Chapter 21: Aren't You Going to Thank Me?

“You—”

Xie Huaiyu hadn’t expected Nan Xiao to dare talk back to him. He was so furious he nearly jumped off the ground. “What’s gotten into you? Since when did you become so aggressive? Where’s your manners?”

That set Nan Xiao laughing.

“My manners are just fine,” she said coolly. “It’s you who seems to have never been taught how to behave like a human being.”

“Twenty-something years old and can’t even say something decent. I wonder how you grew up.”

Her words hit both Xie Ershu and Xie Ersun right in the face—but strangely, neither of them dared to react. They just stood there, tight-lipped, eyes downcast. Was it because Xie Chengyu was standing right beside them?

Xie Huaiyu suddenly realized that too. His voice turned sharp with anger. “Nan Xiao, is this what you’re doing because my brother’s here? You think you can act like a wild animal now?”

“I’ll tell you this—you’re nothing compared to my brother’s ex-girlfriend, Ruoxin. Not even close. From head to toe, you’re not her match.”

“One day, my brother will dump you and bring Ruoxin back. Then she’ll be my sister-in-law.”

Xie Huaiyu was clearly a die-hard fan of Xu Ruoxin. Nan Xiao had been oblivious before—but now she knew.

And knowing didn’t help her respond. She couldn’t argue. Probably Xie Chengyu thought the same way. If she spoke up, she’d be challenging his pride—and she wasn’t about to do that.

But then Xie Chengyu shot Xie Huaiyu a cold glance. His eyes darkened, glinting with something dangerous.

“You’re right,” he said flatly. “You really don’t have any manners. How did you turn out like this?”

Among the younger generation of the Xie family, they were all worse than the last. It was a disgrace to the family name.

Xie Huaiyu bristled. “Brother, why are you siding with an outsider?”

The word “outsider” was clearly aimed at Nan Xiao. She glanced at him—icy, silent. Even Xie Chengyu frowned.

He seemed about to speak, but Nan Xiao beat him to it.

“Am I really an outsider?” she asked, voice soft but cutting. “So you’re saying every woman who marries into the Xie family is an outsider? How would your second aunt feel hearing that?”

She looked over at Xie Ersun. Her eyes held a flicker of pity. And Xie Ersun’s expression—pale, strained—confirmed it.

Xie Huaiyu panicked. “I didn’t mean it like that! Mom’s different! Mom, don’t take it wrong—”

“Enough.”

Xie Chengyu’s voice dropped like ice. He cut him off mid-sentence.

His mood had soured completely. The air around them turned frigid, as if time itself had frozen. Xie Huaiyu froze too—mouth shut, heart pounding.

Xie Chengyu’s brows knitted tightly. His voice was low, deadly calm. “Get out. Learn how to speak before you come back.”

Xie Huaiyu stiffened. Rage and shame surged through him. Every insult, every humiliation—she’d brought it all on him. He wanted nothing more than to punch her right in the face.

But today… something was off. Was his brother possessed? Or had he gone mad? Instead of defending him, he’d sided with Nan Xiao—the outsider.

He couldn’t defy his brother’s order. So he turned and left, shoulders slumped, face burning.

Once Xie Huaiyu was gone, the party resumed. Nan Xiao let out a quiet breath—her first real confrontation with the Xie family, and she’d survived.

She’d stayed calm on the outside, but inside, her hands had trembled. Thank God it was over.

Xie Chengyu picked up a glass of red wine, took a slow sip, then turned to look at her.

He’d always thought Nan Xiao was gentle—quiet, almost fragile. But now he saw a different side: fierce, unflinching. It surprised him.

Earlier, when Zhou Wen described her, Xie Chengyu had imagined someone meek, quiet, easily pushed around. To be honest, he’d always looked down on people like that. Sure, they weren’t dangerous—but they were weak. Useless.

If someone couldn’t stand up for themselves when wronged, what could they possibly achieve?

But Nan Xiao wasn’t like that. She was quiet, yes—but when she was pushed, she fought back. And she fought smart. She didn’t overstep. She knew exactly when to stop. That kind of balance was rare.

And now, he found himself studying her again—this time, watching her eyes.

Those slightly upturned eyes—so sultry, so hypnotic.

“I helped you,” he said suddenly, almost without thinking. “Aren’t you going to thank me?”

He locked eyes with her, refusing to miss a single flicker of emotion.

Nan Xiao wore a mask most days—her face hidden from view. Without it, it was hard to read her. So he studied her eyes instead.