Chapter 545 - 560: A Rabbit Doesn’t Eat the Grass by Its Burrow

An Ning got her answers from the two brothers. Not only were they timid, but they were also incredibly simple-minded.

After the three of them made it safely down the mountain, two police cars and a black sedan were waiting at the foot of the hill.

The two brothers stared at An Ning in disbelief, their eyes clearly saying, ’So you’re that kind of person!’

’We poured our hearts out and shared the secret to wealth with you, but you called the cops to take it all for yourself!’

At that moment, their pure, pristine stupidity could have been made into a meme.

"Don’t misunderstand. You’re witnesses."

"Go on, don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen. After you cooperate, just be good people. Don’t try to do things that require this level of technical skill anymore."

Not a single one of An Ning’s comforting words had any effect on the two brothers.

Director Zhao, who had come personally to pick up An Ning, shook his head and said with a chuckle, "It’s been so long, but your way of comforting people is as effective as ever."

"Right? I think so too."

An Ning replied jokingly as she got into the sedan with Director Zhao, taking a seat in the back.

"Investigate this thoroughly. I suspect spies are active here. News of a large tomb in the mountains is bound to attract all sorts of people. A mixed bag like that is never part of a good plan."

"Don’t worry, we’ll stay on top of it. Outside forces are also getting restless."

As he said this, Director Zhao’s gaze fell on An Ning.

She was responsible for at least half of Huaxia’s current transformation.

"How long will you be out this time?"

"A long time. All my research projects have reached a stopping point. Besides, our ’business’ is about to begin, isn’t it? I’d rather not miss it."

"That’s true."

The car drove through the night. Director Zhao dropped An Ning off at her house near Beijing University.

She didn’t alert anyone, quietly getting out of the car at the entrance to the alley. She planned to rest for the night before heading back to Shili Gou the next day.

Treading lightly, An Ning heard a familiar voice before she even reached her front door.

"Ms. Lin Qing, it is now 2:38 in the morning. What do you mean by showing up at my door?"

"Jiang Xia, can you please just open the door first? I’m begging you."

Her voice was so pitiful and moving that even An Ning felt a twinge of sympathy.

"No. I’m a handsome golden bachelor, and I have to protect my good name. If it’s a matter of life and death, you can say it through the door. If it’s not, please make an appointment with my secretary."

Jiang Xia’s cool yet shameless voice drifted out, making An Ning, who was still in the alley, stifle a laugh.

"Also, my house has 360-degree surveillance. Don’t try any tricks. In the face of high technology, all your schemes will only lead to your own humiliation."

Outside the door, Lin Qing was so furious with the implacable Jiang Xia that she wanted to grab a knife and kill him!

But she had to do this.

If she couldn’t win over Jiang Xia, her own father would marry her off to an old man she didn’t like. Jiang Xia was the best candidate Lin Qing could find for herself.

An orphan, a young and brilliant talent, a business magnate, a media tycoon, a real estate mogul, a communications giant—these were the identities Jiang Xia let others know about. It was also rumored he had a massive enterprise in Hong Kong.

As long as she could win over Jiang Xia, all her problems would be solved.

"Jiang Xia, I just... I just..."

"WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF—"

A sudden dog bark erupted in the courtyard, followed by a series of yaps that didn’t sound like a dog at all.

An Ning, still in the alley, heard Xiao Lang’s barks. She extended her spiritual power and made contact with him.

Inside the courtyard, Jiang Xia looked at Xiao Lang and Da Huang barking furiously at the door and immediately thought of An Ning.

’Could she have come back tonight?’

’It’s not impossible. Second Brother An’s wedding is in three days.’

"Jiang Xia—"

"Get lost! If you don’t scram right now, don’t blame me when I bankrupt your family tomorrow and let you marry that old man you hate."

At the door, Lin Qing was startled by Jiang Xia’s words. She tried to open her mouth to explain, but Jiang Xia’s voice grew even colder.

"Or perhaps, Ms. Lin Qing, you’d like to become tomorrow’s headline?"

The threat worked. Lin Qing lost her nerve.

"Jiang Xia, I really do just like you."

After leaving him with those words, Lin Qing clearly heard Jiang Xia mutter "disgusting." A malevolent look in her eyes, she turned and left his doorstep.

’I refuse to believe there’s a man I can’t conquer.’

Once Lin Qing had left, Jiang Xia made sure no one was at the door before flinging it open and rushing out. He followed Xiao Lang and Da Huang to a dim corner, where he saw the person he’d been longing for day and night.

An Ning was leaning against the wall, one foot kicked back, her arms crossed. The teasing look in her eyes was completely unconcealed.

"Well, well. I didn’t realize our President Jiang was so popular. Women throwing themselves at your door in the middle of the night."

"Can’t be helped. My personal charm is just too great."

The smug Jiang Xia asked familiarly, "Hungry?"

"Starving!"

An Ning really was hungry.

"Come on, let’s get you something to eat."

Jiang Xia led An Ning into his courtyard and first brought her some pastries, letting her sit on the sofa and eat them slowly.

"This is delicious. When did you make these pastries? They still feel warm."

Jiang Xia, busy in the kitchen, replied without turning his head, "I made them tonight. You have good timing."

"I guess I’m just lucky."

Jiang Xia just smiled and said nothing.

’Could he really tell her that whenever he was home, he made a batch of pastries just in case she suddenly came back hungry?’

It couldn’t be helped. Over the past five years, they had spent more time apart than together.

In other words, An Ning spent more time apart than together with everyone.

If it weren’t for the apprentices she had to train, Jiang Xia feared he would never see An Ning at all. She would probably just disappear into some mountain and never come out.

For a while, Jiang Xia was even a little jealous of An Ning’s apprentices. After all, the only time she came out was to spend it with them.

But he later realized that without those apprentices, he might not even get to see her once.

"The dumplings are ready."

Jiang Xia brought out a bowl of steaming hot dumplings. Setting the scorching bowl on the table, he said, "Careful, it’s hot."

"It smells so good!"

An Ning inhaled the intoxicating aroma of the dumplings while Jiang Xia bustled back and forth, getting her chopsticks, a small dish, soy sauce and vinegar, and a few side dishes.

Watching the busy Jiang Xia through the rising steam, An Ning felt a ripple spread through her heart.

After all her hard work in the mountains, she should have gone straight home. But for some reason, she had wanted to come here first.

When she heard the woman outside Jiang Xia’s door, she had felt a slight pang of discomfort.

But Jiang Xia’s reaction had made that faint unease quickly dissipate, so much so that she herself barely noticed it.

Now, as An Ning watched Jiang Xia in the kitchen, a clear realization dawned on her for the first time. The reason she had been in such a hurry to return here was probably for this bowl of dumplings, for this meal.

Or perhaps... she was waiting for a person.

An Ning might be slow on the uptake when it came to romance, but she was twenty-four, after all, and had received wedding candy several times.

There were people dating in the lab, and in her spare time, she’d even read a few romance novels.

Through all that exposure, she had started to catch on a little.

’But is it really a good idea for her to be developing feelings for a buddy?’

’As the saying goes, even a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass near its own burrow.’