Xu Ruowei looked at Huo Yunshen before her with disbelief, thinking of Ying Yao speaking in a low voice, trying to appease him. Was this still the Huo Yunshen she knew?
What had Huo Yunshen experienced to become like this?
She pondered, the matter she wanted Huo Yunshen to handle had not yet been spoken. If she were to say it now, would he directly refuse?
The scene before her made her hesitate for a long time, unable to snap out of it.
Xu Ruowei felt a pang of regret, regretting that she had sought out Huo Yunshen.
The former Huo Yunshen could have helped her, but the current Huo Yunshen was completely unable to assist.
A sense of relief washed over her; fortunately, Shen Xizhou had not appeared. This way, Shen Xizhou wouldn't misunderstand her.
If Shen Xizhou were to misunderstand, then all her efforts would be in vain. This would be a devastating blow to her, and she was even less willing for such a thing to happen.
Ying Yao had no intention of causing trouble.
However, the Huo family, in order to gain the trust of the Ying family, had no choice but to attack Xu Ruowei.
Even if Huo Yunshen wanted to help, he remained on the sidelines, forced to watch.
Xu Ruowei hated the people before her at this moment, but could only lower her head and say meekly, "I'm sorry, this is my fault. I shouldn't have met with Huo Yunshen."
"Indeed, I met with Huo Yunshen, and it wasn't a chance encounter."
Ying Yao looked at Xu Ruowei, scoffing. Was this an admission? She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Before she could even resort to any tactics, Xu Ruowei had already confessed.
Suddenly, she felt it was no longer fun.
An Nuan was aware of everything that was happening here. However, upon hearing Xu Ruowei's reply, An Nuan was also taken aback. Was Xu Ruowei really going to admit it? This was different from the person she knew.
After all, for the sake of her pride, Xu Ruowei would never admit anything. But this time was different; she had admitted it so readily.
An Nuan had a feeling that things wouldn't be that simple and that many unexpected events were bound to follow.
She waited, because she knew this matter wouldn't be resolved so easily.
She looked at Ying Yao with red, tear-filled eyes, full of grievance, wanting to reach out and grab Ying Yao's hand to evoke sympathy. But Ying Yao directly avoided her touch, saying with disdain, "Don't touch me, I find it dirty."
"Who knows who else you might be involved with besides Huo Yunshen?"
Ying Yao's words turned Xu Ruowei's face ashen.
What right did she have to say such hurtful things?
But at this moment, she could only endure. Her hands, clasped by her side, clenched tightly. One day, she vowed, she would make Ying Yao pay for what she had said today.
Ying Yao stepped aside, looking at Xu Ruowei with contempt, and said coldly, "Speak."
"I don't need anyone to win me over with any unsavory means."
"Such actions only make me feel utterly disgusted."
Faced with Ying Yao's words, Xu Ruowei's expression was already unreadable. Her heart seethed with anger, but she ultimately suppressed it.
"Miss Ying, I did have some involvement with Huo Yunshen before, but it was always Huo Yunshen who pestered me."
"The whole world knows that the person I love most is Shen Xizhou, and the person I want to marry is Shen Xizhou. And I am now Shen Xizhou's fiancée; I cherish it dearly. Do you think I would be reckless?"
"Back then, Huo Yunshen took those drastic actions for my sake. I believe both the Ying and Huo families are aware of this."
"So, why is Huo Yunshen here today, and why should it be said that I asked him to come?"
Ying Yao glanced at Xu Ruowei, a cold smile curling her lips, and said, "Oh, really? Then, tell me, what is it that I don't know about this situation?"
"Huo Yunshen asked me out, saying he had information that would be detrimental to me."
"And now I am Shen Xizhou's fiancée, and I fear such things the most. That's why I took the risk to come."
Ying Yao nodded with feigned seriousness, "This explanation is plausible enough."
Xu Ruowei finally breathed a sigh of relief, fortunate that her words had been believed.
Ying Yao looked at Xu Ruowei and suddenly asked, "Oh, so, who contacted whom first?"
Both fell silent.
Huo Yunshen looked at Xu Ruowei, finding it hard to believe she could say such things. Yet, in his heart, he still made excuses for her, thinking she must have had a compelling reason to speak like that. He had already wronged her enough; he would help her this one last time.
He believed that she definitely didn't say these things intentionally, nor was she treating him this way on purpose.
She still had him in her heart.
Ying Yao observed the silence between them.
Huo Yunshen's affection for Xu Ruowei was evident, but looking at Xu Ruowei, she didn't seem like someone who was deeply in love.
Ying Yao shook her head, concluding that Huo Yunshen was the one doing all the pursuing.
Huo Yunshen was devoted and loyal to her, but the person before her likely wasn't.
Xu Ruowei looked around at the crowd, sobbing, "But it was always Huo Yunshen who pestered me; I was always trying to avoid him."
"But Huo Yunshen is, after all, a member of the Huo family, and I dared not offend him, so I couldn't say anything."
"But what I didn't expect was that Huo Yunshen would continue to harass me. If this incident hadn't happened today, I would never have said anything."
"Huo Yunshen kept threatening me and bothering me, but he didn't hurt me, so I endured it."
"But what I didn't expect was that after enduring for so long, such a thing would happen. I..." Xu Ruowei covered her face and sobbed uncontrollably, unable to utter the rest of her words.
Many eyes were on Xu Ruowei. In her eyes, there was intense hatred. She had said so much; shouldn't their attention be on Huo Yunshen? Wasn't that who they should be holding accountable?
Why were they still looking at her?
A surge of resentment rose within her. She even glanced at Huo Yunshen, who stood calmly to the side. Her inner rage ignited.
Since Huo Yunshen wouldn't step forward to say a word for her, or do anything for her, then she couldn't be blamed for being heartless.
After a long while, the gazes that had been on Xu Ruowei shifted, and all eyes turned to Huo Yunshen, seemingly awaiting an explanation.
Huo Yunshen's brows furrowed, and his hands clenched into fists.
So, his deep affection, his love, was merely a joke in Xu Ruowei's eyes.
So, it was all him forcing her, and she wasn't willing.
So, his so-called sacrifices and devotion were just a burden to Xu Ruowei.
He had never imagined that Xu Ruowei would harbor so much resentment.
He remembered, Xu Ruowei had told him things differently. She had said she was forced by her family. She had said she had no choice but to choose Shen Xizhou. She had said that if she had any choice, she would choose him.
Those words, spoken to him in confidence, had once filled him with joy. But now, recalling them, they felt utterly ironic.