Shang Chenyan, as if possessed, reached out. When his fingertips were just an inch away from her, Shi Ying instinctively dodged.
Meeting her puzzled gaze, Shang Chenyan pulled a tissue from the box and handed it to her. “You’ve got something on your face.”
Shi Ying quickly took it and wiped her face. “Where? Is it clean now?”
Before she could react, the man’s throat bobbed as he grabbed her wrist and guided her hand to wipe the left side of her face.
“Now it’s clean.”
Shi Ying swallowed slightly. The wrist he had held still carried a burning warmth. Feeling awkward, she tossed the tissue aside and quickly finished the bowl of wontons.
“I’ll wash the dishes.”
Before she could leave, Shang Chenyan stopped her. “Leave it. Aunt Zhang will clean tomorrow.”
“It’s just one bowl…” She didn’t think she was lazy enough to avoid washing even a single bowl.
Without giving her a chance to refuse, he took the bowl from her hands and set it down. “I’m just afraid you’ll break my bowl.”
Shi Ying pouted. Fine, don’t wash it then.
“Then I’ll go upstairs and rest.” She turned and ran upstairs.
Shang Chenyan watched her figure disappear at the end of the stairs before lowering his gaze to the bowl on the table.
In a daze, he seemed to see Shi Ying from five years ago.
She sat in a chair, ordering him to wash the dishes, but after he went into the kitchen, she ran up and hugged him from behind, asking coquettishly, “Shang Chenyan, do you think I’m lazy?”
The man smiled good-naturedly. “How could I? Being with me means you don’t need to do anything at all.”
Shi Ying rested her cheek against his back. “Let’s hire an aunt in the future. I also feel bad seeing you work so hard.”
“Then I’ll have to work harder and earn more money so my Ying Ying can live the best life.”
Later, he had countless assets, yet he lost the person he loved most.
The next day, Shang Chenyan did not take Shi Ying to the company. Instead, he called a doctor to give her a full check-up.
“Is this really necessary?” Shi Ying stared at the various instruments being pushed in and was speechless.
So CEOs don’t even need to go to hospitals for checkups?
“It’s necessary. We don’t know what they did to you that day. If you were injured anywhere, it would be bad.”
Shi Ying was made to go through one examination after another. By the end, she collapsed exhausted on the sofa.
Shang Chenyan had changed out of his home clothes. In a camel-colored coat, he looked even more tall and composed.
“Today is Nian Nian’s grandmother’s birthday. I’m taking her back there. If you want to eat anything tonight, ask Aunt Zhang to make it.”
“Okay.” Shi Ying looked at Shang Nian, who was standing by his leg. The little girl was wearing a pale yellow padded jacket, her soft face like a glutinous rice dumpling.
Shi Ying couldn’t help but pinch her cheeks repeatedly. Too cute.
Shang Chenyan put a scarf and gloves on Shang Nian. Shi Ying saw them off at the door. Before getting into the car, Shang Nian waved goodbye to her.
“Bye~”
“Bye bye.” Shi Ying waved back.
Inside the car, Shang Nian leaned against the window until Shi Ying’s figure turned into a tiny black dot before sitting back down.
Shang Chenyan pinched her cheek. “We’ll eat dinner and come back. We won’t stay long.”
“In the future, when I’m not around, I won’t let them take you there again.”
He still remembered what happened last time when she ran out on her own. He had been terrified.
After that incident, Chen Suyun had called to explain that the nanny had taken her to nap, but she suddenly disappeared and scared everyone.
Shang Chenyan had also asked Shang Nian why she ran out, but she refused to answer.
Whatever the reason, someone at the old residence must have said or done something that upset her.
Shang Nian blinked and grabbed his finger.
“What is it?”
She pointed toward the back.
Shang Chenyan understood. “You want to ask why Mom isn’t coming with us?”
Shang Nian nodded.
Of course, he wanted everyone to know that his wife had come back. But he didn’t dare. He was afraid of scaring Shi Ying away.
Finally getting her to agree to live with him—if he rushed things or crossed the line before she had feelings for him, she would definitely leave.
He couldn’t rush.
“Because Mom hasn’t reconciled with Dad yet. So we can’t let others know she’s your mom, or she’ll be unhappy.”
“And don’t resent her for not being by your side these years. It’s not her fault.”
Shang Nian seemed to understand, but not fully.
In fact, over the years, Shang Chenyan often wondered whether he had done something wrong that made her leave.
Before the snow trip, they had argued about clothing. She had just finished childbirth, and he had wrapped her in layers to keep her warm, worrying she would catch a cold. She complained he was overreacting.
Even before that, he interfered in everything she ate, wore, and used. Even if he thought it was for her good, maybe she felt he was too controlling.
He had no answer.
He only wanted her back. As long as she returned, he would listen to her about everything and change anything.
Lost in thought, the car stopped outside the old residence.
Inside the luxurious living room, an uninvited guest was present.
Seeing Shang Chenyan enter, Xia Zongyuan quickly stood up with a flattering smile. “Mr. Shang…”
On the sofa sat Shang Haisheng and Chen Suyun. Shang Haisheng set down his teacup.
“Now that the company is under Chenyan’s control, let him handle it. If you have something to say, tell him.”
Shang Chenyan took off his coat and handed Shang Nian to Shang Haisheng. “Dad, take Nian Nian upstairs to play for a while.”
Shang Haisheng immediately smiled at his granddaughter. “Come, Nian Nian, let grandpa hold you. Let’s go to the study.”
Shang Nian obediently followed him upstairs.
Now only two people remained in the living room.
Shang Chenyan sat down casually. His handsome face was cold and indifferent as he leaned back on the sofa and looked at the standing man without speaking.
Xia Zongyuan bowed repeatedly. “Mr. Shang, I didn’t discipline my daughter well. Please, have mercy and withdraw the appeal…”
Before he finished speaking, a teacup smashed into his forehead.
The porcelain shattered, blood immediately flowing down his face.
Xia Zongyuan collapsed to his knees in terror.
Shang Chenyan looked down at him coldly. “Withdraw the lawsuit?”
“What are you to come begging in front of me?”
Xia Zongyuan trembled. “Mr. Shang, as long as you don’t appeal, anything you ask for, I’ll agree to it…”
Shang Chenyan’s eyes turned mocking. “What could someone like you possibly offer me?”
Humiliated and furious, Xia Zongyuan’s face turned red and white.
“Since you’re so fatherly, should I be kind and send you in to accompany her?”
“Or should I give you a place to stay with her in prison?”
Xia Zongyuan’s eyes widened in terror. “No—no, Mr. Shang, I was wrong, I was wrong…”
Uninterested in listening further, Shang Chenyan called the butler. “Throw him out.”
“Yes, young master.”
Bodyguards immediately dragged Xia Zongyuan out.
The killing intent in Shang Chenyan’s eyes had not yet faded.
His wife had just returned—and they had almost harmed her.
Prison?
That would be too easy for them.
He would make her suffer even inside.