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Su Ning was well aware that Ma Shuer was at her wit's end, but she also knew that this was her personal matter and that Ma Shuer wouldn't accept Su Ning's comfort given her personality.

So Suning went directly to the kitchen and cooked, and now Ma Shuer and Ma Jiming have gotten used to Suning's cooking.

In the kitchen, Su Ning skillfully stir-fried the vegetables in the pan, the roar of the range hood drowning out the footsteps of Ma Shuer pacing back and forth in the living room.

Su Ning didn't even need to turn around to feel her anxiety. Her footsteps were sometimes fast and sometimes slow, with occasional pauses, as if she was making a difficult decision.

Ma Shuer suddenly appeared at the kitchen door, her voice a little higher than usual, "Fang Yuan, today... let's make two fewer dishes tonight."

Su Ningguan Xiaohuo then turned to Ma Shuer and asked, "Are you feeling unwell today?"

Ma Shuer's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes: "No! It's not... it's just..."

Her words were interrupted by the sudden switching off of the lights, plunging the entire house into darkness.

The sudden darkness filled Ma Shuer with fear, and she lunged at Su Ning, hugging him tightly.

"The power's out?" Ma Jiming's voice came from the living room, filled with the excitement typical of a child. "Mommy, can we light candles?"

"Okay! Be careful." Ma Shuer blushed and her heart raced as she released Su Ning.

In the darkness, Su Ning heard Ma Shuer's breathing become rapid.

He casually pulled out his phone, the screen's light illuminating her flushed face.

“It’s not a power outage.” Then Ma Shu’er could no longer maintain her composure and frantically took out her phone to see the overdue payment notification she had received. “It’s an unpaid electricity bill.”

Ma Shuer swayed, then suddenly collapsed to her knees.

"Mom?" Ma Jimo groped her way over with a candle in hand, placing her little hand on her mother's trembling shoulder. "Don't cry! I'm not afraid of the dark."

Su Ning looked at the mother and son, silently opened the mobile app, and quickly operated the screen with her fingers.

Less than a minute later, the lights in the room came back on, illuminating Ma Shuer's tear-streaked face.

“You… thank you.” Ma Shuer looked up, her swollen eyes filled with shock.

"The electricity bill has been paid." Su Ning put away her phone, turned around and went back to the stove. "The food will be ready soon, you can go to the table and wait."

Ma Jiming seemed to understand the pressure his mother was under, and very sensibly followed behind Ma Shuer.

Mashuer mechanically sat down at the dining table, picking up her chopsticks and putting them down again.

She suddenly stood up: "You guys eat first, I... I'm going back to my room to rest for a bit."

She stopped at the top of the stairs, turned her back to them, and said, "Fang Yuan, now you know my situation. You don't need to come anymore tomorrow... or ever after that."

Suning didn't respond, but simply put a piece of fish on Ma Jiming's plate: "Eat more, grow strong."

After dinner, Su Ning cleaned up the kitchen and gently knocked on Ma Shuer's door, but there was no response.

He then turned around, picked up his coat, and prepared to leave, but stopped at the door, took out his phone, and looked up nearby Chinese medicine pharmacies.

Two hours later, when Su Ning returned to Ma Shuer's house with several bags of medicinal herbs, he found the mother and son eating cold food by candlelight.

Ma Shuer's eyes were red like peaches, but she forced a smile as she told her son a story.

"Fang Yuan, why are you back again?" Ma Shu'er was stunned when she saw the medicine packet in his hand.

Su Ning went straight to the kitchen: "Make some medicine for Ma Jimu."

"..."

Ma Jiming followed in curiously: "Big brother, what kind of medicine is this? Is it bitter?"

"It's to help you regulate your body." Su Ning squatted down and looked at the child at eye level. "It might be a little bitter, but after drinking it, you'll be able to go to the hospital for injections less often in the future."

"Really?" Ma Jiming's eyes lit up. "That's great! Then I'm not afraid of hardship! I'm the bravest!"

Ma Shuer stood at the kitchen doorway. "Fang Yuan, this is too much trouble for you."

Without looking up, Su Ning sorted through the medicinal herbs: "This is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that can help with leukemia. Let's see if it works after one course of treatment."

"You really know medicine?" Ma Shuer's voice was clearly tinged with disbelief. "Do you know how much money I've spent at various hospitals? You think you can just grab some random medicine and cure chronic myeloid leukemia? Is that even possible?"

"Mom!" Ma Jiming suddenly interrupted her, "I believe in my eldest brother!"

The child's trust extinguished Mashu's doubts like a bucket of cold water.

She slumped against the doorframe, watching Su Ning skillfully process the medicinal herbs; his movements were surprisingly professional.

While the medicine was being decocted, Su Ning told Ma Jiming stories of famous doctors from ancient times. The child listened with fascination, completely forgetting the bitter taste of the medicine.

After Ma Jimu obediently finished drinking his medicine and went to bed, the only sound in the living room was Su Ning cleaning up the medicine residue.

After finishing all her work, Su Ning was about to leave when Ma Shuer stopped her.

"Wait a minute." Ma Shuer called out to Su Ning, who was about to leave, and took out a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet. "Fang Yuan, have a drink with me tonight."

“Okay!” Su Ning glanced at his watch, then at her stubborn expression, and nodded.

As the saying goes, "It's not the wine that intoxicates, it's the person who gets drunk; drowning your sorrows in alcohol only makes them worse." Soon, Ma Shuer was quite drunk.

After just three drinks, Ma Shuer's eyes began to wander.

She swirled her wine glass and suddenly laughed: "You know what? When my husband left, he left me two things: this house and my two-year-old son, Jimmy."

Su Ning listened quietly and poured her half a glass of wine.

“But fate is cruel! Ma Jiming was diagnosed with leukemia. I sold my car, my jewelry, and now I can’t even keep my house…” Ma Shu’er downed her drink in one gulp. “What’s the most ridiculous thing? When the property management cut off the power today, I just completely broke down.”

Her hand suddenly grabbed Su Ning's wrist: "Why you? Why did it have to be you who saw me at my most vulnerable?"

Su Ning gently held her trembling hand: "Everyone has their difficulties. I believe things will get better in the future."

"No! You don't understand!" Ma Shuer abruptly pulled her hand back. "I'm used to being in control of everything, used to being the strong Ma Shuer. But now... now I've actually started to depend on you! Do you know how terrible that is? I feel empty inside every day if I can't see you."

Tears streamed down her face: "When the power went out today, the first person I thought of wasn't my son, but you. How could I do this? How could I have feelings for you?"

"Ma Shuer, you're drunk."

“Gleevec!” Mashu’er almost shouted. “I almost stopped giving him his medication because I didn’t have the money! To be honest, I’ve been such a terrible mother.”

Her self-blame was interrupted by Su Ning's sudden hug.

Su Ning gently patted her back, like coaxing a child: "You've had too much to drink! Ma Jiming is a good person, you've raised him very well."

Mashuer calmed down in his arms, the alcohol and emotional outburst having exhausted her last bit of strength.

When Su Ning carried her upstairs, her head rested limply on his shoulder.

In the master bedroom, Su Ning had just placed her on the bed when Ma Shu'er suddenly opened her eyes, her hazy gaze fixed on him: "Fang Yuan, tonight...can you stay?"

Su Ning's body stiffened.

Reason told him he should refuse, but the vulnerability and longing in Mashu's eyes shattered his defenses.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure?"

Mashuer didn't answer, but simply reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Su Ning is a man with very poor self-control, so naturally he didn't hesitate at all and immediately closed the door...

Perhaps the pressure of life made Ma Shuer desperately want to vent, or perhaps she had indeed become dependent on Suning during this period, because that night she was extremely crazy and wild.

Fortunately, Su Ningyuan was no ordinary person, otherwise he really wouldn't have been able to handle it, and in the end, he completely satisfied Ma Shuer.

"Fang Yuan, I've been deceived by you."

"This was your own choice! I didn't force you."

"Hmph! Did you also have a relationship with that Gao Yawen?"

"Is it important?"

"But...but you're a male nanny! How could you do this?"

"Do female nannies often have affairs with male homeowners?"

"You...you are shameless."

“Ma Shu’er, don’t think so much! We are all adults. As long as it doesn’t affect others or involve moral issues, it’s fine.”

"I don't know if meeting a devil like you is a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Since you can't figure it out, then let's continue..."

"what……"

……

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains and onto the bed.

Ma Shuer woke up first and found herself lying in Su Ning's arms.

Memories of last night flooded back, and her face instantly burned.

The feeling was so wonderful that it made her lose all her senses.

"Awake?" Su Ning's voice was hoarse from just waking up. Ma Shuer buried her face in the pillow: "Mmm."

"Regret it?"

She was silent for a moment before shaking her head and saying, "No! I just don't know how to face Ji Mo. Besides, I'm not divorced from Ma Ji Mo's father yet."

Su Ning laughed: "Then divorce Ma Jiming's father as soon as possible, and those worries will disappear."

"Then will you marry me?"

"No! Besides, I feel this kind of relationship is great; you and I are both free."

"you……"

"Ma Jimo is about to wake up! I'll go make him breakfast."

"..."

Ma Shuer sat up, the blanket slipping down to her waist.

Ma Shuer's perfect figure was on full display by Su Ning, but her mind was not on this matter.

Because Ma Shuer was completely stunned, she suddenly realized that this man was a scumbag, probably much worse than she had imagined.

"Fang Yuan, will you marry me?"

"If marriage were binding, your ex-husband wouldn't have abandoned you and Ma Jiming, would he?"

"Hmph! That's no excuse for you to be a scumbag."

Don't overthink it! Overthinking will only make you feel tired.

"..."

Suning's figure as he got up and dressed looked particularly strong in the morning light.

Mashu suddenly felt that perhaps life hadn't turned around; it had just fallen from one trap into another.

……

A loud bang came from outside the door, startling Ma Shuer who was having breakfast.

Looking through the peephole, she saw her bald neighbor kicking her door, while a vicious Doberman bared its teeth at its owner's feet.

"Ma Shuer! I know you're home!" the bald man shouted at the top of his lungs. "You poor wretch who can't even pay your property management fees, what are you pretending to be so high and mighty for!"

Mashuer's fingers gripped her apron tightly, and her breathing became rapid.

Just as she was hesitating whether to call the police, a warm hand landed on her shoulder.

"I'll handle it." Su Ning had appeared behind her at some point, his voice low and calm.

Ma Shuer turned around and grabbed his arm: "No! That man is a notorious thug in the neighborhood, he keeps several vicious dogs..."

Su Ning gently pried her fingers apart and gave her a reassuring look: "Take Ma Jiming to the bedroom and turn the TV up."

"..."

Before Ma Shuer could say anything more, Su Ning had already opened the door.

The bald neighbor was clearly not expected to be a man opening the door. He paused for a moment, then revealed a mocking smile: "Oh, so you really are Ma Shu'er's boyfriend? No wonder you wouldn't sell the house, you've found a long-term meal ticket?"

Su Ning glanced expressionlessly at the gold chain dangling around the other person's neck: "Watch your mouth! Get to the point!"

"None of your business!" The bald man spat on the ground. "I'm talking to that woman about the house! She owes three months' worth of property management fees, and the owners' committee has decided..."

"How much?" Su Ning interrupted him.

The bald man was taken aback: "What?"

“I’ll pay whatever property fees Ma Shu’er owes.” Su Ning’s voice was devoid of any emotion.

The bald man squinted and looked Su Ning up and down, then suddenly grinned: "Kid, you're pretty cocky, huh? Do you know who I am? In this area..."

"I don't know, and I don't want to know." Su Ning glanced at his watch. "I'll give you two choices: First, tell me the amount you owe right now; second, come with me to the boxing gym for a fight."

The bald man seemed to have heard a joke and burst into laughter: "With your build? I'm worried I'll beat the shit out of you."

"Choose option two?" Su Ning raised an eyebrow. "Let's go then! There's a boxing gym around the corner."

Ma Shuer rushed out of the kitchen: "Fang Yuan! Are you crazy? He's a local thug."

Su Ning turned around and smiled at her: "Perfect timing, I haven't stretched my muscles in a long time."

Enraged, the bald man pointed at Su Ning's nose and said, "Fine! If I don't beat you to your knees and call me grandpa today, I'll change my mind!"

Twenty minutes later, the three stood inside the "Tiger Boxing Gym".

The owner of the shop was a middle-aged man with a face full of scars. When he saw the bald man, he immediately came up to him and said, "Brother Long, what brings you here?"

The bald man, called Brother Long, pointed at Su Ning and explained, "Let's teach this kid a lesson."

The boxing gym owner looked at Su Ning's slender build, then at Brother Long's burly physique, and said with a troubled expression, "Brother Long, this... isn't against the rules?"

"Enough with the nonsense!" Brother Long took off his jacket, revealing his tattooed arms. "Get the venue ready!"

"Uh? Okay."

Su Ning calmly put on his boxing gloves and whispered to the worried Ma Shuer, "Stand back, don't get splashed with blood."

"Are you serious?" Ma Shu'er grabbed his wrist. "We can call the police?"

“There are some things that the law can’t solve.” Su Ning stretched his neck. “These kinds of people will only behave if you beat them into submission.”

After the referee briefly explained the rules, the match began.

Brother Long launched a fierce attack right from the start, raining down heavy punches on Suning.

Mashuer, standing on the sidelines, covered her mouth, barely daring to watch.

However, to everyone's surprise, Suning was as agile as an eel, always managing to evade attacks at the last second.

After three rounds, Brother Long was already panting heavily, while Suning hadn't even broken a sweat.

"All you do is hide, you bastard!" Brother Long roared angrily.

Su Ning suddenly laughed: "Okay, I won't hide this time."

When the fourth round bell rang, Suning's style suddenly changed.

He landed a precise left hook on Brother Long's chin, followed by a series of blows to his abdomen, and finally finished the fight with a beautiful right straight punch.

Brother Long's massive body crashed to the ground, blood gushing from his nose.

When the referee counted to eight, Brother Long struggled to get up, his eyes already glazed over.

Instead of pressing their advantage, Suning took a step back: "Are you admitting defeat?"

"I...I..." Brother Long shook his head, then suddenly knelt down on the ground, "I'm not fighting anymore...I admit defeat..."

There was an uproar.

The owner quickly stepped forward to help Brother Long up, looking at Su Ning in disbelief: "Brother, your skills... are you a professional?"

Suning took off his gloves but did not answer.

He walked up to Brother Long and squatted down: "Remember two things: First, stay away from Ma Shuer's house in the future; second, if I hear you insulting women again, next time it won't be as simple as a nosebleed."

Brother Long nodded in horror, all traces of his previous arrogance gone.

On the way back, Ma Shuer remained silent.

She didn't speak until they were almost home: "Fang Yuan, why did you do this?"

Su Ning stopped in her tracks: "He bullied you."

Mashuer turned to look him straight in the eye and asked, "I mean, why are you going to such lengths for my son and me? We're just employers..."

"Really?" Su Ning asked softly, "Then what about last night?"

Ma Shuer's face flushed red.

She lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "I don't know... My mind is a mess right now... Ever since my ex-husband left, I..."

Su Ning suddenly grabbed her hand: "You don't need to answer now. I just want you to know that with me here, no one can bully you."

Ma Shuer looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes: "Fang Yuan, I... I think I've fallen in love with you."

This sentence is like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

Su Ning paused for a moment, then gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Then love to your heart's content! I didn't say you couldn't love."

"..." Seeing the cynical attitude of the man beside her, Ma Shuer felt a mixture of love and hate.

……

(End of this chapter)