Chapter 29 – Nothing to Do with Me
“Grandfather, I’ve already finished today’s work. If you don’t believe me, you can ask someone to confirm.”
Xie Chengyu replied casually.
Old Master Xie froze for a moment, then remembered his grandson’s ability. Indeed, he often completed tasks ahead of schedule. A surge of pride rose in his chest—but when he caught the scent of perfume clinging to him, his brows furrowed again.
“What did you just do? Where did that scent come from? What were you doing with that woman?” The Old Master fired three questions in a row.
Xie Chengyu’s face was calm. He didn’t explain much, brushing it off with a few vague words.
All the while, Nan Xiao stood quietly at Old Master Xie’s side without saying a word.
She thought: He dragged Xie Chengyu here for no reason. Chengyu will surely think I stirred up trouble. Even if I explain, he won’t believe me.
So she did nothing and said nothing, just stood coldly to one side, watching it all unfold.
But the more she feigned indifference, the more her heart ached.
Opposite her, though speaking to his grandfather, Xie Chengyu kept half his attention on Nan Xiao.
He noticed that since entering the room, she had only looked at him once. Then she hung her head, silent, completely indifferent. For some reason, it unsettled him.
He exchanged a few more words with the Old Master. Madam Zhang, noticing how often he glanced toward Nan Xiao, was surprised.
After a moment’s thought, she said to the Old Master, “Sir, there are some important matters at home that need handling. Let’s go back first.”
“What matters?”
“They’re complicated. I’ll explain on the way.”
Old Master Xie didn’t know what she meant, but Madam Zhang had cared for him faithfully for many years. He trusted her. Besides, he was already angry with Chengyu, so he left with her.
The lounge grew quiet.
Xie Chengyu stepped closer to Nan Xiao and asked, “What happened today?”
“Grandfather came to persuade me to return to the main house. I refused,” Nan Xiao answered truthfully.
Xie Chengyu frowned slightly. “You don’t want to live there?”
Hearing this, Nan Xiao felt a flicker of anger.
Did he still think that recording was real? Still think she didn’t truly want to divorce him?
“You proposed divorce. I didn’t object. How could I not want it?” she said at once. “That recording really was a misunderstanding.”
Her voice was a little rushed. After speaking, she turned her head away.
Xie Chengyu’s face cooled.
This should have been the answer he wanted most, yet the way she hurried to prove she truly wanted a divorce—it stung his eyes somehow.
“By the way, do you have male friends?”
The sudden question startled her. “No, why?” she blurted.
Her only male friend was Xiao Zekai. But because he was a celebrity, she instinctively avoided mentioning their relationship to outsiders.
“Nothing.”
Xie Chengyu studied her eyes, unable to tell if she was lying. But then he thought again—what did it matter to him if she had male friends?
For the past three years, she had hardly stepped outside. Because of her scars, she had no real friends except Lin Yan. Likely, she really had no other male friends.
As for Zhou Wen’s phone call yesterday—perhaps just some kind of misunderstanding.
With that thought, his mood lightened strangely.
After he left, Nan Xiao prepared to watch the filming.
The scene was Xiao Zekai’s solo performance. Soon it would be Xu Ruoxin’s turn. She suddenly walked over and said:
“Miss Nan, can you change my upcoming bed scene? It’s too revealing. My husband won’t like it.”
Right away, a small actor nearby sighed in envy. “Sister Ruoxin, your relationship with President Xie is really good. He must like you a lot—he doesn’t want you having intimate scenes with other men?”
Xu Ruoxin smiled openly, admitting, “Yes. He likes me very much. Our relationship has always been strong.”
Although Xiao Zekai’s accusations that day had raised some doubts on set, these past few days Chengyu had come often to see her, treating her warmly. Everyone noticed, and so they dismissed Xiao Zekai’s words.
Xu Ruoxin looked at Nan Xiao, eyes gleaming with triumph.
But Nan Xiao replied coldly: “Miss Xu, that scene cannot be changed. Your husband’s displeasure is a personal matter. Please don’t let personal issues affect work.”
Xu Ruoxin bit her lip, unwilling.
Then she let go, smiling faintly. “Fine. We’ll leave it at that.”
She turned and left.
Watching her back, Nan Xiao couldn’t suppress the surge of jealousy inside.
She didn’t want to admit it—but she was jealous of Xu Ruoxin. Still, she forced it down, refusing to let it affect her work. So far, she had succeeded.
Soon, the next scene began—the very bed scene Xu Ruoxin had complained about.
It was a crucial moment in building the relationship between Qin Ran and the emperor. Some intimacy was necessary, which was why Nan Xiao had insisted on keeping it.
But as the emperor pressed her toward the bed, Xu Ruoxin suddenly swayed and collapsed to the floor.
The whole crew froze.
Dressed in his yellow robe, Xiao Zekai looked down, frowned, and said, “She fainted.”
Chaos broke out. People rushed to her side, carrying her to safety and calling for an ambulance.
Nan Xiao frowned, wondering: Did Xu Ruoxin faint because she refused to cut the scene?
She didn’t go to look. Instead, she returned to the lounge, reread the script, and confirmed the scene truly couldn’t be cut. Only then did she close the script.
A knock came at the door.
She called, “Come in.”
And Xie Chengyu entered, face dark, aura heavy.
He strode up to her, demanding, “You refused to change her scene?”
Nan Xiao clenched her fists.
Just moments ago, she had received a message from Zhou Ruicheng, explaining Xu Ruoxin fainted because she hadn’t eaten breakfast. It had nothing to do with Nan Xiao refusing the script change.
So she felt even more justified.
But now Chengyu had come, blaming her instead?
“Yes. I refused Miss Xu’s request. It couldn’t be changed. And her fainting had nothing to do with me—it was because she skipped breakfast.”
