Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she said, "Xia Wanqing, for the sake of someone like An Nuan, aren't you afraid you'll become a laughingstock later?"
"Heh, I'm just saying this out of kindness."
Xia Wanqing's expression changed drastically, and her gaze towards An Nuan became exceptionally unpleasant.
Although she knew that what Xu Ruowei was saying was impossible and that she was deliberately saying it, it still made her feel uncomfortable.
"Heh, kindness? Xu Ruowei, don't you find it disgusting to say such things?"
Shen Xizhou, standing by, shot a warning glance.
However, Xia Wanqing seemed unfazed, calmly stating, "What's wrong? Can't take it? Mr. Shen, you won't even let people speak, will you?"
Xia Wanqing continued serenely, "I'm just stating the facts."
Xu Ruowei's smug smile vanished instantly. Her face turned pale. Xia Wanqing was too much, slandering her so outrageously in front of Shen Xizhou, destroying the image she had worked so hard to maintain.
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Shen Xizhou, her voice full of grievance, "Xizhou, you don't believe what Xia Wanqing said, do you?"
"I would never do something like that."
"I don't know why Xia Wanqing is suddenly targeting me."
"Ruowei, remember, you don't need to explain anything to me. I won't believe any words that slander you," Shen Xizhou said expressionlessly, his thoughts unreadable.
In truth, he had heard such words many times before. Sometimes, he was beginning to doubt.
An Nuan's brows furrowed. She didn't want to see any of these people.
Shen Xizhou was truly devoted to Xu Ruowei.
"Xizhou, I knew you would believe me."
"Xizhou, thank you for believing in me so much," Xu Ruowei said with unwavering conviction.
Her eyes were filled with triumph as she looked provocatively at An Nuan.
An Nuan didn't want to linger. These two people were truly repulsive.
Xu Ruowei eventually left. Since Shen Xizhou was leaving, she had no reason to stay.
Xu Ruowei had expected Shen Xizhou to reprimand An Nuan, to torture her.
But many days passed, and Shen Xizhou made no move. Instead, he was busy with his own affairs.
The person she had placed beside Shen Xizhou called her, reporting that Shen Xizhou had been inactive all this time.
Hearing this, Xu Ruowei smashed her phone.
She had been waiting, but now? Hearing such results, how could she be reconciled?
Why did heaven treat her this way?
Shen Xizhou's attitude towards her also seemed to have changed considerably.
Did he know something?
No, impossible. Her eyes were filled with disbelief. Absolutely impossible. Her actions were so secretive; those people would never find out.
Shen Xizhou would definitely not know. He had her people by his side. She had been keeping track of Shen Xizhou's movements.
Those worries would never materialize.
However, the person who called just now had said something that made her worried and scared.
She felt she couldn't just wait any longer.
A malicious thought flashed through her mind. A cold smile touched her lips.
She picked up her phone and made a call.
She was accustomed to such matters, so she handled it with practiced ease.
...
An Nuan was about to go to the hospital to see Zhou Chumu.
But as soon as she stepped out, her mouth was covered, and she was dragged away.
A sense of dread washed over her. Her eyes were wide with terror.
Recalling Xu Ruowei's gaze that day, the scheming in her eyes, she instantly understood.
This must be Xu Ruowei's doing again.
It was likely that Xu Ruowei had been enraged by Xia Wanqing speaking up for her in the hospital earlier.
An Nuan was taken to a dilapidated, abandoned unfinished building. No one would ever come here, leaving An Nuan in a desperate situation with no one to call.
Having gone through this so many times, Xu Ruowei wouldn't be foolish enough to leave any traces this time.
Moreover, she had almost been misunderstood by Shen Xizhou because of a previous incident. She wouldn't allow that to happen again.
An Nuan backed away, her eyes filled with fear, as she faced the people before her like wolves.
An Nuan was now fully alert and could see these people clearly.
She kept retreating, her face contorted with panic. She was pressed against the wall behind her, with nowhere left to run.
Her hands clenched tightly. She suppressed the urge to cry out, forcing herself to calm down and remain lucid.
As long as she remained clear-headed, she would surely find a solution.
All she could do now was obey and avoid any harm.
These people were dangerous, not someone she could afford to offend.
If she didn't comply obediently, she would be 'incinerated without a trace.'
This time, she had learned her lesson. She wouldn't confront them head-on. The power disparity between her and these people was immense.
With these few men eying her covetously, her heart pounded with fear.
One of the men held a fruit knife, raised high, and waved it before An Nuan's eyes.
An Nuan's hands clenched, her face deathly pale. Her whole body trembled.
She wondered how she could protect herself and avoid being harmed.
She bit her lip, trying desperately not to tremble or show fear.
These people had been paid by Xu Ruowei and would listen to her. They would surely try to kill her.
She could also try to bribe them with money, but she had no money. That was utterly impossible.
Perhaps she could first gain their trust. It wouldn't be too late to deal with them once she was safe.
Besides, these people meant her harm, and everything she did now was to save her own life. There was nothing excessive about it.
"I can give you money," An Nuan said cautiously, huddled in the corner. "Whatever that person gave you, I can give you ten times that amount, as long as you let me go."
"Heh, you give us money?"
"You're already penniless, with only yourself left," one of the men said sinisterly. "I doubt you even have a hundred yuan on you."
"Trying to trick me again."
The man's sinister voice sent a cold sweat down An Nuan's spine.
They already knew all this. It seemed Xu Ruowei was truly determined not to let her off this time, which was why she was so resolute.