Chapter 46 – The Drawn Marriage Certificate
Nan Xiao treated him with cold indifference. Why was she like this? Had he done something wrong?
Back in the lounge, Nan Xiao continued reading the script. She changed a few lines for her next scene, then picked up a book.
Around noon, her stomach growled, and she decided to head out for a meal.
Just as she stepped out the door, she saw Xie Chengyu standing there, hands in his pockets, staring straight at her. Who knew how long he had been waiting?
Nan Xiao halted and asked, “Do you need something?”
As she spoke, her eyes darted around, checking to make sure no one was watching them, only then did she relax a little.
She didn’t want to be this insecure, but ever since her disfigurement, the world had turned harsh. That insecurity was etched deep into her bones.
Xie Chengyu caught her every glance. To him, it felt like she was terrified of others knowing their relationship. Was he really that unpresentable?
“Why are you avoiding me?”
He didn’t bother circling around the matter and asked directly.
“Rumors are everywhere right now. It’s not convenient for us to be seen together in public,” Nan Xiao answered.
The excuse was reasonable, but to Xie Chengyu, something about it felt off.
Before he could speak further, a tall, handsome young man in his early twenties walked over.
The boy ignored Xie Chengyu completely and went straight to Nan Xiao.
“Xiaoxiao, I need to talk to you.”
Instinctively, Xie Chengyu turned his gaze on him.
The boy was over 1.8 meters tall, broad-shouldered and well-built, with a cool, aloof face. Loose bangs fell across his forehead, giving him the look of a campus heartthrob.
Xie Chengyu’s brows furrowed as he mulled over that intimate “Xiaoxiao.” He asked coldly, “Who are you?”
The boy glared back, openly hostile, which made Xie Chengyu’s eyes chill as well.
Nan Xiao blinked. Why did these two strangers clash immediately? Was it a matter of clashing auras?
She hurriedly introduced:
“This is Yan Haoning, the second male lead in the crew. He plays the prince.”
In costume, Yan Haoning looked very different from his normal self. Since Xie Chengyu barely paid attention to the drama, it was normal that he hadn’t recognized him right away.
Xie Chengyu fixed his eyes on Yan Haoning. So, he was part of The Imperial Consort’s Tale crew? Then… he was the same “friend” Nan Xiao once brought home for dinner?
Nan Xiao couldn’t guess what Xie Chengyu was thinking. She brought Yan Haoning back into the lounge and asked:
“Haoning, what is it?”
Nan Xiao was twenty-five. Yan Haoning was three years younger. Facing him, she naturally slipped into a big-sister tone.
Yan Haoning spoke with a faint chill:
“He was just with Xu Ruoxin, and now he’s with you. I’m afraid people will gossip.”
Nan Xiao’s heart warmed faintly at his words.
This wasn’t her first time working with Yan Haoning. Strictly speaking, it was the third.
The first was years ago, when Yan Haoning was just an extra. Nan Xiao spotted his potential and added him on WeChat. At her next project, she recommended him as the fourth male lead—the first time he had a credited role.
The second was earlier this year. While preparing The Imperial Consort’s Tale, Nan Xiao felt he fit the image of the second male lead perfectly and again recommended him. He landed the role successfully.
In a sense, Nan Xiao had single-handedly brought Yan Haoning up.
They weren’t exactly friends, but Yan Haoning always treated her with respect.
“It’s fine,” Nan Xiao said with a smile.
“My situation with Xie Chengyu isn’t that complicated. We got married under an agreement for certain reasons, and now we’re separating. Everything’s fine here, you don’t have to worry.”
Today, Yan Haoning had come to comfort her. Yet somehow, it ended up being Nan Xiao who comforted him.
Lin Yan had said before: Nan Xiao’s nature doomed situations to always end like this. Sometimes she, like Xiao Zekai, would feel frustrated at how Nan Xiao was too considerate.
Yan Haoning’s face stayed cold.
“Xiaoxiao-jie, I just don’t want you to be bullied. If anyone does, come to me. I’ll stand up for you.”
The corners of Nan Xiao’s lips lifted.
“Alright. I’ll remember to find you.”
Soon Yan Haoning left. Nan Xiao was just about to head for a meal when Xiao Zekai arrived.
He came carrying two boxed lunches, plopped them on the table, and sat down casually.
“These days I’m going crazy—filming two dramas at once, plus a variety show, and another drama about to wrap…”
“Oh right, how have you been?”
A few days ago, when Nan Xiao was being attacked online, Xiao Zekai had called to check on her. But buried in his own endless workload, and with the issue quickly resolved, he hadn’t followed up until now.
“I’m doing fine,” Nan Xiao said.
She took off her mask, scooped up rice with her chopsticks, and chewed while speaking.
“It’s just things with Nan Fengguo aren’t going smoothly. But I don’t think he’s that keen on Nan Qingqing anymore—probably can’t stand her stupidity. I’ll watch and see.”
With Xiao Zekai, she never bothered with appearances. She ate hurriedly, rice sticking to her face without noticing.
Disgusted, Xiao Zekai scolded her a few times, then reached out, plucked the grains from her cheek, and tossed them in the trash.
“By the way, what’s your relationship with Yan Haoning?” he asked, pretending to be casual. “I just saw him coming out of your lounge.”
“Oh, I discovered him,” Nan Xiao replied, then recounted their history.
Hearing it, Xiao Zekai finally felt relieved.
Watching Nan Xiao eat, his own movements gradually slowed. Finally, he put down his chopsticks altogether.
“What’s wrong?” Nan Xiao noticed and asked offhandedly.
Xiao Zekai suddenly lowered his head.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
But his heart pounded wildly, as if it might burst from his chest.
He had realized it a few days ago: he kept staring at Nan Xiao, mask or no mask, and couldn’t stop. Could it be… that he had developed feelings for her?
Later, after finishing his scenes that afternoon, Xiao Zekai went home. He took a short rest, then began tidying up the belongings he hadn’t sorted since moving.
Opening a box filled with childhood keepsakes, he intended only a quick glance before packing it away. But then, a thought struck him. He rummaged deeper.
Within five minutes, he pulled out a yellowed, worn drawing.
It was the “marriage certificate” he had drawn as a child—his and Nan Xiao’s “marriage certificate.”
Looking at the childish crayon figures of a boy and a girl, with the crooked words “Marriage Certificate” scrawled above them, Xiao Zekai couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
