1107 Perplexed and Smitten 167

"I know, I know." Xiao Yue's eyes lit up at the sight of Xiao Chenyang, who had exited from the other bedroom, and she asked, "Oh… Cousin, you're home?"

"Silly lass, how many times have I told you not to call me 'Cousin'? I'm not your cousin."

"I just like calling you that. I just enjoy it. Cousin, Cousin, Cousin."

Fang Erlan could not stand how obsessed Xiao Yue was with Xiao Chenyang. She waved at her and said, "That's enough, go back and get some rest."

Xiao Yue stomped her feet and said in disgruntlement, "Sis Erlan, I just saw Cousin and we barely said anything to each other yet."

"I've decided to rescue you from this demon after seeing how obsessed you are."

Xiao Yue conceded and left.

After she left, Xiao Chenyang asked, "I'm a demon?"

"Are you not?"

"Did I devour you?"

She gave him the side-eye and said, "Xiao Yue seems to fancy you very much, doesn't she?"

"What about you?"

"I don't fancy you."

"It's alright. Even if you're a piece of stone, I can warm you up."

Fang Erlan picked up her cup of tea and chugged everything down in one go. "I'm so thirsty."

"I drank from that teacup before you did."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"You didn't ask. Filming is about to begin soon for you. Do you need anything? I'll settle it for you."

"No need for that. I'll get myself the things I need. Besides, there's nothing much left for me to purchase. I'll be wearing the film costumes most of the time during filming. I don't have to bring too many clothes either. However, there's something I think I need to tell you beforehand."

"What is it?"

"This television series revolves around romance and relationships. Hence, kissing scenes are inevitable and mandatory."

"Kissing scenes?" He sat up straight and asked with an austere expression, "Are you going to stage the kisses?"

"We rarely stage-kiss nowadays…"

"Did you kiss your co-actors for real during filming in the past?"

Sensing that he was infuriated, Fang Erlan dared not answer his question.

"Say something."

"Yes…" She dared not imagine the consequences she would suffer if he were to find out that she had taken things into her own hands and added one of the kiss scenes.

He suppressed his anger and said to her, "I don't care about the past, but you're not allowed to film kissing scenes with other men from now on. After you finish filming for this television series, quit your job as an actress."

Upon hearing his words, Fang Erlan said frantically, "No way. I enjoy acting. What am I supposed to do if I don't continue being an actress?"

"Give birth to children."

"Give… give birth? No, I don't want to! I'm not a baby-making machine! Have you ever considered my feelings? Do you really think I'll be happy this way?"

"I'll only compromise if you agree to stage-kiss whenever you're required to film kissing scenes. If you refuse, you'll have to stop being an actress," he said with a look of menace in his eyes.

"It's not like I get to decide anyway, the production unit calls the shots."

"The production unit calls the shots?" He leaned closer toward Fang Erlan, who instinctively dodged and leaned backwards. Staring into each other's eyes, he said, "The production unit will definitely agree to it."

Fang Erlan's stomach twisted into a knot, and she asked, "You're not planning to threaten the production unit, are you?"

"That'll depend on the situation. Accompany me to buy some clothes and shoes," he said after taking a look at the clock on the wall.

"Why can't you just go by yourself?"

"I want to buy some clothes that you like."

Fang Erlan expressed assent and left together with him.

—

The sky in B City began to turn dark gradually.

No. 5 squatted on the balcony and looked through the telescope. That was all that he had been doing for the entire day.

Since the night had arrived, it was time he returned inside the apartment.

After checking that the cable was secured tightly to An Xiaoning, Fan Shixin began maneuvering it.

An Xiaoning made an OK sign with her hand and leaped off while Fan Shixin controlled the system. Once she landed on their target area, he walked toward the telescope and watched as An Xiaoning removed the hook from her body. She still had not entered the Yin family home.

He dared not step away from the telescope and instead monitored the situation closely.

An Xiaoning successfully entered the yard.

The cushioned sports shoes that she was wearing on her feet allowed her to walk without making a sound.

She was dressed in black from head to toe and was wearing a pair of night vision goggles. She successfully managed to prevent herself from being captured by the surveillance cameras and arrived at the mansion of the patriarch of the Yin family.

It was a standalone house.

Although she had yet to enter, she had already discovered something unusual with the house.

There was a spell in the yard.

Just like she had expected.

The moment she heard footsteps approaching, she quickly dodged and hid behind a tree.

An Xiaoning stuck her head out to see that it was Yin Shi, old Mr. Yin's second grandchild.

According to the information she had obtained, Yin Shi was one of the top lawyers of a prestigious law firm.

Upon the sight of him entering the yard, An Xiaoning quickly climbed up the tree and watched Yin Shi from afar as he entered through a door.

The lights were clearly on near the main door.

Shouldn't the patriarch be at the main mansion now?

She took out her binoculars and scrutinized the layout in the house as well as the ornaments inside.

She discovered that the patriarch was rather peculiar. He did not have a single bodyguard or servant in the yard at all, perhaps because he was too confident and satisfied with his spell.

She instantly thought of a strategy to counter the issue.

The 77-year-old elderly patriarch was sitting cross-legged in his room with a small square table in front of him on which there was a tea set and some piping-hot tea.

Yin Shi removed his shoes and sat in front of him. "Grandpa."

"I asked you here because I have something important to tell you."

Noticing the sullen expression on his face, Yin Shi asked, "What's wrong? Grandpa, please tell me."

"I heard from elsewhere that An Xiaoning is checking up on us."

"An Xiaoning? You mean Jin Qingyan's ex-wife, An Xiaoning?"

"Yes, her."

"Why? Our family has always kept a low profile, and I don't remember us ever offending Ms. An or Jin Qingyan," Yin Shi said in puzzlement.

"That's why I asked you to come here."

"I'm all ears."

"What did our ancestors do for a living?" said the elderly patriarch, who remained calm and composed.

"Every member of the Yin family is aware of that."

"Well then, do you know why our ancestral sermon was changed suddenly three centuries ago?"

"Well… there isn't a definite answer to that, but haven't we always been forbidden from talking about these stuff at home?" said Yin Shi.

"Three centuries ago, we moved from G City to B City. It was a decision made by our ancestors for a reason, of course. The reason is, there was an issue with our ancestral graveyard and we had to move it elsewhere. That was the furthest we've ever relocated the grave and the first time we moved all the coffins to another location."

"Grandpa, what happened to the graveyard back then?"

"Back then, the elders discovered a letter and two paintings in the coffin of one of our ancestors, Yin Cun. It was written in the letter that Yin Cun had committed a ton of huge mistakes and sins and ended up killing thousands of lives. Although he was just following orders from the Emperor, he had, nonetheless, committed major sins that could never be atoned for. We believe everything written in this letter because it was placed inside the coffin, which had never been opened before they discovered it. After some discussion amongst the elders, who compared the handwriting of the ancestors, they reached a consensus and all agreed that it must have been handwritten by Ancestor Yin Cun himself. Apart from that, there was no explanation for the two portraits either."