Fortunately, Shen Xizhou’s attitude towards her seemed to have improved considerably now. Perhaps it was a good thing, at least for her brother.
She believed that the days ahead would only get better, and she would do her best to make her brother’s life even better.
She was still contemplating how to get Shen Xizhou to slowly warm up to her brother.
If she were gone, at least her brother would have someone to rely on.
An Nuan was envisioning brighter days ahead. But just then, the door was opened from the outside. An Nuan felt no sense of danger, for she knew it was Shen Xizhou. Only Shen Xizhou knew her whereabouts; no one else did.
As she turned around, before she could even clearly see who had entered, her neck was seized tightly, and she could not breathe, the feeling of suffocation overwhelming her.
The man before her had eyes bloodshot with rage, as if he intended to kill her.
"Xizhou…"
An Nuan’s eyes widened as she looked at the person before her. Why? Why was this happening? Their relationship had been improving. Yet now, why was there such intense killing intent in his eyes as he looked at her?
What had happened?
"An Nuan, to conceal what you did to Xu Ruowei, you truly will say anything." Shen Xizhou glared at An Nuan with ferocity.
"Shen Xizhou, what are you talking about? I don't understand." An Nuan, facing a man who seemed to have gone mad, retorted coldly, "Shen Xizhou, you can treat me however you want. I won't object, but could you restrain yourself in front of my brother?"
"I don't want my brother to worry."
"An Nuan, while you were deceiving me, you were plotting against Xu Ruowei. I was foolish enough to believe your words, sending your brother back to you 'safe and sound,' and even finding you a place to stay. An Nuan, do you really think I'm that easy to fool?"
"An Nuan, do you think you're very clever for having played me for a fool?"
"Shen Xizhou, what are you talking about?"
An Nuan looked at the man before her, filled with confusion. She didn't understand why Shen Xizhou was saying these things. If it were just her, she wouldn't mind, but her brother… what would he think if he heard this?
She feared nothing else, but the thought of her brother overthinking things terrified her.
That was why, when Shen Xizhou questioned her so violently, she didn't say much, because she didn't want her brother to misunderstand.
Her gaze fell upon An Yunxiu, who had been watching them from the side. Her brother’s face was filled with apprehension, as if he was utterly bewildered by everything that was happening.
She looked at Shen Xizhou and said with difficulty, "Shen Xizhou, I don't know who told you what, nor do I know what has provoked you. I am very grateful for everything you've done for me."
"But I beg you, please don't torment me in front of my brother. My brother still greatly admires you. I don't want my brother's hopes to be dashed because of me."
"I promise you, I will leave this place. I won't appear before you again. I won't be an eyesore anymore."
"Shen Xizhou, what do you want? Do you want my life? Then take my life, if you want it."
"My life for yours?"
"Heh…"
Shen Xizhou let out a cold snort, looking with disdain at An Nuan's pleading eyes. Her pitiful gaze now seemed to mock him.
"An Nuan, what use would your worthless life be to me? Besides, your body is already failing. Your life is worth nothing. What use would your life be to me?"
"If I can't trouble you in front of your brother, An Nuan, are you truly doing this for your brother? If you were truly for your brother's sake, you wouldn't have done such disgraceful things."
"Shen Xizhou, I don't know what happened to Xu Ruowei. I've been with my brother these past few days. Also, I'm staying here, and your people are all around. Whether I went out or did anything, they would know clearly."
"Shen Xizhou, don't blame me for everything that happens to Xu Ruowei."
"She wants you, and I have no connection with you anymore. If she wants you, then let her have you. I don't want to fight for anything with her."
"Please, if there are any issues in the future, investigate them thoroughly before coming to me."
"You say I harmed Xu Ruowei. Then where is the evidence? If you can produce evidence, I will admit it. Without evidence, I will not confess."
An Nuan glared at the man before her, her voice filled with anger. "Shen Xizhou, don't I deserve your trust? Do you just believe whatever outsiders say? Have you never tried to believe me even once?"
"Believe you?" Shen Xizhou’s lips curved into a bloodthirsty smile. He said coldly, "It was precisely because I believed you that my family was killed by you, An Nuan. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Your brother's life is a life, but what about my family?"
"An Nuan, it's not that I don't believe you, but you have a precedent."
"Oh, right. Don't you cherish your brother immensely? Then, I'll see how long you can protect him." Shen Xizhou said coldly, his eyes full of icy glares directed at An Nuan and An Yunxiu. He then slammed the door shut and left.
An Nuan knew that Shen Xizhou's change of heart was not without reason; someone must have truly said something to him.
She had considered explaining, but what use would an explanation be? She had already tried and it was futile.
Her initial anger, her pride, her defiance, all vanished instantly when Shen Xizhou mentioned An Yunxiu. Her courage disappeared completely.
She could endure anything, but her brother couldn't. If she left, what would happen to her brother? Would he be left to live alone? That would be too cruel for him.
An Nuan chased after him. At the elevator, she saw Shen Xizhou waiting. She knelt before him, holding his hand, desperately pleading, "Shen Xizhou, you promised you would take good care of me and Yunxiu. Shen Xizhou, you don't need to take care of me. Can you just take care of Yunxiu?"
"As long as you protect Yunxiu, I can do anything."
"You want me to kneel before Xu Ruowei and apologize, right? Fine, I agree, I can do it. Just take care of Yunxiu, okay?"
"An Nuan, for your brother, you truly will do anything."
"Your heart is devoid of humanity, yet you are quite good to your brother."
"But have you ever considered that the sins you committed will fall upon your brother?"
"No, that won't happen. If there is retribution, let it fall upon me. Yunxiu has nothing to do with any of this."
As if struck by a thought, An Nuan quickly pulled out the video of Shen Xizhou's promise.
This was a video recording Shen Xizhou himself had requested. He had said: "Nuan Nuan, if you don't believe my words, you can record it. That way, you can use it if I go back on my word. Of course, I won't go back on my word." Shen Xizhou had recorded it himself, and he was the one who said he wouldn't go back on his word. Yet, in the end, it was he who had reneged. Thinking about it now, she felt it was comically ironic.
Wasn't this like him slapping himself in the face?
Suddenly, she felt that Shen Xizhou had actually done her a great favor.