Shen Xizhou looked at An Nuan, listening to her utter words of resolve and hurt, and wondered if the person before him was still the one he knew.
He had been trying his best, hoping An Nuan would forgive him.
Also, he didn't want An Nuan to continue to make things difficult for Xu Ruowei. He thought, there shouldn't be a person like Xu Ruowei between them. It was all in the past, why couldn't she let it go?
"Shen Xizhou, you've said what you wanted to say, and I've listened."
"However, I will not forgive you."
Shen Xizhou looked at An Nuan in surprise, seemingly not expecting her to say such definitive words.
Regarding Shen Xizhou's astonished expression, An Nuan smiled, her smile exceptionally calm.
"Shen Xizhou, you don't honestly think that by saying these words, I would forgive you, do you?"
"You haven't forgotten, have you? In the past, I was far more sincere than you, yet you didn't forgive me. So, why should I forgive you?"
"Shen Xizhou, please let go."
But no matter what she said, Shen Xizhou didn't let go. At this moment, she began to feel a little scared.
As she struggled, she noticed someone lurking not far away, seemingly trying to take pictures.
Immediately, her gaze fell on Shen Xizhou, and a thought flashed through her mind: were those people arranged by Shen Xizhou? Thinking this, her face turned extremely grim.
What was Shen Xizhou trying to achieve by doing this?
Was he trying to make Nan Gong Jin misunderstand her?
Thinking this, her disgust for Shen Xizhou escalated once more.
She truly hadn't expected Shen Xizhou to stoop to such despicable actions.
It was so similar to the underhanded tactics Xu Ruowei had employed to frame her back then.
However, she hadn't anticipated that Shen Xizhou would also resort to such tactics. This was something she genuinely hadn't foreseen.
At this moment, she solidified her resolve. She absolutely could not be soft-hearted, nor could she betray Nan Gong Jin. This journey had been incredibly difficult, and Nan Gong Jin had accompanied her through it all. Most importantly, from beginning to end, Nan Gong Jin had believed in her.
Furthermore, Grandpa Nan Gong had treated her very well.
She absolutely could not be someone who forgets favors.
She banished Shen Xizhou from her world, unwilling to relive those painful years.
"Shen Xizhou, let me go. There is no possibility between us."
"An Nuan, what exactly do you want me to do to make you forgive me?"
An Nuan laughed, her laughter filled with mockery. She said coldly, "Shen Xizhou, in this lifetime, no matter what you do, I will never forgive you."
"You and I, this lifetime, will never be possible."
Shen Xizhou seemed to be provoked by An Nuan's words. He tightly gripped her chin, his face slowly drawing closer. An Nuan's hands clenched tightly; she wanted to pull away but found herself pinned, unable to move.
Just as Shen Xizhou was about to get closer, just as she felt she had nowhere to escape, she lifted her leg and kicked him hard.
Shen Xizhou cried out in pain and immediately let go of An Nuan. His face contorted, and he let out a pained scream, his body covered in cold sweat.
At this moment, the pain was truly agonizing.
"An Nuan, are you so heartless towards me? Do you hate even my closeness that much?"
"An Nuan, will you only forgive me if I die?"
"Or, if Xu Ruowei dies, can you forget all the hatred, and can you and I start over?"
An Nuan looked at Shen Xizhou with a cold face. Listening to his words, the corners of her lips curved into a smile. To her, these words sounded like a joke.
And what she couldn't understand was how he could say such things so calmly.
Seeing An Nuan's disbelief, Shen Xizhou's eyes were filled with a lost light.
"An Nuan, this way doesn't work, and that way doesn't work either. So, what else do you want me to do for you to return to my side? An Nuan, do you know? I've done everything I could, everything that needed to be done, I've done."
"What else do you want me to do?"
Saying this, he clutched his hair in anguish, his face etched with pain.
Perhaps, if he died, he would find release?
If he died, would An Nuan forgive him?
Shen Xizhou looked at An Nuan with lost and lonely eyes, full of guilt and apology, and said, "An Nuan, will you forgive me if I die?"
"Shen Xizhou, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me."
An Nuan said coldly. She still had many things to do, and for Shen Xizhou, she didn't want to give him even the slightest opportunity.
She had already suffered enough and didn't want to go through it again. It was too painful.
She had already escaped from the fire pit and would not foolishly jump back in.
Shen Xizhou said: An Nuan, those things are all in the past, let them be past.
He also said: An Nuan, can you forgive me?
He also said: An Nuan, many things really have nothing to do with Xu Ruowei. All the fault is mine. If it weren't for me, it wouldn't have happened like this.
He also said: An Nuan, it's all my fault. If I could have firmly believed in you, then these things wouldn't have happened. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I caused everything.
He also said: Whatever revenge you want to take on Xu Ruowei, just inflict it on me.
Hmph, Xu Ruowei made a mistake, and he said he would bear it. He was truly kind to the extreme.
Before, he had never treated her like this.
He had been utterly cruel to her back then.
Shen Xizhou's eyes were full of pleading as he looked at An Nuan and said, "An Nuan, can you forgive me?"
An Nuan's eyes were filled with disdain, and she looked at the person before her coldly.
She knew very well that it was impossible between her and Shen Xizhou.
For the two of them to be together would only bring more trouble.
She certainly couldn't betray Nan Gong Jin. She was not an unfeeling or disloyal person.
"An Nuan, can you give me an answer?"
"An Nuan, don't worry, I can handle the subsequent matters."
"An Nuan, believe me, in this lifetime, I will protect you well and cherish you. I will never let you suffer any harm again."
An Nuan's lips curved into a mocking smile. Listening to Shen Xizhou's confident pronouncements, she found it laughable. Back then, he had also made such promises, but later, he had broken his word. He had protected Xu Ruowei very well.
Now, he was still saying the same words. In the past, she had been deeply moved and believed everything he said. But now, she would never believe him again.
An Nuan smiled, looking at Shen Xizhou with utter mockery. Why should she give him another chance just because he wanted to turn back?