Chapter 81: Punishment

Return: My Hell and Heaven
Chapter 81: Punishment

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Song Shu snapped out of her thoughts. “But the old mansion hasn’t been lived in for many years, has it?”

Qin Lou replied, “Qin Liang returned to the country recently and stayed there. Over the years, the mansion has always been maintained. After he moved back, he called back the older staff who used to work at the house. I visited a few days ago—it still has better air and surroundings.”

“What about here…” Song Shu glanced back at the 23rd floor.

“I’ll have someone clean it regularly. It’ll just be a place for occasional rest or short stays.”

Song Shu looked at him. “I thought you’d already gotten used to living here?”

“The old mansion is more comfortable.”

“Then why did you move here in the first place?”

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Fsdt Fbw oyp pvwddle.

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Gde vbld, pbl bye plld bkx.

Nyvla, lhld obld bl nswze byhl xyel svbla nbsknlp, bl zlv bla pll bkx pvkzz… Zlyap rypple, ulv vbyv bye dlhla nbydtle.

Fsdt Fbw pktble psqvzu, yzxspv kdywekczu.

“Alright. Now that I’m here with you, let’s move back together.”

“…”

When it came to matters involving Song Shu, Qin Lou was always swift and decisive.

That very evening, after Song Shu agreed, he brought in professionals to clear out all the essentials, like documents, from the 23rd floor. Everything was packed into boxes at lightning speed and smoothly arranged for transport back to the old mansion. The entire process was so efficient that Song Shu couldn’t help but suspect he had planned it all in advance.

Qin Lou’s response was innocently defensive: “They’re professionals. Their first priority is to be ready whenever called upon.”

Song Shu had nothing to say to that.

The two of them “moved” during off-peak hours after Vio’s workday had ended. However, some employees working overtime were still leaving late. In the elevator, Song Shu and Qin Lou ran into a few staff members heading down for the day.

One employee quickly greeted him, “Good evening, President Qin.” When they saw Song Shu, they hesitated for a moment before tentatively addressing her, “Assistant… Assistant Qin?”

Song Shu smiled faintly at the nervous staff member. “Good evening.”

Song Shu was naturally beautiful, and her smile warmed people’s hearts. The employee stared for a couple of seconds, just about to return the smile, when they suddenly felt Qin Lou, who had been lazily standing beside them, lift his eyes and lock an intense gaze directly on them.

The employee froze, stiffened, and slowly turned their head. It wasn’t their imagination—Qin Lou’s jet-black eyes were firmly fixed on them, unblinking.

The employee felt a chill run down their spine under Qin Lou’s piercing gaze and forced out a smile. “President… Qin?”

“Are you trying to flirt—”

Before Qin Lou could finish his sentence, darkness engulfed his vision.

Song Shu had reached out to cover his eyes with her hand.

She cast a warning glance at Qin Lou before turning to the employee with an apologetic smile.
“It’s nothing, he’s just joking.”

After speaking, Song Shu turned back, her smile fading slightly. She lowered her voice. “Don’t make a scene at the office. We agreed, remember?”

Qin Lou responded, “I wasn’t joking.”

“…”

The employee, terrified, glanced at their notoriously temperamental boss. Qin Lou, despite having his eyes gently covered by Song Shu’s pale, delicate hand, stood perfectly still, showing no sign of resistance. He only muttered softly—

“You haven’t smiled at me like that all day.”

The employee: “…”

No wonder they’d almost been incinerated by his gaze moments ago. It turned out they’d accidentally stumbled into their boss’s famously endless sea of jealousy.

While the employee was shaken, Song Shu seemed entirely unfazed.

Ignoring Qin Lou’s comment, she only removed her hand after confirming he had redirected his attention away from the innocent employee.

The elevator slowed to a stop again, and an HR employee from the 8th floor got on. After a brief pause, the newcomer nodded at Qin Lou and Song Shu. “President Qin, Assistant Qin.”

Their gaze drifted to the two remaining boxes by their feet. “Are those…?”

Qin Lou, as if waiting for this exact moment, answered with an exuberant and unapologetic smile before Song Shu could stop him.

“Moving house.”

“?”

“Preparing to move in together.”

Employee: “—??”

Song Shu: “.”

The two employees exited on the ground floor, their shocked expressions unchanged.

Since Song Shu and Qin Lou were heading to the parking lot on B2, they had a few seconds of solitude in the elevator.

As soon as the doors closed, Song Shu looked at Qin Lou with mild exasperation. “I bet this will spread throughout the entire company by next week. You’ve singlehandedly become the centerpiece of the employees’ gossip and entertainment.”

Qin Lou immediately replied, feigning modesty, “How could I manage that alone? I needed a certain ‘pearl in the shell’ to make it happen.”

Song Shu: “…”

He looked absurdly proud of himself.

Down in the parking lot, a professional team was waiting to load the boxes. As soon as Qin Lou and Song Shu arrived, the team efficiently loaded everything into the vehicle and set off for the old mansion.

Song Shu got into Qin Lou’s car. With the driver dismissed for the day, Qin Lou slid into the driver’s seat himself.

“Would you like to have dinner at home or eat out?”

Song Shu thought for a moment. “Let’s eat at home.”

“Alright.”

The car exited the underground parking lot and drove a short distance before Song Shu suddenly remembered something. She turned to look at Qin Lou. “About moving back to the old mansion—have you mentioned it to Mr. Qin?”

The lighthearted ease in Qin Lou’s expression cooled instantly. After a few seconds, he said flatly, “There’s no need.”

Song Shu spoke softly, “But it is his home as well.”

“He’s staying in that townhouse next to your place these days, isn’t he?” Qin Lou’s lips curled into a mocking smirk, and he let out a disdainful chuckle. “Besides, officially, every property, share, and intangible asset under the Qin family name is registered to me. Where I choose to live doesn’t require anyone’s permission.”

Song Shu lowered her eyes, saying nothing more.

She knew Qin Liang’s decisions from the past were a deep, unresolved knot in Qin Lou’s heart—a knot laden with far more complexity than simple resentment.

Qin Lou was blaming himself.

Moreover, his self-blame was so deeply ingrained that he wouldn’t allow anyone to help him escape from it. Qin Lou stubbornly chose to torture himself within that guilt, dragging along those he deemed guilty as well. Whenever Song Shu tried to intervene, he would resist.
It couldn’t be rushed.

Song Shu lightly clenched her fingers, silently persuading herself: just like the calming exercise of solving a Rubik’s cube she had taught him years ago, this would require patience and time.

They had all the time in the world, so she could take it slow…

She would rescue her little madman from the “cage” he had locked himself in.

After receiving Song Shu’s confirmation at noon, Qin Lou had already informed the old mansion of their move back.

Most of the staff at the old mansion were elderly workers who had been with the family for over a decade, many of whom had watched Qin Lou and Song Shu grow up.

Back then, the temperamental “little madman” and the quiet “little clam” had caused them plenty of trouble, but the affection built over years of living together had smoothed over those memories. Time had softened the edges, leaving behind warmth and nostalgia.

So, upon hearing that the young master and his “little ancestor” would be returning together, the staff had been bustling about since midday, tidying up and preparing the house. By late afternoon, with nothing else left to do, they gathered in small groups in the garden, the pathways, and by the main entrance, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

“It’s been so many years… They’re finally coming back,” remarked a gardener, a woman in her forties or fifties, as she trimmed the uneven branches along the gravel path.

The butler, standing near the front gate with his hands folded, sighed as well. “Yes, it’s been far too long. I didn’t think I’d live to see this day. But here we are, with the chance to return to this home.”

“It’s better now, with fewer troublesome people around. Things will be much more peaceful.”

“Troublesome people?” The butler initially didn’t understand, but after exchanging a glance with the gardener, he realized what she meant. He shook his head. “Still, they’re part of the Qin family bloodline… Though, unfortunately, they’ve gone astray.”

“‘Gone astray’ is putting it lightly,” the gardener said bluntly, snipping off a crooked branch. “Mistakes should be corrected early to prevent worse problems down the line. If they’d been fixed back then, none of those later tragedies would’ve happened. It’s such a pity about Miss Bai. She was such a kind and empathetic person—I’ve never met anyone more decent despite such a privileged upbringing…”

“Let’s not dwell on the past,” the butler interrupted after a moment, his wrinkled eyes deepening with a hint of sadness. “What’s done is done. Let’s keep it in our hearts, whether good or bad, and take it with us to the grave. She never sought understanding for her actions, and I doubt the young master wants those painful memories stirred up again.”

“Of course.”

“Though…” The butler offered a wry smile. “Now that the young master is back, I doubt we’ll have many quiet days ahead.”

The gardener smirked. “Don’t pretend—you’re clearly happy about it.”

“Am I?”

“Your expression is under control, but I see you’ve brought out your most prized tailcoat. Isn’t that the one you save for special occasions?”

Caught, the butler admitted cheerfully, “Well, it’s the young master and his ‘little ancestor.’ The house has been empty for so long; it’s only fitting to dress properly to welcome them back.”

“Sure, sure,” the gardener teased. “But look at this garden—it’s more pristine than usual. Slacked off earlier this week, didn’t you?”

“Speak for yourself. You’re grinning so wide, your eyes are crooked.”

As the two bantered, the sky darkened, and the long-awaited car finally appeared at the end of the road.

The elderly staff stopped chatting, their attention focused on the vehicle as it approached the gravel driveway and came to a stop in front of the main entrance.

The driver’s side door opened, and Qin Lou stepped out, his expression nonchalant but his movements decisive. He walked around the front of the car to the passenger side, opened the door, and reached in to help Song Shu out.

As soon as she stepped out, Song Shu was met with the tearful, affectionate, and almost motherly gazes of the gathered staff. She froze for a moment, then shot Qin Lou a sharp look.

“I told you I could get out on my own.”

Qin Lou, unbothered, held her hand, threading his fingers through hers until their hands were interlocked. He lifted their joined hands, inspected them, and nodded in satisfaction before turning to Song Shu. “I told you, moving in together deserves a bit of ceremony.”

Song Shu gave him a blank look. “If this counts as moving in together, haven’t we already been living together for years?”

Qin Lou’s gaze darkened slightly. After a moment, he let out a low chuckle. “Back then, there were too many rules and prying eyes, and I was too naïve to take advantage of being so close to you. But from now on, no one can protect you.”

Song Shu glanced at him wordlessly.

Feeling slighted, Qin Lou leaned closer, his voice dropping to a teasingly menacing tone as he pressed her lightly against the car. “Once you step into this house, you’re in a wolf’s den. No one will hear you even if you scream.”

After a long pause, Song Shu sighed and, under the amused yet doting gazes of the staff, slowly raised her hand to push Qin Lou’s face away, her expression faintly tinged with exasperation.

“I’ve told you to stop watching those bizarre TV dramas. The nickname ‘genius madman’ is acceptable, but if it turns into ‘foolish madman,’ that would be just awful.”

Qin Lou: “…”

After expressing her disdain, Song Shu thought for a moment and, despite her earlier critique, pulled him back by their tightly interlocked fingers.

“I haven’t been back here in years either. I can barely remember the layout of the old mansion. Let’s greet everyone and then take a walk around, shall we?”

Qin Lou’s mood sank slightly at her mention of “years,” but he quickly recovered, smiling. “Alright.”

The household staff had prepared for this. After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, the butler offered to give them a tour of the mansion, pointing out what had changed and what had remained the same over the years.

The suggestion was well-received, and Song Shu and Qin Lou followed the butler into the mansion.

However, they hadn’t taken more than a few steps past the courtyard gate when the sound of footsteps behind him slowed and then stopped.

Qin Lou turned around.

Song Shu stood quietly about half a meter behind him, her face tilted slightly upward as she gazed at the main building in the distance. Following her line of sight, it seemed she was looking at a window on the third floor.

Qin Lou paused for a moment, then his lips curved into a faint smile. He lowered his eyes, silently laughing to himself.

The butler, who had already walked a little further ahead, noticed the pause and stopped as well. Seeing the pair standing still, he asked, “Young Master, is there something wrong?”

“Nothing,” Qin Lou replied with a quiet chuckle. He raised his hand to point at the window on the third floor where Song Shu’s gaze was fixed. “That’s where we first met.”

“…”

Song Shu seemed to snap out of her thoughts at the sound of his voice. She lowered her gaze, nodded slowly, and softly murmured, “Yes.”

The butler, who hadn’t been in service when Song Shu first joined the Qin household, was curious about the mention of their first meeting.

“On the third floor? But I remember the Young Master didn’t like anyone going to the third floor back then. It seems Miss Song was different to you from the very start?”

Qin Lou raised an eyebrow and looked at Song Shu.

Her expression was calm as she glanced at him briefly before replying, “I was downstairs, and he was upstairs.”

The butler nodded in understanding.

Qin Lou continued, laughing as he added, “At the time, I thought she was a mute little doll, dressed up but unable to speak, and perhaps a bit… slow. I even threatened her.”

The butler was taken aback. “Threatened her? What did you say, Young Master?”

Qin Lou smiled but didn’t answer.

Instead, he walked back toward Song Shu, stopping beside her. With his hands casually in his pockets, he bent slightly toward her and tilted his head with a playful smile.

“I told her that as long as I was around, the third floor was off-limits. If she dared go up, I’d break her legs and throw her into the swimming pool—doll.”

“…”

Song Shu’s gaze flickered.

His tone now was entirely different, but every word matched the memory she had replayed countless times over the years—the memory of their first meeting, which she never wanted to forget.

That first meeting and what followed became her anchor in the years after, when she had changed her name and left her past behind in a foreign land. In the quiet of the night, it was that memory that reminded her of who she was and why she continued to live.

Something stirred in Song Shu’s heart at those words and the look on his face. It rose uncontrollably, and she saw no reason to suppress it.

The butler chuckled. “Who would’ve thought the Young Master had such a tough side when he first met Miss Song?”

Qin Lou didn’t seem to mind. “Well, toughness always comes with a price. Later on, because of what I said, she refused to set foot on the third floor. At most, she’d go up to the landing between the second and third floors. The rest of the steps? Even if I got on my knees, she wouldn’t take them.”

“Young Master, you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not. If you don’t believe me, ask her. Little clam, tell him I’m telling the truth.”

Qin Lou turned toward Song Shu, only to see her lower her gaze, contemplating for a few seconds. Then, unexpectedly, she raised her hand and crooked her finger at him.

Qin Lou blinked in rare surprise. “What?”

Though he asked, he instinctively leaned toward her, drawn by her gesture.

Before he could steady himself, Song Shu wrapped her arm around his shoulders and neck, drawing close.

“…Punishment.”

“What—”

Before he could finish, her lips lightly bit his.

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