Chapter 576: The Secret About the Past (194)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lin Mingxi leaned against the railing and looked at her. “Xiaoning, after you’ve experienced so much, could you tell me what you think about marriage now?”
“You’ve asked the right person. From now on, I won’t allow him the chance to put me down again, even after he has found out the truth and regrets his decisions. What right does he have to register our marriage sneakily behind my back and then force me to sign a cruel agreement when he decides to get a divorce? There’s no way I’m getting married again. I’ve been married thrice, and I’m really so sick and tired of this. Perhaps I’m really destined to end up in a divorce, regardless of how many times I get married. Why should I put myself through such torment again?” An Xiaoning answered.
“Women are creatures who need men. What are you going to do when you need men?”
An Xiaoning got up and sat cross-legged on the couch. “What happens if I need a man…? There are so many nightclubs where I can find all sorts of men,” An Xiaoning said solemnly.
“Psht…”
“What’s wrong? Aren’t women allowed to look for men when they’re lonely and bored? I’m single anyway, I can do whatever I want.”
“Try it if you dare…” said a voice coming from the bedroom. It was Gu Beicheng, who walked toward the balcony door.
“Why wouldn’t I dare to? I’ve already been accused of adultery. Why can’t I go look for men openly?”
“You’ll really make Jin Qingyan despise you if you actually go ahead with that. Besides, it’ll prove further that what he thinks is the truth. Anyway, I know you’re just making a casual remark. Here’s a new mobile phone I bought for you. It’s a waterproof and shockproof smartphone in which surveillance functions cannot be embedded,” said Gu Beicheng, striking the nail on its head.
“How much did that cost?” An Xiaoning asked as she took the mobile phone from him.
“120 thousand dollars.”
“I’ll transfer the money to your account later,” An Xiaoning said while opening the box.
“No. Who said you’d have to pay me back?”
An Xiaoning looked up and teased, “Sis-in-law is standing right here. She’ll be giving me a hard time if she gets jealous again.”
Lin Mingxi burst into laughter and said, “Am I that petty?”
“Are you not?”
“Not anymore, I trust you completely.”
An Xiaoning shook her head and jested, “Women just love saying one thing when they mean another.”
“I really am not. Why don’t you believe me?” Lin Mingxi protested, stomping her foot on the ground.
“I was just teasing you, don’t take me for real. Seems like you’re really very petty, eh?”
“…”
An Xiaoning opened the box to find that it was her favorite mobile phone model. It was pink in color, boasting of youthful femininity.
It was from a renowned overseas brand, which was patronized mostly by tyc.o.o.ns and politicians. The average citizen would usually be unable to afford them.
“What about the SIM card?”
“I registered a new SIM card with your personal identification card, the mobile number is pretty easy to remember. They’re a string of nines,” said Gu Beicheng, handing her the mobile SIM card.
An Xiaoning widened her eyes to take a look at her new mobile number: 187999999XX.
What a strange and catchy number.
Just to her liking.
She proceeded to download the ringtone she had been using all along.
After having a few drinks with the couple, she decided to go to bed. At this very moment, a servant stood by the door and said, “Missy, your friend is here to visit you.”
“My friend?” An Xiaoning made her way downstairs, only to be greeted with a familiar silhouette immediately.
“Yangyang?”
Mei Yangyang scurried toward her and gave her a tight hug. “Sis, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Mei Yangyang let go of her and stared at her face before saying, “You’re lying. Your eyes are already swollen.”
An Xiaoning dragged her outside to take a slow walk in the yard.
They were walking hand in hand, just like they used to in the past. “Regardless of what difficulties and challenges I may be faced with, don’t forget, I am An Xiaoning. There’s nothing in this world that can defeat me, unless I choose to surrender. So, don’t worry about me. Yangyang, you know me best,” An Xiaoning said calmly.
Mei Yangyang held her arm and said, “Sis, feel free to tell me whenever you need my help. You may share your grievances and innermost thoughts with me too. I’m definitely trustworthy!”
“I know, I don’t have time to waste anymore. I have to drive back to B City at around two o’clock in the morning. Yangyang, I’d like to ask something of you.”
“What is it?”
“Help me take good care of Yiheng.”
“Sis, rest a.s.sured, I will.”
An Xiaoning whipped out her mobile phone and said, “This is my newly-bought mobile phone. Note down my new number. Also, do you have photos of Yiheng on your phone?”
“Yes.”
Mei Yangyang saved her mobile number and sent her a few photos of Jin Yiheng.
Mei Yangyang left after speaking to her for a while more.
An Xiaoning returned to her room and lay down in bed to stare at photos of her son on her mobile phone while filled with misery and helplessness.
She had saved the contact numbers of Mei Yangyang and the Gu family members, as well as set a pa.s.scode for all her messaging apps, call history, and photo alb.u.m.
Her screensaver was a photo of her son’s back view.
After sleeping for almost six hours, she woke up and began driving away.
Due to the fact that she was driving a new car, she could only use a temporary license plate given by the automotive store. It would take some time before the actual license plate could be collected.
She could wait until her next day off.
She drove along the expressway and headed to B City.
After parking her car in the carpark of a hotel nearby, she hurriedly rushed back to the Autumn Palace.
Since it was much faster to travel on the expressway, it was only past five o’clock in the morning when she arrived back at the Autumn Palace.
Dawn had yet to come.
Once she returned to her room, she began scrutinizing the floor plans and layout of Tuoba Rui and s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu’s mansion instead of catching up on sleep.
The sketches included the positions of the guards on duty, as well as the locations of the surveillance cameras.
It was clearly mapped out.
Having already lost her marriage and her son’s custody rights, she could now only channel all her energy and focus onto finding out the truth about her mother’s incident.
She was determined to get to the bottom of the matter, regardless of what it takes!
The sky began to turn bright gradually. An Xiaoning put away the sketches of the floor plans and exited her room after brus.h.i.+ng her hair.
Tuoba Gucheng was already having his breakfast when she made her way downstairs. She bowed slightly and greeted him, “Good Morning, Your Highness.”
“Come, sit down and have breakfast together.”
“I wouldn’t dare. I’ll go to the other table.” She walked toward the servants and bodyguards’ table and sat down quietly to have her breakfast.
Tuoba Gucheng was overwhelmed with an inexplicable feeling of disappointment at how distant she was acting in order to avoid suspicion.
“Come with me later to try on some suits.”
“Alright, but aren’t I supposed to be on duty at night?”
“Come back to catch up on sleep after trying on the suits. You’ll begin your duty at night.”
“Alright.”
Noticing that she sounded a little hoa.r.s.e, he asked, “What’s wrong with your voice?”
“My temperature’s feeling a little too high lately.”
“Go get some medicine from the pharmacy.”
“Yes.”
After breakfast, she followed Tuoba Gucheng to try on some suits for his wedding, which was to be held on the 6th of the next month.
The attire was designed and tailored personally by a prestigious designer.
After putting on the suit, Tuoba Gucheng appeared even more suave and das.h.i.+ng.
“Your Highness, we’ve already sent the wedding gown over to Ms. Lin.”