Upstairs, in the study.
Shang Nian sat on the sofa playing with a plush doll, while Shang Haisheng sat beside her. Despite his age, he was playing along with her.
“Do you like this, Nian Nian?” Shang Haisheng took out a newly bought doll set and placed it in front of her, affectionately patting her head.
Shang Nian nodded and smiled at him with curved eyes.
Shang Haisheng’s heart melted. “Aiyo, our Nian Nian is so well-behaved.”
Chen Suyun sat nearby watching them, feeling both happy and uncomfortable. Shang Nian was indeed very well-behaved and intelligent, but unfortunately she couldn’t speak—and she was also a girl.
“Chenyan is not young anymore, and Nian Nian is his only child.”
Shang Haisheng didn’t even look at her, still playing with Shang Nian. “What’s wrong with one child? These days most couples only have one. Fewer children, better quality.”
“That’s different. Nian Nian can’t speak…”
“Shut up.” Shang Haisheng, usually gentle and refined, clearly got angry. He glared at her. “Can you stop talking like that in front of the child?”
Chen Suyun immediately realized she had spoken too quickly. Remembering what happened last time when Shang Nian ran away on her own, she felt a little regretful.
But she still felt uneasy and muttered, “Am I wrong? If they don’t have more children while they still can, what will they do when they regret not having a son later?”
“At his age, which man doesn’t get married? If he doesn’t like the Meng family girl, there are plenty of young ladies in Jiangcheng. He can pick anyone—just let me introduce them.”
Shang Haisheng pointed at her. “Chenyan has never given you trouble since he was a child. Why are you always interfering?”
“I’m his mother! If I don’t care, who will?” Chen Suyun raised her voice. “Besides, Nian Nian is still so young and needs care. If the biological mother isn’t around, a stepmother is the same thing.”
“Say one more nonsense and get out!”
Chen Suyun’s eyes turned red. She stood up abruptly. “Fine! You father and son are on the same side. I’m the only one meddling!”
She slammed the door and left.
Shang Haisheng was so angry his eyebrows almost stood up.
At that moment, Shang Nian tugged his sleeve. He immediately softened. “Alright, alright, Grandpa isn’t angry anymore.”
“Don’t listen to nonsense from others. Grandpa only has you as a granddaughter. Nothing else counts.”
Shang Nian smiled and handed him her doll.
Shang Haisheng played with her for a while and suddenly noticed something.
It seemed like Shang Nian had become more lively.
He used to often try to play with her, but she always seemed lost in her own world and didn’t respond much.
But today, she had smiled at him several times and even shared her doll willingly.
At dinner, he brought it up and asked, “Did you change her doctor?”
“No.” Shang Chenyan didn’t eat much, only taking a sip of wine. “She’s just in a good mood recently.”
“In a good mood?”
Shang Haisheng looked at him suspiciously—and immediately felt something was off.
His son also seemed to be in a good mood.
Before, every time he came, he had the expression of a man who had lost his wife. Today, there was even a faint smile on his face.
“You… you’re in a good mood too? Did the company sign a big contract?”
“I didn’t.” Shang Chenyan answered briefly.
One big and one small sitting opposite him—something about it just felt… wrong.
Shang Haisheng couldn’t figure it out at all.
Because Shang Haisheng kept asking questions, Shang Chenyan returned home later than usual. By the time he arrived, it was almost ten o’clock.
He held Shang Nian’s hand as they got out of the car. Walking through the garden, he saw a faint light coming from the window, and his heart warmed instantly.
In his fourth year of university, he and Shi Ying had moved out of the dorm.
Although Shang Haisheng always smiled kindly, he was extremely strict in his upbringing.
There was no such thing as directly inheriting the family fortune. During university, he had already started interning at the company, rising step by step from the bottom. To manage such a large group, he needed to fully understand its operations.
That fourth year was the busiest time of his life. They lived in an apartment near the university, and every night when he came home late, he would see a warm yellow light still on in the living room.
Shi Ying would always wait for him.
Even if she was exhausted, curled up on the sofa asleep, she would still wait.
But in the past five years, every night he came home, the house was empty. No one was waiting anymore.
Day after day, loneliness swallowed him whole.
He gently pushed the door open.
As soon as they entered, Shang Nian wanted to run inside, but Shang Chenyan grabbed the back of her collar.
“Be quiet. Don’t make noise.”
Shang Nian quickly covered her mouth and nodded hard.
Only then did he let her go. “Go on.”
She tiptoed inside and saw Shi Ying sleeping on the sofa, the TV still on, broadcasting a noisy variety show.
Shang Chenyan walked over, his eyes filled with uncontrollable tenderness and love.
He bent down and carefully picked her up, intending to carry her to the bedroom.
Shang Nian followed behind him into the room. As soon as she entered, she took a deep breath. It smelled so good—like Mommy.
Shang Chenyan placed Shi Ying on the bed but didn’t want to leave.
But Shang Nian was still there.
He looked down at her.
Shang Nian was also staring longingly at the bed, wanting to climb up and sleep with Shi Ying. She didn’t want to leave either.
The two of them stared at each other.
“You should go to sleep.”
Shang Nian shook her head firmly and pointed at the bed.
Shang Chenyan pretended not to understand and simply lifted her up. “Sleep on your own.”
No!
Shang Nian struggled, but it was useless. She was carried away.
She angrily lay on his shoulder, biting him in frustration.
Shi Ying, completely exhausted, fell into a deep sleep the moment she touched the bed, completely unaware of the fierce silent battle between father and daughter.