Chapter 33 – I Need Some Legal Advice
“…”
Nan Xiao stared at her in shock.
So Xu Ruoxin actually thought that by refusing to change the scene and bringing in a body double, Nan Xiao’s real goal was to humiliate her?
How could she think that? Was she stupid?
No. Xu Ruoxin was not stupid.
She was clever.
She must have said that either in a fit of rage, or deliberately to provoke Nan Xiao.
And Nan Xiao was indeed provoked.
She closed her eyes. Her lungs felt like they would burst from anger, yet in that moment she became strangely calm. She knew being angry was useless.
Without another word, she turned and left the lounge.
Xu Ruoxin didn’t call her back. Instead, taking advantage of the handprint still on her cheek, she quickly found the perfect angle, snapped a photo, and sent it to Xie Chengyu.
The photo was carefully staged—her face was beautiful as ever, but the mark on her cheek made her look pitiful, fragile.
Soon her phone rang. Seeing “Chengyu” on the screen, Xu Ruoxin smiled.
—
Nan Xiao returned to her lounge. She didn’t want to cry, but the grievance was too heavy. The tears came anyway.
All her life she had endured looks of disdain and ridicule. Yet at least those people had held on to a shred of civility—they never insulted her with such filthy words.
But in the past two days, she had received thousands of vicious online comments. Many laced with the vilest kind of slut-shaming. It was unbearable.
Knock knock knock!
“Nan Xiao!”
The door was thrown open. Xie Chengyu strode in, aura heavy with violence, his steps sharp and fast.
Nan Xiao had just wiped her tears when she looked up to see him. His handsome face was dark with storm, his whole presence suffused with fury. She froze.
“You hit Ruoxin?”
That was his first sentence.
Nan Xiao nodded. “Yes. I hit her.”
She had already guessed why he came. But hearing his icy voice still made her heart tremble.
“How dare you?”
Each word was cold, his gaze sharp as a blade.
“Did you forget—she’s pregnant?”
“…”
Yes. Xu Ruoxin was pregnant. With his child.
But Nan Xiao was pregnant too. She had been viciously attacked online, yet no one felt pity for her.
Seeing her silent, Xie Chengyu’s eyes grew darker. “What’s wrong? No words?”
“I have nothing to say.”
Her face was pale, her voice weak.
“Xu Ruoxin orchestrated that article online, the one that caused the cyberbullying. That’s why I slapped her.
“Of course, I don’t have proof. If you don’t believe me, then there’s nothing I can do.”
She stared at the floor. She didn’t know how he would respond. She only hoped he would leave quickly.
“I’ll handle the article.”
His voice slithered above her, chilling. “But you’ll apologize to Ruoxin.”
“What?”
She jerked her head up. He wanted her to apologize?
Just then the door opened again. Xu Ruoxin entered, looking delicate and weak, clutching his sleeve.
“Forget the apology,” she said softly. “After all, Miss Nan has been insulted online. Her anger is understandable. Though I didn’t do what she accused… my injury is fine now. No need for an apology.”
Nan Xiao glared, eyes brimming with hatred.
Xu Ruoxin stood at Xie Chengyu’s side, so he couldn’t see. She flashed Nan Xiao a secret, mocking smile.
Xie Chengyu glanced at her. The slap mark was faint now, but still there. He turned back to Nan Xiao, voice cold as steel:
“Nan Xiao, you hit her. You must apologize.”
His words froze her to the core. It was colder than ice water poured over her body. She shivered, hugging her shoulders.
She didn’t want to apologize. She had been bullied. The slap was deserved. Why should she apologize?
But against his unyielding will, she had no power.
Her lashes trembled. Her throat squeezed out: “Miss Xu… I’m sorry.”
Xie Chengyu cast her a cool glance, then left with Xu Ruoxin.
—
It was 11 a.m. Outside, an important scene was filming. She should have gone to watch, to learn.
But she had no strength.
She lay on the bed in her lounge, limp as though dying, staring at the ceiling for a long, long time.
Her tears streamed ceaselessly, soaking the pillow beneath her head.
Finally, she sat up and looked at her phone.
Miraculously, the article was gone. The trending topics vanished. The insults disappeared.
Everything had been wiped clean, as if the cyberattack had never happened.
Nan Xiao sat staring at the white wall.
When she had tried to hire comment moderators, she was told it would cost a fortune, impossible without massive spending.
Yet now, it was all gone. Clearly, Xie Chengyu had done it.
But he hadn’t done it for her. He did it for the Xie family’s reputation.
The article hadn’t mentioned the Xies by name, but if anyone dug deeper, it could have. He needed to erase the risk.
So now, outwardly, the issue was resolved.
But her suffering—who would make that right?
No one.
And the instigator, Xu Ruoxin, had not only escaped punishment, she had gained sympathy and praise.
Nan Xiao—the true victim—was the one who had suffered.
She whispered bitterly to herself: Why?
No answer came.
She sat in silence for a long time. Would Xu Ruoxin come again tomorrow, to provoke her, to slander her, leaving Nan Xiao beaten down, humiliated—while she walked away untouched?
Yes. Very likely.
It couldn’t go on like this.
She picked up her phone and called Lin Yan.
“Yan Yan, didn’t you say you know a good lawyer? Put me in touch. I have something I need to ask.”
