“You should really think about it carefully.” Nan Zhengde spoke with a stern voice.
“Grandpa, why would I need to think about such a hypothetical situation?” Nan Xing couldn’t understand.
“Because this is very important. You know very well our Nan family’s status in Flower City. Everyone wants to associate themselves with our family, with the motif of gaining benefits for themselves. You know, there are many who would use unscrupulous means for their own benefits.” Nan Zhengde explained.
“Grandpa, Ding Mi is not that kind of person.” Nan Xing retaliated.
With a wave of his hand, Nan Zhengde said, “I am not referring to anyone in particular, I’m just stating facts. A family like ours would usually, through marriage, create ties with another family of an equal status. It is not an old-fashioned thinking but rather for business reasons, as marriage, on a certain level, is a combination of the assets of the two families.”
“If two families, both with similarly strong statuses work together, your offspring would have better resources to work with. So, from a business standpoint, it is very logical to marry someone from a well-matched family.” Nan Zhengde further explained.
Nan Xing neither accepted nor rejected Nan Zhengde’s explanation. These practical issues had never crossed his mind.
This fourth young master of the Nan family had had many affairs with female actresses, but he had never thought of marrying any of them, and those women were also well aware of that. They merely took what they needed from each other.
As such, this issue that Nan Zhengde was discussing with him felt unfamiliar and distant.
“However, I will not force you to marry someone from a well-matched family. Our Nan family is capable on our own. We don’t need to borrow another’s strength. So when you finally want to settle down, I won’t insist that you marry a lady from a reputable family. My only requirement is that you must be really in love with each other, and that she is not marrying you for our family’s wealth or status.” Nan Zhengde continued.
“Grandpa, I get what you mean.” This time, Nan Xing agreed with his grandpa wholeheartedly.
“I am glad that you understand. So now, tell me, without considering children into the picture, would you still marry her?” Nan Zhengde asked again.
“I have never thought of that before.” Nan Xing shook his head.
“You should think about it seriously. After you get some clarity, think again if she is truly in love with you. If you did not belong to the Nan family, would she still want to marry you? If you can answer all these questions honestly and still want to marry her after that, I will give you my blessings.” Nan Zhengde said.
“What if I can’t answer those questions?” Nan Xing replied.
“Then you should accept what your brother has proposed — that the Nan family gets custody of the children and she will get a huge sum of money as compensation which would be enough for the rest of her life.” Nan Zhengde said.
Nan Xing kept quiet.
Intuitively, he knew that Ning Ran would never agree to such a proposal. If they really did reach this stage, he wondered what kind of fuss Ning Ran would kick up.
Although that woman looked weak on the outside, she was a tough one. If she was driven over the edge, she would be capable of doing anything.
Nan Xing started to worry thinking about this. He did not want things to turn ugly. More so, he did not want the kids to be affected.
“Nan Xing?” Nan Zhengde raised his voice a little to get the attention of the distracted Nan Xing.
“I know that, grandpa. Regardless if I marry her or not, I will be careful. Please don’t worry.” Nan Xing reassured his grandpa.
“Ok, I trust that you will be able to handle it well. Do seek your brother’s opinions. He is more rational than you when handling things.” Nan Zhengde said.
“Grandpa, growing up, is there even any area that my brother is not stronger than me at?” Nan Xing forced a laugh.
Nan Chen was sipping coffee in his office as this discussion between Nan Xing and Nan Zhengde went on.
Jiang Zhe, who was standing beside Nan Chen, kept looking at his watch. It was long past office hours, but his boss did not seem like he was leaving any time soon.
It was already so late and yet he was still drinking so much coffee. Did he intend to stay up all night? But Jiang Zhe did not dare to say anything before his boss gave him the permission to head home.
“Why are you still here?” Nan Chen raised his head and saw Jiang Zhe standing there.
I wanted to leave long ago, but without your permission, how would I dare to! Jiang Zhe did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“I……really enjoy working overtime.” Jiang Zhe said, trying to hide the sorrow on his face. This must have been the most hypocritical words that had come from Jiang Zhe’s mouth this year.
“Are they here yet?” Nan Chen looked unsettled.
Very few people would be able to get used to Nan Chen’s sudden change of thoughts, but Jiang Zhe was able to.
All he needed was a few seconds; to figure out that it was them his boss was referring to — Nan Xing and Nan Zhengde.
“They reached here a while before. The old master wanted to wait for you to head back home for dinner together, but you told him you had other plans.” Jiang Zhe reminded Nan Chen.
Boss has the best memory out of everyone I know, how did he forget something that had only happened two hours ago? Jiang Zhe got a bit worried.
What was going on? Did he leave his soul in M nation?
“I see.” Nan Chen said, before he went silent again.
“Boss, it is late, why don’t you go back and have some rest? It has been tough on you recently.” Jiang Zhe said to Nan Chen cautiously.
But Nan Chen just remained silent.
Nan Chen was distracted again. He reminisced the few days he had spent with Ning Ran.
As Nan Chen did not respond, Jiang Zhe did not dare to carry on talking, though he was dying to go home!
“Why did I not go home for dinner?” Nan Chen suddenly lifted his head and asked Jiang Zhe.
“What?” Jiang Zhe was stunned. How should he be answering this question?!
“It is because boss is always so busy.” Jiang Zhe hoped that the answer would satisfy Nan Chen.
“Oh. Yeah.” Nan Chen replied, and it was silence, once again.
What on earth happened to boss today? Jiang Zhe was confused. Not only did he forget something that had just happen two hours ago, the question he just asked was so brainless!
This is the top guy in Flower City! He doesn’t seem to be himself at all today. Did he really lose his soul?!
“You must be so tired, please get some rest.” Jiang Zhe tried again.
“No worries. You can leave first.” Nan Chen waved him off.
Jiang Zhe wanted to leave so badly, but how could he leave while Nan Chen was still here!
“I am fine. I will be here. Let me know if you need anything.” Jiang Zhe said.
“Ok.” Nan Chen acknowledged. “By the way, do you have a girlfriend?” Nan Chen suddenly asked Jiang Zhe.
This made things seem even weirder. His boss was never the sort who would pry into the private affairs of others, and neither had he been interested in any gossips. Not that he had the time for it anyway.
“No.” Jiang Zhe answered honestly.
“Why not?” Nan Chen continued asking.
“I dated a few women previously, but none were suitable, so I am still single.” Jiang Zhe replied.
“So you did like them?” Nan Chen carried on.
“Of course! Otherwise I wouldn’t have dated them.” Nan Chen replied while nodding his head.
“How does it feel like to be in love?” Nan Chen suddenly asked, seriously.
Jiang Zhe was stunned by this question.
That was a question asked by the ordinary man. Why would a god-like person like Nan Chen ask such a question? What’s his purpose of asking? Jiang Zhe was not able to figure out.
“Boss……You have never been in love before?”
“I am asking you a question.” Nan Chen replied coldly.
“Hmm, you would want to be with her all day long, share your happiness and worries with her, and her feelings would concern you……”
Nan Chen raised up a hand to stop Jiang Zhe from continuing. His brows furrowed.
Obviously, he was not satisfied with Jiang Zhe’s answer. It was the kind of answer he could have gotten from an online search, which he felt was lame.
He actually wanted to hear: if you like someone, you would also like her smell.
But at the same time, he was also afraid that was that Jiang Zhe would say that.
