Shi Xing woke from her dream drenched in cold sweat.
Opening her eyes, her first instinct was to tremulously touch her own face. Instead of the horrifying scars she expected, her fingers met smooth, delicate skin. Only then did her breathing slowly steady.
For a moment, she had truly almost believed that yesterday’s rebirth was just a dream.
Thankfully, she really had returned. It wasn’t a dream.
Shi Xing closed her eyes, feeling a warmth in their corners. After calming herself for a while, she opened her eyes and looked beside her. Qi Chenyan wasn’t there.
She sat up and glanced at the clock on the wall: six-thirty.
Was he already up this early?
He’d only slept a few hours.
Unable to sleep any longer herself, Shi Xing threw off the covers and got out of bed. She pulled open the bedroom door and peered outside, spotting a gray figure standing with his back to her on the outer balcony facing the living room.
She walked over, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and nestled her cheek against his back. Her voice, still thick with sleep, was husky. “Why are you up so early?”
The person she held stiffened slightly, then turned around after a few seconds. His voice was hoarse. “Why aren’t you sleeping more?”
As he spoke, noticing she was still wearing that thin red spaghetti-strap dress, his brows furrowed slightly. He took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders, then pulled her into his embrace, gently stroking her hair. “Running out like this, aren’t you cold?”
It was early summer, and the mornings still held a chill.
The girl wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face into the crook of his neck as he held her. “How could I be cold with A Yan holding me?”
Qi Chenyan’s hand, which had been stroking her hair, paused. He closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh as he rested his chin lightly atop her head.
God only knew how terrified he had been in that moment, fearing she might call out A Sheng instead.
He held her tighter, saying nothing.
Shi Xing lingered in his embrace for a while before finally lifting her head from his shoulder. Her glistening eyes were filled with confusion. “Did you not sleep well last night?”
When she had walked over, she had already noticed: several cigarette butts filled the ashtray on the balcony coffee table, and a faint scent of smoke clung to him.
Had he not slept, coming out to the balcony to smoke instead?
Qi Chenyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He didn’t answer, instead encircling her in his arms and looking down to meet her gaze. “What about you, Xingxing? Did you sleep well?”
At his question, Shi Xing’s eyes instantly dimmed. She shook her head. “Not really.”
Qi Chenyan’s lips pressed together. “Why?”
Shi Xing lowered her gaze. “I had a nightmare.”
Qi Chenyan watched her lowered, fluttering eyelashes and asked hoarsely, “What nightmare?”
Shi Xing pressed her lips together tightly, unsure how to explain.
She had dreamed of her past life, of returning home after that night with Qi Chenyan, only to find He Sheng waiting for her.
As the door opened, she saw him sitting on the sofa, turning his head to glare at her with a sinister look.
He argued with her, called her shameless.
She said the glass of wine had been handed to her by him, that there had been something in the drink, and she hadn’t known what was happening.
But he only sneered coldly, “If I had drugged you, would I have let Qi Chenyan take advantage?”
“If I’d known you were this cheap, I should have played you to death sooner, instead of thinking about teaching you to be more obedient before pampering you.”
He Sheng gritted his teeth, stepping closer to her. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the bathroom. “Since you’re dirty now, I’ll help you wash clean!”
“No.”
She struggled desperately, but couldn’t match the man’s strength. He dragged her into the bathroom, shoving her into the shower stall as icy water poured down over her head.
She tried to run, but he blocked the shower entrance, holding the showerhead pointed directly at her.As she instinctively covered her face, he suddenly threw aside the showerhead and began tearing at her clothes.
She screamed, pushing him away with both hands and feet, kicking and shoving, “Let go of me, get away from me!”
He Sheng slapped her across the face. “Bitch, if I don’t strip you and wash you clean, are you going to go out like this and humiliate yourself?”
Her head snapped to the side from the blow, her body staggering until she collided with the bathroom wall. In that instant, her ears rang with a deafening buzz.
The moment her dress was torn, she broke down in tears. “He Sheng, don’t…”
And at that very moment, the man’s grip loosened.
Trembling, she curled up in the corner, clutching herself tightly.
She didn’t dare look up to see what was happening, nor could she hear any other sounds—only the persistent ringing in her ears.
Until another pair of hands landed on her shoulders. She screamed, pushing him away, and only when she looked up did she realize the person before her had changed to Qi Chenyan.
His eyes held a hidden pain as he crouched in front of her, gently stroking her drenched hair. His lips moved, but she could no longer make out his words.
Her tears only fell more fiercely as she pushed him away harder. “Get away, get away—”
Even now, having woken from the dream, Shi Xing still trembled at the memory.
She unconsciously tightened her grip on Qi Chenyan’s hand, finally saying, “It’s nothing, just a nightmare.”
But Qi Chenyan wasn’t so easily fooled.
He could feel the girl in his arms trembling, and her voice carried a noticeable sob.
Now, thinking back to the words she had spoken in her dream, the tone she had used seemed laced with intense fear. At the time, however, he had been blinded by jealousy and possessiveness, not daring to dwell on it.
Those words and the tone in which they were spoken, when combined, didn’t necessarily imply something ambiguous.
Qi Chenyan’s pupils contracted slightly, his voice strained as he called her, “Shi Xingxing.”
She looked up at him, her eyes indeed somewhat red.
Qi Chenyan’s breath tightened. “Did He Sheng bully you?”
Shi Xing froze. “What?”
Qi Chenyan raised his hand, his palm gently caressing her cheek. “Tell me, did He Sheng bully you?”
His words brought Shi Xing back to her past life. Her gaze flickered, and she suddenly couldn’t bring herself to look at him. “He… didn’t…”
If it could be called bullying, then yes, he had bullied her—but that was in her past life.
Besides, Qi Chenyan had already beaten He Sheng half to death back then, leaving him in the intensive care unit for over a month.
As for now, He Sheng no longer had the chance to bully her.
Yet, for Qi Chenyan, Shi Xing’s reaction in that moment had already answered his question.
His jaw clenched instantly.
A flicker of ruthlessness flashed in Qi Chenyan’s eyes. Afraid she might see it, he closed them.
“It’s good if he didn’t.”
Qi Chenyan held Shi Xing tighter for several seconds before suddenly asking her, “Do you want to go to the Shi family’s banquet today?”
The topic shifted Shi Xing’s attention. She frowned. “Isn’t this banquet a celebration for Shi Yue?”
To be honest, she didn’t really want to go. She didn’t want to see those people from the Shi family.
Although they were her relatives, to her, they were no better than strangers.
Qi Chenyan’s fingers threaded through her hair, his palm resting against the nape of her neck. “Mm, if Xingxing wants to go, I’ll take her.”
Shi Xing blinked. “What for?”
Qi Chenyan curved his lips into a cool smile. “To watch the show, of course.”
After all, the Shi family’s banquet today probably wouldn’t go as smoothly as they hoped.
Shi Xing met his gaze for a few seconds, understanding dawning on her. She suddenly smiled. “Alright.”Come to think of it, the Shi family must be looking for her now, but since her phone isn’t with her, they probably wouldn’t dare cause a scene at Qi Chenyan’s home. That’s why she’s been able to enjoy such peace and quiet without any disturbances.
However, a meeting is inevitable sooner or later. Rather than waiting for the Shi family to come knocking, it’s better for her to appear on her own and let them take a good look.
The banquet is at noon, and it’s still quite early.
Qi Chenyan held Shi Xing on the balcony for a while before carrying her back to the bedroom, coaxing her to sleep a little longer.
Once she fell asleep, he got up to make breakfast in the kitchen and then headed to the study.
The Weibo post from last night had caused quite a stir, and naturally, his phone had been ringing nonstop. However, he had turned it off and ignored it.
It wasn’t until now that he finally turned it back on, returning a call to his parents who were traveling around the world and replying to messages from a few friends.
This time, Shi Xing didn’t wake up until almost ten o’clock.
Qi Chenyan had already arranged for a custom-made evening gown and a full set of high-end jewelry to be delivered, and the stylist was already waiting.
Shi Xing wasn’t too surprised. Qi Chenyan’s efficiency had always been this astonishing.
After freshening up and having a simple breakfast, the stylist began doing her makeup and hair. Qi Chenyan sat lazily on the sofa with his legs crossed, scrolling through his phone and typing away, though it was unclear what he was doing.
Since the evening gown was red—a strapless mermaid style that hugged her figure—the makeup artist gave Shi Xing a slightly more glamorous look.
With red lips and dark eyebrows, a small rouge-colored beauty mark was delicately placed at the corner of her eye. When her gaze shifted, it accentuated her already striking beauty to perfection.
Her long, wavy hair cascaded down, and the red gown outlined her graceful figure. A stark contrast to yesterday’s pink-dressed little princess, today she was breathtakingly beautiful.
“A Yan, do I look good?”
Hearing her voice, Qi Chenyan looked up, his gaze instantly darkening.
The person before him was enchanting and exquisite, her features delicate. This star was clearly even more dazzling than the blazing sun.
She truly was the most beautiful one.
Qi Chenyan put away his phone, stood up, and walked over to her. Tilting his head, he examined her carefully as she smiled, allowing him to look.
After a moment, Qi Chenyan nodded with a smile. “You look beautiful.”
Then he took a step closer, gently lifting her chin and leaning down to kiss the corner of her eye. His voice was soft. “My treasure, so beautiful.”
He had chosen this dress for her because, after all, it was their first day of marriage, and red was the perfect color.
Moreover, his star was a rose at heart, and red suited her perfectly.
Just as he had imagined.
She was so beautiful that he suddenly felt a pang of regret, not wanting He Sheng to see her looking this stunning.
But then he thought again—He Sheng should see her.
Such a beautiful little rose deserved to be shown off, making those without wives who could only curse online envy him to death.
He wanted the whole world to know that it was Qi Chenyan who loved Shi Xing, loved her to the point of being utterly captivated.
And he wanted He Sheng to know, once and for all, that this rose belonged to Qi Chenyan from now on.
The stylists nearby blushed furiously. Even though it wasn’t an overly intimate gesture—just a simple kiss on the cheek—it still made their hearts race and left them wanting to squeal.
Aww, those people online who still insist they aren’t truly in love and are just fooling around should take a good look.
So sweet~