Ning Ran knew that the person on the other side of the phone must be angry when she was met with dead silence.
Well, that’s how he is. Others will holler or bellow when they are angry, but not him. When he’s angry, he will only keep quiet with a stone-cold expression on his face.
Ning Ran could imagine the murderous aura Nan Chen must be emitting right now. Thank god we are talking over the phone. I will hate to see the look on his face now.
Anyway, it is so late already. I can’t possibly continue talking on the phone with him at this hour.
“I thought this call was from my friend. She asked me out, but I turned her offer down as it was too late…”
Ning Ran was still fumbling to come up with an explanation when she heard a busy signal on the phone. Nan Chen had hung up on her.
“Crazy bas***d!”
After hanging up the phone, she continued sleeping.
For the next few days, Ning Ran was on a tight filming schedule. It was late autumn already, so the director was rushing to complete the filming before wintertime.
Ning Ran was immersed in her work, leaving her with no personal time to spend with her children.
On that day, she had filmed continuously without catching a wink, until it finally ended at 6 pm. By then, she was totally drained of energy.
After changing out of her costume and back into her attire, she dragged herself out of the film set and saw a dark green Land Rover in front of the entrance.
The second the car window was rolled down, Ning Ran heard Erbao calling out loudly, “Mommy!”
Pleasantly surprised, Ning Ran hurried over, “Why are you here?”
Dabao chipped in, “We’re all here.”
Ning Ran shifted her gaze to Nan Chen, who was in the driver’s seat.
Wow! Instead of his iconic black formal suit, he’s wearing a grey tracksuit instead!
This was the first time Ning Ran saw him wearing a color other than black.
He looks good! Black emphasizes his aloofness, but grey adds a tinge of gentleness, giving him a more cheerful vibe.
Cheng Xiangyun was not around today as her company had sent her to the Capital for a learning trip which would take around 15 days.
Ning Ran was still fretting about the dinner tonight and had expected Nan Chen to come today.
Well, it works for me. At least I won’t be having cup noodles for dinner alone today.
“Mommy, let’s cook dinner together later,” Erbao suggested cheerfully.
“Cook dinner?” Ning Ran asked in astonishment.
Do the three of them know how to cook? Who would believe that?
“Mommy, we know all about your secret. To think that you still want to hide it from us. Haha!” Erbao made a face at her.
Ning Ran was baffled, “Secret?”
“Daddy’s secret.” Erbao buried her face into her hands in bashfulness.
Ning Ran flushed despite herself. She is the most adorable kid in the world! So, one will be shy in front of one’s own kids too.
“Both of you know already?”
“Yes,” chorused Dabao and Erbao in unison.
“Did you tell them?” Ning Ran looked at Nan Chen inquiringly.
Nan Chen kept quiet, implying his admission.
Who else could it be other than him? He must be the blabbermouth! How shameless of him! How can he leak out the secret to my children before I tell them myself! I wonder how he explained it to them? I bet he had a tough time doing so!
“From now on, we’re a family! Let’s go!”
Erbao curled up her fist into a small ball and extended it straight above her head as if readying herself to rush forward. It was a moving sight.
Furthermore, she sounded very seasoned when she said that. Did Poker Face teach her to say that?
Ning Ran glanced at Nan Chen, but he ignored her. He could not recall ever teaching Erbao to say such things.
Furthermore, Nan Chen was not a person who liked to say mushy stuff such as From now on, we are a family.
Nan Chen started the car and drove forward amid Erbao’s cheering.
Ning Ran asked, “Where are we going?”
“To prepare dinner! Erbao enthused.
Ning Ran could feel a headache brewing. What exactly are they planning to do? Why must we prepare dinner ourselves?
“Daddy asked me what we like to usually do, so I told him we like to cook dinner together with Aunt Xiang and have dinner together afterwards. Then Daddy said we should cook dinner together.” Dabao finally revealed the truth.
So that is the reason. Cooking dinner together may sound like a heart-warming family activity but, in fact, it is very troublesome. One needs to prepare ingredients in the first place. Also, after preparing all the ingredients, who will be the chef? It can’t be the two kids, so this role can only fall on Nan Chen. I will never believe he can cook!
“Is everything fine?” Nan Chen asked directly, upon noticing the troubled expression on Ning Ran’s face.
Ning Ran wanted to point out all flaws in their plan but, she could not bear to dampen their moods, after seeing how excited they are. Thus, she nodded, “Everything is fine.”
Nan Chen drove the car to one of the big supermarkets under Nanshi Corporation, where they intended to purchase the ingredients.
Erbao was exceptionally excited, as this was the first time they were engaging in a family activity after they acknowledged each other.
Erbao loved company, especially when she was engaged in group activities with her family.
Even the eyes of Dabao that was usually composed, sparkled with excitement.
Mommy and Daddy are bringing us to shop in the supermarket! This is a brand-new experience!
Their appearance in the supermarket caused a stir. Other customers in the supermarket gasped at them, in awe of their looks.
“Look at the kids. They are so beautiful!”
“Notice how good-looking their parents are? Of course, their kids will be beautiful too.”
“But aren’t they too beautiful? Are they a family of celebrities? I feel like I have seen them on television before.”
Ning Ran was still getting used to receiving such compliments.
Nan Chen, on the other hand, was in his comfort zone. He had always stolen the limelight no matter where he was, even in parties attended by prominent people or in more crowded places. Certainly, such supermarkets were nothing to him.
Erbao was lazy and did not want to walk. Thus, she sat on the child seat in the trolley.
Dabao walked with Nan Chen. It was an amusing sight, to see the same stoic expressions on their faces, one being a miniature version of another.
Ning Ran had assumed that Nan Chen had a plan in mind for the dinner, but soon realized that she was wrong.
Nan Chen was only responsible for pushing the trolley at Ning Ran’s side.
For every item that Ning Ran picked up and subsequently returned to its shelf, he would put it into his trolley. He had assumed she was concerned over the prices. Well, the price does not matter to me. After all, the entire supermarket belongs to Nanshi Corporation. There’s no need to help me save money.
“Why are you putting the items I don’t want into the trolley?” Ning Ran asked, puzzled over Nan Chen’s actions.
“You don’t want them?”
“Yes, I’m only taking a look and not buying them.”
“Why do you need to look at them when you don’t want to buy them?”
Ning Ran was stumped for words. What kind of logic is that? Must I buy everything I see?
“You don’t need to waste time looking at them if you don’t need them,” reasoned Nan Chen logically.
“How will I know whether they suit my needs if I don’t look at them?”
Nan Chen did not reply her.
At this moment, a few men, decked in formal suits, hurried over with nervousness spelt all over their faces.
The fat man leading the pack was sweating profusely and bowed respectfully before Nan Chen, “Sir Chen, I didn’t know you have come here to inspect. Sorry…”
Nan Chen, who had a superb memory, recognized the man at a glance, “Manager Luo.”
He was the manager of the supermarket. He had assumed that Nan Chen was here for an inspection, sending him and his team into a panic.
