Listening to the conversation between the two people before him as if they were strangers, Shen Xizhou was filled with unwillingness and scarlet eyes.
All this beauty, originally, was his. But he had pushed it away with his own hands, and now he was completely without hope.
Shen Xizhou stood where he was, but said nothing. He kept thinking about what had just happened.
He wanted to chase after them directly, but at that moment, he did not.
At this time, his eyes were filled with endless pain.
How he wished he could rush to An Nuan's side, take her hand, and apologize to her.
No, if he didn't seize the opportunity now, then there would truly be no chance.
His An Nuan could not possibly leave him.
He even wanted to snatch An Nuan directly from Nangong Jin's side.
Just as Nangong Jin and An Nuan were about to leave, Shen Xizhou rushed forward and reached out to grab An Nuan's hand, but An Nuan dodged him directly.
An Nuan looked at Shen Xizhou coldly, "Shen Xizhou, I think I've made myself very clear. Please, stop pestering me."
Nangong Jin shielded An Nuan behind him, his eyes filled with a bloodthirsty glint as he looked at Shen Xizhou, and said coldly, "Shen Xizhou, I think we've said all there is to say. If you continue to pester her, you're simply being foolish."
"Shen Xizhou, it's not that I dare not lay a hand on you, but I feel it's beneath my dignity to do so."
"Besides, I promised An Nuan I wouldn't touch you. Therefore, you'd best have some self-awareness."
Hearing Nangong Jin's words, Shen Xizhou's hand, which had been frozen in mid-air, slowly lowered.
Yes, all of this was his debt to An Nuan. He should have known better. He should have stayed far away.
"Shen Xizhou, do you have to push me to my death before you'll be happy?"
"If that's the case, then I'll give you my life, alright?"
An Nuan said with great determination, while Shen Xizhou could only stare blankly at the person before him, eventually rendered speechless.
"An Nuan, let's go."
Nangong Jin pulled An Nuan into his embrace and left.
Shen Xizhou did not pursue them this time.
...
A month later.
An Nuan was at the company. This past month had been the happiest and luckiest of her life.
She accepted the afternoon tea brought by a colleague. Looking at the people around her, she felt that Heaven had favored her once again, restoring her life to what it should be.
Her complexion was beautiful, and her spirits were getting better and better.
An Nuan was radiating happiness.
Shen Xizhou happened to be there to discuss cooperation and saw the smile on An Nuan's face. He was utterly mesmerized.
How long had it been since he had last seen such a smile?
He stared intently at An Nuan, his gaze unwavering.
He even wondered how wonderful it would be if time could stop at this moment.
His hands clenched tightly. He wanted to step forward, but he dared not.
He was afraid, afraid that all this beauty would be ruined by him.
The wedding ring on An Nuan's hand pulled Shen Xizhou back to reality.
Yes, he had lost the person whose eyes were filled with him. Even if he spent his entire life atoning, it would be useless.
He could no longer find that person.
If time could turn back, he would truly be willing to go back.
Seeing how harmoniously she interacted with those around her, he was genuinely happy for her.
He regretted it. He wanted to rush to An Nuan and loudly tell her, An Nuan, I was wrong. An Nuan, can you give me another chance?
But there was no more chance.
He remembered that An Nuan had once begged him, but he had ruthlessly shattered all her hopes.
He had said: An Nuan, put away your pretense. I'm not a fool. I only believe what I see. I will not forgive you. I will never forgive you in this lifetime.
He remembered that when they were young, he had held An Nuan in his arms and whispered vows in her ear: An Nuan, in this life, I will protect you. I will not let anyone bully you. I will drive away everyone who bullies you.
But then what? He became the one who bullied her.
Xu Ruowei had humiliated her and plunged her into an abyss.
And those abysses were all created by him.
Time and time again, torment, frame-ups, shattering her hopes.
He had even abandoned their vows and married Xu Ruowei.
He had even blindly believed what Xu Ruowei said, never doubting her.
Thinking back now, how much of a scoundrel he had been.
"An Nuan..."
Shen Xizhou's eyes were filled with tears. His hand fell onto the windowpane. His longing for An Nuan could only be a distant gaze.
His heart ached, and he walked forward, standing before An Nuan.
An Nuan, who had been chatting and laughing with her colleagues, was truly startled.
She looked at the man before her warily, not knowing what he wanted.
But she showed extreme disgust at Shen Xizhou's sudden appearance.
She wanted to leave, but Shen Xizhou blocked her path. He wanted to grab An Nuan and explain himself.
However, at that moment, a fist smashed into his face.
Shen Xizhou was sent flying without any defense.
Blood streamed from his lips, but he didn't care, merely wiping it away with his hand.
"Nangong Jin, are you alright?" An Nuan grabbed Nangong Jin's hand and checked it seriously. Her concern was genuine.
"Shen Xizhou, what do you want?"
"This is Nangong Group. You are not welcome here. Please leave."
"Shen Xizhou, I remember telling you never to touch An Nuan. But you never seem to remember."
Nangong Jin stared fiercely at Shen Xizhou. If he hadn't promised An Nuan he wouldn't kill Shen Xizhou, Shen Xizhou wouldn't be standing here now.
To Nangong Jin, Shen Xizhou was the most dangerous presence.
Nangong Jin looked at Shen Xizhou and, sensing that Shen Xizhou's gaze was still on An Nuan, said coldly, "Shen Xizhou, you are not welcome here. I suspect you are here to steal Nangong Group's secrets. Please leave, Mr. Shen."
"Secrets? Nangong Jin, I'm here to discuss cooperation."
"Shen Xizhou, get out."
"What cooperation? You and I are eternal rivals. Cooperation? Are you crazy?"
"I don't lack money. I find your money to be dirty. Get out!" Nangong Jin glared fiercely at Shen Xizhou, pulling An Nuan's hand as he prepared to leave.
An Nuan's gaze fell upon Shen Xizhou. She said nothing, but her disgust and hatred were already all too evident.