Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
An Xiaoning whipped out her mobile phone and sent Yan Ge a simple text. “He has the right to know what his fiancée has been up to. I’ve explained the situation to him briefly.”
The text message was delivered after she finished speaking.
An Xiaoning put her phone away and said to Fang Erlan, “We’ve managed to cover it up for you. Don’t act so recklessly again.”
Fang Erlan assured her, “Sis, I won’t do something so foolish again. I was just too hot-headed at the time, I don’t know why I just…”
“I was initially planning to stay behind for a couple of days. Seems like there’s no need for that now. Yangyang, shall we go home?”
“Sure.”
“Erlan, return to the set. We’ll be leaving now.” An Xiaoning gave her a pat on her shoulder and continued, “Don’t take this to heart and focus on filming. Call Sis Yangyang if you encounter any more issues.”
Fang Erlan nodded and left the hotel together with the two of them.
After watching the red Ferrari vanish out of sight, she hurriedly got inside the nanny van.
Xiao Yue said, “Sis Erlan, I’ve been waiting for so long. What’s the outcome?”
“It’s settled. Turns out Ms. Xin was the one who did it. The matter has come to an end. Let’s go and return to the set.”
They soon arrived at the filming location.
As soon as she and Xiao Yue arrived, they caught sight of Yan Ge making a call on his mobile phone. However, he hung up the moment he saw them.
He asked, “Where’s Ms. An?”
“She’s gone home.”
“I’ve read the text she sent me. Um… I’m sorry.”
It was Fang Erlan’s first time hearing an apology from him. “It’s fine,” she said calmly.
“I’ve decided to break off our engagement, and I’ve already informed her of my decision. From now on, she and I are no longer engaged.”
Appalled and bewildered, Fang Erlan said, “You… you were too rash. Aren’t you going to discuss it with your parents first?”
“No need for that.”
Fang Erlan did not say anything further, though she did not feel happy about it. Ever since she first heard about his engagement, she had been reminding herself to suppress her emotions and feelings for him. She had also realized clearly that it was impossible between her and Yan Ge, since she was not his type. Hence, she’d decided to just forget it.
“I managed to see her true colors before I married her. Aren’t you going to feel happy for me for becoming a bachelor again?”
Fang Erlan avoided eye contact with him and quipped, “What’s there to be happy about? You’ve just become an old bachelor again.”
“…”
“I wish I could give myself a slap.” She leaned closer toward him and said softly, “The kiss scene I added previously has left me with a serious trauma. I absolutely regret it. I was being too rash.”
Feeling displeased, Yan Ge chided with an austere expression, “Fang Erlan, are you even human? I was the victim on whom you forced a kiss. How dare you say that you’re the one suffering from emotional trauma and that you’re regretting it?”
“Of course. Why did I even do that back then? It’s such an embarrassment. I wish I could beat myself up into a pulp.”
Yan Ge’s initially foul mood was worsened upon hearing her words.
“Why do you regret it?” he asked.
“What?”
“I’m asking you, why are you regretting it?”
“What do you mean why? I just really regret it.”
Yan Ge did not answer her and kept quiet for a while. He then stood up and said, “Come with me.”
Noticing that he was walking elsewhere, she asked, “Where are you going?”
He stopped in his tracks and turned around to glance at her. “Follow me.”
Fang Erlan had no choice but to do so and hurriedly followed him inside his car before closing the door.
They were alone in the car, and Fang Erlan had no idea why he’d asked her to come here with him.
“You can tell me now, why do you regret it?”
Seeing how insistent he was on knowing the answer to the question he had been harping on, Fang Erlan looked down at her hands and answered in a soft and tender voice, “Because… I feel like I shouldn’t have done that. In hindsight, if you hadn’t played along and started berating me on the spot instead, I probably would have never had the guts to face you ever again. I feel so embarrassed and ashamed to have done something like that. Fortunately, you gave me an out and saved me from the embarrassment. Hence, I must thank you for it.”
Yan Ge cocked his head toward the side and gazed at her face. “Filming is going to end soon for this television series. Continue to give me massages.”
“I already said that I’ll stop massaging you. You’ve agreed too.”
“Fang Erlan, not only do you enjoy breaking your promises and going back on your word, you’re also an ingrate. I saved you twice. If I hadn’t played along and started insulting you on the spot while filming, do you think your reputation could be saved? I didn’t embarrass you in front of everyone and all I’m asking for in return is a massage. Yet you’re so unwilling. How could you be so heartless?”
Fang Erlan was at a momentary loss for words. “I’ve already decided to keep a distance from you and be mindful of our physical contact. I’m not going to massage you again, regardless of what you say about me.”
“You’re really not going to massage me?”
“I’m really not going to…” As soon as she spoke, he took her by surprise and pinned her onto the seat of the car before pressing his lips against hers forcefully.
Fang Erlan froze in utter shock, and her heart began to race rapidly. She tried to push him away but to no avail, for he refused to budge no matter how hard she tried. He pressed his hands strongly against the seat while smooching her unrestrainedly, and he finally stopped when they were both panting heavily.
“Since you refuse to massage me, I’m sorry but I had to return to you the kiss that you forced onto me.” He opened the door and got out of the car calmly.
—
“Sis, Ms. Feng is here to see you. She’s been waiting for you for almost half an hour.”
“Which Ms. Feng?”
“Tuoba Hancheng’s wife, Feng Qiubai.”
What is she looking for me for? An Xiaoning wondered.
Before An Xiaoning could figure out why, she reached the living room.
Feng Qiubai was sitting on the couch and having a conversation with Shi Qingzhou.
She was dressed in a white miniskirt with her long locks draped across her shoulders and her face full of exquisite makeup. Upon the sight of An Xiaoning, Feng Qiubai took the initiative to stand up and greet her.
“Hello, Sister-in-law.”
She sounded extremely warm and enthusiastic. An Xiaoning smiled and said, “You must be joking, Ms. Feng. I’m the only daughter my mother has. I don’t have any siblings.”
Perhaps having already expected her to say so, Feng Qiubai answered composedly, “You and Hancheng belong to the same father and are related by blood. Hence, that makes you my sister-in-law. You can’t change that fact even if you don’t acknowledge it, Sister-in-law.”
An Xiaoning sat down opposite Feng Qiubai and asked, “What are you here for?”
“I’d like to discuss a deal with you, Sister-in-law. Are you interested?”
An Xiaoning did not try and correct her since she was stating facts about her being biologically related to Tuoba Hancheng. “What deal?” she asked.
“Now that the presidential election is going on, we would be fine with whoever takes over as the next president, be it Father-in-law or Uncle. Hence, my husband and I have already discussed it carefully and we’ve decided that we want to forge closer ties with you, Sister-in-law. We’ll adhere to all your instructions and stand on your side.”
Is she trying to be friendly?
