692 A Million Times for You 54

As soon as An Xiaoning entered the backyard, she was greeted with the sight of Mei Yangyang and Long Tianze on the swing. Mei Yangyang was sitting on Long Tianze's lap while his arms were wrapped around her, and they were sharing an apple with each other.

The heartwarming sight was much to the envy of An Xiaoning, who was now single.

She stepped forward and quipped, "Do you two ever consider the feelings of singletons like me?"

Mei Yangyang swiftly got down from Long Tianze's lap and gave An Xiaoning a big hug. "Sis, you're my lawful wife, he's only a concubine," she jested.

Long Tianze looked up into the sky and let out a long sigh. "Oh Heaven, please take me far, far away. I don't wish to see such a devastating sight."

"Heaven is very busy, he doesn't have time for you."

An Xiaoning burst into laughter at the sight of the overly dramatic Long Tianze. "Okay, that's enough. You two are really such clowns. I just came back from B City."

"Have lunch at my place later. What would you like to eat, Sis? I'll get the kitchen to prepare it for you," said Mei Yangyang, dragging her into the house.

"I'm fine with anything. Your life is the most comfortable," said An Xiaoning, taking a seat on the couch together with Mei Yangyang.

"You can easily live a life like that too, if you'd like. It's just so peaceful and non-eventful, and we stick to each other every day."

An Xiaoning turned to lie on her side, supporting herself on one arm. "I don't actually have many ambitious aspirations. I can't help it that things have come to this."

"Sis, why do you sound so troubled?"

An Xiaoning sighed and said, "Let's not talk about those unhappy matters. Filming has officially begun. How's Erlan coping?"

"She's doing great. Her acting chops were already up to standard to begin with since she's a graduate from the theater arts academy. She's doing a very good job, especially with the help of the acting coach. Yan Ge seems to be quite pleased with her performance too."

"That's good. I hope we won't incur a loss from this investment."

"You won't. The storyline is interesting, and the cast is superb. You won't incur losses. By the way, I heard from Tianze that Mr. Ling and Jin Qingyue are getting married very soon."

"Is that so? They're destined to be together. What a rare coincidence," said An Xiaoning, who was not too surprised.

Mei Yangyang stretched her back and said, "There's a video clip circulating online right now. Have you seen it yet?"

"Which video?"

"That means you haven't seen it yet." Mei Yangyang unlocked her mobile phone and searched for the video clip online, which she then showed to An Xiaoning. "Take a look."

An Xiaoning took the phone from her hand and said, "Wasn't this taken during the wedding ceremony?"

"Yeah. I wonder who took the video and posted it online? Tianze and I watched it again and again several times last night. The more we watch it, the more we think… that he still loves you very much."

An Xiaoning put the mobile phone down and said calmly, "How could you tell from just a video?"

"Young Madam, it's time for lunch," said the head cook, who served the dishes and placed them onto the table.

Mei Yangyang stood up and called Long Tianze to come in for lunch before taking a seat with An Xiaoning. "I've been craving for fish a lot lately. Sis, have a taste of Auntie's cooking," said Mei Yangyang.

An Xiaoning waited for Long Tianze to take a seat before picking up her chopsticks to pick up a small piece of fish. After tasting it, she complimented, "Not bad, it tastes fresh and delicious."

"Of course. I was the one who caught that fish while fishing," Long Tianze remarked smugly.

"Hah… It tastes delicious just because you were the one who caught it?"

"I fished it with my precious, beautiful hands. My painstaking efforts are going to be in vain if they don't taste good."

Mei Yangyang put a few pieces of fish onto his plate and said, "You're hopeless. Have more since you're the one who caught it."

"I fished it for you, Honey. Have more," he said, helping her to the fish.

Mei Yangyang was beaming with happiness as they proceed to enjoy a delightful meal.

An Xiaoning was green with envy.

"By the way, I came across a piece of news when I was surfing the internet on my mobile phone earlier. It's about a group of archeologists from our country discovering a coffin in a cave on a dilapidated mountain."

"What else? Did they find something unusual with the coffin?" Mei Yangyang probed.

"Yes, they did. That's why they went there as a team to find out more. Unfortunately, they only peeked at the coffin from the opening of the cave. No one dared to enter."

"Why didn't they dare to enter?" An Xiaoning asked in puzzlement.

"I don't know, it wasn't mentioned in the news article. It sounds pretty absurd though," said Long Tianze.

"People nowadays are really pathetic. How could they have the cheek to dig up a dead person's grave using the excuse of doing it in the name of research? They're just disturbing the dead and hindering them from resting in peace. Trust them to go all the way to a remote mountain area for the sake of finding something about an abandoned coffin."

"Exactly. Seems like cremation isn't too bad of an idea now that I think about it."

"…"

Just as they had their fill, Fan Shixin arrived.

"Here comes the dummy. What's the matter?" Long Tianze quipped.

Fan Shixin squinted and said, "Mr. Long, can you stop giving me random nicknames?"

"No, I just enjoy doing so."

Fan Shixin answered helplessly, "Whatever, as long as you're happy. Ms. An, Young Sir asks if you'd like to see that person?"

Having immediately understood what he meant, An Xiaoning answered, "That goes without saying. Why would I give up such a great opportunity? I'll go over right now."

Fan Shixin followed closely behind, beaming with joy.

As soon as she entered the gate of the mansion opposite, An Xiaoning was greeted with the sight of a tall and slender figure standing in the backyard, dressed in a white suit. He was leaning against the car and seemed to be waiting for her.

She stepped forward and asked, "Where is she?"

"In the basement."

"How do you plan to deal with her?" An Xiaoning asked while walking to the basement.

"How do you think I should?"

"Get rid of her as soon as possible so you can stop worrying about it. Don't end up like Shi Xiaoyu, who probably regrets not killing my mother earlier. There's no way she can catch my mother again easily now that she has already been rescued," said An Xiaoning, taking reference from her mother's incident.

"Do you really think just anyone can enter my territory and rescue her?"

"I don't think your place is any harder to trespass than Shi Xiaoyu's secret basement in her bedroom. But of course, it's up to you to decide how you'd like to deal with her," An Xiaoning said, smiling.

"No, you call the shots. I was thinking of torturing her severely before finishing her off. But I've changed my mind after hearing what you've said," Jin Qingyan answered.

"Why are you so easily influenced?"

"No, I've always been determined and firm with my decisions. I only changed my mind so quickly because of you."

An Xiaoning ignored him and continued walking toward the basement.

The secret chamber was rather clean and had a small window.

She opened the door and entered slowly, only to be greeted with the sight of Xu Youran, whom she had not seen in a long time.

"Seems like you're treating her far better than I had imagined. I thought she'd be beaten into a pulp and covered in wounds by now, but that's not the case, apparently."

Jin Qingyan stood beside her quietly.

Xu Youran did not look at them and continued to lie flat on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling above, as if they were completely non-existent.

"I really pity the fetus in her stomach. It's reincarnated in the wrong place."

Upon hearing her words, Xu Youran sat up straight and said, "An Xiaoning, you're a mother yourself. How could you bear to watch my unborn child suffer such a horrible fate?"