Chapter 50 — Why are you whispering love words to me so early in the morning?
It was already past ten on Sunday morning when Nan Xu finally woke up, still half-dazed.
When she stepped out of her room, Xie Hejing was already sitting in the living room, reading through some documents.
That’s when she remembered, he had called her to get up three times earlier this morning, and she’d ignored every single one.
Now, the look he gave her carried a faint hint of grievance.
Nan Xu cleared her throat, greeted him a little awkwardly, and quickly turned to the kitchen to prepare brunch. Two minutes later, she heard Xie Hejing answer a phone call from the living room.
The voice on the other end sounded familiar.
Nan Xu paused what she was doing and walked over to him, tilting her head up as if to ask permission to listen in.
Xie Hejing put the phone on speaker.
Zhang Huiwan’s voice came through, sharp and direct.
“Xie Hejing, what have you been up to lately? You don’t even come home for meals anymore.”
He glanced at Nan Xu, thinking silently, Trying to win you a daughter-in-law.
“Mom, work’s been busy.”
“Busy? Too busy to come home even once? You’re living near the office, fine—but you haven’t been home all week!”
Nan Xu thought back, it was true. Xie Hejing had been staying here the whole time, eating and sleeping without returning to the family house once.
“And another thing, what’s this big project that required Jiaojiao to be away on a month-long business trip? You didn’t explain it properly last time, so you’d better come back and make it clear today.”
Nan Xu raised her brows. From the sound of it, Xie Hejing was definitely in for a scolding later.
She glanced at him quietly, only to find him smiling faintly—clearly amused by the look on her face.
Seeing her slightly worried expression, his eyes softened with laughter.
“Hello? Xie Hejing? Cat got your tongue? If you don’t come home today, I won’t let you off!”
Hearing Aunt Zhang’s exasperated tone through the phone, Nan Xu shrank her neck a little. Yeah… there was no maybe about it—he was definitely in trouble.
“Mm, I know. I’ll be home for lunch,” Xie Hejing said calmly.
Zhang Huiwan muttered a few more complaints before hanging up.
“Are you going to get scolded?” Nan Xu asked right away.
Lately, she’d been receiving texts from Aunt Zhang herself, full of concern about how her ‘business trip’ was going. Meanwhile, Xie Hejing had apparently been getting periodic earfuls from her about why he’d sent Nan Xu away for a month.
He shrugged. “Just a few words, nothing serious.”
Nan Xu lowered her eyes.
“You’re that worried about me, huh?” His lips curved into an unguarded smile.
“I just think… this was something between the two of us, and it’s a little pitiful that you’re the only one getting scolded,” she said earnestly.
Just that one simple line, and the air around them suddenly felt sweeter. Xie Hejing looked at her quietly, eyes warm and still.
In fact, he thought it might be nice if his mom scolded him a few more times. Better yet, she could scold him at Nan Xu’s place.
That way, he could show up here pretending to be pitiful…
Right. Pretending to be pitiful could work.
Xie Hejing’s gaze deepened.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Nan Xu tilted her head, studying him. “Are you… a little scared too?”
This girl…
So soft, so sweet—he almost wanted to hide her away from the world, never letting anyone else see her.
Biting the inside of his lip, Xie Hejing murmured, “Why are you whispering love words to me so early in the morning?”
“Ah?”
Nan Xu blinked. “Was that… love talk?”
Did Xie Hejing misunderstand what love talk meant?
He narrowed his eyes slightly. “…”
His breath grew heavier.
“Oh—right, I said it, I said it.” Nan Xu quickly went along with him.
Xie Hejing tossed his phone onto the sofa, took a few steps forward, and slowly bent down until his chin rested on her shoulder. His voice was low and warm.
“What if I really am a little scared?”
Nan Xu frowned thoughtfully. “Then… how about I tell Aunt Zhang it was my idea to come on this trip, so she won’t blame you? Or she can scold me instead…”
But getting Aunt Zhang to scold her would probably be harder than getting Aunt Zhang to stop scolding Xie Hejing.
Xie Hejing chuckled against her shoulder, the vibration of his laughter rippling through her.
“What are you laughing at?” she asked.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Silly girl. Who volunteers to take the blame like that?”
“But haven’t you always taken the blame for me?” Nan Xu thought back. “Ever since school, you’ve been doing that.”
“Then you’re a fool too,” she mumbled softly.
“I’m not the same as you,” he said. “For me, it’s only natural.”
“Then it’s natural for me too—it’s just that you’ve never given me the chance.” Nan Xu puffed out her cheeks, looking a little indignant.
“You’re not,” Xie Hejing replied decisively.
Her pout deepened. “Why not?”
“Because I want something from you. So everything I do—it’s only natural.” His tone was quiet, his eyes steady.
“But you’re different. You don’t want anything from me, so you don’t need to do those things.”
He truly wished she did want something from him—that she’d crave him, become addicted to him. But she didn’t.
Love? With a gentle temperament like hers, plenty of people would give her love—friends, family… His love was just an extra.
Money? Even without being his assistant, she was capable enough to find a good job. She’d never lack for that either.
Everything Nan Xu might need… she didn’t have to seek it from him.
So Xie Hejing could only take a more extreme path. He knew how slow she was when it came to feelings, so all he could do was pull her closer—step by step—until desire finally took root.
“I…”
Nan Xu tried to think of something she might want from him, but nothing came to mind.
After a moment, she turned the question back on him. “Then what is it you want from me?”
“To be with you,” he said quietly, pressing a kiss to her neck. “For a lifetime.”
“Nan Xu, as long as you stand there, everything I do for you is only natural.”
Nan Xu shook her head. “No, it’s not like that.”
Xie Hejing’s gaze deepened. “Not like what?”
It took Nan Xu several seconds before she finally said, “No one owes anyone anything. Nothing someone does for another is ‘only natural.’”
“Brother, you’ve treated me really well, so I want to treat you well too.”
“It’s a two-way process.”
“I might not do it perfectly, but I’m willing to try.”
Xie Hejing stayed silent. Thinking he wasn’t listening, Nan Xu continued.
“If you’re always good to someone who doesn’t care for you at all, and you still can’t let her go, then you’re just… a big fool.”
“That’s not how it should be. In a relationship, you also deserve to be loved. Do you understand?”
“Only when both people give and care for each other can a relationship truly grow stronger.”
Every word Nan Xu spoke carried quiet sincerity, her soft voice wrapping around Xie Hejing like a gentle stream, brushing against the most tender part of his heart.
In that moment, he understood again why so many people liked Nan Xu.
But with that thought, his chest tightened.
All the more reason—he could never, would never, let her go.
He still didn’t say a word. Nan Xu tilted her head slightly, unable to see his expression, and asked softly, “Brother, are you even listening to me?”
“I am.”
“Then did you remember what I said?”
“Mm. But—” Xie Hejing paused for a moment, “those last few lines of yours sounded like something someone would say before leaving.”
“How could you think that?” Nan Xu huffed lightly. “I meant every word. And besides, I’m still right here in your arms, aren’t I? How am I leaving?”
She was indeed still in his arms, and his eyes curved faintly at the corners.
“Alright.” He glanced at the time—it was almost eleven. If he went back too late, Madam Zhang Huiwan would really be upset.
“Nan Xu, it’s almost noon. I have to head out for a while.”
“Okay,” Nan Xu replied softly.
Just “okay”?
He frowned. “That’s it? No other reaction?”
“Reaction?”
Nan Xu blinked, confused. After thinking for a bit, she said, “Brother, go ahead. I’ll wait for you to come back.”
“That’s all?” He straightened up, eyes fixed on her.
Nan Xu froze. “What else should I say?”
“You could at least say you’ll miss me,” he said through gritted teeth, “and give me a kiss.”
Good thing this girl was this dense—otherwise, someone else would’ve already stolen her away.
So that’s what he wanted to hear. Nan Xu frowned slightly. It was just lunch—did she really have to say she’d miss him for that?
But Xie Hejing’s gaze stayed locked on her, clearly saying that if she didn’t, he wasn’t leaving today.
Nan Xu cleared her throat. “Brother, I’ll miss you.”
Xie Hejing’s breath hitched. The way she said those words—so earnest, so unguarded—made it impossible to walk away. Even though he’d been the one to ask for it, hearing her say it for real made him not want to leave at all.
“…Then I won’t go today,” he murmured. “I’ll go tomorrow.”
“Ah!”
Everything happened so fast that Nan Xu didn’t even have time to react.
She froze for a moment before saying, “But didn’t you already promise Aunt Zhang?”
“Brother, don’t keep her waiting like that. She’ll miss you—Aunt Zhang really cares about you.”
“Yeah, everyone misses me… except you,” Xie Hejing muttered, looking away.
“I do miss you,” Nan Xu said with a laugh. “Brother, you’re acting like a kid.”
Before she could slip back into the kitchen, Xie Hejing caught her by the wrist and pulled her in for another long kiss. By the time he let her go, her lips were flushed and swollen.
Which was exactly why, when he finally left, Nan Xu hid in the kitchen and refused to come out to see him off—who knew if he’d try to kiss her again before leaving?
After Xie Hejing was completely out the door, Nan Xu finished her meal and tidied up the apartment.
She tossed out some useless items, quickly filling the trash bin.
Changing clothes, she got ready to take the trash downstairs—but as she passed the mirror by the entryway, she noticed the faint mark still at the corner of her lips. Frowning, she went back to her room, put on a mask, and then headed down with the garbage bag.
When she came back, she ran into a corgi near the stairwell, whining softly and circling the elevator doors.
Nan Xu had only moved in recently, so she didn’t know whose dog it was. She stayed and played with it for a while, but no owner appeared.
Seeing the little dog pacing anxiously in front of the elevator, she asked gently, “Do you want to come in with me? I can help you find your owner.”
Just as the elevator arrived on the first floor, she said it half-jokingly—but to her surprise, the corgi trotted right in with her.
It seemed like it was used to taking the elevator with its owner. Nan Xu pointed at the panel.
“Okay, little one, do you recognize the floor? I’ll point, and if you do, bark, alright?”
The method didn’t quite work. The corgi barked at some floors, whined at others, and went completely silent for the rest.
Nan Xu followed the “loudest” floors, stopping at several levels to ask around, but no one claimed the dog.
Finally, one resident said, “That dog looks a lot like the one that young guy on the 26th floor owns. I’ve seen him walk it before.”
Nan Xu’s face lit up. She thanked the person and went back into the elevator with the dog, pressing the button for the 26th floor.
As the elevator ascended, the corgi began to whine again. Nan Xu crouched down, stroking its head gently.
“Don’t be scared. We’ll see your owner soon. Just don’t run off like that next time, okay?”
When the elevator doors opened on the 26th floor, a man was standing right outside.
Nan Xu looked up—and froze in surprise.
It was Jiang Zhiyu.
He recognized her immediately and smiled. “Nan Xu? You live here too?”
“Mm.” She nodded. “I live right below you, on the 25th floor.”
At the sight of its owner, the corgi bolted out of the elevator, circling excitedly around Jiang Zhiyu’s legs, tail wagging furiously.
Jiang Zhiyu scooped the dog into his arms. “Xiao Daizi, I only looked away for a second, and you still dared to run off. Scared now, huh? If that kind-hearted sister hadn’t brought you back, what would you have done?”
He had only stepped away to grab his takeout, and when he turned around, the little dog was gone. After searching every corner of his apartment and finding nothing, he figured it must’ve slipped out, so he hurried downstairs to wait for the elevator—only to see Nan Xu crouched there, gently comforting the dog.
“Nan Xu, thank you,” he said, freeing one hand to pat the corgi’s head. “He’s too playful—always trying to sneak out when I’m not watching.”
Nan Xu had caught the name he used earlier. “Did you just call him Xiao Daizi?”
At the sound of its name, the little dog barked once, as if proudly confirming it.
Jiang Zhiyu chuckled and stroked its head. “Yeah, he loves playing with bags—plastic ones, paper ones, any kind, ever since he was a puppy. So I just named him Xiao Daizi.”
“That’s such a cute name.” Nan Xu’s compliment came out naturally, sincere and warm.
Jiang Zhiyu felt a small rush of joy and, before thinking too much, blurted, “Would you like to come in for a bit? I really should thank you properly.”
Nan Xu waved her hand quickly. “Oh, no need. I just came down to throw out some trash, I’ll head back soon.”
Seeing the polite distance in her manner, Jiang Zhiyu immediately realized how his words might have sounded. Inviting a woman he’d barely spoken to into his home wasn’t exactly appropriate.
He scratched his neck awkwardly. “Ah, sorry about that—I just meant, I wanted to thank you somehow.”
“It’s fine.” Nan Xu smiled, easing the moment. “Just make sure to keep a closer eye on Xiao Daizi. Let him rest a bit—I saw him running around downstairs for quite a while.”
“Alright. Thanks again, really.”
Nan Xu went back downstairs afterward, not planning to go out again. She curled up on the couch and turned on a variety show, laughing so hard at times that she nearly fell over.
By the time Xie Hejing returned, her attention was still fixed on the laptop screen.
He cleared his throat deliberately.
Nan Xu blinked up in surprise. “Brother, you’re back.”
“I thought you said you’d miss me. So why didn’t you even notice when I came in?” His tone was low, mock-serious.
“…” Nan Xu quickly paused the show. “Missing someone doesn’t have to show, you know. Like now—I am thinking about you.”
“Where did you learn to be so slick with words?” Xie Hejing said, trying—and failing—to hide a smile tugging at his lips.
Nan Xu ignored his teasing, her eyes drawn to the bags in his hands. Chestnuts, cake, and even the spicy hot pot she’d been craving last week.
That’s when it hit her—he’d been gone since noon, and now it was already dusk.
“Brother,” she asked, “did Aunt Zhang scold you for that long?”
Zhang Huiwan, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, had indeed given him a talking-to, but only for about an hour before letting him go. On his way back, some urgent business had come up, which delayed him even longer.
He’d figured Nan Xu probably hadn’t eaten yet, so he’d stopped to get her favorite food before heading home.
But instead of greeting him, the first thing she noticed were the bags in his hands.
Xie Hejing narrowed his eyes. “You just now thought to ask me that?”
Nan Xu smiled sheepishly. “…Sorry.”
“How are you? Are you okay? Aunt Zhang didn’t make things too hard for you, did she?”
“She did.”
Nan Xu widened her eyes. “How did she make things hard for you?”
Xie Hejing set the things down on the table and said lazily, “You don’t need to worry about that.”
He walked around the table, sat down on the sofa, and pulled Nan Xu into his arms, his tone pitiful.
“You just need to comfort me.”
The thing Nan Xu dreaded most was comforting people—especially when the person was Xie Hejing. She couldn’t afford to be careless about it.
Held in his arms, with her phone still on the table and out of reach, Nan Xu asked, “How do you want me to comfort you?”
“Kiss me first.” A glint of mischief flashed in Xie Hejing’s eyes, his lips curling into a faint smile.
That was no longer a difficult thing for Nan Xu. She nodded. “Alright.”
Xie Hejing’s favorite position was always having her sit on his lap and kiss him like that.
Since she was supposed to be “comforting” him, Nan Xu didn’t resist when he lifted her onto his legs.
But after that, Xie Hejing didn’t move. He just looked at her, silently telling her to continue.
Nan Xu pressed her lips together, hesitated only briefly, then leaned down to kiss him.
She always kissed with her eyes closed; otherwise, she’d get too shy.
Xie Hejing, on the other hand, kept his eyes open—watching her get lost in the kiss, watching her every soft movement, every spark of emotion.
She was mesmerizing.
Nan Xu’s kisses were gentle, too gentle for him.
But instead of deepening it himself, he lifted a hand to the back of her head, stopping her from pulling away and forcing her to keep kissing him again and again.
Just then, Nan Xu’s phone buzzed on the table. She didn’t notice.
Xie Hejing did. He immediately pulled away, his gaze landing on her phone.
It wasn’t locked.
A new message popped up.
[Nan Xu, thank you so much for today. I’d like to treat you to dinner.]
[Do you have time? If not, that’s okay too.]
A moment later, another message appeared, probably because she hadn’t replied.
[I noticed you really liked Xiao Daizi. We live pretty close—if you’d like, you can come over and hang out anytime.]
He even knew where she lived.
Xie Hejing’s expression darkened instantly, the lazy look in his eyes turned sharp and cold.
Without thinking, he bit her lightly.
Feeling that something was off, Nan Xu tried to pull back to see what was wrong with him.
But Xie Hejing wrapped his arms around her tighter, holding her as if he wanted to fuse her into himself.
His kiss turned rough—urgent, possessive.
“Mm…!”
The sudden intensity startled her. She pushed at his shoulders, trying to get him to let go.
But instead, his kisses grew heavier, silencing her completely and stealing every breath.
When they finally broke apart, Nan Xu’s eyes were dazed. She hadn’t even caught her breath when he spoke—his voice low, heavy with jealousy, like a storm about to break.
“Nan Xu,” he asked, “where did you go today?”