"Nangong Jin, I itch," An Nuan said somewhat coquettishly, as she retreated.
Huo Yuxuan stood by, unsure what to say. Was this really the Nangong Jin he knew?
Didn't he have severe洁癖 (germophobia)? But where was it now? Was it cured?
No, that was impossible.
Also, didn't he know Huo Yuxuan was still there? Couldn't he wait until Huo Yuxuan was gone to kiss her?
This was simply not taking him seriously.
"An Nuan, don't worry, I'm here. Everything will be alright."
An Nuan was slightly taken aback. She had to admit that what Nangong Jin said truly struck a chord in her heart.
Listening to his gentle tone and seeing his soft movements, she knew he cared deeply for her, which was why he was so careful.
She glanced at Huo Yuxuan, who was still standing aside, and instantly felt a little embarrassed.
Lowering her head, she realized Nangong Jin was still holding her hand tightly. Without thinking, she yanked her hand away with force.
"Nangong Jin, I'm fine. No need."
After speaking, she looked at Huo Yuxuan and said, "Mr. Huo, have you had breakfast? Please sit down and join me."
"I happened to prepare extra. I was just thinking it would be a waste if it wasn't eaten, and you've arrived just in time, Mr. Huo."
"I haven't eaten, my stomach is just..." Huo Yuxuan's hand rested on the chair, about to pull it out when he met Nangong Jin's murderous gaze and immediately withdrew his hand, his face extremely tense.
He quickly said, "I've already eaten, my stomach isn't hungry."
Under Nangong Jin's 'concerned' gaze, Huo Yuxuan immediately said, "Oh, right, I just remembered there's a pile of urgent matters waiting for me at the company! I'll head back now."
Before An Nuan could react or say anything, Huo Yuxuan had already vanished without a trace.
At this moment, An Nuan touched her face, wondering if she looked too terrifying, to the point that Huo Yuxuan was so scared by her.
Although An Nuan said the scar had been there for a long time, in Nangong Jin's eyes, she must have been in agonizing pain when she first got injured.
How could he not feel heartbroken?
Staring at An Nuan's calm expression, he felt that perhaps An Nuan was pretending to be fine to prevent him from worrying too much.
Nangong Jin thought a lot.
An Nuan had no idea that in such a short span of time, Nangong Jin had been contemplating so many things.
Finally, Nangong Jin said in a slightly low voice, "An Nuan, it must have hurt a lot back then. You must have felt so helpless."
"It's been too long, I've forgotten."
An Nuan said calmly, "I don't dwell on the past anymore. I only think about the future. The past was too painful."
"Nangong Jin, from now on, please don't bring up the past, okay?"
"Nangong Jin, you are so wonderful, you could have anyone, why me?"
Nangong Jin's gaze fell on An Nuan. She must have forgotten everything from their childhood.
Had she truly forgotten him completely?
In the end, Nangong Jin remained silent, his lips tightly sealed as he looked at the person before him.
If he were to speak his mind, would it frighten the person in front of him?
"An Nuan, you should rest well." Nangong Jin said gently, his hand lightly stroking her hair.
Nangong Jin originally didn't want to leave, but the company kept urging him, and some matters couldn't be delegated to others.
"An Nuan, I..."
Nangong Jin was thinking about how to say what he wanted to say.
An Nuan interrupted him directly and said softly, "Nangong Jin, if you have business, go take care of it first. I have plenty to do, and you can't let work matters be delayed because of me."
"Mm." Nangong Jin felt a wave of disappointment, but meeting An Nuan's smile, his mood improved considerably. He said contentedly, "I'll come to pick you up for dinner tonight."
An Nuan nodded.
Having received the answer he desired, Nangong Jin turned and left.
Waiting downstairs, Huo Yuxuan looked apologetic. Upon seeing Nangong Jin's displeased expression, his mood instantly plummeted.
"You can't blame me for this. There were truly urgent matters at the company that required your presence."
Before Nangong Jin could even speak, Huo Yuxuan preempted him.
"Originally, I thought I could handle it, but when I arrived, I realized only you could resolve that issue."
"Don't worry, An Nuan understands me," Nangong Jin said, a smile on his face.
Huo Yuxuan looked at Nangong Jin's beaming face and immediately felt that Nangong Jin seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
So, all his worry had been in vain.
...
Evening.
An Nuan dressed up meticulously.
After all, she was going to have dinner with Nangong Jin, so she had to tidy herself up.
After An Nuan was ready, the doorbell rang.
She was puzzled. Had Nangong Jin arrived so soon?
When she opened the door, a smile on her face, she looked up and realized it wasn't Nangong Jin, but Shen Xizhou. She instinctively tried to close the door.
Shen Xizhou had appeared again.
An Nuan knew she couldn't compare to Shen Xizhou in terms of strength; if he wanted to come in, she wouldn't be able to stop him.
In the end, she gave up.
She moved aside.
"Mr. Shen, may I ask what business you have with me? I recall you saying that you never wanted to see me again. But now?"
"It's always you who appears before me, not the other way around."
"Mr. Shen, it seems you don't remember what you've said."
An Nuan pointed outside the door, speaking with burning anger.
"Mr. Shen, the door is this way. Please get out of my sight."
"Mr. Shen, I have nothing to say to you."
Shen Xizhou remained silent, but his furious gaze was still fixed on An Nuan, as if trying to burn her.
He stared intently, as if trying to discern some difference in her eyes.
He couldn't believe that the woman who once loved him dearly could utter such heartless words so easily.
He remembered how An Nuan used to kneel and beg him, willing to do anything to make him believe her words.
Back then, he hadn't believed a single word she said.
The An Nuan of the past had always pleaded with him.
At this moment, Shen Xizhou found it somewhat ridiculous. He started to laugh, a laugh filled with desolate sorrow.
An Nuan couldn't understand why Shen Xizhou was still looking for her. She had already made everything clear, said everything she needed to say.
She glanced at the time. Nangong Jin should be arriving soon.
She wanted Shen Xizhou to leave quickly, as she didn't want Nangong Jin to see Shen Xizhou, and she didn't want Nangong Jin to misunderstand her because of Shen Xizhou.