"Mr. Nangong, actually..."
Nangong Jin glanced at Xu Ruowei, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt. He said sarcastically, "What is it? Miss Xu wants to tell me how unbearable An Nuan is, right?"
"Is it that anyone who encounters someone like An Nuan will be unlucky?"
Xu Ruowei's eyes widened as she looked at the person in front of her, filled with shock and disbelief. She hadn't expected that Nangong Jin had heard everything she had said.
And even if she wanted to explain, she had no chance.
She felt as if she had been sentenced to death.
At this moment, she no longer knew how to speak.
It seemed like no explanation would be useful.
She looked at Nangong Jin, and after a long time, she finally said, "Mr. Nangong, there must be some misunderstanding. I can explain."
Nangong Jin's expression darkened. If An Nuan were not present, he would have sent the person away directly, fearing he might frighten An Nuan.
Seeing that Nangong Jin did not make any drastic moves, Xu Ruowei secretly thought that perhaps, with a little more explanation, things could be resolved smoothly.
Xu Ruowei spoke again, her tone much more humble, "Mr. Nangong, it's all a misunderstanding."
"It's just that Miss An looks exactly like an old friend of mine."
"That's why I acted that way."
"Of course, there's a reason why Miss Xia had such an extreme reaction."
"But it's definitely not because of Miss An."
"It's because Miss An looks so much like that person. We were momentarily confused and did something so extreme."
Nangong Jin did not speak, but his icy gaze fell upon Xu Ruowei.
Everyone held their breath, afraid that a single wrong move would bring disaster upon themselves.
Seeing that Nangong Jin remained silent and kept staring at her, she thought that her words must have moved him.
She believed this to be true.
Just as she was about to speak again, to clarify and perfect the situation, she heard some unpleasant words.
She thought her answers were perfect and flawless.
"Heh, some people think they're the only ones with brains in the world, and everyone else is completely brainless."
"They really think highly of themselves."
"In reality, in the eyes of others, they are just a joke."
A joke?
Thinking highly of herself?
Xu Ruowei's hands clenched tightly, her eyes filled with bloodshot veins. After all she had done, this was the only response she received. She was unwilling to accept that such a thing would happen to her.
This kind of outcome should have happened to An Nuan.
It should have been An Nuan who was ridiculed.
Why had it become her?
Nangong Jin's words caused those around her who had wanted to curry favor with Xu Ruowei to instantly distance themselves from her. They seemed to lean towards An Nuan's side and speak up for her.
However, at this moment, they dared not speak rashly.
After all, Shen Xizhou could not be offended, but Nangong Jin was even more of a person not to be crossed.
Xu Ruowei's face instantly darkened, her composure lost.
Xu Ruowei began to regret her actions. If she had known this would be the outcome, she would not have stepped forward.
She had been disliked and despised for nothing.
She glanced at Xia Wanqing standing aside, who seemed completely unaffected.
Clearly, she was the one who had instigated this matter.
Yet, she was fine.
She looked at Nangong Jin and said earnestly, "Young Master Nangong, I actually said long ago that this matter should be dropped. It was Xia Wanqing who insisted on forcing Miss An to admit something, which led to this."
She seemed to recall something and quickly covered her mouth, looking apologetically at Xia Wanqing. After a long pause, she said, "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to say that. I was just too anxious, which is why I said such a thing. I..."
Xia Wanqing looked at Xu Ruowei coldly. She had actually seen everything Xu Ruowei had done.
In fact, she had expected Xu Ruowei to act this way.
But she still held onto a sliver of hope, perhaps she wouldn't?
But now, all her hope was dashed.
Xu Ruowei cast a pleading look at Xia Wanqing.
Ultimately, no matter what Xu Ruowei said, Xia Wanqing did not utter a word, as if whatever Xu Ruowei said was acceptable.
Xu Ruowei knew that Xia Wanqing would not drag her down, and at this moment, she could speak boldly.
"Miss An, I truly didn't know anything about this. I..."
"I'm truly sorry. It was my poor arrangement that caused you such trouble."
"Miss An, it was just a case of mistaking you for someone else, that's why this happened."
"However, as for why that man appeared here and said such things, that is unknown." Xu Ruowei said innocently.
She admitted to everything, except for the appearance of that man.
It was as if she was telling everyone that everything was real, and that man was also real.
An Nuan listened to Xu Ruowei's words and said coldly, "Miss Xu, harming others cannot be excused simply by apologizing."
"If apologizing were enough to mend harm, then..."
Before An Nuan could finish her sentence, she took a glass of wine from a servant and splashed it directly onto Xu Ruowei's face. With feigned 'apology,' she said, "Miss Xu, I'm truly sorry. You look exactly like someone I detest intensely. My hands acted on their own and splashed the wine."
"Miss Xu, I'm truly sorry. I really didn't mean to."
"Miss An, it's alright. I understand, this cannot be blamed on you."
"If anyone is to blame, it's me."
"Why did I have to look so much like that person?"
"Miss An, the wine has been thrown. Is your anger gone? Can this farce end here?"
"End here?" An Nuan's voice held a trace of coldness. "Miss Xu, what if I say no? What do you plan to do next?"
"Miss An, what are you saying?" Xu Ruowei's tears streamed down her face. She looked at An Nuan aggrievedly, as if she had suffered immense injustice, and said pitiably, "Miss An, I've already been like this. What more do you want from me?"
"Do you want me to kneel before you will stop?"
"If you insist on kneeling, that's also an option."
An Nuan smiled and said, "Miss Xu said this herself, I didn't force you."
"Miss Xu, you can't say later that I forced you to kneel."
"Miss An, how... how can you make things so difficult for me? I just..."
"I just..."
"Miss Xu, you're not just going to say it, are you?" An Nuan directly exposed Xu Ruowei's true intentions.