Upstairs, in the study.
Shang Nian sat on the sofa playing with dolls while Shang Haisheng sat beside her. Despite his age, he joined in and played along.
“Does Shang Nian like these?” Shang Haisheng took out a new set of dolls he had bought a few days ago and placed them in front of her, affectionately patting her head.
Shang Nian nodded, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled at him.
Shang Haisheng’s heart practically melted.
“Oh my, how can our Shang Nian be this well-behaved?”
Cheng Suyun sat to the side watching, feeling both happy and troubled.
Shang Nian was obedient, and very clever too.
Unfortunately, she was mute.
And she was also a girl.
“Chenyan isn’t young anymore, and he only has Shang Nian as his child.”
Without looking at her, Shang Haisheng continued playing with Shang Nian as he replied,
“What’s wrong with having one child? Young couples nowadays all only have one. Fewer children, better upbringing.”
“That’s different. Shang Nian can’t speak…”
“Enough.”
Shang Haisheng looked refined by nature and was usually mild-tempered, but he was clearly angry now.
He glared at Cheng Suyun.
“Can you stop saying things like that in front of the child?”
Cheng Suyun had spoken carelessly. Being reprimanded now reminded her of the time Shang Nian ran away by herself, and regret stirred inside her.
Still, she felt dissatisfied and muttered softly,
“I’m not wrong. While he’s still young enough, he should have more children. If he ends up without a son, let’s see where he regrets it later.”
“At his age, how many men are still unmarried? If he doesn’t like the Meng family’s daughter, there are plenty of wealthy young ladies in Jiangcheng. He can pick whoever he likes, and I’ll arrange things for him.”
Shang Haisheng pointed at her.
“Stay out of Chenyan’s affairs. From childhood until now, has he ever needed you to worry about him?”
“I’m his mother. If I don’t worry about him, who will?” Cheng Suyun raised her voice. “Besides, Shang Nian is still so young and needs care. Her biological mother is gone anyway. Finding her a stepmother would be the same.”
“If you keep talking nonsense, get out!”
Cheng Suyun’s eyes reddened. She shot to her feet immediately.
“Fine! You father and son are always on the same side. I’m the only troublesome one!”
She yanked open the door and stormed out.
Shang Haisheng was so angry his brows stood upright.
At that moment, Shang Nian tugged at his sleeve.
Shang Haisheng instantly switched to a smiling expression.
“Alright, alright. Grandpa isn’t angry.”
“Don’t listen to other people talking nonsense, Shang Nian. Grandpa only has you as his granddaughter. I won’t acknowledge anyone else.”
Smiling, Shang Nian handed him the doll she had dressed up.
Shang Haisheng played with her for a while and suddenly realized—
Shang Nian seemed livelier than before.
In the past, he had often wanted to play with her too.
But Shang Nian always seemed immersed in her own world and didn’t like interacting much.
Today, however, she had smiled at him several times and was even willing to share her dolls.
During dinner, Shang Haisheng brought it up.
“Did you change Shang Nian’s doctor?”
“No.” Shang Chenyan barely touched his chopsticks. He lifted his wine glass and took a sip. “Recently, she’s been in a good mood.”
“In a good mood?”
Shang Haisheng looked at him suspiciously.
The more he looked—
The stranger it seemed.
His son looked like he was in a good mood too.
Every time before, he always came with the gloomy face of a man who had lost his wife.
Yet today, there was actually a trace of a smile on his face.
“You… you’ve been in a good mood lately too? Did the company sign another major contract?” Shang Haisheng had long stopped involving himself in company affairs, but today he couldn’t resist asking.
“No.”
Shang Chenyan’s answer was concise.
The father and daughter sitting across from him—
The more Shang Haisheng looked, the stranger things felt.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out.
***
Because Shang Haisheng kept pulling him into conversations, Shang Chenyan left later than planned.
By the time he arrived home, it was nearly ten o’clock.
Holding Shang Nian’s hand as they got out of the car, he saw the faint light shining from the window.
Warmth immediately spread through his chest.
During their senior year of university, he and Shi Ying had moved out of the dormitories.
Though Shang Haisheng always appeared cheerful, he had been extremely strict with Shang Chenyan’s upbringing.
There had never been any talk of inheriting family wealth directly.
During university, Shang Chenyan had already begun interning at the company, climbing upward from the bottom.
To manage such a massive corporation, one had to thoroughly understand how it operated.
His senior year had been his busiest period.
They lived in an apartment near the university.
Every night when he returned at midnight, he would see the warm yellow light glowing in the living room.
Shi Ying always waited for him.
Even if she was exhausted—
Even if she had fallen asleep curled up on the sofa—
She would still wait.
But for the past five years, every night when he came home, the house had been empty.
No one waited for him anymore.
Day after day, loneliness drowned him.
Gently pushing open the door, Shang Nian immediately kicked off her shoes and wanted to run over.
But Shang Chenyan caught the back of her collar.
“Quiet. No making noise.”
Shang Nian quickly covered her mouth and nodded hard.
Only then did Shang Chenyan release her.
“Go ahead.”
Shang Nian tiptoed over and saw Shi Ying asleep on the sofa.
The television was still on, broadcasting the laughter and noise of a variety show.
Walking over, Shang Chenyan’s eyes were filled with unconcealed tenderness and love.
He bent down and carefully lifted her into his arms, preparing to carry her back to her room.
Shang Nian followed him into Shi Ying’s bedroom.
The moment she entered, she took a deep breath.
It smelled so good.
It was all Mother’s scent.
Shang Chenyan laid Shi Ying gently on the bed.
He didn’t want to leave.
But Shang Nian was still there.
So he lowered his head to look at her.
Shang Nian was also clutching the blanket pitifully, wanting to climb onto the bed and sleep beside Shi Ying.
She didn’t want to leave either.
The two stared at each other.
“You should go back and sleep.”
Shang Nian shook her head vigorously and pointed at the bed.
Shang Chenyan pretended not to understand and directly picked her up.
“Sleep by yourself.”
I refuse!
Shang Nian struggled, but she was no match for him and could only be carried away.
Furious, she lay across his shoulder and bit him indignantly.
Shi Ying was too sleepy.
The moment she touched the bed, she fell into a deep sleep, completely unaware that father and daughter had just engaged in an intense battle of wills through eye contact.