Xu Ruowei recounted what had just happened, of course, embellishing it considerably.
An Nuan watched quietly, never revealing her thoughts. From the beginning, she had seen Xu Ruowei’s performance.
After Xu Ruowei finished speaking, she looked at An Nuan provocatively, certain that Shen Xizhou would side with her.
“Xizhou, you believe me, right? You believe that everything I’ve said is true.” Xu Ruowei’s voice trembled slightly with uncertainty.
She noticed that Shen Xizhou’s expression was unusually grim.
Shen Xizhou gently set Xu Ruowei aside. Once he confirmed she was out of danger, he finally felt at ease.
“An Nuan, are you alright? Did Xu Ruowei lay a hand on you?”
“I’m fine,” An Nuan replied quickly, though with a hint of hesitation.
She looked at Shen Xizhou with a strange expression, wondering if he shouldn’t be more concerned about Xu Ruowei at this moment. Why was he concerned about her instead?
Her quick answer was merely a reflex.
Xu Ruowei, left neglected, wore a look of intense displeasure. She even felt that Shen Xizhou had truly changed, becoming someone she no longer recognized.
“Xizhou, are you choosing to believe An Nuan? An Nuan is standing here completely unharmed, while I’ve ended up like this. Are you willing to believe An Nuan over me now?”
“Xu Ruowei, you know perfectly well what you’ve done. There’s no need for me to say more.”
Hearing this, Xu Ruowei’s face turned instantly pale, her eyes filled with doubt and disbelief.
“I know everything that just happened, so Xu Ruowei, you have only yourself to blame.”
An Nuan smiled, a smile that was quite captivating.
Yet, a mocking curve touched her lips.
When did the tide turn so dramatically?
“Mr. Shen, there’s really no need for that. Whether you believe me or not is of no consequence to me.”
“Furthermore, Xu Ruowei is right. Her current state is a result of my deliberate actions.”
“So? Mr. Shen, after hearing my explanation directly, how do you feel now?”
“Do you regret speaking up for me just now?”
“Shen Xizhou, I will admit to the things I have done, but I will not confess to anything I haven’t done.”
“Naturally, I will live my life. Whether you believe me or not is your business.”
“What difference does it make if you believe me? What difference does it make if you don’t?”
“What is it? Are you still expecting me to thank you, Mr. Shen?”
An Nuan said coldly, her eyes filled with disdain and malice.
She even found it somewhat amusing. In the past, she had desperately tried to make Shen Xizhou believe her words. But no matter what she did, she couldn’t even get a glance from him.
And now? Seeing Xu Ruowei injured, even after she admitted to her actions, Shen Xizhou remained calm as he looked at her.
He said he believed her words, yet he still sided with her, unable to bring himself to trouble her.
In the past, she might have been overjoyed.
But the An Nuan of today couldn’t be happy.
Everything felt like a ridiculous joke to her now.
An Nuan let out a soft scoff. She was no longer the same person she was, and she no longer cared. In fact, she no longer harbored any hatred.
Now, she simply regarded him as a stranger.
If Shen Xizhou hadn't implicitly allowed Xu Ruowei to do these things, how could An Nuan have been so brazen?
An Nuan scoffed again, saying with disdain, “Mr. Shen, please refrain from saying such things.”
“Don’t you think there’s something inappropriate about that?”
“An Nuan, what are you talking about?”
“Shen Xizhou, if you won’t let me leave, you’re determined to have an answer from me today, aren’t you?”
An Nuan’s gaze fell on Xu Ruowei beside them. She said coldly, “If you want me to forgive you, then make Xu Ruowei disappear from this world forever.”
“If you can do that, then all that happened between us back then will be settled.”
“An Nuan, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Xu Ruowei’s eyes widened, glaring fiercely at An Nuan. How could she utter such venomous words?
Who did she think she was, to speak so casually?
Xu Ruowei looked at Shen Xizhou, feeling uncertain.
She feared that Shen Xizhou might actually agree to An Nuan’s terms.
If that happened, she would truly be finished.
There was only one life.
She believed Shen Xizhou wouldn’t be so heartless towards her.
Shen Xizhou’s brows furrowed. He had anticipated that An Nuan would present him with a difficult condition. In his heart, he had vowed to fulfill any request she made.
But when An Nuan finished speaking, his expression changed drastically. This was, arguably, an impossible demand.
He truly couldn’t do such a thing.
Shen Xizhou’s brow knitted tightly. Did she hate Xu Ruowei that much? Did she have to take her life?
Shen Xizhou suggested to An Nuan if she could perhaps ask for something else. But at this moment, An Nuan simply shook her head.
“Shen Xizhou, you promised that you would agree to any condition I put forth.”
“And this is my only condition.”
“An Nuan, this condition is truly unreasonable. Can’t you ask for something else?”
“Anything else is fine, but this one is not.”
An Nuan let out a scoff, saying mockingly, “But I don’t need anything else. This is all I want.”
“Shen Xizhou, if you cannot do it, then please leave my sight.”
“You say I’m being unreasonable, but isn’t asking me to agree to your demands also unreasonable?”
Shen Xizhou hesitated. The words on the tip of his tongue could not be spoken.
Yes, he was asking An Nuan to forgive him. That was also unreasonable.
Why should An Nuan be obligated to agree to his request?
In the past, An Nuan had loved him deeply, and it was he who had lost her. He was the one who had gradually pushed her away, the one who had plunged An Nuan into an endless abyss.
He was the one who had nearly taken An Nuan’s life.
But now, he knew he was wrong. Couldn’t he be forgiven?
“An Nuan, can’t you give me one more chance?”
Shen Xizhou pleaded in a low voice.
“An Nuan, in the past, you always chased after me, begging me. Now, it’s my turn to beg you.”
“Can’t you forgive me with this?”
“An Nuan, otherwise, I’ll give you my life. Would that be enough?”
“Heh, your life?” An Nuan sneered, saying coldly, “Shen Xizhou, I have no use for your life.”
“I find your life to be dirty.”
Yes, what could she do with Shen Xizhou’s life?
She wanted Shen Xizhou to live, to witness her happy life with Nan Gongjin. That kind of torment would be fatal to Shen Xizhou. It would be the ultimate revenge.