Xu Ruowei stood there, stunned. She thought that after she said those words, Shen Xizhou and An Nuan would surely stand up for her. After all, she had spoken so dramatically and emotionally.
But why? Why didn't either of them speak, leaving her feeling like she was performing a one-woman show?
Xu Ruowei even felt regret. If she had known the outcome would be like this, she wouldn't have shamelessly said those words.
After speaking, she received no sympathy. Instead, she felt as if she had done something foolish.
With no other recourse, Xu Ruowei finally turned her gaze to An Nuan, asking almost pleadingly, "An Nuan, no matter what I do, you won't forgive me, will you?"
"You've left me covered in wounds, yet I haven't argued with you about anything." As Xu Ruowei spoke, she became more agitated, her face even contorting into a grimace. But then, as if remembering something important, she quickly added, "No, it's not that I haven't argued with you. It's that I was wrong to you in the first place."
"An Nuan, look, you've also persecuted me into this state."
"So, can we just let bygones be bygones between us? Can we just call it even?"
Heh.
An Nuan smiled.
Call it even?
If she said it was even, would it truly be even?
Did she not recall the things she had done? How could it be even?
"Even," was such a simple phrase to say. But the things that had happened to her, could she allow those things to happen to her again?
How could they be worthy?
Shen Xizhou was not worthy, and Xu Ruowei was even less so.
An Nuan felt a wave of discomfort. She gritted her teeth, her whole body trembling. For some reason, her lower abdomen suddenly began to ache.
She didn't know when this problem started.
Perhaps it was caused by Shen Xizhou pushing her into the sea. Perhaps it was caused by her getting drenched in the heavy rain. Or perhaps it was caused by Shen Xizhou kicking her away fiercely. Or was it from him ordering someone to submerge her whole body in water?
There were many other incidents, things she had personally experienced.
An Nuan let out a cold snort, looking at Xu Ruowei and Shen Xizhou with icy eyes.
Whatever they said or did, she would never forgive them.
Xu Ruowei continued to speak, and An Nuan felt a searing pain in her head from the incessant chatter.
"Shut up." she commanded coldly.
With that single, chilling command, Xu Ruowei, who had been rambling on, was instantly intimidated into silence.
An Nuan walked up to Xu Ruowei, grabbed her hair, and pulled with all her might, dragging her up.
Along the way, the servants who witnessed this gasped in disbelief.
They even wondered if their eyes were deceiving them. How could they possibly be seeing such a thing?
They were still thinking, where was Mr. Shen? He usually doted on Miss Xu and protected her. He surely wouldn't allow anyone to harm her.
Just as they were all looking for Shen Xizhou, anticipating that An Nuan would be in trouble if he appeared, they saw him.
But to their astonishment, Shen Xizhou was following behind, looking completely calm. They began to doubt if the person behind them was even real.
Shouldn't Shen Xizhou be worried about Xu Ruowei?
What exactly had happened?
An Nuan, enduring the pain in her abdomen, dragged Xu Ruowei and unceremoniously threw her into a pool.
It was a decorative pool used for raising fish.
An Nuan was beyond caring now. If Xu Ruowei wanted to seek death, then she would grant her wish.
Xu Ruowei's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at An Nuan, her eyes filled with resentment. She thrashed in the water, splashing loudly.
She screamed for help from the water, but no one came to her aid.
Shen Xizhou's brow furrowed as he looked at An Nuan, wanting to say something but remaining silent. He looked at Xu Ruowei in the water, but he didn't jump in. Instead, his gaze towards the person in the water was filled with disgust and disdain.
Xu Ruowei, having been thrown into the water by An Nuan, glared furiously at An Nuan, even contemplating attacking her for a moment.
But now, all she could do was cry for help.
She placed all her hope on Shen Xizhou.
An Nuan looked at the dramatic Xu Ruowei, let out a cold scoff, and said coldly, "Xu Ruowei, this is a decorative pool. The water isn't deep; it really won't drown you."
"Do you know how ridiculous you look right now?"
Xu Ruowei, who had been struggling and splashing frantically, stopped her movements.
She had initially not believed An Nuan, but when she actually stood up, she had no choice but to believe.
Xu Ruowei stood there, stunned. When she looked at the people pointing and gesturing at her, she lost all face.
She had never expected such a humiliating incident to happen to her.
She thought she could use this opportunity to frame An Nuan again, but now? It wasn't working. Not only could this incident not frame An Nuan, but it had also caused her to lose all her dignity.
Xu Ruowei, however, looked at An Nuan, pointing at her with resentment, and rebuked, "An Nuan, even if I did those things, it's in the past. That little push just now almost cost me my life."
"An Nuan, do you have to treat me like this?"
"An Nuan, everyone makes mistakes. I know I was wrong about those things back then. But can you guarantee that it was all my fault?"
"Even if it was a colossal mistake, you can't treat me like this!"
Can't treat me like this?
Everyone makes mistakes.
Heh. The words she was speaking now were completely different from what she had said moments ago.
Earlier, she had bowed her head and apologized desperately. But now? She was desperately accusing.
People truly are quite complex.
An Nuan simply watched quietly, offering no explanation.
The people around were also pointing at An Nuan, all of them accusing her.
Shen Xizhou did not enter the water to save Xu Ruowei. Instead, he instructed the people nearby.
Those people immediately went down.
No matter how much those people humiliated An Nuan, she said nothing. Xu Ruowei was extremely pleased. Shen Xizhou just stood there, saying nothing.
An Nuan didn't want any further involvement with the two of them. As she turned to leave, Shen Xizhou blocked her path, completely preventing her from leaving.
"Shen Xizhou, please move aside." An Nuan said with utmost disgust.
Shen Xizhou replied coldly, "What if I say I won't move aside? What can you do?"
An Nuan struggled, trying to pull her hand away. She was extremely repulsed by Shen Xizhou at this moment.
She wanted to break free, but her strength was insufficient.
Shen Xizhou pulled her forcefully, trying to draw her into his embrace.
An Nuan desperately pushed her hands against him, preventing Shen Xizhou from getting too close.
But her strength was clearly useless.
An Nuan finally resigned herself and closed her eyes. Everything before her was beyond her control.