He released An Nuan's neck, letting her collapse to the ground. He looked down at the person on the ground with disdain and said coldly, "Do you really think I would let you die so easily?"
"Death, how simple it is."
Shen Xizhou said with utter ruthlessness, "Letting you live well, enduring torment day after day, that would be more painful than death, wouldn't it?"
His foot stepped on her hand, and he said cruelly, "Remember, live well. You absolutely cannot die, that would be too boring."
An Nuan's heart felt as though it would shatter, yet she could only endure Shen Xizhou's humiliation.
She was reduced to extreme subservience, feeling that even her breathing was her own fault.
She could not say anything, much less refute anything. She could only lower her posture and live cautiously.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her emotions and looked calmly at the man before her, who was like a devil. She cautiously opened her mouth to ask, "Mr. Shen, please, I beg you."
"If begging could achieve anything, then nothing in this world would be difficult," Shen Xizhou said sarcastically. "An Nuan, my family was killed by you and Huo Yun Shen. So why should I agree to your request to save your mother?"
"No, that's not true. Shen Xizhou, your family wasn't killed by me, nor by Huo Yun Shen. It was..."
"Shut up," Shen Xizhou said ferociously, his voice sharp. "An Nuan, if I hear another word of begging from your mouth, or if Huo Yun Shen's name appears again, I will make you regret ever meeting me."
"I will destroy everyone you care about, leaving you with lifelong regret," Shen Xizhou said, looking at the pale An Nuan. He felt it was still not enough, and again he curled his lips chillingly, "If you don't believe me, you can always try."
If you don't believe me, you can always try...
An Nuan gasped, daring not to make a sound, not even to breathe loudly, for fear of provoking Shen Xizhou.
She bit her lip hard, enduring it. Her lip bled from being bitten, yet she felt no pain.
"Mr. Shen, if you lay a hand on them, then anything you want to know will forever be out of your reach."
"Heh," the man snorted, a cold smile spreading around him.
"An Nuan, to think you would threaten me for a 'wild man'? It seems I have underestimated you all along."
"You are truly vicious and have no bottom line," he said coldly, grabbing An Nuan's wrist and dragging her to the bathroom, directly turning on the hot water and drenching her head.
The hot water made An Nuan gasp, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out.
He directly threw An Nuan into a corner and turned to leave without any hesitation.
Blood dripped from her forehead, but An Nuan paid it no mind. She had to go to the hospital; her mother was waiting for her.
As for the injuries on her body, the blood on her forehead, as long as they didn't endanger her life, she could endure them.
Hospital, in the ward.
An Nuan adjusted her emotions, wiped away her tears, and took a deep breath. Confirming that there was nothing amiss, she pushed the door open.
An mother's gaze fell upon An Nuan, her face filled with heartache and sadness.
Her hands, hidden beneath the quilt, were clenched tightly, and her whole body trembled. It was her fault; if it weren't for her burden, her daughter wouldn't have to suffer so much hardship.
She swallowed back the words of self-reproach and comfort. She did not want to add to An Nuan's burden.
Looking at her mother, she quickly put on a smile, a smile more bitter than crying. She softly called out, "Mom."
"Nuan Nuan, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I'm a burden. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to live such a hard life, Nuan Nuan..."
"Mom, I'm fine, I'm okay. You shouldn't worry about me." An Nuan hugged her mother, acting spoiled in her arms. How long had it been since she could do this?
"Nuan Nuan, don't keep everything to yourself. If something is bothering you, tell me. That way, you'll feel better and won't be so sad," An mother said dotingly and with concern, stroking An Nuan's head.
"Mom, as long as you're by my side, I'm content and happy." As soon as An Nuan finished speaking, she savored the blissful moment in her mother's embrace.
An mother yawned then, feeling drowsy. Before she could say another word to An Nuan, she fell asleep.
An Nuan gently settled her mother, covered her with the quilt, and quietly watched her mother on the hospital bed.
This situation was becoming more frequent, which was not a good sign for her mother's condition.
Yet, the examinations consistently failed to find the cause.
The hospital recommended she go abroad, as the care overseas was better than domestically. She understood all of this, but what held her back was money; she had none.
Her mother's illness was caused by her; she was the one who brought it about.
Tears welled up in An Nuan's eyes, her eyes turning red. What was she to do?
Her life was a mess, a stark contrast to the life she desired. How ironic.
Her gaze remained fixed on her mother, letting the tears flow. Only at this moment could she cry her heart out. Only at this moment could she be her true self.
"Mom, I'm sorry. But I will try my best."
"Mom, you must hold on. I will find a way as quickly as possible. You will get better."
She stood up, looking at her mother on the hospital bed with reluctance. Though her heart was full of unspoken farewells, she still left.
Some things were beyond her will.
Shen Corporation.
She was cleaning public restrooms. This was her job, and the only job she could do. If she lost this job, she would truly have nothing.
"An Nuan."
A furious voice rang out. Before An Nuan could react, before she could even see who was speaking, she was dragged to the washbasin. Her head was pushed down, then pulled up. This action was repeated continuously.
After a while, the man stopped.
The man looked at the woman before him with disdain and carelessly tossed her onto the ground.
"An Nuan."
"Mr. Shen..."
An Nuan's face was pale, her mind in a daze, swaying as if a gentle breeze could blow her away.
He kicked her, saying coldly, "An Nuan, who allowed you to attack Xu Ruo Wei? How did she offend you to make you resort to such cruel methods?"
"An Nuan, Xu Ruo Wei is my secretary, my capable assistant. Yet you ruined her. What are your intentions?"
She ruined Xu Ruo Wei?
An Nuan's mind went blank. She had only met Xu Ruo Wei that one day, and after that, there had been no further connection between them. What did he mean?
Nuan Nuan, in this life, you are my only girlfriend, my wife. In this life, I will never speak the name of another woman besides yours.
But now he could so easily utter Xu Ruo Wei's name, and even speak in her defense. Ha, thinking back, those vows were truly laughable. All her love was fed to the dogs.