Who the hell are you?
Looking at the indignant Antonio, Guan Jixing clutched his face. The pain was secondary; the main thing was his utter bewilderment. The surrounding crowd had no idea either.
But onlookers never mind a situation blowing up.
Everyone perked up.
"Who is this?"
"I don't know him. Looks like a foreigner. Gotta say, he's quite righteous, though. That punch was really satisfying. She had a child for him and he says things like that? What a monster."
"I actually think that even the wisest judge can't settle a family dispute. Outsiders who get involved never end up well... Oh, oh, oh, see? Was I right?"
Originally, Antonio had the upper hand.
He had Guan Jixing pinned down and was beating him.
However, in Su Ning's words, these two were just weaklings pecking at each other. One was just a bit bigger than the other, and the advantage only came from a sneak attack.
She concluded with great interest.
This advantage wouldn't last long. Sure enough, things quickly changed.
"Stop!"
Seeing her lover getting beaten, even though her heart was riddled with wounds, Mu Wan, driven by love, shoved her child into someone's arms and ran up to help.
Passerby: ...
What was going on?
They were just enjoying the show, and in the blink of an eye, why was there suddenly a baby in their arms?
With her joining in, Guan Jixing quickly flipped over and landed a vicious punch on Antonio's face. He finally had a moment to ask, "Who the hell are you, you idiot?"
"Someone who can't stand the sight of you."
With his face knocked to the side from the punch, he gritted his teeth. "You defiled pure and sacred love! You should have known this day would come. It's not just me; there will be thousands and millions of people who despise and spit on you, you disgusting jerk!"
The bystanders looked at each other in dismay.
These thousands and millions of people... he couldn't be referring to them, could he?
This matter was a bit infuriating, sure.
But it takes two to tango; didn't he see the victim herself rushing up to help her abuser?
Mu Wan's heart, however, was shaken by these words. Her beating hands unconsciously pulled back.
"Are you sick in the head? What does this have to do with you?"
Another punch was thrown.
Guan Jixing roared. Getting up from the ground, he didn't even spare Mu Wan a glance. He dusted himself off, wincing as the movement tugged at the wound on the corner of his mouth. Mu Wan hurriedly stepped forward out of concern:
"Jixing, how are you? Does it hurt? Let me take you to the hospital..."
"No need."
He shook her off, only caring about whether his injured face would affect his interview.
Then he took a few large strides onto a rickshaw, urging the puller to hurry up and leave since he couldn't afford any more delays. He completely missed the look of absolute despair in the eyes of Mu Wan, whom he had left behind.
"Don't be sad."
Antonio looked at her with heartache. "A man like that isn't worth your tears."
"But I love him!"
After screaming this, Mu Wan covered her face with both hands and broke down crying.
"I know."
"You don't know."
"I know, I understand, I get it. Love is involuntary. No matter what the outside world thinks, and no matter how much suffering you endure, it cannot be changed."
Antonio finished in one breath.
Recalling his parents' love story, it wasn't without its twists and hardships.
But in the end, it bore sweet fruit...
"You actually do understand."
Mu Wan looked up, the corners of her eyes slightly red. Her tear-soaked eyes were moist and moving.
They crashed straight into Antonio's heart, blooming into brilliant flowers. In an instant, he forgot everything else. His mind was filled only with this pair of eyes, tearful eyes filled with sorrow for another man.
The two locked eyes.
And remained silent for a long time.
"Let's go."
Su Ning smiled and withdrew her gaze. Even though she knew Cupid would play matchmaker for them, she was still surprised when it actually happened... Truly impressive, to be able to fall in love even under these circumstances.
She couldn't figure it out for the life of her anyway.
System: ...It didn't understand either how its host could spot the birth of romance at a single glance, even when the people involved hadn't realized or confirmed it themselves.
But why didn't she understand why they would fall in love?
"Miss..."
"There's no need to send anyone to watch them. Let nature take its course; it's much more fun that way."
Su Ning's tone was brisk and cheerful.
"Yes."
The driver in the front seat couldn't help but take another look at Lin Sen. He couldn't be blamed for it; having sat in the same row for so long, this was the first time he had seen Assistant Lin with an expression so... soft? Happy?
In short, his brows and eyes were completely relaxed.
............
Suddenly.
Mu Wan lowered her head, hastily tucking her hair behind her ear. "Thank you for helping me, but please don't hit people. Violence is bad, and, and..."
"And the person being hit is the one you love," Antonio said softly.
"I love him, but he doesn't love me anymore. Why? I really don't understand what I did wrong. Have I really changed? Have I become detestable?"
"No, you are wonderful, and very beautiful."
"Really?" Mu Wan smiled bitterly. "Thank you for comforting me... but I am already a woman who has given birth to a child. It's only normal that I can't compare to a highly educated female college student from a privileged background."
"I am not just comforting you," he said earnestly.
The atmosphere grew thick and intimate again. Mu Wan warned herself in her heart not to let her imagination run wild, but looking at this tall, handsome foreign young man, ripples still stirred in the depths of her heart.
The setback in her romance with Ji Xing had truly broken her heart, leaving her drowning in extreme self-pity.
But now...
Now there was such an outstanding person looking at her in a different light. It was like a beam of light shining upon her; she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
No, this was wrong.
Her love would always belong to Ji Xing. She couldn't betray him... Besides, she might just be flattering herself.
"By the way, I still don't know your name."
"My name is Antonio. My mother is Chinese, and she also gave me a Chinese name, Andre." After saying this, he added, "Very few people know this name."
"Is that so."
Mu Wan lowered her head, then suddenly asked, "Antonio, are you the Antonio who is with Su Ning?"
"You know me?"
"Who in the entire city of Beiping doesn't know Su Ning, Miss Su? Not to mention, she and I actually have a grudge... I'm sorry, I shouldn't speak ill of Miss Su in front of you."
"It's fine."
Antonio brushed it off. In his heart, Su Ning was exactly that kind of person.
Arrogant, conceited, reckless, and a bully who relied on her connections. Her mere existence was enough to disgust everyone, not to mention how she always tried to show off her influence.
Therefore, it definitely had to be her fault!
He couldn't help but explain, "Things between her and me are complicated. It's not something that can be explained in a few words... But I think you are better than her. Better in every way."
Mu Wan almost burst into tears again.
A tremendous sense of pleasant surprise filled her heart.
Although she deeply disliked Su Ning, she also knew that in the eyes of the world, she couldn't even compare to a single one of Su Ning's fingers. Yet now, Antonio, Su Ning's lover, was actually saying that she was better than her?
It felt like something that would only happen in a dream.
The two of them gazed into each other's eyes.
They both understood something, yet it seemed as though everything remained hidden beneath the undercurrents.
"Hey, do you not want this child anymore?"
Mu Wan snapped back to reality, hastily snatching the child from the passerby's hands and cradling her in her arms. The baby's face had grown even redder; earlier she had the strength to cry, but now she was too weak to even make a sound.
"What's wrong? Baby, what happened to you?"
"What do you mean 'what's wrong'? She's sick. What kind of mother are you?" The passerby shook his head and grumbled, "Too busy flirting and playing at romance to even look after your own child."
"No, it's not like that."
Mu Wan shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"Shut up."
Antonio scolded the passerby, "She is already heartbroken. If you're not going to help, fine, but why must you say such things to make her feel worse? You're truly cold-blooded and selfish."
Passerby: ...
What? I'm cold-blooded and selfish? Wasn't I the one holding the child just now?
Anyone else would have sold her off by now!
"Don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital," Antonio comforted her. "Come on, it'll be quick by car. We won't delay."
But when they walked to where the car was parked...
There was nothing there.
In a flash, reason reclaimed the high ground in his brain. He remembered that he had come here with Su Ning!
"Is the car not here?"
Hearing this, Antonio's stiff body finally twitched. He frantically recalled what he had just done, and after a long while, he breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't done anything overly intimate; he could just say he was acting out of indignation.
...
As expected.
After settling Mu Wan and her daughter, Antonio anxiously went to the Su residence, only to be shut out. He had thought of many ways to explain himself, but he wasn't even given the chance to speak.
He tried to get someone to pass a message inside.
He only received a mocking glare in return. A long time passed before someone leisurely strolled over.
"Let me in."
Antonio pleaded, forcing down his humiliation. His father didn't have much time left. Before the shareholders' meeting began, he had to win Su Ning's favor to secure the chairman's seat.
"Let you in? Keep dreaming."
The man laughed arrogantly, "The young lady said she's afraid of catching whatever mental illness you have. She wants you to stay as far away from her as possible for the time being."
Honestly, the man was afraid too.
Everyone had seen what happened with Guan Jixing and Mu Wan. Now, seeing this mixed-race foreigner showing signs of going crazy as well, who could resist muttering under their breath?
"What?"
Antonio was completely baffled.
Unfortunately, no one paid him any more attention. He stood bitterly outside the door for a long time, receiving no response even into the dead of night, until he could no longer hold on and was sent to the hospital.
This news quickly spread, and surprisingly, it traveled further and further.
People's reactions varied.
