After the True Heiress Travels Back
Chapter 285 Jingtai Garden

Chapter 285: Chapter 285 Jingtai Garden

An Siqi looked at the cell phone on the ground and fearfully took several steps back.

It was not until the sharp shards of porcelain scraped her feet that she snapped back to her senses.

What was she doing?

Thirty minutes, she only had thirty minutes!

If she was late, she really feared something bad would happen.

Thinking of a certain image made An Siqi’s pupils constrict violently, disregarding the cut on her foot, she picked up the broken phone, grabbed a coat at random, and hurried to the door.

The assistant smoking at the door looked at her rush and was a bit puzzled, "Miss An, what’s the matter?"

An Siqi couldn’t be bothered with him and acted as if she hadn’t heard.

The assistant was persistent, "Miss An?"

An Siqi glared at him, "Where I’m going is none of your business!"

The assistant said matter-of-factly, "The boss asked me to follow Miss An and help you with whatever you want to do."

An Siqi: "Buzz off, I don’t need your help right now."

The assistant smiled, "Sorry, but the boss sent me here, not to be your punching bag."

"However... since I’ve been treated as a punching bag, I can’t neglect other duties."

An Siqi frowned and took a step back, "What do you want to do?"

The assistant: "I’m to protect Miss An around the clock."

An Siqi had a dark expression, "I don’t need any close protection! Get lost."

"Sorry, Miss An," the assistant replied helplessly, "I only listen to the boss. Although the boss told me to follow you... when it comes to matters of principle, it’s still the boss who has the final say."

"If Miss An truly doesn’t want me by her side, you could talk to the boss. If he agrees, I will naturally leave; otherwise... I will keep following and protecting you."

An Siqi scoffed, "Talk about protection, isn’t it just surveillance?"

The assistant just smiled without answering.

An Siqi was infuriated, but she was pressed for time.

She simply did not have any time to waste.

If she delayed any further, getting to Jingtai Garden within half an hour would be virtually impossible.

After weighing her options, An Siqi had no choice but to tell the assistant, "You can follow me, but you must do as I say right now."

The assistant: "Of course, Miss An."

An Siqi took a deep breath and ordered, "Take me to Jingtai Garden."

"Jingtai Garden?" The assistant was puzzled, "What does Miss An want to do there?"

An Siqi glared at him, "You don’t need to ask, just go drive. I must be at Jingtai Garden within twenty minutes."

Full of doubts, the assistant did not press further and really, as An Siqi had said, went to the garage, started the car, and drove An Siqi to Jingtai Garden at top speed.

Jingtai Garden.

Ming Yan was comfortably lounging in a rocking chair, with an old phonograph by his side.

The music from the phonograph flowed out slowly, and Ming Yan, with eyes closed, was quite enjoying it.

The arrival of An Siqi broke this tranquility.

Opening his eyes, Ming Yan saw the out-of-breath An Siqi and the assistant following her.

He just glanced at them briefly and then looked away.

Lowering his gaze to play with his fingers, his tone betrayed no hint of anger.

"You are late."

Those simple four words made An Siqi shiver in fright.

The assistant was somewhat puzzled and didn’t understand why An Siqi was so afraid.

Ming Yan was a top-tier influencer and pop idol, and for anyone who went online, it was harder not to know of him than to know him.

Therefore, the assistant recognized Ming Yan.

He also knew that Ming Yan and An Siqi had done commercials together, but he had no idea what kind of entanglements there were between An Siqi and Ming Yan.

"Are you Ming Yan?"

The assistant couldn’t help it and wanted to confirm the other party’s identity.

Ming Yan raised an eyebrow, "What do you think?"

Now the assistant was certain, Ming Yan’s demeanor didn’t differ one bit from what he showed in public.

Ming Yan’s gaze fell on An Siqi, his tone slightly displeased, "Miss An, I asked you to come, but I never said you could bring guests... Are you trying to make decisions on your own?"

An Siqi quickly denied it, "No, I didn’t! I really didn’t, Ming Yan... please don’t misunderstand."

Her voice was so tense that she was on the verge of tears.

Ming Yan clicked his tongue lightly, glancing at the assistant, "You see, your standing here is making her very upset."

"Perhaps... you could leave for now?"

His tone might have been inquiring, but his words carried an unmistakable authoritarian tone.

The assistant was just doing his job for the money; there was no need to have a showdown with Ming Yan, and without a second thought, he agreed to leave for the time being.

Watching the assistant turn and leave without any sentiment, An Siqi couldn’t describe the mixed emotions in her heart.

"Miss An, there are no outsiders here now, shall we... have a talk?"

Ming Yan deliberately suppressed the rest of his words, watching An Siqi with a half-smile.

Under his gaze, An Siqi shivered.

"Ming, Ming Yan... please, I beg you to let me go..."

She pleaded with a sobbing voice, "I didn’t mean it, I really didn’t mean to, please spare me, I won’t dare to provoke Shi Yaoguang ever again, I swear!"

Ming Yan watched her raise her hand, swearing to the heavens, a mocking curve emerging on his lips.

"You swear?" he sneered, "If swearing had any use, then... where would the wronged seek justice?"

An Siqi met his deep, dark pupils, and her heart sank further.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but voice the question that had been confounding her.

"Why... why are you doing this to me? I have never provoked you."

This was something An Siqi couldn’t figure out.

She had no interactions with Ming Yan before, so why did he treat her that way at Grape Manor that day?

Just thinking about what happened that day sent chills down An Siqi’s spine.

"I... I believe I have not wronged you, why do you want to..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Ming Yan stood up.

He walked towards her with graceful steps, one by one, getting closer.

"Why do I want to punish you?"

Ming Yan slowly put on his gloves before he lifted her chin with his fingertip, slowly saying, "Because... what you did disgusted me."

An Siqi looked at him, and from somewhere found the courage to challenge him, "You tell me, are you treating me like this because of Shi Yaoguang!"

Uttering that name seemed to unlock something, and her confidence seemed to swell, "Are you interested in Shi Yaoguang? Or should I say... you have an unrequited love for her!"

"Heh," Ming Yan snorted coldly, "Your attempt at a joke is not the least bit funny."

An Siqi didn’t believe him; in her view, it was just that Ming Yan didn’t want to admit it, "Don’t think I can’t see through you just because you won’t say it! How about we make a deal? I won’t tell anyone that you like Shi Yaoguang, as long as you agree to let me go..."

Meeting Ming Yan’s unflustered gaze, An Siqi’s voice grew quieter and quieter, until it faded away.