In the hospital room, everyone was stunned by Xiao Nanchen's words. Not a single word could be uttered.
No one had ever imagined that someone as restrained as Xiao Nanchen would suddenly say something so surprising, something that shattered everyone's expectations.
"Xiao Nanchen, Qiqi didn't do it on purpose. Don't you think it's despicable of you to deliberately make things difficult?" Nie Ziming's face turned pale, his tone heavy with anger.
Xiao Nanchen looked directly into Nie Ziming's eyes, unaffected by the sarcasm, and spoke frankly, "Back then, didn't you snatch Qiqi away from me?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Qiqi and I were in love with each other. You and Qiqi were just your wishful thinking," Nie Ziming angrily retorted, unable to conceal his frustration.
"That's not true..." Xiao Nanchen argued.
Before he could finish his sentence...
"Yes, I have no feelings for you at all! I made it clear to you tonight that I don't like you at all. Why are you forcing yourself on me? Why are you doing such disgusting things?" Xia Qiqi supported Nie Ziming and questioned Xiao Nanchen with a hint of desperation in her voice.
Xiao Nanchen lowered his gaze.
Anyone could see the sorrow in his eyes.
Perhaps...
Just like before, he would eventually compromise.
No matter how much it hurt.
He never forced anyone.
But in the next moment...
He simply smiled indifferently and said, "I've lost my right leg now, Xia Qiqi. Shouldn't you compensate me?"
"Qiqi didn't do it on purpose. If you hadn't argued with her tonight, she wouldn't have pushed you away. In the end, you are partly responsible. Why should Qiqi be held accountable, especially in this manner?"
"Because I love her. I don't want her to marry you." Xiao Nanchen emphasized each word.
"I won't agree." Xia Qiqi coldly stared at Xiao Nanchen.
Truly...
The pity, sympathy, and pain in her eyes just turned into cold hatred in that moment.
She used to dislike Xiao Nanchen, but only because of his status.
Just because he excelled at everything, she was constantly being compared to him, which made her unhappy.
But now...
She genuinely, nakedly despised this person.
"I'm willing to do anything, even if it means giving up a leg for you, but I will never marry you! Never!" Xia Qiqi almost screamed.
Her voice reached the point of complete breakdown.
Xiao Nanchen silently watched her.
He gazed at the anguish in her eyes.
Because he threatened her, she was in so much pain.
His throat moved slightly.
He chose silence.
Everyone fell into silence.
Even in that moment, An Nuan felt a sense of warmth.
She looked at Xiao Nanchen like this. Back then, she thought he was despicable, and she even felt that Xiao Nanchen was no longer the clean and kind boy she once knew. Because of his actions today, she distanced herself from him and despised him, until she was reborn in another life. Only then did she truly understand why Xiao Nanchen chose this despised path.
Her heart ached for this man like never before.
"You can call the police," Xia Qiqi said without a care. "Yes, I pushed you and left you disabled. You can have the police come and arrest me, and I can spend years in prison. Ten, twenty years, a lifetime. You can even have me executed. Anyway, I will never marry you, even if I die!"
Xia Qiqi wasn't just speaking in anger.
She truly meant it.
If Xiao Nanchen wanted to take revenge on her, she would accept it.
But to make her marry him, he would have to make her die.
"Qiqi!" Xia Zheng Hai couldn't bear to listen anymore. He said, "We are all family. Let's talk things out..."
"Who is family with him? Who is family with you?" Xia Qiqi shouted angrily at Xia Zheng Hai. "We have never been a family. We haven't been a family since you married Xiao Qiang. I have never considered you as family! In my eyes, Xiao Qiang is a fox spirit, and Xiao Nanchen is the offspring of that fox spirit..."
"Enough!" Xia Zheng Hai said sternly.
At that moment, Xia Qiqi's words made his face turn red with anger.
"I've had enough too!" Xia Qiqi's spirit was strong, and she wasn't afraid of Xia Zheng Hai. "I've had enough living under the same roof with you all these years. I've had enough of waking up every day and seeing that fox spirit and her wretched offspring..."
"Slap!" Xia Zheng Hai's hand landed hard on Xia Qiqi's face.
Perhaps Xia Qiqi had really angered him, so he didn't hold back.
Even at that moment of being slapped, her face turned pale.
Her fingers also trembled.
Xia Qiqi covered her face.
Nie Ziming quickly embraced Xia Qiqi.
Xia Qiqi's eyes were filled with redness as she said, "So you've finally revealed your true colors, right? You've finally abandoned my mother and now you're abandoning me for the sake of these two?!"
"My divorce with your mother was amicable. There was no abandonment, and I didn't abandon you. I just hope that you can respect your aunt. How has she treated you all these years?!" Xia Zheng Hai was angry, and his voice trembled as he spoke.
"When my mother was dying and she begged you to come and see her for one last time, where were you?!" Xia Qiqi broke down, tears streaming down her face. "If it weren't for you being interested in this woman back then, would my mother and you have ended up divorcing?! Xia Zheng Hai, asking me to respect her is like asking me to respect a dog!"
Xia Zheng Hai was angry and was about to raise his hand again.
Xia Qiqi didn't try to avoid it at all.
Nie Ziming tightly protected Xia Qiqi.
"I don't need your respect either," Xiao Qiang suddenly spoke up.
Xia Qiqi coldly looked at her.
"Over the years, I've done what I should have done and put in the effort that was required. I believe I don't owe you anything, and if you don't accept me, I won't insist or force you," Xiao Qiang remained much calmer than the tension-filled father and daughter.
Xia Qiqi simply looked at Xiao Qiang with a mocking expression.
"What happened between us in the past doesn't matter anymore. The only thing that matters to me now is Xiao Nanchen," Xiao Qiang's determination was evident. "Whatever he wants, I'll give it to him."
"And who do you think you are?!" Xia Qiqi sneered.
Just because they wanted her, did that mean they could have her?!
It was truly laughable!
