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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nAn Xiaoning forced a smile and said, “I reacted that way too when I first saw you.”

n“Liar.”

nAn Xiaoning remained silent and followed closely behind him.

nUpon arriving home, he instructed the kitchen helpers to prepare some food that he then told An Xiaoning to send upstairs.

nShe was puzzled by his actions. Didn’t he just have lunch with Byron? Did he not have enough to eat? she wondered.

nAfter the kitchen helpers were done preparing the food, An Xiaoning proceeded to bring it to him upstairs. She initially thought that he was already sleeping. To her surprise, she entered his room to find that he was playing with his mobile phone while sitting on the bed.

n“Your Highness, the food is ready.”

nShe placed the bowl on the cabinet beside the bed and turned around to leave. However, she was stopped in her tracks.

n“Hold it.”

nNoticing the stern expression on his face, An Xiaoning asked, “What’s the matter?”

n“Sit here,” he said, pointing at the bed.

nAn Xiaoning did not know what he was up to, though she sat down abidingly.

nWhat happened next completely caught her by surprise.

nPointing at the screen of his mobile phone, he asked, “Out of all these men, who do you find the most handsome?”

nAn Xiaoning took a look to find that it was a photo collage of Ling Ciye, a famous male celebrity, a sports champion, Ye Xiaotian, Byron, and Jin Qingyan.

nThere were six of them in total.

nYet, Tuoba Gucheng was not included in the collage.

n“Your Highness, why isn’t your photo up there?”

n“I’m asking you, who do you think is the most good-looking out of all of them?” he reiterated.

nAn Xiaoning swallowed her saliva and asked, “Um, why isn’t Long Tianze included?”

n“Who’s Long Tianze? Is he better-looking than all the men in this collage?”

nIt seemed like Long Tianze was not as well known as Ling Ciye, despite being the owner of an entertainment company.

n“Nah, I just heard of his name before. Actually, all the men here are pretty good-looking…” Noticing the frown on his face, she continued, “But! They’re not as handsome as you, Your Highness!”

nSurprisingly, there was actually such an immature side to him.

nWas he really a 26-year-old man?

nWhy did he seem like he was only 16?

n“Good that you know. Alright, you may go out.”

n“Yes.”

nTuoba Gucheng was rather annoyed and regretted asking her to pick the most handsome one out of those men.

nThis silly country bumpkin would find anyone handsome. How unloyal.

n—

n“Daddy, who’s that ugly woman? Why does she have the same hairstyle as Mommy?” Jin Yiheng asked, pointing at a photo of An Xiaoning standing behind Tuoba Gucheng, which was published on the news.

n“Is she really ugly? Daddy thinks she’s quite pretty.”

nJin Yiheng glanced at him apprehensively and remarked, “Daddy, has your vision been getting worse lately?”

n“Maybe,” Jin Qingyan answered, resting both his arms on the couch and crossing his legs while staring at the television screen.

n“Daddy, you’ve changed.”

n“How did I change?”

n“You used to call only Mommy pretty, yet now, you actually complimented such an ugly woman. I’m definitely telling on you when Mommy comes back.”

n“Since you’ve said that, let Daddy ask you a question. Between Wen Yuechan and Long Xiaoxi, who do you think is prettier? Tell me honestly.”

nJin Yiheng seemed to be stuck in a dilemma. He pulled a long face and answered, “But they’re two different people. How am I supposed to decide?”

n“Purely based on looks, who’s prettier?”

n“Daddy, Xiaoxi once got upset at me for a really long time because of this question.”

n“Seems like you said Xiaoxi wasn’t pretty back then.”

nJin Yiheng let out a sigh and said, “But I was just stating facts… judging purely based on looks, Yuechan is prettier.”

n“Jin Yiheng!” yelled a voice coming from the door.

nThe two of them turned around to find that Long Xiaoxi was standing right by the door. Needless to say, she had heard everything they said!

nJin Qingyan switched off the television and stood up to say to Long Xiaoxi, “Xiaoxi, Godpa is going to the office now. Have fun, you two.”

nJin Yiheng stepped forward slowly and said, “Xiaoxi…”

nLong Xiaoxi stood rooted to the ground with tears in her eyes. “I thought I was the prettiest to you, but it seems I was wrong. I won’t give birth to your child anymore when we’re older. Get Wen Yuechan to give birth for you!”

nJin Yiheng was dumbfounded. By the time he recovered from the shock, Long Xiaoxi had already run far, far away.

nLong Xiaoxi returned home and burst into tears while covering her eyes with her arm.

nShe was bawling in agony, devastated to hear the same few words coming out of his mouth twice.

n“Xiaoxi… who made you cry?” Zhong Minhe asked.

nThe teary-eyed Long Xiaoxi put her arm down and answered, “Do you remember the girl I pointed out to you the other day?”

n“Yes.”

n“Do you think she’s prettier than I am?”

n“Do you want to hear the truth?” Zhong Minhe asked.

n“Yes!”

n“In my eyes, she’s not as pretty as you. Hush and stop crying, you won’t be beautiful anymore if your eyes become swollen from all that crying.”

nLong Xiaoxi stepped forward and tugged on his shirt. “Let’s go have some popsicles. I made them myself under Mommy’s guidance. I’ll treat you to some.”

n“Alright.”

nThey then began walking toward the living room. As soon as they stepped foot inside, Long Xiaoxi was greeted with the sight of her mother tearing uncontrollably.

n“Mother…”

n“Xiaoxi, my Mommy is gone,” Mei Yangyang said in between sobs, after which she immediately set off to her mother’s place.

nAfter returning from the hospital, Mei Yangyang had continued to help her mother administer the medication imported from overseas. Ten days ago, Mrs. Mei slipped into a partially-conscious state and would wince and shriek in pain all day. One can only imagine how much discomfort and misery she had been experiencing.

nShe passed away in the end.

nMei Yangyang wondered if death meant that her mother would now be free from suffering.

nOnce she entered, she leaned against Mrs. Mei’s bed and broke down into tears. Mei Shuangshuang too was bawling in misery. After all, she was her biological mother.

nThe grief-stricken Mr. Mei had a look of moroseness and agony in his eyes.

nA somber mood filled their hearts instantly.

nHowever, the funeral would still have to go on.

nMei Yangyang proceeded to buy a shroud personally while Long Tianze rushed back from the office to help her arrange the funeral.

nTears welled up in Long Xiaoxi’s eyes upon hearing about her grandmother’s death, and she stood rooted to the ground in shock next to Zhong Minhe and Long Wenlun with a popsicle in her hand.

nAn Xiaoning had also received Mei Yangyang’s text message. Unfortunately, she could not step foot out of the Autumn Palace.

nShe expressed her condolences in her reply and apologized to Mei Yangyang for being unable to attend the funeral. Mei Yangyang did not hold it against her.

nThinking to herself that Mei Yangyang must be in extremely low spirits and yet she could not be there for her, An Xiaoning instructed Jin Qingyan to tell Long Tianze to accompany Mei Yangyang throughout this tough time.

nJin Qingyan, too, gave her a set of instructions.

nHe reminded her that it would be hers and Jin Yiheng’s birthday on the 15th of July, which was only a few days away, something that she had always remembered.

nOn the 15th of July in a previous year, she had fallen ill and feeble, allowing the female spirit to possess her body. This time, Jin Qingyan vehemently instructed her to be extra careful and mindful of her health.

nAlthough An Xiaoning agreed verbally, she actually did not have a concrete plan to guard against those evil spirits.

nAfter all, it was not something within her control. She told him to take good care of their son on his birthday.

nAn Xiaoning could not help but feel ill at ease at the thought of the 15th of July.

nEver since the first time she was possessed by the spirit of the female teenager, she would feel exceptionally weak and feeble at twelve midnight on her subsequent birthdays. Fortunately, she would often prepare herself mentally beforehand and thus made it through her past few birthdays peacefully, partially also because there were no wandering spirits around.

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