At the time, she thought the child was just too young and had called out the wrong name.
But thinking back on everything that had happened today, Shen Jingyan's skin crawled with goosebumps.
Su Yueyue was almost four years old now—would she really keep calling someone the wrong name?
This question kept swirling around in Shen Jingyan's mind as she clutched the necklace tightly in her hand.
She tried to distract herself from her wandering thoughts.
Lying in bed, she silently muttered "enter the spatial dimension."
In an instant, she was inside the spatial dimension.
She carefully examined everything within it.
Only then did she realize why it felt so strangely familiar.
Everything in this spatial dimension was exactly like the back mountain behind her grandparents' house.
Even the little wooden cabin at the edge was identical.
When she was little, her grandfather used to carry her on his shoulders.
He would tell her stories, saying, "Little one, our family once had a formidable ancestor—unmatched in fighting skill. She was the one who led a group of orphans to build the Shen family's caravan, traveling far and wide to establish our family's legacy."
"This place right here was her favorite spot. When you grow up, Grandpa will give this place to my little girl too, alright?"
Shen Jingyan had been very young back then and didn't have many memories, but she had loved that back mountain. Later, when war broke out, the mountain was bombed flat.
Her grandparents and many members of the Shen family were forever laid to rest on that mountain.
And she was never able to return.
If it weren't for Mianmian, she would never have seen any of this again.
Shen Jingyan walked to the foot of the mountain, wanting to see more of what lay within.
But to her surprise, she found she couldn't move forward at all. The path was clearly right in front of her, yet something invisible seemed to block her way.
Shen Jingyan tried going in a different direction—same result.
She pondered for a moment and decided not to force her way through.
A treasure like this probably required some special opportunity or fate to explore further.
She glanced up at the mountain one more time, then returned to the little wooden cabin in the spatial dimension.
In front of the cabin was the familiar crystal-clear stream.
She walked over, cupped some water in her hands, and took a sip—it was sweet and refreshing.
Just like she remembered from her childhood!
Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt much more energized after drinking it.
Just then, Shen Jingyan suddenly heard a noise from outside the cabin.
She quickly exited the spatial dimension. Mianmian, who had been sprawled out sleeping, had been woken up by the commotion.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, the little girl said in a soft, milky voice, "Mommy."
Shen Jingyan quickly hugged her and patted her back.
The little one clung to her affectionately, her big grape-like eyes fixed on the doorway.
Song Changming walked in carrying a red double-happiness porcelain mug.
"Jingyan, don't be mad anymore. I made you some malted milk."
Shen Jingyan's heart softened a little at his attempt to make amends.
"You—"
Song Changming spoke in a gentle voice.
"I know my attitude earlier wasn't good. Your health can't handle getting upset. I'm sorry. Come on, have some malted milk and calm down."
Shen Jingyan reached out to take the porcelain mug.
Mianmian, who had been half-asleep, suddenly screamed internally like a startled groundhog.
[Oh my god, Mommy, you can't drink that! That deadbeat dad is no good—he's been secretly drugging you all along! That's why you're so weak and frail!]
Mianmian, panicking, let out a sharp cry and thrashed around wildly.
Most of the malted milk in the porcelain mug splashed onto the ground.
"Mianmian!"
Song Changming was about to lose his temper when he saw Mianmian grab his hand.
"Daddy drink!"
Drink it all—poison yourself to death!
"Even Pan Jinlian isn't as poisonous as you!"
Song Changming's face stiffened. "Mianmian, this is for Mommy. Daddy's body is fine, he doesn't need it."
Mianmian tugged at his hand. "Daddy, drink."
"Mianmian already said so, then you drink it. See how much your daughter cares about you."
Song Changming's expression turned somewhat unnatural as he took the porcelain mug.
"Alright, I'll drink it. Let me go grab a rag to wipe things down first."
Shen Jingyan watched Song Changming leave, then picked up Mianmian and gently pinched her nose.
"What happened just now, Mianmian?"
Mianmian grabbed Shen Jingyan's hand. "Mommy, Grandma is spoiled. Can't drink."
Shen Jingyan didn't quite understand.
The malted milk had just been brewed—there shouldn't be any problem with it.
She was about to say something when she saw the little girl shake her head, her little face all scrunched up.
"Mommy can't drink. It's bad, bad."
Shen Jingyan looked at Mianmian's earnest and persistent expression.
She remembered that the necklace Spatial Dimension was also something Mianmian had helped her get back, and her heart suddenly began to pound.
"Mianmian, is the milk really spoiled? Then the one Mommy brewed for you this morning—was that spoiled too?"
Mianmian furrowed her little brows and said in her baby voice, "The milk Mommy brews is good. The milk Daddy brews is bad."
Shen Jingyan felt her heart racing.
The one she brewed was fine, but the one Song Changming brewed was bad?
The implication was clear without needing to be said.
Shen Jingyan set Mianmian down by the bedside. "Mianmian, wait for Mommy."
She opened the door and ran downstairs.
There was the porcelain mug, sitting on the table.
Shen Jingyan took another cup, poured the remaining malted milk into it, and instantly transferred it into the Spatial Dimension.
Then she pretended to dump it into the trash can.
"Jingyan, why did you come down?"
Shen Jingyan smiled. "Mianmian said she was a little thirsty, so I came down to get her some water. Oh, Changming, I ate a bit too much tonight, so I won't drink the milk."
Song Changming smiled gently. "Alright, then I'll clean up down here. You go on upstairs."
Shen Jingyan carried the porcelain mug upstairs.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the floor below.
Looking at the water in the cup, she felt disgusted and poured it straight into the Spatial Dimension.
A dejected Shen Jingyan entered the room.
There she saw the little one sitting by the bedside, perfectly well-behaved.
Her heart softened instantly. "Mianmian, how did you know the milk was bad?"
Mianmian's jet-black eyes were pure and clear.
"It's just bad. Mommy can't drink it. It'll make you feel unwell."
Shen Jingyan reached out and hugged the little one tightly, as if seeking a sense of security.
"Mianmian, let Mommy take you out to play for a bit, okay?"
"Okay, okay!"
Song Changming didn't even notice the two of them weren't home.
Shen Jingyan locked the door, carried Mianmian over to the clothes cabinet, and with a light press of her hand, a new space appeared.
In the blink of an eye, they were in another room.
Mianmian's mouth rounded in surprise.
Wow, a maze!
Just like the researchers at the institute said—humans make mazes.
Shen Jingyan never thought she'd actually use this secret passage one day.
As the sky gradually darkened, Shen Jingyan carried Mianmian and walked straight out through the back door.
She moved quickly through the night.
The speed of her steps made it clear how anxious she was.
After a while, Shen Jingyan stopped in front of an ordinary house with Mianmian in her arms.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Who is it?"
"Auntie Mei, it's me!"
A moment later, the door opened.
The woman froze for two seconds upon seeing Shen Jingyan.
"Why are you here?"
Shen Jingyan looked at the woman before her, her eyes turning red.
“Auntie Mei, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
The woman saw that her eyes were red, and she was still holding a doll in her arms.
“Come in quickly, what on earth has happened?”