After returning home with the child, her ex-husband knelt down and gently coaxed her.

"west Yan..."

Anning gazed at him with tears in her eyes, her chest tight with worry, making it hard to breathe. She managed to say, "I have never stopped loving—"

"Ningning, Xuanxuan is asleep—"

A clear voice suddenly came from inside the room, interrupting An Ning before she could finish speaking.

The two people at the door looked over at the same time, and Lu Xiyan's eyes suddenly narrowed.

The man came out of the bedroom, stopped at the door, and their eyes met. He was suddenly stunned.

Lu Xiyan's mind went blank, and blood rushed to his head.

The man at the bedroom door was dressed casually, exuding the relaxed air of a male homeowner from head to toe.

At that moment, he felt like a huge joke.

His heartfelt confession just now was like laying himself naked in front of them, letting her and her ex-husband laugh at him for being a fool who couldn't let go of the past!

Xu Zhijun was also stunned, feeling slightly embarrassed by his sudden appearance.

Because An Ning suddenly developed a fever and was too weak to take care of An Xian, he stayed to coax An Xian to sleep. Just as he was about to tell An Ning that he was leaving, he unexpectedly ran into Lu Xiyan.

He had no idea the other party would suddenly show up at this time, and he certainly didn't expect him to...

"This... seems to be a misunderstanding, Mr. Lu, I—"

Before he could finish speaking, a low, mocking laugh came from the man.

He released An Ning's hand and took two steps back.

An Ning was startled and subconsciously reached out to grab his sleeve, but the fabric slipped through her fingers and she caught nothing.

Lu Xiyan's gaze swept past An Ning and looked into the room—the open-plan living and dining area allowed him to see at a glance the birthday flowers, gift boxes, and half-eaten cake on the dining table...

The tenderness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a coldness.

He felt like a third party who had barged into their date, and the cozy scene inside was like a series of resounding slaps to his face.

A slight smile curled at the corner of his lips, a smile tinged with mockery and contempt.

"I've come to the wrong place."

He looked at An Ning's red, swollen eyes, and saw his own ridiculous appearance reflected in them.

The last glimmer of hope in his heart was completely shattered. Lu Xiyan's eyes were cold and devoid of any warmth. "I never, ever want to see you again."

He turned and strode away.

"Lu Xiyan!"

Anning called out to him loudly and watched his figure disappear into the elevator.

His aura filled the air and quickly spread outwards.

Just like he left without looking back.

Anning then noticed a bag of medicine and a box of cakes with familiar packaging on the carpet by the door.

She picked it up carefully, and suddenly tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

The medicine bag contained her usual cold and fever medication.

The cake was from the shop she had been longing for for four years; it was a plain pudding cake.

He remembered all her preferences.

An Ning felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart and broke down in tears.

"Ningning!"

Xu Zhijun rushed forward and saw her face covered in tears. "He must have misunderstood. Let's go and explain it to him quickly."

He was about to leave when Anning stopped him.

She shook her head, sobbing uncontrollably, "It's impossible to explain."

She was almost about to tell the whole story, but then she thought, what would that mean?

"He's getting engaged soon. If I explain, wouldn't that ruin his engagement and make me a shameful spoiler?"

She chuckled softly, a bitter laugh. "So, I accepted Old Master Lu's favors for nothing, only to become a person who breaks their promise?"

"But that wasn't your choice," Xu Zhijun said. "Lu Xiyan has the right to know the truth."

"But it's a fact that I accepted Old Master Lu's money and promised to leave Lu Xiyan!"

With red eyes, An Ning told him, "It's a fact that Grandpa Lu kept his promise and saved my brother!"

Her hands trembled, and she sobbed uncontrollably, "It's true that I accepted Mr. Lu's check again just last night."

She pointed to the huge house, "This is where I bought it with that money!"

"The deal I made with his grandfather still exists, and I should keep my promise..." She slid down against the wall helplessly. "Even if I explain it to him, what can I change? In the end, I'm the one who wronged him."

"He's right, I feel so guilty towards him."

She held the cake in her hands, her hands trembling uncontrollably. "What right do I have to deserve his kindness now..."

......

four years ago.

"Miss An, three days have passed. What's your decision?"

Amidst the torrential rain, Ji Xiu stood at the gate of the Lu family manor, holding an umbrella, looking at the girl who had braved the rain to come to him.

He thought she had come to her senses, but to his surprise, she said the next moment, "Uncle Jixiu, I want to see Grandpa Lu."

"Ms. An, the chairman's meaning is very clear."

Ji Xiu handed her a card. "This is what the chairman asked me to give you. There are 30 million in this card, enough for you to live on abroad. The car to take you away is ready, and the flight is booked. As long as you take the card and leave, everything will be arranged for you abroad. You don't need to worry."

"Furthermore," Ji Xiu said, "you don't need to utter a single word about this to Young Master Xi Yan. There will be a clear reason to put an end to this relationship between you."

An Ning didn't take it, but knelt down straight. "Uncle Ji Xiu, please tell Grandpa Lu that I don't want money. I also promise that neither I nor my family will spend a single penny of Xi Yan's money again. I won't let him earn that hard-earned money again, and I won't let him get hurt..."

She looked up, her face streaked with rain, but her eyes were incredibly resolute. "Please, Grandpa Lu, grant us your blessing. I truly, truly love west Yan..."

Ji Xiu shook his head slightly and sighed helplessly, "Miss An, the chairman said that you can only choose one: your love or your brother's life."

"Are you really going to just stand by and watch your brother die in front of you, with no money for medical treatment and no cure?"

"Miss An." Ji Xiu stepped forward, bent down, and handed the card to her. "You don't want to ruin your An family because of your obsession, do you?"

An Ning looked up in surprise, and she heard a warning in Ji Xiu's calm tone.

"Miss An may not know, but your father has already received several substantial sums of money from the chairman." Ji Xiuping looked at her calmly. "Your mother has also agreed to the chairman's request, pleading with him to lend a hand."

"Therefore, Ms. An, your deal with the chairman is already underway, and you have no choice but to terminate it."

He stepped back, smiling kindly, "Miss An, considering your sincerity towards Young Master west Yan, the chairman has already been very considerate of your family."