She scrambled up, her body aching terribly, but she didn't hesitate. All her thoughts were focused on finding her brother.
Just as An Nuan was about to go look for Shen Xizhou, her phone rang. The person on the other end simply said that if she wanted to know where her brother was, she had to do as they said. Once she reached the destination, she would naturally see her brother.
An Nuan hesitated. She didn't know if what the person on the phone said was true or false, or if it was another trap to ensnare her.
Her hand hovered over the hang-up button. She had been deceived countless times. This time, she wouldn't believe it. She chose not to believe.
But just as she was about to press the hang-up button, a cry for help came from the other end. The sound was too brief; she couldn't tell if it was her brother's voice.
Her resolve, which had been firm, now wavered.
In the end, An Nuan decided to go.
When she arrived at the location, there was no one there. A self-mocking smile played on her lips. She had been tricked again.
But that cry for help sounded so much like her brother's.
She picked up her phone and dialed, wanting to get to the bottom of things.
Just then, she felt someone behind her. As she turned to get a clear look, she was struck directly on the head with a club.
She lost consciousness immediately, completely blacking out.
When An Nuan woke up, she found herself in a dark, damp place that reeked of foul odors.
She was extremely panicked, instinctively curling up and hugging herself tightly. An Nuan, regaining some composure, knew that now was not the time to panic. The most important thing she needed to do was escape from here.
She didn't know who had captured her.
She looked around in terror, shouting loudly, but received no response.
She walked, looking at her surroundings, searching for a way out, only to find that there was none. The place was like a sturdy cage, leaving her no room to even breathe.
She collapsed onto the ground in despair. She had searched everywhere and found no exit. The only iron door, no matter how hard she pulled, wouldn't budge; it was likely locked shut.
Helplessness and suffocation washed over her.
"An Nuan."
Xia Wanqing's voice rang out. An Nuan spun around sharply to face her. Xia Wanqing, smiling sweetly, looked at her and said coldly, "Heh, An Nuan, you've been clinging to Shen Xizhou all these years. Are you worthy? Shen Xizhou belongs to Ruo Wei. If it weren't for you, Ruo Wei would have been with Shen Xizhou long ago. It's all because of you. But after today, you will never have the right to appear before Shen Xizhou again."
"Oh, and it seems one of your kidneys is in Ruo Wei. Having lost something, you can still cause so much trouble. Perhaps having too much is what causes this. How about we dig out your heart this time and see if you can still cause trouble?"
Dig out her heart?
Did she want to take her life? Xia Wanqing and Xu Ruo Wei were very close. Xia Wanqing would do anything for Xu Ruo Wei's slightest word.
For Xu Ruo Wei's sake, Xia Wanqing had even taken the blame for a homicide. The Xia family had sent Xia Wanqing away to avoid trouble. The storm had long since passed, and the Xia family had given her a new identity. Xia Wanqing's original name was Xia Yuxin.
No, she couldn't let them dig out her heart. She had to live.
She had to live well. She hadn't found her brother yet, and she needed to earn money to treat his illness.
There were so many things she hadn't done. How could it end here?
The previously tightly shut main door was pushed open, and Xu Ruo Wei walked in, looking at An Nuan with a triumphant smile.
Upon seeing Xu Ruo Wei, Xia Wanqing quickly went up and took her hand, saying with displeasure, "Ruo Wei, you haven't fully recovered yet. Why are you here instead of in the hospital? I'll handle this matter."
"Ruo Wei, this An Nuan is very cunning. But with me here, I'll show her what it means to be in unbearable pain."
"Ruo Wei, do you want to beg for An Nuan's mercy?" Xia Wanqing said, not in agreement.
Xu Ruo Wei didn't reply, only a hint of helplessness on her face.
"Ruo Wei, I've told you, Shen Xizhou is yours. No one can take him away from you. Don't worry, I'll handle this. Even if Shen Xizhou seeks retribution later, he can come to me."
"I'll take responsibility for my actions."
Xia Wanqing said passionately. Believing she had appeased Xu Ruo Wei, she turned, her eyes filled with resentment, her gaze venomously fixed on An Nuan.
An Nuan's lips curled into a mocking smile. Heh, this Xia Wanqing was truly devoted to Xu Ruo Wei, willing to do anything for her. But in Xu Ruo Wei's eyes, Xia Wanqing was just a pawn, a very useful pawn.
"An Nuan, tell me, Shen Xizhou doesn't love you at all. Why do you insist on clinging to him? You two don't love each other. Do you think a marriage certificate can tie Shen Xizhou down? Do you think you'll be happy like this?"
"An Nuan, do you know how selfish you are? You ruined Ruo Wei. You ruined Ruo Wei's lifelong happiness."
"You caused Ruo Wei to be unable to have children for the rest of her life. So, shouldn't you taste the same fate?"
"I didn't tie down Shen Xizhou. We're divorced."
"As for why Xu Ruo Wei had an accident and became unable to have children, I don't know. I never laid a hand on her."
"I've never pestered Shen Xizhou, nor have I harmed Xu Ruo Wei."
"Xia Wanqing, if you don't believe what I'm saying, you can ask Shen Xizhou. You can go ask Xu Ruo Wei."
"It's just that I can't understand, if Shen Xizhou loves Xu Ruo Wei so much, and we're already divorced, why hasn't he married Xu Ruo Wei yet?"
"Xu Ruo Wei can't have children anymore? Haven't you considered taking her to other hospitals for further checks? Perhaps there was some mistake. Also, when Xu Ruo Wei had her accident, you all claimed I bribed someone to do it. Where is the evidence? Without evidence, you're pinning the crime on me. Is that fair to me?"
Xu Ruo Wei, standing to the side, was stunned. She hadn't heard what An Nuan said afterward. All she knew was that Shen Xizhou and An Nuan had no connection anymore, so why wasn't he marrying her?
Was she not worthy?
"An Nuan, shut up. Do you think I'll believe your nonsense? You won't admit to what you've done."
It seemed Xia Wanqing had truly been brainwashed by Xu Ruo Wei.
No matter how she explained, it was useless.
She looked at Xu Ruo Wei's conflicted expression. Xia Wanqing said, "Ruo Wei, you're not going to let her off the hook, are you?"
Xu Ruo Wei looked up and met Xia Wanqing's gaze. Her eyes flickered, as if she had thought of something.
She looked at Xia Wanqing and held her hand, saying, "Wanqing, let's just forget it. If you lay a hand on An Nuan, once Xizhou finds out, it will surely cause more trouble."
"I don't want you to be implicated again because of me."