Shi Che's eyes dimmed slightly. He curled his lips, unable to even self-deprecate. He swallowed, the bitterness spreading in his mouth, more bitter than eating yellow lotus.
Shi Che quickly turned his head away, not wanting to look at Ling Chuxia in this state. As he turned, his gaze caught the medicine box on the nightstand.
That medicine box, he was more than familiar with it.
Ling Chuxia forced herself to stand, planning to wait for Shi Che to come out so she could help him into bed. Then she could lie down and rest too. Yet Shi Che stood there, silent and motionless, so she naturally could only stand there quietly with him.
She raised her head slightly, seeing Shi Che staring at the box of morning-after pills on the nightstand. She thought Shi Che was worried that she hadn't taken the pills, so she hurriedly whispered, "I've already taken the pills."
Those few words made Shi Che's brow furrow deeply. His gaze snapped back to her, too sharp, too shadowy, making Ling Chuxia dare not look up at him.
Shi Che just stared at Ling Chuxia, stared and stared, then suddenly burst out laughing.
That laugh was baffling to Ling Chuxia, and it sent an inexplicable chill through her body. She didn't understand what was funny about what she said, nor did she dare to ask why he laughed, only instinctively shrinking her body, filled with anxiety. She felt Shi Che step toward her, step by step coming closer. She wanted to retreat, but her feet felt nailed to the floor and couldn't lift.
Shi Che came to stand before her, stretched out his hand, and forcefully grasped her jaw, forcing Ling Chuxia to lift her face and meet his eyes.
His eyes were like deep pools. At that moment, she could clearly see the undercurrents churning in them. Ling Chuxia's heart raced like a hammer, pounding heavily against her chest.
Shi Che's face showed no excess expression. His handsome face seemed covered with a layer of ice. He stared at her intensely, his voice equally cold, "You took the pills?"
Ling Chuxia nodded stiffly. The words came out with great difficulty, "Took... took them."
Shi Che suddenly curled his lips, chuckling twice at Ling Chuxia as he parted his lips. His words were harsh and cold, "Ling Chuxia, keeping you is cheaper than keeping a dog. Really impressive, the Shi Family hasn't raised you for nothing."
With that, he viciously let go of her, brushing past her shoulder, opening the wardrobe, taking out his clothes, putting them on one by one, and then left without a backward glance.
Ling Chuxia stood motionlessly where she was. When Shi Che finally left home, her legs gave way, and she collapsed completely.
After all these years, Shi Che had spoken so many harsh words to her. She thought she had long grown used to it, no longer cared. Yet, she had overestimated herself.
She didn't understand why, when she behaved and listened to him, it still incited his anger. She didn't know what to do to please him.
Ling Chuxia curled up, clutching herself tightly, burying her head into her knees, crying silently.