident, for the sake of the Shen family and Shen Chi Yan's reputation, the old madam would certainly not admit that Song Qi Nian was Shen Chi Yan's wife in front of the whole world.
And once Song Qi Nian was disgraced and lost the old madam's trust, she would be nothing.
In the main hall of the Shen family's old residence.
Song Qi Nian's face was as pale as paper. She knew she had messed up the foundation's matters today and felt extremely guilty.
Seeing the old madam's displeased expression, Song Qi Nian felt even worse. She gestured anxiously, "Grandma, I really didn't hit the cat. It was pressed by a stone slab, and I just wanted to save it."
Ju Hong Lan, standing nearby, couldn't understand what Song Qi Nian was trying to express, but she could roughly guess her meaning. She snorted angrily, "It's just saving a cat. You could have just gone over and lifted the stone slab. Why did you use a stick?"
Song Qi Nian's face became even more unsightly.
Ju Hong Lan didn't give Song Qi Nian another chance to gesture and continued to scold, "You knew how important today was for the Hong Ou Foundation, yet you caused this incident. Now so many people online are scolding you, and also scolding our Hong Ou Foundation, saying they will never trust us again. Are you trying to ruin the hard work of your parents for decades!"
Song Qi Nian shook her head dejectedly. She explained frantically, but in everyone's eyes, her explanation was a cover-up.
Ju Hong Lan, seeing that Song Qi Nian was mute, unable to speak, and that everyone couldn't understand sign language, couldn't help but feel smug.
A mute trying to be equal to her, what a dream!
Even if it was just the vice-chairman of the Hong Ou Foundation, she was the only one who could hold that position.
"I thought you, being unable to speak, would have a heart full of love and compassion. I didn't expect you to be so malicious."
Saying this, Ju Hong Lan looked at the old madam, "Mother, after this incident, if Song Qi Nian continues to be the vice-chairman of the Hong Ou Foundation, she will be boycotted by everyone. For the sake of the foundation and the Shen family, I think..."
Before Ju Hong Lan could finish speaking, the old madam glanced at her faintly, "The truth of the matter hasn't been investigated yet, and you're already so sure that Nian Nian abused the cat?"
"Mother, didn't the veterinarian at the rescue station already examine it? The cat's injuries were caused by being hit with a stick, and it even broke a leg. It's possible that after Song Qi Nian abused the cat, she put on a show of saving it when she saw us coming out."
Ju Hong Lan didn't expect that even at this point, the old madam would still be biased towards Song Qi Nian. Her jealousy grew, and she looked at Xi Ru Xue, "Sister-in-law, what do you think?"
Xi Ru Xue also didn't expect such a thing to happen. She sighed and expressed her opinion, "I believe Nian Nian is not that kind of person."
Ju Hong Lan snorted, "You don't interact with her deeply, how can you know she's not that kind of person? Could it be because Qin Qin has spoken well of her to you?"
Just as Xi Ru Xue was about to speak, Ju Hong Lan added, "Sister-in-law, don't blame me for not warning you. Qin Qin is still young and easily deceived by hypocritical people. Also, don't forget the methods she used to marry Chi Yan back then."
As soon as the words fell, Shen Chi Yan, with a dark expression, walked in, followed by Lin Qiu Tong.
Shen Chi Yan immediately saw Song Qi Nian. Although she wasn't crying, tears were constantly welling up in her eyes, her nose tip was red, and her face was as pale as a sheet.
Before he could speak, Ju Hong Lan immediately said with a smile, "Chi Yan, Tong Tong, why are you two here together? Oh my, Tong Tong is so beautifully dressed today. Could you have just been on a date?"
Although Ju Hong Lan didn't directly ask if Lin Qiu Tong and Shen Chi Yan were on a date, everyone could tell that was what she implied.
Lin Qiu Tong glanced at the old madam, as if afraid the old madam and Song Qi Nian would misunderstand, and quickly explained, "No, A Yan has helped me a lot before. I just happened to have some free time today, so I invited him to dinner."
As she spoke, Lin Qiu Tong saw Song Qi Nian looking at the bracelet on Shen Chi Yan's wrist and deliberately exposed her own wrist as well.