Song Qinian didn't want to return to Xiangshanyue, nor to her own home.
She didn't know where to go. After walking aimlessly for a while, her phone rang.
Seeing it was a video call from Mu Yuxin, Song Qinian hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
"Niannian, where are you? I sent you so many messages, why didn't you reply?"
After a barrage of words, she realized Song Qinian was in the rain and became even more anxious, "Where are you? I'll come find you!"
Song Qinian told Mu Yuxin her location, and soon, Mu Yuxin rushed over.
Mu Yuxin took the drenched Song Qinian to a hotel.
Knowing Song Qinian was wet from the rain and needed to change, she bought an outfit from a mall.
"Niannian, go take a shower first. We can talk about anything slowly after you've showered."
Song Qinian nodded and took the clothes into the bathroom.
Watching Song Qinian's state, Mu Yuxin was incredibly worried.
The warm water washed over her body, dispelling the cold, but it couldn't warm her icy heart.
Thinking of Shen Chiyan's cruel and indifferent demeanor, her chest ached to the point of breathlessness.
No, now was not the time to think of Shen Chiyan!
She couldn't be framed like this.
The incident had escalated so quickly; it was impossible to believe no one was fanning the flames behind the scenes.
Upon reflection, the foundation's itinerary for the day did not include visiting the cat and dog rescue station. Why had the old lady suddenly changed her mind?
The old lady was so kind to her; she would never frame her. So who could it be?
"Knock, knock, knock..."
A sudden knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Niannian, are you done showering? I ordered shrimp wontons for you. Come out and eat something."
Song Qinian had taken a long shower. Mu Yuxin, fearing she might do something rash, quickly came to call her.
When the bathroom door opened, Mu Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Song Qinian unharmed.
"Come, come, you must not have eaten much after a busy day. Eat something first."
Song Qinian nodded and ate a little obediently.
Seeing that she could still eat, Mu Yuxin felt even more at ease.
"Niannian, although the news online has been taken down, many people are still discussing it. Of course, I believe you one hundred percent. While I might not be able to help much, I can offer some advice."
Now, Mu Yuxin was the only person Song Qinian could confide in.
She told Mu Yuxin everything that had happened in the past two days. After listening, Mu Yuxin angrily slammed the table, "Isn't it obvious? Someone just doesn't want you to be the Vice Chairman of the Hongou Foundation!"
Just then, Song Qinian's WeChat message received a reply.
The person who had asked the old lady to go to the cat and dog rescue station was Ju Honglan.
It was her.
She was already the Vice Chairman of the foundation. Why would she frame her?
"Oh, think about it. The Shen family's old lady treated you so well. Who wouldn't be jealous? Your paternal aunt went from Vice Chairman to Chairman. Your second paternal aunt is still a Vice Chairman. She's angry and doesn't dare to do anything to your paternal aunt, so she picks on you, treating you like a pushover."
Song Qinian frowned, "But how would she know I'm afraid of cats?"
"Someone must have told her. But that's not the point. The point is you can't let her bully you like this. However, this is all just our speculation. To clear your name, you still need evidence."
Song Qinian nodded. Apart from Shen Chiyan, she treated others with a "never offend me, and I won't offend you" attitude. If others offended her, she would retaliate a hundredfold.
If it was confirmed that Ju Honglan had framed her, she would absolutely not let it go easily.
At the same time.
A luxury car stopped beneath a dilapidated residential building.
In all their years of marriage, this was Shen Chiyan's first time visiting Song Qinian's home.
The garden downstairs looked like it hadn't been tended for a long time, overgrown with weeds.
The cement and bricks on the walls were peeling and falling off. One might think they had entered a slum.
The most unbearable thing was the large trash bins downstairs, overflowing and emitting a foul odor, with flies and insects swarming around.
Shen Chiyan's brows furrowed. His germophobia flared, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Seeing this, Gao Kunlun immediately said, "Fifth Master, why don't you go back to the car? I'll go call Madam Song down."
Shen Chiyan could no longer stand the environment and nodded.
There was no elevator in this building, so Gao Kunlun ran upstairs.
Shen Chiyan couldn't imagine how Song Qinian had grown up in such a place.
Ten minutes later, Liu Xiaohan, who had changed into a different outfit, arrived in front of the luxury car.
"Fifth Master, Madam Song is here."
The car window rolled down, and Shen Chiyan cast a cold glance at Liu Xiaohan. "Have you eaten?"
Liu Xiaohan was stunned. What was going on?
Not only did Shen Chiyan come here to find her, but he also asked if she had eaten?
Had he changed his ways?
"N-no..."
"Get in!"
Liu Xiaohan was still somewhat bewildered. She instinctively reached for the back door, but Gao Kunlun invited her to the front passenger seat.
At a high-end restaurant, Liu Xiaohan looked at the table full of exquisite food, her heart filled with anxiety. "Chi... Mr. Shen, may I ask why you are looking for me? Is something wrong with my Niannian?"
Ever since Song Qinian's finger was cut and her hands were almost crippled, Liu Xiaohan finally regretted her actions.
She could betray her daughter for money, but after all, she was her own flesh and blood. She couldn't bear to see Song Qinian become completely useless.
Song Qinian could no longer speak. If her hands were also crippled, her life would truly be over.
She wanted to see how Song Qinian was, but Shen Chiyan didn't allow her to go near Song Qinian at all. She dared not go, nor did she have the face to.
Shen Chiyan snorted, "Don't worry, she's doing very well!"
"Then... this..."
"I came to find you today simply to know why Song Qinian is afraid of cats."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaohan's heart suddenly rejoiced.
Shen Chiyan had never inquired about Niannian before. Now that he was so concerned about Niannian, did it mean he was developing feelings for her?
She knew that Niannian was so intelligent and beautiful; it was only a matter of time before she won over Shen Chiyan.
As for Shen Chiyan's question...
"Actually, we don't know why Niannian is afraid of cats. When she was very young, she liked small animals and even kept a cat."
At the time, Liu Xiaohan actually disagreed with Song Qinian keeping a cat. Song Guanliang doted on his daughter and, despite Liu Xiaohan's scolding, let Song Qinian keep one.
"Later, the cat died for some reason, and she even had a high fever for it, reaching forty degrees. After she woke up, her voice became hoarse. And ever since then, she started to be afraid of cats. Seeing a cat would make her tremble all over, and she even fainted several times."
Shen Chiyan frowned slightly. The first time he learned Song Qinian was afraid of cats, he thought she just didn't like them. He didn't expect it to be a long-standing condition.
It seemed that the reason Song Qinian couldn't speak and was afraid of cats was closely related to the cat she had kept at the time.
"Did she say anything to you then?"
Liu Xiaohan shook her head. "No. Later, her father..."
When mentioning Song Guanliang, Liu Xiaohan cautiously glanced at Shen Chiyan. Seeing that Shen Chiyan's expression was grim but he wasn't angry, she continued, "Her father, afraid she would be sad, wanted to buy her another cat. When she heard this, she was extremely resistant and terrified, refusing to keep it no matter what."