Chapter 202: The Second Male Lead

Xie Rong returned to their chamber in silence. He sat beside the table, his expression unusually serious as he stared at the tea in his hand, clearly still thinking about what had happened at the palace.

Wang Gege sat nearby and watched him for a while. At first, she patiently waited for him to speak, but after several moments passed and Xie Rong still showed no intention of telling her anything, her curiosity finally became too much for her.

She moved closer and poked his arm. "Husband..."

"Hmm?" Xie Rong looked at her.

"What happened at the palace?" She blinked a few times, trying to catch his attention.

"Nothing." He answered short.

Wang Gege stared at him suspiciously. "Nothing?"

Xie Rong nodded calmly. "Mm. Nothing happened."

Her cheeks immediately puffed up. "You’re lying."

Xie Rong raised an eyebrow, looking at her adorable expression. "Why does Furen think this husband is lying?"

"Because you have been quiet ever since you came back!" Wang Gege complained, crossing her arms. "You don’t usually look like this unless something is bothering you. And now you refuse to tell me anything..."

She paused before leaning closer, her eyes narrowing. "Are you hiding something from me?"

Xie Rong looked at her for a moment before a faint smile appeared. "Furen is becoming quite clever."

"I’m always clever!" She puffed her cheeks again, clearly offended by his teasing. "Now tell me what happened!"

"Hmm..." He pressed his lips, taking a few seconds before continuing, "Nothing much happened... basically The Eight Prince rejected the proposal and it ended just like that..."

"Just... like that?" Wang Gege repeated, unconvinced.

"Hmm..." He nodded, "He just warned father to not use him as protection and all..."

"So... he knew?" she asked, her voice rising slightly in surprise.

Xie Rong nodded slowly. "Apparently, he knew more than we expected."

Wang Gege’s eyes widened as she stared at him. "Then what happened? Did he say anything about An’an?"

"He did." Xie Rong sighed and leaned back slightly. "He made it very clear that he had no intention of taking An’an as his consort merely because Father wished to use his name as protection."

Wang Gege nodded thoughtfully, but after a moment, her expression changed. "Then... what else happened?"

Xie Rong fell silent again.

That silence immediately caught her attention.

Wang Gege narrowed her eyes and moved closer to him. "Husband..."

"Hmm?"

"You’re doing it again." Wang Gege already crossed her arms in frustration.

"Doing what?" He straightened.

"Trying to hide something from me... obviously."

Xie Rong looked at her innocent yet accusing expression and could only sigh. He had already known that there was no way he could keep this from her for long.

"Furen..." he began carefully, "there is one more thing."

Wang Gege’s eyes immediately lit up. "What?"

Xie Rong looked at her for a moment before slowly saying, "The Eighth Prince asked about you."

"Me? What about me?" Her round, adorable eyes blinked hard again, as if she genuinely could not understand why the Eighth Prince would ask about her.

Xie Rong stared at her for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "He asked whether this husband has been taking good care of you these days."

Wang Gege’s brows immediately furrowed. "Why would he ask that?"

"That was exactly what this husband wondered as well." Xie Rong’s expression darkened slightly. "He said he was merely asking, but his words carried another meaning."

"Another meaning?" Wang Gege tilted her head, trying to figure it out. "What meaning?"

Xie Rong hesitated for a moment before answering carefully, "He told this husband that if I take good care of you, then he has no reason to interfere."

Wang Gege blinked.

"And if you don’t?" she asked slowly.

Xie Rong’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Then he might reconsider whether you truly belong beside me."

For a few seconds, the chamber fell completely silent.

Wang Gege’s mouth slowly opened before she pointed at herself in disbelief. "Wait... Is the Eighth Prince interested in me?"

Xie Rong instantly smiled. "We really think alike..." He reached for her hands, his eyes filled with amusement. "Looks like Furen’s wish to have someone interested in her has finally come true."

Wang Gege blinked. "What wish?"

"Didn’t Furen complain before?" Xie Rong gently squeezed her hands. "This husband has had more than enough women chasing after him, yet Furen never had anyone doing the same."

"That was just a joke!" Wang Gege immediately protested, her cheeks puffing up again.

"Was it?" Xie Rong raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself.

"Of course!" She glared at him before muttering, "Who would have thought..." She paused, then tilted her head upward, looking toward the sky hidden beyond the roof, before continuing, "Whoever it is would actually grant it..."

Xie Rong burst out laughing when he heard her words. He clearly hadn’t expected her to react this way after finding out that the Eighth Prince had taken an interest in her.

Wang Gege lowered her head again and looked at him. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." Xie Rong tried to suppress his laughter, though the amusement in his eyes remained. "Shouldn’t you be happy about it?"

"Happy? You just told me to be careful of that man..." Wang Gege’s face scrunched up in annoyance. "Husband... at least give me a decent second male lead..."

"Well, the Eighth Prince could pass as the male lead..." Xie Rong said.

"You mean in a drama with a villain as the main character, right?" She glared at him.

He burst out laughing again. "No—no! Honestly, he is really great! I only warned you because he is ruthless toward anyone who does the wrong thing."

Wang Gege blinked at him. "So... he is not actually a bad person?"

"Well... this husband really didn’t know how to explain it..." Xie Rong shook his head. "The Eighth Prince simply doesn’t tolerate people who cross the line. If someone has done nothing wrong, he has no reason to trouble them."

"Then why does everyone in the capital seem so afraid of him?"

"Because no one knows where his line is until they cross it." Xie Rong paused for a moment, then added, "And once they do, he rarely gives them another chance."

Wang Gege nodded slowly, finally understanding why Xie Rong had been so cautious. Still, the thought of the Eighth Prince’s words made her lips twitch with amusement.

"But..." She suddenly looked at him with sparkling eyes. "If he isn’t a villain, then doesn’t that mean my second male lead is actually quite good?"

Xie Rong’s smile disappeared. He stared at her silently.

Wang Gege tilted her head. "What?"

"Furen."

"Hmm?"

"This husband is beginning to regret telling you about this."

She immediately burst into laughter. "Why? I’m only saying that he has potential!"

"Potential for what?"

"To be the second male lead, of course!" She grinned.

Xie Rong sighed helplessly and pulled her closer. "There will be no second male lead."

Her eyes furrowed, "Why not?"

"Because the male lead is already standing right in front of you." He smiled.

Wang Gege looked at him for a few seconds before her lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Oh? Is Husband jealous?"

Xie Rong paused. Then he calmly replied, "This husband is merely protecting his position."

"Your position?"

"As your husband." He squeezed her hand. "There is no room for anyone else."