Without the Jiang Family present, the oppressive pressure vanished in an instant.
Cheng An returned to his usual self upon hearing Su Ran’s words.
He scoffed disdainfully, "How could it be fake? Before Jiang Nanshu jumped into the river, Brother Yan had already planned to call off the engagement with that malicious and unpleasant woman. The news had just spread when she, desperate, committed suicide by her threat of death."
Seeing that Su Ran still looked upset, he continued unwillingly, "Brother Yan really wanted to call off the engagement; I’m not lying. After Jiang Nanshu was rescued, he even waited three days for her to stabilize emotionally before visiting. But... he didn’t manage to end it, obviously because Grandpa Lu pressured him not to call off the engagement."
"Or it was that woman Jiang Nanshu who snitched. She’s always been annoying. To cling to Brother Yan, she would resort to crying, making scenes, and even threatening suicide."
Su Ran looked down, and after a moment, her voice gently said, "She’s just someone caught in the middle of Lu Qingyan and me, a pitiable person. She hates me because she lacks confidence; she’s afraid that Lu Qingyan will favor me. Yet Qingyan..."
She smiled helplessly, "I’ve never understood him. Anzi, can he and I ever return to the past? I feel like his heart is wavering."
Cheng An remembered six years ago, when everyone was in their first year of high school, Su Ran had transferred to their school a week after the semester started.
After joining their class, the teacher seated her next to Lu Qingyan.
Initially, they scorned this poor girl, but Su Ran gradually won over their circle with her capabilities. A truly exceptional person shines regardless of where they are.
Gradually, they took to joking about her and Lu Qingyan—a top student and a study god, always dominating first and second place together, inseparable.
It always made Su Ran blush, while Lu Qingyan remained calm and composed, reading his book.
Over time, as Su Ran spent more time by Lu Qingyan’s side, everyone tacitly paired them together, even without openly acknowledging it. They seemed well-matched in their hearts.
Aside from her poor background, Su Ran was perfect in every other way.
Back then, wasn’t there a trend for idol dramas where a scion would defy everything for true love? Everyone thought they could make it.
And that matter wasn’t brought up again.
Su Ran’s words made Cheng An feel uncomfortable inside. Clenching his teeth, he asserted confidently, "Ranran, he likes you. He’s just trapped by that marriage contract. I’ll find a way... to make Brother Yan break off the engagement. I sincerely hope you can be happy."
Su Ran’s eyes instantly reddened with emotion, and her usually resilient facade crumbled at that moment.
Lu Qingyan was the light of her youth.
Which she tried desperately to hold on to.
No matter how defiantly she claimed to cut contact, it was just a pretense of strength.
She was the one who could never let go.
Su Ran rubbed her eyes and wiped away the tears, her voice choking up, "Anzi, thank you, thank you so much. It seems like you’re the only one willing to stand by my side. I really am a failure. Jiashu resents me for leaving without a word and hardly contacts me. Yun Chuan, too, refrains from being friends with me because of Jiang Nanshu. I..."
She couldn’t continue.
The group of friends, once so close, now fell apart, and nobody seemed willing to bother with her anymore.
Cheng An sighed softly and raised his hand, intending to pat her back but let it rest on her shoulder instead, "I will always stand by your side. Jiang Yunchuan, that traitor, seemed quite supportive of your return at first, but when it came down to the wire, he betrayed us, the bastard."
Su Ran shook her head, smiling through tears, "Anzi, don’t talk like that about Yun Chuan. He’s had it tough too. Jiang Nanshu is his sister, and it wouldn’t be right for him to be too biased against outsiders. Anzi, don’t fight with him over me. Your friendship with him is also important."
"You are just too kind, and that’s why that venomous woman Jiang Nanshu bullies you openly, a living green tea b*tch."
Cheng An now felt disgusted even mentioning Jiang Nanshu.
Slapping him in school, then chasing him so closely here in Fenglin Villa, as if afraid Lu Qingyan would escape. And his luck was poor – encountering the Jiang Family and enduring their mockery.
He blamed Jiang Nanshu for all of it.
If he hadn’t met her, none of this would have happened.
"Cheng An? Is this... Su Ran?"
A gentle female voice came from behind.
Cheng An immediately turned around and saw Chu Muxi’s gentle smiling face.
His eyes lit up, and his tone was somewhat excited, "Xixi, you’re back in the country?"
Chu Muxi was wearing a lilac-colored dress with a matching headband, graceful and poised.
Her palm-sized, delicate face was adorned with a gentle smile, like the autumn sun, warming hearts.
Anyone who had come into contact with Chu Muxi would praise her as a lady of high society, with elegance and manners ingrained into her bones, the perfect daughter-in-law coveted by wealthy mothers.
Unfortunately, she was not in good health.
Chu Muxi nodded with a smile, "Yes, I just came back a few days ago. I haven’t seen you guys for a long time. You’re still as impatient as ever."
Cheng An touched his buzz cut somewhat sheepishly, "Not really, I’ve become much more mature and steady now."
"By the way, is your illness getting any better?"
Chu Muxi’s gaze was soft, and the smile on her lips was faint, "It’s much better now. As long as I don’t smell any irritating scents and avoid strenuous exercise, I won’t have an episode."
Cheng An heaved a sigh of relief, "That’s good to hear."
Chu Muxi’s gaze returned to Su Ran.
Su Ran’s expression was cold, and she looked at her warily.
Chu Muxi pretended not to notice and said warmly, "Su Ran, you’re even more beautiful than you were three years ago. How have you been these past few years?"
Su Ran didn’t think she had much to talk about with Chu Muxi. When she first met Lu Qingyan, there were rumors in school that they were childhood sweethearts who grew up together.
However, observing him, Lu Qingyan seemed very detached when it came to relationships—perhaps simply clueless. At that time, he was deeply involved in his studies, faced with an endless amount of work each day. Aside from studying, he had no interest in anything else.
Everyone thought she and Lu Qingyan had become a couple back in high school.
In reality, if it weren’t for that lifesaving event, her relationship with him would have been nothing more than that of classmates working on problems together.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, she shifted her gaze away. She didn’t particularly enjoy interacting with Chu Muxi, so she nodded politely, "I’ve been quite well these past few years."
The conversation came to a halt.
Chu Muxi invited them in, "Let’s go inside first. The Chu Family will cover all the expenses for today and tomorrow. They’ve probably gone to the hot springs by now. The hot springs at Fenglin Villa are exceptional and can beautify the skin and dispel dampness."
Cheng An said to Su Ran, "Ranran, let’s go in."
The three of them walked side by side.
At this moment, Jiang Nanshu had avoided everyone and made her way to the back garden of Fenglin Villa.
The place was vast, with mountains and water nearby, and a whole street of luxury shops at its center.
Mrs. Jiang took Jiang Leyi to buy swimsuits first, so they could play in the large swimming pool after the bath.
Jiang Nanshu used a tummy ache as an excuse to slip away.
As a qualified villainous side character, she didn’t need to show her face to the male and female protagonists right now; she only needed to appear at critical moments.
"Da Shachun, where is the plan you made for me? Hand it over!"