Li Hengyan’s inexplicable attitude, coupled with his baffling words, made Shen Nanci momentarily doubt.
Was he really running a fever?
If not, then had Li Hengyan undergone a sudden, overnight change in temperament?
Li Hengyan held the warm, fragrant softness in his arms for a long time, reluctant to let go, before finally releasing her. With intimate tenderness, he brushed aside the stray strands of hair from Shen Nanci’s cheek.
The girl’s fair, clean face was revealed.
Li Hengyan stared at Shen Nanci’s face, his mind once again filled with the image of her covered in blood, her body growing cold, her hand slowly falling.
This scene had played out countless times.
His heart ached with a sharp, recurring pain.
“CiCi.”
Li Hengyan’s heart felt sore and pained, his voice still hoarse, “Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I’ll have someone bring it up.”
Yesterday had been Shen Nanci’s birthday.
Even though he had missed it.
Today, Li Hengyan wanted to make it up to her.
His CiCi—in this lifetime, he would make it up to her, cherish her.
And he would only love her.
Shen Nanci had no idea what Li Hengyan was thinking, only feeling that it was all very surreal. She stole several glances at the man before her.
Always wondering, always doubting.
This man before her, whose words and gaze were filled with deep affection—
Was he really Li Hengyan?
Shen Nanci’s eyes were filled with confusion and strangeness, always feeling as though Li Hengyan had suddenly become a different person.
Under Li Hengyan’s gaze, Shen Nanci’s face flushed slightly.
Before last night, she had never experienced intimacy between a man and a woman.
In fact, she had no memory of last night at all.
But she had woken up in Li Hengyan’s bed, coincidentally feeling unwell, and Li Hengyan had taken a shower early in the morning.
Shen Nanci had already concluded that she and Li Hengyan had been intimate.
The CEO and the secretary—the combination most likely to spark passion—who would have thought that one day, such a clichéd and tragic scenario would play out in her life.
Shen Nanci wrapped the blanket tightly around herself, trying to remain calm as she said, “President Li…”
Li Hengyan wrapped an arm around Shen Nanci’s waist, his gaze threatening: “Darling, what did you call me?”
Darling.
The two words made Shen Nanci’s heart flutter with panic.
Li Hengyan looked at Shen Nanci’s flustered and shy expression and couldn’t resist leaning down to plant a kiss on her lips.
Half coaxing, half negotiating, he said, “I’ll give you one more chance.”
Li Hengyan gently nibbled on Shen Nanci’s ear, chuckling softly, “If you say it wrong, I’ll punish you—by biting you.”
Shen Nanci: “…”
She was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
Had she and Li Hengyan developed feelings after just one night together?
Did she really have that much charm?
The despair and panic in Shen Nanci’s heart faded, replaced by relief.
Thank goodness it was Li Hengyan.
The man she had secretly loved for years.
If it had been another man, Shen Nanci would have wanted to die.
But before joy and sweetness could last long, thoughts of Su Qingnuan flooded her heart with bitterness and sorrow.
So what if she had slept with Li Hengyan?
The one Li Hengyan loved wasn’t her—he had always loved Su Qingnuan.
Everyone in the entire capital knew it.
Li Hengyan only cared about Su Qingnuan.
Yet, Su Qingnuan was solely focused on her career.
Using Li Hengyan’s status, influence, and protection, she thrived in the entertainment industry, rising swiftly to success.
But she had always been slow to clearly respond to Li Hengyan’s feelings.
Li Hengyan compromised.
He waited for her, willingly.
…
Shen Nanci opened her mouth, struggling to say, “Li… Hengyan.”
Li Hengyan frowned.
Though unsatisfied, he couldn’t bring himself to push her too hard.
Calling him Li Hengyan is fine.
One day, he would make CiCi willingly call him Hengyan, or A-Yan.
Li Hengyan asked gently, “What would you like to eat?”
Shen Nanci avoided looking at Li Hengyan, gripping the corner of the blanket tightly.
Her voice trembled slightly, “Could you find me some clothes, please?”
“And,” Shen Nanci paused, “Li Hengyan, could you step out for a moment?”
Li Hengyan assumed Shen Nanci was just shy and embarrassed.
He looked at her affectionately and ruffled her hair, “Alright, I’ll go get your clothes.”
He found a set of clothes that the maid had prepared earlier, handed them to Shen Nanci, and, true to his word, left the bedroom.
He went to the outer room.
Shen Nanci changed out of her nightgown and put on the new clothes.
When she saw the pink bra and matching panties in her size, her face flushed unnaturally.
That damn man!
Who would have thought he could be so thoughtful and considerate.
Shen Nanci lifted the blanket and, by chance, noticed the stain on the bedsheet. Her body stiffened for a moment.
Then, her face turned bright red.
Such a large stain… she, she, she…
Was she sure it wasn’t her period?
Shen Nanci was certain—she wasn’t on her period.
She hurried to the bathroom to wash her face, too flustered to come out, feeling panicked for the first time.
Completely at a loss.
“CiCi?”
Hearing Li Hengyan’s voice, Shen Nanci quickly composed herself and walked out, trying to appear as calm and indifferent as possible.
“Li Hengyan, can we… talk?”
Seeing Shen Nanci’s expression, Li Hengyan roughly understood what she wanted to discuss.
“No rush, we can talk later.”
The man was already dressed in an expensive dark suit, a black shirt, and held a dark blue tie in his hand.
His features were strikingly handsome.
He walked up to Shen Nanci and handed her the tie.
“CiCi, do you know how to tie a tie?”
Of course, Li Hengyan knew Shen Nanci could.
He remembered that in their previous life, Shen Nanci had tied his tie countless times, morning and night.
But he had been a complete jerk.
Cold, indifferent, and heartless toward her.
In their previous life, his attitude toward her had been terrible—icy and distant. During the day, he piled work on her, keeping her so busy she couldn’t even find time to eat.
At night, she had to endure his torment.
He trapped her.
And clipped her wings.
Turning her into nothing more than his personal canary, confined to a cage with him at the center!
…
Li Hengyan’s eyes darkened as he looked at Shen Nanci before him. His heart ached suddenly, as if it were about to shatter.
Unable to control himself, he suddenly wrapped his arm around Shen Nanci’s waist, pushed her unexpectedly, and pinned her against the wardrobe.
One hand protected the back of her head.
The other hand moved to cup her chin.
“CiCi!”
After calling her name, his trembling lips pressed against Shen Nanci’s.
Cherishing her, yet with overwhelming intensity.
Feeling that Shen Nanci didn’t reject him.
Li Hengyan kissed her carefully and gently.
Shen Nanci was stunned!
Coming to her senses, a whirlwind of emotions surged within her. She pushed Li Hengyan away, her emotions in turmoil.
“Li Hengyan!”
“Mr. Li, what do you take me for now?”
Shen Nanci’s voice was hoarse and cold, her heart aching as she questioned him, calm yet disheveled, “A one-night stand, a casual fling? Or perhaps, a mistress?”
Shen Nanci closed her eyes.
She smiled bitterly, “How did I end up waking up in your bed? Don’t you have even a single explanation?”
Seeing Shen Nanci’s eyes gradually redden, Li Hengyan’s heart ached.
He panicked slightly and explained, “CiCi, it’s none of the relationships you mentioned!”
Shen Nanci’s gaze was cold and steady, sharp and pressing: “You’re the CEO, I’m your secretary, you’re my boss. Not those kinds of relationships—what are we, then?”
It couldn’t possibly be boyfriend and girlfriend.
No matter what kind, it was a dirty relationship.
Shen Nanci didn’t need to think hard to know that her biological father, Shen An, must have made some kind of deal with Li Hengyan.
Shen An, for money, had no qualms about sending her to Li Hengyan’s bed.
And Li Hengyan?
Was it because he was too lonely?
So, he simply needed a tool to satisfy his physical needs.
And conveniently, she was it.
Li Hengyan couldn’t bear the dullness and sorrow in Shen Nanci’s eyes.
He grasped her hand, his heart fluttering as he said, “CiCi, from now on, I’ll only have you. There won’t be any other women by my side!”
Li Hengyan raised his hand and swore without hesitation: “I, Li Hengyan, will love only Shen Nanci in this lifetime.”
“If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning!”
“May Li Hengyan die a wretched death!”
This was a vicious oath!!
Li Hengyan truly was ruthless toward others, and daring enough to be ruthless toward himself! For no reason, he would curse himself like this!!
Shen Nanci: “…”
Her eyes were filled with shock, words stuck in her throat.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on Li Hengyan’s hand.
Only then did she notice the gauze wrapped around his palm. “Li Hengyan, your hand—how did you get hurt?”