Nan Chen was extremely demoralized and felt a sense of defeat.
Before today, he had planned to swallow his pride and break the news to Ning Ran in a manner as gentle as possible, when he informed her of his newfound identity of the kids’ biological dad.
After which he would continue to express his gratitude and concern for the kids’ mom, as well as provide her with suitable substantive compensation for her efforts in raising up the kids all these years.
Nan Chen had tried his best, yet was unable to figure out what went wrong. The actual outcome was vastly different from what he had imagined it to be.
He had reached a conclusion that it happened this way because the woman was uncultured and lacked the abilities for proper communication.
In other words, she couldn’t tell chalk from cheese.
“It doesn’t mean anything even if you are the kids’ mom!” Nan Chen started to get frustrated.
The alcohol in his system was beginning to take effect. It was evident that the man was losing control of his emotions.
“Yup, that doesn’t say anything,” Ning Ran retorted.
The two of them were merely dissing each other; it was not a productive conversation at all.
“I’m leaving. Since you sent Qiao Zhan away, you are footing the bill. I have no money.”
Ning Ran grabbed her bag and left.
She must be one of the few women who could proclaim themselves as having no money in such an assured manner.
Nan Chen couldn’t be bothered with her as he was already fuming mad.
The warm and harmonious scene which he had pictured in his mind did not happen. Instead, they had parted in discord.
Whose idea was it to reduce tension and improve relations over a meal? It was the worst idea ever!
Jiang Zhe, just wait and see how I’m going to settle this with you tomorrow!
When he saw Ning Ran stomping out of the restaurant, the Nan family’s bodyguard immediately stepped forward and said, “Young Mistress, this way to the car, please.”
“Who are you calling ‘Young Mistress’? You and your entire family are the Young Mistresses.” Ning Ran was still smoldering with anger.
The stunned bodyguard kept quiet.
Not to mention my entire family, I would already be overjoyed if only I were the Young Mistress! The bodyguard silently thought.
Even though she was angry, she was not going to decline a free ride.
After Ning Ran got into the car, she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply, hoping to calm her emotions.
As they had an early dinner, it wasn’t very late yet, and the streets were still crowded and bustling.
Looking at the glancing and gorgeous neon lights outside the car window, Ning Ran’s lips suddenly curled into a smile.
She did not know exactly why she was smiling, she just felt like doing it.
She had finally gotten confirmation that Poker Face was the actual dad of her children. It proved that her hunch had been right all along.
Although he was a boring man, it was without a doubt that he would make a better father than Nan Xing. There were many things Dabao could learn from him.
Nan Xing was a playboy who always had different women fluttering around him. As such, he could be a negative influence on Dabao.
Nan Chen was not the same. Word on the street was that the man practiced abstinence and stayed away from women. His life was dedicated to just working, nothing else. It was much simpler as compared to his brother’s.
As these thoughts ran through her mind, Ning Ran suddenly had a joyful feeling.
When she realized she was feeling that way, the woman was slightly upset with herself.
What’s there to be happy about? She had just been fighting with Nan Chen a moment ago.
When she reached home, Ning Ran thanked the chauffeur before proceeding upstairs.
She started humming a tune unconsciously, in a much better mood as compared to just now.
But as for why, she did not know.
Cheng Xiangyun was sitting cross-legged on the sofa. She was watching a Korean drama while snacking, and she burst out into laughing fits intermittently.
Ning Ran joined her after she finished showering and changed into pajamas. However, she stayed away from the snacks.
The woman had put on two pounds from the countless suppers she had with Nan Chen over the past few days.
That food seemed to have all transformed into stubborn fats which were now stuck to Ning Ran’s body.
She would become a fatso soon if she did not start controlling herself.
When the drama reached its climax, Ning Ran laughed along with Cheng Xiangyun.
Cheng Xiangyun took a look at Ning Ran and said, “Shouldn’t you be revising your script in the study now? You’re not going to do your homework?”
“I don’t feel like looking at it today. I just wanna enjoy the drama with you,” Ning Ran replied.
“Hmm, it seems like someone is in a good mood. Did you meet an eye candy today? But it shouldn’t be a rare sight for you given that you are always around good-looking men, like the Nan brothers, Zheng Lunlun, and even that BMW guy. It shouldn’t make you this happy.”
Ning Ran nodded and answered, “You have a point. What are ‘good-looking men’ anyway? They’re just impractical beings. Even pork is better value for money.”
“Why do you look so happy then? Have you struck the lottery?”
“Is it really that obvious that I look happy?” Ning Ran sized herself up.
“Even an idiot can tell something good has happened to you. It’s written all over your face! Why don’t you take a look at yourself in the mirror? You’re just short of laughing out loud.”
Ning Ran was suddenly wary of her behavior. Am I really that indiscreet about it? Aunt said even an idiot would be able to tell. She wasn’t sure if Poker Face had also made the same observation.
If he had, it would have been really embarrassing for her!
However, she felt that he had not, because they were engaged in a fierce argument at the restaurant, and she could not have appeared to be too happy given the circumstances.
If she had felt back then how she was feeling now, Ning Ran probably wouldn’t have been able to get mad at the man.
“Aunt, can I ask you a question? You have to answer me honestly,” Ning Ran said with a serious expression.
“What is it? Just shoot!”
“Between Nan Xing and Nan Chen, who do you like better?”
Cheng Xiangyun did not have to think about her answer. She answered without hesitation, “I like both equally much!”
How can this aunt be so horny! She wants both of them? Ning Ran let out a gasp.
“But if you could only choose one, who would it be?”
“Any of them will do! They’re both great!” Cheng Xiangyun replied as she swallowed.
“No! What if you MUST choose only one?” Ning Ran pressed on.
“Why do I have to choose? They look exactly the same, what difference would it make? Just give me any one of them!” Cheng Xiangyun said.
“Nope, I don’t intend to give you anything. You’re overthinking. It’s just a casual question,” Ning Ran replied helplessly.
“Is there something wrong with you today, asking such a pointless question? Isn’t Nan Xing your man? You don’t want him anymore?”
“He’s not my man,” Ning Ran quickly corrected.
“You already have children with him. How is he not considered your man?”
“The kids are not his… “ Ning Ran accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
Cheng Xiangyun was someone susceptible to gossip, so there was no way she would have missed such an important piece of news.
“What did you just say?”
“I didn’t say anything. Why aren’t you sleeping yet? How many more episodes do you intend to watch? It’s getting late, you should go to bed soon,” Ning Ran said, attempting to change the topic.
Cheng Xiangyun caught hold of Ning Ran and said, “I’m definitely getting to the bottom of this matter today. If Nan Xing isn’t the father of those kids, then who is? Don’t tell me it’s that BMW guy… Oh my God! If it’s really him, you would no longer be able to enjoy the privileges given to you by the Nan family. Wouldn’t all my efforts come to naught then? I was still banking to ride on your coattails! After you gain popularity, I would naturally rise to become the most sought after artiste manager then. Looks like my dream is shattered!”
At the end of her rant, Cheng Xiangyun let go of her grip on Ning Ran’s clothes and leaned backwards, letting out a cry, as if she had nothing more to live for.
Ning Ran was speechless. Does Aunt have to be so dramatic?
She made it seem as if her future depended solely on the relationship between Ning Ran and the Nan family.
Ning Ran was suddenly feeling under pressure.
“Aunt, come on! We, women, need to be independent. We can’t only think about relying on men,” Ning Ran comforted the other women softly.
“I don’t care about being independent! I want to count on men. Since I can’t get one of those dependable men myself, I can only rely on you to get one. Now that you’ve given up a dependable man for an unreliable one, there’s no one I can count on anymore!”
“Ok, ok. Aunt, enough of your tongue twisters. It’s time to wash up and head to bed. We still have work tomorrow!” Ning Ran laughed it off as she simply did not know how to handle her aunt.
