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

"What are you standing there for? Let's go."

Shang Chenyan packed his things, turned around and tapped her on the head, waking Shi Ying from her daze.

Shi Ying opened her mouth, then blurted out, "Did you have a boyfriend/girlfriend in college?"

Shang Chenyan's steps froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered and asked with a smile, "Why did you suddenly ask that?"

"I...I'm just a little curious."

"We've talked about it."

"Is it with your wife?"

Shang Chenyan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he looked directly into her eyes: "Yes."

Shi Ying regretted asking the question as soon as she did.

Dreams are all fake, just wild fantasies. Why is she taking them so seriously?

"Sorry, I was just asking casually..."

"It's alright." Shang Chenyan led her out of the ward. "It's been a long time since anyone has asked me about my university days."

So much time has passed that even Pei Yanchuan has forgotten many things. Only he himself will repeatedly recall and ponder them in the quiet of the night.

*

Back at the villa, Shang Nian was already up, sitting on the sofa, holding a doll and lost in thought.

Hearing the door open, she was a few beats slow to react, but she didn't turn around.

"Nian Nian".

Only when she heard the familiar, gentle female voice did Shang Nian's eyes light up. She threw down the doll, jumped off the sofa, and rushed straight into Shi Ying's arms.

"Niannian, you're up so early today?" Shiying saw that she hadn't even put on her shoes, so she bent down to pick her up.

But Shang Chenyan was even faster than her. He expressionlessly lifted her out and made her stand up: "She's sick, she can't carry you."

Shang Nian stretched her neck and sniffed Shi Ying's body, and sure enough, she smelled disinfectant.

That was the smell she hated the most; her father used to send her to that awful place all the time.

Thinking of this, Shang Nian broke free from Shang Chenyan's hand, pulled Shi Ying to the sofa, and pushed her to sit down.

Then she jogged to the kitchen and soon came out with a cup of jujube tea.

"Is it for me?"

Shang Nian nodded. When she was sick, she loved drinking the sweet jujube tea that Zhang Ma brewed.

Shi Ying smiled slightly and touched her face: "Thank you, Niannian."

Just then, Zhang Ma came out of the kitchen: "Sir, Miss Shi is back? Does Miss Shi want breakfast?"

"No need, Aunt Zhang, the chicken soup you made is so delicious, I've had several bowls, and I'm not hungry yet."

Aunt Zhang asked in confusion, "Chicken soup?"

She didn't make it through.

She only arrived at seven o'clock, and it's only a little past eight now, which is not enough time to make chicken soup.

Before Zhang Ma could speak, Shang Chenyan interrupted her, "Make her some porridge. The doctor advised her to eat light meals for the next few days."

"Yes, sir."

After Zhang Ma went into the kitchen, the living room suddenly became quiet. Only Shang Nian kept trying to squeeze into Shi Ying's arms, but she was always grabbed by the back of the collar and put aside by Shang Chenyan as soon as she climbed over.

Shi Ying smiled: "I'm fine now. Niannian is very light-hearted, it's okay."

Shang Nian glanced triumphantly at Shang Chenyan, shook off his hand, and lay down on Shi Ying's lap.

Shang Chenyan: "..."

He glanced at his watch, then simply picked up his coat from the sofa: "I'm going to the company. You can stay home and rest today."

Shi Ying felt a little embarrassed. She hadn't been working for more than a few days and was taking leave every day. Luckily, she had a good boss like Shang Chenyan, otherwise she would have been fired many times over.

"Let me go with you..."

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking. Shang Chenyan straightened his tie and said, "In the end, you got sick because of Shang Yu. As his uncle, it can be said that I failed to discipline him properly."

"I'll talk to him nicely."

"It's okay, it's okay, please don't scold him." Shi Ying complained incessantly. If Shang Yu got scolded because of her, how could she complete the mission?

Shang Chenyan's eyes darkened. He was now certain that she was indeed deliberately getting close to Shang Yu.

Shi Ying is a gentle and cheerful girl, but that doesn't mean she has no temper. She has always been very punctual and hates people who are late or break appointments, but she seems to tolerate Shang Yu without any limits.

It doesn't seem like she likes him; it seems like she has ulterior motives towards him.

Knowing that she didn't like anyone else, Shang Chenyan felt much more relaxed.

Seeing her unease, Shang Chenyan added, "Besides, it's not like I'm giving you a holiday. You'll be staying home to help me take care of Niannian. Jiang Wen usually helps me look after the child too, but he's not here, so I'll have to trouble you."

"Don't worry, I will take good care of her."

Hearing him say that, Shi Ying felt less guilty. After all, a secretary's job is to take care of everything for the boss, including helping him take care of his children!

Shang Chenyan gave a faint "hmm" and put on his coat to go out.

As he closed the door, he glanced inside instinctively and saw a large and a small boy sitting on the sofa looking at him. Noticing his gaze, they waved at him together.

A smile played in Shang Chenyan's eyes as he gently closed the door.

*

Shi Ying drank the porridge and went back to her room to take a shower.

When she came out, she saw Shang Nian sitting by the door, staring at her expectantly, as if afraid that she would run away.

Shi Ying picked the person up with a hint of helplessness: "I'm just taking a bath, it won't disappear."

"You little clingy brat." She flicked Shang Nian's nose.

Yesterday it rained heavily, but today the sun is shining brightly, as if a spring rain has driven away the cold winter and brought a bright spring.

Shi Ying spread a blanket on the windowsill and sat down with Shang Nian to read.

She originally wanted to teach Shang Nian to use pinyin, but she didn't expect that Shang Nian already knew it and could accurately write pinyin on some simple Chinese characters.

"Niannian is so great!"

Shi Ying: "Did your tutor teach you?"

Shang Nian shook her head and wrote the word "Dad" on the paper.

"Dad taught you that," Shi Ying asked, resting her chin on her hand. "Did Niannian have fun playing with those children that day?"

Shang Nian nodded.

Do you like playing with those little kids?

Shang Nian nodded again.

Seeing her reaction, Shi Ying felt that Shang Nian was not as withdrawn as she had imagined; she actually wanted to play with children her own age.

"Does Niannian want to go to school? There are lots of children there."

Shang Nian didn't nod immediately; she hesitated and pointed to her mouth.

Shi Ying felt a pang of heartache. If she could speak, such a well-behaved child would surely have many good friends at school, and with Shang Chenyan's wealth, he could send her to the best school.

The reason we delayed sending her to school was because we were worried that she would be bullied because she couldn't speak.

When Shang Chenyan returned that evening, Shi Ying brought up the matter with him.

"go to school?"

The man paused slightly as he loosened his tie.