Back in the room, Rong Qian asked Shen Yi, "Who was that just now?"
"My mother," he replied curtly.
Rong Qian wasn't surprised—she had already guessed. The resemblance between them was faint, indicating Shen Yi likely took after his father. Having seen the adult Shen Yi, she could imagine what his father must have looked like.
What puzzled her was why his mother hadn't visited him once in the past few days.
According to what Rong Qian knew, Shen Yi had immigrated with his family at the age of six. His father was a wealthy businessman, and Shen Yi was born into privilege, destined to be pampered and loved.
But her brief stay in his home painted a starkly different picture.
The atmosphere was oppressive, devoid of warmth or vitality. Shen Yi's daily routine was far beyond what a normal person could endure. It felt like he was imprisoned, restrained, and utterly devoid of freedom.
As Rong Qian dried her hair, she casually asked, "Do you not get along with your mother?"
Shen Yi lowered his head, silent for a long time before quietly replying, "I'm the result of her being raped by a man. Every time she sees my face, she wants to strangle me."
Rong Qian froze mid-motion, staring at him in shock. What kind of life has he been through?
Late at night, Rong Qian lay on the sofa, wide awake.
Over the past few days, she had observed that the young Shen Yi exhibited signs of mild autism—silent, withdrawn, and perpetually serious. He never smiled.
She couldn't reconcile this boy with the graceful, charming, and gentlemanly Shen Yi of adulthood.
What kind of experiences had transformed him so profoundly?
Sitting up, Rong Qian walked over to his bed. Shen Yi was sleeping, his brows furrowed, clutching the blanket tightly as if in the grip of a nightmare.
It was clear to Rong Qian that his childhood was fractured, his past deeply painful.
I have to do something. If this continues, I can't imagine what kind of person he might become.
At 6 a.m., Shen Yi woke up on schedule. The first thing he did was glance at the sofa. Not seeing Rong Qian, he panicked and bolted upright.
Then, her voice came from behind the sofa: "Fifty-eight… fifty-nine… sixty…"
Shen Yi walked over and saw her on the floor doing push-ups.
"What are you doing?" he asked, frowning.
"Push-ups, of course! I haven't exercised in days, and my bones are stiff," she replied, standing up and stretching. "Come join me. You can't just focus on learning all the time. Physical health is important too! Ever heard of balanced development in morals, intellect, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor?"
He looked hesitant. "I don't want to."
"I can tell you've never worked out before. Look at your scrawny frame—so weak and frail! Don't be afraid to sweat; it feels great!" Without giving him a chance to refuse, Rong Qian pulled him into a workout. By the time she was done with him, he was drenched in sweat and collapsed on the floor, gasping for air.
Looking up, he saw her shadowboxing, her movements sharp and fluid.
"Are you good at fighting?" he asked once he caught his breath.
"Of course! I'm trained in kickboxing, sanda, and mixed martial arts. You need to be strong to protect the people you care about," Rong Qian said proudly.
Shen Yi seemed to mull over her words. No one had ever said such things to him before, much less encouraged him to improve his physical strength.
"Then… can you teach me?" he asked, locking eyes with her.
"Sure!" Rong Qian agreed immediately. Training him would not only pass the time but also keep things interesting.
From then on, Rong Qian taught Shen Yi whenever they were alone.
They also played a few rounds of Go, though Rong Qian lost every time. Instead of being discouraged, she would throw a playful tantrum, demanding rematches despite her poor skills. Eventually, Shen Yi started letting her win, much to her delight.
Shen Yi couldn't understand why she was so happy about beating a child, especially when he had let her win.
Still, her infectious enthusiasm began to brighten his days. Her constant chatter and laughter filled the room with a warmth he had never known, making the space he once dreaded feel almost bearable.
A month passed.
During that time, Rong Qian didn't sit idle. Late at night, she explored the mansion, familiarizing herself with its layout. By the end of the month, she knew the place like the back of her hand.
Technically, it wasn't just a mansion—it was an estate. But there weren't many residents: seven or eight maids, a gardener, two chefs, and the elusive butler, Fu, who seemed determined never to return.
The only people living there were Shen Yi and his mother, which struck Rong Qian as odd. The place felt like a gilded cage, isolating them from the world.
One day, Rong Qian overheard the maids gossiping about Shen Yi's mother, learning more about her tragic past and the man responsible—Shen Yi's father, Shen Chi.
Shen Yi's mother, Yan Qingyao, had been born into a literary family in southern China. Her life took a turn for the worse when she went abroad to study.
She had fallen in love with a man named Xu Zhiwei, who reciprocated her feelings. But Shen Chi, ruthless and unscrupulous, had forcibly taken her away from Xu Zhiwei.
Shen Chi's methods were brutal. He saw people and things as possessions to be claimed. If he couldn't have them, no one could.
Through coercion and violence, he forced Yan Qingyao to bear his child and marry him.
Her life with Shen Chi was a nightmare. Yan Qingyao hated him and tried to escape multiple times, only to be caught and subjected to severe beatings.
Shen Yi grew up witnessing his mother's abuse and her hatred toward him, a living reminder of her trauma.
Rong Qian found it hard to fully trust the gossip, as some details seemed exaggerated. But one thing was clear: Shen Yi was the biggest victim in this story.
One morning, Shen Yi told her, "He's back."
"Who's back?" she asked, still half-asleep.
"Shen Chi. My father."
Rong Qian froze. Shen Chi… is back?