You are my heartbeat

After some time, Shen Ning slowly regained consciousness.

Qin Yuheng was still by her side, his worry etched on his face. "Let's go back. It's almost time for dinner."

"Hmm." She muttered, but despite her words, she didn't let go of his hand. Her eyes darted around warily, still unsettled.

After dinner they went to bed.

Qin Yuheng had decided not to go back to studying tonight. He could tell that Shen Ning was still shaken, and he couldn't bear the thought of her having nightmares. He stayed close, making sure she felt safe.

In the dead of night, Shen Ning clung to him like a koala.

Her body was burning with fever, and Qin Yuheng's sleep was interrupted when he felt the heat radiating from her. He woke up from his sleep and touched her forehead. She was running a high fever!

What had I done? The thought stung him. He regretted ever taking her to that haunted house.

He rushed to the bathroom and filled a basin with cold water. Carefully, he used a damp cloth to wipe her forehead, trying to bring her fever down. As he worked, he heard her murmur softly in her sleep.

Qin Yuheng bent down to hear what she was saying.

"Don't go, please... I really miss you, Chen. Don't ignore me, okay?"

Tears slipped from her closed eyes, and though she was only murmuring, the words struck Qin Yuheng like a blow.

She sounds so miserable. But he felt like someone stabbing him with a knife in his heart. He clutched his heart with a hand. It hurts. Why?

Chen? The person whom Shi Fu was talking about?

She was thinking about another man in her sleep in his bed! How could he not feel hurt and uncomfortable!

When her fever subsided a lot, he laid beside her, taking her in his arms.

That night Qin Yuheng suffered from insomnia.

The next morning, Shen Ning woke up to find Qin Yuheng already dressed in his suit.

He was seated by the bedside, looking at her with a concerned expression. "You're awake? Do you feel uncomfortable? You should rest today. I've already asked for leave on your behalf."

He touched her forehead, relief flashing in his eyes when he felt the fever had gone down. "Aunt Rong will bring you your medicine later. Take them, alright?"

"Ok."

When they were having breakfast, Shen Ning felt that something was off. Qin Yuheng had barely eaten anything, and he kept stealing glances at her. His gaze was intense, but he remained silent, almost as if he were lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Finally, she asked.

He glanced away, his lips pressing into a tight line. "... Nothing."

Infact he wanted to ask her about that guy she was talking in her sleep. But he was afraid that the answer would be something that he don't want to hear.

"I'm leaving."

Shen Ning looked at him in confusion. He ate so little today.

At ShengTian Group...

Qin Yuheng locked himself in his office, refusing any visitors. His door remained shut for the entire day, no meetings were attended, and no calls were answered.

A knock on the door broke the silence.

"I said, get lost!" He roared throwing the file towards the door.

The person outside was probably shocked by his sudden outburst.

"Hey, Yuheng. It's me." It was Huo Siang. He wanted to meet his friend to talk about his sudden marriage.

"Come in."

Huo Siang entered cautiously, taking a seat opposite Qin Yuheng's desk. "What happened? Why are you so angry?"

Qin Yuheng stared out of the window, his posture slumped, emitting a sense of isolation.

"Relationship problem?" Huo Siang asked carefully, sensing that something was wrong.

No reply came, and Huo Siang began to understand that his friend was dealing with something far more personal than just work stress.

Huo Siang leaned forward, concern evident on his face. "Every relationship has its issues. You don't have to face it alone. What happened?"

Still, Qin Yuheng remained silent, his eyes distant, unwilling to open up.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Qin Yuheng spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I forced her to marry me… But... she likes someone else."

Huo Siang's heart sank. Forced marriage? And the woman Qin Yuheng married loved another man?

---

"You..." Huo Siang didn't know what to say. He could understand why Qin Yuheng was hurt, but at the same time, the situation wasn't entirely his fault. His wife, she hadn't asked for this.

"But I don't regret marrying her."

Despite everything, Qin Yuheng wasn't turning back. His love for Shen Ning wasn't something he could easily give up. Even if she was thinking of another man.