TDLWTAHATD CHAPTER 24

Chapter 24 – Why Should I Listen to an Outsider

“No need, just take good care of Grandfather. He’s the one who needs treatment the most right now.”

After saying this, Xie Chengyu turned and walked away.
Old Master Xie wailed, pointing at his back and cursing him nonstop until his figure disappeared from sight.

Nan Xiao felt her heart turn utterly cold. Last night’s unexpected experience had confused her, making her think that perhaps something between her and Xie Chengyu had changed. But how could that be possible?

See—Xie Chengyu still loved Xu Ruoxin!

Last night he had kept himself pure for Xu Ruoxin, and today he endured a beating just to protect Xu Ruoxin’s reputation. What was she still fantasizing about?

Nan Xiao suddenly felt pitiful—she really couldn’t go on like this anymore.

“Xiaoxiao, Grandfather has wronged you! When that brat Chengyu comes back, I’ll teach him a lesson and make it up to you…”

“Grandfather, please don’t do that. There’s no possibility between me and Xie Chengyu. His heart only holds Miss Xu, and besides, we’re not suited. You should… prepare yourself mentally sooner rather than later, and accept Miss Xu.”

After Nan Xiao said this and turned to leave, Old Master Xie was dumbfounded.

How come one after another, none of them listened to him anymore?

Dragging her weary body out of the main residence, Nan Xiao suddenly felt lost, not knowing where to go.

Xie Chengyu had told Zhou Wen to resubmit the divorce papers. That meant that although they were still legally husband and wife, in name they no longer were.

She certainly couldn’t keep living in the main residence, but she didn’t really want to go back to Lanting Courtyard either. Where should she go?

After some thought, she took a cab to Lin Yan’s home—only to find Lin Yan drunk and slumped alone in the living room.

At her feet were seven or eight empty bottles, and she was still drinking. Nan Xiao angrily snatched the bottle from her hand.
“What’s wrong with you? Drinking this much, do you want to die?”

Lin Yan’s blurry gaze gradually cleared. She didn’t try to grab the bottle back, instead she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from under the coffee table. She lit one skillfully and took a hard drag.

She used to like smoking, but later quit because Li Jingting didn’t like it. Why had she started again now?

Nan Xiao frowned at her.

“Chen Jiayi is back.”

Lin Yan exhaled a cloud of smoke, the hazy mist obscuring her face. Nan Xiao couldn’t see her expression, only heard the emptiness in her voice.
“Li Jingting went to pick her up first thing this morning.”

Nan Xiao frowned and moved to hug her.
“Yanyan, don’t be sad.”

Lin Yan turned her head, burying her face in Nan Xiao’s shoulder, and began to sob quietly.

Nan Xiao stayed with her all night. In the morning she ordered breakfast and ate with Lin Yan before heading to the film set.

Today’s scenes weren’t that important, and Nan Xiao inexplicably felt nauseous. As soon as she arrived, she vomited up her breakfast, so she went to rest in the lounge.

Someone knocked on the door. Thinking it was staff, she called “Come in.”
But it was Old Master Xie, leaning on his cane.

“Grandfather.” She quickly went over to support his arm. “Why did you suddenly come here…?”

Compared to yesterday, the Old Master was calmer. He held her arm, hesitated, then asked:
“Xiaoxiao, why didn’t anything happen between you and Chengyu the night before last? That medicine was top grade. I even had your second uncle lock the door. How could Chengyu possibly have resisted…?”

Nan Xiao’s face flushed crimson, her expression deeply embarrassed.
“Grandfather, Xie Chengyu doesn’t like me, of course nothing happened. And you know about my condition too.”

“Ah, Xiaoxiao, don’t be upset, Grandfather didn’t mean it that way…”

Truthfully, Old Master Xie never cared about her looks.

In his eyes, what mattered most for a matriarch was temperament, character, and ability. Nan Xiao had all three.

As for appearance—what was the use of that?

Chengyu’s father only liked young, pretty women, spending all his time with them and never doing anything proper. Marrying a wife that beautiful was no blessing.

“Grandfather, I know you didn’t mean it that way, but this is reality.”

By “reality,” she meant that Xie Chengyu didn’t like her. The Old Master knew that too. He sighed, comforted her a little, and then left with his cane.

After he left, Nan Xiao felt weary.

He truly treated her well. Years ago, when her stepmother and stepsister came to make trouble, the Old Master had even blocked a thrown vase for her. If it had struck her head, who knows what might have happened.

But the Old Master was too stubborn, insisting she must be Xie Chengyu’s wife.

Before, Nan Xiao had thought this was her support for staying by Xie Chengyu’s side. Now, it had become a burden.

With a bang, the door opened again. Thinking the Old Master had returned, she turned her head—only to see Xu Ruoxin walking in, chin raised.

Nan Xiao instantly stood up, frowning.
“Miss Xu, what are you doing barging in without knocking?”

Xu Ruoxin flicked her hair and sneered:
“You actually had Old Master Xie drug Chengyu? You’re so ugly, and you dared to do something like that. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Nan Xiao clenched her fists tightly.
“You eavesdropped on our conversation?”

“Heh, if you don’t close the door properly, why be afraid of eavesdroppers?”

“Where did you learn such bandit logic? By that reasoning, just because you’re pretty, if someone assaulted you one day, it would serve you right?”

“…”

Xu Ruoxin’s expression stiffened, but she quickly recovered.

Her eyes swept over Nan Xiao with contempt as she said:
“What’s the use of your words? Isn’t it a fact you’re ugly? Do you think just because you have a decent figure and add the effect of medicine, men will like you? Let me tell you—absolutely not.

“You should look in the mirror every day and see how disgusting you are. With your face, no man would like you—least of all a man like Chengyu. Didn’t you see? He didn’t even want to touch you.”

Her tone was leisurely, but every word was insulting. Nan Xiao’s fingers trembled in anger.

But quickly, she calmed down.

At first she had been furious. She wanted to tell Xu Ruoxin it wasn’t she who had drugged him, but the Old Master. She hated being slandered.

But then she realized—the truth didn’t matter to Xu Ruoxin. Xu Ruoxin’s purpose was to humiliate her, to drive her away, to make her divorce Chengyu as soon as possible.

So she had to restrain herself, not let Xu Ruoxin manipulate her.

Yes, she would divorce Xie Chengyu, but only because he wanted it. After all, they were still legally married. Why should she listen to an outsider?

“Miss Xu, whether I divorce Xie Chengyu or not—what does that have to do with you? My looks—what does that have to do with you? And if one day Chengyu really does like me, can you stop him? What right do you even have to try?”