Shen Yushu couldn't find Song Qinian and broke out in a cold sweat.
Several messages he sent to Song Qinian were met with silence. Fearing Song Qinian might be in danger, he dialed her number.
He thought that even if Song Qinian couldn't speak, just knowing she answered the call would reassure him that she was safe.
Meanwhile, Shen Chi'an had no idea Song Qinian was still struggling.
As the elevator doors slowly closed, a ringtone suddenly echoed from a corner of the restaurant.
Song Qinian never made phone calls, so Shen Chi'an had never heard her phone ring before. Even if he had heard it, he wouldn't have assumed it was hers.
It was Gao Kunlun, who, just as the elevator doors were about to close, suddenly pressed the "open" button.
Shen Chi'an shot him a cold glare. Gao Kunlun's scalp tingled under Shen Chi'an's gaze, and he stammered, "Fifth Master, that's the song the young madam likes the most. Could it be the young madam's phone ringing?"
The ringtone continued, unanswered.
Shen Chi'an's indifferent gaze swept over the restaurant and then back to Gao Kunlun, "Do you think someone would call a mute?"
Gao Kunlun knew his reasoning was flimsy, so he silently released the button and retreated behind Shen Chi'an.
The elevator doors began to close again…
However, they still didn't fully shut, and were pressed open once more.
This time, it wasn't Gao Kunlun who pressed the "open" button, but Shen Chi'an himself.
Shen Chi'an couldn't explain the strange feeling that suddenly struck his heart, nor why the persistent ringtone felt like a warning that he might lose something if he ignored it.
Gao Kunlun watched Shen Chi'an stride out of the elevator, paused for a few seconds, and then hurried after him.
Shen Chi'an couldn't describe his feelings when he saw Song Qinian by the sofa, her face flushed, her hair disheveled, sweat beading on her forehead as she struggled to stand.
Gao Kunlun, following behind, let out a cry of excitement upon seeing Song Qinian, "Young Madam! It's really the Young Madam!"
He rushed over and helped Song Qinian up, "Young Madam, what's wrong?"
Seeing Song Qinian's state, Gao Kunlun's face changed dramatically, "Fifth Master, the Young Madam doesn't seem right. Please come and take a look!"
As soon as Gao Kunlun finished speaking, Shen Chi'an pulled Song Qinian into his arms.
Song Qinian leaned into Shen Chi'an's embrace limply, as if her bones had dissolved.
Seeing Song Qinian's condition, Shen Chi'an knew what had happened. His expression turned grim, and the chilling aura around him was palpable.
Shen Chi'an's scent and the warmth of his embrace brought Song Qinian a measure of comfort.
Yet, his palpable aggression made Song Qinian's body tremble involuntarily.
Despite that, the heat and strange sensations coursing through her made Song Qinian instinctively cling to Shen Chi'an, wanting to hold him close, even… to kiss him.
Seeing Song Qinian nuzzling against him, Shen Chi'an's face grew even more terrifying. "Gao Kunlun, go get the car."
Gao Kunlun quickly ran off to fetch the vehicle.
Shen Chi'an, his face expressionless, picked up Song Qinian and headed out, coincidentally meeting Shen Yushu, who was looking for her.
Shen Yushu's heart skipped a beat when he saw Song Qinian in Shen Chi'an's arms, and his steps faltered.
Why was President Shen here?
And why was he holding Song Qinian?
Seeing Song Qinian looking uncomfortable yet leaning so docilely into Shen Chi'an's embrace, a flicker of something unusual crossed Shen Yushu's mind.
But he didn't have time to ponder it and quickly walked over to them.
"President Shen, Niannian had too much to drink. If she disturbed you, I apologize on her behalf."
Shen Yushu then looked at Song Qinian with concern, "Niannian, are you alright?"
He reached out to take Song Qinian from Shen Chi'an.
But before his hand could touch her, Shen Chi'an shifted, pulling Song Qinian closer, and his dark, cold eyes fixed on Shen Yushu.
He remained silent, and Shen Yushu, feeling unnerved by his stare, pressed on, "President Shen, what do you mean by this?"
"What is your relationship with Song Qinian?"
Shen Yushu didn't know if Shen Chi'an had noticed Song Qinian's abnormality, but he knew his mission was incomplete, and he couldn't let Song Qinian leave.
"Niannian and I are deeply in love. I've even taken her to meet my grandmother."
Song Qinian, in agony from the drug's effects, writhed in Shen Chi'an's arms.
She heard Shen Yushu's voice and desperately wanted to tell him she was fine, but her arms were too weak, and she had to use all her strength just to hold onto Shen Chi'an and not fall.
However, before she could react, she heard Shen Chi'an ask about their relationship.
Shen Yushu's answer sent a chill down Song Qinian's spine.
Deeply in love?
Why would Shen Yushu say that? Weren't they just good friends?
Also, she had come with Xiao Ai to see his grandmother today. Why did it sound like they were planning a formal introduction to the parents when he said it?
Song Qinian clung to Shen Chi'an's neck, her watery eyes fixed on him anxiously, shaking her head.
She couldn't let Shen Chi'an misunderstand, or she was doomed today!
Shen Chi'an let out a cold chuckle, cast a sideways glance at Song Qinian, and then looked back at Shen Yushu chillingly, "Oh really? So, your wedding is just around the corner?"
Having gone this far, Shen Yushu could only brace himself and continue, "Yes! We plan to get married in the latter half of the year."
Song Qinian: "..."
Song Qinian was terrified, shaking her head like a rattle. She couldn't understand why Shen Yushu would say such things to Shen Chi'an, but this was clearly pushing her into a fiery abyss!
"Get married? Heh... can you even get married?"
Shen Chi'an's eyes remained fixed on Song Qinian as he uttered these words.
The intense heat coursing through Song Qinian's body lessened slightly under his gaze. She realized if she didn't do something, she was truly finished today.
Her mind hadn't fully processed it, but Song Qinian's actions were swift. She lunged forward and kissed Shen Chi'an's sexy, thin lips…
This was the only thing she could do now, the only way to prove she and Shen Yushu weren't "deeply in love."
Shen Yushu was completely taken aback that Song Qinian would kiss Shen Chi'an. In his memory, Song Qinian had always been terrified of Shen Chi'an!
It seemed he had overlooked something, but he couldn't quite recall what.
The drug's effects continued to torment Song Qinian. She buried her head in Shen Chi'an's neck, desperately inhaling his scent.
Shen Chi'an was stirred by Song Qinian's actions. Just then, Gao Kunlun rushed in, "Fifth Master, the car is here."
Shen Chi'an, carrying Song Qinian, walked out. As he passed Shen Yushu, he said coldly, "You dare lay a hand on my woman. You've got quite some nerve."
Hearing this, Shen Yushu's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground…
When Miao Zi'ai arrived, she only saw a dejected Shen Yushu and no sign of Song Qinian. She grabbed Shen Yushu, her voice anxious, "Yushu, what are you staring at here? Where is Niannian?"
Shen Yushu remained silent and stumbled out of the hotel.
"Yushu… Yushu…"
Miao Zi'ai, worried, chased after him.
A few seconds later, Guan Mingxu, holding a cup of water, scurried over to the sofa. Seeing that Song Qinian wasn't there and had disappeared, his face changed drastically, and the cup in his hand clattered to the ground.
"Little darling… my little darling! Who snatched my little darling away!!!"