Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“It’s already six o’clock. I can’t sleep, let’s chat,” said Pei Yi, resting his arms behind his head.
“I can’t fall asleep either. I’ve been sleeping at eight or nine o’clock in the evening every night. I’ve already gotten more than enough sleep.”
“What time did you use to sleep at?”
“I used to sleep after ten o’clock. I’d usually take some time to catch up on reading at night after a long day of work,” An Xiaoning answered gently.
“What were you usually busy with during the day?”
After a moment of silence, she smiled and said, “There were a lot of things I had to do. I had to handle the matters regarding a television series that I had invested in, as well as supervise and oversee the renovation works at the mansion I had newly bought.”
“You invested in a television series? Weren’t you afraid of the huge risks involved? What if you incur a huge loss and never end up recouping your capital?”
“Since I’ve already decided to invest in it, I ought to do my best and make sure the production goes smoothly. Being afraid of taking risks will only hinder me from making the crucial first step. There won’t be losses because the storyline is interesting, the actors are all very skilled, and we’ve already done all the necessary publicity works. I invested in the television series with the sole intention of making money. Although it may take a long time, we’ll make a huge earning so long as the end product is excellent. I invested in it together with my sister-in-law so that I could have someone else to bear the risks with.”
“I heard that you and Jin Qingyan had married and divorced each other twice, yet he’s still willing to pay so much for your ransom. Seems like he still can’t forget you. Why did you get a divorce?”
Not sure why he asked such a question, An Xiaoning answered, “Why do you think we got divorced, Master Pei?”
“From the looks of it, you must have been the one who’d initiated the divorce since you announced the news of it online. Don’t tell me you divorced him because you don’t love him anymore?”
“You were wrong, Master Pei. I did initiate our first divorce, but Jin Qingyan was the one who initiated the second one. The reason was that he doesn’t trust me completely. Well, for me, I can’t tolerate the fact that he doesn’t trust me. We got divorced very quickly though. We didn’t drag things on at all,” An Xiaoning explained in an intentional casual tone.
“Do you still love him, then?”
“No.”
Although she had a smile on her face, she was filled with misery.
She was the only person who knew if she still loved him deep down.
She would not let just anyone know about her innermost feelings, let alone Pei Yi, her enemy.
“You really don’t love him anymore?”
An Xiaoning looked him in the eye calmly and answered, “I really don’t love him anymore. Master Pei, do you really think that he was willing to offer such a high ransom because he still has feelings for me? It’s because we share a child and he doesn’t want me to die in a foreign land. One billion dollars is indeed a huge sum, but it’s only peanuts to Jin Qingyan.”
In order to make him believe her, she continued, “If two people were really in love with each other, they wouldn’t let go of each other easily. Master Pei, don’t you think so?”
Pei Yi reached out to grab the teacup and took a few sips before saying, “Don’t try and put humanity to the test. Humanity can never withstand tests, especially when it comes to love, which crumbles easily. I don’t believe in true love at all.”
“Seems like you haven’t met a woman whom you really love, Master Pei.”
“You’ve belittled me. I’m a year older than you. I’ll be turning thirty-one this year, not twenty-one. I’ve seen a great deal of what the world has to offer. I’ve also been in love several times with different women. It just doesn’t seem like a big deal to me,” said Pei Yi, sitting up straight.
An Xiaoning smiled at him quietly. She had to put her acting skills to the test every single day. It was tough and miserable for her to force herself to lie and grin pretentiously at the man whom she detested.
Although she disliked having to behave that way, she had no choice but to keep up with the pretense in order to stay alive. On top of that, she had to butter him up continuously, solely because her life lies in his hands.
“Master Pei, if you don’t mind, I can pretend to be your girlfriend so you can have a taste of what it’s like to be in a relationship.”
An Xiaoning was filled with panic and anxiety as soon as she finished speaking, for she was constantly testing his boundaries. She was hoping that he could continue to allow her to stay alive even if she can’t escape. In fact, she even hoped that he could let his guard down against her and allow her to sleep without handcuffs, which were rather uncomfortable.
She knew clearly that she had no other redeeming qualities that could attract him except that pretty face of hers.
However, she was even more aware that the only way she could get out of such a knotty predicament was to please him and get into his good books. That was the only way she could get out of the room and have a chance of escaping!
She wanted to leave this place forever.
Otherwise, leaving his clutches would only be a far-fetched idea.
Pei Yi was slightly startled to hear her words. With a squint, he questioned, “Do you know what you’re talking about?”
“We’ll just be playing pretend. You don’t have to take it too seriously, Master Pei.”
“I’m germophobic,” he blurted without hesitation.
An Xiaoning understood what he meant — he found her to be filthy and did not wish to act as a couple with her.
He must have mistaken her intentions.
She did not plan on sleeping with him or kissing him at all.
I’m afraid of filth too!
Was there a need for him to say that?
An Xiaoning snorted with laughter and said, “Master Pei, do you really think the only things couples do are getting intimate and making out with each other?”
“Is that not the case? Is there still pure innocence in the world of adults?”
“Of course there is. Don’t judge me just because I’m thirty-one years old. I’m still an eighteen-year-old teenager at heart. Since you’re a germaphobe, I naturally wouldn’t dare to touch you inappropriately. Rest assured, Master Pei.”
“Well, it’s not like you can’t touch me at all… My condition isn’t that serious,” he said, trying not to seem like a petty coward.
An Xiaoning was relieved since it meant that he wouldn’t harbor any designs on her.
That was great.
“Master Pei, are you willing to roleplay with me, then?”
“Sure, I shall see what tricks you can come up with.”
“Alright, I’ll be your girlfriend today, then,” said An Xiaoning, who did not really plan to play any tricks.
Pei Yi expressed assent indifferently.
An Xiaoning smiled in response. She had never once put in effort in courting men. In fact, she never understood how Gu Beicheng and Tuoba Gucheng had fallen in love with her.
She should be able to win his heart easily with the added effort.
A little sacrifice wouldn’t matter as long as she could stay alive and escape.
Just as Pei Yi was about to get up, An Xiaoning hugged him and said, “I’ll go to the dressing room to help pick out your outfit for today. Are you going out?”
“Yes.”
Thus, he remained still and waited for her to bring the outfit.
