TDLWTAHATD CHAPTER 16

Chapter 16 Don’t Take It to Heart

“……”

Nan Xiao pressed her lips tightly together, brushed past her, and walked away.

Xiao Zekai was still the same as three years ago—immature, infuriating.

Yet once, she had liked him. Liked him very, very much.

They had known each other since they were toddlers, growing up side by side as the closest of friends.

But three years ago, when she insisted on marrying into the Xie family to ward off bad luck, Xiao Zekai had scolded her harshly, saying she was throwing herself into a fire pit. She had persisted anyway. In the end, after his fury had run dry, he had reluctantly “agreed.”

Afterward, when she devoted herself wholeheartedly to Xie Chengyu—giving without expectation, offering everything—Xiao Zekai grew more and more unable to stand it. Argument after argument, he berated her as useless.

Finally, after one explosive quarrel, their decades of friendship capsized. For three years, they hadn’t seen each other.

Regret swelled faintly in Nan Xiao’s heart. She had valued Xiao Zekai as a friend. But now, it seemed, they were completely finished.

Shaking off those scattered thoughts, she went to the set, observing the shoot while taking notes.

The first scene was Xu Ruoxin’s solo. Her performance was decent—though her looks clashed with Qinran’s image, her acting was acceptable.

The second scene was her confrontation with the emperor, played by Xiao Zekai.

During the filming of the second scene, Xie Chengyu remained at the sidelines, eyes fixed intently on Xu Ruoxin, radiating a patience that was all too obvious. Nan Xiao even overheard the whispers:

“Why’s the investor still here? And why can’t he take his eyes off Xu Ruoxin? What’s their relationship?”

“Heh, what do you think? Didn’t you see how nervous he was about her?”

Nan Xiao’s chest tightened. Even outsiders could see how protective he was of Xu Ruoxin. How much must he care?

She forced herself not to dwell on it. This was work. She had to focus—she couldn’t let her emotions interfere. Over and over, she told herself this.

Gradually, she slipped into her work mindset.

But then Xu Ruoxin had an accident.

After completing a somewhat complex move, she went pale, her body wavering before collapsing.

Gasps rang out. Zhou Ruicheng and others rushed forward, but someone else was faster—Xie Chengyu.

He caught her in his arms, brows knit, worry spilling from him.
“What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell?”

Hundreds of eyes locked on them, but he seemed oblivious.

Xu Ruoxin closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, gazing up at him with frail affection.

“I feel a little unwell. Thank goodness you were here.” She paused, then added softly, “Thank you, husband.”

The words “husband” fell, and the set erupted with excited voices.

“Wow, so they’re married? No wonder!”

“They’re really a couple? Their relationship looks so sweet! Xie Chengyu is such a good husband—Xu Ruoxin is so lucky.”

The chatter stabbed through Nan Xiao like knives. Her face drained of color, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, as if she might collapse at any moment.

When Xu Ruoxin called him “husband,” Xie Chengyu hadn’t refuted it. He had tacitly accepted it.

Everyone around them believed it, gossiping, shipping their “love story.”

But she—she was the real wife.

Three years married, and she had never once called him “husband.” By what right did Xu Ruoxin say it so openly, so naturally?

And by what right did Xie Chengyu stay silent?

Nan Xiao could bear no more. Fortunately, Zhou Ruicheng announced the scene would be postponed until the actors had rested. She seized the chance and left.

In the rest room, she clutched her chest until the stabbing pain subsided. When she stepped out again, she almost ran straight into Xiao Zekai.

They were separated by seven or eight meters, but guilt or fear made her see the mockery in his eyes.

Another stab pierced her heart. She instinctively shrank from his words, quickly veering down another path to avoid him.

But this time, she collided head-on with Xu Ruoxin.

Her complexion restored, Xu Ruoxin still wore her costume, lifting her skirt as she approached with eyes gleaming in haughty triumph.

The arrogance in her gaze set Nan Xiao’s teeth on edge. She tried to leave, but Xu Ruoxin blocked her way.

“Miss Nan,” she said sweetly, “just now I made a mistake in front of the director, so I needed Chengyu to shield me. That’s why I called him ‘husband.’ Please don’t take it to heart.