Shen Xizhou looked at An Nuan, hesitating, clearly wanting to say something but unsure how to begin.
But An Nuan, at this moment, had no intention of paying attention to the person in front of her.
"An Nuan..."
Hearing Shen Xizhou's voice, An Nuan still faltered, but she didn't look at him, only saying coldly, "Mr. Shen, please move aside. I need to rest."
"An Nuan, there's a deep misunderstanding between us. Give me some time. Once this misunderstanding is cleared up, everything will be alright."
An Nuan froze. Her gaze, rare as it was, fell upon Shen Xizhou. "Mr. Shen, whether there's a misunderstanding or not, it's in the past. I don't want to talk about those things anymore."
"Also, Mr. Shen, please don't appear before me again, can you?"
"An Nuan, I know I was wrong before. I was too hasty and didn't give you a chance to explain. But now, can you give me a chance?"
"I know you've suffered a lot of grievances these days, I..."
"Mr. Shen, you said those things yourself back then, you haven't forgotten them all, have you? Shall I play them back for Mr. Shen to hear?" An Nuan said coldly. She took out her phone and played the recording.
From the phone came a cold voice, along with Shen Xizhou's heartless words.
"An Nuan, won't you even give me a chance to explain?"
"Yes," An Nuan said firmly. "The words Mr. Shen said back then are still ringing in my ears, and I will never forget them. I also ask Mr. Shen not to forget what you yourself once said."
"Mr. Shen, a broken mirror is hard to mend. There's already a crack between us, and it's difficult to repair."
"An Nuan, everything I'm saying now is from the bottom of my heart. I truly regret it. Can't you trust me one more time? Give me one more chance?"
Seeing An Nuan constantly avoiding him, Shen Xizhou grew anxious. He was afraid he would truly lose An Nuan forever.
He pulled An Nuan forcefully, holding her in his arms. "An Nuan, as long as we clear up the misunderstanding between us, we can be like we were before."
"Like we were before?" An Nuan's lips curved into a cold smile, mockingly saying, "Mr. Shen seems to have forgotten how you treated me back then. I knelt before you to plead for an explanation, only to be cruelly humiliated by you."
"In the end, all I received was your cold gaze. Mr. Shen, you might have a forgetful noble heart, but I will never forget it in my lifetime."
"Oh, and Mr. Shen, Xu Ruowei is your fiancée. Aren't you afraid she'll get angry if you come to see me so often?"
"Or is Mr. Shen someone who gets tired of the new and loves the old? Loving one person after another?"
"Mr. Shen once had Xu Ruowei come to me to disfigure me. You wouldn't have forgotten that, would you?"
Hearing this, Shen Xizhou's brow furrowed slightly.
"An Nuan, Xu Ruowei and I no longer have any relationship."
"She is no longer my fiancée."
"And I know everything Xu Ruowei has done. So An Nuan, I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. I was foolish not to listen to your explanation, not to believe your words. That's why you suffered so much grievance and pain."
"But An Nuan, you're alright now. I've figured everything out. We can still be like we were before."
An Nuan suddenly laughed, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips. "Is that so? Everything has been figured out. You and Xu Ruowei have no relationship?"
"But if you and Xu Ruowei have no relationship, then what does that have to do with me?"
"You want my forgiveness, but must I forgive you?"
"An Nuan, no. That's not what I meant. I just..."
Seeing An Nuan's disbelief, Shen Xizhou said anxiously, "An Nuan, do you not believe what I'm saying?"
"Did An Nuan make one mistake and you've relegated me to the lowest rung?"
"Won't you even give me one chance?"
If it were before, if Shen Xizhou had said these words to her, she would have been overjoyed, forgiving him without a second thought.
But so much had happened. She couldn't pretend that none of it had occurred. She couldn't be with him with a clear conscience.
She would never forgive him in this lifetime.
He had done so many things to hurt her. He had taken away one loved one after another from her side. Perhaps he hadn't acted directly, but those people had suffered misfortune because of him.
It was impossible for her and him in this lifetime.
"Mr. Shen, please leave. I don't want Nangong Jin to misunderstand me if he sees us."
"Nangong Jin, misunderstand you?" Shen Xizhou clearly hadn't expected An Nuan to say this to his face. His gaze fell upon her, filled with disbelief. "An Nuan, do you care about Nangong Jin that much? You don't want to hear my explanation, you won't forgive me, all because of Nangong Jin?"
Hearing Shen Xizhou's words, An Nuan originally didn't want to explain, but on second thought, she chose to speak.
"Mr. Shen, those things are in the past. If you truly want to compensate me."
"Please, can you stop coming to find me? I don't want Nangong Jin to misunderstand me because of you."
Shen Xizhou hadn't expected An Nuan to say this directly.
"Mr. Shen, tell me again when you've thought it through," An Nuan said coldly.
"An Nuan, do you detest me that much?" Shen Xizhou held An Nuan tightly, his voice laced with a hint of pleading. "An Nuan, can't you really give me one more chance?"
"Mr. Shen, I have Nangong Jin now. Please let go of me, and also, stop saying these things that can be misunderstood."
"Oh, right. Mr. Shen belongs only to Xu Ruowei. I wouldn't dare get involved even a little bit."
Shen Xizhou said firmly, "An Nuan, I told you, Xu Ruowei and I have no relationship anymore."
Hearing this, An Nuan merely found it somewhat laughable.
"Mr. Shen, I also said that what you and Xu Ruowei do has nothing to do with me."
"I only hope you won't appear before me again, that's all."
"An Nuan, I'm going crazy with jealousy. Just thinking about you with Nangong Jin drives me mad. I won't allow you to be with other men."
Going crazy with jealousy?
Heh, Shen Xizhou truly would say anything.
However, she couldn't listen to any of these sweet words, nor would she believe them.
"An Nuan, what do you want me to do for you to forgive me?"
"You name it. Whatever you say, I can do, even if it means giving my life."
An Nuan knew that Shen Xizhou's words were sincere.
But even if they were sincere now, she wouldn't be moved.
"An Nuan, I know that you..."
"Mr. Shen, please leave."
Shen Xizhou finally chose to leave.
He knew that this matter couldn't be pushed too hard. Otherwise, it would only be counterproductive.