TDLWTAHATD CHAPTER 21

Chapter 21 Won’t You Thank Me?

“You—”

Xie Huaiyu hadn’t expected Nan Xiao to dare talk back. He stomped his foot in fury.
“Why are you suddenly so aggressive? Where’s your upbringing?”

That made Nan Xiao laugh in disbelief.
“My upbringing is just fine. But you—did no one ever teach you how to behave?”

“Already in your twenties, and you can’t even speak decently. Makes one wonder how you were raised.”

Her words cut not only at Xie Huaiyu but also at his parents. Yet strangely, Second Uncle and Aunt both looked too intimidated to protest. Was it because Xie Chengyu was standing nearby?

Xie Huaiyu seemed to realize the same thing.
“You only dare act so high and mighty because my big brother is here protecting you!” he snapped.

“Let me tell you, compared to Brother’s ex-girlfriend Ruoxin-jie, you’re nothing! From head to toe, you can’t compete with her! One day, Brother will toss you aside and let Ruoxin-jie become my sister-in-law!”

So he was Ruoxin’s little fanboy. Nan Xiao hadn’t known before, but now she did.

Not that it mattered—she couldn’t argue anyway. Odds were Chengyu thought the same thing. To contradict would be to embarrass him, and that she dared not do.

But then Xie Chengyu’s gaze cut sharply toward Huaiyu, dark and cold.
“Your sister-in-law is right. You’ve no manners. How did you grow up like this?”

Among the Xie grandchildren, none measured up. He alone was capable, while the rest dragged down the family name.

Huaiyu’s face flushed.
“Brother, how can you take an outsider’s side!”

That word—outsider—was aimed squarely at Nan Xiao. Her eyes turned frosty, and even Chengyu frowned.

Before he could speak, Nan Xiao cut in.
“Am I an outsider? By your logic, every woman who marries into the Xie family is one. Do you know how much that must hurt your mother?”

Her gaze swept to Second Aunt, carrying a note of pity. Sure enough, the woman’s expression turned ugly.

Panic flickered across Huaiyu’s face.
“I didn’t mean that! Mom, you’re different—don’t take it the wrong way—”

“Enough.”

Chengyu’s tone dropped like ice, silencing him. The air itself seemed to freeze; Huaiyu dared not utter another word.

“Get out,” Chengyu ordered, voice low and dangerous. “Come back when you’ve learned how to speak.”

Huaiyu stiffened, shame and rage boiling in his chest. All this humiliation—brought on by Nan Xiao! He wanted nothing more than to lash out at her.

But today, inexplicably, Brother was shielding her instead of him. He dared not disobey. So, scowling, he slunk away.

—

With him gone, the banquet resumed. Nan Xiao secretly exhaled in relief.

It was her first time standing up to the Xie family. She’d looked calm enough, but in truth she’d been terrified. Thankfully, it was over.

From nearby, Chengyu sipped his wine, eyes lingering on her.

He’d always thought of her as gentle, quiet. He hadn’t imagined that, when pushed, she could strike back so sharply—measured, controlled, knowing exactly when to stop. Rare, and impressive.

He realized he was studying her again, drawn to those upturned, liquid eyes of hers. Eyes too alluring, too easy to get lost in.

“I helped you just now,” he said suddenly, words slipping out before he could stop them. “Won’t you thank me?”

His gaze locked onto hers, unwilling to miss a single flicker of her expression.

With her face hidden behind the mask, only her eyes betrayed what she felt.