Chapter 564: The Secret About the Past (182)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“No… I’d like to continue staying here,” said An Xiaoning, who thought that she could continue searching for the truth about her mother without having to worry about anything else since she was no longer pregnant.
“Xiaoning.”
“Qingyan, you don’t have to say anything else. I only had one chance to come in here and I’ll let the cat out of the bag once I start speaking. So, I’ll try my best to avoid getting injured in the future. Don’t worry.”
Knowing how obstinate and determined she was, Jin Qingyan decided to give in. “I hope you won’t get hurt again then.”
An Xiaoning held her tears back and apologized, “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry about?”
“I’m sorry to have made you worried. Don’t tell Yiheng.”
“I know.”
Jin Qingyan was finally relieved after hanging up the phone.
However, it was not the case for An Xiaoning.
After returning the mobile phone to Xiao Chi, she continued to lie on her side in bed, staring blankly into s.p.a.ce.
After exiting the room, Xiao Chi again connected the surveillance camera to Jin Qingyan’s laptop.
—
“Where’s Gucheng?” s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu asked with a sullen expression on her face.
“His Highness is in his room,” Xiao Chi answered nervously.
“Call him to come down immediately,” s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu instructed as she took a seat on the couch, appearing austere and stern, as if she were the Empress Dowager.
“Yes, Madam.”
Xiao Chi frantically proceeded to call Tuoba Gucheng, who had an ominous feeling upon hearing that his mother had arrived.
He immediately made his way downstairs. Noticing how uptight she seemed, he stepped forward and asked, “Mother, what brings you here?”
“Sit down.”
Tuoba Gucheng sat down as instructed and leaned forward slightly, holding his hands together.
“You brought your female bodyguard to the hospital for an abortion today. What’s the matter? Does the child belong to you?”
“Of course not. It’s because we both met with a sudden attack while we were in the mountains. If it weren’t for her, you probably wouldn’t be able to see me here now, Mother. She took a bullet for me and ended up suffering a miscarriage. I don’t see anything wrong in sending her over to the hospital,” Tuoba Gucheng explained. At this very moment, he was extremely dismayed to find out that his mother had still learned about the matter, even though he had already instructed the hospital staff to remain tight-lipped.
“Well, I doubt you’d be attracted to your bodyguard either. She’s really not in the least bit good-looking. Besides, you and s.h.i.+s.h.i.+ are getting married next month. I believe you’re not that atrocious.” The frown on s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu’s forehead faded as she continued, “Gucheng, I know you’re a sensible child who knows what to do and what not to. Fortunately, you’re already engaged now. I was really frightened when I heard the news about you bringing your female bodyguard to the hospital for an abortion today. Good that everything is fine.”
“Yes, I’m sorry to have made you worried, Mother.”
“Alright, I’ll be going back now,” said s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu as she stood up to leave.
Tuoba Gucheng remained seated, all tensed up and nervous beyond words.
An Xiaoning lay in bed for the entire day and all her meals were served to her by the servants. It began pouring heavily in the evening.
The initially warm weather turned cool gradually.
An Xiaoning’s body temperature began to rise slowly since evening.
She lay in bed, feeling weak and feeble from head to toe while her consciousness slowly began to fade.
Feeling an ache in her head, she reached out to touch her forehead, only to find that she was running a fever. She then hurriedly called for Tuoba Gucheng, who was in the room beside hers.
“Your Highness…”
Upon hearing her call, Tuoba Gucheng entered and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I think I’m running a fever.”
“Hold on, I’ll measure your temperature with a thermometer.” He turned around to zoom out of the room and returned shortly after with a thermometer, which he then handed her.
An Xiaoning placed it under her armpit.
Her face was flushed red like an apple.
Tuoba Gucheng placed a hand on her forehead and found that her temperature was indeed burning.
He immediately called for the doctor to come forth with some medicine.
An Xiaoning removed the thermometer minutes later and Tuoba Gucheng squinted at the display to find that her temperature had shot up to 39 degrees Celsius.
“Why didn’t you call me earlier if you’re not feeling well?”
She looked down and remained quiet.
The doctor soon arrived and prescribed some medication based on her condition. He then prepared to put her on the drip.
An Xiaoning lay there with her eyes gently shut.
After she was attached to the drip, the doctor again instructed Tuoba Gucheng, “After this bottle is emptied, replace it with this one and give her some medicine. The fever will definitely subside by tonight.”
“Alright, I got it. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
After the doctor left, An Xiaoning thought that Tuoba Gucheng would instruct some servants to keep watch by her bed. To her surprise, he actually closed the door and sat down on the chair to monitor the drip himself.
“Your Highness, go back to your room. You may just get Xiao Chi to tend to the drip.”
“It’s alright, I’ll do it myself.” He held his breath and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Your Highness, you didn’t do me any wrong, what happened today was merely an accident…”
His voice was neither too loud nor soft and was rather crisp and clear.
“I’m sorry for that night.”
Clearly not wanting to talk about the incident, An Xiaoning feigned ignorance and said, “I forgot all about it.”
“You may have forgotten but I haven’t. If I didn’t lose control of myself that night and violated you, the child wouldn’t have come about and you wouldn’t have had to suffer the pain of a miscarriage…”
An Xiaoning could not be bothered to explain herself again and her consciousness began to fade.
However, her silence came off as consent to Jin Qingyan.
Bang!
Fan s.h.i.+xin heard a deafening noise coming from the bedroom. He hurriedly pushed the door open and asked, “Young Sir, what’s the matter?”
“Get lost!!!”
Fan s.h.i.+xin was greeted with the sight of a teary-eyed Jin Qingyan, who had a menacing and terrifying expression on his face.
Noticing the laptop, which was smashed into pieces, on the ground, Fan s.h.i.+xin boldly walked toward him slowly.
“Young Sir, just what’s the matter? Don’t behave like this.”
“Did you not hear my instructions? I told you to get out!” Jin Qingyan bellowed angrily, staring at Fan s.h.i.+xin while seething with anger.
“Okay, I’ll go out right now.” Fan s.h.i.+xin picked up the broken laptop and left the bedroom.
He brought another laptop and stood by the door of the bedroom, only to hear noises of items being smashed and thrown onto the ground. Fan s.h.i.+xin dared not enter.
He thought that his Young Sir was throwing a fit because he was frustrated at the fact that he could not help An Xiaoning, who was injured.
He only dared to enter after waiting outside the bedroom for more than twenty minutes. “Young Sir, here’s a new laptop. Don’t smash it again. Otherwise, how are you going to watch Young Madam? I’ll leave it here for you.”
Noticing that he was remaining still, Fan s.h.i.+xin opened the new laptop and ordered the servants to clean up the mess and debris of the items Jin Qingyan had wrecked.
The computer was reconnected to the surveillance camera.
Fan s.h.i.+xin was dumbfounded as well the moment he saw the man on the screen. His Young Madam could clearly be seen grabbing onto the man’s hand tightly. He turned to look at his Young Sir, who was smoldering with rage.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” An Xiaoning murmured in her sleep, sobbing while tears flowed from her eyes uncontrollably. She was holding onto Tuoba Gucheng’s hand tightly.
Tuoba Gucheng reckoned that she must have been dreaming. “Mu Ning, wake up…” he called out softly.
“I’m sorry…”
“What are you sorry about?” Tuoba Gucheng asked.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t protect our child…”