Shen Xizhou watched Xu Ruowei cry like a person drowned in tears, his heart aching.
"Ruowei, don't worry. I know An Nuan framed you."
"Just you wait, I'll help you with this collaboration."
"I'll let everyone know that An Nuan's collaboration project wasn't her own doing, and that she's the one who lacks ability."
Xu Ruowei was overjoyed inside, but her face still showed worry. She lowered her head and said humbly, "Xizhou, are you telling the truth? But it's already happened, how can it be changed?"
"I'm worried... worried you'll be caught up in bad rumors because of this."
"Xizhou, I'm already in this state. I don't want you to get involved too."
"If someone must bear all the blame, let me bear it."
"Anyway, I've gone through what I've had to go through. Honestly, Xizhou, being slandered, framed, and insulted is truly difficult. I want to die at any moment."
"But, Xizhou, as long as I think of you by my side, I can keep going."
"Xizhou, please don't do anything dangerous for me, okay?"
"As long as you believe me, as long as you are by my side. Everything that has passed, let it pass."
"Xizhou, I don't care what outsiders say, how they see me, or how they insult me. As long as you believe me, that's enough." Xu Ruowei said firmly, looking at Shen Xizhou with deep affection.
"Ruowei, trust me, this matter cannot be left with you being wronged. You cannot bear the blame for nothing."
"Ruowei, as long as I'm here, I'll do anything for you."
"Remember this, I'm protecting you, and I won't allow you to suffer any torment."
After hearing Shen Xizhou's words, Xu Ruowei's worries and anger vanished.
She was already ecstatic.
So, her mother hadn't lied to her. She had indeed arranged everything.
Everything had changed now, but this change was exactly what she wanted.
If she could secure this collaboration, she would become the envy of everyone. After all, this collaboration was something many people desired.
If Shen Xizhou truly had a way to let her win the collaboration, and then expose that An Nuan had help, An Nuan would be utterly ruined.
And she? At the time of An Nuan's downfall, she would become an object of admiration.
A growing smile appeared on Xu Ruowei's face, as if the matter was already coming true.
She hugged Shen Xizhou's waist and said softly, appeasingly, "Xizhou, thank you for still believing me and being willing to do anything for me."
"Xizhou, do you know? When you said you didn't want me, I almost went mad. I thought, if you really didn't want me anymore, I wouldn't know how to live."
"I thought, then I wouldn't live anymore."
As she spoke, Xu Ruowei leaned closer to Shen Xizhou, her lips almost touching his, but Shen Xizhou dodged.
Shen Xizhou didn't know why himself. But deep down, he was extremely resistant.
And because Shen Xizhou's movement to avoid her was so abrupt, Xu Ruowei hadn't expected him to move. Moreover, she had focused all her weight on Shen Xizhou, and he had moved. Xu Ruowei naturally lost her support and fell directly to the ground.
Xu Ruowei bit her lip tightly, her heart filled with curses.
Shen Xizhou said he was willing to do anything for her, yet he despised her touch. How much truth was in his words?
Perhaps, his words were just casually spoken. It was her own fault for being too naive to believe him.
Yes, after experiencing so much, how could she still trust them so easily?
Shen Xizhou glanced at Xu Ruowei, feeling that he might have gone a bit too far.
Xu Ruowei wasn't at fault at all. It was because of him that she had become this way. Most importantly, he had betrayed Xu Ruowei's heart. If it weren't for him, Xu Ruowei wouldn't be like this. If it weren't for him, An Nuan might not be like this either.
Perhaps, it was all his fault. His existence was a mistake.
Xu Ruowei was innocent.
"Xu Ruowei, we meet again." Huo Yunshen said coldly, his eyes filled with a chilling aura.
Shen Xizhou was struggling with what to say to Xu Ruowei when Huo Yunshen's voice shattered the moment.
He had to admit, at this moment, Huo Yunshen's voice wasn't as irritating as usual.
"Huo Yunshen, you... what do you want?"
The moment Xu Ruowei met Huo Yunshen's gaze, she was terrified. Huo Yunshen knew everything about her. If he told Shen Xizhou? Although he had said it last time, Shen Xizhou wouldn't believe it. But if Huo Yunshen came again, he must have something else in hand.
Xu Ruowei was truly terrified. She feared, feared Huo Yunshen would reveal everything.
Now, Shen Xizhou was already unhappy with her, already harboring suspicion. If Huo Yunshen said something more, would she be completely finished?
"Huo Yunshen, why are you persistently bothering me?"
"An Nuan, what benefits did she give you that you have to treat me like this? Say such things about me?"
"Huo Yunshen, please, let me go."
"I'm already miserable enough."
"I've paid the price."
"Huo Yunshen, for the sake of our past, please, please let me go, okay?"
"An Nuan, what does An Nuan want? You tell me, even if she wants my life, I'm willing to give it. Please." Xu Ruowei said with a thick sob, her face streaming with tears. She stepped forward, intending to get closer to Huo Yunshen and try to make an effort.
But Huo Yunshen seemed to see through her intention and directly avoided her, saying coldly, "Xu Ruowei, put away your schemes. Do you think I'll believe anything you say at this point?"
"Xu Ruowei, stop putting on that pitiful act. Seeing you like this now makes me sick."
"Back then, I did so much for you, and I thought you were a kind girl."
"Back then, you told me your heart only had me, and no one else could fit into it."
"You said you were with Shen Xizhou because you were forced. Forced by your family."
"You said you had to do it for the Xu family."
"You also said that every moment by Shen Xizhou's side made you feel disgusted."
Watching Xu Ruowei's face turn pale, Huo Yunshen showed no sympathy, but instead said sarcastically, "Xu Ruowei, these are all words you said yourself. You wouldn't deny them, would you?"