506 The Secret About the Past 124 (2/2)
Startled by her bold response, Tuoba Gucheng walked toward her slowly and stared at her with fierce eyes, after which he scoffed, ”Tell me then, how are you supposed to find out if someone loves you for who you are and not for your appearance?”
An Xiaoning held his gaze fearlessly, with no signs of attraction towards him at all.
Tuoba Gucheng was taken aback, for he could make most women in the Autumn Palace blush and make their hearts race with just one look. Yet, An Xiaoning managed to make eye contact with him while maintaining her composure.
”When you fall in love with someone for who they are, you would be willing to do anything for them, even if being together with them would bring about a great deal of suffering and pain. You won't let any tough ordeals or obstacles hinder you from loving them unconditionally. Meanwhile, if you only love someone for their looks, you definitely wouldn't be able to do so much for them. Superficial love can never stand strong in the face of life's challenges and difficulties,” An Xiaoning said, voicing her opinion.
Tuoba Danxue stared at An Xiaoning in astonishment and said, ”Brother, I think Mu Ning makes a lot of sense.”
”You sound as if you've experienced a lot in love. You must've had tons of chicken soup, eh?” Tuoba Gucheng remarked.
An Xiaoning did not answer and remained quiet.
She cocked her head sideways to find that Zhi Yin was staring at her with a look of disgruntlement. An Xiaoning immediately understood the reason for her reaction upon recalling what Tuoba Danxue told her while on their way to the palace.
Having made a wasted trip since she did not get to see the person she wanted, Tuoba Danxue decided to leave after sitting around for a short while. Zhi Yin could no longer suppress her dissatisfaction and lashed out at An Xiaoning.
”Did you do that on purpose?”
”Did what on purpose?”
”You purposely tried to grasp the attention of His Highness by bringing up the topic about love to him, didn't you?” Zhi Yin questioned with a straight face and widened eyes.
”You call that attention-seeking? Aren't you reading too much into things, Sister Zhi Yin? The royals will never be attracted to people like us.”
Tuoba Danxue agreed with An Xiaoning, ”Zhi Yin, you are thinking too far…”
”Your Highness, I think she's outright doing it on purpose,” Zhi Yin groused.
Tuoba Danxue chuckled and said, ”Even if she's really doing it on purpose, do you seriously think my brother would fall for her? He's not even attracted to a ravishing beauty like you, let alone Mu Ning, whom he calls a country bumpkin.”
Zhi Yin instantly felt more relieved and comforted as she found that Tuoba Danxue did make sense.
—
Lin Mingxi began spreading the word about her plans to open a large-scale fitness center. She happened to bump into Xu Youran while on her way out in the morning.
”Sister-in-law, where are you going?”
”Thank you for the concern, Sister-in-law. I'm going out for a walk.”
Lin Mingxi greeted her exceptionally politely.
”Oh, I see. Go ahead then,” Xu Youran chirped merrily with a wide grin.
Lin Mingxi left right away, not sure why Xu Youran was in such a good mood.
Xu Youran entered the living room to see that Mrs. Gu was sipping on some tea. Xu Youran skipped forward gleefully and exclaimed, ”Mother, I have good news for you. I'm pregnant!”
”You're pregnant?” Mrs. Gu asked in astonishment.
”Yes, I'm expecting. Dongcheng and I were just planning to try for a baby recently. Turns out I'm already pregnant for more than a month,” Xu Youran said delightfully.
Mrs. Gu smiled courteously and said, ”That's indeed worth celebrating. Have you told your parents yet?”
”Yes, my mother's over the moon.”
”So am I. Youran, women ought to become more kind-hearted and benevolent once they're pregnant. You have to accumulate good karma for your child, lest you end up in a sorry plight like Chi Rui'er. Do you know how Chi Rui'er's son died?”
”I do.”
”What you know is only the partial truth. I heard from Xiaoning that her son was the reincarnation of the fetus she aborted previously and he was here to seek revenge from her. That child suffered chronic health issues just months after he was born. In the end, he still couldn't pull through and passed on way too early.”
”Really?” Xu Youran asked in shock.
”Of course it's real. Dongcheng probably only knows a little about it too.”
”There's seriously such a logic?” Xu Youran thought that Mrs. Gu was exaggerating and being far too superstitious.