Five years after my wife's death, she came back!

There's a small park near the company, which is where we first met Shang Chenyan on the day of the interview. After lunch, Shi Ying brought Shang Nian here for a walk.

Shang Nian wore a fluffy scarf, her small face buried inside, with only her eyes showing as she curiously looked around.

Shi Ying took her hand and asked, "Has Niannian been here before?"

Shang Nian shook her head.

The park wasn't crowded at noon; only a few elderly people were playing cards at small tables, and a few children were playing football, chattering away – a lively and cheerful scene.

Shi Ying sat on the chair with Shang Nian in her arms. Her coat was unzipped, and Shang Nian snuggled into her embrace. Shi Ying wrapped her in her own coat and asked, "Are you cold?"

Shang Nian shook her head, tilting her little head up to look at her.

Shi Ying just thought she was too cute.

With those big eyes, small mouth, and high nose, she'll definitely grow up to be a great beauty.

"When I was little, I often played in the park near my home. I would play until I was covered in sweat, and even when my dad tried to drag me away, I wouldn't leave." Shi Ying seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes became somewhat downcast.

Shang Nian tugged at her fingertip and pointed to the group of children playing football.

Shi Ying looked down at her: "You want to go play too?"

Shang Nian nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Shi Ying was somewhat embarrassed. Shang Nian's situation was different from other children, and judging from her appearance, she had probably been well protected by Shang Chenyan since she was a child and had no playmates of the same age.

She was a little worried. What if she fell and hurt herself, and Shang Chenyan came after her?

When Shang Nian saw that she didn't speak, the light in her eyes dimmed immediately.

She kept her head down, not throwing a tantrum, but obediently leaning against Shi Ying's chest, looking ahead with some envy.

Shi Ying couldn't bear her pitiful look, so she thought for a moment and placed Shang Nian on a chair: "Nian Nian, wait for me here for a while, okay?"

Shang Nian nodded obediently. Shi Ying ran over to the children and took out the milk candies she had brought that morning from her pocket, distributing them to them.

Shang Nian only saw her squatting down in front of a few children and saying something, and then the children ran over and invited her to play together.

Shi Ying followed and patted her head: "Go on, I've already bribed them, I'll keep you company and have a good time."

Shang Nian was immediately delighted and jumped off the chair, running over there.

Shi Ying sat on the chair, watching a group of children running wildly all over the park.

"Shiying?"

A somewhat familiar voice suddenly sounded behind her. Shi Ying looked up and saw Shang Yu.

Shang Yu was also somewhat surprised, his gaze lingering on Shi Ying and Shang Nian, who was not far away.

"That's interesting. Did your uncle ask you to bring Niannian out?" Shang Yu sat down next to her as if they were old friends.

Shi Ying hummed in agreement, then asked, "What are you doing here?"

Shang Yu leaned back in his chair, crossing his long legs: "I was just passing by and thought I saw Niannian, so I thought I'd come and check it out."

"I can't believe it," he asked curiously. "My little cousin is such a loner, how come she actually went out with you?"

Shi Ying didn't like the word "aloof" that he used. In her opinion, Shang Nian lacked communication with the outside world because she couldn't speak and Shang Chenyan was too protective of her.

In fact, Shang Nian herself also wanted to play with other children, as you can tell from her current appearance.

"Niannian is not aloof; she just hasn't had the opportunity to make friends."

Shang Yu remained noncommittal: "My uncle treats her like his own eyes. Because Niannian can't speak, he hasn't sent her to school. He just hired a teacher to come to our house."

"But you secretaries are helping him take care of his kids?" Shang Yu teased.

Shi Ying sighed, "Oxen and horses have to do everything."

Shang Yu smiled and took out his phone: "Shall we exchange contact information?"

Shi Ying was almost overjoyed. Shang Nian had given her Shang Yu's contact information before, but she hadn't dared to add him.

For her, proactively adding people as friends is nothing short of hell.

Now that Shang Yu had taken the initiative, she quickly took out her phone to exchange contact information with him and smiled contentedly.

The two chatted casually for a while. When Shang Nian got tired of playing, she ran back and suddenly pounced on her, hugging her leg.

Shi Ying took a tissue and wiped her sweat, then quickly wrapped a scarf around her neck: "Look at you, all sweaty. Be careful not to catch a cold."

Shang Yu grabbed Shang Nian by the back of her collar: "Didn't you see anyone?"

Shang Nian blinked, which was her way of greeting him.

"Does Niannian want some candy?" Shiying herself likes candy and always carries milk candy with her. She took out the two leftover pieces and gave them to her.

"I'll have one too." Shang Yu took a candy from her palm and popped it into his mouth without any hesitation.

Shang Nian quickly grabbed the last one and glared at him angrily.

Shang Yu laughed: "You're so stingy. After you've eaten your candy, your cousin will go buy you something to drink to warm you up."

There were stalls selling milk tea and other drinks near the park. When Shang Yu went to buy some, Shi Ying picked up Shang Nian and put her on a chair, asking her, "Did you have fun today?"

Shang Nian nodded.

"Niannian, if you want to play with other children next time, you can just tell your dad. Your dad loves you so much, so you can communicate your thoughts with him more often. Don't always keep them bottled up inside, okay?"

Shang Nian pouted as if she was thinking, and finally nodded vigorously.

Shi Ying smiled and ruffled her hair: "Our Niannian is such a good girl."

When Shang Chenyan arrived, he could see two figures, one tall and one short, sitting on a chair from afar.

The warm winter sun shone through the dappled branches onto Shi Ying. She wore a pink coat, her hair was casually tied back, and her smile was so sweet and gentle, even brighter than the sunlight.

Shang Nian nestled in her arms, her arms tightly wrapped around her waist, as if afraid she would run away.

A gentle breeze swept across the bare branches overhead, casting dappled light and shadow on the two of them.

Shang Chenyan stopped involuntarily, reluctant to disrupt the scene. He had been looking forward to this ordinary moment for five years.

After standing there for a long time, Shang Chenyan finally prepared to go over.

Before he could take a step, he saw Shang Yu running over with two cups of hot milk tea.

He stood in front of the two of them, handed each of them a cup, and Shi Ying looked up at him with a smile and said something.

Shang Chenyan's eyes suddenly darkened.

His hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched into fists, the knuckles turning bluish-white from the force, and his fingertips sinking deep into his palms.

He said that Shang Yu should have been forcibly sent to Africa long ago!