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

Shang Chenyan unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt, the overhead light illuminating his deep features and the faint muscle lines that ran down from his chest.

Shi Ying waited for his answer with some trepidation. Before he returned, she had thought about it for a while. To be honest, she was only staying here temporarily. Shang Nian was not her daughter, and it was none of her business how she would live in the future.

But for some reason, Shi Ying always felt a sense of familiarity and inexplicable closeness to Shang Nian.

She used to dislike children, but when it came to Shang Nian, she always subconsciously wanted to care for her, hoping that her illness would get better and that she would be more lively and happy than she is now.

"I...I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that after spending time with Niannian, I feel that she's not as introverted as she seems on the outside. She actually wants to have some fun too."

"However, these are just my own opinions. As for whether it is suitable for her to go to school, you can ask Niannian and communicate with her doctor."

Shi Ying received no response for a long time, and her palms were sweating with nervousness. Shang Chenyan was very imposing when he was not speaking, which was quite different from his usual self at home.

Wouldn't he feel like he was meddling and, in a fit of anger, kick her out?

But she's already cancelled her rental agreement, and it's so late at night, she probably won't be able to find a place to stay right away, so she'll have to stay in a hotel...

As Shi Ying pondered, her thoughts drifted away, but the man's gentle voice brought her back to reality:

"I'm just considering your suggestion."

Shang Chenyan walked over and sat down next to her. The sofa dented slightly, and she could vaguely feel the heat emanating from the man's body on her arm.

"When Niannian was three years old, I thought about sending her to kindergarten, but she only went for a few days and came back clearly unhappy. I asked the teacher and checked the surveillance footage. She always sat alone in a corner at school and ignored other children when they approached her. Over time, the other children stopped playing with her."

The living room was quiet, with only Shang Chenyan's deep voice.

Shi Ying listened attentively to him: "I thought she didn't like going to school, and Ji Huanzhou suggested that she rest at home, so I invited teachers to our house afterwards."

Shang Chenyan looked at her, his eyes filled with a hint of guilt and gratitude: "In the few days you've been by her side, she's become noticeably more lively and willing to communicate with people. I'm very grateful."

"It's...it's alright." Shi Ying waved her hands repeatedly, "You're paying me to take care of Niannian..."

Shang Chenyan smiled: "Perhaps I neglected Niannian's feelings. I'm busy with work and don't feel comfortable leaving Niannian in the care of others, so I rarely take her out."

"How about this, we take her to the school this weekend and see if she likes the atmosphere there."

"Okay!" Shi Ying immediately agreed.

*

Saturday was a sunny day.

The harsh winter has passed, and the continuous spring rain has stopped. Shi Ying draws back the curtains and looks up to see a clear blue sky and mist shrouding the forest.

Thinking about going to school today, Shi Ying changed into a creamy white sweater. Her long black hair was braided into a side braid and hung down in front of her chest. Looking at herself in the mirror, she sincerely sighed that being a student was much happier than being a beast of burden!

Just as I was packing my bag, there was a soft knock on the door.

Shi Ying knew who it was as soon as she heard it. She went over and opened the door, and sure enough, she saw the fair-skinned Xiao Shang Nian standing by the door.

Shang Nian wore a beige dress and looked even cuter than the dolls in her room.

"Niannian woke up so early." Shiying ruffled her hair. "Want me to comb your hair?"

Shang Nian nodded.

Shi Ying braided two pigtails for her, looking at her from left to right, and kept exclaiming in his heart, "So cute!"

The two went downstairs together to wait for Shang Chenyan.

I was having breakfast when I heard the click of a door opening.

Shi Ying subconsciously turned her head and saw Shang Chenyan coming in from outside the door.

The man wore a soft, light gray knitted sweater, and his short hair was not as neat as usual, with a few stray hairs hanging down his forehead.

He walked in from the garden against the light, the light and shadow outlining his exquisite and profound features.

In a daze, Shi Ying felt as if she had seen him somewhere before.

"Have you finished eating?"

Before she could figure anything out, Shang Chenyan had already walked over. He casually poured himself a cup of black tea and looked at Shi Ying with an inquiring gaze.

"I'm done eating, I'm done eating." Shi Ying quickly wiped her mouth. "Won't you have something?"

"I've already eaten."

It's nine in the morning now. He got up at six and wandered around the dressing room for several hours before finally finding a piece of clothing that he was somewhat satisfied with.

However, the clothes had developed a faint, musty smell after being left out for a while, so he went for a walk in the garden in the early morning to dispel the odor.

It seems to match her outfit well, at least it doesn't make him look too mature.

Five years have left no trace on her; only his years have passed.

Shang Nian obediently wiped her mouth and washed her hands, then naturally took Shi Ying's hand.

"Does Niannian know where we're going today?"

Shang Nian shook her head.

Just as Shi Ying was about to speak, she suddenly realized that she didn't know where to go either.

That day, Shang Chenyan only said that they should go to the school together, but didn't say which school.

Shi Ying looked at him awkwardly.

Shang Chenyan smiled and said, "Let's go to Jiangcheng University."

"On weekends, only the university has students, and this week there are students from the affiliated high school visiting the school, so it's very lively."

That's still their alma mater.

It was also the place where they once fell in love.

Shi Ying wondered if it was just her imagination, but she always felt that Shang Chenyan's gaze towards her was filled with a sense of longing.

It's as if he's longing for someone else through her.

This illusion lasted only a moment. Soon, Shang Chenyan returned to his usual self, picked up Shang Nian, and walked outside: "Let's go."

*

The unassuming white car drove along the road. Shang Chenyan must have given prior notice, as he drove directly into the school and parked under an old locust tree.

Shang Nian curiously peered out the car window and pointed to a building in front of her that looked quite old and whose walls were covered with vines.

"That's the laboratory building," Shang Chenyan explained.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Shang Nian couldn't wait to get out. Shi Ying chased after her, saying, "Slow down."

When Shang Chenyan got out of the car, the two people had already run ten meters away from him.

"Shang Chen inkstone?"

Just as he was about to follow, a woman's voice called out to him.

Shang Chenyan turned around and found that it was a former classmate, now a female student who stayed on as a teacher at the school.

The woman stepped forward: "I thought I was seeing things. Are you back at the school for a visit?"

"Hmm." Shang Chenyan's gaze followed the two people lingering in front of the laboratory building.

The woman followed his gaze and asked, "Are those your wife and daughter?"

Shang Chenyan's relationship with his classmates was just so-so. She remembered that a few years ago someone in the group said that he was married, but she forgot who his wife was.

Moreover, he has always kept a low profile, and his wife has never appeared in public.

Shang Chenyan's eyes darkened, and he said softly, "Yes."

"It's my wife."

The woman smiled and said, "Then I won't bother you any longer. Have fun. If you need any help at school, feel free to contact me."

"Okay, thank you."

After Shang Chenyan left, the woman stood there and glanced at Shi Ying, who was not far away, a few more times.

She felt like he looked familiar.

It seems to be someone who once existed in her memory, but she has forgotten them.