Li Boyan moved quickly, trying to grab Su Ning, but unexpectedly, his feet slipped, and he ended up falling toward her instead.
Su Ning: “…”
The two of them tumbled into the large bathtub, and the man’s hand landed squarely where it shouldn’t have.
In an instant, the temperature in the cold water seemed to rise.
Especially for Li Boyan—at twenty-five, this was the first time he felt completely flustered.
“…”
“I… I didn’t mean to… I…”
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Su Ning’s mind went completely blank. At twenty-three, although she had a history with Qin Muye, her romantic experience had only ever extended to holding hands.
Today, she had actually been “assaulted”?!
And by none other than her creditor, Li Boyan?
Su Ning’s mind froze, utterly bewildered.
She stared at him in a daze.
“I’ll get up right away.”
As soon as he spoke, Li Boyan tried to stand, but as soon as his hand gripped the edge of the bathtub, his feet slipped again, and he fell heavily back into the water.
This time, his thin lips landed squarely on the corner of Su Ning’s mouth, instantly reigniting an inexplicable spark.
“…”
Su Ning’s mind, which had just begun to clear, turned to mush once more.
But she quickly snapped back to reality. Wide-eyed, she stared at Li Boyan and abruptly pushed him away.
“Li Boyan, get off me!”
She had destroyed Li Boyan’s wife. They were enemies; she was the sinner. They couldn’t do this.
A deep sense of guilt made her tremble uncontrollably.
Now it was her turn to panic. The moment she pushed him away, she scrambled out of the bathtub.
Not even bothering to put on clothes, she fled in a panic.
Unaware that the five humiliating words branded on her back had once again pierced Li Boyan’s eyes.
“I am a murderer!”
To be honest, what had just happened was entirely unexpected—both the burning sensation under his palm and the warmth at the corner of her lips.
It was all so sudden, so unforeseen.
Su Ning was someone Li Boyan had secretly admired for a long time. In those days five years ago, he had imagined being with her countless times.
Even scenes like the one that had just unfolded were things he had fantasized about more than once.
But all his beautiful illusions about her shattered the moment she killed Shen Mu’an and he personally sent her to prison.
It could be said that his heart had turned to ashes for Su Ning.
Yet, after the unexpected incident just now, he was damnably captivated.
For a moment, he had even forgotten everything.
But now, seeing those five humiliating words, he was reminded once again of the nature of their relationship.
They were enemies!
Su Ning was the sinner.
She had killed the most important person in his life—she was nothing but a murderer!
He kept her by his side only for atonement.
Pure atonement.
Su Ning ran all the way from the bathroom to the bedroom, only realizing when she reached the door that she wasn’t wearing any clothes.
Immediately, her feet froze in place. Her clothes were still in the bathroom.
And Li Boyan was still in the bathroom.
Fearing that he might emerge at any moment and see her in such a disheveled state, she didn’t hesitate. She dashed to the bed and wrapped herself in the blanket without a second thought.
She immediately wrapped herself up like a zongzi, standing on the floor with only her distinct black-and-white eyes visible, fixed on the bathroom door.
After gathering his thoughts in the bathroom, Li Boyan stepped out.
As he emerged, his gaze fell on Su Ning standing in the room, and he froze momentarily at the sight.
Seeing the man, Su Ning felt another wave of embarrassment. “Um… I forgot to bring clothes. It’s inconvenient for me to go out,” she explained stiffly.
Li Boyan remained expressionless, striding toward the wardrobe. He pulled out a white shirt and glanced at her, his voice slightly hoarse as he said, “There are no women’s clothes here for you to change into. Wait a moment—I’ll change and then ask Xiao Lin to borrow a set for you.”
With that, Li Boyan stripped off his wet clothes right in front of Su Ning.
The sudden situation left Su Ning flustered and panicked.
She couldn’t find any words to describe the scene before her, only knowing she shouldn’t look. She covered her eyes tightly, playing dead on the spot.
Really, couldn’t he have changed in another room?
Since this was Li Boyan’s territory, Su Ning couldn’t very well ask him to leave.
And she couldn’t go out wrapped in a blanket either.
All she could do was hope he’d change quickly and leave.
The next moment, the sound of the door closing reached her, and she finally opened her eyes.
Li Boyan was gone.
Su Ning let out a long sigh of relief. Though she knew the earlier scene had filled her with guilt, a persistent voice in her mind kept reminding her:
Li Boyan had a great figure.
Especially his perfect waistline—it seemed even better than a model’s.
But soon, Su Ning snapped back to reality.
Su Ning, are you a lovesick fool?
How could you let your thoughts wander like this?
He’s your creditor, your enemy!
How could you entertain such thoughts about his physique?
Shameless, utterly shameless!
Just then, Li Boyan returned with the clothes borrowed from Xiao Lin and tossed them to Su Ning. “Change quickly and come out. Nian Nian is waiting for you downstairs!”
“Okay,” Su Ning replied mechanically, not daring to breathe heavily.
Soon after, Li Boyan closed the door and left. Su Ning swiftly changed into Xiao Lin’s clothes.
Su Ning was very thin—extremely thin.
Xiao Lin was slightly heavier, so her clothes hung loosely on Su Ning, looking ill-fitting.
Fortunately, Su Ning was taller than Xiao Lin, so though the outfit didn’t suit her well, it wasn’t unattractive.
As she came downstairs, she spotted Nian Nian on the sofa.
The child was nestled in Li Boyan’s arms, listening to him tell a story.
“Mr. Li,” she greeted softly, her tone cautious.
“Mommy,” Nian Nian called out to Su Ning in a flustered voice.
After the ordeal with Zheng Qiuyun, Su Ning had become even more careful and guarded, her emotions particularly sensitive.
“Nian Nian, I’m Auntie,” she reminded gently, not wanting to hurt the child’s feelings.
She knew she was the one who had caused Nian Nian’s mother’s death—she couldn’t bear the weight of being called “Mommy.”
Facing Nian Nian and Li Boyan already filled her with deep guilt.
That single word from Nian Nian felt like a thousand-pound burden on her heart.
“No, you’re Mommy,” Nian Nian insisted.
She pushed the storybook aside, wriggled out of Li Boyan’s embrace, and looked at Su Ning with hopeful eyes. “Mommy, hug.”
“…”Su Ning really wanted to refuse, but faced with Nian Nian’s expectant gaze, her heart softened.
She walked stiffly toward Nian Nian, her entire body’s blood feeling frozen.