Qin Heye absorbed the unexpected advice with all his might . He dismissed Pei Qianhuo for the night and sped toward home, his mind consumed with the urgent desire to see his wife and, more importantly, to finally reveal his abs to her in person. A rare, contented smile played on his lips as he drummed his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, his mood now light and unburdened.
His phone vibrated. In his buoyant state, he answered without checking the caller ID, a cheerful “Hello” escaping his lips, rich and melodious.
Lin Jingyao, on the other end, felt her heart skip a beat. She had never heard such warmth in Qin Heye’s voice, usually so cold and unapproachable. She clutched her racing heart, attempting to match his newfound gentleness. “Master Qin, it’s me, Lin Jingyao,” she murmured.
The warmth vanished from Qin Heye’s voice, replaced by an arctic chill. “What’s the matter?”
The sudden shift in tone made Lin Jingyao’s blush recede, her body stiffening. Yet, she persisted, her voice laced with concern. “Mr. Qin, please don’t take photos for Ningning of your abdominal muscles.” She paused, then continued, “With your identity, if such photos are circulated, it will be very bad for your reputation.”
She, like the rest of the company, had been privy to the “emergency meeting” and the wild speculation about the president’s mysterious wife. Some had even questioned her, given her past claims of being “brother-in-law’s sister.” But when she overheard Shi Ning demanding abs photos and Qin Heye seemingly complying, a bitter jealousy seized her.
Qin Heye’s voice remained a peculiar mix of coldness for her and a soft undertone that was clearly reserved for someone else. “It doesn’t matter,” he stated, “it was only taken for my wife to see.”
Lin Jingyao bristled but pressed on. “I’m worried that Ningning will take your photos and threaten you to give Shen Xizhou the land in the west of the city.” She rushed her words, desperate to sow doubt. “Or paralyze you so that she can leave you overnight.”
Qin Heye’s pleasant mood shattered. “She won’t! Miss Lin should take care of herself.” He hung up, the line going dead.
Lin Jingyao, listening to the abrupt end of the call, still clung to a sliver of hope. Despite the icy tone, she thought she detected a hint of concern. A renewed blush warmed her cheeks, her heart quickening once more. “As long as I work hard,” she whispered, “Mr. Qin will always notice me and find that I am better than Shi Ning.” She might not possess Shi Ning’s beauty or family fortune, but her sincerity to Qin Heye, she believed, would ultimately prevail.
Fifteen minutes later, Qin Heye arrived home. The villa was cloaked in an unsettling darkness and an unnatural quiet than normal . He frowned, checking his phone. It was 11:53 PM right now . Shi Ning still hadn’t replied to his text . She was never an early sleeper. At this thought an inexplicable tightening gripped his chest.
She left him! The terrible, terrifying thought clawed at his mind, enveloping him in a wave of panic.
He strode into the living room, his voice strained. “Aunt Zhang, Uncle Zhao.” No reply. The living room remained dark and empty. No matter how late, the Qin family always had night-shift servants waiting. Their high wages were not for nothing. But tonight, the house was deserted.
Qin Heye’s lips pressed into a thin, grim line. He ascended the stairs two at a time. Shi Ning’s door was ajar. He flicked on the light; the room was empty. He frantically searched the entire villa: the movie room, the study, the lavish cloakroom, the underground wine cellar. No sign of Shi Ning at all .
She was gone!
He immediately called Aunt Zhang, his voice trembling with barely suppressed panic. “Where’s my wife?” Then, a chilling edge entered his tone, “Where are you?”
Aunt Zhang, startled by his intensity, stammered, “The young lady said there was too much milk tea, and she couldn’t finish it, so she asked us to come out and treat passers-by.” She added, trying to reassure him, “The young lady is at home right now .”
Qin Heye’s voice turned to ice. “My wife is missing! If she leaves the capital, you will all be fired!” He hung up, then immediately called Pei Qianhuo, already racing down the stairs.
Pei Qianhuo had just reached his own front door when Qin Heye’s call came through. A jolt of dread went through him. This night shift is definitely happening. He answered without hesitation. “Qin…”
“Block all roads out of the city! Bring people to surround the Shen family!”
The sheer scale of the command made Pei Qianhuo’s scalp prickle with fear. “Why go to the Shen family?”
“Shen Xizhou kidnapped my wife! Then let the Shen family be buried with him!!” Qin Heye’s murderous intent, even through the phone, sent shivers down Pei Qianhuo’s spine.
“And…” Qin Heye closed his eyes, the last vestiges of his self-control crumbling. “Find Shi Ning! Bring her back at all costs!” His voice dropped, raw and desperate. “Tie, tie Shi Ning back…”
At that moment, a sleepy Shi Ning, awakened by the commotion, stumbled onto the balcony. She was just about to greet Qin Heye when she heard him utter those chilling words: “Tie, tie Shi Ning back…”
Her drowsiness vanished, replaced by outrage. “Qin Heye! Who are you going to tie up?” Her voice, though angry, was still soft and heavy with sleep, drifting down from above.
Qin Heye froze, as if caught in a dream. Slowly, he lifted his head. Shi Ning stood on the balcony, clad in his shirt, looking at him with a mix of sleepiness and fury. A gust of night wind playfully billowed the shirt, and from his vantage point, he could see right through it.
His gaze lingered.
Shi Ning, following his eyes, flushed instantly. She snatched at the front of the shirt, pulling it tighter, and pressed her legs together. “You bastard! I’m not going to pay attention to you from now on !” she fumed, glaring at him before turning sharply and retreating into the room.
“Master Qin? Master Qin? Master Qin!!!” Pei Qianhuo’s voice cut through the phone.
Qin Heye stared at the balcony – the balcony of his room. Shi Ning hadn’t left. The panic receded, replaced by an overwhelming surge of relief and joy. He moved, striding purposefully indoors and taking the stairs two at a time. “You don’t have to go to the Shen family,” he announced into the phone, “and you don’t have to go to work tomorrow.”as he cut the call.
Pei Qianhuo on the other end: ??? Was he on vacation, or was he fired?
Qin Heye reached the top of the stairs. Shi Ning had just emerged from his room, still wearing his shirt, its collar open, revealing a generous expanse of skin.
He murmured her name, his voice thick with emotion, “Wife…”
Shi Ning’s face flushed at his gaze, and she glared at him with renewed indignation. “Iam angry! I won’t pay attention to you!” She snorted, pushing past him.
In the next second, his hand grasped her arm. He pulled her back, his eyes fixed on her with a look of profound loss, then overwhelming relief. “You didn’t leave!”
“Let go,” Shi Ning demanded, still fuming. “I’m leaving now… um!”
Her words were cut short as Qin Heye pulled her into his arms, his lips descending to claim hers. He guided her into the room, pressing her gently against the wall. His hand found hers, guiding it inside the open collar of his shirt, and with his lips still pressed against hers, he murmured, “Let me show you my abdominal muscles and let you touch my abdominal muscles all you want .”