Meeting Ning Wanwan’s gaze, Shen Song’an took the initiative to explain, “Since we’re arranging a wife for our son, how could we possibly do without a betrothal gift and a token of our sincerity?
It wasn’t just any token; in a sense, it could be considered a symbol of the Shen family’s status. By giving the token to the girl, he was acknowledging that from now on, she was practically half a member of the Shen family.
It was just a joke—surely this man wasn’t taking it seriously?
Shen Song’an: “I think she’s a good girl. Most importantly, our son likes her, and I believe she can help with his condition.”
That’s right, Shen Yan has an illness: avoidant personality disorder.
He has a naturally low need for emotional connection with others, displaying indifference toward those around him—even those close to him—and finds it difficult to form deep emotional bonds.
Ning Wanwan’s decision to move back then was also based on her son’s health; she hoped that a change of environment might help his condition.
Shen Song’an’s gaze fell on Shen Yan again: “ “I know you don’t want to put too much pressure on him and want him to live a happy life, but he is the Shen family’s sole heir. There are certain burdens he must bear—responsibilities he cannot escape.”
Born into the Shen family, possessing resources and wealth that others could never hope to attain in a lifetime, he naturally had to sacrifice more than others.
Ning Wanwan: “The Shen family could have another heir.”
From the age of eight months, the Shen family had arranged a so-called elite education for Shen Yan. By the age of two, he was already taking various classes. The little boy would sit through an entire afternoon, and she could see his temperament growing increasingly cold, extreme, and stubborn.
Compared to wealth and resources, she hoped more than anything that he could live a happy and carefree life.
Shen Song’an stepped forward and embraced her, saying: “ “Wanwan, don’t talk like a child. You know I can’t let you and the baby leave, and the Shen family won’t give up on Yan. He’s still young and doesn’t understand anything. If you make this decision for him now, how do you know he won’t regret it later?” Giving up the position of heir to the Shen family meant more than just forfeiting the family’s wealth; it also meant losing the Shen family’s powerful connections and resources.
And the exclusive circles that so many people would kill to join.
“Since you like it here, stay a little longer. We’ll move back to the old mansion before the old man returns to Beijing.”
His tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
When she had moved out of the old mansion with her son, Ning Wanwan had indeed considered separating from Shen Song’an and raising her son on her own, but deep down, she knew it was impossible.
The Shen family would never give up on Shen Yan, nor would they ever allow a child of the Shen family to be left to fend for himself.
Ning Wanwan knew he was speaking the truth.
Yan Yan was the Shen family’s rightful heir; everything the Shen family owned would one day belong to him. If she were to make the decision for him to give all that up, who knew if he would blame her when he grew up?
After finishing her milk, Jiang Xian saw Shen Yan hunched over the table, scribbling away, and leaned her little head right up close.
“Yan Yan, what are you doing?”
Shen Yan: “Writing.”
“I want to do it too! I want to do it too! Xian Xian wants to learn to write too!”
Shen Yan handed her a piece of paper and a pen. “What do you want to write?”
The little girl blinked her wide, innocent eyes.
She didn’t know any characters!
She had no idea what to write.
Shen Yan glanced at her, then picked up the pen and wrote two characters on the paper. “Write these.”
“What are these?” Jiang Xian stared at the characters on the paper, her round eyes wide with wonder.
Shen Yan pointed to the characters on the paper and said, “This character is pronounced ‘Jiang,’ and this one is pronounced ‘Xian.’”
“It’s Xianxian’s name!” Jiang Xian’s eyes lit up instantly, as if she’d discovered a huge secret, her high-pitched voice full of excitement and thrill.
Shen Yan: “Mm!”
“Yan Yan is so amazing.”
He actually knows how to write Xianxian’s name!
But soon, the little girl’s face scrunched up again: “But I can’t do it!”
Seeing this, Shen Yan grabbed her little hand to teach her. He wrote it stroke by stroke with great care. After finishing once, he let go of her hand and said, “Okay, try writing it yourself.”
Jiang Xian gripped the pen nervously and began writing cautiously. However, her little hand seemed to have a mind of its own—either a horizontal stroke would come out crooked, or a vertical stroke would be too long.
After struggling for ages, she finally managed to write the two characters. The little girl shouted happily, “I’m done!”
Her voice was brimming with pride and a sense of accomplishment.
But when Shen Yan looked over, all he saw on the paper were two messy gray blobs—it was impossible to tell what they were supposed to be. He frowned and said, “Do it over!”
The smile vanished instantly from little Jiang Xian’s face. Her eyes widened like copper bells, as if the whole world had come crashing down.
Shen Yan: “You didn’t write it right. It goes like this.” With that, he grabbed her hand and wrote it out again.
“Got it now?”
The little girl chewed on the end of her pencil, her face full of distress.
Her eyes said: She’s got it. Her brain said: Got it! Her hands said: What are you guys talking about?
It was obvious she hadn’t got it yet.
Shen Yan grabbed her hand again and wrote it out a third time.
This time, the little girl stumbled through it, but she finally managed to write the two characters. Though they were still crooked and missing limbs, they at least looked somewhat like the real thing.
Jiang Xian felt her little hand was swollen, but she was overjoyed: “Yan Yan, look! I’ve learned it!”
“Yes, you’re so good!”
“My hand hurts, I need a kiss!”
Jiang Xian held out her chubby little hand toward Shen Yan.
Shen Yan bent down and blew on it twice.
The little girl clutched the paper as if it were a treasure, earnestly praising herself: “Wow, Xianxian is so awesome!”
“I’m going to show this to Shushu.”
Seeing this, Ning Wanwan couldn’t help but laugh at her adorable little expression, but after glancing at her son, she quickly grew worried again.
The old man would be returning to the ancestral home in two months at most, and by then, their family would definitely have to move back.
If only they could take Xianxian back with them.
But she knew full well that was impossible.
“Can’t we really move out?” She looked at Shen Song’an, trying to find a glimmer of hope in his expression.
Shen Song’an was silent for a moment, then sighed as he looked at her. “If you really like it here, I can try to persuade the old man, but you know we can’t stay out here forever.”
They would eventually have to return to that home.
Ning Wanwan: “I know. I just want to make Yan Yan a little happier. At least, let him be happy for a little while longer.”
The old mansion was nice, but sometimes it felt like a prison.
Yan Yan was still so young; she just wanted him to grow up normally, like other children his age.
Shen Song’an looked at Ning Wanwan and said softly, “All right, then let’s stay a little longer. As for Grandpa, don’t worry—I’ll talk to him.”
Ning Wanwan: “Thank you!”
Although Shen Song’an was willing to try for her sake, they both knew that truly convincing Grandpa to agree to let them move out wouldn’t be an easy task.