When An Nuan spoke these bitter words, seeing Shen Xizhou's hesitation, a smile bloomed on her face. It was a smile that captivated onlookers.
Shen Xizhou even mused, how wonderful it would be if he could hide her away.
He even regretted, what had he been thinking to have treated An Nuan that way?
However, An Nuan's cold demeanor made him realize he likely had no more chances.
Yes, An Nuan had indeed given him many opportunities, but it was he who had consistently pushed them away. He was the one who hadn't loved.
He didn't want her back then, but now he couldn't possibly reach her.
Because she now had someone far more outstanding by her side.
He had many opportunities, but he had ruined them all himself.
"Shen Xizhou, think carefully about how I humbly pleaded with you back then. Think about how you treated me."
"Now, do you think I will ever forgive you?"
Shen Xizhou: "..."
Even though he knew the outcome would be like this, he was still unwilling to give up.
Perhaps, this was self-inflicted humiliation.
"Mr. Shen, please have some self-awareness."
Upon hearing An Nuan's words, Shen Xizhou froze and fell silent.
Because he no longer knew what to say.
"Nangong Jin, let's go. I don't want to waste time on unnecessary people."
"An Nuan, are you really giving me no chance at all?"
Shen Xizhou's voice even carried a hint of pleading.
An Nuan watched, finding it somewhat amusing. It seemed she had been just like this back then, but Shen Xizhou had been so heartless. She wondered what he thought now that the situation had befallen him.
Shen Xizhou stared intently at An Nuan, "An Nuan, are you truly this heartless?"
An Nuan smiled.
"Shen Xizhou, you call me heartless?"
"But back then, you were even more heartless to me than I am to you now."
Nangong Jin started to step forward but was held back by An Nuan.
"Nangong Jin, don't worry, I can handle this myself."
Seeing that Nangong Jin seemed to have no intention of stopping, she quickly said, "Nangong Jin, let's go."
Shen Xizhou didn't want them to succeed. Seeing the two of them holding hands tightly felt extremely jarring to him.
She was supposed to be his.
His gaze never left their clasped hands, his eyes filled with coldness and resentment as he said, "An Nuan, so you no longer care about your mother's death?"
"Do you think your mother truly died of illness?"
Shen Xizhou said coldly. He had initially thought that by using An Yunxiu's name, he could make An Nuan obedient. But now? It was utterly useless. Therefore, he had to use the matter of her mother to keep An Nuan there.
Seeing An Nuan turn and cast her gaze upon him, Shen Xizhou's face was wreathed in a smile.
See, he knew there was always something An Nuan cared about, something that could make her turn her attention and all her focus onto him.
An Nuan did not speak in a hurry, but quietly observed Shen Xizhou.
Shen Xizhou said coldly, "Have Nangong Jin leave, and I will tell you what you want to know."
In truth, when Shen Xizhou said these words, he lacked confidence. He was gambling.
An Nuan found herself in a dilemma.
When her mother died, she had considered the possibility of hidden circumstances, but at that time, she had neither the means nor the time to investigate. Over the years, she had gained the capability to investigate. But too much time had passed, and more importantly, without any clues, how could she possibly find anything?
Of course, Nangong Jin had been searching all along, but without success.
Yet now, when Shen Xizhou brought up the matter again, it stirred her once calm heart.
She thought, perhaps, Shen Xizhou was lying to her. But she mused, if he was lying, then so be it. She didn't want to miss any shred of information now.
But Shen Xizhou's request was truly difficult for her.
To ask her now to tell Nangong Jin beside her to leave, she simply couldn't bring herself to say it.
An Nuan dared not even look at Nangong Jin, she even hesitated to speak. These words were truly difficult for her to utter.
But Nangong Jin, standing beside An Nuan, spoke up, "An Nuan, I'll leave first."
An Nuan looked up, astonished at the person before her, even wondering if she was hearing things.
Nangong Jin looked at the stunned An Nuan, chuckled softly, and reached out to tidy her slightly messy hair, saying gently, "Don't feel sorry for me."
"I know, your mother's matter is very important to you."
Seeing the guilt and self-recrimination still on An Nuan's face, Nangong Jin ruffled her hair and softly comforted her, "Haven't you always wanted to know? Now you have the chance to find out, don't hesitate."
"But, this is unfair to you."
"I don't want it to be that between us, you are always the one giving, and I am just passively receiving your contributions."
Nangong Jin smiled, his hand resting on her forehead, he gently flicked it, saying with affection, "What contributions? As long as we are good together, that's all that matters."
"I only know that this is something you have always wanted to know, so I will support you."
"However, you must keep in constant contact with me."
"Mm."
An Nuan didn't know what to say about Nangong Jin's gentleness and thoughtfulness.
All this time, she had been enjoying it.
Nangong Jin left, but An Nuan knew he wouldn't go far, he would surely be waiting nearby. Because he would never let her be in danger.
Recalling what Nangong Jin had done for her, her face was filled with a blissful smile.
This scene was witnessed by Shen Xizhou, who was standing nearby. He felt extremely jealous.
He even thought about An Nuan's attitude towards him just now, which had been extremely harsh.
Why was her attitude towards him so drastically different from her attitude towards Nangong Jin?
An Nuan met Shen Xizhou's cold and sinister gaze, but she was no longer afraid.
"Shen Xizhou, as you wished, Nangong Jin has left. I have fulfilled my part, so Mr. Shen, shouldn't you do yours?"
"Heh." Shen Xizhou laughed, a mocking laugh. Listening to An Nuan's words, he found it somewhat ridiculous.
He was laughing not at An Nuan, but at himself. Since when had he stooped to threatening An Nuan just to make her heart and attention fall upon him?
He had always believed An Nuan was such a detestable person, but now? He had become someone he himself detested.
An Nuan simply watched Shen Xizhou quietly, not knowing why he had suddenly behaved this way.
But she dared not relax in the slightest, still keeping a close eye on Shen Xizhou, not allowing herself to be harmed again due to carelessness.