Upon seeing Li Junshen, Song Qinian's already unpleasant mood worsened.
She couldn't figure out why she seemed to run into him everywhere lately!
If it weren't for the "Hamburger" incident, Song Qinian might have been able to greet Li Junshen like a friend after their reunion, or chat about their lives and experiences over the past few years.
There might even have been an opportunity to sit down for a meal or coffee.
Now, every time Song Qinian saw Li Junshen, she couldn't help but recall those bloody scenes, and how "Hamburger" was on the verge of death, and she couldn't save it from Li Junshen.
For Song Qinian, that would be a lifelong nightmare.
Compared to Song Qinian, Li Junshen always appeared to be in good spirits whenever he saw her, a gentle, faint smile on his lips. "Niannian, we meet again."
The familiarity and joy in his tone made Song Qinian frown. She hadn't forgotten that their last meeting had been far from pleasant.
Song Qinian didn't look at Li Junshen again. Instead, she gestured to Ji Luofei, "Auntie Ji, everyone has the right to choose how they live their lives. You being with my ex-father-in-law is a matter for your generation. I'm an outsider and it's not appropriate for me to say much. Of course, everyone must take responsibility for their choices. Since you've chosen this path, as long as you feel you've done right by everyone, or if you're happy, then that's what matters."
Although Ji Luofei had been very good to Song Qinian when she was young, Song Qinian had never truly understood them, mother and son.
Now that Ji Luofei was with Shen Zhenghao, her words seemed to imply a desire for Song Qinian to consider her perspective.
Song Qinian, not being a direct party, couldn't fully empathize.
Compared to Ji Luofei, Song Qinian felt she understood Gu Zhiyan a little better.
Gu Zhiyan appeared aloof and unapproachable on the surface, but in reality, she was a person with a cold exterior and a warm heart. She disdained playing mind games and always confronted issues head-on.
Gu Zhiyan claimed she didn't want to disrupt the Shen family's harmony or make them unhappy, yet her visit to the Shen family's old house on the first day of the Lunar New Year was itself designed to upset everyone.
"I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
After finishing her gestures, Song Qinian left the hospital entrance without even glancing at Li Junshen.
Ji Luofei watched her retreating figure, raising an eyebrow slightly. The pitiful look of being misunderstood vanished instantly, replaced by pride and disdain. "I never expected that after more than ten years, the lively and sweet young girl I once knew would now be lecturing others."
Li Junshen felt completely ignored by Song Qinian. A cold glint flickered in his dark eyes, hidden behind his glasses.
He watched Song Qinian until she got into a taxi.
Only after the car carrying Song Qinian disappeared around the corner did he calmly withdraw his gaze, looking at Ji Luofei with a blank expression. "Don't provoke her."
Ji Luofei tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a fake smile on her face. "You've been pining after her for so many years, don't you want to win her back from Shen Chi'an?"
Before Li Junshen could reply, Ji Luofei continued, "I originally wanted to ask Niannian to dinner to create an opportunity for you, but I didn't expect her to have such deep-seated prejudice against you. What did you do to make the girl who used to follow you around now not even want to look at you?"
Li Junshen's handsome face instantly turned cold. He tossed the medicine he was holding to Ji Luofei, coolly stating, "Mind your own business," and then left.
...
Shen Chi'an clearly noticed that Song Qinian hadn't been herself for the past few days. He had seen her standing on the balcony gazing out, lost in thought, several times.
He walked out with a shawl, draped it over her shoulders, and then pulled her, shawl and all, into his embrace.
Song Qinian looked back and buried her head further into Shen Chi'an's chest.
This scene melted Shen Chi'an's heart into a soft pool. His voice, too, couldn't help but become gentle. "Who made our Qiqi unhappy?"
Song Qinian shook her head.
Shen Chi'an clearly sensed that Song Qinian had something on her mind, but since she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't force her.
Thinking of something, he smiled and asked, "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
Song Qinian looked at Shen Chi'an in confusion.
Shen Chi'an kissed her fair and smooth cheek. "We've never gone on a trip together. I'll have some time off in a few days. Where in the country or abroad would you like to go? I'll accompany you, okay?"
Although they had been married for three years, they had spent very little time together. Furthermore, with Song Qinian's recent low mood, Shen Chi'an wanted to take her on a trip to relax.
However, with Song Guanliang still in prison, Song Qinian had no desire for any excursions.
After some thought, she slowly gestured, "Let's talk about it after the New Year."
"Alright."
That evening, after ensuring Song Qinian was asleep, Shen Chi'an got up and made a phone call.
"Why is there still no news after investigating Song Guanliang's case for so long?"
Gao Kunlun was also troubled by this. "No matter how I investigate, the evidence before me states that Song Guanliang kidnapped Miss Lin. Boss, could it be that this is simply the truth?"
Gao Kunlun knew Song Qinian wanted to help Song Guanliang and wanted to contribute, but all his investigations failed to prove Song Guanliang's innocence.
Shen Chi'an's brows furrowed deeply. If it were true that Song Guanliang had kidnapped Lin Qingtong, but Qiqi believed so strongly in his innocence, how could he make her face reality?
"Continue the investigation!"
"Yes! Oh, by the way, Boss, how should we deal with Feng Wanhui?"
Although the Lin family hadn't reported Feng Wanhui to the police, Shen Chi'an had people keeping a constant watch on her.
"It's better to allocate more manpower to investigate Song Guanliang's case than to waste resources on her. As for Feng Wanhui... let the Lin family handle her."
Feng Wanhui had been having a very difficult time lately. Although she had longed to acknowledge her daughter, she had hesitated, fearing that Lin Qingtong would not accept her if she knew she was her mother, and even more, fearing that she would disrupt Lin Qingtong's current comfortable life.
She never imagined that all of this would happen so suddenly.
By the time she regained her senses, she realized she had likely been set up!
But that wasn't the main point. The crucial point was that Mu Yuxin wasn't taking her calls, and she had heard that Lin Qingtong had attempted suicide.
Filled with pain, regret, and anxiety, Feng Wanhui rushed to see Lin Qingtong. Before she could even see her, she was slapped by Lin Lanxing and thrown out.
After leaving the hospital, brimming with anger and nowhere to turn, Feng Wanhui went to Mu Yuxin's dessert shop.
Mu Yuxin's mood had slightly improved, but seeing Feng Wanhui plunged her back into despair. Not wanting Feng Wanhui to cause a scene in the shop, she directly took Feng Wanhui back to her home.