After sending Luisa back home, Shang Chenyan did not go to the company.
He took Shang Nian to Ji Huanzhou’s hospital for a thorough check-up. The results showed that Shang Nian was very healthy; her inability to speak was purely a psychological issue.
Even though he hadn’t personally heard Shang Nian call “Mom,” he was certain Luisa would not lie to him.
He carried Shang Nian back home. The house was empty, with only a faint trace of Luisa’s scent lingering in the air.
Shang Chenyan inhaled deeply, then sat down in the seat Luisa had used that morning.
Shang Nian clung to his neck, tired from a day of examinations.
“Can you try saying something, Nian Nian?” he coaxed gently. “Daddy also wants to hear your voice.”
Shang Nian blinked her big eyes but did not move her mouth.
A wave of bitterness rose in his chest. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, then patted her head.
“If you don’t want to speak, it’s okay. Daddy will take you upstairs to sleep.”
He carried her upstairs, but just as he stepped forward, a very faint voice sounded beside his ear:
“…Daddy…”
Shang Chenyan froze.
Standing in the shadow, his figure stretched long under the light. His nose suddenly felt sore, and his deep black eyes filled with complicated emotions.
Shang Nian only said that one word before falling silent again, clinging tightly to his neck.
After a long moment, Shang Chenyan finally found his voice.
“Nian Nian…”
After settling her in bed, he walked out exhausted.
Next door was the room Luisa had stayed in last night.
He pushed the door open.
Everything inside still carried traces of her presence—her messy bed, pillows scattered without order.
The entire room was filled with her scent.
Shang Chenyan closed his eyes, breathing it in like a man possessed.
He lay down on the bed she had slept in, pulling over her blanket and holding it tightly.
Everywhere was her scent, as if he was holding her in his arms.
His emotions surged violently. He could not tolerate her leaving him again, even for a single step.
“Ying Ying…”
His low, desire-filled voice occasionally echoed through the silent room, causing one’s heart to race.
Luisa went home, and only when she was taking a shower at night did she realize she had left something at Shang Chenyan’s house.
After washing up yesterday, she hadn’t had any clean underwear. Shang Nian had helped her find a disposable set, and she had washed her own underwear and hung it in the bathroom to dry.
Luisa groaned and rolled on her bed.
What should she do?
If Shang Chenyan saw it, how could she ever face him again?
“Ahhh!”
She suddenly sat up and grabbed her phone, quickly sending a voice message:
“Niannian, I left my clothes in the bathroom. Can you help me pack them up?”
On the other side—
When Shang Chenyan saw the message, the pink set of underwear was already placed in front of him.
The room was dim, lit only by a desk lamp, casting half-light across his sharp profile.
He leaned back on the sofa, holding the small piece of fabric, his expression tense. His breathing was restrained.
Shang Nian’s phone had been left in his room.
Normally, she rarely used it, except occasionally to message him.
When the screen lit up, he already knew who it was.
And he was right.
But he was a step too late—he had already seen the clothes hanging in the bathroom earlier.
His movements paused.
He leaned back, eyes closed, breathing uneven for a long time before he finally got up and went to the bathroom.
After coming out, he picked up his phone again. His long fingers moved slightly as he replied:
“Okay.”
Luisa finally let out a long breath of relief.
She decided she would wait until the weekend to sneakily take them back.
On Saturday, Luisa slept in comfortably.
When she woke up, she saw a message from Shang Chenyan saying he was coming to pick her up.
She replied that she didn’t need him to, she would go there herself.
After eating something simple, she tidied herself up happily and went out.
Shang Chenyan’s home was located in a mountain forest area within the city—quiet and secluded. Cars could only stop at the gate below the hill, so she walked up slowly.
The forest path was quiet, birds chirping occasionally, snow resting on bare branches.
Luisa, who rarely saw snow, was excited and not bothered by the cold at all.
She kicked at small snow piles, unaware that a car was approaching behind her.
Inside the car, Xia Qian saw her figure and nudged Meng Shuyan.
“Shuyan, who is that?”
Meng Shuyan frowned slightly.
“This is the private residence area of President Shang. How did she get in?”
Xia Qian frowned. “Could she be someone sneaking in again to get close to him?”
Meng Shuyan’s expression turned cold.
“Hit her.”
The driver hesitated. “Miss Meng, this…”
“Can’t do it? Then get lost.”
With no choice, the driver stepped on the accelerator.
Luisa only realized something was wrong when she heard the tires crunching on snow behind her.
She turned around—headlights flashed blindingly.
Her body reacted faster than her mind; she dodged into the forest.
The car brushed past her shoulder, and she fell hard onto the ground.
Luckily, she wasn’t seriously injured due to thick winter clothing, but her palm was scraped and bleeding.
“Can’t you watch where you’re going?” Xia Qian shouted from the car window.
Luisa was stunned, then furious.
“I wasn’t in your way! You’re the one who tried to hit me!”
Xia Qian sneered. “This is private property. You don’t belong here.”
Luisa was about to argue when another car arrived and stopped.
Pei Yanchen stepped out and rushed toward her.
“Lu Xiaoying! What happened to you?”