Shen Xizhou's gaze fell on An Nuan, only to find her hand clasped tightly with Nangong Jin's. He wasn't angry initially, but seeing this scene made his face turn ashen.
Coupled with what Xu Ruowei had just said, he wanted to ruin An Nuan completely.
However, Xu Ruowei, with a look of utter subservience, walked forward, her face streaked with tears. She looked at An Nuan, pleading, "An Nuan, can you please stop blaming Xizhou? Everything is my fault."
"Furthermore, Wanqing didn't do anything. She just saw me being wronged and stood up to speak for me."
"Can you please not make things difficult for Wanqing?"
"If you truly want to vent your anger, then she can direct it at me."
"No matter what you do to me, I won't utter a word. Nor will I resist."
Xu Ruowei placed her hand on her red and swollen cheek, her voice thick with tears, "If hitting me can relieve your anger, then I will stand here and let you hit me. I won't make a sound, let alone resist."
Listening to Xu Ruowei's twisted words, An Nuan truly felt disgusted.
It was always the same trick, yet it always worked.
An Nuan looked at Xu Ruowei, a mocking smile on her face, and said coldly, "Xu Ruowei, who exactly is making things difficult for whom?"
"I..." Xu Ruowei put on a show of being deeply wronged, her eyes brimming with tears.
Just as Shen Xizhou was about to step forward, Xu Ruowei, with tears in her eyes, choked out, "Xizhou, please don't get angry for my sake. I will handle this myself, okay?"
Xu Ruowei had her reasons for acting this way.
From the very beginning, although Shen Xizhou had appeared and stood by her side, his gaze had never once rested on her.
This was undoubtedly a huge blow to her.
Xu Ruowei was unwilling, but she had to continue her act: "Xizhou, I..."
Only then did Shen Xizhou snap back to his senses, his gaze finally falling on Xu Ruowei. Seeing her tear-reddened eyes, he felt a pang of heartache.
But his gaze immediately shifted away from Xu Ruowei and landed on An Nuan. He said coldly, "Ruowei, this is not your fault. Don't be so humble, and you certainly don't need to apologize."
"The one who should apologize is An Nuan, not you."
"An Nuan should be blaming herself."
An Nuan scoffed, her face filled with mockery. To protect Xu Ruowei, to make Xu Ruowei happy, Shen Xizhou would say anything.
However, Shen Xizhou was probably going to be disappointed. She didn't need to blame herself, let alone apologize.
On the contrary, Xu Ruowei was the one who should apologize.
"Wanqing, what's wrong? Didn't I tell you to rest well at home? Weren't you feeling unwell? Why are you here?"
"Are you hurt?" As soon as Ji Wenyun arrived, all his attention was focused on Xia Wanqing.
Xia Wanqing had been feeling very dejected. She had called and told Ji Wenyun about some of what had happened, but Ji Wenyun hadn't said he would come.
Yet, seeing Ji Wenyun appear, she finally felt relieved.
In truth, she was starting to regret her actions. She shouldn't have stepped forward and sided with Xu Ruowei earlier.
Every time, she was used by Xu Ruowei and then abandoned.
But she never gained anything in return.
She looked at Ji Wenyun and shook her head, "It's nothing."
She glanced at An Nuan, as if remembering something, and said with some difficulty, "It's just some minor conflict, nothing major."
"I was just a bit scared, so I called you."
"Actually, you didn't have to come."
"Wanqing, there's no need to be so cautious. With me here, I won't allow anyone to bully you."
"I will handle this matter properly." Ji Wenyun gently tidied Xia Wanqing's clothes.
He had been somewhat displeased with those events earlier. But after thinking it over seriously, anyone would have acted that way. It just meant she cared too much about herself.
It was he who hadn't given her enough security, leading to this outcome.
After comforting Xia Wanqing, he looked up, about to seek justice for her.
When his gaze fell on An Nuan, the hand he had been holding Xia Wanqing's tightly suddenly loosened.
Xia Wanqing's eyes were filled with unwillingness and displeasure.
She knew it. The moment he saw An Nuan, he would be like this.
This was also what she most dreaded facing.
Xia Wanqing tugged forcefully at Ji Wenyun's hand, reminding him that she was still there.
He suppressed the excitement in his heart but said calmly, "Miss An, what business do you have with my girlfriend?"
"Wanqing is still not feeling well. Even if you need to see Wanqing, Miss An, you should be mindful of her condition."
She came to find Xia Wanqing?
An Nuan's brows furrowed tightly. She looked at Ji Wenyun coldly.
If she remembered correctly, Ji Wenyun had said in front of everyone: "Xia Wanqing, you are a liar. You deceived me, and now you still want to stay by my side? Let me tell you, I won't even spare you a glance. You are a shameful existence to me."
She remembered those words clearly. It seemed the person involved had forgotten.
An Nuan didn't want to deal with Shen Xizhou, nor did she want to deal with Ji Wenyun.
With both of them attacking An Nuan, Nangong Jin truly couldn't stand by any longer.
If he didn't step forward now, it would be inexcusable.
As he was about to take a step forward and speak up for An Nuan, An Nuan directly stopped him, saying softly, "I can handle this myself. Will you let me handle it?"
Nangong Jin hesitated.
He shouldn't have hesitated; he should have loudly said, "No." But meeting An Nuan's pitiful gaze, her pleading eyes, he truly couldn't bring himself to refuse.
"It's not too late for you to step in if I can't handle it, is it?" An Nuan said in a somewhat coaxing tone.
These matters were originally hers, and she didn't want Nangong Jin to get involved.
With more and more people watching, it was better for Nangong Jin to remain silent.
Seeing Nangong Jin's hesitation, An Nuan continued, "It's settled then. If you say anything more, I'll disappear from your sight."
"I think you'll agree to that."
An Nuan knew that doing this was a bit forceful, but it seemed like the only way.
"Heh, An Nuan, let's just let this matter go. I won't pursue it anymore."
"I think, perhaps, there was a reason you said those words."
Hearing Xu Ruowei's words, An Nuan almost wanted to laugh.
She was the one who stirred up trouble, and now she intended to back down gracefully?
All the blame was placed on her, and she was misunderstood. She herself gained a good reputation.
Did she think she was exceptionally clever? Or superior to everyone else? She took all the benefits and then meekly accepted the consequences?
Was she the only one capable of calculation and social maneuvering?
An Nuan looked at Xu Ruowei and let out a cold laugh. But what could be done? She didn't want Xu Ruowei to get her way.