Chapter 498: The Secret About the Past (116)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It finally began to pour in the morning after two days of gloomy weather.
Realizing that it was already past seven o’clock, An Xiaoning struggled to get out of bed. However, Jin Qingyan hugged her waist tightly and refused to let her get up.
She reached out to nudge Jin Qingyan, who sprung up abruptly. “Why did you nudge me?”
“Because I’m good at it,” she answered, getting out of bed calmly.
“What an absurd answer…”
“Stop wasting time and lazing around. It’s already half-past seven. You’ll almost be late by the time you finish breakfast,” she urged, placing the outfit she picked for him from the closet in the dressing room onto the bed.
“It’s my company. I may report to work at whatever time I want. No one would dare to reprimand me for being late.”
“As a leader, how are you supposed to earn the respect of your subordinates if you can’t even be punctual yourself?” said An Xiaoning.
Jin Qingyan put on his clothes, after which he and An Xiaoning proceeded to the bathroom to brush their teeth.
She squeezed some toothpaste onto his toothbrush and handed it to him before doing the same for herself.
Being able to go to bed and wake up next to the woman he loved every day was a life he had always dreamed off. He felt that life was full of joy and happiness.
“Why are you smiling so widely when we’re just brushing our teeth?” she asked in puzzlement, nudging him with her elbow.
“I’m really glad to be able to see such a beautiful wife every morning.”
An Xiaoning giggled and said, “Do you really think so?”
“Of course.”
“I’m not going to the police station anymore from now on.”
“Why? Don’t you enjoy investigating cases? Why aren’t you going anymore?” Jin Qingyan asked.
“The police headquarters have found someone to replace me during my prolonged absence. She’s psychic and can communicate with spirits too. So, I’m not going to report to the police station anymore. Well, it doesn’t matter since there are other things I have to do now, like searching for my biological parents. Qingyan, it never really mattered much to me in the past, but now that I’ve decided to search for them, I’d really like to find out the truth sooner.”
Jin Qingyan hurriedly rinsed his mouth before saying to her, “I don’t want you to enter the palace so quickly, because it won’t be easy to come out again once you’re inside. I’ll miss you so much. I don’t want to be separated from you.”
An Xiaoning placed her toothbrush into the mug and hugged him tightly. “I don’t want to be away from you either.”
Jin Qingyan headed downstairs while embracing her throughout.
“Although I don’t wish to part from you, I’ll still support you in searching for your parents like how I support all your decisions. Seize the opportunity while you can and don’t leave any regrets for yourself.”
“Hubby, you’re the best. Will you always be so good to me?” An Xiaoning asked coquettishly, which was rather rare of her.
“Of course. I’ll treat you well forever and always.”
“Young Sir, Young Madam, Sir is here,” Fan Shixin reported.
“Okay, let him in,” Jin Qingyan instructed as he took a seat.
Mr. Jin entered with heavy footsteps. Noticing that they were all present, Mr. Jin said straight away, “Qingyan, I have something to discuss with you.”
“There are no outsiders here. You may just speak your mind now,” said Jin Qingyan, showing no signs of standing up.
Mr. Jin took a glance at An Xiaoning, who did not even bother looking at him.
“Since Youran is a member of our family, I’m planning to announce the truth to the public. I’m also planning to transfer all my shares in the company to her, although it’s only a small portion. This is what the Jin family owes her,” said Mr. Jin, clearly having thought it through carefully before breaking the news to them.
“You’re the one who’s indebted to her, not the Jin family. I don’t care who she is. I won’t forgive anyone who tries to kill Xiaoning, neither will I acknowledge her as my sister. As for your portion of the shares, you may have the right to decide who to transfer them to, but to make things clear beforehand, you’ll only have yourself to blame if you realize that you’ve made a stupid decision after transferring them to her,” Jin Qingyan warned.
“I know that, of course. I was just informing you in advance,” Mr. Jin retorted.
“What’s the point of telling me about the decision you’ve already made yourself? Do you really think she’ll come back to you and acknowledge you as her dearest father just because you gave her your shares? She’s long detested you to the core. She’ll forever bear a grudge against you for her mother’s death. I’m afraid you’ll lose more than you gain when she overrides you.”
Mr. Jin was shocked speechless by his snark remark. Feeling rather infuriated, he said, “She’s still your sister at the end of the day. If you could dote on Qingyue so dearly, why can’t you be more forgiving toward Youran?”
“I once treated her as my sister. How did she treat me in the end? Forgiving? Forgiving someone who tried to kill you is just giving them the chance to harm you a second time!” Jin Qingyan hollered.
“It’s understandable that she would bear such a strong resentment toward us.”
“That’s enough! You may leave if there’s nothing else. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do with your portion of the shares,” Jin Qingyan snapped angrily, not wishing to hear him out any further.
Mr. Jin turned red with anger, clearly agitated by Jin Qingyan’s adamant attitude.
Mr. Jin stood up and left without uttering another word.
Jin Qingyan did not react and instead said to An Xiaoning smilingly, “Don’t keep standing there. Let’s go have breakfast.”
“Your father seems really infuriated.”
“Old people tend to become nostalgic the more they dwell on the past. Why can’t he seem to understand that Xu Youran will never let go of the grudge she bears against the Jin family no matter how he tries to make it up to her now? After all, there’s no way her mother can come back to life, can she?”
“Father-in-law must’ve regretted his actions back then. Why do you think men would cheat on their spouses?” An Xiaoning asked.
“Men aren’t the only ones who cheat. There are plenty of women who are unfaithful to their marriages. In conclusion, I despise all cheaters and they should never be forgiven, regardless of what reason they may have for their infidelity.”
An Xiaoning nodded and asked, “Will you ever be unfaithful to me?”
“No, because I’m not shameless. I didn’t even touch your clone, Gu Xiaoning, at all throughout the five years that she was by my side. Doesn’t that already prove my loyalty toward you?”
“Qingyan, you’re so nice to me.”
“How else am I supposed to make you devoted to me then?” he said, smiling. Well, if he didn’t prove his love for her through his actions, she would have long eloped with Gu Beicheng.
“You’re doing well today. I’ll remember it,” An Xiaoning said while eating her porridge.
Her compliment set him in high spirits, as if he was an elementary schooler being praised by his teacher.
Jin Yiheng, who had been silently eating his breakfast, was completely disregarded by his parents. He felt as if he was non-existent at all.
He could not help but feel sad and dejected about their nonchalant attitudes.
“Mommy, you and Daddy have been inseparable ever since you two returned from abroad. Do you still remember that you have me as your son?”
An Xiaoning peeled a boiled egg and placed it onto Jin Yiheng’s plate. “Of course I do. You and your Daddy hold different positions in my heart. You’ll always be Mommy’s little baby.”
“But why do I feel like he’s your baby and I’m only an insignificant passerby to you now?”
An Xiaoning burst into laughter and said, “Is it really that severe? You’ve actually gotten jealous of your Daddy.”
“Daddy is too tyrannical and overbearing. He hogs you all day and night. I don’t even get to interrupt at all…”