Chapter 610 - 625: Recording Pen
An Ning didn’t speak, just stared at the woman, looking her over carefully.
Her features were a bit similar to her second sister-in-law’s.
"Who is it?"
Yin Xuemei’s voice carried from inside. A moment later, she came out with her large, pregnant belly and called out happily, "An Ning, perfect timing! I made your favorite Sichuan boiled pork today."
"An Ning, do you know her?"
"Second Sister-in-law."
The words "Second Sister-in-law," combined with the surname An, made the perpetually arrogant woman across from them finally react.
"Oh, my! It seems we’re all family here. What a misunderstanding—like family not recognizing their own! I’m Xuemei’s older sister. We really are one big family."
"Yin Xuelan, please don’t go claiming relations that aren’t there."
Yin Xuemei’s words made An Ning laugh out loud. She openly gave her a thumbs-up and said, "Second Sister-in-law, impressive!"
"An Ning, you’re teasing me."
Yin Xuelan pretended to be completely unfazed by Yin Xuemei’s words. Acting like she was the host, she stepped aside from the doorway and said to An Ning, "An Ning, come on in."
An Ning shot Yin Xuelan a glance, stepped over the threshold, and walked beside Yin Xuemei, taking her arm for support.
The three of them entered the courtyard one after another. The family’s newly hired cook happened to be coming out of the kitchen and asked Yin Xuemei, "Ma’am, should I serve dinner?"
"Yes, let’s eat. An Ning is here now."
The housekeeper greeted An Ning politely. They knew each other, and after a casual nod, the housekeeper went into the kitchen to prepare the meal.
"Where’s my second brother?"
An Ning found it strange that she couldn’t see An Guoming anywhere.
Ever since Yin Xuemei got pregnant, An Guoming never scheduled any social engagements in the evening. He always ate breakfast and dinner at home.
"Your second brother... he’s busy."
Yin Xuemei’s grip on An Ning’s arm tightened slightly, signaling to An Ning not to ask about An Guoming.
But while An Ning understood the hint, she knew some people were just feigning ignorance.
"Guoming really is too much. How could he leave a pregnant woman home all by herself? Little Sister, I came here this time specifically to take care of you. Look how big your belly is—it must be so inconvenient for you to be alone."
Yin Xuemei rolled her eyes dramatically and said without mincing words, "Is my housekeeper not a person? And you can drop the act. Finish this meal and then get out. Go wherever you please; I’m not hosting you."
"Yin Xuelan, I see right through your little scheme, so don’t put on a show for me. If you keep pestering me, you’ve already had a taste of what my An Guoming can do."
At the mention of An Guoming’s methods, Yin Xuelan was visibly frightened for a moment. But the potential gains were too great, so she shamelessly continued, "Little Sister, don’t be like that. Everything that happened before, that was all Mom’s idea, not mine at all. I honestly didn’t know."
Yin Xuemei laughed, partly from anger and partly from disgust.
"Yin Xuelan, I always knew you were calculating and full of schemes, but today is the first time I’ve realized just how shameless you are. So, what you’re saying is, Mom asked me for money to give to you, you spent it all, and now you’re blaming it on her? That you, the one who benefited, did nothing wrong?"
"You’re absolutely disgusting. You don’t have to eat this meal. Get out of my house right now. Get out of Beijing. Otherwise, I’ll make your life a living hell."
Yin Xuemei took a step forward.
"Don’t even try to provoke me. I’m not the same Yin Xuemei you all used to push around."
"That’s right. She’s my second sister-in-law, and the An family is not someone you can afford to mess with."
An Ning stood firmly with Yin Xuemei, while Yin Xuelan put on an expression of someone who had been deeply wronged.
"I really don’t have any other intentions. I was just thinking that we’re sisters, and I wanted to come take care of you. I’m not after your money at all. I’m not short on money myself."
Yin Xuelan looked as if she were enduring a great injustice. She took a deep breath and said, "Since you don’t welcome me, I’ll just leave. But Little Sister, I have to say, you should keep an eye on An Guoming. You’re pregnant, and he’s a man out socializing every day. You need to be a little more careful."
The moment she said this, An Ning was having none of it.
"Bullshit! My second brother and sister-in-law are doing just fine! You really are malicious, coming to a pregnant woman’s home just to provoke her. What the hell are you up to!"
Yin Xuemei pulled An Ning back and called out, "Aunt Zhang!"
Two women came out of the kitchen. The one called Aunt Zhang strode over, grabbed Yin Xuelan by the arm, and forcibly removed her.
You could tell at a glance that she knew kung fu.
These two had been specially hired by An Guoming. One was in charge of cooking, while the other, though ostensibly an assistant cook, was actually there to look after and protect Yin Xuemei.
After Yin Xuelan was thrown out, An Ning, feeling uneasy, sent her spiritual power to follow her.
Once Yin Xuelan was a good distance away, she took a recording device out of her pocket.
An Ning instantly understood Yin Xuelan’s intention. She was planning to use public opinion to provoke Yin Xuemei or An Guoming.
All she had to do was edit the recording slightly and add some vague, misleading commentary, and she could easily manipulate public opinion.
Killing without a trace.
An Ning’s spiritual power shot out, corrupting the contents of the recording pen.
That wasn’t all. An Ning then sent a text message to Jiang Xia’s phone, asking him to find out who Yin Xuelan was working for.
The media was Jiang Xia’s domain.
An Ning told Yin Xuemei what she had discovered. Upon hearing it, Yin Xuemei became genuinely angry.
"An Ning, I’ll handle this myself. This time, I want to do it myself."
"Okay, but you should discuss it with my second brother. And tell me if you need anything."
Yin Xuemei nodded. After going inside, she called An Guoming.
After hearing that Yin Xuelan had left, An Guoming arrived at the courtyard house in less than five minutes.
An Ning looked at An Guoming curiously and asked, "Where were you hiding?"
"Just in the car outside."
An Guoming went to check on Yin Xuemei first thing. When he learned about the recording pen, he patted her hand and said, "Don’t worry. This time, I’ll make sure they never have the strength to find their way here again."
"Okay. But... I think I want to move."
Yin Xuemei had been reluctant to move before because she liked the lively, down-to-earth atmosphere of the neighborhood. In reality, though, she didn’t have time to interact with the neighbors and enjoy that atmosphere.
Besides, this place really did lack proper security. It was too easy for people to corner her in the house, which she didn’t like.
"Alright. If you say move, we’ll move."
The couple was overflowing with affection, making An Ning cringe off to the side.
"Hey you two, I’m still here."
An Guoming glanced back at her and said, "Where’s Jiang Xia?"
"He’s abroad."
"No wonder. Otherwise, a certain someone wouldn’t have come to visit for a long time, not even when we called."
Most people would have been embarrassed by An Guoming’s teasing, but this was An Ning.
"You don’t get it. This is what we call making the most of our time to date."
Her completely frank reply almost gave An Guoming a heart attack.
For a moment, he didn’t know whether to be happy that the two were finally together, or upset that his little sister had finally been snatched away by a wolf.
Finally, An Guoming managed to squeeze out a question.
"Are you two really together?"
An Ning shook her head, leaving An Guoming breathless with frustration. He asked anxiously, "No? Then what exactly is going on with you two?"