808 A Million Times for You 170 (1/2)
”No, it takes effort to feel resentment. I don't wish to put in any effort for you, Your Majesty. You're the mighty and powerful president, you can execute whoever you'd like. My life is completely worthless. Your Majesty, please warn me before you decide to kill me again. Let me make the necessary preparations for my funeral. After all, I'm no deity and I can't rely on luck to survive. It's tough being human. My life is worse than the average citizen's. I really don't know if I should feel blessed or doomed to be loved by you,” An Xiaoning said straightforwardly, with no qualms about offending him.
”I can promise not to kill you again. Just because you didn't die from the poison, it doesn't mean that you won't die via other ways. However, you must promise me one condition.”
”Please speak, Your Majesty.”
An Xiaoning initially thought that he would want her to promise not to marry Jin Qingyan again. However, things did not turn out the way she had expected.
”All countries across the globe are actively searching for a treasure map. Have you heard about it?”
”I've heard a little about it.”
”Find it and give it to me. If you can find it, I'll stay out of your relationship with Jin Qingyan and I won't threaten him again. You may marry him again or do whatever you please. But if you can't find it, you're not to see him again. How does that sound? But of course, you can make your choice now. You either find me that treasure map or never see Jin Qingyan again. Take your pick,” he said with raised brows.
”Your Majesty, you really like giving others an ultimatum, don't you? I, An Xiaoning, utterly detest being threatened and forced to choose an option. I don't know if you'll honor your word and really let me off if I manage to find the treasure map,” An Xiaoning said with a smirk.
”Of course I will. I'm a man of my word, I'll keep my promise.”
She whipped her phone out and turned on the voice recording function. ”Please repeat yourself again, Your Majesty, so that I can have some evidence.”
He repeated his words while An Xiaoning saved the recording and asked with a nod, ”Is there a time limit?”
”I'll give you a year's time.”
She nodded and said, ”Got it. If I can't find the map, I'll never see Jin Qingyan again. If I do manage to find it, I'll have the freedom to live the life I want from now on, and that includes not seeing you ever again.”
I almost died here today. I remember him promising to spare my life once previously, but clearly, that promise wasn't kept. What's the point of granting me that, then?
He'll probably settle scores with me if he finds out one day that I had lied to him about the book, won't he? By then, will that promise come in handy?
After she left, Tuoba Gucheng stared at the blood-stained tissues in the wastepaper basket and instructed his subordinate, ”Take the blood on these tissues for a lab test.”
”Yes.”
He drove back to the Lin family home.
”Hubby, how did it go?” asked Lin Shishi, who was waiting earnestly for his return.
”I was really hoping that Jin Qingyan could marry Cousin, but he was dead against it. I thought I probably shouldn't force him against his wishes either. How about I matchmake you with someone else, Cousin?” he said calmly.
Lin Shishi did not have much of an opinion and asked Feng Qiubai, ”Cousin, what do you think?”
”I'm in no hurry, I think it'd be better to let nature take its course.”
Tuoba Gucheng did not insist further since Feng Qiubai had tactfully declined his offer. ”In that case, let's have dinner tonight. We'll return to B City tomorrow.”
”Alright.”
While she was alone with Tuoba Gucheng, Lin Shishi pretended to ask casually, ”Hubby, what did you look Jin Qingyan up for?”
”Some matters are to be discussed only between men. What are you asking so much for?”
Lin Shishi answered, ”At the end of the day, Jin Qingyan is a divorced man who has a son. In fact, he was even married twice while my cousin has never been married before. Yet, he was still so against it. How strange. I reckon it's because he hasn't seen how gorgeous my cousin is. We should really arrange for them to meet each other one day.”
”Your cousin may be pretty, but can she be compared to An Xiaoning?”
Lin Shishi was dismayed and said, ”Did he turn down the marriage because he still fancies Sis Xiaoning?”
”That's obviously the case. I'd like to be alone for a while. Go downstairs and chat with your aunt and cousin,” he said in a monotonous voice.