Their journey this time was a lot smoother. She was neither crashing into a lamp post nor running over a stray dog.
It was just that the ambiance in the car was filled with tension. The way both of them interacted with each other was either awkward or in indirect conflict. Although they weren’t arguing, they would constantly end up getting on each other’s nerves.
Finally, they arrived at their destination which was a billiard bar housed in a basement.
The bar was renovated with a European design and gave out a classical western vibe. However, there was a partition in the center decorated with Chinese motifs; hence, it was a perfect blend of Western and Oriental designs together.
After both of them entered, Nan Chen went behind the partition and took off his jacket. He then picked up a billiard cue and started playing.
Ning Ran was puzzled as to how he found time to play billiard given how busy he always was.
“Do you know how to play?”
“Just a little,” Ning Ran replied.
“Come, have a go.” Nan Chen handed the cue to Ning Ran.
After receiving the cue, she attempted to strike one of the balls. Not only did she not hit the ball into one of the pockets, but she had missed the ball totally.
“Is this called ‘a little’?” Nan Chen gave her a condescending look.
Ning Ran rolled her eyes. “I haven’t gotten into my form yet.”
Nan Chen snorted before motioning her to continue.
Again, she missed.
“You should lean forward and keep your eyes on the ball…”
Nan Chen couldn’t stand it any longer and started coaching instead.
With Ning Ran leaning on the billiard table, Nan Chen leaned in behind her. As their body’s overlapped, it suddenly felt weird.
Initially, Nan Chen did intend to just correct her posture. But after gently coming into contact with her body, he could smell her fragrance and feel the softness on her skin.
Suddenly, he noticed that he was ‘reacting’ to her and felt awkward.
To prevent Ning Ran from feeling his ‘reaction’, he turned his body sideways to minimize the contact between both of them.
However, moving his body away caused his position and the angle of the billiard cue to change.
When Ning Ran attempted to strike the ball, she missed again.
In fact, it was even further off than the first few times she missed doing it alone. It was extremely embarrassing.
Ning Ran was tempted to laugh but she tried hard to restrain herself.
She knew that Poker Face would definitely be furious if she did.
Once Poker Face became angry, there would be more trouble, and Ning Ran was trying her best to avoid it.
Hence, she suppressed her smile and even took the initiative to console Nan Chen, “It’s my fault. Let’s try again.”
With her back facing him, her smug smile was hidden from Nan Chen’s view.
After taking a deep breath, Nan Chen reminded himself to focus and not let his imagination run wild.
Master Chen was someone who was very much in control of himself. When he made an effort to do so, he was able to keep himself in check.
After that, he helped Ning Ran hold her cue and focused on the ball before striking.
This time, they hit the ball and even sent it into the pocket.
“Oh yeah!” Ning Ran raised her fist in triumph.
Lifting her head, she accidentally headbutted Nan Chen’s chin.
“Ouch!”
Shocked by the pain, Ning Ran let out an exaggerated cry.
When she turned around, she saw Nan Chen glaring at her instead.
How stupid can this woman be? Isn’t it obvious I’m behind her? And yet, she lifted her head to hit me? Did she do it on purpose?
“Oops, I’m sorry to have headbutted you. Does it hurt?”
Just when Ning Ran reached out to stroke his chin, Nan Chen recoiled with a cold glint in his eyes.
How can you touch my chin! How impudent!
“Is your chin made of granite? Why is it so hard? I felt as if I had a concussion.” Ning Ran rubbed her head to ease the pain.
Nan Chen’s expression darkened again.
What do you mean my chin is made of granite? Are you insinuating that I went for plastic surgery? Does this perfectly handsome face look like it needs any of that?
Ning Ran finally realized that her comment didn’t come out right.
“No, your chin isn’t made of granite. My head is the one made of it.”
Nan Chen squinted his eyes. Is she crazy? Why is she babbling nonsense?
“Alright, both of us are not made of granite.” Ning Ran tried her best to salvage the situation.
Nan Chen remained silent.
Is the topic about granite so insignificant it’s beneath him?
At that moment, Qiao Zhan arrived with someone.
There was something special about the partition. It was transparent but only in one direction. Hence, Nan Chen could see out but others couldn’t see him.
The person Qiao Zhan arrived with was Ning Ziqiang.
As Ning Ran checked with Nan Chen, he motioned her to go ahead.
Hence, Ning Ran approached them.
“Ran? It’s a surprise to see you here,” Ning Ziqiang exclaimed.
“Ning Ziqiang, do you wish to see me dead with all your ill doings ?” Ning Ran asked coldly.
“No. You’re my daughter. Why should I wish you dead?”
“But everything you do is just making my life difficult. You’re killing me here!” Ning Ran berated him.
“That’s because you forced me to do so. You promised that you would help me to pay off my debts. But until now, you haven’t given me any money. So, I have no choice but to do this.”
“Since when did I promise to pay off your debts? Why should I even be helping you? Mom’s company was making good profits until you forcefully took over. Why should I help you now after you’ve ruined it and saddled it with debt? Furthermore, you are responsible for Mom’s death.” Ning Ran bellowed.
“Are you saying that you refuse to help me pay them?” Ning Ziqiang too was angry.
“Of course I won’t help pay your debt. I myself am barely surviving with my acting career. Where do I even have any money to help you?”
“But aren’t you close to the Nan family? They are extremely rich. It’s not a problem for them if you ask them for tens of millions. You are in a position to help me, but why aren’t you willing to do so?”
Ning Ran was puzzled as to where her father got the courage to remain so defiant.
“The Nan family and I are two separate entities. I’m not connected to them in any way.”
Behind the partition, Nan Chen was about to strike a ball. But when he heard what Ning Ran said, his hands paused for a moment.
Does she have no connections with the Nan family? Is that what she thinks?
Why does the sound of it upset me?
“You have borne their children for them. Of course, they have to give you the money. That’s just the way things should be.”
“There’s no such thing! Bearing the children is my business. Besides, I didn’t even know they were related to the Nan family when they were born. Therefore, there’s no way I’m going to milk them for benefits from the Nan family. It’s absolutely impossible, so you can forget about it!”
Nan Chen who was previously upset felt comforted when he heard what she said.
Suddenly, he noticed that his emotions had been fluctuating based on what she was saying. In fact, the fluctuations seemed to be extremely volatile.
This is not scientifically possible. I am always calm, ain’t I? Don’t I always remain steady even if the world falls apart?
How can a woman like her cause my emotions to fluctuate so easily?
“You can choose to be poor, but you must give me a sum of money because you owe it to me!” Ning Ziqiang bellowed.
Ning Ran sneered, “I owe you? Why do I owe you? Are you trying to insist that you brought me up? Ning Ziqiang, it was my mother who brought me up, not you. I don’t owe you anything. The reason I extended my help to you in the past is just based on the fact that I am kind to everyone.”
