Shen Xizhou's expression was extremely grim. He had actually anticipated An Nuan's words, yet hearing them still sent a fresh wave of pain through his heart.
He looked at An Nuan, even wishing he could beg her, "No, don't, An Nuan, please don't say these things anymore, can you? Don't be so cruel to me, alright?"
His eyes were filled with pain, and his voice, almost pleading, asked, "An Nuan, can't you be like you were during this period? Can't you, can your heart only hold my existence?"
"An Nuan, I know I was wrong, can't you... really can't you give me another chance?"
"An Nuan, you haven't recovered your memory yet, have you? In fact, you're deliberately saying these things to anger me, aren't you?"
"Fine, I apologize, can An Nuan forgive me now? Can you come back to my side now?"
Listening to Shen Xizhou's words and his desperate pleas, An Nuan found it somewhat laughable. She remembered how she had been treated similarly in the past. She even recalled how Shen Xizhou had treated her then.
Now, all of it had come back to haunt him. Yet, he expected her to forgive him. What was he thinking?
Did he have no shame?
Just then, Xu Ruowei appeared. Upon seeing that An Nuan had regained her memory, she burst into laughter. Looking at Shen Xizhou like a madman, she taunted him ferociously, "Shen Xizhou, I never imagined you'd end up like this. How does it feel? How is it?"
Shen Xizhou, this must not feel good, right?
"Shen Xizhou, do you know what? This is your retribution. You treated me this way, so now An Nuan is treating you the same."
"Oh, Shen Xizhou, you must hate me to death right now, right?"
"And, I almost forgot to tell you, the reason An Nuan recovered her memory is me. I added something to her IV drip, making her remember what happened before."
Xu Ruowei looked at An Nuan and said even more triumphantly, "Do you think I'm doing all this for my own good?"
"Yes, it's all for my own good."
"An Nuan, this medicine staying in your system, your days ahead will likely be very difficult."
An Nuan gritted her teeth, staring fixedly at Xu Ruowei, "What exactly do you want? I've already said, can't you..."
"If you want Shen Xizhou, then focus all your energy on Shen Xizhou. Don't waste your time on me, do you understand?"
"An Nuan, what you're saying is right, and I agree very much. However, if anyone is to blame, it's Shen Xizhou. His heart is focused on you. Therefore, whatever I want to say or do is useless."
Xu Ruowei's voice was filled with deep resentment and anger. Gritting her teeth, she said, "An Nuan, blame Shen Xizhou if you must. Because Shen Xizhou still has a place for you in his heart, I will never let you go in this life."
"An Nuan, stop with the sentimental words. Do you think I'll still foolishly believe you now?"
"No, I won't anymore."
"Right now, all I want is to find a way to kill you, to take your life without anyone noticing."
"Xu Ruowei, stop wasting words, we have more important things to do, have you forgotten?"
"Ruowei, you always suffer at An Nuan's hands. Now that you have a rare opportunity, you must accelerate your pace. You cannot let this chance slip away."
As Xu Ruowei was about to say more, Yang Ren interrupted directly, "Ruowei, stop talking, let's take action."
Yang Ren was worried that if they delayed further, something unexpected might truly happen.
An Nuan looked at Xu Ruowei and Yang Ren, feeling a sense of unease.
She knew Xu Ruowei was capable of anything. Now, with Yang Ren's assistance, these two would surely stop at nothing.
They would definitely resort to ruthless tactics.
"An Nuan, just obediently leave Shen Xizhou's side."
An Nuan, however, chuckled. She even felt that Xu Ruowei was being incredibly obtuse.
"Xu Ruowei, I've already said, I have nothing to do with Shen Xizhou, and in my heart, there is only Nangong Jin."
However, the two of them, in their arrogance, had forgotten that Nangong Jin and Shen Xizhou were still present.
Xu Ruowei and Yang Ren naturally gained no advantage.
The two of them promptly fled in disarray.
...
Of course, Nangong Jin was not so kind as to let Yang Ren off the hook.
He unearthed everything Yang Ren had done over the years.
Yang Ren's businesses vanished in an instant. Penniless, Yang Ren eventually blamed Xu Ruowei for everything and even got into a huge argument with her.
Xu Ruowei, however, felt fortunate. She had secretly sold off Yang Ren's shares. Even without Yang Ren, she could still live a good life.
Furthermore, Xu Ruowei shifted all the blame for her actions onto Yang Ren.
Now, Yang Ren finally realized that he had been used all along.
Although unwilling, he ultimately had to accept this outcome, as no one would come to his aid.
It was then that he clearly understood that over the years, in his efforts to help Xu Ruowei, he had offended everyone around him.
Thinking of this, Yang Ren was filled with immense regret.
He had truly considered Xu Ruowei the person closest to his heart, but she had not felt the same. She had been plotting against him all along. Those around him at the time had mentioned this matter, but back then, his mind was entirely focused on Xu Ruowei, and he had even believed her words.
How much he had trusted Xu Ruowei back then, and now he was disgusted with his own foolish actions.
Yang Ren looked at Xu Ruowei. Seeing that she was about to leave, he looked at her seriously and said, "Is what you're saying true? Have you been deceiving me all these years?"
"Xu Ruowei, after all I've done for you over the years, haven't you felt even a shred of gratitude?"
"Xu Ruowei, what is your heart made of? Why are you so venomous?"
"Xu Ruowei..."
Yang Ren shouted loudly, but Xu Ruowei, taking Yang Ren's assets, simply left.
Yang Ren watched Xu Ruowei depart, a bitter feeling in his heart.
What had happened was not what he wanted to see.
In fact, he had planned it all from the beginning. Even if things were discovered, he wouldn't have let Xu Ruowei stand up to resist.
But human hearts are terrifying, capable of anything.