Chapter 23: Confrontation

Wen Lan Sheng’s eyes were slightly disordered. Although Fan Xia had changed her phone’s lock screen password to his birthday, he had never pried into her phone in all these years. But Rong Xiu’s appearance shattered the sense of security he had built up over the years. He was constantly worried, afraid that Fan Xia’s heart would be lured away by him, so he had to be on guard.

“Xia Xia, I didn’t mean to look at your phone, I saw it by accident,” Wen Lan Sheng explained, making excuses.

“Heh, what a coincidence. Lan Sheng wants to know your hotel information, and the phone automatically jumps to that page. How smart,” Rong Xiu said in a flat tone.

Wen Lan Sheng gritted his teeth, wishing that needle could sew Rong Xiu’s mouth shut. Whenever he did something slightly wrong, Rong Xiu would seize the opportunity to drive a wedge between him and Fan Xia.

He grasped Fan Xia’s hand, his clear eyes brimming with tears: “Xia Xia, I just wanted to give you a surprise. I really didn’t mean to look at your phone. You really forgot to lock the screen when you were checking the hotel information, and I accidentally saw it. It’s not like what Senior Rong Xiu said. I really didn’t. I don’t know why he would say that about me.”

This innocent and vulnerable appearance would move any woman, but Rong Xiu was not a woman. Seeing him like this made him sick.

He coldly laughed: “Lan Sheng, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t say you did it on purpose. You’re the one overthinking.”

Wen Lan Sheng tightly clenched his hands, his tear-filled eyes filled with intense poison.

“Alright, I didn’t mean to blame you,” Fan Xia said, forcibly ending this unpleasant topic.

“Mm.” Wen Lan Sheng held Fan Xia’s hand, his voice hoarse: “As long as you believe me, Xia Xia.”

“Lan Sheng, the way you say that, do you mean I don’t believe you?” Rong Xiu’s long eyes tilted upwards. Although there was a smile on his lips, that smile was full of the coldness of someone in a superior position.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Wen Lan Sheng said innocently, his body tightly pressed against Fan Xia, like a dodder clinging to a big tree.

“That’s good. Some things need to be clarified. It wouldn’t be good if we misunderstood each other,” Rong Xiu hooked the corner of his mouth, his long fingers slowly stroking Yi Mei’s white fur.

Wen Lan Sheng nodded.

Compared to the domineering Rong Xiu, Wen Lan Sheng was gentle and reserved, the type that women liked the most.

Rong Xiu adjusted his glasses, his eyes contemptuous. What an act!

“Xia Xia, let me blow-dry your hair,” Wen Lan Sheng picked up the hair dryer.

Fan Xia nodded: “Okay.”

Fan Xia’s long hair was fine but thick, and it always took a long time to dry. Gradually, whenever they were at home, it was always Wen Lan Sheng who helped her dry her hair.

Fan Xia sat on the sofa, while Wen Lan Sheng stood beside it, adjusting the air flow. The long black hair floated in the air.

Wen Lan Sheng lifted a strand of her hair, his eyes full of affection and admiration.

While helping Fan Xia dry her hair, he said to Rong Xiu who was sitting on the edge of the sofa: “Senior Rong Xiu, you’ve lost your room card. You should go to the front desk to report the loss and get a new card as soon as possible. It’s not good to always be in a bathrobe.”

Rong Xiu’s elbow was resting on the sofa armrest, his posture casual and lazy, yet with an indescribable elegance.

“Thank you for your concern, Lan Sheng, but I’m not in a hurry,” he said with a faint smile, meeting Wen Lan Sheng’s concerned gaze.

“Why? If you don’t report the loss, it wouldn’t be good if something in the room gets stolen,” Wen Lan Sheng said.

Rong Xiu rubbed Yi Mei’s little head: “There’s nothing valuable in the room except for a few clothes.”

“I see, but it’s still better to get a new room card as soon as possible, so you can go in and change clothes,” Wen Lan Sheng said, determined to drive Rong Xiu out of this house.

Rong Xiu smiled, naturally understanding the meaning behind his words, but he pretended not to know.

His long eyes swept over Wen Lan Sheng with an aggressive gaze, and he asked, “Lan Sheng, you’ve just arrived at the hotel. What are your plans for the next few days?”

Wen Lan Sheng looked at Fan Xia: “I came to the island just to accompany Xia Xia. But I know you’re busy with work, so during the day, I’ll just wait at the hotel for Xia Xia to return.”

Rong Xiu’s proud chin nodded slightly: “I see. Well, this suite is very large. You can stay with Fan Xia.”

Wen Lan Sheng smiled sweetly: “Mm, that’s what I was thinking too.”

“After you finish drying Fan Xia’s hair, I’ll show you around the room, tell you where things are, so you won’t have trouble finding them when you need to use them,” Rong Xiu smiled.

The smile on Wen Lan Sheng’s lips stiffened slightly: “Thank you for your kindness, senior, but there’s no need. Xia Xia can show me around later.”

Rong Xiu smiled enigmatically: “Fan Xia is a woman. To her, even the best suite is just a room with a bigger bed. She doesn’t know the other details. It’s better if I show you around, after all, I know this room better than you do.”

“What do you mean by that, senior?” Wen Lan Sheng’s expression suddenly changed, barely maintaining the stiff smile on his face.

Rong Xiu gave a lazy smile: “Nothing much. I just want to be a good host. After all, I did sleep in this room for a night.” Wen Lan Sheng’s face turned pale with anger.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand,” Rong Xiu pretended to have let something slip, explaining in a way that only made things worse: “Last night, Fan Xia and I both had a few drinks. We went for a walk on the beach together, played for a while, and then came back to the room together. Nothing happened. Lan Sheng, Fan Xia said you’re very understanding and open-minded. Don’t overthink it.”

Wen Lan Sheng was so provoked by Rong Xiu’s words that the veins on his forehead were throbbing. He held back his anger for a long time before swallowing it back. But the anger never disappeared. The hatred was like pieces of broken glass piercing his internal organs, churning uncomfortably.

Suddenly, he saw the iris diamond ring shining on his ring finger, and his emotions gradually stabilized.

“Senior is a long-time good friend of Xia Xia. If Xia Xia had feelings for you, how could it be my turn? Of course I believe you, senior.” He glanced sideways at the self-important Rong Xiu, smiling without mirth as he looked out at the sea and sky through the floor-to-ceiling window, saying softly: “Come to think of it, this is the first time Xia Xia and I have come to the seaside. The scenery here really lives up to its reputation. Senior, what do you think about us setting our honeymoon destination on an island?”

Rong Xiu’s cold eyes turned, filled with a chilling coldness.

Wen Lan Sheng, turning defeat into victory, hooked his lips in satisfaction.

Fan Xia sat quietly on the sofa, letting Wen Lan Sheng dry her hair. The buzzing sound of the hair dryer filled her ears. She could vaguely hear Wen Lan Sheng talking with Rong Xiu. Although she couldn’t hear the content of the conversation clearly, judging from the smile on Rong Xiu’s lips, the two seemed to be getting along well.

She stopped listening closely to the conversation between the two men and instead turned her attention to the small, soft Yi Mei.

Although it was lying softly on Rong Xiu’s leg, its wet puppy eyes were fixed on her. Fan Xia felt a softness in her heart and reached out towards it.

The little ball of fur immediately perked up, stumbling towards her on its four short legs from the sofa, happily licking her fingers, its little tail pointing to the sky.

Fan Xia rubbed its little head, and the furball immediately flopped down, its four short legs pointing to the sky, revealing its pink, round little belly, wiggling in her arms as if to say ‘Pet me, pet me.’

Fan Xia couldn’t help but reach out to scratch its little belly. Wen Lan Sheng, seeing the little dog in her arms, turned off the hair dryer and asked, “Xia Xia, is this a dog you picked up?”

Fan Xia’s fingers stopped, and she looked at Rong Xiu.

“It was picked up. I thought this little dog was cute, so I brought it back,” Rong Xiu said calmly, his eyes fixed on Fan Xia.

Fan Xia gave him a grateful look.

Wen Lan Sheng smiled, “I thought senior would raise a valuable purebred dog. I didn’t expect you to raise a common little dog found on the street.”

“Liking it is enough,” Rong Xiu said, watching Yi Mei enjoying Fan Xia’s affection in her arms. His eyes were full of envy. At this moment, he actually felt a bit jealous of a little dog, able to openly act coquettish and seek affection in Fan Xia’s arms in front of Wen Lan Sheng.

“By the way, Xia Xia, do you still have work to do today?” Wen Lan Sheng asked.

Fan Xia nodded, “Today we need to go inspect the construction site of the sanatorium.”

“Will you be busy until very late?” he continued to ask.

“It’s hard to say,” Fan Xia replied.

“It won’t be too late. We should be back around eight or nine in the evening. Is there something?” Rong Xiu looked at Wen Lan Sheng.

Wen Lan Sheng sat next to Fan Xia, half of his body almost leaning into Fan Xia’s arms, as if trying to take up all of Fan Xia’s attention, even pushing Yi Mei away.

“Nothing much. I heard that the seafood on the island is famous. I wanted to have a meal with Xia Xia tonight,” Wen Lan Sheng said softly.

“If we can get back early, I’ll go eat with you,” Fan Xia said.

Wen Lan Sheng smiled and rested his head on Fan Xia’s shoulder: “That’s great. Eight or nine in the evening is just when the seafood stalls are at their busiest. Senior, would you like to join us for dinner?”

A hint of interest appeared in Rong Xiu’s eyes. Wen Lan Sheng couldn’t wait for him to stay far away from Fan Xia, how could he be so kind as to invite him to dinner?

“Never mind,” before Rong Xiu could answer, Wen Lan Sheng said in a self-reproaching tone: “I forgot. Senior comes from a good background, you probably don’t like these common seafood stalls. My mistake.”

“Who says I don’t like it?” Rong Xiu’s eyes narrowed, his smile carrying an inherent aura: “I’ll go.”

Since Wen Lan Sheng dared to invite, he dared to accept.

“Alright, then it’s settled,” Wen Lan Sheng said with a smile, but his eyes cooled a few degrees, a chilling light in them.

Since Rong Xiu was so intent on seducing his wife, he would give Rong Xiu this opportunity to stay by their side. He wanted Rong Xiu to see with his own eyes how he and Fan Xia interacted, how happy they were. He wanted Rong Xiu to know that in his and Fan Xia’s world, he, Rong Xiu, would always be an outsider, he could never intervene.

Even if he managed to gain Fan Xia’s momentary liking, she would quickly lose interest in him.

He was just a wildflower that Fan Xia casually picked when she was bored outside. He really thought he was qualified to enter their home? Ridiculous!

A third wheel is always a third wheel, never able to take center stage!