Xu Ruowei rushed over, tightly clutching Shen Xizhou’s hand, her face filled with terror.
Shen Xizhou’s gaze never left An Nuan. He watched as she, right before his eyes, showed concern for another man, and cried like a heartbroken doll over another man’s injury.
Killing intent flashed in his eyes. His heart felt as if it were choked, unable to find peace.
He yearned to drag An Nuan into his arms, to make her attention solely focused on him, but his hand was tightly held by Xu Ruowei. He forcefully suppressed all his impulses.
The air around them was thick with tension.
No one dared to speak.
Ji Wenyun watched everything unfold. When he saw Ye Qingcheng’s hand on An Nuan’s waist, and when he saw Ye Qingcheng and An Nuan’s fingers intertwined, he was consumed by a jealous madness, wishing he could destroy Ye Qingcheng’s hand.
Such a vicious thought shocked even himself.
He couldn’t understand why he harbored such thoughts.
There was no relationship between him and An Nuan; they didn’t even know each other. So why did he feel this way?
Xia Wanqing noticed that Ji Wenyun seemed out of sorts, a faint glint in her eyes.
They needed to leave quickly, to linger no longer.
Fearing that it might cause unnecessary trouble.
“Shen Xizhou, Ruowei looks so unwell, what are you still doing?”
“Ruowei’s condition is probably not good.”
Xia Wanqing gave Xu Ruowei a look.
Xu Ruowei immediately understood. She instantly adopted a sickly demeanor, clutching her chest and speaking with pain, “Xizhou, I really feel unwell, I…”
Ye Qingcheng, standing nearby, saw through Xu Ruowei’s clumsy act. He could tell she was perfectly fine.
An Nuan, seeing Xu Ruowei sweating and crying out in pain, glanced at Ye Qingcheng and said, “Doctor Ye, perhaps you should check on her.”
After saying this, she felt a pang of regret.
This was Xu Ruowei’s matter; why had she overstepped?
Ye Qingcheng paused for a moment, then readily replied, “Alright.”
An Nuan: “…”
She had expected Ye Qingcheng to refuse. But then again, he was a doctor; he wouldn’t refuse to save a life.
When Ye Qingcheng approached, Xu Ruowei didn’t appear as pained as before. She avoided his touch, looked at him, and said with jealousy, “There are so many women in the world, why can’t you look at An Nuan? Does a woman like her deserve you?”
Ye Qingcheng frowned slightly. It was clear this Xu Ruowei hated An Nuan to the extreme, always trying to find ways to ruin her.
Such a person was utterly repulsive.
“Do you know? An Nuan had an abortion for Shen Xizhou, she would even give her life for him. She's just using you. Because her brother needs money, a lot of money, more than she could ever earn in her lifetime, that’s why she’s set her sights on you. Are you willingly being manipulated by her like this?”
Xu Ruowei spoke many ill things about An Nuan, thinking at least one would make Ye Qingcheng despise her. But to her surprise, after all her efforts, Ye Qingcheng not only didn't despise An Nuan but grew to despise her to the utmost.
Ye Qingcheng stood up, turned on his phone’s speaker, and played back everything Xu Ruowei had said to him. Xu Ruowei also admitted that she wasn't in pain but merely jealous of An Nuan for stealing Shen Xizhou’s attention.
She had also cruelly uttered those deeply hurtful words about An Nuan.
“Shen Xizhou, did you hear that? Such vicious words came from the person you’re protecting. To attract your attention, she’ll do anything.”
“You call An Nuan disgusting, dirty?” Ye Qingcheng scoffed, “And what about her?” His gaze fell on Xu Ruowei, his eyes filled with disgust.
“Those words should be directed at her,” Ye Qingcheng said coldly.
“And your eyes? Are they just for decoration? Xu Ruowei’s clumsy acting managed to deceive you completely.” Ye Qingcheng said coldly, “She is the most malicious one. Hmph, you said you investigated, so where did your results come from? Did you ever think about it? And every time An Nuan suffered injustice, what were you doing?”
“Every time An Nuan encountered Xu Ruowei, she was inexplicably injured. Did you ever consider that it wasn’t An Nuan’s fault, but that someone was setting her up?”
“Hmph, even if everything you say is true, so what?” Shen Xizhou said indifferently, “I am willing to be manipulated by Xu Ruowei.”
Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou in disbelief. Was he mad? How could he say such things so calmly? And so resolutely?
He knew that if Shen Xizhou truly knew everything, then with what mindset did he watch An Nuan being bullied by Xu Ruowei and still stand by Xu Ruowei’s side?
He looked at Shen Xizhou, his eyes filled with doubt, and demanded, “Shen Xizhou, what exactly are you trying to do?”
“I want An Nuan to live in hell forever, where anyone can harm her.”
“But no one can protect her.”
As he spoke, Shen Xizhou walked to Xu Ruowei, helped her up, and held her in his arms. He looked at Ye Qingcheng and said, “Even if everything you say is true, she is the person I’ve always wanted to find. Because An Nuan falsely claimed to be her, and now Xu Ruowei hates her and targets An Nuan, that’s her own fault, and no one can be blamed.”
“I once told you that my little angel from childhood was Xu Ruowei. But at that time, An Nuan told me she was the one I was looking for. Now that I think about it, it’s truly laughable.”
“She deceived me first, and then killed all my loved ones. What right does she have to live?”
“She deserves to kneel before my family and repent for the rest of her life.”
“You are wrong.” Ye Qingcheng said furiously. “If what you say is true, then An Nuan’s mother was killed by you. How will you compensate An Nuan?”
“Shen Xizhou, one cannot be too selfish. You have been wrong from the beginning. Moreover, the deaths of your parents are still under investigation, and the suspects have not been found. On what basis do you accuse An Nuan?”
Ye Qingcheng’s voice carried a hint of exhaustion and helplessness. “If you insist on this, then I can do nothing more. Then, you will remain like this for the rest of your life.”
Xu Ruowei’s face was no longer that of the gentlewoman she usually presented. Now, it was filled with intense hatred, and her heart had become thoroughly twisted.
Ye Qingcheng looked at Shen Xizhou and simply shook his head, saying nothing more.
His gaze fell on Xu Ruowei, who stood nearby, and he said coldly, “Xu Ruowei, some things, once done, even if well hidden, time will record them. Slowly, with the passage of time, everything you have done will one day be exposed to the light. At that time, I hope you can still live with such calmness and peace.”
“Your current happiness and joy are built upon An Nuan’s suffering.”
“However, I won’t let you revel in it for too long. Your demonic side, one day, I will tear it off publicly,” Ye Qingcheng said coldly.