The two had just finished eating, and they were both wearing the same red bracelet.
Was it a couple's item?
Song Qinian's heart ached fiercely. The feeling of being wronged and hurt instantly paled in comparison to this gut-wrenching pain.
She immediately averted her gaze and silently lowered her head.
A glint flashed in Lin Qiutong's eyes. She deliberately asked with concern, "Ah Yan has already removed all the trending searches online. We all believe that Niannian isn't someone who abuses animals. Is there some misunderstanding here?"
Ju Honglan scoffed, "The facts are right in front of us, what misunderstanding could there be? Tongtong, you can't judge a book by its cover. Don't forget who caused your three years in a coma."
"Honglan..."
The old lady interrupted Ju Honglan coldly. Ju Honglan's heart skipped a beat as she met the old lady's cold, sharp gaze.
Following that, she let out a dissatisfied huff, "Mom, you can't always favor Song Qinian just because she's mute. She's harmed the Hongou Group so badly this time. If you keep indulging her, she'll ruin the Shen family."
Faced with Ju Honglan's aggressive questioning, Song Qinian couldn't utter a word.
Seeing her looking like she might collapse at any moment, Shen Chi Yan walked over and helped her up.
"Grandmother, I have a general understanding of the situation. Whether Song Qinian abused the cat or not, I will investigate thoroughly and provide an explanation to everyone."
The old lady nodded. "Niannian was quite frightened today. You take her back first. We'll discuss other matters later."
"Alright."
Shen Chi Yan then looked at Lin Qiutong. "Qiúqiú, I'll have Gao Kunlun take you back first."
Lin Qiutong felt completely disheartened. Although Shen Chi Yan didn't explicitly state whether he believed Song Qinian abused the cat, his attitude clearly indicated he was protecting Song Qinian.
Lin Qiutong smiled magnanimously. "No need. I'll just take a taxi back later."
Although she was smiling, her smile appeared bitter and sorrowful to the others.
Shen Chi Yan frowned slightly. Before he could say anything, Song Qinian pushed him away and walked out of the hall with unsteady steps.
Seeing Shen Chi Yan chase after Song Qinian, Lin Qiutong's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
The old lady's expression wasn't much better, as she too had noticed the red string bracelets on Shen Chi Yan's and Lin Qiutong's wrists.
...
In the car, Song Qinian kept looking out the window, not even sparing Shen Chi Yan a glance.
She didn't try to explain today's events to Shen Chi Yan, nor did she intend to ask him for help.
Completely ignored, Shen Chi Yan was filled with annoyance and anger.
He had rushed over in a panic upon hearing about her trouble, and this was her attitude?
In the time Shen Chi Yan had spent with Song Qinian, she was always the one to initiate conversation, except for very necessary matters. He had never taken the initiative.
But thinking of her despairing, wronged, and bewildered expression just now, he didn't know why, but his chest felt incredibly uncomfortable.
"What exactly happened today?"
It was rare for Shen Chi Yan to ask proactively, but Song Qinian still looked out the window, showing no reaction.
This only made Shen Chi Yan angrier. He abruptly turned Song Qinian's body towards him, his voice chillingly cold, "I'm asking you a question. If your mouth can't speak, can't your hands gesture?"
Song Qinian's face was pale, and her lips were even whiter.
If Shen Chi Yan remembered correctly, whenever Song Qinian looked at him, it was either out of fear, or joy and excitement.
But today, her beautiful, deer-like eyes were red-rimmed, and when she looked at him, there was only endless sadness.
"You..."
Before he could speak, she slowly raised her hand and gestured.
"Now you can rest easy."
Shen Chi Yan didn't understand her meaning for a moment. "What?"
"With today's events, I won't be able to attend the press conference. You don't have to worry about Grandmother announcing to everyone that I am your wife, Shen Chi Yan."
Shen Chi Yan's face instantly turned cold. When he got angry, a chilling aura emanated from him, causing Song Qinian to involuntarily shiver.
Her fear of him was deeply ingrained.
Seeing Song Qinian instinctively flinch back, Shen Chi Yan grabbed her by the nape of her neck and pulled her towards him, "Are you implying I framed you?"
Song Qinian had never suspected that Shen Chi Yan was behind this.
If he wanted her dead, there were plenty of ways. He wouldn't need to involve the Hongou Group.
It was just that her heart ached so much.
Especially when she saw him and Lin Qiutong wearing matching couple's bracelets, and then thinking that while she was helpless and desperate, he was on a date with Lin Qiutong, she found it hard to control herself.
She was a person, and her heart was made of flesh and blood.
She felt pain, and she got angry.
Her nose burned, and she didn't want to cry in front of Shen Chi Yan. She endured it and gestured, "Does it matter who framed me? Anyway, your goal has been achieved."
Shen Chi Yan was so enraged he felt like his lungs would explode.
"Stop the car!"
Gao Kunlun didn't dare to make a sound. Seeing that it was raining outside, he cautiously said, "Fifth Master, it's raining outside!"
"I told you to stop the car!"
Gao Kunlun dared not delay any further and immediately pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Shen Chi Yan looked at Song Qinian coldly, and cruel words spilled from his sexy, beautiful thin lips, "Get out!"
Song Qinian didn't hesitate for a second. She opened the car door and got out.
The summer rain wasn't particularly cold, but it felt bone-chilling as it hit her.
However, she didn't beg Shen Chi Yan. Instead, she slammed the door shut.
The next moment, the car sped away like an arrow released from a bow.
Shen Chi Yan looked at Song Qinian standing in the rain through the rearview mirror, his expression terrifying enough to kill.
Song Qinian was right. For three years of marriage, he hadn't wanted anyone to know she was his wife. Anyway, there was no love between them, and he had someone else in his heart. They would divorce sooner or later.
But when he saw her gesturing like that, he was consumed by fury.
If he hadn't made Song Qinian get out of the car, he was afraid he would have ended up strangling her!
"Go check the surveillance footage from the animal rescue center today. I want to see who dared to cause trouble at the Hongou Foundation."
Gao Kunlun swallowed nervously. "Fifth Master, do you believe the young madam didn't abuse the cat?"
"Someone who's so afraid of cats that she faints at the slightest touch, would she go around abusing them?"
And more importantly, Song Qinian, while cunning and using minor tricks, was not stupid.
Grandmother treated her so well, and the Hongou Foundation was Grandmother's life's work. Even if she were a lunatic, she wouldn't go to the garden to abuse a cat on such a day, knowing reporters were present.
It would bring her no benefit.
On the contrary, it might offend Grandmother.
Grandmother was her only support in the Shen family. She would do anything to curry favor, so how could she push Grandmother and the Hongou Foundation into a difficult position?
Gao Kunlun hesitated for a few seconds, risking being killed by Shen Chi Yan, and quickly said, "Since you believe the young madam, why didn't you tell her? You even kicked her out of the car. This way, you'll easily lose your... "
The unfinished word "wife" got stuck in Gao Kunlun's throat as he met Shen Chi Yan's cold and intimidating gaze.