"Since there's no witness, when you get back to the mainland, just pin this on He Yining. Find a way to get something personal of his, then claim the person who was with you was He Yining! By then, He Yining won't be able to talk his way out of it—after all, he was the one who took you to the island! From what you've said, that guy called Heizi probably won't leave the island. As long as he doesn't show up, He Yining has no way to explain!"
Shen Yinyin's eyes lit up!
"Will that really work?" Shen Yinyin bit her lip, a sly glint in her eyes. "Will He Yining be threatened?"
"That's why I said to wait until you're back to make a scene! Then find people to spread the word everywhere, saying He Yining took advantage of you when you were drunk and now won't own up to it!" Mrs. Shen sneered. "The more prestigious someone is, the more they care about face! By the time the news reaches the He family, if you're lucky enough to get pregnant before Shen Qi, do you think the He family will choose you or that bitch Shen Qi?"
Hearing Mrs. Shen's advice, Shen Yinyin finally felt satisfied.
"Fine, I'll do as you say!" Shen Yinyin dropped her earlier dejected expression, replacing it with determination. "Yeah, as long as I get something of He Yining's, he won't be able to deny it!"
"Make sure you get something he always keeps on him, understand? Only then can that man not weasel out of it!" Mrs. Shen spoke earnestly, continuing to impart wisdom to Shen Yinyin. "A man like He Yining can only be won over by unconventional means! Once you produce his belongings, that little bitch Shen Qi will step aside willingly. Then you just act meek and obedient, coax him to see you in a different light, and you'll be the true young mistress of the He family!"
After hanging up, Shen Yinyin stealthily crept toward Shen Qi and He Yining's room.
At this time, He Yining was still in the research lab chatting with the scientists.
Shen Qi had just taken a shower and was doing her skincare routine.
Shen Yinyin walked in without knocking, and Shen Qi's eyes darkened. "Shen Yinyin, this isn't a place you can just barge into."
Shen Yinyin completely ignored Shen Qi, glancing around without spotting anything personal of He Yining's.
Seeing Shen Yinyin pay her no mind, Shen Qi picked up her phone to call for help.
Shen Yinyin noticed, snatched the phone away first, turned it off, and tossed it onto the bed.
"I don't mean anything by it. I just came to see you." Shen Yinyin casually sat on the sofa, addressing Shen Qi. "No need to be so wary. I know I've been awful before, always targeting you. Isn't this me coming to apologize?"
Shen Qi looked at her suspiciously. Apologize? Her?
Come on, seriously?
What does she really want?
Shen Yinyin's gaze swept over the bedside table and froze.
He Yining's watch?
Shen Yinyin slowly stood up, pretending to stroll by casually, saying, "We're sisters after all, aren't we? Even if we're not close, we grew up together."
Shen Qi grew more certain something was off. "What do you really want? I've done more than enough for you!"
Shen Yinyin turned, quietly palming He Yining's watch and slipping it into her sleeve.
"Yeah, I think so too." Having succeeded, Shen Yinyin smiled with utter confidence. "So I want to say one more thing to you."
"What?" Shen Qi felt even more puzzled. What was with that contemptuous look Shen Yinyin was giving her?
"You're done for." Shen Yinyin stared at Shen Qi, leaning in slightly, her eyes venomous as she spoke.
Shen Qi thought Shen Yinyin must have a screw loose!
She said she came to apologize, and now she's cursing me like this.
Well, I guess I was overthinking it.
When has Shen Yinyin ever shown me any goodwill?
Since we were kids, she's only ever tried to bully me.
Having gotten what she wanted, Shen Yinyin wasn't about to waste time here.
"Alright, I'm off." Shen Yinyin shot Shen Qi a malicious grin. "Enjoy your last moments. Bye."
With that, she didn't spare Shen Qi another glance and left cheerfully.
Watching Shen Yinyin's retreating figure, Shen Qi was at a loss for words.
Shen Yinyin shows up out of nowhere, drops two cryptic lines, and then leaves just as mysteriously?
After Shen Yinyin left, Shen Qi washed off her face mask and got ready to rest.
A knock came at the door.
Shen Qi opened it to find a middle-aged woman who handled cleaning on the island.
"Sorry to bother you so late, young madam," the woman said apologetically.
"It's fine. What's the matter?" Shen Qi replied with a smile.
"Heizi came by to drop something off for the CEO earlier, but he found the watch inconvenient to wear, so he took it off and left it on the nightstand. Heizi couldn't come himself, so he asked me to check," the woman said cheerfully.
Watch?
Shen Qi glanced back at the nightstand. Shen Yinyin had been there just now...
Damn it.
That Shen Yinyin!
She actually stole something!
Shen Qi said regretfully, "I'm so sorry, the watch might be missing... Could you ask Heizi what model it was? Since it went missing in my room, I'll replace it with a new one."
Hearing this, the woman beamed with satisfaction. "No need. Heizi just wanted me to ask. It's a cheap watch, just a few hundred bucks, not worth fussing over. Heizi has plenty more!"
"Is that so? Still, I feel terrible!" Shen Qi said apologetically. "Please tell Heizi that if he ever gets to the mainland, he's welcome to come over for a meal."
"Alright, young madam, I won't disturb you further." The woman quickly left.
Even though Shen Yinyin was the thief, it was Shen Qi's face that got lost.
After all, Shen Yinyin was someone she'd brought along.
Shen Qi was furious.
She turned on her phone, checked her balance—still had some money left.
Without hesitation, she ordered a men's watch from JD.com and even asked the seller to include a note of apology in her name with the delivery.
Shen Qi and He Yining stayed on the island for three full days. By the time they returned to the mainland, the watch she'd ordered had arrived.
When Heizi received it, he was stunned.
Heizi came specially to thank Shen Qi. "Young madam, you really didn't have to do this."
Shen Qi waved her hand, speaking seriously, "No, Heizi, this is basic decency. Your things went missing on my watch, so I have to make it right. You lost it while helping Yining move stuff, and as his wife, how could I let you put in the time and effort only to suffer a loss? Yining says you're his friend, so let's not stand on ceremony. I don't have much money, so I can't afford anything fancy. This watch is within my means—I hope you don't mind."
Heizi was so moved he didn't know what to say.
He Yining walked over with a smile, wrapping his arms around Shen Qi from behind, breathing in the scent of her hair, utterly content.
His wife hadn't let him down!
"Xiao Qi gave it to you, so just accept it." He Yining spoke up for her. "Xiao Qi has strong principles. You'll get used to it over time."
Heizi scratched his head, then suddenly remembered something. "Wait for me!"
With that, he turned and ran off.
Shen Qi looked on, puzzled.
Heizi soon returned, carrying a small cage.
His burly hand held a red cage with a pair of rabbits inside. He handed it to Shen Qi, a bit embarrassed. "Young madam, this is for you. They're Mexican volcano rabbits. Keep them as pets."
Shen Qi's eyes lit up. "They're so tiny!"
Volcano rabbits are among the smallest rabbits in the world, weighing only about 450 grams. They live in Mexico's volcanic regions, locally called teporingo or zacatuche. Their fur is dark, and their ears are small and round.
They're an endangered species. Shen Qi never expected to find such precious rabbits on this little island.
She eagerly took the cage. "Thank you! I love them!"
It seemed women couldn't resist anything cute and tiny.
Especially fluffy rabbits like these.
Shen Qi immediately scooped them out and refused to let go.
Seeing her joy, Heizi grinned warmly.
Shen Yinyin watched from the side and couldn't help but snort.
In her eyes, Shen Qi was just putting on an act.
He Yining, pleased that Shen Qi liked the rabbits, said to Heizi, "Once things here are sorted, I'll give you half a year off."
Heizi rubbed his hands together. "Thank you, CEO, young madam."
Clutching the pair of volcano rabbits, Shen Qi bid farewell to the islanders with He Yining and set off on the return journey.
As soon as they docked, Shen Yinyin said, "I won't go back to Jinghua Manor with you. I'm suddenly a bit homesick."
Shen Qi didn't think much of it. "Alright, take care."
Shen Yinyin shot He Yining a meaningful glance.
This man was about to be hers!
She wouldn't let go easily!
He Yining didn't even spare Shen Yinyin a look, simply wrapping an arm around Shen Qi and walking away.
Back at Jinghua Manor, Shen Qi immediately had the butler prepare a beautiful little house and carefully placed the volcano rabbits inside.
Watching Shen Qi's delight, He Yining felt an overwhelming sense of achievement.
It was even more satisfying than closing a multi-billion-dollar deal.
Meanwhile, back at the Shen family home, Shen Yinyin photographed the stolen watch and paid someone to write a post accusing He Yining of using his authority to harass her and forcing her into something shameful on the island.
H Province was He family territory, so Shen Yinyin wisely avoided local media. Instead, she found a news outlet thousands of miles away, embellishing a tragic tale of a wealthy playboy bullying a girl and then abandoning her.
The internet spread news at lightning speed.
By midnight, the story was everywhere.
And the wealthy playboy in the article pointed directly at He Yining.