557 The Secret About the Past 175 (2/2)
He was, strangely, not on his bed. Did he sleep in the bodyguards' room again?
What an oddball. He'd actually rather sleep on a bunk bed than his big, comfortable bed.
An Xiaoning held her breath the moment she turned around. It turned out, Tuoba Gucheng was standing right behind her.
”What are you doing inside my room?”
”I thought… you were still in bed so I came to wake you up.”
”I have an alarm, why do I need you to wake me up?”
Staring at his eyes, An Xiaoning said, ”Your Highness… your dark eye circles…”
”Wait for me downstairs. I'm going out to attend to something very soon.”
”Yes.” An Xiaoning dismissed herself quietly.
Once she left, Tuoba Gucheng kicked the door shut and stood in front of the mirror immediately to look at his eye bags. He then quietly took out his own cosmetic products…
When he headed downstairs, An Xiaoning realized that his initial dark eye circles had completely vanished. His skin was fair and bright, as if he had applied something on his face.
Men, too, were allowed to use makeup. It was not a privilege exclusive only to women.
He was dressed in an exceptionally formal attire — a full-black suit that brought out his suaveness.
An Xiaoning and Xiao Chi followed him to the arrival hall, along with two other bodyguards.
She finally had a chance to go out of the palace again.
They soon arrived at the arrival hall to wait for Tuoba Gucheng's friend from overseas.
Noticing that her eyes were darting all around, Tuoba Gucheng chided, ”Don't act like a country bumpkin who has never seen the outside world before. What's there to see around here?”
Although she was feeling disgruntled, An Xiaoning kept her feelings to herself and said, ”Yes… Your Highness, when will your friend be arriving?”
”He already landed and checked into a hotel yesterday. He should be here any time soon.”
Just like he said, a group of people entered through the gate slowly in a single file minutes later.
An Xiaoning was greatly taken aback the moment she caught sight of them. ”Huh…”
Tuoba Gucheng looked up to take a glance at her. To him, she didn't seem shocked and was reacting like how one usually would when a handsome man appears.
The friend was none other than Prince Byron of Y Nation, who brought along his gay partner, Lance, and some bodyguards.
”Hello,” Tuoba Gucheng greeted fluently in the native language of Y Nation.
Byron reached out for a handshake and said, ”Long time no see.”
”Have a seat.”
An Xiaoning looked up at Byron, only to realize that he was still as dashing and charming as ever, despite her having not seen him in years.
He seemed to have barely aged at all.
After hearing their conversation, An Xiaoning discovered that Tuoba Gucheng and Byron were close friends who had met several times.
Not long after, reporters from both S Nation and Y Nation came forth to snap some photos.
Dressed in the bodyguard's uniform, An Xiaoning stood with her back as straight as a ruler.
The bulk of their discussion were mainly issues regarding trading between both nations. The discussion ended in less than an hour.
They then proceeded to have a meal together. That explained why Tuoba Gucheng had skipped breakfast.
The bodyguards waited outside the door while Tuoba Gucheng and Byron had lunch together.
An Xiaoning realized that it was not easy being a bodyguard. Although it seemed to be a relaxing job on the surface, it was in fact beyond exhausting.
A bodyguard would have to stay vigilant and be on guard at all times and remain standing throughout the day.
After the luncheon, Byron invited Tuoba Gucheng to go hiking the next morning, to which Tuoba Gucheng agreed.
Dog-tired, Tuoba Gucheng headed back to his mansion right away after Byron left.
”Your Highness, did you not sleep well last night?” An Xiaoning asked.
He rolled his eyes at her and said, ”I obviously didn't. When you saw Prince Byron, you were staring so hard at him that your eyeballs seemed like they were almost going to fall out. Why didn't you react that way when you first saw me?”