At the Shang family’s old residence.
Meng Shuyan had just finished her concert tour. After returning to Jiang City, she went straight to the old house, only to find Cheng Suyun in the living room, holding Shang Nian and talking to her.
A trace of displeasure flashed through Meng Shuyan’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself and greeted with a smile:
“Aunt Cheng.”
Seeing her, Cheng Suyun handed Shang Nian to the nanny and walked over with a smile. “Shuyan, you’re here?”
Meng Shuyan linked her arm with hers. “Yes, I just landed this morning and wanted to come see you right away.”
“I brought back some skincare products from Country F. The ladies there all love using these, so I brought two sets for you. I hope you like them?”
Cheng Suyun beamed. “Of course I like them. Our Shuyan is always so thoughtful.”
Sitting on the sofa, Meng Shuyan glanced at Shang Nian in the nanny’s arms, her smile deepening slightly. “Nian Nian is here too.”
Cheng Suyun had someone pour her a glass of water. “Chenyuan isn’t home, so I had someone bring Nian Nian over to play. It’s just…”
Thinking of Shang Nian’s condition, she sighed. “The child is already five, yet she still can’t speak.”
Meng Shuyan took a sip of water, her lowered gaze concealing a hint of disgust.
The Meng and Shang families had been close for decades. She and Shang Chenyuan were childhood friends, and their parents often joked that she would marry him when she grew up.
Later, she went abroad to study the cello. But when she returned, Shang Chenyuan was already married.
She had never met his wife. They had only been married for a year when his wife suddenly disappeared.
Meng Shuyan recalled how, five years ago, Shang Chenyuan had gone mad searching for her—dragging out anyone who had ever had conflicts with him and interrogating them one by one, throwing the entire city into unrest.
How could a person just vanish into thin air?
Meng Shuyan believed that woman must have died somewhere, and Shang Chenyuan simply couldn’t accept it.
Unfortunately, that woman had left him with a child.
Meng Shuyan didn’t like Shang Nian at all. If she were to marry Shang Chenyuan in the future, she would have to raise his child with another woman—just thinking about it annoyed her.
“Aunt Cheng, I know a few psychologists abroad. They say Nian Nian’s condition might not be physical—it could be psychological.”
Meng Shuyan suggested, “Why not send her abroad for treatment for a while?”
Cheng Suyun replied, “We’ve taken her to psychologists before. It didn’t help.”
Meng Shuyan continued, “Maybe you just didn’t find the right one. Aunt Cheng, psychological treatment abroad is much more advanced. Since Nian Nian is still young, it’s better to act early. Besides, many children study abroad from a young age. She can study while receiving treatment.”
Cheng Suyun thought about it seriously, a little hesitant. “Of course I agree, but you know Chenyuan wouldn’t feel at ease letting her go abroad alone.”
Maintaining her smile, Meng Shuyan said, “Brother Chenyuan is so busy with his career. Just hire a few more people to take care of her. She can come back during holidays.”
“This matter… I can’t decide.” Cheng Suyun was somewhat tempted but knew she couldn’t influence Shang Chenyuan easily. “But when he comes tonight, I’ll talk to him.”
Meng Shuyan smiled. “He’ll definitely listen to you.”
With her sweet words, Meng Shuyan quickly cheered Cheng Suyun up.
Meanwhile, Shang Nian sat quietly to the side, hugging her plush rabbit. Her small face showed no expression, but she held the toy a little tighter.
After work, Shi Ying didn’t feel like cooking, so she bought some food from the convenience store downstairs.
While sitting by the window eating, she suddenly noticed a little girl walking alone on the road.
Cars passed by constantly, horns sounding from time to time. Seeing a car nearly brush past the girl, Shi Ying almost choked in shock.
She rushed out and pulled the little girl into her arms.
Carrying her quickly to the roadside, Shi Ying couldn’t help raising her voice, “Why are you running around alone on the road? What if a car hit you?”
“Where are your parents?”
What kind of parents would be so irresponsible, letting such a young child cross the road alone?
Shi Ying crouched down, trying to set the girl on the ground, but two small arms wrapped tightly around her neck, refusing to let go.
She caught a faint milky scent unique to children.
Shang Nian stared at her with big, grape-like eyes, unmoving.
Those little arms clung tightly to her, and Shi Ying, who had little experience with children, didn’t know what to do.
“Little girl, let go of me and tell me where your parents are.”
Then she heard a very small, very soft voice near her ear:
“Mom…”
Mom?
Shi Ying nearly jumped.
Good heavens, she was still an unmarried young lady!
“You can’t call people that randomly.” She gently pried the girl’s hands off. “I’m not your mom. Who did you come out with? If you don’t tell me, I’ll take you to the police.”
Shang Nian’s eyes reddened slightly as she pouted, clutching Shi Ying’s clothes tightly.
Shi Ying felt overwhelmed. Scratching her head, she thought about taking the child to the police station.
Just as she was about to pick her up, hurried footsteps sounded behind her, accompanied by an anxious and angry voice:
“Shang Nian!”
Shi Ying turned around and saw a familiar face.
Shang Chenyuan had received a call from his mother, Cheng Suyun, saying that Shang Nian had run out of the house alone. His heart nearly stopped from fear.
He had rushed out with people to search, only to find Shang Nian standing by the roadside with a woman.
He hadn’t expected that woman to be Shi Ying.
On the busy street, Shi Ying crouched while holding the child, while Shang Chenyuan stood not far away. Their gazes met—filled with shock, disbelief, and something like fate flowing silently between them.
It took Shi Ying a while to recover. Stammering, she asked, “President Shang… is this your child?”
His throat felt dry as his hand clenched at his side.
“Yes.”
“My child.”
She had just stumbled upon huge gossip!
Holding Shang Nian, Shi Ying stood up and awkwardly walked over, trying to hand the child back to him.
But Shang Nian clung tightly to her, her soft cheek pressed against Shi Ying’s neck.
Shi Ying felt a bit embarrassed. “I saw her walking alone on the road just now. I was afraid she might get hit, so I picked her up.”
She definitely wasn’t kidnapping a child!
“Thank you…” There seemed to be a faint mist in Shang Chenyuan’s eyes, making it hard to read his emotions.
“Y-you’re welcome.” Shi Ying felt a chill down her back under his gaze.
Lowering her head, she said gently to Shang Nian, “Your dad is here. Go back with him.”
Shang Nian whimpered softly, and Shi Ying suddenly felt something cold against her neck.
“Could I trouble you to take her back?” Shang Chenyuan spoke at the right moment. “She might be frightened.”
“She depends on you.”