Her ultimate goal was to be with Li Boyan.
If Zheng Qiuyun and Li Boyan fell out, she would ultimately be the one to suffer. Faced with this tense situation, she quickly tried to persuade Zheng Qiuyun:
“Auntie, please calm down. I don’t think Brother-in-law intentionally meant to go against your wishes.
He must have his reasons for doing this. Just as Nian Nian said, since Su Ning caused sister’s death, it’s only right that she stays by Nian Nian’s side to care for her and atone for her sins!”
Whenever Zheng Qiuyun saw Su Ning, she couldn’t help but recall the tragic state her daughter was in when she died.
Hatred welled up from the bottom of her feet, making her wish she could tear Su Ning into a thousand pieces.
Hearing Shen Muyao’s words, every fiber of her being ached with pain. Frustrated with Shen Muyao’s lack of resolve, she complained:
“Muyao, Han’er has lost his senses, but how could you follow along with this nonsense? Don’t you know…”
“Auntie, you shouldn’t be so stubborn.”
Shen Muyao quickly took Zheng Qiuyun’s hand, continuously signaling with her eyes for Zheng Qiuyun not to break relations with Li Boyan, as that would only backfire.
Zheng Qiuyun was no fool; she understood Shen Muyao’s meaning from her gaze.
She quickly reined in her crumbling emotions and even said something that surprised Li Boyan.
“Fine, since you insist on keeping that woman, I’ll go along with it. But on one condition: from now on, I’m moving into this house to live with you!”
“Mom…!”
“Yan’er, I’ve already made a concession. You’re not allowed to refuse me. To be honest, I don’t trust that woman’s character. I just want to keep an eye on her personally.”
“Unnecessary!”
Li Boyan was sparing with his words.
Shen Muyao, afraid that Li Boyan would be displeased, deliberately echoed him:
“That’s right, Auntie. You saw it yourself earlier—Su Ning was wearing servant’s clothes.
So I think Brother-in-law is keeping her in this house to work as a servant, just to have her take care of Nian Nian.”
“Regardless, I’m moving in!”
Zheng Qiuyun’s attitude was very firm.
Li Boyan was getting a headache from his mother’s fuss. “Suit yourself!”
He threw out the words and went upstairs.
As long as Su Ning wasn’t driven away, his mother could do whatever she wanted.
After Li Boyan left, Zheng Qiuyun couldn’t help complaining to Shen Muyao, “Muyao, why did you make me compromise with Yan’er?”
Zheng Qiuyun didn’t quite understand Shen Muyao’s intention. How could she tolerate living under the same roof as the enemy who had killed her own sister?
Shen Muyao said, “Auntie, clashing head-on with Brother-in-law won’t do any good. You know his temper—he doesn’t make decisions lightly, and once he does, he won’t change them easily.
Since he’s decided to keep that murderer here, no matter how much you fuss, he won’t drive Su Ning away.
What’s more, Nian Nian has been insisting that Su Ning stay to atone for her sins. So in this situation, your opposition is completely ineffective.
The best approach now is to go with the flow, accommodate Nian Nian and Brother-in-law, and let this woman stay.
But whether Su Ning can remain in this household is still up to you.”
Hearing this, Zheng Qiuyun suddenly saw the light, a sinister smile spreading across her well-maintained face:
“You’re right, Muyao. Why didn’t I think of that? Whether she stays or not is ultimately my decision!”
As long as she moved in with Shen Muyao, she had thousands of ways to drive Su Ning away.
“So, Auntie, please don’t be angry. It’s not worth damaging your health over this.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Immediately, Zheng Qiuyun made a phone call, “Pack all my personal belongings and deliver them to the Li Manor within an hour.”
Upstairs, in the bedroom.
Su Ning carried Nian Nian inside and placed her on the bed. Like a child who had done something wrong, she stood far away, waiting for Nian Nian’s judgment.
Nian Nian’s pink, chubby cheeks were streaked with tears. Her large, watery eyes were as bright as black glass, yet filled with disappointment.
Seeing this, Su Ning felt a pang of guilt.
“Nian Nian, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Nian Nian began to sob quietly. “Why did you kill my mommy?”
“It wasn’t intentional. It was a medical malpractice.”
This was the only explanation Su Ning could offer.
She clearly remembered that night five years ago—her first night shift after passing the probation period.
At two in the morning, Shen Mu’an was brought in. She had slipped in the bathroom while showering and showed signs of miscarriage. At the time, she was eight months pregnant, just one week short. After emergency treatment, she urgently needed tocolysis.
After completing the hospitalization procedures, Su Ning became Shen Mu’an’s assigned nurse. However, after administering the medication, the tocolytic drug inexplicably turned into a labor-inducing drug.
This brutally sent Shen Mu’an, who had just been rescued from the brink of death, back to the gates of hell. In the end, Shen Mu’an and her unborn child died on the operating table.
Su Ning was immediately sent to prison by Li Boyan, who arrived belatedly, due to the medical malpractice.
Though she didn’t know how Nian Nian had been saved, she knew her crime was unforgivable.
“But I don’t have a mommy anymore. I don’t have a mommy.”
Nian Nian burst into tears, crying as if to vent all her emotions. Her sobs shattered Su Ning’s heart.
Su Ning stepped forward slowly, carefully wrapping her arms around Nian Nian.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay by your side and take care of you from now on. Just like you said, I need to atone for my sins—to repent for my unforgivable crime.”
Li Boyan had just reached the doorway and clearly heard Su Ning’s words.
Though this was precisely why he had married Su Ning and kept her by Nian Nian’s side, hearing those words from her lips so easily pierced his heart.
“Mommy, wu…”
Nian Nian cried uncontrollably, her emotions pushed to the brink.
Su Ning held Nian Nian’s small body tightly, wishing she could transfer all her warmth to the child.
Nian Nian continued to cry in Su Ning’s embrace until, perhaps exhausted from weeping, she fell asleep shortly after.
Su Ning held Nian Nian, carefully laying her down on the bed.
Since Nian Nian was injured and couldn’t bathe, Su Ning fetched a basin of hot water, dampened a towel, and gently wiped Nian Nian’s body.
Her pink, chubby face was already tear-stained, and her plump little hands were marked with tear tracks.
Su Ning patiently and meticulously cleaned Nian Nian, replacing the water with warm water whenever it cooled.
Soon, she finished wiping Nian Nian down, changed her into pajamas, and tidied up the basin and towel. Then, she sat on the long-pile carpet on the floor, holding Nian Nian’s hand and watching her sleep.
Su Ning had searched for Nian Nian all night without eating or resting, constantly on the move. Now, she was utterly exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
After sitting on the floor for a short while, she also fell asleep.
The man who had been standing at the door observed this scene clearly.
Only when Su Ning had fallen asleep while holding Nian Nian’s small hand on the floor did the man push the door open and enter.