The Ice-Queen Actress Used Her Acting Skills to Reel Me In! - Chapter 22

The next day, Shen Niannian received only a bouquet of blue frost roses.

The residential concierge stood at her door and explained that several bouquets of red roses had been delivered the night before, but by morning, people had come to take them away one after another. Now, only this single bouquet remains.

The concierge also emphasized that even this bouquet had originally been sent without a name—apparently, the young lady next door, Miss Qin, had forgotten to include one. Fortunately, he knew who it was for and had written Shen Niannian’s name on it.

Shen Niannian could guess what had happened. The corners of her lips curved slightly as she said, “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

When she smiled, her cat-like eyes also curved gently, making her glow with an almost ethereal beauty. If this were a TV drama, the entire screen would be blooming with elegant flowers.

The concierge met her gaze and immediately flushed, stammering, “It’s nothing, just doing my job.”

Shen Niannian unwrapped the bouquet and arranged the flowers in a crystal vase on the table. She added water and a few drops of plant nutrients.

She left the nutrient bottle out on the table, making it obvious at a glance how much care she was taking into these flowers.

Before long, the doorbell rang again—it was Secretary Li.

Secretary Li now visited twice a day, morning and evening, primarily to deliver physical documents and brief Shen Niannian on the day’s workflow. In the mornings, she also brought breakfast.

When Shen Niannian opened the door, Secretary Li took one look at her outfit and exclaimed, “You look absolutely stunning today.”

Shen Niannian had been feverish since last night, alternating between chills and heat. She wore a white shirt dress—long sleeves on top, the hem just skimming her thighs. When cold, she draped a blanket over herself; when hot, she let her legs stay bare.

Wearing contact lenses while feverish was particularly uncomfortable, so she had opted for a pair of gold-rimmed glasses she used during filming, with delicate gold chains dangling from the sides.

With her black hair, red lips, white shirt, and gold-rimmed glasses, Shen Niannian had caught her own reflection earlier and immediately thought of one phrase:

Elegant scum.

Of course, she would never admit that. She let Secretary Li in and countered, “Am I not pretty on normal days?”

Secretary Li settled onto the sofa and said, “You’re always pretty, but today you’re especially hot.”

Shen Niannian chuckled and sat down beside her.

Secretary Li briefly went over the documents she had brought. There were so many that once they were all spread out, they covered the entire coffee table.

And that wasn’t all—there were still digital copies waiting in her inbox.

Secretary Li hesitated, reluctant to burden her while she was still unwell. “Maybe you should rest for a couple of days first.”

But Shen Niannian had already picked up one of the files to review. She never made things difficult for her subordinates when it came to work. “It’s fine. If I don’t go through them now, they’ll just pile up.”

“About the violin you asked me to look into—I had someone check, and there aren’t any available on the market right now.”

Secretary Li thought about the findings and added, “I don’t know how Ms. Mi managed to persuade the luthier to make yours back then. When I looked into it, I realized your violin was the last one that master craftsman ever made. He stopped after that, which is why they’re so hard to find now.”

Shen Niannian’s fingers, which had been flipping through the pages, stilled. “I see.”

Secretary Li tried to console her. “How about I get you a different violin?”

Shen Niannian’s gaze returned to the documents. “No need. I don’t play anymore. I just wanted it for the collection.”Secretary Li left after finishing the report. Hearing the door close, Shen Niannian set down the documents and lay on the sofa, clutching her abdomen.

She wasn’t in as good condition as she appeared. Having just rejected Qin Zhaoman’s contract yesterday, she couldn’t let Secretary Li know how seriously ill she was today.

Menstrual cramps compounded by a severe cold felt like a knife piercing from her lower back through her abdomen, each breath bringing fresh pain.

Her head swimming, Shen Niannian rested briefly on the sofa. Feeling slightly better, she sat up to continue reviewing documents. After three files, she collapsed back onto the sofa.

Cold sweat soaked through her blouse, clinging uncomfortably to her skin. The sensation vaguely reminded her of spring in F country during the humid “returning south” season – that stifling, breathless dampness.

Secretary Li’s purchased breakfast sat nearby – a sandwich and milk. Neither appealed to her, and she only gave them a disinterested glance.

One can’t refuse everything unpleasant.

After resting until she regained some strength, she resumed document review, alternating between work and rest whenever dizziness and double vision set in. Through sheer willpower, she managed to get through most of them.

When her phone rang, she initially raised her hand – only to cover her ears instead.

This evasion lasted fifteen seconds.

Shen Niannian finally picked up the phone. The screen displayed “Shen Sui Sui” followed by a cute cat emoji – the contact photo Sui Sui had set for herself.

Seeing Sui Sui’s name extinguished most of her irritation instantly.

Her Sui Sui.

Answering the call, her voice unconsciously softened: “What’s wrong?”

Shen Sui Sui’s vibrant voice replied: “You always ask that! Nothing’s wrong, I just miss you and want to talk.”

Her sweet, gentle voice resembled a lovely nightingale song.

A faint smile flickered in Shen Niannian’s eyes as she sat up. “Has anyone bullied you while I’ve been abroad?”

“Who would dare?” Sui Sui replied triumphantly, before her tone turned tentative. “Your voice sounds hoarse… are you sick?”

“Just a slight cold.” Shen Niannian set the phone on her lap and opened the previously scorned milk.

“That means it must be serious,” Sui Sui complained. “You never tell me the truth.”

Though disliking the milk’s taste, it soothed her throat, improving her voice quality. “If you behave, I’ll recover faster.”

“I’m the most obedient person in the world for you!” Sui Sui cooed sweetly.

Shen Niannian could practically see her wagging an imaginary tail through the phone, making her chuckle.

“There’s only one time I feel your fiancé isn’t completely useless,” Sui Sui admitted reluctantly. “At least someone can share your burdens when you won’t tell me anything.”

Shen Niannian didn’t know how to explain that the engagement had ended even before Yahé’s incident. The so-called fiancé her father favored had already turned hostile after hearing rumors of the failed negotiations, becoming an unbearable nuisance.

“Year-year,” Sui Sui murmured softly, “I wish I were the older sister.”

Like a small blossom dropped into still water, her words sent gentle ripples through the heavy atmosphere.Shen Niannian felt a warmth in her heart that eased her physical discomfort. Hearing faint noises from Shen Sui Sui’s end, she asked, “Are you still outside? It must be very late back home.”

Shen Sui Sui hesitated suspiciously before whispering, “I’m at a concert.”

Shen Niannian frowned disapprovingly. “And you’re calling me now?”

“I want to call you no matter what I’m doing.”

Detecting no anger in her tone, Shen Sui Sui asked, “So many people miss you. Do you want to hear them?”

“How would I hear that?” Shen Niannian had barely finished speaking when she heard multiple voices calling Shen Sui Sui’s name, accompanied by running and jumping sounds. Just as she was about to ask what was happening, Shen Sui Sui shouted, “Do you all miss Niannian?”

After the metallic hum of the microphone faded, there was a brief pause before an explosion of “We miss you!” traveled through the phone to Shen Niannian’s ears.

There were other words too, but she could only make out “Niannian” and “miss.” Even so, she could vividly imagine the lively scene on the other end.

Infected by the enthusiasm, Shen Niannian smiled slightly but still scolded her, “You’re being too reckless.”

Another wave of chaotic noises followed, interspersed with shouts of “Shen Sui Sui,” before the other side quieted down again.

Shen Sui Sui laughed. “Sis, I miss you too. Finish your work quickly and come back soon.”

Suppressing the urge to cough, Shen Niannian said, “I still have a lot of documents to review. I’ll call you when I have time, okay?”

“Wait!”

Knowing this meant the call was about to end, Shen Sui Sui hurriedly stopped her. “One last thing! I sent you a gift—it should arrive today. Don’t forget to pick it up!”

“Okay.”

Thanks to Shen Sui Sui, though her body still ached, her spirits felt much lighter.

Shen Niannian sat up again and opened another document.

She had to secure control over Yahe to protect those she cared about.

Qin Zhaoman was on the phone in her car when Qiao Qiao complained from the other end, “Are we even in the same city? I haven’t seen you in two days. What’s going on? You promised to help me check out the new store.”

If Qiao Qiao found out she was taking care of Shen Niannian, it would undoubtedly spark endless gossip.

Qin Zhaoman replied shamelessly, “I’m tired. Just resting at home.”

Annoyed by her blatant indifference, Qiao Qiao teased maliciously, “Are you hiding some beauty in a golden house? Coming home so early every day.”

Unfazed by the accurate guess, Qin Zhaoman retorted, “If you have nothing important, I’m hanging up.”

Qiao Qiao sighed. “Fine, go ahead. Without you and Niannian, the café is as dull as ever.”

Having just arrived at the garage, Qin Zhaoman hung up directly and pressed the doorbell at Shen Niannian’s doorstep.

Though she could enter with her fingerprint, she always considered it impolite to barge in unannounced.

A delivery scooter pulled up beside her. Qin Zhaoman turned to the courier and said, “Just give it to me.”

The courier hesitated—she had just seen Qin Zhaoman ringing the doorbell. “It has to be handed to the recipient personally.”

“I know,” Qin Zhaoman replied.

Assuming Shen Niannian might be asleep, Qin Zhaoman unlocked the door with her fingerprint and turned back. “Can you give it to me now?”

Qin Zhaoman’s commanding presence made it clear at a glance she was no ordinary person.The deliveryman instinctively handed the package to her with both hands, and Qin Zhaoman accepted it with a thank you.

She gently closed the door and placed the package on the coffee table in the living room before heading up the spiral staircase to the second floor. Shen Niannian’s door was ajar, and sure enough, she was asleep on the bed.

A small desk was still propped up on the bed, covered with documents, while Shen Niannian lay against the pillow.

The air conditioning was set a little too high, and she hadn’t covered herself with a blanket. Her slender legs were exposed, and two buttons of her shirt dress were undone, revealing the sharp outline of her collarbone.

It wasn’t until Qin Zhaoman stepped closer that she noticed Shen Niannian was also wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. The thin chain had left a faint red mark on her cheek. Her face was flushed with a sickly hue, like roses simmering in a pot, and even in sleep, she frowned uncomfortably.

Qin Zhaoman first moved the small desk with her legs onto the carpet, then bent down and carefully grasped the metal arms of her glasses, slowly pulling them off.

Because of the delicate chain attached to the back of the glasses, her fingers accidentally brushed against Shen Niannian’s cheek.

Shen Niannian jolted awake, gripping Qin Zhaoman’s hand in reflex, her entire body tensing up. The fear and panic in her eyes hadn’t yet been concealed when they flew open.

Qin Zhaoman’s wrist ached from the tight hold, but she remained still, enduring it amidst Shen Niannian’s slightly labored breathing.

After a moment, Shen Niannian recognized her and gradually relaxed. Her widened eyes, heavy with exhaustion, quickly grew drowsy again.

She was too drained to fully wake, but deep in her subconscious, she remembered—if she pushed Qin Zhaoman’s hand away, Qin Zhaoman would get angry.

She couldn’t let Qin Zhaoman be angry. She had to coax her.

Her hand, still gripping Qin Zhaoman’s wrist, slid down to clasp Qin Zhaoman’s fingers, then pressed them against her own cheek.

Only when Qin Zhaoman touched her face did she realize Shen Niannian was feverish again.

Shen Niannian murmured something under her breath, and Qin Zhaoman had to lean in close to hear it.

She was coaxing her not to be angry.