There was a small park near the company. It was also the place where she had first seen Shang Chenyan on the day she came for her interview. After lunch, Xi Ying brought Shang Nian here for a walk.
Shang Nian wore a fluffy scarf, her small face buried inside it, only a pair of eyes exposed as she curiously looked around.
Xi Ying held her hand. “Nian Nian, have you been here before?”
Shang Nian shook her head.
At noon, the park wasn’t very crowded. A few elderly people were playing cards at small tables, and several children were kicking a ball nearby, their lively chatter filling the air with a sense of everyday warmth.
Xi Ying sat down on a bench with Shang Nian in her arms. Since her coat wasn’t zipped, Shang Nian burrowed into her embrace. Xi Ying wrapped her coat around her. “Are you cold?”
Shang Nian shook her head and looked up at her.
Xi Ying only felt she was too adorable.
Those big eyes, small mouth, and straight nose—she would definitely grow up to be a beauty.
“When I was little, I used to play in the park near my house too. I’d play until I was covered in sweat, and even when my dad pulled me, I wouldn’t leave.” As she spoke, Xi Ying’s eyes dimmed slightly, as if remembering something.
Shang Nian tugged at her finger and pointed toward the children playing football.
Xi Ying looked down at her. “You want to go play too?”
Shang Nian nodded, her eyes bright.
Xi Ying hesitated. Shang Nian’s situation was different from other children, and judging by her behavior, she had likely been very well protected by Shang Chenyan since childhood and had little contact with peers.
She was a bit worried—what if she fell or got hurt, and Shang Chenyan blamed her?
Seeing that she didn’t respond, the light in Shang Nian’s eyes slowly faded.
She lowered her head without throwing a tantrum, simply leaning quietly against Xi Ying, watching the children in front with a hint of envy.
Xi Ying couldn’t stand her pitiful expression. After thinking for a moment, she placed Shang Nian on the bench. “Nian Nian, wait for me here for a moment, okay?”
Shang Nian nodded obediently.
Xi Ying ran over to the group of children and took out the candy she had brought in the morning, handing it to them.
Shang Nian only saw her crouching in front of the children and saying something. Then the kids ran over and invited her to play with them.
Xi Ying came back and patted her head. “Go on. I’ve already bribed them. They’ll play with you properly.”
Shang Nian immediately brightened, jumping down and running over happily.
Xi Ying sat on the bench, watching a group of children running freely across the park.
“Xi Ying?”
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind. She turned around and saw Shang Yu.
Shang Yu also looked surprised, his gaze shifting between Xi Ying and Shang Nian in the distance.
“So it’s you. Did my uncle ask you to take Nian Nian out?” Shang Yu sat down beside her naturally.
Xi Ying hummed in response and asked, “Why are you here?”
“I was passing by and thought I saw Nian Nian, so I came to check.” He leaned back casually. “Didn’t expect it to really be her.”
“She’s quite rare like this. My little cousin is usually very isolated. She actually comes out to play with you?”
Xi Ying didn’t like the word “isolated.” In her view, Shang Nian simply had difficulty speaking and was overly protected by Shang Chenyan, which limited her social interactions.
In fact, Shang Nian clearly wanted to play with other children.
“She’s not isolated. She just hasn’t had the chance to make friends.”
Shang Yu didn’t comment. “My uncle treats her like a treasure. Because she can’t speak, he never sends her to school and only hires tutors at home.”
“By the way, you secretaries even help him take care of his child?” he teased.
Xi Ying sighed. “A worker bee does everything.”
Shang Yu laughed and took out his phone. “Add me on contact?”
Xi Ying almost lit up with joy. Shang Nian had already given her Shang Yu’s contact before, but she hadn’t dared to add him.
Now that he initiated it, she quickly exchanged contact details with him, visibly pleased.
They chatted casually until Shang Nian came running back, throwing herself into Xi Ying’s arms.
Xi Ying wiped her sweat and wrapped her scarf around her. “Look at you, all sweaty. Don’t catch a cold.”
Shang Yu grabbed the back of Shang Nian’s collar. “Didn’t even greet me?”
Shang Nian blinked at him as a form of acknowledgment.
“Want some candy?” Xi Ying asked, taking out the last two pieces she had.
“I’ll have one too.” Shang Yu took one without hesitation.
Shang Nian quickly grabbed the last one and glared at him angrily.
Shang Yu laughed. “So stingy. I’ll go buy you something warm to drink.”
Not long after, Shang Yu returned with drinks. Xi Ying helped Shang Nian sit properly and asked, “Did you have fun today?”
Shang Nian nodded.
“Next time you want to play with other kids, you can tell your dad directly. He cares about you a lot. You should talk to him more and don’t keep everything inside, okay?”
Shang Nian thought for a moment and nodded firmly.
Xi Ying smiled and patted her head. “Good girl.”
When Shang Chenyan arrived, he saw from afar the two figures sitting on the bench.
The winter sunlight filtered through the bare branches, falling on Xi Ying. She wore a pink coat, her hair loosely tied back, her smile soft and bright—more radiant than the sunlight itself.
Shang Nian was nestled in her arms, holding her waist tightly as if afraid she would disappear.
The breeze moved through the dry branches above, scattering flecks of light over them.
Shang Chenyan’s steps slowed unconsciously. He couldn’t bear to disturb the scene.
This ordinary moment—he had waited for five years.
After standing there for a long while, he finally prepared to walk over.
But before he could step forward, he saw Shang Yu running over with two cups of hot milk tea.
He handed one to each of them, and Xi Ying looked up at him with a smile, saying something.
Shang Chenyan’s eyes darkened instantly.
His hand clenched tightly at his side, knuckles turning pale, nails digging deep into his palm.
He really should have sent Shang Yu to Africa long ago.