Chapter 90: Laying the Cards on the Table

The servants had been eagerly awaiting Fan Xia’s return, and though it was strange that she came back on foot rather than by car, they still called out: “Young master, the lady is back.”

Rong Xiu struggled to sit up from the sofa. Having sat there for over ten hours without eating or drinking, he felt dizzy when he suddenly stood up, barely managing to steady himself by holding onto the armrest.

A gentle, faint fragrance wafted over as Fan Xia supported his waist, her voice cold and indifferent: “Careful.”

Hearing this familiar voice, Rong Xiu felt a twinge in his heart, his nose stinging with discomfort. Just as he was about to speak, Fan Xia said: “I heard from the servants that you haven’t eaten or drunk anything. Why?”

Rong Xiu’s heart trembled. For some reason, this Fan Xia felt very unfamiliar to him, and he felt an unease growing in his heart.

He lowered his eyes, unable to utter a word.

A sigh came from above his head as Fan Xia instructed the servant: “Go prepare some food.”

The servant quickly went to the kitchen to bring out the meals that had already been prepared.

“Lady, this is the Dragon Well shrimp you like, and this is the pregnancy meal prepared for the young master. Young master, you’re eating for two now, so you must eat more,” the servant reminded.

“I understand.” Fan Xia smiled, placing a piece of stir-fried yam on Rong Xiu’s plate.

Rong Xiu looked at Fan Xia in surprise.

Fan Xia’s gaze rested on the food in the plate as she said, “You haven’t eaten all day, hurry and eat.”

The unease in Rong Xiu’s heart gradually subsided. Fan Xia was indeed still concerned about him and the child. He lowered his head and took a small bite of the yam. It was soft and glutinous. Though his stomach had been uncomfortable from not eating for so long, the mild and nourishing stir-fried yam eased his discomfort.

As soon as he ate one piece of yam, Fan Xia picked up another piece of freshly stewed chicken.

“Just eating vegetables isn’t enough, you need meat for nutrition. I think this angelica and lily bulb stewed chicken looks good, try it and see how it is,” Fan Xia’s tone was very gentle.

Rong Xiu’s face reddened slightly. This feeling of being cared for and protected by his wife-master made his whole body tingle. He took a small bite, and a unique savory flavor blossomed on his taste buds. The chicken was stewed so tender that the meat separated from the bone without effort.

“Is it good?” Fan Xia asked with a smile.

“It’s good,” Rong Xiu said softly.

Fan Xia stood up and took a soup ladle, scooping a bowl of thick white chicken soup: “Then have a bowl of soup too. The servant is right, you’re eating for two now.” Her slender, jade-like hand placed the white porcelain bowl of soup in front of Rong Xiu. The thick white soup was steaming slightly, swirling gently in the bowl, with a few bright red goji berries floating on top.

Rong Xiu drank it all in one go. The soup wasn’t sweet, but because Fan Xia had personally served it to him, he felt a warmth sliding down into his stomach.

Seeing him finish the soup, Fan Xia picked up some more dishes for him, but she herself didn’t touch her chopsticks, just quietly watching him eat.

Finally, when he had eaten enough, Fan Xia put down her chopsticks and asked, “Are you full?”

Rong Xiu nodded: “I’m full.”

Fan Xia placed her chopsticks on the rest and gently stroked his protruding belly. At seven months, the movement of the fetus could be felt. Fan Xia’s clear eyes were full of tenderness: “Even if I hadn’t come home, you should have taken care of yourself. Not eating or drinking for an entire day, were you trying to spite me?”

Rong Xiu was stunned. He finally understood that Fan Xia’s continuous feeding wasn’t out of concern for him, but for the child suffering in his belly.

It felt as if something cold had been thrust into his heart, twisting painfully, making his heart ache terribly.

Fighting through the pain, he said: “I just… I just missed you very much.”

Fan Xia’s palm gently caressed his swollen belly, but her voice held a faint disappointment: “Is it that you missed me, or that you were wondering which man I was with last night, and if I had done anything to betray you?”

Rong Xiu’s mind suddenly froze. Why would she suddenly ask this? Rong Xiu felt infinitely alarmed, and a strong sense of unease rose in his heart again. He hurriedly explained: “No, Fan Xia, I’ve never doubted you.”

“Is that so?” Fan Xia smiled slightly, her gaze fixed on him, and asked: “Then why did you do that to Jin Yi?”

“I… I…” Rong Xiu’s blood instantly froze, his face as pale as if he had fallen into an ice pit.

“I know you don’t like him, and you don’t like Uncle Li either, but didn’t I already promise you that I wouldn’t let you see them again? If you really couldn’t swallow this, you could have told me, and I would have had Jin Yi personally apologize to you.”

As she spoke, Fan Xia’s expression changed slightly, seeming a bit angry: “But why did you have to send people to deliberately take those misleading photos, spread rumors about him online, and defame him! Rong Xiu, you’ve experienced that kind of suffering yourself, you know how difficult it is for a man when his reputation is ruined, yet you chose to use such despicable means against him!”

Rong Xiu’s face changed dramatically, and he frantically grabbed Fan Xia’s hand to explain: “It’s not like that, Fan Xia, I did it because he…” “I know why you did it. You thought I was having an affair with Jin Yi, didn’t you?”

Rong Xiu’s gaze trembled.

Fan Xia looked at Rong Xiu’s pale face: “But you guessed wrong. Jin Yi and I are completely innocent. I only see him as a brother. If there really was something between us, I wouldn’t have married you.”

She knew Rong Xiu’s petty nature, but never imagined he would act so viciously. No wonder the public relations department she arranged to handle Jin Yi’s situation hadn’t made any progress; they had been tipped off early on. If she hadn’t sent people to investigate privately, she would still be in the dark.

Fan Xia found it hard to accept that someone would put another person’s life at risk over a mere quarrel. And this person was her bedmate, the father of her child.

“Now the internet is flooded with insults, and the basketball team is planning to expel him due to his tarnished reputation. Rong Xiu, do you know that Jin Yi attempted suicide? You almost drove him to his death.” Fan Xia’s gaze was both pained and disappointed, her voice very low. Even now, she was trying to save face for Rong Xiu, not letting the servants hear about his shameful actions.

Rong Xiu was stunned, looking at Fan Xia’s eyes, his lips trembling: “I… I never meant for him to die. Fan Xia, I just wanted to teach him a lesson…”

“Enough!” Fan Xia stood up, repulsively pulling her hand away from Rong Xiu’s grasp: “I don’t want to hear any more explanations. I only know that if I hadn’t rushed there in time, Jin Yi would really be dead. You know what you need to do.”

Fan Xia picked up her coat that was draped over the sofa.