Nangong Jin's lips curved into a cold smile as he dodged directly.
He saw through Xu Ruowei's intentions with perfect clarity.
Hah, he scoffed. Shen Xizhou's eyes were truly blind. Were they merely decorative? Someone like Xu Ruowei was treated like a precious treasure.
But thankfully, his blindness allowed him to cherish An Nuan.
Heavens, how good he was to him.
Xu Ruowei fell to the ground with a 'bang.' Unfortunately, her forehead was cut and bleeding.
Shen Xizhou seemed to have not noticed what happened with Xu Ruowei; all his energy and attention were focused on An Nuan.
Just then, Shen Xizhou grabbed An Nuan's wrist.
"An Nuan, are you this cheap? One man after another, never stopping. Are you that desperate for men?"
An Nuan hadn't expected Shen Xizhou to act so drastically. Didn't he care most about Xu Ruowei? So, if Xu Ruowei fell, shouldn't he be concerned about her? Why was he now making things difficult for her?
Or did he think that Xu Ruowei's fall was because of her?
Was he placing imaginary guilt upon her again?
Thinking about it, she scoffed.
Things had always been like this; she should be used to it.
An Nuan struggled but couldn't break free. She wanted to speak, but Shen Xizhou shut her up directly, "An Nuan, do you think that with Nangong Jin here, I can't touch you at all?"
Hearing these words, An Nuan suddenly laughed. It was somewhat laughable.
She looked directly at the person before her, raising her head and saying proudly, "What? Mr. Shen, this is my business, and it shouldn't have anything to do with you, right?"
"However, Shen Xizhou's own fiancée fell to the ground, and he turned a blind eye, yet he's holding Mr. Nangong's fiancée. Mr. Shen's tastes are truly beyond ordinary people."
"But Mr. Shen's tastes are your business, and it has nothing to do with me," An Nuan said coldly. "Please let go, Mr. Shen. There are so many people here, I'm sure you wouldn't want to lose all face."
"An Nuan." Shen Xizhou's grip tightened.
He released An Nuan's hand and his gaze fell on her fair neck. He reached out his hand, but An Nuan dodged.
An Nuan was completely pulled into Nangong Jin's embrace.
"Shen Xizhou, you're looking for death." Nangong Jin exuded an icy aura.
"What? Mr. Nangong, are you angry already? Mr. Nangong, you don't know yet..."
"This woman, she's a woman I, Shen Xizhou, discarded. And she flits around various men. Nangong, do you really like women that others have left behind?"
The surrounding people naturally knew about these matters. However, with Nangong Jin by An Nuan's side, they naturally dared not speak out, much less say anything more, for fear of offending him.
But Shen Xizhou pierced that veil of silence, and the surrounding whispers grew louder, especially from the women who admired Nangong Jin. Now, the ugly words were spoken even more frequently.
They all knew, but as long as no one mentioned it, they didn't want to get involved. Now that Shen Xizhou had spoken, they could continue speaking without being blamed.
Someone of An Nuan's status, why should she receive Nangong Jin's admiration? They believed even more that An Nuan had deceived Nangong Jin.
Yes, as long as Nangong Jin knew the true nature of the woman by his side, they would have a chance.
The scolding from the surrounding people and Shen Xizhou's mockery turned An Nuan's face instantly pale. She bit her lip tightly, unable to utter a single word.
Coupled with the surrounding chatter, she clenched her hands tightly.
She had experienced such slander before, but in front of Nangong Jin, she couldn't hold her head up.
She had returned this time to reclaim what she desired.
But the items were already lost, and she decided she didn't want them anymore. She believed her mother and younger brother wouldn't blame her.
She had originally planned to leave after tonight.
But now, things had gone against her wishes.
Everyone was cursing An Nuan, saying unpleasant things.
At this moment, Nangong Jin stepped forward, picked up two bottles of wine, and smashed them to the ground.
Suddenly, the noisy banquet became exceptionally quiet. The people there didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
"An Nuan, I know who she is better than anyone else."
"If I hear any more unpleasant words, it will be like going against me, Nangong Jin. You know the consequences."
"It's best to stop here, or do you want your families to be destroyed? You choose."
Nangong Jin looked at An Nuan, took her hand, and spoke with utmost tenderness, as if encouraging her.
"An Nuan, no matter what has happened, to me, you are special. I wasn't a part of your past, but I will accompany you in your future."
"An Nuan, you are the most beautiful."
"Those people are just jealous of you."
An Nuan's eyes were filled with tears of gratitude. She hadn't expected that even in such a situation, Nangong Jin still believed her.
In the past, Ye Qingcheng had been the same.
They gave her trust and courage.
She had felt awful from what the surrounding people had said earlier, but now, she didn't care at all, and a hint of joy bloomed in her heart.
Because, at least in this world, someone still believed in her.
Believed her unconditionally, stood by her unconditionally.
"Nangong Jin, thank you for always believing in me."
Shen Xizhou suddenly calmed down.
He regretted what foolish thing he had done just now.
Why had he said those words to An Nuan?
He clearly knew that An Nuan had been framed and misunderstood. He clearly knew that those things had nothing to do with An Nuan. But what had he done? He had acted foolishly again.
He would only push An Nuan further away from him.
But Nangong Jin was too outstanding, and he treated An Nuan too well. He was worried that An Nuan would be snatched away by Nangong Jin.
He had intended to apologize to An Nuan.
Upon seeing An Nuan shyly in Nangong Jin's arms, he was filled with jealousy and spoke without restraint, "I didn't expect Nangong Jin, you have a habit of picking up trash."
"Everyone knows about An Nuan, how filthy and unbearable she is?"
"Hah, An Nuan truly has remarkable skills, to make so many men devoted to you, even losing their lives for you."
"Mr. Shen, are you finished?" An Nuan said coldly. "Yes, Mr. Shen's fiancée is extremely pure. Mr. Shen, you are indeed fortunate."
Shen Xizhou's gaze suddenly turned sinister as it fell upon An Nuan. He said, with a bloodthirsty tone, "An Nuan, shut up."
"You dare not slander Ruowei."
"Ruowei is so kind and pure."
"You are not worthy of mentioning Ruowei."
Shen Xizhou let out a cold snort, speaking icily.