Listening to An Nuan utter shameless words, Shen Xizhou wished he could kill the person before him.
This woman truly knew what to say to make him angry, to provoke his rage. She spoke exactly where it would sting.
This woman had killed his family; she owed him greatly. He wished to tear her into a thousand pieces. Yet, just moments ago, he had actually felt pity for her, even a flicker of mercy. He had even thought that perhaps she wasn't the one who did those things, that she was framed.
But she said she was acting, that it was all an act. She said she had never loved him.
The man threw the woman away directly, looking at her on the ground with disgust. It was utterly laughable that he would lay hands on someone like her.
He took out tissues to wipe his hands, as if he had touched some terrifying virus. He discarded the tissues directly onto An Nuan, his expression full of revulsion and disdain.
He looked up and saw Ye Qingcheng appear, showing extreme surprise. But he quickly concealed his astonishment.
Shen Xizhou stepped forward, looked at Ye Qingcheng, and said coldly, "You've seen and heard everything that just happened. She's precisely the kind of woman who acts, a woman whose mouth is full of lies. She's a woman who would do anything cruel and ruthless to achieve her goals. Such a woman, you've fallen for her?"
"You're not the only one orbiting around her."
"Don't you think such a woman is dirty?"
Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou, then at An Nuan on the ground, her face filled with loss and sorrow. His eyes were full of tenderness. He felt immense pain looking at her reddened neck.
Actually, he had arrived. When he wanted to come in, he saw An Nuan's hands around Shen Xizhou's neck, speaking those 'cold and heartbreaking' words. At that moment, he had hidden outside. He didn't want to go in, not because he couldn't face it, but because he feared that if An Nuan saw him, she would start thinking about how to face him.
Listening to Shen Xizhou's words, Ye Qingcheng said calmly, "I will listen, I will see. I know what kind of person she is. I don't need conclusions from your mouth."
"I believe those weren't things she wanted to say willingly." Ye Qingcheng looked at An Nuan and said with utmost gentleness, "Perhaps, those were just armor she set up to protect herself."
"In this society that is full of malice towards her, she's merely finding another path to protect herself. This is just her way of protecting herself."
"I believe everything she does is to protect herself. She is very kind, and she deserves to be protected."
Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou, speaking with determination. He didn't understand why Shen Xizhou harbored such deep hatred for her.
He had heard about those things, but he simply didn't believe An Nuan had done them.
He was looking for evidence for her, but hadn't found it yet.
But now, he wasn't planning to tell her. He would wait until he found proof and then present it, clearing her name. It would also be a surprise for himself.
Everything Shen Xizhou was doing now seemed too cruel in his eyes.
Ye Qingcheng bent down and picked up An Nuan, who was curled up on the ground, holding her protectively. He looked at Shen Xizhou and said firmly, "You say she's acting?"
"If she's acting for me, calculating against me, using me." Ye Qingcheng said with extraordinary determination yet profound tenderness, "I'll do it willingly. As long as she's happy."
Ye Qingcheng didn't continue the latter part of his sentence. Instead, he carried An Nuan out. Her current physical condition meant she absolutely had to go to the hospital.
At the hospital.
An Nuan was in the emergency room.
Ye Qingcheng and Shen Xizhou stared at each other. The people around them dared not even approach, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.
"Since you detest her so much, and you have no relationship with her anymore," Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou and said firmly, "then you should exit her life, and I will be the guardian of her future."
He hadn't known the relationship between Shen Xizhou, An Nuan, and Xu Ruowei before, but after investigating, he had figured things out.
He was perfectly clear about the matters between An Nuan and Shen Xizhou. He just hadn't expected that in the end, he and An Nuan would end up on such a path.
He had searched for that little girl for a long time, and An Nuan was that little girl. Let the past be the past. Now that he was here, now that he had appeared, he would guard her.
If Shen Xizhou treated her well, he would silently protect her. But she no longer had any connection with Shen Xizhou. Then, he had a chance.
"Ye Qingcheng, are all the women in the world dead? Do you have to have her?"
Shen Xizhou could no longer hold back and said furiously, then threw a punch.
Ye Qingcheng was almost knocked down by the blow. He leaned against the wall, fiercely wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Shen Xizhou's punch was delivered because he felt guilty towards him. He wouldn't retaliate.
Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou and said, "That punch just now, consider it my apology for wronging you. But from now on, I owe you nothing."
Shen Xizhou looked at Ye Qingcheng, seeing his resolute demeanor. For a moment, he blamed all the responsibility for this situation on An Nuan.
If it weren't for An Nuan, none of this would be happening now.
In fact, he knew that none of this had anything to do with An Nuan. But he couldn't find an outlet for his anger, so he had to place the blame for one mistake on her.
He knew An Nuan might be innocent, but since everything originated from here, she should bear all the fault.
"Shen Xizhou, you already have someone else you need to protect. Therefore, can you let An Nuan go?"
"Or, can you give An Nuan to me, so I can protect her?" Ye Qingcheng didn't confront him head-on this time. He spoke calmly.
Shen Xizhou looked at Ye Qingcheng and said coldly, "Even if you're willing, the Ye family probably wouldn't agree to you marrying a used item."
"Ye Qingcheng, when facing the Ye family, can you still say these words with such conviction?"
Ye Qingcheng was slightly stunned. He looked at Shen Xizhou and finally nodded gravely.
Shen Xizhou let out a cold snort, "Is that so?" A cold, ruthless smile curved his lips, as if saying, "Then I'll wait and see what happens with your so-called firm stance."
At this moment, Ye Qingcheng's phone rang. Although he didn't know who was calling, his expression became extremely grim. His gaze fell on Shen Xizhou, as if he guessed something.
"You did it, didn't you?" Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou, his tone filled with certainty.
As soon as Shen Xizhou finished speaking, he received this call. Besides his doing, he couldn't suspect anyone else.
This was something Shen Xizhou was capable of.
Ye Qingcheng looked at the still-lit surgery lamp. In the end, he left with a heavy heart.
Shen Xizhou's eyes gleamed with the light of a victor.