Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Anger and shock consumed Zhi Yin as she stared at An Xiaoning, momentarily at a loss for words.
“You… Mu Ning, how dare you criticize me?”
An Xiaoning did not bother responding to her and left straight away.
Tongue-tied, Zhi Yin watched as An Xiaoning walked away before quickening her pace to catch up with the latter.
“Mu Ning, what right have you got to criticize me? Does your personality match your looks too? Why don’t you take a look in the mirror and see how hideous you are? It’s not your fault to be born with such grotesque looks, but you ought to be blamed for not accepting criticism.
“You even called me rude and ill-mannered. Are you that well-mannered yourself!?!” Zhi Yin added, seething with exasperation.
“I’m talking to you, did you hear me?”
“…”
An Xiaoning remained silent and unaffected by every snide remark made by Zhi Yin. She continued in her tracks without stopping, completely disregarding Zhi Yin’s presence.
Rage flowed through Zhi Yin like molten lava.
Yet, she was powerless and at her wits’ end.
They walked around the beach to find that Jin Minxing and Tuoba Danxue were not in sight.
Thus, they returned to the porch and sat on the chairs, both ignoring each other.
The two couples finally returned after a long while.
Upon sight of Tuoba Danxue, Zhi Yin immediately complained, “Your Highness, I don’t want to share a room with Mu Ning.”
“Why?”
Zhi Yin pulled Tuoba Danxue aside and murmured something to her, after which a sullen expression formed on Tuoba Danxue’s face. “Mu Ning, you’ve really gone overboard. How could you say that about Zhi Yin? She’s a candid and straightforward person. What’s the point of being petty and making a big fuss about her remarks?” she chided.
An Xiaoning could not utter a word since Lin Shishi and Jin Minxing were present.
Yet, remaining silent would seem like she was admitting to being at fault.
Without hesitation, Tuoba Danxue said, “I’ll book another room later, the two of you shall stay in separate rooms.”
An Xiaoning hung her head low while still remaining silent.
In fact, she had not planned to explain herself to Tuoba Danxue privately at all. After all, Zhi Yin had been by Tuoba Danxue’s side for way too long, and nothing An Xiaoning could say would change anything. Thus, she decided it would be a better choice not to.
They finally called it a day at past ten o’clock in the evening.
An Xiaoning could finally return to her room to get some rest. However, her plans were disrupted when Tuoba Danxue assigned her with the task of going out to buy supper, allowing her to return to her room only after they were done eating.
She took the money meant for supper from Tuoba Danxue and immediately proceeded to do as she was told.
Less than half an hour later, she returned with several bags of food, though she did not buy any for herself.
She did not have an appetite for supper that night.
After An Xiaoning placed the food down, Tuoba Danxue noticed that An Xiaoning did not buy a portion for herself and asked, “Why didn’t you get some for yourself? Was the money not enough?”
An Xiaoning shook her head.
“Since you don’t feel like eating, you may go back and rest. You don’t have to wait for us,” said Tuoba Shuo.
Tuoba Danxue looked at him in bewilderment and said, “Uncle, how can she go back without me? She’s my bodyguard. She has to follow me back, no matter what.”
“Aren’t you together with us now? Just let her go back first.” Tuoba Shuo waved at An Xiaoning and said, “You may head back to your room.”
An Xiaoning stayed put, knowing that Tuoba Danxue would definitely hit the roof if she were to really go back to her room.
Thus, she decided to remain still.
Noticing that she did not move off, Tuoba Shuo seemed to have understood her reasons.
Tuoba Danxue then picked up her chopsticks and began eating leisurely.
Half an hour had already passed by the time they were done with supper.
Everyone stood up one after another and returned to their hotel rooms.
An Xiaoning did not speak a single word throughout.
Upon entering the elevator, she stood at the back and plastered herself against the elevator walls with Tuoba Gucheng standing in front of her. It was rather cramped inside the elevator since all of them had boarded the same one together.
Tuoba Gucheng’s back was pressing against An Xiaoning tightly, leaving no space in between at all. Feeling as if she was about to be crushed to death if he were to take another step back, she decided to poke his back with an index finger.
He turned around abruptly and seemed to have understood what she meant. However, instead of moving forward, he took a step back and pushed her further against the wall on purpose.
An Xiaoning threw her knee into the back of his thigh in a moment of pique, causing him to lose his balance and stumble forward.
He balanced himself again and turned around to glance at her nonchalantly while she hung her head low, as if she had nothing to do with it at all.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened and they exited in a single file.
They then returned to their respective rooms.
An Xiaoning dared not go look for Jin Qingyan immediately, fearing that she would bump into someone while entering his room.
Thus, she decided to take a shower and change into a fresh set of clothes. She waited for more than an hour before sneaking into Jin Qingyan’s room swiftly.
As soon as the door closed, she leaped forward and threw her arms around his neck while wrapping her legs around his waist. Without another word, they immediately began smooching each other passionately.
The temperature in the room was cooled to the perfect temperature, thanks to the air conditioner.
Jin Qingyan switched off the lights and picked her up in his arms before lowering her onto the window ledge.
In the darkness of the night, he cupped her face with his hands and said, “We were apart for only a few days and yet I already miss you to bits. After hearing that you came here, I dropped everything I was handling at the moment and rushed here just to see you, little seductress.”
An Xiaoning leaned her head on his shoulder and said, “I was really upset about something.”
“Tell me about it.”
She explained briefly and said, “I would’ve already lashed out and gotten rid of such a woman, if it was in the past. I’ve really never encountered anyone like her who enjoys criticizing someone’s appearance so openly all the time.”
“Don’t bother taking it to heart. It’s just a mask anyway. One day, you’ll blind her with your stunning beauty and show her what it really is to be gorgeous.”
An Xiaoning removed her mask and put it aside. “The temperatures are at their warmest this season. It’s really uncomfortable wearing this mask all day.”
He hugged her waist and gave her a kiss before saying, “Once you’ve found out everything about your biological parents, you are to be obedient and stay at home as my Young Madam. I won’t allow you to take such risks and put yourself through so much hardship again.”
An Xiaoning enjoyed hearing those words from him, which never failed to make her feel like a precious gem whom he put on a pedestal and loved dearly.
“Hubby, will you love me like this forever?”
“Of course I will.”
“Why do you love me so much?”
“What do you mean why? You don’t need a reason to love someone.”
“…”
An Xiaoning had a long battle in bed with him that night.
She realized that Jin Qingyan seemed to have endless energy and vigor, just like a zealous and passionate youth.
He would only stop when she begged for mercy, every single time they got intimate.
He was so skilled in bed that An Xiaoning complimented him before going to sleep, “If you weren’t my husband, you’d definitely be a good friend with benefits.”
“Do you think I’d be friends with benefits with just anyone?”
“Of course, not everyone is qualified. In fact, I’m the only one who has the right to be one. You may be my friend with benefits for the rest of my life,” she teased, burying her face in his chest.
“You’re just so alluring.”
She chuckled and said, “Good that you admit it.”
Jin Qingyan hugged her tightly and said, “I love you.”
An Xiaoning closed her eyes. At this very moment, she was in utmost bliss, peace, and joy, all thanks to him.
However, time always flies when you’re with your loved ones. They got to spend only a few hours together, and the next thing they knew, An Xiaoning’s alarm was going off, jolting her awake right before daybreak. She hurriedly put on her clothes and returned to her room.
Not long after, Jin Qingyan also left the hotel and headed home. No one knew that the couple had spent an exuberant and blissful night together.
