Chapter 20: Treated Like a Beast

Song Yanzi underwent an examination. No bones were injured; it was only a mild sprain. Applying some medicine and resting for two days would be enough.

Nanxi had already learned the whole story and was heartsick with worry.

More than that, she was furious.

She gave that bastard Xu Jingcheng a thorough scolding before finally feeling better.

At that moment, Shen Yichi had gone to pay the bill and collect the medicine.

Nanxi wore an expression of intense curiosity. “What’s going on between you and Shen Yichi? Why was he the one who brought you to the hospital?”

The sight of the two of them—after their bitter falling-out—appearing together, with him even carrying her, had been far too shocking.

Song Yanzi gave a brief, thoroughly fabricated explanation. “I went to a reception tonight, and he happened to be there too. He saw me being bullied and stepped in to help.”

She chose to conceal everything concerning her and Shen Yichi.

Apart from Shen Yichi’s assistant, no one else in the world knew about their disgraceful relationship.

The fewer people who knew, the better.

In any case, it would be over soon.

Nanxi believed her completely and sighed. “I never thought he would help you, much less take you to the hospital.”

Thinking it over carefully, it made perfect sense. Shen Yichi was not the sort of person who would stand by and do nothing. His character was beyond question.

If not for the grudges and feuds between their parents, the two of them would surely have been happy.

Guilt weighed on Song Yanzi. She did not mention Xiao Yi either, afraid that doing so would upset Nanxi.

Before leaving, she reminded her, “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

Nanxi replied firmly, “Of course I won’t. Don’t worry—I’m very good at keeping secrets.”

A patient arrived in the emergency department, and Nanxi hurried away.

By sheer coincidence, Shen Yichi ran into Xiao Yi on his way back with the medicine.

Xiao Yi’s eyes lit up when he saw what Shen Yichi was carrying. “Confession earns leniency. Now tell me the truth.”

Ever since receiving Shen Yichi’s text asking him to go rescue Song Yanzi, he had sensed that something was wrong.

Shen Yichi remained as composed as ever. “I wasn’t feeling well, so I came to the hospital. Is there a problem?”

Xiao Yi gave him a half-smile. “I just saw Song Yanzi. And tonight, you asked me to go save her. Brother, do I really have to spell it out?”

Shen Yichi’s expression remained indifferent. “I was simply helping someone in need. Nothing more.”

The situation had been urgent, and it would have been inconvenient for him to appear in person, so he had no choice but to send Xiao Yi instead.

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow. “You and her—you two…”

Shen Yichi countered, “If it had been Nanxi, would you have stood by and done nothing?”

At those words, Xiao Yi did not question him any further.

Had it been anyone at all, faced with such a situation that night, they would have stepped in to help—let alone someone they had once loved.

Xiao Yi knew when to stop. In the end, he promised, “What happened tonight will go with me to the grave.”

…

Shen Yichi took Song Yanzi back to the villa.

After all the back-and-forth, it was already past one in the morning.

Song Yanzi felt uncomfortable all over and wanted to take a shower.

Shen Yichi carried her into the bathroom and helped her sit down.

When he prepared to undress her, she stopped him.

Her expression was uneasy. “I can do it myself.”

Her foot was injured, nothing more. She was hardly incapable of taking care of herself.

Shen Yichi teased her. “It’s not as though I’ve never washed you before. Are you really going to be shy now?”

He had a point.

They had seen each other completely exposed countless times and were intimately familiar with one another.

Whenever she was exhausted after making love and could not be bothered to move, he was always the one who helped wash her.

Shen Yichi was an exceptionally good lover. He was attentive and considerate not only during intimacy, but afterward as well, caring for her with the utmost tenderness.

As he washed her, his breathing gradually grew heavier.

They knew each other far too well. Even the slightest change could not escape notice.

Shen Yichi bent over her neck and kissed it gently.

Her skin was very fair; even the slightest pressure would leave a mark.

The handprints around her neck had yet to fade, evidence of just how forceful Xu Jingcheng had been.

Thinking of what Xu Jingcheng had done to her, anger surged through Shen Yichi once again.

His tender kisses continued to fall, and an unbearable ticklishness spread through her. Song Yanzi’s breathing grew uneven as she reminded him softly, “I’m an injured patient, you know.”

The man straightened and met her eyes. “You really do take me for a beast.”

In circumstances like these, he could still want her.

Song Yanzi cast him a sidelong glance. “Aren’t you one? The last time I was sick with a high fever, didn’t you also…”

She had only meant to accuse him of his misdeeds, but her voice weakened toward the end.

Her mind filled with scenes that made her cheeks burn and her heart race.

At her words, Shen Yichi chuckled. “I was helping you recover.”

Song Yanzi retorted, “You called it a treatment because sweating could cure a cold. In reality, you were exploiting me by another name. President Shen truly is a capitalist—he never takes a loss, and he even makes it sound so righteous.”

At the time, she had naively believed him after he coaxed her into it.

Shen Yichi reached out and gently drew her into his arms until their bare skin touched.

“President Song, that’s a little ungrateful of you. You were clearly the one who benefited. You haven’t said a word about how comfortable and pleasurable it was.”

Song Yanzi was rendered speechless. How did he manage to say such shameless things with such a solemn expression?

She muttered, “You bullied me, that’s all.”

Shen Yichi gently swept the damp strands clinging to her forehead behind her ear. “Then just tell me—did it work?”

She had no answer to that.

It had worked astonishingly well. After sweating all over, she had felt completely refreshed.

She had to admit, his method had been rather effective.

Shen Yichi pressed his forehead against hers. “Not saying anything means you agree. Next time, I’ll use the same method to treat you.”

With their bodies pressed closely together, her heart raced in confusion. “Could you please wish me well? I don’t want to get sick.”

With that, she reached out to push him away.

In the struggle, her hand accidentally brushed against something.

The man went rigid.

Their eyes met, and Song Yanzi’s face grew hot.