The more she struggled, the tighter Qin Tianyi’s grip became, causing her hands and feet to ache.
But this pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.
She stopped struggling, tears welling up. Staring at him, she didn't plead, but instead said with cold sarcasm, "What's the difference between you doing this and Yang Sijie? It's sickening..."
Qin Tianyi abruptly stopped all his movements and sat up, returning the chair to its original position.
He had sobered up and wished he could slap himself twice. What was happening to him? He had gotten angry and confused again. He had promised himself he wouldn't treat her that way anymore, that he would protect her well.
Susu pulled her collar tight with both hands, biting her lip and remaining silent, feeling incredibly wronged.
She hadn't intended to anger Qin Tianyi, but sometimes words just tumbled out, and she couldn't control her emotions.
She had just wiped away her tears when she felt a spasm in her stomach, and immediately covered her mouth, wanting to vomit.
Qin Tianyi, in a foul mood, was about to start the car when he saw Susu roll down her window and stick her head out, retching and spitting out some sour liquid.
To think he had truly made her sick. Seeing her sit back down, he slammed on the brakes and sped off.
Susu clutched her chest, feeling another wave of nausea and dizziness. She figured it was because she had rushed for the train that morning and hadn't eaten much breakfast.
Neither of them spoke to each other again. Upon returning to the villa, Susu collapsed onto the bedroom bed, wanting nothing more than to sleep.
She slept from the afternoon until she woke up in the middle of the night. Finding the large bed empty except for herself, her heart also felt hollow.
She sat up, feeling a bit better in her stomach, but her hunger pangs were loud.
She got up herself and wandered around the second floor. The study light was off, and she couldn't find Qin Tianyi anywhere.
She tiptoed to the kitchen on the first floor, heated a cup of milk, and found some leftover pastries. As she ate to sate her hunger, she couldn't help but smile wryly. It seemed Qin Tianyi hadn't returned home all night.
This time, he was truly angry because she hadn't told him about Sophie starting to work at her studio.
She admitted it was wrong not to tell him, but that was also because his attitude towards Sophie had changed, and he was very dismissive of her.
With his usual overbearing temper, he was always moody and unreasonable. This time, she wouldn't be the one to apologize. If he wanted a cold war, so be it!
After eating, Susu returned to her room to sleep.
...
The bar was almost closing, but Qin Tianyi was still there, silently downing bottles of alcohol.
Xiao Anjing sat beside him, looking worried. "Young Master, what did you two fight about this time? You're not going home, but instead coming here to drown your sorrows."
The lines on Qin Tianyi's face remained taut. The alcohol was starting to affect him, but he still maintained his cool demeanor, which didn't diminish his charming handsomeness.
If Xiao Anjing hadn't been there to shield him, several groups of beautiful women would have approached him. If they had dared to approach Qin Tianyi directly, he might have thrown them to the ground in his anger.
Xiao Anjing had already spent enough boring time with him at the bar and didn't want to accompany him to the police station.
When the bar was clearing out, he finally managed to get the somewhat dazed Qin Tianyi back to his own residence.
After Qin Tianyi threw up, he lay on the sofa in Xiao Anjing's place and finally spoke to himself, "What do I even mean to her? What am I..."
Xiao Anjing covered his forehead with a hot towel and said with a chuckle, "You'll have to ask her when you get back. I don't know. How about I take you back now?"
Qin Tianyi rolled over and said, "I'm not going back... Why should I go back? Let her go spend time with her friend..."
Xiao Anjing saw the towel fall from his forehead, turned his face towards him, and reapplied it. "Sigh, why are you still jealous of a woman? In the future, when you argue with her, be a man and sort her out. Don't come bothering me anymore."
"How could I bear to sort her out..." Qin Tianyi's voice grew increasingly slurred as he succumbed to the alcohol and fell asleep.
Xiao Anjing sighed and opened up a cushion on the sofa, covering him with it. "You cherish her, but you don't spare a thought for me. Learn from how well others treat their friends. How did I end up with a boss and friend like you?"
Seeing that he had fallen asleep, Xiao Anjing knew his words were in vain. He got up to rest as well, planning to contact Gu Susu in the morning to send him back.
...
Susu slept until morning again, still without seeing Qin Tianyi. She didn't know where he had spent the night, but she suppressed her worry and didn't contact him.
In the morning, she had breakfast with Little Star alone. Little Star was talking about things among his kindergarten friends, but she was a bit distracted.
"Mommy, do you have time to take me to kindergarten today?" Little Star asked her twice, but she didn't respond.
Little Star had to tug at her clothes forcefully. "Ah," she exclaimed, snapping back to attention. "Yes, I have time. I'll take you to kindergarten first today before I go to work."
Little Star happily ate his breakfast. Chen Ma brought a bowl of bird's nest porridge and placed it in front of Susu. "Young Madam, did you go to the kitchen for pastries last night?"
"Yes, I woke up hungry in the middle of the night."
"You usually work too hard and have to travel. Seeing how soundly you slept yesterday, I didn't want to wake you." Chen Ma opened the lid of the bird's nest porridge bowl. "Eat some bird's nest porridge to nourish your body."
"Thank you, Chen Ma." Susu took a sip of the porridge and asked, "When did Tianyi leave yesterday? Did he say anything about why he didn't come back all night?"
Chen Ma shook her head. "No. The Young Master went out shortly after you both returned yesterday and didn't stay in the study for long. He didn't say anything when he left. But his expression looked quite serious. I wonder if there was some trouble at the company."
Susu agreed, "Perhaps."
Chen Ma sighed. "You both work so hard. I don't know when I'll be able to hold another child. I'm afraid I won't see that day before I close my eyes."
Susu smiled sheepishly. Having another child was a matter of fate.
She and Tianyi had just argued, and she didn't know when they would reconcile, let alone have another child.
Little Star also tugged at Susu's hand and said, "Mommy, I want a little sister too. Hurry up and have one."
Susu lowered her head and gently wiped the breadcrumbs from Little Star's mouth, smiling. "But what if Mommy has another little brother for you? Won't you like a brother then?"
Little Star tilted his head innocently and said, "Then after you have a brother, have another one. You'll eventually have a little sister."
His words completely amused Chen Ma. "Little Master is right. If Young Madam can't have a little lady this time, then have a few more. You'll surely get a daughter."
"Chen Ma! I'm not talking about this with you anymore. I need to take Little Star to kindergarten." Susu wiped her mouth with a tissue. Chen Ma was egging on the child, as if they wanted her to give birth to a whole soccer team.
Seeing her embarrassment, Chen Ma smiled and said, "Yes, yes, Little Master needs to go to kindergarten. You two should go. I'll cook something delicious for you when you come back tonight."