Shen Nanci stayed until the afternoon before leaving and returning home.
On the way, in the taxi.
The driver kept glancing at Shen Nanci several times.
Shen Nanci: “Is there something stuck on my face?”
The driver was a young guy. Seeing such a beautiful woman, he smiled shyly: “No, I just think you’re really pretty.”
“You look a lot like a certain actress.”
Shen Nanci chuckled softly.
This wasn’t the first time she’d heard that.
Shen Nanci: “Are you trying to say I look like Su Qingnuan?”
The driver nodded, eager to chat. “I’m a fan of Su Qingnuan. I’ve watched all the TV dramas she’s starred in. Wow, my goddess’s smile is truly beautiful.”
“She has a great personality, she’s pretty—every man wants to marry someone like that.”
The young driver went on and on about Su Qingnuan.
Shen Nanci didn’t continue the conversation.
She just responded briefly.
Shen Nanci’s mind was filled with Su Qingnuan’s face.
She remembered Song Shinian had also said that Su Qingnuan’s smile was especially beautiful.
But Shen Nanci didn’t like to smile.
Ever since she was a child, whenever she encountered something happy and smiled, her father, Shen An, would punish her by making her stand in the corner or scold her with a cold glare.
And then there were her two older sisters.
They would mock her, saying she had no conscience, that she should carry a heavy burden for the rest of her life, and how dare she even smile.
Slowly, over time,
Shen Nanci stopped smiling as much.
Later, she was labeled the “Ice-Cold Beauty” in social circles.
Especially by her two full-blooded sisters,
Shen Yixia and Shen Yitian.
If Shen Nanci smiled, they would mock her.
If Shen Nanci didn’t smile, they would say she wore a deadpan expression every day, annoying to look at.
In short, they found all kinds of reasons to criticize her.
Shen Nanci smiling was wrong.
Shen Nanci not smiling was also wrong.
Shen Nanci—the reason she was named Shen Nanci
was because her birth was said to have caused her mother’s death.
So, in the words of the Shen family,
she was to blame for the rest of her life.
She deserved to be called—
Shen Nanci (Shen, Hard to Escape Blame).
…
Shen Nanci stared expressionlessly out the window.
Unable to escape the constant mentions of Su Qingnuan’s name, she couldn’t help but search online for some news and updates about Su Qingnuan.
Whenever it came to Su Qingnuan, the words were all praise and admiration.
#Su Qingnuan is beautiful and gentle, with a sweet, captivating voice.
#Multi-talented little fairy, Su Bao’s casual paintings sell for millions—so impressive!
#Su Bao is so talented, and her smile is so warm. I won’t allow anyone not to stan Su Su!
#Quickly @Li Corporation’s President Li, come take your wife away! Otherwise, Su Bao might start shipping other CPs!
They say the more popular you are, the more controversy you attract, but Su Qingnuan had very few scandals.
Shen Nanci knew, of course,
that behind this was Li Hengyan’s doing.
He had always protected Su Qingnuan.
Seeing the last post, where fans in Su Qingnuan’s circle were calling out to President Li of the Li Corporation, Shen Nanci felt even worse.
She turned off her phone screen.
Originally, she hadn’t wanted to face Li Hengyan, hoping to get some fresh air and clear her mind, but Shen Nanci couldn’t calm down.
She kept thinking about Li Hengyan.
His words that morning, his embrace, his kiss.
And…
thinking about something particularly strange.
Why had Li Hengyan suddenly become interested in her?
Didn’t he love Su Qingnuan deeply?
Why, toward her…
had there been such a sudden 180-degree change?
A conspiracy?
Or had Li Hengyan taken an interest in the Shen family’s assets?
But was that even necessary?
Could the Shen family even catch Li Hengyan’s eye?
Seven questions in a row—Shen Nanci’s mind was about to explode from thinking, and she still couldn’t figure it out.
How strange.
Maybe she was definitely dreaming, a beautiful dream.
Shen Nanci had barely arrived home when the door was knocked.
Thinking it was the property management coming to collect the overdue fees she had forgotten to pay, she opened the door.
It wasn’t until she saw Li Hengyan standing outside that she was too stunned to speak.
Why was he here?
Li Hengyan’s voice carried a hint of amusement, “What, not going to invite me in?”
How could she dare not?
Shen Nanci swallowed her words and stepped aside.
Watching Li Hengyan enter, she suddenly wondered how he knew where her apartment was.
Standing in the entryway, Shen Nanci asked in a bewildered tone, “How do you know where I live?”
Li Hengyan tilted his head slightly and replied calmly, “I know everything about you.”
In their previous life, she had been by his side for three years.
Of course, he knew many things about her.
Moreover, in this life, he wanted to know every single detail about her, clear and thorough, leaving nothing to chance.
Shen Nanci nodded, realizing her question was pointless.
She turned and headed to the kitchen to attend to her benefactor.
Knowing Li Hengyan had a mild case of cleanliness obsession and disliked plain water, preferring only coffee, she felt a bit flustered.
But there was no coffee at home—Shen Nanci didn’t like the stuff. Still, Li Hengyan was a guest and her boss.
She couldn’t afford to neglect him.
Shen Nanci poured a glass of water for Li Hengyan, “The glass is clean, but all I have is plain water.”
Li Hengyan took it, “Thank you, Secretary Shen.”
Secretary Shen’s face seemed to say: You’re welcome, and please keep calling me Secretary Shen.
That sounded more familiar.
After taking a sip, before Shen Nanci could say anything, Li Hengyan praised, “The water is sweet. I like it very much. Thank you, CiCi.”
Shen Nanci: “…”
She didn’t know how to express her shock.
So, she simply stopped engaging with him.
Shen Nanci went back to her bedroom for a moment. When she returned, she noticed Li Hengyan had loosened one button on his shirt collar.
He exuded a restrained yet sensual allure.
He sat on the sofa, head lowered.
Seemingly fascinated by something he was holding in his hand.
When Shen Nanci saw what it was, her eyes widened, and her face turned as red as a ripe tomato.
Oh no!
Her dignity was gone.
Embarrassed, she hurried over and reached out to snatch it.
Whether by accident or on purpose, her foot suddenly caught on Li Hengyan’s shoe. With a startled “Ah!”, Shen Nanci lost her balance uncontrollably.
Steady, precise, and forceful…
She fell right into Li Hengyan’s lap.
Li Hengyan couldn’t help but chuckle, then wrapped his arms around Shen Nanci, holding her close.
He embraced her slender waist.
Unwilling to let go.
The amusement in Li Hengyan’s eyes deepened, “CiCi, I’m here. Take it slow, no need to throw yourself into my arms so eagerly.”
Shen Nanci just wanted to slap Li Hengyan across the face!
Who the hell was throwing herself into his arms?!
Why was he smiling so seductively?!
Trying to be a male fox spirit?
Suppressing the urge to curse, Shen Nanci tried to push herself up from the sofa but found she couldn’t.
How tragic!
Her waist was firmly trapped by one of the man’s arms.
And he…
He was deliberately pressing her waist closer to him!
Shen Nanci: “…”
The warmth of his breath and the flustered feeling of her racing heartbeat.
Shen Nanci felt like she could just die on the spot!
To make matters worse, Li Hengyan’s low, magnetic voice whispered in her ear, “CiCi, CiCi?”
Stop calling her!
If he kept it up, she might just get pregnant!
Li Hengyan noticed Shen Nanci’s ears turning red.
Round, small, and adorable.
He wanted to bite them.
Afraid CiCi would get angry, he didn’t dare act recklessly.
Instead, Li Hengyan leaned close to her ear, deliberately teasing and saying flirtatious things, “Darling, you seem very nervous. Are you afraid of me?”
Shen Nanci: “President Li, could you act normal?”
Li Hengyan’s face seemed to say: “…”
Shen Nanci gave up her futile struggle and simply sat boldly on Li Hengyan’s lap, her hands resting on his shoulders.
But she maintained…
a safe distance.
Yes, she was afraid that this man surnamed Li might suddenly act out of line.
The flush on Shen Nanci’s face faded, her eyes turning clear and cold, no different from when she was at work.
“President Li, you’ve broken character.”
As a secretary, she offered a dutiful and friendly reminder.
Li Hengyan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Hmm? What do you mean?”
Shen Nanci remained serious and unsmiling, enunciating each word clearly. “Your persona has collapsed, completely collapsed, you know? I think it can still be salvaged. You know, right now, you’re just like a…”
She sensed the following words wouldn’t be flattering.
Li Hengyan fell silent and didn’t ask further.
Shen Nanci raised an eyebrow, her lips suddenly curving into a light laugh.
“A dog~”
She retaliated with provocative boldness, growing increasingly daring. “And the clingy kind, a poodle, with its mind always… President Li, you really shouldn’t learn from…”