At the Shang Family Estate.
Meng Shuyan had just finished her international concert tour. The moment she returned to Jiangcheng, she came straight to the old residence. Unexpectedly, the moment she stepped into the living room, she saw Cheng Suyun holding Shang Nian in her arms while speaking softly to her.
A trace of displeasure flashed through Meng Shuyan’s eyes, but she quickly hid it and put on a bright smile.
“Auntie Cheng.”
When Cheng Suyun saw her, she handed Shang Nian to the nanny and walked over with a smile. “Shuyan’s here?”
Meng Shuyan linked arms with her affectionately. “Yes. My flight landed this morning, and the first thing I wanted was to come visit you.”
“I brought back some skincare products from France. The wealthy ladies there all use this brand, so I brought two sets for you too. I wonder if you’ll like them?”
Cheng Suyun beamed happily. “Of course I like them. Our Shuyan is the most thoughtful.”
Meng Shuyan sat down on the sofa and glanced toward Shang Nian in the nanny’s arms, the smile on her lips deepening slightly.
“Shang Nian is here too.”
Cheng Suyun had someone pour her a glass of water. “Chenyan wasn’t home, so I had someone bring Shang Nian over to play for a while. It’s just…”
Thinking about Shang Nian’s condition, Cheng Suyun sighed.
“The child is already five years old, but she still can’t speak.”
Meng Shuyan lifted the teacup and took a sip, her lowered lashes hiding the disgust in her eyes.
The Meng and Shang families had been close friends for decades. She and Shang Chenyan had grown up together, and ever since childhood, both families often joked that she would marry Shang Chenyan when she grew up.
Later, she went abroad to further her studies in cello performance.
But by the time she returned, Shang Chenyan was already married.
She had never met his wife. She only knew that just one year after their marriage, the woman suddenly disappeared.
Meng Shuyan remembered how, five years ago, Shang Chenyan had gone completely insane searching for her. He dragged out every person who had ever had conflicts with him before and interrogated them one by one, throwing the entire city of Jiangcheng into panic and unrest.
How could someone simply vanish into thin air?
Meng Shuyan believed that woman was probably dead somewhere. Shang Chenyan simply refused to accept reality.
Unfortunately, even after dying, that woman had still left him a child.
Meng Shuyan disliked Shang Nian very much. If she married Shang Chenyan in the future, she would have to raise the daughter he had with his late wife. Just thinking about it irritated her.
“Auntie, I know a few psychological specialists overseas. They said Nian Nian’s condition may not necessarily be a physical illness. It could also be psychological.”
Meng Shuyan suggested gently, “Why not send Shang Nian abroad for treatment for a while?”
Cheng Suyun sighed. “It’s not like we haven’t taken her to psychologists before. None of it worked.”
Meng Shuyan continued patiently, “Maybe you just haven’t met the right one yet. Auntie, foreign countries are far more advanced in psychological treatment. While Shang Nian is still young, it’s best to get her treated early. Besides, lots of children study abroad from a young age these days. Shang Nian could study while receiving treatment.”
Cheng Suyun thought about it seriously and hesitated.
“Personally, I support it. But you know Chenyan. He definitely wouldn’t feel at ease letting Shang Nian go overseas alone.”
Meng Shuyan maintained the smile on her face with effort.
“Brother Chenyan’s business is already so successful. He can simply hire more people to take care of her. Then during school breaks, they can bring her back.”
“This matter…” Cheng Suyun was clearly tempted, though she knew she could not influence Shang Chenyan’s decisions easily. “I can’t decide on my own. But when he comes over tonight, I’ll talk to him properly.”
Meng Shuyan smiled. “If it’s Auntie speaking, he’ll definitely listen.”
Meng Shuyan had a sweet tongue, and after only a few words, she had Cheng Suyun smiling happily the entire time.
Meanwhile, Shang Nian sat quietly nearby hugging her stuffed rabbit. Her tiny face showed no expression at all, though she held the rabbit a little tighter in her arms.
***
After getting off work, Shi Ying was too lazy to cook for herself, so she bought some food from the convenience store downstairs from the company.
While sitting by the window eating, she suddenly noticed a little girl walking alone along the roadside.
Cars flowed endlessly around her, horns sounding from time to time. When a car narrowly brushed past the little girl, Shi Ying nearly choked in fright.
She hurriedly ran outside and scooped the child into her arms.
Carrying the little girl quickly back to the roadside, Shi Ying couldn’t help raising her voice.
“Why are you running around on the road by yourself? What if a car hit you?”
“Where are your parents?”
What kind of parents were they anyway? How irresponsible could they be, letting such a small child cross the road alone?
Shi Ying crouched down, wanting to put the little girl back on the ground, but two tiny arms wrapped tightly around her neck and refused to let go.
She could smell the soft milky scent unique to small children.
Shang Nian stared at her motionlessly with large grape-like eyes.
Those little arms clung to her so tightly that Shi Ying had no idea what to do. She had very little experience dealing with children.
“Little sister, let go of me first. Tell me where your parents are.”
The moment she finished speaking, an incredibly soft, tiny voice sounded beside her ear.
“Mommy…”
Mommy?
Shi Ying nearly jumped into the air.
Dear heavens, she was still an innocent young lady!
“You can’t randomly call people that!” Shi Ying carefully pried her arms away. “I’m not your mommy. Who did you come out with? If you don’t answer me, I’ll hand you over to the police.”
Shang Nian’s round eyes reddened slightly as she clutched tightly at Shi Ying’s clothes.
Shi Ying’s head was starting to ache. She scratched her hair, thinking she might as well take the child directly to the police station.
Just as she was about to pick her up again, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded behind her, mixed with an anxious, furious voice.
“Shang Nian!”
Shi Ying turned around and froze at the unexpected face before her.
After receiving a call from his mother Cheng Suyun informing him that Shang Nian had run away from the old residence alone, Shang Chenyan had nearly suffered cardiac arrest from fear.
He had immediately brought people out to search for her, only to find Shang Nian standing beside a woman at the roadside.
What he hadn’t expected… was that the woman would be Shi Ying.
On the bustling street filled with endless traffic, Shi Ying crouched there holding the child while Shang Chenyan stood not far away.
Their gazes intertwined.
Shock.
Disbelief.
And an indescribable sense of fate flowing silently between them.
It took Shi Ying a long while to recover from her astonishment.
“S-Shang President…” she stammered. “This is your child?”
Shang Chenyan’s throat felt painfully dry. His hand hanging at his side slowly clenched into a fist.
“Yes.”
“She’s my daughter.”
She had just stumbled onto some massive gossip!
Shi Ying hurriedly stood while carrying Shang Nian and awkwardly walked over, intending to return the child to him.
But Shang Nian refused to let go of her no matter what. Her soft little cheek pressed tightly against Shi Ying’s neck.
Shi Ying looked embarrassed.
“I saw her walking alone on the road just now. I was afraid she’d get hit by a car, so I picked her up.”
She definitely was not kidnapping children!
“Thank you…” A faint mist seemed to gather in Shang Chenyan’s eyes, making it impossible to read the emotions hidden beneath.
“N-No need to thank me.” Shi Ying felt chills creeping down her back under his gaze.
She lowered her head and coaxed Shang Nian softly.
“Your daddy’s here now. Hurry and go home with him.”
Shang Nian whimpered softly, and Shi Ying suddenly felt something cool against her neck.
“Could I trouble you to take her home?” Shang Chenyan spoke at just the right moment.
“She seems very attached to you.”