Shen Xizhou's lips curled into a bitter smile.
He wouldn't care how Nangong Jin spoke of him or slandered him.
But An Nuan's actions had utterly wounded him.
To him, all of An Nuan's behavior was the most fatal blow.
Yet, An Nuan's every action was utterly ordinary to him.
He even knew clearly that this was all he deserved, all he had earned.
Not wanting An Nuan to loathe him further, Shen Xizhou ultimately chose to stand far away. He thought, perhaps this way, An Nuan wouldn't detest him so much.
In reality, he held no malice. In fact, his appearance here, seeing An Nuan, was purely an accident.
He truly hadn't expected to encounter An Nuan here.
Perhaps, this was orchestrated by fate.
At this moment, he desperately wished he could explain to An Nuan, to tell her, An Nuan, things are not as you think, it wasn't something I intentionally did.
Meeting you here was entirely by chance. Even I myself didn't know I would meet you here today.
Nangong Jin looked at An Nuan and said, "An Nuan, don't worry, don't be afraid, he can't harm you. I am here, I will protect you, I won't let you encounter any danger."
"An Nuan, I don't know why Shen Xizhou is here, and I have no idea what he's talking about regarding cooperation."
"An Nuan, do you believe what I'm saying?"
An Nuan nodded, looking at the anxious and flustered Nangong Jin. She wanted to say, there's no need, really no need to be so nervous. She understood everything, and she certainly wouldn't believe what Shen Xizhou said just because he said it.
She had her own thoughts, even her own mind, she could see and think. She wouldn't believe anything just because Shen Xizhou said it.
Seeing An Nuan's belief in him, Nangong Jin finally relaxed.
His greatest fear was that An Nuan wouldn't believe his words.
Shen Xizhou wanted to tell her, An Nuan, I know everything now. And Xu Ruowei has been sent away by me.
An Nuan, the promises I made to you back then, I am slowly preparing. You said you wanted the backyard planted with roses, the flowers have been planted. You said you wanted a big tree planted, and I've done that too.
An Nuan, I have fulfilled all the promises I made to you. Yet, I lost you, the most important person.
Can you come back to my side?
Also, An Yunxiu's things, I have taken them out, just waiting for you to collect them.
An Nuan, this time I will give you the items without reservation, I won't make things difficult for you anymore.
Shen Xizhou's gaze remained fixed on An Nuan, reluctant to even shift away.
He was thinking that An Nuan still cared about An Yunxiu, so he might still have a chance. Although he knew how despicable his actions were, thinking that he could win An Nuan back, if people gossiped, then let them.
An Nuan changing her mind was more important to him than anything else.
He wanted to say, An Nuan, I want to say, as long as you nod, as long as you agree, then everything I have is yours.
However, he had no opportunity to say these words.
Shen Xizhou just stared intently at the person before him, seemingly waiting for her answer.
It was evident that An Nuan's answer was extremely important to him.
Everything he was doing now was to win An Nuan back.
But An Nuan never gave him a chance.
Back then, he was deceived by Xu Ruowei, which led him to do those outrageous things.
Because of Xu Ruowei's words, and the so-called evidence, he believed Xu Ruowei's words implicitly. Even though Xu Ruowei did so many shameless things, when he looked at her, he felt a flicker of pity.
Shen Xizhou watched as An Nuan was held in Nangong Jin's embrace, her face filled with tenderness.
Who could not be touched by such a gentle Nangong Jin?
Shen Xizhou watched, his heart consumed by insane jealousy.
"An Nuan, why don't you believe me after I've said so much?"
"And why do you believe Shen Xizhou so implicitly?"
"Everything you love, I have prepared. The guilt I owe you, I have compensated. And what cannot be compensated, I will do slowly."
Shen Xizhou could only watch helplessly as Nangong Jin tightly held An Nuan's hand, while he could only stand by and watch.
He dared not say anything, let alone do anything.
Shen Xizhou's predicament caused those around him to condemn Nangong Jin, and indeed, she had long grown accustomed to such reactions over the years.
An Nuan lowered her head, a look of apology on her face, and said with guilt, "Nangong Jin, I'm sorry."
She was truly sorry.
For all these years, she had brought endless trouble to Nangong Jin, and it was Nangong Jin who handled everything for her.
And herself? She accepted it as if it were natural.
Over the years, she had never done anything for Nangong Jin.
In fact, she already owed Nangong Jin so much, and now she owed him again.
Nangong Jin, however, shook his head, not giving An Nuan a chance to continue speaking. He directly took her hand and said firmly, "An Nuan, the one who should say sorry is never you."
"If anyone is to blame for this, it's me."
"It was me who didn't handle things properly. It was me who didn't protect you well enough, which is why this happened."
"An Nuan, the one who should apologize has always been me."
"I said I would protect you well, but every time, I broke my promise."
Nangong Jin's hand caressed An Nuan's face, softly saying, "An Nuan, you don't need to blame yourself, I just hope you are well."
"If Shen Xizhou wants to make a move against me, then we'll see if he has the power to do so."
"An Nuan, believe me, I won't let you suffer any more grievances."
"Nangong Jin, I..."
An Nuan's eyes showed a hint of inferiority, and when her gaze fell on Nangong Jin, she dared not meet his eyes directly.
She was thinking that if she met Nangong Jin's gaze, all her resolve would crumble at that moment.
An Nuan just kept looking at Nangong Jin, not knowing what to say, or how to make An Nuan believe her words.
"An Nuan, believe me, okay?"
"Give me another chance, okay?"
"An Nuan, from now on, I will protect you, I won't let you get hurt again."
"An Nuan, just forgive me again, can you?"
"Nangong Jin, okay."
Hearing An Nuan's reply, Nangong Jin was overjoyed. If there hadn't been people around, he would have loved to sweep An Nuan into his arms and hide her away.
To prevent others from seeing her beauty. Such beauty should only belong to him.
Shen Xizhou, standing on the sidelines, at this moment, had to admit he was consumed by jealousy.
He remembered that in the past, An Nuan's face would be full of smiles as she affectionately called out to him. But now, but now she couldn't even be bothered to give him a glance. He was nothing to her.
Back then, she resented him, she hated him. But now, she had none of that.