1049 Perplexed and Smitten 109

\"I'm really confused,\" Fang Erlan said in astonishment.

\"He definitely has his reasons for not telling you everything for now. You'll definitely find out in the future. I'm in no place to divulge anything to you if he hasn't decided to tell you just yet. However, if you meet that man who came by tonight ever again in the future, you must remember not to show any signs of fear. Just behave like the way you did tonight.\"

\"Okay, I understand. However, he told me not to tell Xiao Chenyang about his visit. Sis, do you think I should inform Xiao Chenyang?\"

\"Of course you should. Just tell him once he's back. At the same time, you must also tell him not to look for that man. Otherwise, it would be obvious that you were the one who told him. Tell Xiao Chenyang to feign ignorance in front of that man. You must bring some weapons with you whenever you go out, just in case.\"

\"Weapons? You mean like daggers?\"

\"Yes, keep one with you at all times. It'll be much safer.\"

Fang Erlan decided to heed her advice. \"Alright, Sis. You've been busy for the whole day. Just stay here for tonight.\"

\"I was planning to do that too. There's something else I need to tell you.\"

They returned to the bedroom together, after which An Xiaoning asked, \"Yangyang told me that she had sent you the script for the first few episodes of the upcoming drama. Do you like the storyline?\"

\"I do.\" Fang Erlan lay on her side and continued, \"I read the original novel written by the author and it seems rather interesting. The author is really popular amongst readers.\"

\"This upcoming drama is a major production too. An experienced actor will definitely be cast to play the male lead. Once this drama goes into post-production, the television series that we worked on previously would also begin broadcasting. However, you must still take some time out of your filming schedule to participate in the publicity events for the television series. I reckon you'll definitely be exhausted during that period of time. So, you must get as much rest as you can right now. Work hard and play hard.\"

She expressed assent and asked, \"Sis, do you know when Xiao Chenyang would be coming back?\"

\"I really have no idea, but I'm certain that he will return.\"

\"If only he was more normal. At some point, I actually suspected him to be a lunatic who had escaped from an asylum.\"

At this moment, Fang Erlan received a text message from Yan Ge, who asked if she was asleep yet.

She replied to him, saying that she was already lying in bed. He ended the conversation with a simple \"Goodnight.\"

—

While it was already nighttime in S Nation, it was still daytime in R Nation. There was a time difference of 12 hours between the two nations.

Pei Yi was holding two walnuts that he kept fiddling with.

Noticing that he was remaining silent, Qin Guo repeated, \"Ancestor, Madam wants you to go home immediately.\"

\"Just tell her that I'm busy and that I'll go home another day.\"

\"But Madam said… that she'll come here herself if you refuse to go back.\"

Pei Yi gave her the side-eye and hissed, \"Got it. Scram.\"

Qin Guo retreated out of the door while Pei Yi rose from his seat and placed the walnuts onto the table. He then picked up his car keys and headed outside.

Pei Yi and his mother depended on each other for life, and he had rarely rebelled against her. However, he did not want to compel himself to compromise and give in to her pushiness regarding his marriage.

He drove back home to see that his mother was waiting for him. She watched as he entered the house and gibed in disgruntlement, \"I doubt you'll come home if I don't urge you to time and time again.\"

\"What are you saying, Mother? I was just busy.\"

\"Being busy is just an excuse. I know you're just sick and tired of me. Son, I gave birth to you when I was in my thirties, and we're the only ones left at home. I'm really worried about you, and I want to see you settle down and build a family of your own. All I'm asking is that you get married and bear children. What's so difficult about that?\"

\"Mother, getting married and bearing children is not as easy as breeding animals. This concerns my happiness and my future child's happiness. How can I be so casual and hasty about it?\" said Pei Yi, who obviously understood her concerns about having a grandchild.

\"Tian Tian is such a great girl, do you really detest her that much just because she rejected you once? Tian Tian is so nice to me. She's filial, beautiful, and sensible. Why don't you fancy her at all?\"

\"Don't talk about her anymore. She was just being nice to you because she wants to curry my favor. I know the reason behind each and every action of hers,\" he said in annoyance.

\"Don't always mistake her goodwill to have ill intentions. She's my goddaughter, and there's nothing wrong for her to be kind to her godmother. I want you to marry her, precisely because she dotes on me. Where else are you supposed to find such a good girl like her?\"

\"No matter how great of a girl she may be, I can't force myself if I don't fancy her.\"

\"You may marry someone you fancy too. But the problem is, you can't find anyone and yet you still despise the girls I introduce you to.\"

\"What's the hurry? If it's meant to be, it will be.\"

\"I must make myself clear about something. Married women who have borne children, like An Xiaoning, are unacceptable.\"

\"Didn't you say that I'm allowed to marry a woman whom I fancy? That's enough, Mother. Let's stop talking about my marriage. I don't want to be bothered by this topic every single time I see you. If you still want to see me…\"

\"You've learned how to threaten me…\"

\"I'm just trying to negotiate with you.\"

The elderly lady said, \"My son is so handsome and wealthy. Why do you have to be with a filthy secondhand good? You must marry a better girl. You're not allowed to have such poor taste in women.\"

\"Mother, you've overestimated me. In your eyes, An Xiaoning may be an unchaste woman who's already been married and borne children. However, she might not even want to marry me even if I fancy her.\"

\"So be it, then. It's not like there aren't any other women in this world.\"

\"Mother, would you like to go out to take a breather? Perhaps visit a villa or something?\"

\"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to coop myself up at home.\"

\"…\"

—

An Xiaoning left at past seven o'clock in the morning. Not long after, Fang Erlan received a call from her parents.

They called to ask her for her new address. However, she decided not to tell them, for fear that they would show up at her door to disturb her peace every so often. Thus, she simply asked them if something had happened.

Mrs. Fang was the one who had made the call.

She chastised angrily over the phone, \"People always say that mothers ought to be able to rely on their daughters, yet you refuse to even tell us where you had moved to. Are you afraid that we would share your clout now that you've made a name for yourself?\"

Mrs. Fang would often harp on the same thing whenever she called. Fang Erlan said, \"Tell me straight if there's anything you'd like to say to me. You don't have to talk about those irrelevant things. I'll do my duty as your daughter and provide for you and Father when you're old and incapable of supporting yourselves.\"

\"You already have such an attitude now. How can I depend on you when I'm older? Erlan, don't forget, if news about you being an unfilial daughter leak onto the media when your career is picking up, it's going to greatly affect your future!\"