TDLWTAHATD CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14 I Was the One Who Brought Her In

Just after finishing his soup, Xie Chengyu walked over and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Nan Xiao shook her head. “I’m fine.”

She didn’t look at him as she spoke. After finishing, she went upstairs with a worried expression.

Watching her retreating back, Xie Chengyu’s brows furrowed.

What was going on with her? From earlier until now, she’d been completely absent-minded.

Back in her bedroom, Nan Xiao opened WeChat. From her contacts, she found “Kaikai,” whom she hadn’t spoken to in ages. She tapped in, disabling the “Do Not Disturb” setting.

She entered his Moments—only to find a line across the screen. He’d blocked her from viewing.

No wonder she hadn’t seen any of his posts for so long. Nan Xiao let out a faint, self-deprecating laugh.

That evening, Xie Chengyu was on his way back to the company for a meeting when Xu Ruoxin called.

“Hello, Chengyu.”

She always liked to draw out her words a little when speaking to him, soft with a touch of coyness, but never too much.

“Do you know the project Qin Fei Zhuan? I want to take that role. At the audition, the director was ready to cast me, but the screenwriter rejected it.”

Xie Chengyu didn’t press for details. Hearing she wanted the role, he simply said, “You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

“You’re the best, heehee.”

After hanging up, Xie Chengyu instructed Zhou Wen to contact the production team of Qin Fei Zhuan and find a way to secure the role for Xu Ruoxin.

The title felt strangely familiar to him, as if he’d heard it before somewhere. Was it just his imagination?

In the days that followed, Nan Xiao moved into the old residence. But she spent nearly all her time holed up in her room, revising scripts, rarely going out.

Xie Chengyu, as always, was out early and back late. They barely saw each other, leaving Old Master Xie increasingly frustrated.

Finally, the filming day arrived. Nan Xiao took a cab to the set. Zhou Ruicheng greeted her warmly and pulled her inside.

“Come, come—the lead actors are here. Take a look.”

Feng Xue’er had been in the industry for years, never a breakout star, but familiar. Nan Xiao had met her once and hadn’t been particularly impressed, but since she was to play the heroine Nan Xiao had written, she wanted to take a closer look.

Yet when she entered the set, what she saw made her freeze.

A woman with black hair and red lips stood there, smiling at her and Zhou Ruicheng.

Wasn’t that Xu Ruoxin? What was she doing here?

“Xiaoxiao, this is Xu Ruoxin,” Zhou introduced cheerfully. “She graduated from the Film Academy, used to model in college, and even acted overseas for a few years.

“She’ll be playing Qinran, the female lead. I’m sure she’ll do the role justice…”

“Brother Zhou.”

Nan Xiao cut him off, her expression taut. “Wasn’t Feng Xue’er supposed to play the role? Why is it now Miss Xu?”

Normally, she wouldn’t have questioned this so bluntly. But seeing Xu Ruoxin’s smug, victorious look, her anger surged uncontrollably.

Truthfully, when Zhou had first asked her opinion of Xu Ruoxin, she had already felt uneasy at the thought of her acting in her drama.

Still, she had watched Xu Ruoxin’s audition footage seriously, and determined objectively—she wasn’t suitable for Qinran.

So she had vetoed her, not out of bias, but because she truly didn’t fit the role.

But now—why had the lead suddenly changed?

“Ah, I forgot to mention,” Zhou slapped his forehead. “She was swapped in two days ago. I should’ve told you…”

Xu Ruoxin listened with a mocking curve to her lips, her superiority flaunted with ease.

Nan Xiao was already furious but held herself in check. “Brother Zhou, I believe Miss Xu isn’t suitable.”

Xu Ruoxin had the looks, and her acting wasn’t bad. She could carry a lead role.

But Qinran was a character with pure features and ironclad resilience at her core. Xu Ruoxin, with her sultry charm and white-lotus fragility, was the complete opposite.

Nan Xiao was usually gentle, even timid. But in her work, she stood firm. She had always thought of this as her only true strength.

“Xiaoxiao, I know she’s not the best fit. But there’s no helping it.” Zhou lowered his voice, troubled.

“A major investor put money in specifically for Xu Ruoxin. We can’t afford to offend them…”

Investment?

Nan Xiao’s head snapped up, her eyes wide as she stared at Xu Ruoxin in disbelief.

At that moment, a cool, clear voice sounded from behind:

“I was the one who brought Ruoxin in. She wants to play this role.”