Chapter 45 – Staring at Her Back
At this moment, Nan Qingqing cast a proud glance at Nan Xiao. Nan Xiao didn’t understand what it meant. Didn’t Nan Qingqing lose her shares yesterday? Why was she so happy?
Very quickly, Nan Xiao understood what was going on.
Nan Qingqing opened her phone, shoved it under Nan Fengguo’s nose, and said in a mocking tone:
“Dad, don’t get angry when I say this, okay? But sister and brother-in-law are really something… They’re getting divorced and didn’t even bother to tell us…”
Nan Xiao’s heart sank. She suddenly lifted her head and looked toward Nan Qingqing’s phone.
Although the distance was a bit far, she still saw it—on Nan Qingqing’s phone was a picture of Xu Ruoxin. The fist resting on her leg clenched tightly.
“Dad, this female star is Xu Ruoxin. She’s brother-in-law’s new wife.”
“Brother-in-law and sister are getting divorced soon. Something this serious, and sister doesn’t even tell us. She’s really too inconsiderate…”
Nan Qingqing looked like she was scolding, but her tone was full of gloating.
Nan Fengguo raised his head, his brows knotted into a deadlock.
“Is what Qingqing said true? You two are really getting divorced?”
Xie Chengyu’s face darkened, as if he didn’t plan to deny it.
Nan Xiao’s fists clenched. From a certain angle, Xie Chengyu was actually a responsible man. Since he had promised Xu Ruoxin a future, he would take responsibility for her.
As for herself, her marriage with him was a transaction—something like money paid, goods delivered. Only in this case, she wasn’t goods, but a person.
Now, the Xie family had already given her all the money they were supposed to. They had no obligation to keep up appearances with her. So, of course, Xie Chengyu would not deny his relationship with Xu Ruoxin.
Having thought it through, Nan Xiao directly said:
“Dad, it’s true that Xie Chengyu and I are going to divorce. But we’re separating peacefully, and it won’t become anything disgraceful. Please don’t be angry.”
Nan Fengguo was a man obsessed with appearances. To what extent?
Everyone knew Nan Qingqing was his biological daughter, but for so many years, he had never acknowledged her.
After all, when Nan Qingqing was born, he was still legally married to Nan Xiao’s mother. If he admitted Qingqing, it would prove he had cheated during his marriage.
Nan Fengguo stubbornly believed that only a man with a stable family could be considered respectable.
So, in order to remain “respectable,” he would never admit Nan Qingqing’s identity.
Smack.
A sharp sound rang out as Nan Fengguo slammed his chopsticks on the table.
He stood up, face grim, and said:
“I’m not eating. You all continue.”
“And another thing.” He swept his gaze toward Nan Xiao, his voice sharp.
“The matter of the shares will be discussed later.”
The deeper meaning was clear: Nan Xiao’s fifteen percent of shares was gone.
Watching Nan Fengguo leave the dining room, Nan Qingqing revealed a triumphant smile. Lowering her voice, she said:
“Nan Xiao, trying to fight me? You’re still too green.”
Nan Xiao glared at her.
“Fight you? More like fighting your mother.”
With Nan Qingqing’s brain, how could she come up with digging into Xie Chengyu’s love life? Obviously, Feng Yun was the one behind this idea.
Nan Xiao stood up, ignoring everyone else, and hurried upstairs back to her room.
She walked out to the balcony, leaning against the railing, staring into the distance, her chest full of anger with nowhere to vent.
Soon, footsteps came—Xie Chengyu had come up behind her.
“I promised you before that I’d pretend to be close with you, but I cannot deny Ruoxin’s identity.”
His voice was calm, without a trace of emotion.
That accidental kiss last night had pulled the two of them closer. But because of what had just happened, the distance between them widened again.
Nan Xiao didn’t dare turn around, afraid her emotions would show. She said:
“It’s fine. After all, if you help me, it’s kindness; if you don’t, it’s your right.”
Nan Xiao was always reasonable, even overly considerate—so much so that she endured bullying without complaint. A strange feeling rose in Xie Chengyu’s chest, only to vanish a moment later.
“You want to fight for Nan family’s shares?”
Although Nan Xiao hadn’t said it directly, after staying there one night, he could see clearly enough what was happening.
“I can help you,” Xie Chengyu said.
As long as the Xie family cooperated with the Nan family, Nan Fengguo would be overjoyed, and he’d surely give most of the shares to Nan Xiao. No need for all this struggle.
Nan Xiao understood that as well, but she shook her head.
“No need.”
If Xie and Nan joined forces, she’d be deeply bound to the Xie family. She didn’t want that to happen—especially now that there was a child.
Xie Chengyu was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected Nan Xiao to refuse so decisively something that was so beneficial to her.
He realized more and more that he couldn’t understand Nan Xiao. Maybe he had never understood her from the very start.
The next morning, Nan Xiao returned to the film crew, as usual watching the shooting. Xie Chengyu also came as usual with Xu Ruoxin.
Before, when Xie Chengyu came, no one paid much attention. At most, they’d sigh that Xu Ruoxin was lucky to have such a devoted partner to pick her up every day.
But now, everyone knew Nan Xiao was Xie Chengyu’s legal wife. Seeing him deliver Xu Ruoxin to the set, people’s gazes were completely different.
Nan Xiao sat on a small stool by the camera, reading the script with a serious face. She showed no expression, but inside she felt miserable.
Actors and staff around them whispered:
“Nan Xiao is really pitiful. Does she have a birthmark on her face? If she wasn’t disfigured, President Xie wouldn’t divorce her.”
“President Xie is so handsome. Of course he should be with someone like Xu Ruoxin. What right does an ugly woman like Nan Xiao have to be with him? People who pity her are just being hypocrites.”
“Harsh words, but true. The world is realistic—only good-looking men and women belong together. Ugly ones just end up lonely.”
Even though those words were deliberately whispered, every one of them reached Xie Chengyu’s ears.
His expression darkened. He looked over at Nan Xiao.
She was wearing a knit sweater and jeans, sitting alone on the little stool, looking lonely and pitiful. A strange feeling surged in his heart again.
After thinking for a moment, he walked toward Nan Xiao.
Many people stared at him along the way.
Xie Chengyu acted as if he hadn’t noticed, coming right to her side and asking:
“What are you doing?”
Nan Xiao raised her head, seeing him sitting next to her. With so many gossipy eyes around, she suddenly felt guilty.
What would those people think? Would they assume he came to discuss divorce with her?
Clutching her script, she stood up and said calmly:
“Nothing. I’ll head back first.”
She turned and entered the lounge.
Xie Chengyu stared at her back, his brows furrowed.
