Tong Xue went to the man's side and openly took his hand, a hand she had never dared to hold.
She didn't see Qi Rui's expression, but she guessed that the man's face must be very gentle at this moment, filled with doting, just as he had treated her before.
Shen Yue's eyes felt sore. She rubbed them, and the surging, irrepressible pain made her suffocating.
Lacking the courage to watch further, Shen Yue looked out the window.
But Tong Xue still noticed her.
"Sister Shen?" the girl's voice was distinctive.
Qi Rui stiffened and looked over as well.
Shen Yue knew she could no longer hide, so she turned her head to look at them, a perfectly fitting smile on her face.
Tong Xue walked over, holding the man's hand. She was very innocent, and her face lit up with joy upon seeing a familiar acquaintance. "What a coincidence, Sister Shen! Are you here to buy flowers too?"
Afraid to look at Qi Rui beside her, Shen Yue tucked a strand of hair that had fallen across her face behind her ear, revealing her pale, delicate earlobe. "I was just browsing."
Tong Xue rummaged through her bag and produced an invitation, handing it over with a shy smile. "This is our wedding invitation. Please come if you have time, Sister Shen."
The words "wedding invitation" struck her eyes like a deep wound, causing her heart to ache profoundly. Shen Yue looked at her and replied softly, "Okay, I'll come if I have time."
As she took the invitation, her fingertips instinctively pulled back, feeling an inexplicable heat.
Zhang Cong arrived with the sweet potatoes he had bought. Seeing Shen Yue talking with the two, he walked over.
The moment he saw Qi Rui's face, his expression froze. However, when his gaze fell upon their clasped hands, he returned to normal.
He naturally walked to Shen Yue's side, took her hand, and said in a deep, resonant voice, "Sorry to keep you waiting. The sweet potatoes are still very hot; let them cool a bit before you eat them."
Zhang Cong was tall and handsome, his hand holding the woman's with a possessive yet intimate and natural grip.
Tong Xue looked a little surprised, her gaze lingering on both of them. "Sister Shen, is this your boyfriend?"
Shen Yue subconsciously raised her eyes. Qi Rui's gaze was fixed directly on her.
Shen Yue lowered her head in panic, biting her vibrant red lips, her throat dry. Her eyelashes trembled violently, and her hands and feet grew cold. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Zhang Cong's warmth seeped through, making her blink stiffly.
"Not yet, but I am actively pursuing her."
Zhang Cong said this seemingly calmly, but his ear tips were actually red. He dared not look Shen Yue in the eyes and instead pursed his thin lips tightly.
To his slight happiness, Shen Yue did not object.
Tong Xue wanted to chat a bit longer, but Qi Rui, beside her, said in a low voice, "Are we leaving or not?"
His voice was suppressed and carried a hint of gloom.
Tong Xue looked up at him, finding his demeanor inexplicably angry.
"But we haven't finished picking the flowers yet," Tong Xue said.
They had already picked a few types they were quite satisfied with, but they hadn't finalized their decision.
Qi Rui's dark eyes churned with emotion, and he said coldly, "You continue picking. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."
With those words, he left without looking at anyone else, turning and departing with cold indifference.
Tong Xue stamped her foot and sullenly followed him.
Zhang Cong turned to look at Shen Yue and noticed that her complexion had inexplicably worsened, her lips having lost their color. Zhang Cong's expression changed drastically, and he hastily reached out to touch her face. "What's wrong? Are you feeling cold?"
Shen Yue shook her head.
"Brother, it's okay. Let's go back."
She managed a smile, but her spirit seemed even weaker.
The apartment wasn't far. Zhang Cong squatted down, offering to carry her back. Shen Yue was reluctant, but Zhang Cong was as stubborn as three cows. She had no choice but to climb onto his back.
Lying on the man's broad, warm back, Shen Yue bit her lips, which grew even paler. Her eyes were half-closed, and she looked listless.
With his long, strong legs, Zhang Cong quickly reached the apartment. The heating was on high inside, with no trace of cold.
After placing Shen Yue on the sofa, Zhang Cong went to the room to get medicine. When he returned with hot water, he saw Shen Yue's expression was contorted in pain, her breathing rapid, almost gasping. Before she could catch her breath, she choked and coughed violently.
Zhang Cong panicked, rushing over to gently pat her back and help her breathe.
Shen Yue covered her mouth, her back arched, almost curling into herself.
Zhang Cong pulled her hand away and saw a shocking sight of bloodstains. Nosebleeds were flowing incessantly from her nostrils, and she was coughing up blood from her mouth.
A strong scent of blood permeated the air.
Zhang Cong's heart lurched, and an uncontrollable fear gripped him. In a fluster, he fumbled for his phone and called an ambulance.
He half-carried Shen Yue to the bathroom, the sound of rushing water ceaselessly flowing.
Qi Rui suddenly woke up. The room was pitch black. He sat up and stared blankly for a moment, looking at the dark, cold room, feeling lost.
Regaining his senses, he went to the bathroom to take a cold shower.
The water was icy, but his mind was still not entirely clear. The water ran over his scarred arms, but he seemed oblivious.
A sharp pain struck his head again. He gasped, veins bulging on his forehead, his handsome face as cold as frost.
After the cold shower, wearing a bathrobe, he opened a drawer in the bedside cabinet. Inside were neatly arranged white medicine bottles with English letters.
Qi Rui took out a bottle; it was empty. He tossed it into the trash and opened a new one.
He poured out several pills. Qi Rui's movements were slow as he took the medication, his long eyelashes obscuring his eyes.
He went to the study and didn't turn on the light, but opened his laptop and then a folder.
It contained many photos, clearly taken covertly, but the composition was still clear and complete.
A storm of emotions surged in his silent eyes.
His fingers trembled nervously as he caressed the photos on the computer screen.
Fragile, gentle, smiling down, he seemed to feel her warmth through the cold screen.
Qi Rui's face was expressionless. He stared for a long time, like a solitary ice sculpture, the cold seeping into his bones.
Looking at this face, his mind was blank, yet a persistent fear and anxiety lingered in his heart, making it hard to breathe.
He lowered his head, and tears dripped one by one from his bloodshot eyes. His entire body convulsed.
"Shen Yue..."
He felt lost, desperately hitting his head with his hands, letting large tears fall. He frowned tightly, his soul torn in half, one part aloof and unfeeling, the other screaming and collapsing.
He stood up, walking as if in a daze to the kitchen.
His fingertips brushed against a cold object. The clean, reflective surface of a knife blade refracted a chilling cold.