The eldest daughter of the Yan family had returned from her studies abroad and single-handedly turned the tide at the Yan Corporation. Now, everyone in the industry was curious about Yan Shi.
Unfortunately, amid the flood of news coverage, there wasn’t a single photograph of Yan Shi.
The more mysterious Yan Shi remained, the more people wanted to know about her.
Take Shen Ci, for example.
At the Shen Group’s new product launch event.
“President Shen, everything has been arranged. The Yan Corporation has also responded—Miss Yan should be attending on time.”
Assistant Lin Li stood beside Shen Ci, his gaze cautiously sweeping across the entire venue.
“If it really is her, you know what to do.” Shen Ci’s face was ashen.
That woman had vanished without a trace… and that child… was it still alive…
If the eldest daughter of the Yan family really was her…
Shen Ci’s hand gripping the speech notes tightened slightly.
Lin Li nodded. Soon after, the project lead signaled that the new product launch was about to begin.
Shen Ci took his seat, his gaze casually drifting toward the entrance.
Suddenly, a man sat down in the seat marked “Yan Shi.”
“Excuse me, you are…” Lin Li immediately found an excuse to approach and greet him.
“I’m President Yan’s new assistant, Wang Cheng. President Yan is suddenly feeling unwell and unable to attend, so she asked me to convey her apologies to President Shen.”
Although Wang Cheng didn’t meet Shen Ci’s eyes directly, he could clearly sense that the other man was paying close attention to what was happening over here.
“I see. President Yan has only recently returned to the country, so she probably isn’t quite used to the climate here yet. She should take good care of herself.”
Lin Li offered a few pleasantries with a faint smile.
Having delivered Yan Shi’s message, Wang Cheng found an excuse to leave early as well.
“Have someone follow him.” Without even lifting his head, Shen Ci casually handed his speech notes to the vice president beside him, no longer intending to take the stage.
Lin Li acknowledged the order and immediately made arrangements.
Late into the night, the person tailing Wang Cheng finally reported back.
“President Shen, Wang Cheng went straight home after leaving. There’s no definitive information from the Yan household either. We still can’t confirm the relationship between the Yan family’s eldest daughter and your wife.” Lin Li carefully observed the man’s expression.
“So you’re telling me that Yan Shi has vanished into thin air, is that it?” The moment Shen Ci spoke, an invisible pressure filled the entire study.
Where could a pregnant woman possibly run off to?
Who was secretly shielding her?
Shen Ci’s hand tightened around the wine glass, his expression dark and grim.
“President Shen, we’re still searching…” Cold sweat beaded on Lin Li’s forehead.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door—”Knock, knock, knock!”
“Shen-ge? Are you still busy?” Through the door panel, Shen Qianqian’s voice was gentle as water.
Shen Ci waved his hand and frowned imperceptibly.
Lin Li breathed a sigh of relief and turned to open the door. Seeing the person standing at the entrance, he said, “Miss Qianqian.”
“Working overtime so late—you must be tired. I heard today’s new product launch was a great success. I’ve prepared a celebration dinner for Shen-ge. Would Assistant Lin like to join?”
Shen Qianqian issued the invitation with feigned graciousness, the smile on her lips deliberate and distant.
Lin Li, quick on his feet, found an excuse to leave: “Thank you for the kind offer, Miss Qianqian, but I still have some matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now.”
Ever since Yan Shi left, their President Shen had become more and more terrifying—just standing beside him was enough to send chills down one’s spine.
Shen Qianqian naturally walked up behind the man, her slender fingers landing on his forehead and gently massaging it. “Brother Shen, why are you drinking alone? Are you tired?”
“A little. You’re not in good health, so you should rest early. I’ll go take a shower.” Shen Ci gave Shen Qianqian’s wrist a light squeeze and was about to rise when she wrapped her arms around him in a full embrace.
“Brother Shen, do you regret letting me stay? You don’t have to lie to me. If you don’t love me anymore, I won’t cling on here.”
Shen Qianqian pressed her face against the man’s chest, and her scalding tears instantly soaked through his shirt.
Since childhood, Shen Ci had always held her in the palm of his hand. She knew exactly what it looked like when this man loved her, so she had also noticed every bit of his recent distraction.
“Qianqian, don’t let your mind run wild. I haven’t told Grandma about the divorce yet. She’s old, and I have to consider her health, so you may need to wait for me a little longer.”
Giving Shen Qianqian a proper explanation and taking care of her for the rest of her life—that was the promise he had made long ago.
As for Yan Shi… she was just an accident.
“Brother Shen, I’m not trying to force you to marry me. I’ll work hard to make Grandma like me.” Shen Qianqian immediately lifted a smiling face.
Even if this man had someone else in his heart, she would still take Shen Ci back. Shen Ci could only be hers.
Shen Ci nodded expressionlessly, then turned and walked toward the master bedroom.
At dawn, Yan Shi sat upright at the head of the table, holding a glass of milk in one hand and a tablet in the other, reviewing Yan Corporation’s project documents.
“Miss, Mr. Ye is here.” Butler Wang glanced at the crowd in the dining room before finally fixing his gaze on the head of the table.
“Ye Nan? What is he here for?” Her so-called cousin—from what she remembered, he was someone who could never accomplish anything but was great at ruining things.
She had been missing for five years and had never heard of Ye Nan looking for her. She had only just returned not long ago, and now Ye Nan was showing up at the door?
“He said he heard you were back, Miss, and came specially to pay his respects.” Butler Wang looked helpless.
Every time this Young Master Ye came to the Yan residence, nothing good followed. But he had a silver tongue that charmed people, and as Yan Shi’s cousin, he counted as family—so no one could say much about it.
“No need. Tell him I’m not home, and don’t let him in.” Yan Shi said casually, utterly indifferent.
Butler Wang felt a surge of relief—finally, there was someone in the Yan family who saw things clearly.
“No matter what, he means well, and he’s your cousin. You’re just shutting him out like that? How cold-blooded and heartless.” Yan Feiyu, who had overheard from the side, couldn’t help but sneer with disdain.
In her eyes, Yan Shi was nothing but an ungrateful wolf. No matter how they tried to please her now, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t turn around and bite them.
Ye Nan right now was the perfect example.
“Oh? Does Aunt have some objection to my approach?” Yan Shi looked up directly, fixing her gaze on Yan Feiyu at the far end of the table with a faint, ambiguous smile.
“How would I dare? You’re the head of the Yan family now. If you got upset and kicked me out, I’d really be sleeping on the streets.” Yan Feiyu’s tone was dripping with sarcasm, her smile exaggerated.
“That’s right. You also know that I’m the head of the Yan family now. I can ask any of you to leave the Yan family without giving a reason. So from now on, you’d better think carefully before you speak—about what should be said and what shouldn’t.”
Yan Shi picked up the napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth. “I don’t have that good a temper to keep tolerating things endlessly. So if you want to stay, you’d better behave yourselves.”
With that, Yan Shi got up and went back to her room to change clothes, then swaggered out of the villa.
Yan Feiyu’s face turned pale. Staring at Yan Shi’s retreating figure, she gritted her teeth and hurled the milk cup to the ground with a loud crash.