“The master still has to work every day, and I can’t stay by her side 24/7 either. I need to sleep, eat, and use the bathroom. If I’m not careful, she gets into trouble. It’s exhausting, truly exhausting!”
“What about her mother?” Su Ning asked casually.
Hearing this, Song Ma’s expression darkened as she spoke truthfully, “To be honest, our young mistress passed away in an accident five years ago while giving birth to Nian Nian.”
Perhaps because Su Ning had experienced similar things, her heart inexplicably twinged with pain upon hearing Song Ma’s words.
“The young mistress had a short life, and Nian Nian is a poor child. It’s rare for her to like someone so much. So, Miss Su, I’m presumptuously begging you to stay and take care of Nian Nian until the master returns.”
Afraid that Su Ning might refuse, Song Ma assured her, “I promise it won’t take much of your time. The master will be back tomorrow morning. Our master is a good man – he’ll compensate you for any work time you miss.”
Although Su Ning, who was starting over from scratch, desperately needed money, she hadn’t come here for financial reasons.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay and take care of Nian Nian until your master returns.”
Setting aside Nian Nian’s status as a wealthy young lady, they were both unfortunate souls sharing similar fates. Therefore, she would take care of Nian Nian unconditionally.
And so, Su Ning cared for Nian Nian in the hospital for a full day and night, until the man Song Ma referred to as “the master” and Nian Nian called “Daddy” appeared before her.
However, the moment she saw the man’s face, Su Ning felt as if struck by lightning. She never dreamed it would be Li Boyan?
Nian Nian was actually Li Boyan’s daughter?
In an instant, Su Ning held her breath nervously, her entire body feeling as if plunged into an ice cellar!
The apple and fruit knife in her hands clattered to the floor simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Li Boyan stood silently in the center of the hospital room, his deep, vortex-like eyes fixed intently on Su Ning.
His innate, imposing aura of authority – formidable even without anger – created an intangible sense of pressure.
For a moment, Su Ning was so nervous she became incoherent.
“You… I…”
Li Boyan remained composed, his vortex-like eyes calm and undisturbed.
However, his heart still trembled slightly.
He clearly hadn’t expected that the Miss Su Song Ma mentioned would be Su Ning.
“Daddy.”
Nian Nian timely called out to Li Boyan.
The man strode over with his long legs and proactively picked up Nian Nian.
“Smack!” Nian Nian planted a kiss on Li Boyan’s cheek.
“Did you miss Daddy?”
His magnetic voice rang out.
“Both yes and no.”
“Why?”
“All you do every day is work, work, and more work.”
Little Nian Nian complained discontentedly, her pink, chubby face and round eyes filled with grievance.
“Mommy is much better. She stayed with me all day and night, held me while I slept, told me stories, and peeled apples for me.”
Nian Nian chattered away proudly.
Unaware that the sensitive word “Mommy” from her mouth had not only struck Li Boyan’s nerves but also pierced Su Ning’s heart.
Immediately, Su Ning stood uneasily. She didn’t know whether Nian Nian was the child from five years ago?
She only knew that as someone who had committed an unforgivable crime against Li Boyan, she couldn’t bear the weight of being called “Mommy” by Nian Nian!
Without a word, she turned to leave.
“Mommy.”
Nian Nian suddenly called out to stop her.
Su Ning didn’t have the courage to turn around, speaking with her back to Nian Nian, “Your daddy is here. I should go.””Mommy, don’t go, don’t leave me…”
Nian Nian burst into tears instantly, her choked voice filled with pleading. “You finally came back, please stay with me and Daddy, okay? I don’t want you to leave!”
Facing Nian Nian’s pleading words, Su Ning felt a lump in her throat and couldn’t utter a single word.
Her dim eyes glistened with unshed tears. She had killed Li Boyan’s wife and didn’t deserve to stay by Nian Nian’s side.
“Mommy,” Nian Nian called out again.
“I’m sorry.”
These three words were all Su Ning could manage, despite the thousands of thoughts swirling in her mind.
Su Ning didn’t know how she managed to leave the hospital room. She only knew that by the time she rushed to the elevator, her vision was too blurred by tears to see clearly.
She hadn’t cried during the hardships of prison.
She hadn’t cried when facing the bullying from Chen Susu and her mother after her release, nor when Qin Muye’s mother mocked her and she broke up with Qin Muye.
But now, just hearing Nian Nian crying and calling her “Mommy” made her tears flow uncontrollably.
“Miss Su, please wait. Sir has something to say to you.”
Assistant Song’s voice suddenly came from behind, making Su Ning’s shoulders tremble and her heart leap into her throat.
She clenched her teeth, swallowing the bitter emotions stuck in her throat.
“Alright.”
Her grandmother was still in Li Boyan’s hands. She had no reason to refuse seeing him.
Immediately, she wiped the corner of her eye, turned around, and followed Assistant Song.
“Nian Nian is the child from five years ago.”
Assistant Song suddenly volunteered this information to Su Ning.
Instantly, Su Ning’s heart tightened again.
She was truly grateful that Nian Nian had survived.
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that the living Nian Nian seemed pitiful and lonely!
“She misses her Mommy very much. For the past five years, she’s been constantly asking to find her. Sir, afraid of upsetting her, never told her that the young mistress had passed away.
He only told her that Mommy went to Magic School to learn magic and would return when Nian Nian grew up.”
Hearing this, Su Ning finally understood why Nian Nian always mentioned Magic School during their phone calls.
It was because of Li Boyan’s well-intentioned lie!
But she had to admit, this lie felt incredibly heavy.
It pressed down on her heart like Mount Tai, making it hard for her to breathe!
So much so that even standing before Li Boyan now, she still couldn’t catch her breath!
She felt more than ever like a sinner.
“Thank you for taking care of Nian Nian for a day and a night,” the man said to Su Ning.
His tone was flat and unemotional, completely devoid of any gratitude.
Su Ning knew she was a criminal, a heinous murderer, unworthy of Li Boyan’s thanks.
“I am guilty. Whatever I do for her is only what I deserve!”
“So, have you thought about my proposal?”
“…I…”
Suddenly, Su Ning felt as if a whip had struck her throat.
“Your grandmother is mentally ill. Without medication, it must be quite troublesome.”
These words, gripping her by the throat, instantly tightened around Su Ning’s heart.
After her mother left, she had relied on her grandmother, who raised her single-handedly.
Five years ago, when she was imprisoned, her grandmother suffered a mental breakdown and became mentally ill.
Now that she was out of prison, Li Boyan was using her grandmother to threaten her.
She had never understood why Li Boyan insisted on marrying the person who had killed his wife.
Was it to torment her through marriage?
Later, Qin Muye said that Li Boyan was using her grandmother as leverage, and this demand was part of his greater scheme for revenge.
Marrying him would mean facing hellish torment in the future.
Recalling the days in prison and the “big sisters” who had tortured her under Li Boyan’s orders, Su Ning hesitated for a moment.
But thinking of her grandmother, she finally agreed: “Alright, I’ll do it!”