Chapter 39 The Powerful Hate Being Deceived
The photo was of a stairwell: in the dim corridor, a man and woman, both wearing masks, carried bags of groceries side by side toward the door.
The woman, unmistakably Nan Xiao, had her head turned toward the man beside her, her eyes alight with laughter.
The man was tall, wearing a black cap and mask. Xie Chengyu couldn’t make out his face, only how close he was standing to Nan Xiao.
And besides the groceries in his hands—slung across his body was a bag.
Xie Chengyu’s long fingers lifted slightly, enlarging the photo.
Clear as day, the bag was the one Zhou Wen had delivered to Nan Xiao that very morning.
In that instant, a strange, indescribable feeling rose in Xie Chengyu’s chest.
So that bag… wasn’t meant for him?
He slowly stood, his brow tightening to the extreme.
He fixed his eyes on the man’s side profile in the picture, then slapped the phone facedown on the desk, trying to drive away the tangle of thoughts.
It was only 4:30 p.m.—not yet dinner time. He meant to keep working.
Their marriage was only a transaction. Just as he could have Xu Ruoxin, Nan Xiao could be with anyone she wanted. Who she spent her time with should not matter. So why, when he thought of that photo, did a dull discomfort stir inside him?
Was it just male pride?
He rubbed at his brow, unable to focus on his files.
Shutting down the computer, he grabbed his keys and phone and strode out of the office.
…
That afternoon, after leaving the set, Xiao Zekai had insisted on hotpot with her.
Faced with his pitifully hungry look, Nan Xiao couldn’t refuse. Together, they bought groceries at the market and then returned to her place.
By around five, she had the table set while Xiao Zekai carried out the washed vegetables.
As the pot came to a rolling boil, she motioned for him to sit, and they began to eat.
“Oh right—Nan Fengguo’s birthday’s coming up, isn’t it?”
Mouth full of lamb slices, Xiao Zekai suddenly remembered.
“Are you going back this year?”
At that name, Nan Xiao’s expression cooled. “Depends.”
He ruffled her hair. “If you want to, then go. If not, then don’t. And if Nan Fengguo dares bully you, call me—I’ll stand up for you.”
Nan Xiao burst into laughter. “Alright, with you protecting me, I feel much safer.”
Her bright smile left Xiao Zekai dazed.
A moment later, he choked violently, coughing until his face turned red.
Nan Xiao hurriedly poured him a glass of water. “What’s wrong with you? A grown man choking on his food!”
Only after several gulps did he recover, his gaze fixed on her beautiful face.
“Your face is way too pretty… have you thought about debuting as an actress?”
“No, no, that’s not for me.”
After years around film crews, she knew too well how grueling it was—both the visible hardships and the hidden ones. She had no desire for that life.
He thought of the chaos of the entertainment industry and agreed. “Then just stick to being a screenwriter. Honestly, you still look like when we were kids—just… grown up.”
She had been a little princess before her scars at age ten. Back then, he’d gotten into plenty of scraps protecting her from bullies.
The memory warmed her heart. She picked up some beef tripe—his favorite—and dropped it into his bowl.
Then his agent called: an urgent event required his presence. With a sigh, he gathered his things and left, leaving Nan Xiao to finish dinner alone.
Minutes later, the doorbell rang. She thought he’d come back and peeked through the peephole—only to see Xie Chengyu outside.
She froze.
What was he doing here? How did he know where she lived?
Knock, knock, knock.
“Nan Xiao. Open the door.”
Peering through a peephole blocked the light, letting the person outside know someone was home. That was why he called out.
She quickly straightened, murmured, “One moment,” slipped on her mask, and opened the door.
“Eating?”
He stepped in, eyes on the bubbling hotpot—and the two bowls and sets of chopsticks on the table. His face darkened.
“Who were you eating with?”
“Lin Yan.”
She answered without thinking, the first name that came to mind.
He swept a glance around. The bedroom was empty; the kitchen and bathroom showed no signs of life.
“Where is she?”
“She left,” Nan Xiao replied. “Something urgent came up while we were eating, so she went.”
He gave a short “Mm.” Then his phone buzzed—Li Jingtian.
He answered. “What is it?”
“Chengyu,” Li Jingtian’s voice carried through the quiet so clearly that Nan Xiao heard every word.
“I’m out shopping with Lin Yan. Remember that watch brand you like? They just released new models this month. We saw them—sending you pics now, pick one.”
Xie Chengyu’s gaze flicked toward her. Though masked, her shock was plain.
And when she felt his eyes on her, the shock turned into embarrassment. She ducked her head, wishing she could sink through the floor.
“When did you and Lin Yan go out?” he asked calmly into the phone.
“Since noon. Why?”
His gaze returned to Nan Xiao, who was practically staring at her own shoes, her face burning.
“It’s nothing,” he said, and hung up.
Then he turned back to her.
Her fingers twisted together tightly, her heart in turmoil.
She rarely lied. And the one time she tried, she was exposed immediately. The humiliation was unbearable.
“Why lie to me?”
His voice, low and even, carried a hint of danger.
Nan Xiao thought bitterly: he didn’t care for her at all. But as someone of his stature, what he despised most was deception. And now, having caught her in it, he was bound to react badly.
