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

Shang Group.

Shi Ying followed Shang Chenyan into the office building. Looking at the man's tall figure, she couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Shang, when will Secretary Jiang be back?"

Shang Chenyan paused in his steps: "Tomorrow."

Shi Ying's eyes lit up: "Then should I move out? Secretary Jiang is so capable, it's better if he's by your side, he'll be more efficient at work."

"Hmm." The man's tone was indifferent. "You can move back to your old office after get off work today."

Shi Ying cheered inwardly. Seeing that Shang Chenyan agreed so readily, she couldn't help but wonder if he felt guilty about what happened last night, which was why he let her off the hook.

Anyway, I finally don't have to share a room with the big boss all day anymore.

Moving out of the office and then moving to a new place has wasted so much time. Looking at her task with almost zero progress, Shi Ying is determined to work hard on the task starting tomorrow.

The purpose of a strategy mission is usually to assess whether a character is suitable for inclusion in the game and how difficult the mission is. Therefore, there are usually multiple players with different identities who will attempt the mission.

Shi Ying is now regretting it a little. If she had known it would be so difficult to run into him at the company, she would have chosen to remain a student.

Should I just quit my job and try to sneak into the school? Maybe I'll run into them there more easily.

"You're just moving to an off-site office, not moving out of the company."

Shang Chenyan's cold voice interrupted her thoughts.

Shi Ying then realized that she had been daydreaming too obviously.

She quickly sat up straight: "I'm sorry, Mr. Shang, I'll take it seriously."

Shang Chenyan signed the documents with his pen, asking without looking up, "Can we find a place to live today?"

"I guess... I think so." Shi Ying took out her phone and glanced at it. "I've arranged to see the apartment with the landlord after get off work."

"Okay, I'll go with you after get off work."

Shi Ying's eyes widened, and she repeatedly refused, "I don't want to trouble you."

"Are you sure it's safe for you to go house hunting alone?"

Shi Ying recalled the kidnapping incident and felt lingering fear. She said, "I'll have Jiang Mingxue accompany me."

Shang Chenyan glanced at her, and Shi Ying read a hint of mockery in that look.

"You mean, you two girls are going to look at apartments at night, and one of you isn't enough to be tied up, so you need a companion?"

Shi Ying: "..."

She has a really sharp tongue.

"In a society governed by the rule of law, there aren't that many kidnapping cases..." As she spoke, she lost her confidence. In her twenty-two years of life, she truly never imagined that a kidnapping would happen to her.

But it just happened.

Shang Chenyan put down his pen, his tone leaving no room for negotiation: "I'll go with you, and while I'm at it, I'll check out the security at the place you've chosen."

"oh..."

*

After get off work.

Shang Chenyan drove Shi Ying to see a house.

The apartment complex I found was not far from my company and looked quite nice. The landlady was an elderly woman, and I showed her the apartment. It was a one-bedroom apartment on a high floor.

Shang Chenyan didn't offer any opinions throughout the process, while Shi Ying chatted happily with the landlord and finally decided to rent this place temporarily.

She paid a three-month deposit and was about to return to her villa to retrieve her luggage after leaving the residential complex.

When she left in the morning, Shang Chenyan didn't let her take her suitcase to work.

"Are you sure it's there?"

The car stopped outside the villa, and Shang Chenyan looked at the impatient girl and asked her a question.

Shi Ying nodded: "Yes, as you've seen, the security and environment are quite good."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Shi Ying's phone rang.

"Hello, landlady?"

I don't know what they said over there, but Shi Ying's brows were furrowed tightly.

Shang Chenyan got out of the car and stood outside the gate against the light, making it impossible to see his expression.

"Okay, I understand." Shi Ying hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?"

"She said she doesn't want to rent it anymore and wants to refund my money," Shi Ying said indignantly. "It must be because someone offered a higher rent than me that she changed her mind."

The man raised an eyebrow slightly: "There's nothing I can do about it then. It's getting late, and even if we wanted to see the next place, we wouldn't be able to go until tomorrow."

Shi Ying tightened her grip on her phone: "Then I'll stay at a hotel tonight..."

"What did I do to you last night that made you so afraid of me, and so eager to move out?"

Shang Chenyan suddenly asked, and he approached her step by step. Shi Ying uncontrollably retreated until her back hit the wall.

The dim streetlights cast long shadows of the two people, which gradually overlapped in the distance.

Shi Ying swallowed hard. "N-nothing..."

"Nothing?" Shang Chenyan seemed puzzled. "Then why are you in such a hurry to move out?"

"Did I kiss you? Or did we sleep together?"

"No, no!" Shi Ying interrupted him loudly, her earlobes turning bright red, but thankfully the thick darkness of the night concealed her embarrassment.

She turned her head away: "There's nothing there."

Shang Chenyan smiled and said, "That's strange."

An awkward yet slightly ambiguous atmosphere filled the space between them. He was very close to her, so close that Shi Ying could smell his unique, rich scent.

Just like last night...

The silence was broken by a series of light footsteps.

Shang Nian heard the car and waited for a long time without seeing the two people come in, so she ran out on her own.

She walked past Shang Chenyan's legs and rushed straight into Shi Ying's arms.

"Niannian..." Shi Ying patted her head, and seeing her bright eyes looking at him, he was a little unsure how to talk to her.

Shang Chenyan turned and walked into the house, his voice carried on the wind:

"Even if you have to leave, you should say goodbye to Niannian properly."

*

Jiangcheng University.

Meng Shuyan was invited back to her alma mater to give a lecture on cello music theory.

In the past, she wouldn't have given such an event a second glance. But now, although the Meng family still appears prosperous on the surface, they have lost several major projects with businesses and are suffering heavy losses.

She had to attend these events to maintain her dignity.

As she emerged from the auditorium, several teachers showered her with compliments: "Miss Meng, your studies abroad have truly made a difference. We heard you have a tour abroad next month?"

Meng Shuyan smiled slightly and said, "Yes, if you are interested, I will send you a few invitations."

"Oh, thank you very much, Miss Meng."

Walking through a long corridor, the walls on both sides are adorned with photos of outstanding individuals from the school over the years, as well as some student activities.

Meng Shuyan spotted Shang Chenyan's photo at a glance.

She couldn't help but stop in her tracks.

During his student days, Shang Chenyan was less mature and more naive than he is now.

Seeing this, the teacher recalled some rumors and flattered, "I heard that Miss Meng and Mr. Shang are childhood sweethearts?"

Meng Shuyan smiled shyly: "Don't talk nonsense, it's not true."

The others all gave her knowing looks, assuming she was just shy.

Meng Shuyan looked at many photos of Shang Chenyan one by one, and suddenly stopped in front of a photo with a playground in the background.

This is a photo of Shang Chenyan participating in a basketball game.

In the photo, a boy wearing a sports uniform is receiving a water bottle from a girl.

The girl only showed her profile.

It looks familiar.

Meng Shuyan's mind raced, and she finally found a memory of this person somewhere.

The woman who appeared outside the merchant's villa that day!

Shi Ying!