Something Beautiful And Wicked

Shanghai: 

Yuan Shun was smothering her. Ever since Shi Yen received that terrible gash on her left shoulder, he's behaved overly cautious, protective. She wasn't sure what Yuan Shun saw, but it must have been a ghastly sight to see his wife bleed out, pale, and then pass out altogether. And she knew it affected him gravely. 

Though she appreciated him looking after her, even becoming domestic around the house than usual, she only wanted to regain normalcy. Shi Yen returned to work early despite the doctor's warnings and Yuan Shun's protests, but she needed to stop reliving the last week. She needed to stop worrying about Shi Ailin and Luo Wanting's safety, and she needed to leave the house. 

Since the confrontation with Shi Ma, Shi Yen managed to relax a bit, as she no longer faced the looming feeling of impending death. Shi Ma was dead, and the Emperor—Yuan Ning—was Emperor no more. He was a normal man again, a son and a brother.

Yuan Shun had to make a press release for his brother's unexpected reappearance. The country was curious to know what happened to the famed and prominent eldest son. Yuan Shun lied and said that Yuan Ning was presumed dead—an assumption made by doctors since he was involved in a terrible accident that resulted in a year-long coma, which they didn't expect him to recover from. Nonetheless, his family was persistent and didn't give up hope until one day, he had woken. Yuan Shun mentioned that his brother had not yet fully recovered and to give his family some privacy at this time. 

Shi Yen had watched what happened after her husband spoke. Many people ate up the lie and false story, and were relieved that Yuan Ning was alive and well, and "available." 

Already the high society had his eyes on him, and it made her roll her eyes. Couldn't they let him have some peace? 

Her phone buzzed, and Shi Yen went to check the message in her office at Shi Group. It was Shi Ailin telling her the details of their plan, and where they exactly were. Luckily, Shi Yen already knew. 

She could track them through their phones, and if she ever gets the slightest idea that they've stayed still in the same location for too long, without sending a word, then she will immediately launch a rescue mission. 

Shi Yen's priority would be their safety, not the truth of a couple of missing people, even if they were her parents. 

She replied to Shi Ailin, and then she heard someone unclasped the door, and step inside. Yuan Shun strode towards the coffee table, placing lunch for the two of them. He then stepped forward to reach for her, but Shi Yen raised a hand to stop him. "I can walk," she told him. 

"Ah," he said, catching his mistake. "Sorry." 

Shi Yen chuckled as she rose from her seat to sit on the couch with him. Yuan Shun then passed some of the food to feed herself. "How are you holding up?" he asked. 

She chewed and swallowed before answering, "I just exchanged emails all day. It doesn't put too much strain on my shoulder when typing. My hands do most of the work." 

"Are you sure you don't want to do that from home—" 

"Shun," Shi Yen interrupted. She put her utensils down and faced him firmly. "I want to keep working," she told him. "And if you don't let me then I lock myself in the other side of the house, and sleep in my old room. You won't be seeing me for weeks." 

Yuan Shun stood up outrageously. "You wouldn't!" he said. 

She glared at him. "I would," she threatened. "Try me." 

Yuan Shun did not doubt that Shi Yen was serious. She would always get what she wanted, and there was no helping it. Besides, she was right. He was smothering her, but he couldn't help it. He heard her screams—seen her expression. She nearly died in front of him, and it changed his perspective. Every hour, every minute with her suddenly became more precious than before, and it was because he witnessed the endless suffering his brother faced when he lost the love of his life. 

He pinched the space between his brows. "All right," he told her. "But you can't overwork yourself. I want you to heal properly." 

Shi Yen understood his concern. "I will," she answered. "I promise."

It gave him some assurance, and he joined her again, eating alongside. 

"Are we still dropping by the Yuan Estate, later?" Shi Yen asked. 

Yuan Shun paused his eating, as he looked into nothing but the space of her office. "We don't have to go," he said. 

Shi Yen frowned. "Is this still about your brother?" she questioned. After she returned home, she learned that while Yuan Ning stayed in their house, he only had one conversation with Yuan Shun before they started ignoring each other. But she had a feeling that it wasn't Yuan Ning that did the avoiding and ignoring, it was Yuan Shun. And she figured that they both just didn't know how to approach each other or move on. 

When Yuan Shun didn't answer, it only confirmed that she was right. 

"He's your family," Shi Yen reminded him. "Can you please try talking to him?" 

He sighed, shaking his head. "You've been extra forgiving lately. Are you sure you're even my wife?" 

She laughed, and she shoved him playfully with her good arm. Her expression then changed thoughtfully. "You've wanted him back this entire time, and he's here; he's back. And sure, he's made mistakes. But then, so have we." 

Yuan Shun then looked at her earnestly and ardently. He approached her carefully, half-embracing her. He angled her head, pressing forehead against forehead, and he breathed her in. "I'll speak to him." 

Shi Yen smiled. "That's all I want." 

…

Later, in the afternoon, Shi Yen and Yuan Shun had stopped by their house to take Shizi with them to the Yuan Estate. When they arrived, she ran off into the house, searching for a pillow to curl up against. 

It was a semi-awkward greeting. How do you greet someone, who had just returned back to your life after believing they were dead? Shi Yen knew that they'd have to adapt. It would be easy for Shi Yen since she never knew Yuan Ning all that well, but she knew he shared a strong bond with Yuan Shun before he left. 

Yuan Xinyi and their mother looked happier than they've ever been. They wouldn't stop looking at Yuan Ning as he gave Yuan Shun an awkward handshake. And they wouldn't stop looking at him when he did the same to Shi Yen, or when they strode towards the dining room. Their eyes didn't want to peel off of him as if they still didn't fully grasp it, or they were afraid of blinking, and he'd disappear into thin air.