After sending Shi Ying home, Shang Chenyuan did not return to the company.
He took Shang Nian to Ji Huanzhou’s hospital for a thorough examination. The results showed that Shang Nian was physically healthy—there was nothing wrong with her body. Her inability to speak was entirely a psychological issue.
Although he hadn’t personally heard Shang Nian call “Mom,” he was certain Shi Ying would not lie to him.
Carrying Shang Nian back home, the house felt empty. Only the faint lingering scent of her remained in the air.
Shang Chenyuan leaned down and inhaled deeply, then sat in the spot where Shi Ying had sat that morning.
Shang Nian rested in his arms, exhausted from a day of examinations.
“Nian Nian, can you say something again?” he coaxed softly. “Daddy wants to hear your voice too.”
Shang Nian blinked at him but did not open her mouth.
A trace of sadness flashed in his eyes. After a long silence, he finally said, “It’s okay if you don’t want to speak.”
He carried her upstairs to bed.
But just as he was about to leave, a very soft voice sounded behind him.
“Daddy…”
Shang Chenyuan froze completely.
Standing in the shadows, his silhouette stretched long under the light. His nose stung, and complex emotions surged in his dark eyes.
Shang Nian only called once before falling silent again, clinging tightly to his neck.
“Daddy…” Shang Chenyuan finally found his voice.
After settling Shang Nian, he walked out tiredly.
Next door was the room Shi Ying had stayed in last night.
He pushed the door open.
Everything inside still carried traces of her presence. The bed was unmade, pillows scattered messily—just like how she always left them.
The entire room was filled with her scent.
He closed his eyes and inhaled it like a man possessed.
Then he lay down on the bed she had slept in, pulling her blanket into his arms.
Every direction was filled with her fragrance, as if she were still in his embrace.
His eyes darkened with overwhelming emotion.
He could no longer tolerate even a moment of her absence.
He needed a way to make her stay with him.
“Ying Ying…”
In the silent room, his low, desire-laden voice echoed faintly.
Meanwhile, Shi Ying only discovered after returning home that she had left something behind at Shang Chenyuan’s house.
She had washed her underwear the night before after taking a shower because she didn’t have a spare set. Shang Nian had given her disposable ones, and she had hung the washed set in the bathroom to dry.
She groaned and rolled on her bed.
If Shang Chenyuan saw it, how could she ever face him again?
“Aaaah!”
She suddenly sat up.
She still had Shang Nian’s contact saved.
Quickly, she sent a voice message:
“Ying Ying, I left my clothes in the bathroom. Can you help me take them down?”
At that moment, Shang Chenyuan was already holding the item.
Under a dim lamp, the room was half-lit, half-shadowed, outlining his sharp profile.
He leaned back on the sofa, holding the small piece of fabric between his fingers, his expression tightly restrained, breath uneven.
Shang Nian’s phone had been left in his room.
Normally, she didn’t use it—only occasionally to send messages.
So when the screen lit up, he already guessed who it was.
And he was right.
But she was a step too late.
He had already found the clothes earlier.
His movements slowed, then stopped completely.
He leaned back, eyes closed, chest rising and falling until the tension finally eased.
After showering, he picked up the phone and replied with a single word:
【Okay.】
Shi Ying finally let out a long breath of relief.
She would go over on the weekend and quietly take them back.
On Saturday, Shi Ying slept in comfortably.
When she woke up, she saw messages from Shang Chenyuan saying he would come pick her up.
She replied that she would go by herself.
After eating something, she dressed up a little and happily went out.
His home was located in a mountain area within the city—quiet and secluded.
Cars couldn’t enter the estate directly, so she got out at the gate and decided to walk.
The forest path was quiet, birds chirping occasionally. Snow rested on bare branches, shaking loose when the wind blew, falling into her collar.
Shi Ying, who rarely saw snow, was excited and didn’t feel cold at all.
She kicked at the small piles of snow as she walked.
She didn’t notice a car approaching behind her.
Inside the vehicle, Xia Qian saw her figure and nudged Meng Shuyun.
“Shuyun, who is that?”
Meng Shuyun looked over and frowned slightly.
“This is President Shang’s private residence. How did she get in?”
Xia Qian continued, “There was someone before who tried to sneak in to get close to him. This one doesn’t look any better.”
Meng Shuyun’s expression darkened.
“Drive into her.”
The driver was shocked. “Miss Meng, this—”
“Can’t do it, then get out.”
The driver hesitated, then stepped on the accelerator.
Shi Ying suddenly heard a car behind her. She turned—and was blinded by headlights.
Before she could react, she quickly dodged into the forest.
The car brushed past her shoulder. She fell heavily onto the ground.
Fortunately, her thick winter clothes cushioned the impact, but her palm was scraped by gravel.
“Can’t you watch the road?” someone shouted from the car window.
Shi Ying snapped back, furious. “Are you blind?!”
“You were walking on the side of the road and still dared to hit me?”
Xia Qian sneered. “This is private property. You don’t belong here. Get lost, or I’ll call the police.”
Shi Ying laughed in anger. “Is this your house?”
Xia Qian raised her chin. “No—but it’s going to belong to the future Mrs. Shang.”
At that moment, another car arrived and stopped.
Pei Yanchuan got out. Seeing Shi Ying on the ground, he rushed over immediately.
“Shi Xiaoying, what happened to you?”