Xu Ruowei's gaze finally settled on An Nuan. Why was it that An Nuan should have been the one to face misfortune, yet it had fallen upon her instead?
Xu Ruowei looked at An Nuan and said tearfully, "An Nuan, why did you do this? Today is my engagement banquet, and you just had to ruin it to be happy?"
"Clearly, you were in the wrong, but why did you let others bully me? Why did you put all the blame on me?"
"I know you think I stole Shen Xizhou from you. But Xizhou and I are truly in love."
"And you yourself gave up on Xizhou. Yet now you blame me. Do you think this is fair to me?"
"Besides, matters of the heart are not something I can control," Xu Ruowei said meekly. "Matters of the heart are not decided by me alone."
"My love for Shen Xizhou and our engagement happened only after you and he had no relationship."
"An Nuan, you couldn't hold onto him yourself, yet you're making trouble now." Xu Ruowei pleaded tearfully, "An Nuan, you can do whatever you want to deal with me. But today is my most important day. No matter how much you hate me, please don't ruin it."
"Once this matter is over, I won't say a word no matter how you treat me," Xu Ruowei said firmly. "I mean what I say. I will never go back on my word."
Hearing Xu Ruowei's promise, An Nuan simply found it laughable. To think that these so-called promises sounded so utterly ridiculous. How could she say these things so calmly, with such a composed expression?
"Heh, Xu Ruowei, drop that pitiful act. I won't believe a single word you say, so give up on that idea. Get rid of that disgusting pretense."
"Someone might fall for your act, but I won't," Ye Qingcheng said coldly. "I've seen all sorts of people. Your acting skills are really not enough to fool me."
An Nuan looked at Xu Ruowei and said coldly, "Xu Ruowei, everything you're saying is just your own conjecture. I never said any of it from beginning to end."
"And I said it back then, whoever wants the trash I've discarded can have it."
"After all, if someone likes broken things, I can't stop them."
"You..."
An Nuan's words left Xu Ruowei speechless, her delicate face contorting into a grimace.
However, remembering that Shen Xizhou was still standing by her side, a glint of light flashed in her eyes. She then said timidly, "Xizhou, I'm so sorry for dragging you into this because of me. It's all my fault."
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be spoken of like this."
Hearing Xu Ruowei's words, An Nuan almost burst out laughing.
What did she mean that Shen Xizhou was dragged into this because of her?
From the moment this started until now, Shen Xizhou hadn't been targeted. It was Xu Ruowei who had been under attack.
How was she able to say these things so calmly?
An Nuan suddenly felt a sense of admiration for Xu Ruowei's thick skin.
Although Ye Qingcheng had voiced her inner thoughts, and she was angry, she still spoke calmly, "Dr. Ye, I won't over-explain your misunderstanding of me."
"Justice will prevail. I will bear with your misunderstandings."
"However, I believe the truth will eventually come to light."
Xu Ruowei looked at An Nuan with a pained expression, her voice thick with tears. "An Nuan, I won't dwell on the harm you've caused me. I will forgive you."
"I don't want to make things difficult for Xizhou. After all, even though you and Xizhou have no relationship now, I know he still feels guilty towards you."
"I won't hold onto this matter either."
Seeing Xu Ruowei constantly saying things that made herself seem like a martyr and continuing her act, An Nuan truly wanted to applaud her. Heh, she was truly a talented actress. Even when her true colors were revealed, she still continued to perform.
An Nuan then clapped her hands and said with a calm expression, "Xu Ruowei, your acting skills are truly remarkable. It's a waste for you not to be an actress."
"Xu Ruowei, however, I must say, your acting can fool anyone, but it can't fool me."
Ye Qingcheng took An Nuan's hand and started to walk away, but Shen Xizhou blocked their path.
Xu Ruowei was completely panicked. No matter how An Nuan and Ye Qingcheng targeted her, it wasn't important to her. What mattered most was Shen Xizhou's attitude towards her.
She noticed that the way Shen Xizhou looked at her had changed, becoming exceptionally cold.
She became a little scared.
Had Shen Xizhou truly taken Ye Qingcheng and An Nuan's words to heart? No, she absolutely wouldn't allow that to happen. Anyone could doubt her, but Shen Xizhou couldn't.
She thought for a long time before finally opening her mouth to beg for mercy, "Xizhou, you have to believe me. I really didn't do it."
"We're about to get engaged, so why would I go to such lengths to harm An Nuan?"
"Besides, An Nuan has Dr. Ye now. I should be happy for her, not someone who would do something to hurt her."
Shen Xizhou's gaze fell on Xu Ruowei. He had heard these words many times before.
Initially, he had believed Xu Ruowei. And most importantly, An Nuan would always defend herself, but over time, An Nuan stopped explaining. Only then did he start to think carefully. Every time something like this happened, Xu Ruowei would speak first. She would take all the blame on herself, and then he would trust her one hundred percent.
But after repeated instances, coupled with Ye Qingcheng's words, he felt that some things were indeed like that.
And every time, he would subjectively side with Xu Ruowei. And whenever Xu Ruowei cried, he would start to lean towards her.
She had been waiting for Shen Xizhou to say comforting words, but when she looked up, she saw his eyes filled with coldness and contempt, and more than anything, disbelief.
She shivered uncontrollably. Had she truly lost?
Meeting Shen Xizhou's doubtful gaze, her eyes were filled with fear, but she finally suppressed her inner fear and whispered, "Xizhou, you don't believe me, do you? You think I'm the one who hurt An Nuan, don't you? That I deliberately framed her, right?"
"It's really not like this. I didn't do anything. I don't know why things have turned out this way." Xu Ruowei cried, crying bitterly.
She knew very well that whatever she said now was useless. Only by crying with tear-streaked eyes could she escape this ordeal.
Ye Qingcheng, however, had no intention of letting her off. He said coldly, "Heh, is that so? You really know nothing? To clear your name, you can say anything, can't you?"