Chapter 38: The Man in the Photo

Since Xie Chengyu was determined to buy it for her—whether out of fairness or just to shut her up—Nan Xiao had decided to go ahead and take it.

But honestly, she hadn’t needed anything lately. A few days ago, though, she’d heard Lin Yan and Xiao Zekai both mention wanting a certain handbag. So she pulled up the images of the two bags and sent them to Zhou Wen.

“I want this one.”

The two bags were from the same series, different colors, slightly varied in design—what you might call a couple’s set.

Zhou Wen lit up when he saw them. He forwarded the photo to Xie Chengyu with a cheerful message: “Madam wants the H-brand matching set. I’ve already placed the order for her.”

Matching set?

Looking at the two identical-looking bags, Xie Chengyu blinked in mild surprise.

Why would Nan Xiao want a couple’s bag? The woman’s version she’d definitely use herself. But what about the men’s version? Who was she planning to give it to… him?

Was she actually going to gift him a bag?

For some reason, Xie Chengyu found himself oddly intrigued.

The next day, somehow, Xu Ruoxin found out. She showed up at Nan Xiao’s dressing room without warning, stepping inside and immediately demanding, “You made Chengyu buy you a bag? And a *matching* set?”

“Hmph.”

Her laugh carried a sharp edge of mockery.

“You haven’t lived together in three years. You have no idea what Chengyu likes. Miss Nan, stop wasting your time.”

Xu Ruoxin kept up her polished, composed image as best she could, but her eyes dripped with disdain. She no longer bothered pretending around Nan Xiao anymore.

Nan Xiao was reading a book. At the words, she glanced up, unimpressed. “Miss Xu, if you’re mentally ill, go get treated.”

Xu Ruoxin froze. That was the first time Nan Xiao had ever spoken to her like that.

Her gaze sharpened instantly. “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it says.”

She’d never bought Xie Chengyu a bag before—and she had no intention of doing so now. Yet here came Xu Ruoxin, barging in with this nonsense. What else was she supposed to think? That she wasn’t sick?

“Nan Xiao, you—”

Before she could continue, Nan Xiao lost patience. She genuinely hated Xu Ruoxin right now. She didn’t want to be in the same space with her, especially not after what had happened before.

She stood up abruptly, pointing toward the door. “Shut up. Leave. If you don’t, I’ll start swearing.”

In their ongoing clash, Nan Xiao was the one who finally tore off the mask of elegance.

She stared hard at Xu Ruoxin, her eyes full of disgust.

Xu Ruoxin’s smug posture vanished. It was clear Nan Xiao’s attitude had struck a nerve.

She said nothing. Just gave Nan Xiao a cold, contemptuous glance, then swayed out of the room with exaggerated grace.

Silence settled back into the dressing room. Nan Xiao returned to her book.

Just then, Xiao Zekai arrived.

He’d gotten a message from Nan Xiao and come over. She handed him the bag that Zhou Wen had delivered that morning. “Here. I remember you liked this one.”

Xiao Zekai blinked. Why was she giving him something so expensive?

Sure, he could afford it easily on his own—but for Nan Xiao, it was a serious expense.

Seeing his confusion, she explained the whole story from yesterday.

When he heard the truth—that Xie Chengyu had actually bought the bag—he felt an instant urge to toss it aside.

But then he caught himself. No. This bag couldn’t be thrown away. One day, he’d carry it proudly in front of Xie Chengyu, showing off exactly how much better he was.

The thought flashed through his mind so fast, even he barely registered it.

“Zeke,” Nan Xiao said once he’d taken the bag. “You’ve got scenes to shoot soon. Go on, get out.”

She’d called him over just to give him the bag. But now that he had it, he wouldn’t leave. He didn’t have anything urgent to do—asked random questions, made small talk, suddenly turned clingy. Something was off, but she couldn’t quite place it.

Xiao Zekai stared at the mask covering Nan Xiao’s face, silent.

He remembered the sight of her without it—the way her skin looked beneath it. He wanted to see it again.

But then he remembered: her skin still wasn’t fully healed. She couldn’t remove the mask completely yet. And he had filming to do—no time for lingering.

So he didn’t say anything.

He stood. “Alright, I’m leaving. If that Xu woman comes bothering you again, just text me.”

With a reluctant sigh, he walked out.

Nan Xiao didn’t dwell on Xiao Zekai’s odd behavior. They’d been friends for years. Occasional mood swings were normal. Most of the time, he was perfectly fine.

Then someone knocked on the door again.

“Come in,” she said.

To her surprise, it was Xie Chengyu.

He wore a black shirt and tailored trousers—his usual look, which only deepened the coldness of his already expressionless face.

He strode straight to her, voice clipped. “You moved out of Lanting Garden?”

“Yes. So what?”

Lanting Garden’s villa had a housekeeper who cleaned three times a week. Today, Xie Chengyu had gone back to retrieve something and happened to run into her. The housekeeper casually mentioned Nan Xiao no longer lived there—but where *was* she? Not at the old estate either.

“Where are you living now?” he asked.

“Near the set,” Nan Xiao replied. “The apartment building across from the studio.”

Xie Chengyu’s mind instantly conjured the image of those peeling walls and crumbling buildings. His expression darkened. “That place isn’t safe. Move back.”

“There’s nothing unsafe about it. There’s a security door, surveillance cameras. I’m fine.”

After speaking, she turned away, facing the wall.

Xie Chengyu wasn’t really worried about her safety. He was just afraid of having to explain to Grandfather Xie if anything happened to her.

But how could she go back?

Three years alone in that house, every corner filled with memories of him—she couldn’t bear to return.

Seeing her turn her back, clearly refusing to engage, Xie Chengyu’s brow twitched.

Then another thought hit him. Without thinking, he glanced around the dressing room.

Zhou Wen said he’d delivered the bags early that morning. But now neither of them was there. Where had they gone? Had Nan Xiao hidden them?

Why wasn’t she handing them to him now? Was she saving them, planning to present them in a box later?

“Just be careful living out there alone. Call me if you need anything.”

He dropped the matter of the bags. He’d get them eventually. He gave her a quick warning, then turned and left.

Outside, he messaged Zhou Wen, asking him to check Nan Xiao’s exact address and send photos of the surrounding area.

Zhou Wen was efficient. By late afternoon, he’d sent the details.

“Mr. Xie, Madam lives in Longbai Garden, Building 9, Apartment 201. Here are photos of the entrance, the interior of the compound, and the hallway.”

Along with the text, he included several photos. Xie Chengyu scrolled through them—one by one.

He studied the flaking paint, the narrow alley blocked by thick trees. His frown deepened.

But then, on the final photo, his eyes locked onto the image.

His breath caught.

He stared, frozen, at the man in the picture.