Chapter 806: A Million Times for You (168)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“How could I have known that he was planning to matchmake them when he asked me about it? Besides, I doubt he’ll change his mind easily.”
Madam Lin took the chance to ask, “He’s so busy with the political affairs he has to handle every day, why would he want to matchmake so out of the blue?”
“Beats me. He simply said that Jin Qingyan was a valuable a.s.set to the country and that he wants to arrange a promising marriage for him. I reckon they do contact each other in private. We intentionally came back today because he said that he has something to discuss with Jin Qingyan.”
“Oh, I see. The Jin Corporation is a corporate giant in our nation. I guess it’s understandable for Son-in-law to want to rope him in and become related to him through familial ties,” said Madam Lin.
Lin s.h.i.+s.h.i.+ found her mother’s words to make sense.
——
Jin Qingyan and Tuoba Gucheng sat opposite each other in the silent living room.
There were two cups of piping-hot water on the table. A sullen expression formed on Jin Qingyan’s face the moment he heard about Tuoba Gucheng’s intentions to arrange a marriage for him. He refused, “Your Majesty, you’re so busy handling the nation’s affairs. You don’t have to worry about my marriage.”
Tuoba Gucheng did not take his refusal into consideration at all.
“Feng Qiubai graduated with a Master’s Degree in finance and is currently working for a multinational corporation. She comes from a clean and wealthy family, and she’s pretty too. I carefully selected her for you. I’ve never arranged marriages for anyone before, I hope you won’t let me down.”
Jin Qingyan retorted furiously, “Your Majesty, must you really force your citizens to do things against their will just because you’re the nation’s leader? I already said that I’m objecting to the marriage. What are you trying to do my forcing me to get married?”
“Why are you so against it? I know you’re arrogant and self-righteous, but even if you don’t spare a thought for yourself, you should also spare a thought for Xiaoning. Aren’t I right?” Tuoba Gucheng said with a sullen expression.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. You either get married or let Xiaoning die. Take your pick. I won’t give you the chance to reconcile your marriage with her. I’d rather watch her die than allow her to get back together with you. However, I don’t wish for her to die yet. As long as you get married, she’ll get to live well and remain safe and sound,” Tuoba Gucheng threatened.
Boiling with immense fury, Jin Qingyan smiled wryly and sneered, “Your Majesty, how strange of an interest you’ve got. You defy the laws of incest and go against morals by falling in love with your half-sister whose mother happens to be your mother’s blood-related sister. What’s the point of doing this? You can’t divorce your wife and be with Xiaoning openly anyway. Do you really find it appropriate to be humiliating and ruining the lives of others this way? If you truly love someone, shouldn’t you feel happy for her when you see her being in bliss? Gu Beicheng loves Xiaoning a lot too and, in fact, he’s carried a torch for her way before you did. He’s done so much more for her than you ever have, and he understands that it’s better to let her go if he can’t win her heart. He’s not like you at all. I really despise the way you’re behaving.”
Jin Qingyan was not at all afraid and, in fact, he even sounded rather condescending.
He had managed to spite and anger Tuoba Gucheng with his words.
Tuoba Gucheng squinted and said coldly, “I’ll give you half an hour to consider. Just you wait and see if I don’t kill her.”
Jin Qingyan did not stand up and instead remained seated with his fists clenched tightly.
Fan s.h.i.+xin entered to see the grave and gloomy expression on his face. “Young Sir, what did the president come to talk to you about?” he asked.
“He was trying to set me up with someone. He threatened to kill Xiaoning if I refuse to concede,” Jin Qingyan said with a scoff.
“What!?! Who did he matchmake you with?” Fan s.h.i.+xin asked, flabbergasted.
“Lin s.h.i.+s.h.i.+’s cousin.”
“He’s trying to kill two birds with one stone. Not only will he get to come in between you and Young Madam, he’ll get to be affiliated with you after the marriage.”
“He gave me half an hour to decide. s.h.i.+xin, what do you think I should do?”
“Hurry and tell Young Madam about it and ask for her opinion. Young Sir, quick,” Fan s.h.i.+xin urged.
Jin Qingyan whipped his phone out and called An Xiaoning to explain everything to her in detail.
As soon as he finished speaking, An Xiaoning grew silent.
“Xiaoning…”
“He must’ve checked our call history, that’s why he did that…” said An Xiaoning, trying to sound as calm as she could. In reality, her hands were trembling uncontrollably due to her immense fury.
“He gave me half an hour’s time to consider.”
“Qingyan, the world is so big. Where can we truly be safe? I’m so sick of this place and I want to live somewhere only we know and where n.o.body can find us. Is there such a place in this world?” An Xiaoning asked with a long sigh.
Jin Qingyan could not answer her. Tuoba Gucheng was the leader of the nation, after all.
Regardless of how strong and formidable one may be, there was no way he could overpower a nation’s strength.
“I’ll give him a call. Wait for my news, regardless of whether I manage to convince him or not.”
“Alright.”
An Xiaoning called Tuoba Gucheng, who picked up rather quickly. However, she did not question him straight away, for she knew that that would only put her at a disadvantage.
“Have you eaten?”
“It’s already so late, I’ve eaten,” he said in his usual tone.
“Your Majesty, forcing someone to make decisions against their will only brings torture to them. You ought to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, shouldn’t you?”
“Are you feeling aggrieved for him?”
“He’s the father of my son. You’re making me extremely upset by finding a stepmother for my son and threatening to kill me if he doesn’t get married. It seems there isn’t a single place in this world where I can be safe. Your Majesty, what’s the point of doing this? It’s impossible between us. Don’t waste any more time and effort on me.”
“Are you unwilling to get together with me even if you’re dead?”
After a moment of silence, An Xiaoning answered, “Yes. The fact that Heaven has made us into siblings just goes to show that you’re definitely not the man for me in this lifetime. Perhaps when you look back on this day, years from now, you’ll realize how silly you’ve been because I’m not worth your while at all. Not only will I not be grateful toward you, but we might also even end up as strangers,” said An Xiaoning, who was still hoping that he would give up soon.
“Go ahead and die, then. After all, I can’t tolerate you not being in a relations.h.i.+p with me while you’re alive, and neither can I tolerate seeing you with another man. I might find my actions silly when I think about it in the future, but I won’t regret it.”
“Are you going to execute me?” An Xiaoning questioned, her hands trembling vigorously.
“I’m making things clear to you now. Even if you don’t get together with me for the rest of your life, I won’t allow you to be in a relations.h.i.+p with another man. You decide for yourself if you’d rather die or have him marry someone else. I’m guessing he’ll make the most sound decision.”
“You’re not compelling him, but me. I’ve been abiding by all your instructions and refraining from offending you. Yet, instead of stopping, you even went from bad to worse. You’re such a disappointment.”