Shi Ying was drinking soup when she suddenly choked.
“Cough, cough…”
Shang Nian, who was sitting beside her, stood on the chair and, like a little adult, reached out to pat her back, her eyes bright as she looked at Shi Ying expectantly.
“Did I scare you?” Shang Chenyan still looked gentle and refined, but with a hint of regret. “About your kidnapping this time, in the end it was because of me. It was also my negligence in protecting you.”
Shi Ying quickly waved her hands. “How could I blame you for that…”
Meeting Xia Qian and the others that day was an accident. Shang Chenyan also helped her vent her anger against them. Who could have expected that Xia Qian would be so crazy as to hire people to kidnap her in broad daylight.
“I’ll pay more attention in the future. There’s no need for me to move in, right?”
Shang Nian pouted in grievance and tugged at her sleeve.
Shi Ying patted her head. “If Nian Nian misses me, I’ll come play with you on weekends, okay?”
Shang Nian angrily sat back down, lying on the table and turning her back to Shi Ying.
Shang Chenyan showed no displeasure at being refused. He simply analyzed calmly, “I know moving suddenly will make you uncomfortable, but Miss Shi, personal safety comes first.”
“Xia Qian has already been arrested by the police. But her family spoils her too much. If they become desperate, they might target you again. I cannot always arrive in time to protect you.”
Shi Ying slowly stirred the soup in front of her, her brows tightly furrowed.
Shang Chenyan took out a key from somewhere and placed it on the table, pushing it toward her.
Shi Ying looked at him in confusion. “What is this?”
“The key to the upstairs bedroom.” Shang Chenyan’s voice was calm and clear. “If you move in, that room upstairs will be exclusively yours. No one will disturb you. If you don’t feel at ease, you can have someone come change the lock.”
“When I’ve completely resolved the Xia family issue, you can move back.” He looked at her, his dark eyes filled with nothing improper—only concern.
“Are you worried I have ill intentions toward you?”
Shi Ying quickly shook her head. “Of course not.”
Shang Chenyan seemed puzzled. “Then what other concerns do you have?”
Shi Ying fell silent.
Although this was a virtual world and she would not truly die, pain and fear were real if she got injured. If the injury was severe enough to force her out, her mission would fail completely.
The table held one big and one small pair of eyes, both looking at her expectantly.
Shi Ying slowly nodded.
Shang Chenyan’s hand on his knee clenched tightly. Only then did he slowly relax, his palm already damp with sweat.
Shang Nian happily jumped up and threw herself into Shi Ying’s arms.
Shi Ying asked softly, “Then… about how long would I need to stay?”
Shang Chenyan steadied his trembling hand and forced himself to remain calm as he lifted his cup. “I can’t say for sure.”
“But don’t worry, I will deal with the Xia family as quickly as possible.”
Shi Ying nodded absentmindedly, suddenly finding the situation absurd—how had she ended up moving into Shang Chenyan’s home?
After lunch, Shang Chenyan offered to help her move.
They did not bring Shang Nian along. The little girl lay on the windowsill, sadly watching their backs as they left.
Shi Ying returned home to pack a few clothes. She had not lived in this rented place for long and had not yet properly settled in.
Shang Chenyan followed silently behind her. When Shi Ying went into the bedroom to pack, he stood in the living room, his gaze sweeping across everything she had touched.
A small blanket lay on the sofa. She liked lying there watching TV and often fell asleep hugging it without realizing.
Shang Chenyan bent down, his fingertips slowly brushing over it. It felt as if her scent still lingered there.
“Mr. Shang?” Shi Ying poked her head out from the bedroom, only then realizing she had left him outside. “Would you like some water? There are drinks in the fridge.”
Shang Chenyan smiled. “No need. Do your thing. I’ll get it myself if I need anything.”
“Alright.” Her head disappeared again.
He walked slowly around the small living room. The one-bedroom apartment was small, but it was full of traces of her.
He could not let anyone else live here again.
Thinking of this, he immediately messaged Jiang Wen, telling him to buy this apartment.
Jiang Wen, upon receiving the message, was confused.
He had never even heard of this building. Why was the CEO buying it?
When Shi Ying came out with her suitcase, she saw Shang Chenyan standing on the balcony. Just as she was about to call him, she noticed her intimate clothing still hanging above.
Her face immediately turned bright red again.
“Mr. Shang, please come inside. It’s cold outside…” she called weakly.
Shang Chenyan turned back. Seeing her unnatural expression, he raised a brow slightly. “All packed?”
“All done, all done. Let’s go!”
Shi Ying just wanted him to leave the balcony quickly.
“Alright.” He walked into the living room, picked up his coat with one hand, and casually lifted her suitcase with the other. “Let’s go.”
He walked out first. Shi Ying quickly ran to the balcony, grabbed the clothes hanging there, and stuffed them into her bag.
Only then did her blush fade a little.
On the way, seeing Shi Ying hugging her bag tightly, Shang Chenyan chuckled softly. “You can put it down. No one’s going to snatch it.”
Shi Ying stiffened, feeling her behavior only made her more suspicious.
She quickly changed the topic. “Mr. Shang, is there a supermarket on the way? I want to buy some things.”
“Yes, I was planning to take you there anyway.” He looked at her through the rearview mirror. “The house doesn’t have any women’s daily necessities.”
In the years Shi Ying had been gone, he had lived extremely properly and restrained. As for the things she had used before, he had locked them away in his study.
The car stopped in front of a large supermarket. Inside, Shi Ying browsed the shelves while Shang Chenyan pushed the cart naturally behind her. Watching other couples shopping together reminded him of the past.
Five years had passed, and now he could finally follow behind her like this again.
“How about this one?” Shi Ying hesitated over slippers. “This one is nice too.”
“Then take both.”
“But I only have one pair of feet.”
In the end, she chose a pink strawberry-patterned pair of fluffy slippers. Shang Chenyan looked at the shelf, then silently took a blue blueberry-patterned pair and put them in the cart.
Meeting Shi Ying’s puzzled gaze, he casually picked up a child-sized pair. “I’ll get one for Nian Nian and me as well.”
“Oh.”