“Where is he?”
Shen Nanci muttered to herself but made no move to call out for anyone.
She went to the sofa to retrieve her bag and phone.
The man’s suit jacket was still lying on the sofa.
Just as Shen Nanci found her phone, a call came in.
Seeing the name on the screen, Shen Nanci’s expression instantly darkened from clear to overcast. Upon closer inspection, her eyes held a coldness and anger.
Shen Nanci remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
“Hello.”
On the other end of the line, Shen An’s tone was neither warm nor cold. “Shen Nanci, if I don’t call you, have you forgotten you still have a family?”
Shen Nanci stood there without responding.
Shen An didn’t seem to care and continued, “Tomorrow is your eldest sister’s birthday. Your future brother-in-law will also be there. Remember to prepare a decent gift for your sister—something presentable. Don’t bring anything shabby!”
Shen Nanci let out a cold laugh.
She sat on the sofa, her back straight.
“Shen An.”
Shen An’s voice turned icy. “So your wings have hardened, huh? You dare to shout and call your own father by his name now? Have all the manners you learned over the years been eaten by dogs?”
The corners of Shen Nanci’s lips twitched slightly, her eyes as cold as shards of ice.
“Do you even deserve to be called ‘Dad’ by me?”
From the phone came the sound of Shen An slamming his hand on the table in anger. “Shen Nanci, listen to what you’re saying!”
Shen Nanci retorted sarcastically, “Human words, of course.”
Her voice remained calm. “Can’t you understand them, old man?”
Shen An, enraged, picked up a teacup and smashed it to the ground, shattering it into pieces.
Shen Yixia’s voice came through the phone. “Dad, calm down. Why get angry with Shen Nanci? Give me the phone. Let me talk to her.”
Shen An didn’t hand it over, instead calling Shen Nanci’s name with a stern face. “Shen Nanci!”
His voice still carried traces of anger. “Come home tomorrow!”
Home?
There was a saying circulating in their social circle: among the three Shen sisters, the eldest and second daughters were the true Shen family heiresses.
As for the third daughter, Shen Nanci—
She was nothing more than a dog raised by the Shen family.
Shen Nanci had long grown accustomed to the cold mockery and neglect, but she had never imagined that Shen An would personally send his own daughter to a man’s bed for the sake of personal gain.
Though she was never valued,
after all, she still carried Shen An’s blood in her veins.
This was her father.
What familial bonds or blood ties remained?
Shen Nanci sneered coldly. “Oh, so you called just to tell me to come home and bring a gift. I thought, for a moment, you might show some concern—maybe even ask if I’m still alive or if I’ve died.”
The call ended.
Shen Nanci lowered her head, gripping her phone tightly.
The arrogance and strength she had displayed moments ago crumbled in an instant. After all, the heart is made of flesh.
Shen Nanci still felt the pain.
On the sofa, the girl’s figure looked frail, lonely, and desolate.
Shrouded in a thick cloud of sorrow.
After finishing his business in the study inside, Li Hengyan came out and heard Shen Nanci’s final words—
“I thought, for a moment, you might show some concern—maybe even ask if I’m still alive or if I’ve died.”
Upon hearing the word “die,” Li Hengyan’s blood began to boil with agitation. A dark, violent rage surged within him, and his heart ached with an indescribable bitterness.
He couldn’t bear to hear that word.
Especially when it came from Shen Nanci’s lips.
And especially when it concerned her.
For a moment, Li Hengyan almost lost his grasp on reality, mistaking the Shen Nanci before him for nothing more than an illusion—
a figment of his imagination, conjured from his own mind.
A voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
“Shen Nanci is dead.”
“She was twenty-four when she died.”
……
Li Hengyan’s eyes instantly reddened, turning terrifying.
He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Nightmares…
Countless nightmares, where Shen Nanci wore a white dress, covered in blood.
Bright red blood flowed endlessly, dripping onto the ground, staining large patches of the concrete road crimson.
Shen Nanci’s body turned ice-cold, her eyes closed.
In front of her body, more than a dozen bloody holes…
Li Hengyan’s eyes were bloodshot, his gaze dark and frightening. Suddenly, he swung his hand and punched the wall hard.
Then, another punch.
So fast, as if he felt no pain, like a madman harming himself.
Soon, Li Hengyan’s hand was bleeding.
Shen Nanci’s heart skipped a beat at the commotion. Startled, she looked up and saw Li Hengyan standing motionless not far away, unsure what had suddenly happened.
Shen Nanci noticed Li Hengyan’s eyes.
The man’s gaze was terrifying.
Her body stiffened, not daring to breathe.
Then her gaze shifted downward, landing on Li Hengyan’s hand.
Shen Nanci gasped sharply.
“Li Hengyan, your hand is bleeding!”
Without another thought, Shen Nanci threw her phone aside and rushed over. Before she could get close, the previously motionless man suddenly stepped forward, walking toward her as fast as the wind!
His arm wrapped around her, and Shen Nanci fell into Li Hengyan’s embrace.
Tightly.
As if the man was confirming something.
Li Hengyan’s arm tightened more and more, nearly crushing Shen Nanci into his body. Her waist ached from the force.
“Li Hengyan, what’s wrong? You’re hurting me!”
Li Hengyan remained silent.
He suddenly lifted Shen Nanci by the waist, pressed her against the wall, and cupped her face, his bloody hand staining her cheek.
“Li… Hengyan, don’t scare me!”
Her back pressed against the cold wall, Shen Nanci’s spine stiffened, her feet leaving the ground. Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.
This version of Li Hengyan was like someone who had suddenly fallen ill.
It was truly terrifying.
Shen Nanci felt both fear and panic, completely at a loss. She stared at the man in front of her in horror, afraid that the next moment,
Li Hengyan would strangle her.
Why had this suddenly happened?
What was wrong with Li Hengyan?
Suddenly, Li Hengyan leaned in, holding Shen Nanci tightly, silent, tears falling from his eyes.
Dripping onto Shen Nanci’s neck.
The cold liquid made Shen Nanci’s body stiffen once more.
Tears?
Or saliva?
Shen Nanci instinctively felt they were tears.
Li Hengyan… was crying again?
Shen Nanci went from shock to fear, then to confusion and bewilderment.
She really… wanted to cry.
Who the hell could handle such rollercoaster-like stimulation?
Her heart couldn’t take it!
After a while, sensing that Li Hengyan had stopped crying, he buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, as if seeking comfort.
Shen Nanci moved her hands to the man’s back.
Testing.
Carefully, gently patting his back.
The girl’s voice was as soft and gentle as possible, carrying a soothing power.
“Li, Li Hengyan, don’t be afraid. If you can, could you tell me what’s wrong? There’s always a solution to everything. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Could you… put me down first?”
Li Hengyan remained silent.
Shen Nanci took a deep breath. “You’re holding me too tight; it hurts.”
Upon hearing this, Li Hengyan seemed to regain his senses, becoming aware of the soft, warm body temperature of the person in his arms.
Not stiff and cold.
Li Hengyan trembled slightly and immediately released Shen Nanci.
Then, he gave her a deep look, grabbed her wrist again, and pulled her back into his embrace. He wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent.
Afterward, Li Hengyan picked her up.
He strode into the bathroom.
The light flicked on.
Li Hengyan placed Shen Nanci on the bathroom counter.
He turned to fetch a towel and silently wiped the blood from her face.
His movements were exceptionally gentle.
In the man’s eyes, there was profound self-blame.
And heartache.