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Chapter 842: A Million Times for You (204)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Fan Shixin took a look before handing the box to Jin Qingyan. “It’s Tuoba Hancheng’s wedding with Lin Shishi’s cousin. Their wedding is to be held in a week’s time.”

Jin Qingyan placed the wedding invitation card on the coffee table after taking a glance and asked, “What’s going on? Is this Tuoba Gucheng’s intentional arrangement or do the two of them have an ulterior motive?”

“It doesn’t seem like an intentional arrangement of his. What has his brother’s marriage got to do with him? Although Lin Shishi and her cousin are relatives, it doesn’t seem like it’s Tuoba Gucheng’s arrangement.”

“That’s true. Let’s not care about them, it has nothing to do with us anyway. We don’t have to make speculations. All we have to do is just prepare a big gift,” Jin Qingyan instructed.

“Alright.”

“You may go ahead and do what you have to. I’d like to spend some time alone,” said Jin Qingyan, sitting on the couch.

“Alright.”

——

An Xiaoning had also received the wedding invitation.

She found it extremely bizarre as well.

Although she was a biological member of the Tuoba family, it was clear that she had a strained relationship with them. Although Lin Shishi’s cousin was supposedly An Xiaoning’s godcousin...

How were they related in any way?

“I reckon they must have invited you because of your ties with them.”

An Xiaoning looked at her mother and said, “I don’t want to give them a big gift. I find it absolutely revolting.”

“Just attend the wedding and show your face, then. They’ve already sent the invitation anyway. This should be the last time you’ll have to attend any occasions held by their family,” said Shi Qingzhou.

“Mother, they’re still going to hold baby showers in the future. Why do such shameless people even exist? They actually had the cheek to invite me even when they know clearly that our relationship is strained. I really don’t know if they’re intentionally causing trouble for me or for themselves,” said An Xiaoning, shrugging her shoulders in disdain.

Shi Qingzhou patted the back of her hand and said, “You can’t let them upset you, of course. You must give them a hard time. Or else, wouldn’t your money go to waste?”

An Xiaoning expressed assent and said, “Mother, you have a point. Since they’ve invited me... hmm... I can’t let my money be wasted, I shall show up and teach them a lesson.”

Shi Qingzhou tucked her hair behind her ear and said, “Just don’t go overboard.”

“They’re the president’s family. I wouldn’t dare to go overboard.” An Xiaoning stood up and said, “Mother, I’m going out to shop for some clothes.”

“Go ahead.”

An Xiaoning grabbed her car keys and proceeded to start driving.

Since the temperatures were getting warmer, she would need to buy some new clothes.

She parked her car at South Coast Road and alighted from the car before heading inside a luxury store to purchase five sets of designer clothing that would be suitable to be worn during springtime. There was one particular set that was much more expensive and exquisite than the other four, which she was planning to wear to attend the wedding.

Just as she placed her shopping bags in the trunk, she heard someone calling her name.

An Xiaoning turned around to see that there was a car parked beside hers. Madam Xu alighted from the car slowly, appearing extremely haggard and disheveled.

She closed the trunk of her car and patted her hands before saying, “Madam Xu, what do you want from me?”

An Xiaoning sounded rather cold, and she had a look of disdain on her face.

“Well...” After a long, hesitant pause, Madam Xu continued, “I’m very sorry toward you.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. After all, didn’t your daughter already lose her life in return? My mentor actually sacrificed her life to alter Xu Baizhi’s fate, yet she ended up that way all the same. All of my mentor’s efforts were in vain. Xu Baizhi was the one who had sent herself toward a dead end. It’s just a shame that the remainder of my mentor’s lifespan had been depleted for nothing,” An Xiaoning said with a sarcastic smile.

Madam Xu’s lips quivered a little, and she was at a loss for words.

An Xiaoning got inside her car and drove away. Her car soon vanished out of Madam Xu’s sight.

——

Tuoba Hancheng’s wedding was held in the middle of February on the lunar calendar.

On this day, the weather was fair and the sun was shining brightly from above.

An Xiaoning attended the wedding together with Jin Qingyan.

She was dressed in red from head to toe.

She applied some red lipstick and was wearing a red plunge-neck dress, accompanied with a bright-red lightweight cardigan and a pair of red stiletto pumps.

She was like a ball of fire.

Truthfully, there was rarely anyone who dared to opt for such a bold color and outfit.

Although there were also guests who were dressed in red, only one component of their outfits were red-colored, unlike An Xiaoning.

After all, it was inappropriate to dress oneself in an eye-catching outfit and steal the show at someone else’s wedding.

However, An Xiaoning could not be bothered at all.

Since she had already given them a huge red packet for no reason, why wasn’t she allowed to dress however she liked?

She had managed to capture the attention of all the guests present the moment she made her grand entrance.

While welcoming the guests, Shi Xiaoyu was seething with exasperation upon the sight of the eye-catching An Xiaoning. When they met face to face, Shi Xiaoyu smiled sarcastically and gibed, “Others might just think that it’s your big day today, Ms. An!”

“Madam, I would gladly accept the offer if you’re willing to prepare a wedding for me and allow me to get married on the same day as Brother,” said An Xiaoning.

“Brother?” Shi Xiaoyu questioned in disbelief, as if she had just heard the most absurd thing ever.

“Aren’t I right? He’s my half-brother, isn’t he? Otherwise, why did you even invite me to the wedding?” said An Xiaoning, raising her chin to look at Shi Xiaoyu.

Shi Xiaoyu had no words for a rebuttal and watched as An Xiaoning left, displeasure written all over her face.

During the solemnization ceremony, An Xiaoning and Jin Qingyan did not sit together because they were not arranged to.

After the banquet was over, Madam Lin called An Xiaoning over to Lin Shishi’s bedroom.

“Mother, what’s the matter?” An Xiaoning asked in puzzlement.

Suppressing her anger, “Xiaoning, do you know why Qiubai and His Highness want to marry each other?”

“No.”

“The presidential election takes place once every eight years. Qiubai is taking a gamble and hoping that His Highness will be elected as the next president. There’s still a long time to go before then, but it’s not impossible that he becomes the next president either. That’s why Qiubai agreed to marry him. On the other hand, he agreed to marry her because he wants to stop the rumors of him being a homosexual from spreading any further. They’re just using each other.”

But why is she telling me these for?

What has that got to do with me?

“Mother, what are you trying to tell me?”

Madam Lin answered, “His Highness fancies men.”

“Then?”

“Tell Jin Qingyan not to stand on the wrong side,” said Madam Lin.

An Xiaoning was speechless. “Mother, businessmen don’t take part in politics. Jin Qingyan will never take sides, and neither will he be embroiled in this power struggle.”

An Xiaoning truly realized how ignorant Madam Lin was.

How could the Chief of Staff’s wife not be aware of such a simple fact?

Was she just pretending not to know?

“That’s good.”

“Mother, if I were Jin Qingyan, I wouldn’t take sides either. Besides, His Highness has already lost the upper hand this time. His next chance will be in another few years. If the current president does his job well as the nation’s leader, he wouldn’t stand a chance all the same.”

“Looks like I’ve been reading too much into things. Xiaoning, can I ask you a question?” Madam Lin asked.

“What?”

“Your mother was locked up in the Autumn Palace for decades by Shishi’s mother-in-law. How did you manage to rescue her?” Madam Lin asked, seemingly trying to sound An Xiaoning out while keeping her eyes fixed on An Xiaoning’s expressions.

“Long story. It’s a matter of the past, I don’t wish to bring it up again.”

Madam Lin asked indirectly, “Did you once disguise as a female bodyguard and follow Gucheng around?”