"Shen Xizhou, without Yun Xiu, what else can you use to threaten me?" An Nuan burst into laughter. "What makes you think I will obediently listen to you? You tell me to live well, and I must live well?"
"What makes me? What do I use to threaten you?"
Seeing An Nuan lift her eyes and question him loudly, Shen Xizhou's expression turned extremely grim.
What makes him?
Looking at An Nuan's resolute demeanor, Shen Xizhou said coldly, "You don't think that without An Yun Xiu, I can't threaten you anymore, do you?" Shen Xizhou's tone carried a hint of a smile.
"Don't you still have your esteemed senior? Tell me, if you don't listen obediently, what will happen to Zhou Chumu?"
"That's right. Zhou Chumu's situation in the Zhou family isn't good. If I were to interfere further, how do you think his situation would be?"
An Nuan's body trembled uncontrollably. Her hands clenched tightly. She had never imagined such a shameless person. How could he be like this?
But his words crushed her last hope.
Yes, if she didn't listen obediently, her senior would be implicated because of her.
Zhou Chumu must have had his reasons for treating her that way back then, and she couldn't ruin Zhou Chumu because of her own issues.
She lowered her head and knelt before Shen Xizhou, begging for mercy. She had already done as Shen Xizhou wished, so he should let her go, right?
She glanced at Xu Ruo Wei, who was standing nearby, and finally bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Miss Xu. It's all my fault. I hope you will be magnanimous and spare me this once. Just consider it a dog bite. Can we let this matter go?"
An Nuan endured the disgust and unwillingness churning in her heart. She tightly clenched the hands at her sides, a mocking smile curving her lips. She looked coldly at the people before her, her eyes filled with disdain.
Ye Qing Cheng, standing aside, had considered stepping forward to speak for An Nuan.
An Nuan knew that if Ye Qing Cheng stepped in, she wouldn't be humiliated like this. But if he did, and she wasn't humiliated now, Zhou Chumu would be implicated. She didn't want any innocent person to be dragged into this because of her.
"Mr. Shen, I have apologized as you wished. So, Mr. Shen, will you keep your word and stop making things difficult for Zhou Chumu?"
An Nuan looked at Shen Xizhou, who remained silent, a bad premonition churning within her. But she still braced herself and said, "Mr. Shen, you won't go back on your word, will you?"
"If the people who cooperate with Mr. Shen were to know that Mr. Shen is this kind of person, then Mr. Shen's reputation would likely be in tatters."
"I have done as Mr. Shen and Miss Xu wished. As for whether you keep your word or not, that is not something I can decide."
"Of course, only the four of us are here. If you deny it, I can't do anything. After all, I am weak and powerless, unable to compare with the wealthy and influential you."
An Nuan, suppressing her fear, looked directly at Shen Xizhou and spoke.
She knew very well that she had no other choice now. She could only take this gamble.
As for the outcome, she couldn't be sure.
An Nuan thought that since she had said this, even if they were unwilling, they would eventually agree. After all, Xu Ruo Wei wanted to maintain a kind image in front of Shen Xizhou. Even if Shen Xizhou disagreed, Xu Ruo Wei would speak up.
Things unfolded as An Nuan had anticipated. Shen Xizhou was naturally not going to give in easily. However, Xu Ruo Wei interjected, and in the end, Shen Xizhou agreed to let her and Zhou Chumu go.
The moment Shen Xizhou agreed, An Nuan clearly saw the unwillingness in Xu Ruo Wei's eyes.
Xu Ruo Wei had merely said it casually. She thought Shen Xizhou, who so despised An Nuan, would surely refuse. She just wanted Shen Xizhou to see how kind she was. But when she heard Shen Xizhou agree, she could no longer maintain her composure.
Seeing Xu Ruo Wei's flustered expression, An Nuan's smile widened. She looked up at Xu Ruo Wei with a beaming smile and said, "Then thank you, Miss Xu. If not for Miss Xu speaking up, Mr. Shen probably wouldn't have agreed."
"I sincerely wish Mr. Shen and Miss Xu a lifetime of happiness together."
She turned and left directly, and Ye Qing Cheng followed her without a word.
Watching her disappear from sight, Shen Xizhou's face darkened.
Veins bulged on his forehead. He had been outmaneuvered by An Nuan.
And it happened completely without warning.
She said: I sincerely wish Miss Xu and Mr. Shen happiness.
Ha, she actually uttered words of blessing.
Ha, she thought her plan had succeeded? Did she naively believe this matter was settled?
She thought that with Ye Qing Cheng by her side, she had nothing to fear?
He would make her regret scheming against him.
He would make her realize he was not so easily outmaneuvered.
Xu Ruo Wei was somewhat unhappy that he had let An Nuan off so easily.
But she was happy that An Nuan could leave here safely because she had spoken up, and Shen Xizhou had let An Nuan go.
This meant that in Shen Xizhou's heart, she must hold a unique place.
Thinking of this, her face lit up with a smile.
However, seeing Shen Xizhou's gaze fixed on the direction An Nuan had left, her hands clenched tightly, her eyes filled with unwillingness and displeasure.
But she quickly disguised her emotions.
After all, with Shen Xizhou present, she couldn't let him see her 'ugly' side.
However, judging by today, her position in Shen Xizhou's heart was indeed different.
She linked her arm through Shen Xizhou's and said with a hint of sadness in her voice, "Xizhou, your attention should be on me, not on those disreputable women."
Shen Xizhou only then snapped back to attention, realizing he had been lost in thought.
"Mm," Shen Xizhou replied absentmindedly, watching An Nuan leave him so resolutely. His heart inexplicably felt agitated.
Xu Ruo Wei sensed Shen Xizhou's unhappiness. When he replied to her, he was always sullen, and his gaze remained fixed on the direction An Nuan had left.
Hatred and jealousy filled Xu Ruo Wei's entire being.
It seemed that in Shen Xizhou's eyes, she had never been as important as An Nuan.
He humiliated An Nuan because he cared about her, right?
If he didn't care, why would he be so enraged and go to such lengths to humiliate An Nuan?
When she gave An Nuan the invitation, he probably knew, didn't he? He just didn't say it.
Was his timely arrival today a prearranged meeting with An Nuan? And her appearance caused the scene that just unfolded?
If she hadn't been there, would Shen Xizhou's encounter with An Nuan have unfolded differently?
Thinking of this, she hated An Nuan even more.