Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“I’m not brooding over a dead person, I’m just very envious of her. I’d be willing to die too if I could remain on a pedestal in your heart for so many years, even after I’m dead.”
Tuoba Rui glared at her and said, “You’ll never be the same as her.”
Shi Xiaoyu swallowed her anger and displeasure before asking, “Rui, have you ever thought about how An Xiaoning would feel if she were to ever find out one day that you’re her biological father?”
“That day will never come, unless you get up to any tricks. Xiaoyu, I’ve warned you before, haven’t I? Don’t push my limits ever again,” he said sternly.
Shi Xiaoyu nodded and said in disgruntlement, “You’re always like this.”
“Get out if there’s nothing else you want to tell me.”
Shi Xiaoyu turned around and left, after which she stood by the door with a menacing glare in her eyes.
Hmph, once my son becomes the president…
An Xiaoning was plagued with woes and sunk in low spirits ever since she woke up in the morning.
As usual, she ate exceptionally little for breakfast since she did not have much of an appetite.
It was mainly because she was distraught and gloomy.
Food had become bland and tasteless to her.
Noticing that she appeared to be in a daze, Tuoba Gucheng asked, “Did you have a sleepless night?”
“I did catch some sleep.”
“Why are you so sluggish and lethargic, then?”
“I didn’t sleep too well.”
He raised his wrist to look at the time and said, “You may continue to rest in the day and go on duty at night.”
“Alright.”
After Tuoba Gucheng left, she picked up a flowering can and watered the plants.
The colorful and vibrant flowers, which blossomed beautifully, managed to lift her spirits a little.
After watering the flowers, she continued to sit down on the chair, feeling a sharp pain in her back whenever she bent it slightly.
She was filled with uneasiness at the thought of the impending evening.
Having just suffered a miscarriage and a gunshot to her back a few days ago, her immune system was still weak and her body was still in a state of feebleness. Not to mention, it was the night when the gates of Hell would open.
She wondered if she would get possessed by any spirits in the Autumn Palace.
If that were to really happen, she would no longer be in control of her body.
She did not wish for that to happen.
Yet, the only thing she could do was to prevent it from happening by praying that she would be able to tide through the night in peace.
However, time seemed to crawl by slowly even in the day, perhaps because she was extremely troubled and plagued with woes.
The thunder rumbled with a loud, cackling sound. She looked up at the sky to find that it was about to pour very soon.
She hurriedly got up and returned to her room with the chair.
Just as she arrived upstairs, it began pouring immediately without warning, the raindrops crashing onto the ground violently.
An Xiaoning closed the windows and lay down in bed to read some newspapers.
She had picked up a thick pile of newspapers from downstairs, which consisted of various daily newspapers from the past few days.
Since she did not have a mobile phone with her, she could only resort to occupying her time by reading newspapers.
After reading newspapers for the entire morning, An Xiaoning took a nap in the afternoon. That was her usual daily routine.
Finally, evening arrived.
It was still raining cats and dogs.
After having her dinner, An Xiaoning packed up and headed to Tuoba Gucheng’s room.
He happened to have just come out of the bathroom, dressed in a bathrobe. Noticing that she was standing by the door, he said, “Why are you just standing there? Isn’t there a couch here? Come in and sit down.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” She stepped forward and took a seat on the couch near his bed.
Afterward, the two of them did not make any conversation with each other at all. She sat on the couch quietly while he leaned against the headboard of the bed to use his laptop.
A while later, he put his laptop away and looked at her calmly. “Let’s chat, shall we?”
“What would you like to chat about, Your Highness?”
“I heard you had a boyfriend but he passed away…”
“Yes.”
“Was your boyfriend handsome?”
An Xiaoning shook her head and asked rhetorically, “No. Why would handsome men fall for someone so mediocre like me?”
“That’s true.”
Although she had already taken a nap in the afternoon, An Xiaoning felt her eyelids getting heavy again.
She widened her eyes and said, “If I fall asleep, you must wake me up, Your Highness.”
“Didn’t you catch up on your sleep in the day?”
“I did, but I somehow feel a little sleepy again now. Your Highness, do you know what day it is today?” she asked.
“The middle of July, the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival.”
“I really dread the Qingming Festival and Hungry Ghost Festival because, well, my immune system has always been poor ever since I was young.”
“Don’t tell me you really believe in these made-up theories and festivals? Do you actually believe that they were meant for ghosts? There are no ghosts in this world, only evil human beings.”
Due to the overwhelming sleepiness, An Xiaoning sprung up from her seat abruptly, causing her wound to be stretched a little. She clenched her jaw in pain and winced while putting an arm on her back. “It really hurts so God damn badly.”
“Must you get up so vigorously?”
“Your Highness, let’s continue chatting,” said An Xiaoning, thinking to herself that she won’t fall asleep as long as they kept talking.
“Sure.”
“Your Highness, is there anyone you’ve been carrying a torch for, ever since you were young? You don’t have to spell her name out, just tell me if there is.”
“No.”
She giggled and sneered, “Psht… I don’t believe you.”
“There really isn’t any girl I fancy. I knew since a young age that these are mistakes I ought not to make. Isn’t Jiang Feng a classic example?”
“What do you mean mistake? I don’t think it’s a mistake at all. Isn’t it only human to fall in love with others? Why does one have to be restricted by others when it comes to love? You either adore someone or you don’t. Only cowards would be afraid of harboring any feelings for the person they fancy. I heard that there’ll be a presidential election this year. If you become the president…” She paused in her speech and stared at him blankly.
“What if I become the president?”
“If you become the president, you ought to do what Her Highness has said, don’t let your children suffer the same fate as you. Because, well, it’s extremely torturous to be denied the freedom to love,” An Xiaoning remarked.
Tuoba Gucheng raised his brows and said, “You’re really brazen. You have the guts to say anything.”
“That’s because I’m different from others. I’m uniquely me.”
“No wonder you had a boyfriend.” He eased himself into a comfortable position.
“You, Your Highness, and Zhi Yin all think that it’s strange for me to have had a boyfriend who loves me. That just goes to show that you guys don’t know what a person’s greatest charm is. If looks are the deciding factor for a first impression, then personal charm is what determines if your relationship will last. After all, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.”
Tuoba Gucheng could not help but admit that having a conversation with her felt just like he was chatting with a friend. It felt like they were on an equal level with no hierarchy.
“Are you really that tired?”
“Your Highness, I feel like I’m about to collapse soon.”
“Are you pretending? You’re being so exaggerated.”
An Xiaoning blacked out and immediately fell onto his bed.
“Mu Ning?” he called.
Noticing that she was motionless, Tuoba Gucheng sat up straight and reached out to give her a little push. However, she did not respond.
He got down from the bed and said, “If you still refuse to wake up, I’m going to call the doctor.”
“…”
He proceeded to call the doctor over to check on her situation, after which the doctor deduced that she had merely fallen asleep and did not pass out.
