""Aren't you afraid you've offended him by hitting him? Didn't you know you had to flatter him a bit?" Over these past few years, Song Yichen truly had made a point to ingratiate himself and build relationships everywhere.
Whether it was money, jewelry, or famous people's paintings and calligraphy, there was nothing he had not given to high-ranking officials.
And he had risked offending someone so important for her sake?
A terrible possibility abruptly crossed Lin Xiangwan's mind, and she blurted out her question. "Song Yichen, did you drug me? Did you want me to please this Mr. Qin?"
At first, Song Yichen's expression was one of shock, which quickly turned into sorrow. "Xiangwan, I can't believe you would suspect me like this!"
"I'm not suspecting you, I just can't understand why I was drugged and why I ended up in the wrong room!"
Indicating his heart with a pained expression, Song Yichen asked, "So, you're connecting all these suspicious points to me? I had the opportunity to drug you, and I intentionally let you enter the wrong room, is that it?"
"I didn't say that!" She felt guilty as she faced his questioning.
If she can't trust Yichen, who can she trust?
Song Yichen sadly closed his eyes, saying with deep sorrow, "Xiangwan, even if I could harm anyone, I could never harm you. If it weren't for your help all those years ago, I might have died! I'm grateful to you, and I could never express just how much!"
Her slim fingers gently pressed against her thin lips, as Lin Xiangwan felt her resolve weaken. His gratitude was something she found hardest to bear. "Please don't say that! I didn't help you much and the money wasn't mine!"
She had always told him that it was Ni Shanshan who had lent the surgery fee.
She did not want his gratitude and certainly did not want him to know the source of the money.
Song Yichen pulled her fingers away and held them tightly. "Wanwan, think about it. If I really wanted you to please Mr. Qin, could I have let you go to the police then? Why would I have picked a fight with him?"
Lin Xiangwan's internal doubts gradually subsided. "Yes, I was overthinking."
In this world, if she doesn't trust Song Yichen, who can she trust?
Song Yichen picked up a clean towel and wiped her wet hair.
Lin Xiangwan obediently stood there, letting him dry her damp, cold body.
"My business is important, but you are more important to me. There's nothing that would make me willing to let go of you!"
"I'm sorry, I should never have doubted you. You have been the kindest to me, more than anyone else in this world!" Tears of guilt slid down Lin Xiangwan's cheeks. "I really am sorry, I should never have doubted you, how wrong I was!"
When her adoptive father was arrested, all the family's money was confiscated. They didn't even have money for food, and under such circumstances, Song Yichen dropped out of school to earn money on construction sites, supporting both their livelihoods and her education.
He did all the difficult and exhausting jobs, hardly sleeping even four hours a day. Yet, he never let her undertake any heavy work, only wanting her to focus on her studies.
With how well he treated her, how could he possibly harm her?
"Let's not talk about this anymore, what's the point!"
"Right!" She would keep all the good he had done for her in her heart. There was no need for words.
Song Yichen frowned, asking her with worry, "Wanwan, you said someone drugged you? What drug was it, who do you think might have done it? Who did you interact with tonight?"
Lin Xiangwan looked completely confused. "I have no idea. I interacted only with familiar faces today and they all came with their wives or mistresses. None of them would have done anything like this!
"You need to be more careful from now on, or let's just no longer go to social engagements," Song Yichen said worriedly.
"If I can help you, that's always good. Of course, if you don't need me in the future, that'd be even better," Lin Xiangwan said with a slight smile.
The warm light shone on her face, highlighting her ethereal beauty.
Her beauty was enough to make Song Yichen impressed, as well as many other men.
Song Yichen gently touched her cheek, sighed with regret, "How can I not need you? Everyone, from the big bosses to the leaders are willing to give me some face because of you!"
Lin Xiangwan laughed in embarrassment. "Thank you for your compliment!"
Song Yichen checked the time. "Alright, it's late. Get some rest and make sure to compensate yourself tomorrow for your grievances tonight."
"Okay!"
As Song Yichen walked out and closed the door, he balled his hands into fists and punched the wall repeatedly!
In the room—
Lin Xiangwan's stomach growled uncontrollably, and after the incident with the drugs, she didn't have much to look forward to this Valentine's day.
'Click,' the sound of the door closing echoed through the room. Lin Xiangwan shed her wet clothes, took a hot shower, and crawled into bed.
The moment she closed her eyes, her son's face appeared in her mind.
She wondered if he was behaving well, if he had gone to bed yet.
Just as she was thinking about this, Lin Xiangwan suddenly felt an eerie sensation at the end of her bed.
She instantly tensed up and sat up suddenly.
"Who's there?"
"Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy." A small head suddenly appeared at the foot of the bed, big, deep eyes and thin lips scrunched into a smile.
Lin Xiangwan was surprised, but happy. "Ranran, you are much too mischievous! Who let you come here? Didn't we agree that you'd sleep at home tonight with Miaomiao?"
"But it's Valentine's Day tonight, and I must celebrate it with mommy. Otherwise, I couldn't live with myself as your boyfriend!" Lin Haoran replied with a huge sense of responsibility.
"Puh…" Lin Xiangwan was amused by her son's words and wrinkled her nose dismissively. "But I don't lack boyfriends!"
The six-year-old Haoran kneeled beside his mother, with a shameless smirk, "But they're not as handsome as me, not as young as me, not as smart as me!"
Lin Xiangwan displayed a face of disgust. "But I don't like young boyfriends, I prefer older ones, they make me feel secure!"
Ever since her son started kindergarten and became sensible, he had claimed to be her boyfriend.
Moreover, he was extremely domineering, not allowing her to be alone with Song Yichen.
So apart from work, she rarely had any private time with Song Yichen.
"Who says young ones can't provide a sense of security? I can protect mommy, take good care of you!" He took off his backpack, unzipped it, and tipped it upside down.
'Swoosh' a bunch of candy, pudding, chips, spicy chicken wings, ready-to-eat abalone, egg pie, banana slices… various snacks spread all over the bed.
Immediately, Lin Xiangwan swallowed her saliva.
"These are all your favorites, right?" Lin Haoran asked confidently.
Lin Xiangwan's mouth watered as she swallowed hard, patting her son's head."No doubt you're my son, knowing exactly what your mom loves!"
How embarrassing! She was a grown woman and a mother, yet she loved snacks so much.