Chapter 1038: Perplexed and Smitten (98)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Let’s hurry and leave this place.”
“Yes.”
They made their way downstairs and boarded the elevator to the basement where Fan Shixin and numerous other bodyguards were shackled to the corner of the walls.
When they were leaving, An Xiaoning took one last, terrifying glance at the lady boss, causing the latter to get goosebumps and sending a cold chill down her spine. The latter was filled with anxiety at the thought of An Xiaoning’s words.
Throughout the journey home, she grabbed Jin Qingyan’s hand and remained silent.
Once they returned home, he took a shower while she released all her pent-up anger and punched him in frustration. “Why did you go out to meet him in the middle of the night?”
Instead of retaliating, Jin Qingyan said, “I won’t do that ever again.”
“You don’t seem like the type who will rush out just because of a phone call. Just what did he say to you?”
“He said that he wanted to have a chat with me and that, if I turned up, he would tell me clearly why he wants us dead in both lifetimes.”
“You knew clearly that he was just laying a trap for you…”
“Yes, I went despite knowing that he had laid a trap for me. I’ve long detested him, ever since we visited the ancient residence. However, I still want to find out the reason for his actions. He didn’t make me make a wasted trip, though. He has already told me everything.”
“What was the reason?”
“He said that in our previous lifetime, it was partly because of you and partly because he was afraid that I would vie with him for the throne. In this lifetime, he wants to kill us so as to prevent us from killing him first. He told me everything rather straightforwardly.”
An Xiaoning’s makeup was ruined by her tears. She exited the bathroom to remove her makeup and entered again to rinse her face before lying down in bed at about four o’clock in the morning.
She had had a close shave with death within just a little over an hour.
She stared blankly at the ceiling above.
She truly experienced firsthand what it meant for there to always be a greater power.
She dialed Fang Erlan’s mobile phone to ask if Xiao Chenyang had returned, to which the latter said no.
“Sis Xiaoning, since you know Xiao Chenyang, why didn’t you know his name?”
“I only found out tonight.”
“He’s back. Do you want me to get him on the line?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Chenyang took the mobile phone from Fang Erlan’s hands and answered, “Hello.”
“Thank you for tonight.”
“How rare of you to be thanking me. You don’t have to thank me, though, I didn’t do it for your sake.”
“I’d like to have a chat with you. Are you free tomorrow?”
“Come over tomorrow morning. I’ll be waiting for you here.”
“Alright, get some rest, then.”
Jin Qingyan had a white towel wrapped around his waist when he came out of the shower while drying his hair with another towel.
“Who were you speaking to over the phone?”
“Xiao Chenyang. I only found out his name tonight. We have him to thank for saving the day just now.” She explained the situation to him.
“You mean Xihou Jiaping stole from him?”
“Yes, that’s what Xiao Chenyang said. It sounds true. However, Xihou Jiaping refuses to admit that he had stolen it and insists that he merely took it.”
“He’s just trying to cover up for himself and put himself on a pedestal. Taking someone else’s belongings without permission equates to stealing. Did he mention what it was?”
“No.” An Xiaoning speculated, “However, Xiao Chenyang appeared tonight as a virtual form and was dressed in ancient clothing, whereas Xihou Jiaping was in human form. For him to be able to see and communicate with Xiao Chenyang’s soul, I reckon he must be of the same kind as Xiao Chenyang. He either reincarnated with the memory of his previous lifetime or he had become immortal. I guessed that because Xiao Chenyang said that he’s taking advantage of the fact that you reincarnated normally. Clearly, both of them are different from the two of us.”
An idea popped up in An Xiaoning’s mind at this moment. “Qingyan!” she exclaimed.
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
“Do you remember when Pei Yi imprisoned me in R Nation back then? You said that it was a dream but your soul had seen me right there.”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean… your soul can also leave your body, just like Xiao Chenyang? It’s just that you’re not aware of how you can separate your soul from your body yet. Xiao Chenyang probably knows how to. We’ve agreed to meet tomorrow. I’ll ask him about it then.”
After hearing her theory, Jin Qingyan felt like that could very likely be the case.
“Alright. Did you get a terrible fright tonight?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
“What do you think? Seems like the nightmare I had yesterday was a premonition. We mustn’t belittle my dreams again,” said An Xiaoning, who got the chills at the thought of what had happened.
His heart was heavy and he did not answer. He did not tell her that there was some water inside the water tank, which had a large surface area that was glossy. Hence, there was no way he could climb out at all and all he could do was watch as water filled the tank slowly. Besides, there was also a lid on the top of the tank. He might have died if she had arrived any later.
At the thought of her crying, he’d been extremely terrified that he would die in the tank. What’s going to happen to her if I’m dead?
Jin Qingyan took out some cotton buds to clean out the water from his ears.
—
“You seem to be out of sorts. Did something happen?” Fang Erlan asked, leaning against the headboard.
“I instantly feel better after seeing you.” He turned to lie on his side and placed one arm on her waist, only to have her push it away relentlessly.
She said, “I’m planning to buy another bed tomorrow. Since you’ve decided not to leave, you shall move to another room from now on.”
“I’m not going to,” he countered.
“You don’t have a choice. I’m still a pure and demure virgin. It’s so inappropriate for you to be sharing the same bed as me.”
“A virgin?” He scanned her from head to toe before grinning widely.
“What are you smiling about?” Fang Erlan asked in bewilderment.
“I knew you would keep yourself chaste for me.”
“Who’s doing that for you? It’s only because I haven’t had a boyfriend,” Fang Erlan said truthfully.
“You didn’t have any boyfriends before me, and you won’t have to have any now that you have met me. So far, which man in S Nation do you think can compare to me in terms of appearance?”
“Jin Qingyan.”
“Too bad he’s already taken. I meant single bachelors.”
“There are plenty.”
“Name me a few examples and show me their photos.”
“What for…? There may be very few men who can hold a candle to you, but there are plenty of women who are more outstanding than me. Why have you got such poor taste in women?” said Fang Erlan while lying down.
He picked up the remote and switched on the air conditioner. “I have no idea. Maybe you’re ugly and I’m blind?”
“Scram, you’re the ugly one.”
He responded with a smile and closed his eyes to go to bed.
Seeing that he had already closed his eyes, Fang Erlan dimmed the lights. However, she was suddenly no longer sleepy. Staring at his face, she thought to herself, Heaven is really unfair, why must a man be so good-looking?
The more she thought about it, the more perplexed she felt. Fang Erlan began to think that those male idols in the entertainment industry paled greatly in comparison to Xiao Chenyang.