Zheng Qiuyun, Li Boyan’s mother—the woman Su Ning had last seen five years ago, before being sent to prison!
Five years had passed, yet she remained impeccably maintained, dignified and noble, her gaze still as domineering as ever.
Clearly, Zheng Qiuyun hadn’t expected to encounter the murderer Su Ning in her granddaughter’s hospital room.
Without a second thought, she strode over, grabbed Su Ning’s arm, and dragged her out the door, flinging her onto the floor.
“Why are you here? Five years ago, you killed my daughter-in-law. Now you’ve come to finish off my granddaughter too?”
The harsh words rained down mercilessly upon Su Ning, striking directly at her heart.
They even drew the attention of passersby in the corridor.
Su Ning lay sprawled on the cold floor, the chill rising from her tailbone to invade her limbs and bones, seeping deep into her soul.
Too ashamed to show her face, she couldn’t lift her head.
She was stubborn and proud by nature.
But this was the one matter she couldn’t be proud about.
A person had died because of her mistake.
This burden would weigh on her for life, forever keeping her head bowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Her helpless tone carried profound self-blame.
Beyond these words, she could find no others.
But Zheng Qiuyun’s rage only intensified. She marched over, seized Su Ning’s hair, and yanked her face upward.
“A human life—do you think a simple ‘sorry’ can make up for it?!”
The same words from five years ago sent a chill down Su Ning’s spine.
“Mom, let her go!”
Li Boyan rushed out and sharply stopped Zheng Qiuyun.
Zheng Qiuyun gnashed her teeth in fury. “Let her go? Why should I let her go?”
Su Ning was a murderer—she hadn’t just killed Li Boyan’s wife, but the daughter Zheng Qiuyun had failed for over twenty years.
From the moment she learned Su Ning had killed her daughter, she had sworn to personally take Su Ning’s life to avenge her.
How could she allow Su Ning to appear alive before her now?!
“Are you actually planning to kill her?”
Li Boyan’s cold retort made Zheng Qiuyun tremble with rage.
Still, Li Boyan pulled Su Ning up from Zheng Qiuyun’s grasp.
He immediately ordered Assistant Song behind him, “Take her back first!”
Seeing this, Zheng Qiuyun tried to grab Su Ning again, but Li Boyan blocked her in time:
“Mom, that’s enough!”
Slap!
Without another word, Zheng Qiuyun struck Li Boyan across the face. The sharp crack echoed loudly in the deep corridor.
It reached Su Ning’s ears so clearly that her cheeks twitched, her feet rooted to the spot as if filled with lead.
“You’re my son! How dare you defy me for this murderer? Li Boyan, open your eyes! Su Ning is a murderer—she killed your wife, Shen Mu’an!”
Zheng Qiuyun’s thunderous roar erupted behind them again.
“Miss Su, let’s go.”
Assistant Song promptly reminded Su Ning.
Su Ning’s heart bled, but in the end, she took a step forward.
Li Boyan, caught off guard by his mother’s slap, had his handsome face knocked aside.
His long, distinct-knuckled fingers lightly wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, his tongue tracing the same spot.
“So, how far do you intend to take this?”He spoke with chilling indifference, his tone merciless and interrogative.
“I’m the one causing trouble? Hah!”
Zheng Qiuyun let out a dissatisfied cold laugh. “Li Boyan, you’re the one making trouble! What right do you have to take Su Ning’s grandmother from my people? She’s a murderer! Why are you standing up for her? Why?!”
When she uttered those final words, Zheng Qiuyun nearly roared them out, even grabbing Li Boyan’s collar in her fury.
Li Boyan pulled her hand away, his face dark, his eyes flashing with complex, restrained emotion.
His tone was as biting as an icy wind. “The one who made the mistake was Su Ning, not her grandmother. Mother, how can you act so unreasonably, having someone take Su Ning’s grandmother without distinguishing right from wrong? Aren’t you afraid people will say you’re disrespecting your elders?”
“Me, disrespecting my elders? Su Ning killed my daughter-in-law! What right does she have to stop me from hurting her family?”
Zheng Qiuyun knew perfectly well that Su Ning’s grandmother was her only remaining relative. That’s why, upon learning of Su Ning’s release from prison, she had arranged for the elderly woman to be taken—all to make Su Ning taste the bitterness of having a loved one threatened.
“I won’t allow it.”
Li Boyan made his stance clear.
“Why?”
Zheng Qiuyun asked, baffled.
“Retribution should fall on the guilty. Su Ning’s mistakes are hers alone to bear. They have nothing to do with that mentally unstable old woman!”
“No, I won’t let you think that way. In my eyes, both Su Ning and her grandmother are guilty!”
“Mother, you’re being too stubborn!”
Li Boyan said discontentedly. “I’m telling you solemnly: from now on, you are not to harm Su Ning’s family in my name. Especially that defenseless old woman—it’s absolutely forbidden!”
“Li Boyan, you’re insane! You’re a complete madman!”
Zheng Qiuyun cursed in frustration. It wasn’t that she was too stubborn—her heart was in too much pain.
Years ago, to secure her position, she had painfully given up her own two daughters and adopted Li Boyan.
But she never could have imagined that her own biological daughter would end up becoming Li Boyan’s daughter-in-law.
When Shen Mu’an, pregnant, was brought by Li Boyan to the Li family, Zheng Qiuyun had tested and harmed her—because she looked down on Shen Mu’an.
It wasn’t until Shen Mu’an died that she discovered Shen Mu’an was the daughter she had painfully abandoned all those years ago.
But it was too late. The unresolved regret and hatred could only be transferred onto Su Ning, her daughter’s killer.
Yet this unresolved grief was something she could never speak of—a secret she must carry forever.
So, in her view, Li Boyan’s preventing her from harming Su Ning’s murderous relative was nothing short of madness!
But Li Boyan acted as if he hadn’t heard, already striding away.
“Ah!”
Faced with Li Boyan’s cold indifference, Zheng Qiuyun broke down, sobbing loudly.
In the hospital room, after Li Boyan entered, he saw Nian Nian crying uncontrollably in Song Ma’s arms.
“I want Mommy! I want to find Mommy!”
Song Ma comforted Nian Nian. “Be good, Nian Nian. Miss Su will be in soon—she’s outside talking with Grandma.”
“No! Grandma pulled Mommy’s hair! Grandma will definitely hurt her! I don’t want that! I don’t want Grandma! I want Mommy!”
Nian Nian cried, her small shoulders shaking with each sob. She had grown older now, and had learned to read people’s expressions.
Li Boyan suddenly spoke, “Song Ma, you may leave first.”
Seeing this, Song Ma looked at Li Boyan helplessly, “Yes, sir.”
After Song Ma left, Li Boyan held Nian Nian in his arms.
“Nian Nian, Su Ning is not your mommy.”