Xu Ruowei looked at An Nuan with some trepidation. She hadn't expected An Nuan to be like a madwoman today.
She thought Shen Xizhou's appearance would make An Nuan obedient. At least, not so arrogant and overbearing.
But everything before her was completely different from what she had imagined.
An Nuan seemed not to be afraid at all, even with Shen Xizhou present.
To An Nuan now, Shen Xizhou was utterly insignificant.
Xu Ruowei noticed that Shen Xizhou's attention was entirely on An Nuan, and her heart began to panic.
"Xizhou, I think An Nuan didn't intend to do this; she must have her reasons," Xu Ruowei said solicitously.
She reached out to take Shen Xizhou's arm but was directly dodged by him.
Xu Ruowei's face was filled with embarrassment and unwillingness.
Xu Ruowei looked at An Nuan and said, "An Nuan, you should leave. I'll pretend today's events never happened. But if something like this happens again, I'm afraid nothing I say will be of any use then."
"Xu Ruowei, what's wrong? Are you afraid your shameful deeds will be known? Actually, when you did them, you should have known that someone would find out sooner or later."
An Nuan now had no reservations.
"You say the suitcase is still here. As long as you tell me where it is, I'll leave immediately."
"Otherwise, you'll probably have to see my face forever," An Nuan said with a light laugh.
Her eyes were full of anticipation as she said, "Although I really don't want to see you, you haven't told me what I want to know yet, so naturally, I won't leave."
"If you want me to disappear from your sight immediately, then you should know better than anyone what to do."
"Xu Ruowei, I have never exposed how disgusting and dirty your actions were. If you remain stubborn, and I reveal them, you will be the one losing face, not me."
No matter what happened, she had to make Xu Ruowei honestly return the suitcase to her.
As long as it was returned, she would leave.
Xu Ruowei hadn't expected An Nuan to be so resolute.
She cast a pleading look at Shen Xizhou.
"An Nuan, what nonsense are you talking about? What suitcase?" Shen Xizhou frowned. "Why would Ruowei take your suitcase?"
"Shen Xizhou, don't you think you should be asking Xu Ruowei this question? Asking me? Do you really think that's appropriate?"
"Ask Xu Ruowei, let her tell you herself, wouldn't that be better?"
"Will you believe me if I tell you? Perhaps you'll think I'm making it up."
An Nuan said calmly, looking directly at Shen Xizhou without any evasion.
Her hands, held by her sides, were clenched tightly, as if she were suppressing something.
She stared intently at Xu Ruowei, waiting for her answer.
Of course, she wouldn't give her too much time.
Xu Ruowei had plenty of time to stall, but An Nuan didn't.
A peculiar gleam flickered in Xu Ruowei's eyes. She seemed to have thought of a good plan, and a sinister smile curved her lips.
As she walked towards An Nuan, the moment she stepped forward, Shen Xizhou grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him, saying with great concern, "What are you going over there for? Don't you know? She's a lunatic, and she could harm you at any moment."
"Are you trying to die?" Shen Xizhou almost roared. He couldn't understand why Xu Ruowei was so insistent on approaching An Nuan, knowing An Nuan would target her, yet she still moved forward.
Xu Ruowei's face, however, broke into a smile. She said gently, "Xizhou, it will be fine."
"An Nuan might hate me, but she wouldn't dare lay a hand on me."
"Besides, you are here. How could she possibly make a move?"
Xu Ruowei walked over and whispered in An Nuan's ear, "An Nuan, I took your suitcase."
"Listen, when you just said it, Shen Xizhou didn't believe you at all. What else do you think you can say?"
"Oh, and if I were to fall to the ground, and Shen Xizhou witnessed it, your crime would probably be even worse, wouldn't it?" Xu Ruowei said with unusual smugness, a faint smile on her lips.
"Is that so? Not necessarily," An Nuan said coldly.
Before Xu Ruowei could react, An Nuan suddenly fell to the ground in pain.
Seeing An Nuan fall to the ground, Xu Ruowei was instantly flustered. How could this have happened? No, things weren't supposed to go this way. The one who should have fallen was her, not An Nuan.
When Shen Xizhou saw An Nuan fall, he instinctively rushed over, wanting to ask if she was alright. At the very least, he could have helped her up.
However, just as he was about to move, Xu Ruowei grabbed his hand, her voice filled with a deep sob, "Xizhou, I... I don't know what happened. I have no idea why An Nuan suddenly fell."
"I just went over to talk to her; I didn't even move a finger. How could I have hurt her?"
"Xizhou, An Nuan is doing this on purpose; she wants to frame me," Xu Ruowei said pitifully, her demeanor eliciting sympathy.
Shen Xizhou's steps, which were about to move forward, were forcibly halted by her, making it impossible for him to go over.
"Xizhou, don't you believe me? You'd rather believe An Nuan than me, wouldn't you?"
Xu Ruowei cried sadly.
"Ruowei, it's not like that."
Shen Xizhou finally stopped, his gaze falling on Xu Ruowei. He let Xu Ruowei hold his hand.
"Ruowei, don't worry, I won't go over there."
Shen Xizhou held Xu Ruowei's hand tightly in return. "Ruowei, I'm sorry. It's because I haven't given you enough security that you're like this."
"Xizhou, Xizhou..."
Xu Ruowei looked at Shen Xizhou and said softly, "Xizhou, Xizhou, thank you for still believing me. I was so afraid you wouldn't."
"As long as you believe me, I can endure any great wrong."
"Xizhou, I really can't lose you."
"Xizhou, you know? Being with you has always been my most extravagant wish. Now, I'm finally with you. I don't want to lose everything I have now."
"Xizhou, promise me, you must not leave me."
Xu Ruowei's voice was choked with sobs. "If you really have to leave me, then please tell me in advance."
"I'll hide and heal my wounds alone."
"Xizhou, I want to be your wife and have your baby..."
Shen Xizhou looked at Xu Ruowei with some guilt.
The doctor had said she would never have children in her lifetime.
Xu Ruowei could have been very happy, but because of him, she had to endure such treatment.
It was also because of him that she was treated this way by An Nuan, leading to her current situation.