Oh, and there’s also Situ Yan.

Thinking of this, Xia Xiaonuan suddenly covered her face with her hands.

Tears flowed through the gaps between her fingers.

Her body began to tremble violently, an immense pain mingled with sorrow enveloping her completely.

She couldn’t understand if it was because of her own problems, or because she stayed by Nangong Yaoling’s side.

Or, was it that as long as one was in a wealthy family, or as Nangong Yaoling’s woman, one must endure all these storms and bloodshed?

Suddenly, Nangong Zhongli’s words echoed in her mind.

Xia Qiqi, you shouldn’t have come back. Since you’re already dead, why did you come back?

Yes, if she hadn’t come back, would everything today not have happened?

If she hadn’t come back, Mrs. Xia might not have died, and the entire Xia Family might not have faced so much turmoil. If she hadn’t come back, Nangong Yaoling might not have been hurt time and again because of her.

But, was she really wrong? Was this all something she could choose?

Xia Xiaonuan helplessly closed her eyes.

At that moment, suddenly, her phone rang.

She was startled, then slowly came back to her senses.

She pulled out a tissue from the side and wiped her tears and nose.

Picking up the phone, she paused at the name on the screen.

A different kind of emotion surged in her heart.

She answered the call.

"Hello..." She tried hard to make her voice sound less hoarse.

"Xiaonuan, it’s me." Liang Shaochen’s deep voice sounded, causing her heart to slightly tremble.

Once, all she longed for was to live quietly with the one she loved. She also thought that the one she would protect for life could only be Nan Mo.

Yet reality always defies expectations.

She tried to curve her lips into a smile.

"Do you... do you need something?"

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Liang Shaochen asked worriedly, frowning at his desk.

Xia Xiaonuan shook her head.

"It’s nothing... just... just something happened." She initially tried to calm herself, but hearing Nan Mo’s voice and her concerned words, she couldn’t help but break down into tears.

She covered her mouth with her hand and moved the phone away.

"Qiqi, what’s wrong? What happened? Qiqi, don’t scare me, talk to me!" Liang Shaochen’s anxious voice came through.

Xia Xiaonuan wiped her tears and put the phone back to her ear.

Striving to speak calmly, she said, "It’s... it’s Xia Xinmei, she’s... she’s dead."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then, the man’s low husky voice came again.

"Where are you? I want to see you."

"I... I’m at home... we better not..."

"Qiqi! I’m begging you, just meet once, I promise, just one meeting, okay? I won’t do anything inappropriate, Xiaonuan..." Liang Shaochen pleaded almost desperately.

Xia Xiaonuan placed her hand over her chest.

"I..."

"Can I come to your house to pick you up? Or you can come out, anywhere is fine!" Liang Shaochen interrupted her attempt to decline, speaking urgently.

Xia Xiaonuan closed her eyes.

"Don’t come to my house... just... just in the park where we met last time."

Liang Shaochen was overjoyed, excitedly getting up from his chair: "I’ll be right there, Xiaonuan, I’ll wait for you there, see you no matter what!"