Chapter 8

The sound of high heels gradually approached from behind, and Xie Zhi instantly understood what Tang Xuan was up to.
Did he look like a stepping stone perfect for being trodden on?
Wasn’t Tang Xuan afraid of genuinely twisting his ankle?
Xie Zhi steadied his slightly unsteady steps, closing in on Tang Xuan. He leaned forward slightly, looking down at Tang Xuan, who lay sprawled on the ground and refused to get up. His deep, dark eyes were excessively calm, exuding only cold indifference: “Sorry, did I hurt your foot?” Yet his tone was gentle and amiable.
Tang Xuan’s face paled slightly.
Xie Zhi’s push had barely used any force. Anyone wrongly accused would instinctively argue back, but who could have expected Xie Zhi to react so quickly, even adopting a stance of “I’ll play along with your game”?
Tang Xuan bit his lip. From the corner of his eye, he saw Fang Xianxing just a few steps away. Lowering his head, he clutched his ankle tightly, his eyes reddening.
He had no choice.
If he said he was fine, that he wasn’t hurt, Xie Zhi would surely, in front of Fang Xianxing, brush off the earlier push as a trivial matter. He’d use his drunken state to draw all of Fang Xianxing’s attention to himself.
He’d already apologized—what more did Tang Xuan want from him?

He was drunk, not intentional. Forgive him.
On the contrary, he was too drunk. She’d have to take him back early to sober up.
If it went like that, this fall of his would not only be for nothing but also give Xie Zhi an excuse to act wild with drink and cling to Fang Xianxing’s side tonight.
He refused to always be the one playing the assist.
Tang Xuan gripped his ankle tightly, discreetly pinching it a few times with his hand until the tender skin bloomed with patches of vivid red.
“Are you hurt? Is it bad?”
Fang Xianxing stepped forward, but just as she was about to pass Xie Zhi, he grabbed her hand, forcibly halting her steps toward Tang Xuan.
Fang Xianxing was slightly surprised, looking down at their clasped hands.
Xie Zhi’s hand was beautiful—well-defined knuckles, long and slender, like the joints of a beauty bamboo.
Xie Zhi pulled Fang Xianxing back a little, stepping forward himself. His dark eyes locked onto Tang Xuan, cutting in before Tang Xuan could answer Fang Xianxing: “My fault. I drank too much, got dizzy, didn’t control my strength. Are you alright?”
Tang Xuan’s peripheral vision caught their joined hands, and he silently clenched his back teeth.
Xie Zhi’s words snapped Fang Xianxing out of her confusion over his sudden initiative. Seeing his profile—cold, pale, with fine sweat beading on his forehead—she grew increasingly convinced Xie Zhi was courting disaster. Drinking so much liquor on an empty stomach—if it were just drunkenness, fine, but she feared acute gastritis or alcohol poisoning.
Fang Xianxing tightened her grip: “Can you still stand steady? I’ll take you to the car to wait. Tang Xuan’s hurt—I’ll handle it and be right back.”
Xie Zhi turned to look at her, his clear, dark eyes—brimming with obvious displeasure—fixed on Fang Xianxing.
Fang Xianxing found his stare baffling.
Had she said something wrong?
Yes, she had. Xie Zhi had always lacked warmth, disliking socializing with others, yet his striking looks made him anything but low-key. Back in school, people always found excuses—claiming he was aloof or strange—to pick fights with him.
He’d always fought back. Those who tried to take advantage of him, he made them suffer.
Now, he was teaching Tang Xuan a lesson, yet Fang Xianxing was telling him to leave, even planning to send him away so she could tend to Tang Xuan’s “pitiful” injury alone, letting Tang Xuan have his way.
Wasn’t this undermining him?
He wouldn’t leave. Tang Xuan dared to scheme against him, and he’d make sure Tang Xuan reaped the bitter fruit himself.
In fact, Fang Xianxing’s words dissatisfied more than just Xie Zhi. Tang Xuan, lying fragile and pitiful on the ground, was equally unhappy.
His foot was injured, still sprawled on the ground, yet Fang Xianxing was worried about whether Xie Zhi could stand steady?
Favoritism.
Staying down there too long looked unsightly. Though it was late and few people were around, the occasional passerby would glance over curiously while walking their path.
Tang Xuan, who lived under the camera’s eye, didn’t want this kind of attention or to leave such an embarrassing mark on his record. So, he struggled to pull himself up using the stone pillar at the entrance.
“Ah—”
Just as he nearly stood, his single leg faltered. With a startled cry, he clung tightly to the pillar to steady himself.
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing turned to look at the sound.
Facing Fang Xianxing’s gaze, Tang Xuan forced a smile, his light-colored eyes shimmering as if holding a handful of water.
Fang Xianxing felt a twinge of guilt under his look.
After all, Tang Xuan had been hurt accidentally by Xie Zhi while helping her look after him. She shouldn’t have left him lying there, pitifully pulling himself up with the pillar.
“Do you have your phone? I’ll call your manager. You don’t look well—you need to get that foot checked.”
As she spoke, Fang Xianxing took two steps toward Tang Xuan.
Xie Zhi grew impatient. Hadn’t Fang Xianxing seen through his own act of feigned pity at a glance before? Was Tang Xuan’s performance really better than his?
She was utterly unreliable.
Xie Zhi let go of Fang Xianxing’s hand, intending to handle it himself quickly.
Fang Xianxing paused as he brushed past her, puzzled by why he’d let go, then reached out to grab his hand instead.
Pulled back half a step, Xie Zhi turned and frowned at Fang Xianxing.
Fang Xianxing thought he was drunk and restless, not staying by her side obediently. Once she sorted this out, she’d take him back to rest.
A hospital trip would be too exhausting. She planned to call a doctor to check him—see if he’d hurt his stomach or his head.
The two locked eyes again, inexplicably, both with grim expressions.
Tang Xuan broke the silence: “I didn’t bring my phone. Cheng Ge just changed his number, and I haven’t memorized it yet…”
“But, Fang Zong, I’m fine. Don’t look at Gege with such blame. When drunk, it’s easy to not recognize people. Didn’t Gege just push you away too? I’m not close to Gege, so him pushing me was even more instinctive.”
“My body’s just weak. It’s just a fall—how did I hurt my ankle? But it shouldn’t be the bone.”
“Even if it were the bone, it’s fine. I don’t have any scenes next week—I can recover.”
Tang Xuan gave a strained smile, his voice soft and sticky: “Gege drank so much—he must feel awful. Fang Zong, take him home soon. It’s late—his family will worry.”
If Tang Xuan hadn’t spoken, Fang Xianxing might have thought Xie Zhi had just gotten drunk and unintentionally hurt him. But now that he did…
She wasn’t a fool.
Fang Xianxing silently studied Tang Xuan for a few seconds, then turned back, meeting Xie Zhi’s gaze fixed on her. Finally, she understood why he’d been looking at her with such displeasure.

Fang Xianxing released Xie Zhi’s hand and stepped back two paces.
In her mind: Fine, you take over. My eyes failed me.
Xie Zhi gave her a subtle glance, then strode toward Tang Xuan, helping him up in one motion.
“Fang Zong,” Xie Zhi said, “the liquor’s burning my stomach, and his foot’s hurt. Let’s all go to the hospital together.”
Fang Xianxing had planned to hand Tang Xuan off to his manager or call his sister to deal with it, but since Xie Zhi wanted to take him to the hospital, she’d play along.
She nodded, then couldn’t help asking, “Is your stomach really hurting?”
Xie Zhi smiled: “Not lying. I know your taboos. The last guy who lied to you got wrecked by you—I’d fool anyone but you.”
Fang Xianxing looked at him skeptically. Since when did she have such a taboo? Xie Zhi had deceived her plenty.
After signing their prenup, the next time she saw him, the warm, considerate Xie Zhi she’d known was gone.
That guy had been faking it from the start.
Over there, hearing Xie Zhi’s words, Tang Xuan’s body stiffened. He cautiously ventured: “No need for the hospital, right? It’s just a minor injury—I’ll rest a few days and be fine.”
“A matter of muscles and bones isn’t minor. You were down there half the day—couldn’t get up. It must be serious,” Xie Zhi turned back, saying earnestly, “We need an X-ray, proper treatment. Otherwise, I’ll feel guilty.”
“Fang Zong would feel guilty too, right?”
Fang Xianxing nodded.
You’re right. Keep going.
Xie Zhi gripped Tang Xuan’s arm with some force, leading him toward the car.
Tang Xuan’s heart raced.
Originally, he’d protected Fang Xianxing’s hand, certain he’d gain some favor. But now, if they went to the hospital and she found out he’d lied—worse, tried to frame the man she cared about—wouldn’t he end up losing more than he gained?
And what Xie Zhi said—Fang Xianxing punishing liars—what would she do, and how far would she go?
“No trouble needed. I remember my assistant’s number—I’ll have him pick me up soon. You two go ahead if you’re busy.” Tang Xuan tried to shake off Xie Zhi’s hand, but Xie Zhi clung tight, unshakable.
Tang Xuan inwardly cursed. Xie Zhi had downed so much liquor, clearly unsteady earlier—how wasn’t he passed out yet?
Xie Zhi’s head was spinning. It looked like he was supporting Tang Xuan, but in truth, he clung to Tang Xuan’s arm to stay upright. Tang Xuan’s face doubled, tripled, quadrupled before his eyes, and seeing his panicked expression multiply amused him a little.
“No trouble. I’m heading to the hospital anyway—it’s on the way!” Xie Zhi dragged Tang Xuan closer to the car.
Tang Xuan wanted to pull back, but with Xie Zhi holding on and Fang Xianxing watching, he could only force a weak smile, limping along as he was dragged.
Fang Xianxing watched Xie Zhi torment Tang Xuan, torn between laughter and exasperation. She followed quietly beside them. When Tang Xuan occasionally glanced her way, she nodded solemnly, signaling: Listen to Xie Zhi—he’s right.
“Let’s go. Delay any longer, and lingering damage won’t be good.” Xie Zhi tilted his head. “Is your foot too sore to walk? Should I have Fang Zong carry you to the car?”
Before, Tang Xuan might’ve been thrilled, but now, no one could get him into that car.
Fang Xianxing didn’t know why Xie Zhi was redirecting the heat to her. She cleared her throat: “Tang Xuan’s in showbiz—me carrying him wouldn’t look good. Xie Zhi, support him properly. It’s just two steps.”
Xie Zhi nodded with mock seriousness: “No choice then. Lean on me more. With such a serious injury, Fang Zong will surely compensate you well.”
He stressed “compensate,” and to Tang Xuan’s ears, it sounded like a devil’s whisper—Fang Zong finds out you lied, she’ll deal with you thoroughly.
Tang Xuan bit his lip, staring at Xie Zhi’s mocking expression. For a moment, anger overpowered his fear. With only two steps to the car, he steeled himself.
“Then I’ll trouble Fang Zong and Gege.”
With that, he suddenly seemed unable to stand, collapsing toward Xie Zhi.
Caught off guard, Xie Zhi started to step back but then braced himself to hold Tang Xuan up.
Already unsteady, with Tang Xuan’s deliberate move, they both “crashed,” tumbling to the ground.
Xie Zhi managed alright, stumbling a couple of times before sitting down. He looked up at Tang Xuan.
Before falling, he’d seen Tang Xuan deliberately step half on the curb, grit his teeth, and drag them both down.
He’d even heard the crack of bone.
Xie Zhi’s mind went fuzzy.
“You okay?” Fang Xianxing hadn’t expected these two play-actors to suddenly fall. She rushed over, helping Xie Zhi up into her arms.
Dizzy and dazed, Xie Zhi leaned his head into Fang Xianxing’s shoulder, steadying himself. After a moment, he looked up at her, his expression grave: “…Something’s wrong.”
Fang Xianxing frowned, pulling his hand up to check if he’d scraped it bracing the fall.
“Not me.” Xie Zhi pulled his hand back, pointing at Tang Xuan, who sat on the ground, wincing and clutching his ankle. “He might be lame. For real this time.”
Fang Xianxing: “…”