However, Zheng Qiuyun remained completely in the dark, utterly unaware of Shen Muyao’s malicious intentions.
As a result, she spoke these utterly foolish words: “I know that your brother-in-law must have been too lonely since your sister passed away, which is why he’s being so merciful to that murderer.
But don’t worry, I’ll immediately take charge and arrange your wedding with Bo Yan. After you’re married, you can help me keep an eye on Bo Yan and rightfully become Nian Nian’s mother.”
Zheng Qiuyun knew that Nian Nian was the daughter of her daughter Shen Mu’an, who was Shen Muyao’s twin sister. Now that her elder daughter Shen Mu’an was dead, having her younger daughter Shen Muyao take care of Li Boyan and Nian Nian was what reassured her most.
Marrying Li Boyan—a man with power, wealth, and good looks—was Shen Muyao’s ultimate goal. Hearing Zheng Qiuyun’s words made her very happy.
However, she still pretended to be coy and affected, half-resisting as she said:
“Auntie, how can this matter be decided by you alone? No matter what, we should ask for his opinion, right?”
Mentioning Li Boyan made Zheng Qiuyun furious:
“Hmph, ask for his opinion? His opinion is to never find a woman and remain a bachelor for life.”
“How is that possible? Brother-in-law is so handsome and charming, with so many women liking him. If he’s willing, he just needs to crook his finger and many women would flock to him.”
Zheng Qiuyun raised her eyebrows sharply, “How dare he? Without my permission, he can’t marry anyone. In this lifetime, the only woman he can marry is you!”
She had put so much effort into raising him well for her own lifetime, so everything about him could only be decided by her.
Who would be the woman to accompany him for life?
That could only be decided by her, Zheng Qiuyun!
Shen Muyao loved Zheng Qiuyun’s domineering and queenly attitude, loved precisely that kind of determination where everything was decided by her.
Therefore, after she killed her sister Shen Mu’an, she had stayed by Zheng Qiuyun’s side, allowing herself to be manipulated, all with the goal of becoming Madam Li.
Now, her goal was finally within reach.
Hmph, once she became Madam Li, the first thing she would do was destroy Su Ning!
The Li Estate.
After Su Ning was brought back by Assistant Song, she sat on the living room sofa as if her soul had left her body.
A servant brought her a glass of water, “Miss, please have some water.”
“Mm… thank you.”
Su Ning snapped back to reality as she spoke, but her expression remained somewhat dim.
Assistant Song walked over and said to Su Ning, “Miss Su, why don’t you go upstairs and take a bath, get some proper rest. I need to return to Master Li’s side.”
Su Ning quickly stood up, “Assistant Song, wait a moment.”
“Miss Su, is there something else?”
Assistant Song stood where he was, looking at Su Ning.
“I… he…”
Su Ning hesitated, unsure what to say.
She only knew that her mind clearly recalled the sound of Zheng Qiuyun’s slap on Li Boyan’s face—so sharp and piercing, heart-wrenching and agonizing.
Seeing that Su Ning couldn’t get the words out, Assistant Song stepped forward and handed her Li Boyan’s business card, “This is Master Li’s number. If you need anything, you can call him directly.”
After speaking, Assistant Song turned his gaze to a maid in the living room, “Xiao Lin, please take Miss Su upstairs to bathe, then prepare some food for her.”
Xiao Lin immediately nodded, “Alright.”
Assistant Song soon left.
“Miss Su, please come with me.”
Su Ning glanced at the business card in her hand, pursed her lips, and said, “Mm!”
Knowing that Su Ning was brought by Assistant Song and had a connection with the master, Li Boyan, Xiao Lin assumed she was a guest with an intimate relationship with him. Thus, she directly led Su Ning to Li Boyan’s bedroom bathroom.
“This is my master’s bathroom, Miss Su. You can go ahead and shower here. If you need anything, just call me.”
Su Ning stood at the bathroom door, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. It was actually Li Boyan’s bathroom—how could she use it? She didn’t want to, either.
“Could I use a different bathroom?”
“Miss Su, please just shower here. The other bathrooms are for the maids; it might not be suitable for you.”
After saying this, Xiao Lin left.
Su Ning had no choice but to go in.
Thinking that Li Boyan wasn’t around now, she decided to shower here anyway!
After taking off her clothes one by one, she settled into the spacious bathtub.
Whether it was the shower gel or shampoo, everything belonged to Li Boyan—even carrying his scent.
Truthfully, Su Ning was inherently repulsed by it, just as she was repulsed by Li Boyan himself.
But she had no other option; she had to use his things.
In prison, Su Ning had never enjoyed a comfortable bath. Each time, she only had two or three minutes to quickly rinse off before having to leave.
Because she had so much to do every day, she didn’t even have time for a proper shower.
Perhaps because she had spent the entire previous night searching for Nian Nian and was exhausted, Su Ning, soaking in the bathtub in such a comfortable environment, fell asleep in no time.
Li Boyan carried Nian Nian inside but didn’t see Su Ning anywhere.
He stopped a servant and asked coldly, “Xiao Zhang, where is Su Ning?”
Nian Nian had been throwing a tantrum at the hospital, refusing to stay, so he had no choice but to bring her home to find Su Ning.
“She should be resting upstairs.”
Hearing this, Li Boyan carefully placed Nian Nian on the sofa. “Nian Nian, be good. Play with Sister Xiao Zhang for a while. Daddy will go upstairs to find Su Ning and bring her down.”
Nian Nian nodded repeatedly, “Okay.”
The man then went upstairs.
Xiao Lin was waiting outside Li Boyan’s door, expecting Su Ning to call for her. She had been waiting for two hours, but Su Ning still hadn’t come out.
It never occurred to her that Su Ning had fallen asleep in the bathtub; she simply thought Su Ning was a slow person who took her time bathing.
“Xiao Lin, where is Su Ning?”
Xiao Lin craned her neck to look inside and said, “Miss Su is in there.”
Hearing this, Li Boyan nodded. “You may go downstairs.”
“Yes.”
Li Boyan strode in with his long legs, but there was no sign of Su Ning in the room. He went straight to the bathroom and knocked on the door for a while, but there was no response.
With no other choice, he pushed the door open and saw Su Ning lying motionless in the bathtub, her head turned away from him.
Since her head was facing the other way, Li Boyan couldn’t see her face.
Remembering how Su Ning had been treated by his mother at the hospital before being sent to the manor, he feared she might have done something drastic.
His heart sank abruptly, and he rushed toward her in a few quick steps.
“Su Ning!”
He called out to her in a panic.
Su Ning, accustomed to restless days and nights in prison, instinctively stood up from the bathtub at the sound of Li Boyan’s voice. “Sister Hua, I’m here.”
But when she opened her eyes, she realized that the person standing before her wasn’t Sister Hua, the boss lady from prison, but Li Boyan.
A sudden chill ran through her body, and only then did she belatedly realize something was wrong.
“…”
However, Li Boyan had already seen everything.
Instinctively, Su Ning tried to “escape” immediately.
She fled in panic, but lost her footing and fell backward.