Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Many local and overseas enterprise giants had made donations to aid in the disaster relief, including An Xiaoning, who donated one million dollars. However, she did not donate the sum directly to any charity organization in the country. Instead, she cooperated with the Jin Corporation and bought some relief resources, which they then sent to the relief areas.
Despite their kind gestures, there were still netizens who criticized them online.
There were several castigations made, such as the following:
“An Xiaoning has made donations to aid the disaster relief, but why hasn’t she donated to the disaster areas that have been affected by the floods?”
“She’s so rich and yet she only donated a million dollars. She should donate at least half of her assets.”
“She’s even adopted a kid overseas, why doesn’t she adopt the children living in poverty in our nation? An Xiaoning, do you know how many children are starving in this nation? You’re living and eating well, yet you cast all your kindness overseas. What a traitor.”
“The media actually made a report about her donation. Isn’t one million dollars peanuts to her? Save it for when she donates ten million.”
There were many other similar comments.
However, there were also some netizens who found those haters to be extremely unreasonable and began slamming them.
An Xiaoning would not bother reading the comments, regardless of what they said.
The nation was going through a chaotic and tumultuous time this April.
No one could defend against natural disasters.
At this juncture, there was news of an unbelievable and bewildering incident.
Numerous citizens in the disaster areas had witnessed the presence of soul-catchers and reapers with their very own eyes.
They claimed that Heibai and Wuchang could not manage to catch all the wandering spirits due to the fact that there were too many casualties in the area who died at the same time. Hence, they’d decided to organize a group to catch the souls.
The rumors got more and more absurd because more than ten children had seen the reapers at the same time.
The ministers and members of parliament who were in support of the ban against superstitions previously suddenly made a contradicting suggestion.
They requested Tuoba Gucheng to send some mediums and reverends to the relief areas to perform a ritual and offer prayers.
Mediums and reverends were probably the only superstitious institutions recognized by S Nation.
Needless to say, the contradicting suggestion made by the government was not reported on the news.
An Xiaoning had managed to hear about it via some insiders.
She refused to make any comments about the matter.
Two days later, the reverends returned to the Autumn Palace after a failed attempt at performing rituals.
The exact reason was unknown.
An Xiaoning received a call from Tuoba Gucheng afterward.
He requested her to make a trip down to the affected areas in L City. Actually, she was already planning to do so, for she wanted to do some meaningful deeds.
However, she felt like he was giving her a command after hearing his tone.
Hence, she answered nonchalantly, “Why must I listen to you?”
“You…” Tuoba Gucheng was momentarily at a loss for words because he did not expect her to respond that way. After a moment of silence, he continued, “That’s a disaster relief area. Many have been affected adversely and there have been numerous casualties and injured citizens. Shouldn’t you be making a trip down there?”
“I don’t like what you just said. May I ask why I’m obliged to render assistance? As the president of the nation, it is your duty to serve the citizens and render help to those who have been affected by the natural disaster, simply because they’re your citizens. You’re making it seem as if it’s my duty to provide assistance whenever necessary to the nation. How many people truly wished that I could be safe and sound when I was abducted by the terrorist organizations? When you fed me with the lethal poison, did it ever cross your mind that I’m one of your citizens too? Am I supposed to be made use of and succumb for the sake of not going against my morals, just because I’m psychic?”
Tuoba Gucheng was speechless. “Feel free to list any requests you may have.”
“Why must I go? The reapers are not going to catch the souls of the living anyway.”
“Because I want those innocent citizens to leave this world in peace.”
“I want you to release a news article and admit yourself that I’m a fortune-teller with genuine capabilities,” said An Xiaoning.
“I thought you would beg me not to kill you in the future…”
“Face value is still very important at the end of the day. Although it doesn’t exactly bother me, I don’t want the reputation of fortune-telling to be tarnished. So, do you concede to my request?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll set off to L City once I see the article published. I was initially planning to go anyway.”
“Turns out you already had plans to go…”
“Are you thinking of going back on your word?”
Tuoba Gucheng denied, “No, I’ll give instructions for the article to be published later on. Xiaoning, I knew you were kind-hearted. I’ve also heard the news about the donation you had made.”
“if you don’t make my life difficult and attempt to kill me again, I reckon I could be kinder.”
“Sure.”
“You… agree?” An Xiaoning asked in disbelief, feeling as if she had just hallucinated.
“Are you surprised?”
“Why are you behaving like this… all of a sudden?”
“I once said that I’d ruin you if I can’t have you. However, I actually want to get along with you harmoniously now.”
“I don’t believe you. A leopard never changes its spots.”
Tuoba Gucheng changed his tone and said, “You’re indeed very intelligent. You really want me to get along with you harmoniously, don’t you? You really wish for me to stop making your life difficult and stop attempting to kill you again, don’t you? You were even hoping that I was joking about ruining you, weren’t you? You…”
An Xiaoning interjected vehemently, “Your Majesty!”
“What…” said Tuoba Gucheng.
“It won’t be very wise of you to make me your enemy. I hope you’ll understand that. I’m capable of doing anything if you drive me into a corner. I’m sure you know what I mean. I won’t waste my time talking crap with you. I can’t help but get infuriated every single time I talk to you. You really make me miss the days when we got along with each other perfectly fine.”
An Xiaoning ended the call and began packing her luggage.
She was not one to be selfish and afraid of disadvantaging herself while helping others.
She’d decided to donate that one million dollars because her heart went out to the victims of disaster.
Even when it comes to their closest kin, no one is obliged to do anything for others. What more strangers whom she was unrelated to?
How could she possibly save everyone when there were so many disasters in this world?
Everyone’s fate was predestined.
One would enjoy a fortunate and blessed life if they had accumulated a lot of merit from doing kind deeds in their previous lifetime. Likewise, if one had committed a great deal of sins in their previous lifetime, they were bound to be punished and receive their retribution in this lifetime.
There were reasons for everything.
When Jin Qingyan returned home, she informed him of her decision to head to the relief area.
He supported her decision, although he insisted on going with her.
“Why?” she asked in astonishment.
“I don’t want to spend a single day away from you. I can handle the company matters online anyway, it doesn’t matter.”
“It’ll be tough being in the relief area.”
“If you can bear with it, why can’t a man like me do the same?”
An Xiaoning agreed to let him come along.
“I haven’t had the time to ask you, but did you dream of anything else ever since that dream you had the other night?”
Shaking her head, An Xiaoning answered, “No, that’s why I said I might just dream of a different scene the next time. I do hope to continue where I left off. I want to find out if that prince was you. If he was, I’m going to punish you when I wake up.”
