“Brother, A’Can is innocent.” Xu Wan didn’t know Xu Xun was referring to a different matter; she thought he was bothered by Chen Can being arrested as a thief this time.
“Brother, I’m already A’Can’s woman. No matter what happens, I want to be with A’Can.”
Xu Wan glanced at Chen Can, then lifted her chin towards Xu Xun, showing her determination.
Xu Xun flew into a rage. He grabbed a shovel from the car and moved to hit Chen Can.
Chen Can quickly hid behind Xu Wan. “Brother, it’s not like that. I swear, I haven’t touched Xiao Wan!”
“Wanwan, how can you say something like that?” Chen Can complained to Xu Wan.
Xu Wan spread her arms like a mother hen protecting Chen Can. “Brother, don’t force me to leave A’Can, or I’ll really do it.”
Xu Xun was angry at her lack of resolve. “Xu Wan, you have disappointed me so much!”
“Brother, I’m sorry for not growing into the person you wanted me to be. But the person you wanted isn’t who I really am. This is my true self.”
Xu Wan turned her head to look at Chen Can. “Since I was little, there’s never been anything I truly wanted. Except for A’Can. I can’t live without him.”
Chen Can tried his best to look moved. “Wanwan, I won’t let your feelings be wasted.”
Xu Wan was blind to the truth because of her feelings, but Xu Xun, as an outsider, saw clearly. Whether a person truly loves another, whether they have real feelings for them, can be seen in their eyes.
True love for someone can’t be hidden.
He had seen the look in a man’s eyes when he truly loved a woman. But in Chen Can’s eyes when he looked at Xu Wan, there was not a trace of love. Instead, there was disgust and ridicule, mixed with a bit of smug satisfaction.
“Xiao Wan, Dad asked you once before. I’m asking you again now. No matter what happens, are you truly determined to be with Chen Can?” Xu Xun was tired too. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to intervene, but he really couldn’t control the situation.
You can’t save someone who is determined to ruin themselves.
Xu Wan was very firm. “Yes!”
“Fine. Then from now on, if you’re with him, I won’t interfere anymore.”
Xu Xun looked at Chen Can. “Chen Can, Xiao Wan likes you, and we accept that. From now on, we won’t stop you two from being together. But my Dad already told Xiao Wan before: don’t even think about asking us for help with any of your problems.”
“Also, you have to treat Xiao Wan well. If you don’t, I won’t let you off easy.”
Xu Xun pointed at Chen Can. “This time, for Xiao Wan’s sake, I’ll back off. Next time, I won’t show anyone any consideration.”
Chen Can had gotten together with Xu Wan precisely because of the Xu family’s influence. But now the Xu family was saying they wouldn’t help him? What was the point of being with Xu Wan then?
She was so ugly. Every moment he spent with her, he had to endure feeling disgusted. If, in the end, he got nothing out of it, he’d be taking a huge loss.
But he didn’t dare show his true feelings immediately. He was afraid this was a test set by Xu Xun, a deliberate statement to gauge his reaction.
He thought for a moment, then quickly replied, “Brother, don’t worry. I’ll definitely treat Xiao Wan well.”
Xu Wan was so moved her eyes glistened with tears.
Xu Xun glanced at the two of them, then turned and left.
After Xu Xun left, Chen Can took Xu Wan’s hand. “Wanwan, your feelings for me truly move me. But at the same time, they scare me a little.”
“Scare you?” Xu Wan was puzzled.
“Yes, scare me. Your love is so intense. I’m afraid I can’t love you back with the same intensity, because your love is just so deep.”
“Wanwan, you shouldn’t have alienated your family for me. It’s not that I mind your Dad and brother having prejudices against me, but I don’t want you to lose your family because of me. That would weigh on my conscience.”
“If being with me means you lose your family, then I’d rather we weren’t together.”
Chen Can knew Xu Wan loved reading romance novels. After reading several himself, he’d roughly figured out how to handle Xu Wan to make her even more devoted to him.
“I didn’t want to alienate my family either, but my Dad and brother refused to help me save you.”
Xu Wan hugged Chen Can. Taking advantage of the fact she couldn’t see his face, Chen Can stopped pretending, his expression showing undisguised disgust.
“Wanwan, I’m a man. I should be the one protecting you, not you standing in front shielding me.”
“I have the ability to save myself. I don’t need you to beg your Dad and brother.”
“You must have endured a lot of grievances to save me, right?”
Xu Wan secretly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “No grievances at all. None. As long as you’re out, everything is worth it.”
“How could there be no grievances? I know you’ve been especially doted on at home since you were little. Your family has always been very good to you. Your Dad and brother have never spoken harshly to you.”
“Wanwan, don’t blame your Dad and brother. They have their own considerations.”
“I’m not divorced yet. I’m not officially with you. It’s right that they didn’t save me.”
“Why don’t you go home obediently? Admit your mistake to your Dad and brother. This time, after all, you were in the wrong.”
Chen Can helped Xu Wan stand up, looked into her eyes, and gently wiped away her tears. “As soon as I’ve finalized the divorce with Shen Liya, I’ll immediately go to your house to propose. Then we can be together properly, and your Dad and brother won’t object anymore. Their objections now are for the sake of your reputation.”
“And don’t ever say things like that again, okay? I’m not like that with you. I know you’re a good girl.”
Tan Yingjun’s personality was particularly difficult, so Chen Can had learned from a young age how to coax women. He knew what to say to touch their hearts and make them devoted to him.
Xu Wan had no relationship experience. In front of Chen Can, she was like a blank sheet of paper. Chen Can could easily manipulate her completely.
With his extensive relationship history, his only failure was Shen Zhiqiu. And because of that, she had become his obsession.
The more she disliked him, the more he wanted to conquer her, unable to forget her.
Chen Can coaxed Xu Wan into going home. Xu Wan obediently apologized to Xu Changkong and Xu Xun. However, neither of them was happy about it; instead, their hearts grew heavier.
Chen Can’s tactics only worked on Xu Wan. The two men saw clearly what he was up to.
“Dad, I’ve investigated everything.”
Xu Xun told Xu Changkong what he had found out. “Their regiment hasn’t made it public yet; they’re still trying to catch others.”
“This Chen Can has some nerve, daring to do something like this!”
Xu Changkong slammed the table in anger. “If it were anything else, maybe it could be overlooked. But this matter could land him in a military court.”
“No, we have to make Xiao Wan cut all ties with him.”
Xu Xun looked troubled. “Dad, given Xiao Wan’s current state, how can she possibly listen? She’ll probably just think we’re deliberately targeting Chen Can and end up resenting us for it.”
“And we can’t tell her the truth. What if she goes and tells Chen Can? That would be disastrous.”
“Even if we did tell her the truth, I think she’d still be stubbornly deluded.”
